State PCS

• 12 May 2023

There will be a Change in the Industrial Investment and Employment Policy of Uttar Pradesh

Why in news?

According to the information received from the media on 11 May 2023, the Uttar Pradesh government is going to change its new industrial investment & employment promotion policy keeping in view the needs of the investors.

Key Points:

• Under the change in the new industrial investment & employment promotion policy, the amount of exemption in stamp duty on land purchase will be reimbursed. Also, the facility of capital subsidy will be decided on a case-to-case basis for mega projects.
• It is worth mentioning that the Uttar Pradesh government had launched the Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy by 2022 keeping in mind the objective of making the state a trillion dollar economy.
• The objective of this policy is to create a progressive, innovative and competitive industrial ecosystem generating employment in Uttar Pradesh while attracting investments from across the globe.

The indoor Shooting Range will be built in Rajasthan Police Academy

Why in News?

On 10 May 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved a financial proposal of Rs 14 crore for the establishment of a state-of-the-art indoor shooting range at the Rajasthan Police Academy in Jaipur to increase the firing capacity of the state's policemen.

Key Points:

• This indoor shooting range will be different from sports and Composite Indoor Shooting Ranges (CISR) of modern technology, which will have 6 lines of 50 meters.
• Trainees will get opportunities to practice in the better and more friendly environment of the Indoor Firing Range.
• It is worth mentioning that the Chief Minister announced this in the budget for the year 2023-24.

Amendment in Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Admission Rules-2018

Why in News?

On 11 May 2023, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh amended the Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Admission Rules-2018.

Key Points

• According to the amended rule, 5 percent seats have been reserved for government school students out of the total seats approved for MBBS and BDS in all government & private colleges.
• In all colleges, 30 percent reservation has been fixed for female candidates and 5 percent for physically challenged candidates in all courses. Freedom fighter candidates and military candidates have been earmarked 3-3 per cent of the total seats for MBBS and BDS in government colleges only.
• According to the amended rule, the category has been clarified to include women, freedom fighters, soldiers, disabled, non-resident Indian category and government school students.
• Similarly, according to the added sub-rule, government school means that such students have been included in the government schools run by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, who have passed the examination after studying regularly from class-6 to 12th in government schools or those who have passed the examination after studying in private schools from class-1 to 8 on the basis of admission through the Right to Education Act, after studying regularly from class-9 to 12th in a government school.
• As per the amendment rules, issued by the District Education Officer/District Convenor/Assistant Commissioner of the concerned department to the candidate for admission from the government school student category for graduate course (MBBS/BDS), it will be mandatory to submit the certificate in original to the effect that the candidate fulfills the requirement of Rule-2B.

The Chief Minister released the Mela Panchang

Why in News?

On 10 May 2023, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the 'Mela Panchang Varsh 2023-24' developed by the Madhya Pradesh Pilgrimage and Fair Authority.

Key Points:

• Month-wise and district-wise information on major fairs of the state has been given in the Mela Panchang focused on Vikram Samvat. It also mentions the main registered pilgrimage centres of the state.
• Apart from this, Mahakal Mahalok-Ujjain with pictures of Mahamai Mata Mandir Sironj-Vidisha, Rath Yatra-Panna, Narmada Nabhi-Sthal Nemawar-Dewas, Navratri Mela Maihar-Satna, Ratangarh-Datia, Barman Mela-Narsinghpur, Narmada Jayanti Maheshwar-Khargone, Shiva Temple Bhojpur-Raisen, Karila Dham-Ashok Nagar, Pitambara Peeth-Datia, Shani Temple-Morena, Ramraja Temple-Orchha and Pashupatinath Temple-Mandsaur's pictures are included.

Rs 141 crore Approved for Strengthening the Electrical Infrastructure of Morena District

Why in News?

On 10 May 2023, Madhya Pradesh's Energy Minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar informed that Rs 141 crore has been sanctioned to reduce power losses and to strengthen the power infrastructure of the Morena district of the state.

Key Points:

• In this, Rs 129 crore has been sanctioned by the Central Government and Rs 12 crore by the State Government in the first phase of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
• Construction of 22 kilometre 132 KV very high-pressure line, construction of 5 new 33/KV sub-stations, installation of capacitor bank at 34 places for improvement of voltage system, capacity in three 33/11 KV sub-stations to be done with the approved amount. Augmentation and additional power transformer installation, 294 distribution transformer installation, cabling work of 213 km low-pressure lines and construction work of 495 km 33 and 11 KV high-pressure feeders.
• About 20 lakh of the population of Morena district will be benefited from this. Also, the electricity demand for the next 10 years will be met.

Chief Minister Inaugurated the CM Grievances Redressal & Monitoring System Jan Samvad Portal

Why in News?

According to the information given by the Information, Public Relations and Languages Department of Haryana on 10 May 2023, the Chief Minister of the state Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the CM Grievances Redressal & Monitoring System Jan Samvad Portal.

Key Points:

• A complete account will be kept by uploading the problems and suggestions coming under the Jan-Samvad program on this portal. After this, the concerned officers will also ensure the resolution of these problems and a message about the problem will also go to the complainant.
• It is known that more than 600 services come under the Right to Service Act.
• It is worth mentioning that under the Jan Samvad program, the fourth Jan Samvad program will be organized in the Sirsa district of the state from 13 to 15 May. Under this, the Chief Minister will interact directly with the people of many villages in Sirsa district.
• The Chief Minister said that in order to implement all the problems faced by the government while interacting with the public, these problems would be uploaded on the portal at the district and headquarter level.
• To solve the problems of the people, 'Nagar Darshan Portal' has been created at the urban level and 'Gram Darshan Portal' at the village level. On these, citizens can also upload their problems and development works while sitting at home. After that, it will automatically go to the complaint officer who will take cognizance of them and complete the work by making provisions for estimate & budget etc.
• Earlier the problems coming on these portals were agreed upon through representatives but now citizens can directly send these problems to the portal.
• Better mechanisms have been prepared by the state government to provide good services to the citizens, on which accountability is also being ensured. So far 3609 people have registered their complaints on this demo portal.
• It is known that every Saturday the Chief Minister communicates with any one section of the state through audio conferencing. In these there is direct interaction with the people and the workers also join them. Apart from this, the concerned officers are also involved in this, who listen to the problems faced by them and ensure their solution.

In the meeting of the High Power Purchase Committee and High Power Works Committee

Why in News?

On 10 May 2023, the High Powered Purchase Committee (HPPC) and Department of High Powered Purchase Committee (DHPPC) & High Power Works Purchase Committee meeting in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal approved the purchase and contract of about Rs 275 crore.

Key Points:

• A total of 26 agendas of Irrigation, Police, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Uttar Haryana Electricity Distribution Corporation, and Public Health Engineering Department were placed in the meeting, out of which 18 agendas were approved.
• In the meeting, the proposal to enter into a rate contract with the insurance company for livestock insurance was also approved. A claim of Rs 70 crore was given to the farmers under the 'Livestock Insurance Scheme' being run by the state government in the interest of the farmers.
• The state government has streamlined the arrangements to bring transparency to tender processes. Earlier negotiation was done only with the L-1 party, now this system has been made that up to L-5 parties are called for negotiation in the range of 5% of the bid amount so that rates are fixed in a competitive manner. Can

All Villages of Uttarakhand will be Free from Plastic Waste

Why in News?

On 11 May 2023, Uttarakhand's Rural Development Commissioner and Panchayat Director Anand Swaroop said that 7791 gram panchayats of the state will be made plastic-free, for which an action plan has been prepared.

Key Points

• Under this, with the help of three-tier panchayats, action will be taken from picking up plastic waste from every house to its disposal. Funds have been arranged for this work by the Central Government in the 15th Finance Commission.
• It may be noted that the 'Uttarakhand Plastic Waste Management Act' 2013 is applicable in the state. Plastic has reached every village but it was not being disposed of in the villages as per the arrangements given in the Act.
• Under the new scheme, work has already started to a large extent in 70 percent of the villages of the state.
• Under this, plastic waste will be collected from house to house at the Gram Panchayat level and transported to the door-to-door head. After this, this waste will be transported to the compactor through garbage vehicles at the area panchayat (block) level. The next task will be that of the district panchayats, who will transport the compacted waste to the plastic waste plant for disposal. This whole series will work under one cluster.
• Under this scheme, 95 vehicles (pickup vehicles) will be provided to 95 blocks of the state to pick up the plastic waste and take it to the compactor.
• Under this scheme, compactors are to be installed in all the 95 blocks of the state. While so far these have been installed in 69 blocks.
• Apart from this, the closed recycling plant has also been restarted in Haridwar, where compacted plastic waste will be disposed of.
• It is worth mentioning that in the year 2022, on a public interest petition filed by social activist Jitendra Yadav, the Uttarakhand High Court had directed the state government to make villages plastic-free. Along with this, instructions were also given to inform the court about the steps taken in this regard through an affidavit.