• 13 Jan 2023

Former Union Minister Sharad Yadav Passed Away

Why In News?

• On January 12, 2023, former Union Minister and former National President of Janata Dal (United) Sharad Yadav passed away at a hospital in Gurugram at the age of 75.

Key Points

• Born on July 1, 1947 in Babai village of Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh, Sharad Yadav was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1974 in a by-election from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.
• Sharad Yadav was a minister in the V P Singh-led government in 1989. He took charge as the Union Minister handling the portfolio of civil aviation and food and civil supplies in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government in the late 90s .
• He was the first JD (U) president and held the post from 2003 to 2016 . In May 2018, he launched the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) after parting ways with the JD(U) due to an alliance with the BJP in Bihar. In March 2022, he merged his party Loktantrik Janata Dal with the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
• A ten-time MP (seven times in Lok Sabha and three times in Rajya Sabha), Sharad Yadav was regarded as a socialist leader for a long time. He was inspired by the philosophy of Ram Manohar Lohia and was one of the prominent faces of the JP movement.
• Sharad Yadav won the Lok Sabha elections from three states - twice from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, once from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh and four times from Madhepura in Bihar.

Amnesty and Voluntary Load Increase Announcement Scheme Implemented for Electricity Consumers

Why In News?

• On January 12, 2023, Rajasthan Minister of State for Power Bhanwar Singh Bhati said that amnesty scheme has been implemented by the Power Distribution Corporations to recover the outstanding amount of electricity from the consumers of regular and disconnected connections of agricultural category and other categories of disconnected connections in the state. Along with this, a voluntary load declaration scheme has also been implemented to regularize the unauthorized increased load of agricultural connections.

Key Points

• Minister of State for Power Bhanwar Singh Bhati said that it has been decided to implement voluntary load declaration scheme to provide convenience to agricultural consumers and to increase the quality of power supply in the agriculture sector and to prevent revenue loss.
• Amnesty scheme has been implemented till June 30, 2023 to recover the outstanding amount of disconnected connections of all categories of electricity consumers other than agriculture category by December 31, 2022.
• Under this scheme, 100 percent discount in interest and late payment fee will be provided on the consumer depositing the entire principal outstanding amount by March 31, 2023 and if the consumer deposits the principal dues between April 1 and June 30, 2023, then 50 percent discount in late payment fee and interest will be provided.
• Under the scheme, consumers of regular and disconnected connections of agriculture category will be able to deposit the outstanding amount without interest and penalty in lump sum or maximum 6 bi-monthly installments till December 31, 2022. The disconnected connection of the consumer will be connected as per the prevailing provisions of the agriculture policy. This scheme will not be available to the consumers who have taken advantage of such schemes in the last three years and cases of theft and misuse will not be included under this scheme.
• Under the scheme, the disconnected connection of the consumer can be re-added as per the provision if the entire principal outstanding amount is deposited by March 31, 2023 or the entire outstanding amount is deposited from April 1 to June 30, 2023 with a discount of 50 percent in late payment fee and interest.
• To take advantage of this scheme, the consumer will have to submit the application to the concerned Assistant Engineer's office and the large industrial category consumers to the office of senior accounts officer-CA-HQ.
• Bhanwar Singh Bhati informed that the Voluntary Load Increase Declaration Scheme will be applicable to agricultural connections issued till December 31, 2022 and will be effective till March 31, 2023.
• Under the scheme, if the consumer wants to connect the disconnected connections up to two years ago with the increase in load, he can also take advantage of this scheme. The corporation will bear the cost of transformer capacity increase and new 11 KV line and sub-station, if necessary, for agricultural consumers taking advantage of the scheme during the plan period.
• During the implementation of the scheme, if the VCR of the increased load of any consumer has been filled, then that too will be regularized as per the provisions of this scheme. Such farmers who increase the load by installing another motor on the same well or increase the load on the second well which is in the same Khasra/Khet/Complex/Marmalade to run the second motor, then they will not be given the benefit of this scheme and if in the past Two motors are approved and farmers can take advantage of this scheme if they want to increase their load.
• After the completion of the scheme on March 31, 2023, a special campaign will be launched for weight verification and if their weight is found to be more than the approved weight during checking, the amount will be recovered as per the agricultural policy.

Haryana Hosts Some Meetings of G-20 Summit

Why In News?

• In a high-level meeting with senior officials regarding the preparations for the G-20 Summit at Haryana Bhawan in New Delhi on January 12, 2023, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar informed that Haryana has hosted some meetings of the G-20 Summit being chaired by India. Haryana has also started preparations for this historic host.

Key Points

• It is known that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is chairing the meetings of the G-20 group for the first time. In addition to 30 nations, representatives of 5 invited member states will participate in this conference.
• Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that some meetings of the G-20 Summit are scheduled to be held in Gurugram in March and all arrangements will be ensured in time for its success so that the indelible impression of Haryana's rich culture along with India's 'Atithi Devo Bhava' and the message of Gurugram-one global city also reach all G-20 member countries.
• He directed the officials to deploy liaison officers for the convenience of the delegation of G-20 member countries and ensure adequate security arrangements in and around the venue of the possible meetings. Apart from this, identify hospitals near the venue to deal with emergency situations.
• The Chief Minister directed the officials of Heritage and Tourism Department and Information, Public Relations and Language Department that special arrangements should be made to introduce them to the culture and heritage of the state when delegations from different countries arrive in Haryana.
• Haryana Theme Corner should also be set up at the venue, where information related to the development story of Haryana is available to the guests as well as glimpses of cultural heritage.
• The Chief Minister informed that the International Suraj Kund Craft Fair is also going to be organized during the G-20 Summit . Representatives of G-20 member countries will also be invited to this fair. Through this fair, all the guests will get to see the richness and diversity of artworks, handlooms, handicrafts and cultural fabric of artists not only from Haryana but also from the country and abroad. NGOs will also be involved in this work.
• He informed the meeting that a special task force has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Director General of Police for security arrangements for the G-20 meetings. ADGP Law and Order, ADGP CID, Police Commissioner Gurugram and Deputy Commissioner of Gurugram are members of this task force.
• A protocol committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhawan Delhi and Additional Housing Commissioner Haryana, representatives of Police Commissioner Gurugram, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Protocol Officer Gurugram are the members of this committee.
• A cultural committee has been formed comprising the Director General of Information, Public Relations and Language Department, Director and Additional Director of Art and Culture Department, Information, Public Relations and Language Department to showcase the cultural heritage of Haryana during the programs.
• Apart from this, a Logistics and Transport Committee has also been formed for logistic support during organizing meetings and events.

International Conference will be held in Ramgarh Engineering College

Why In News?

• In a press conference held at Ramgarh Engineering College in Jharkhand on January 11, 2023, Vishnu Chattopadhyay Deputy Director of Techno India Jharkhand Project, said that the International Conference on Advanced Optimization Techniques and Applications-2023 will be organized in this college of the state.

Key Points

• Vishnu Chattopadhyay, Deputy Director of Techno India Jharkhand Project informed that the event will be held in offline and online mode on January 21 and 22 in the college, this will be the first international conference on advanced customization techniques and applications.
• It is being organized by Ramgarh Engineering College in collaboration with Sultan Maule Sleiman University, Malaysia. This conference will be based on the topic of Optimization and Computing.
• Eminent speakers from the two countries and speakers from various renowned colleges in India will also participate in the conference. Also, Silli MLA Sudesh Kumar Mahto, Gopal Pathak from Sarala Birla University, Dr. Bui Thanh Hung from TDU Vietnam, Dr. Florentin Smarandache from UNM USA, Dr. Tanmay Kundu from IIT Jodhpur, Dr. Anita Khosla from MRIIS, Dr. Sushant Tripathi from KIIT University, India and Dr. Irfan Ali from AMU will join.
• Dr. Shravani Roy, Principal, Ramgarh Engineering College, said that the international conference is being organized to get good results, which will also inspire young researchers and help them get the best out of any work. This will prove to be helpful in creating links between colleges from different countries.

GIS Based District Water Conservation Plan

Why In News?

• On January 12, 2023, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel reviewed the plans and development works by taking a meeting of district level officials at the rest house located in Sihawa Assembly of Dhamtari district under the meet program. At the end of the meeting, the Chief Minister launched the GIS based District Water Conservation Scheme.

Key Points

• District Science and Information Officer said that this scheme has been prepared by the district administration under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan for conservation, promotion and renovation of traditional water sources of the district with the aim of preserving water resources and promoting agricultural activities.
• He informed that under the scheme, 878 rainwater harvesting works, 733 works of restoration of traditional water sources, 145 works of renovation and recharge structure, 728 works of watershed development were done in the year 2021-22 and 1.58 lakh saplings were planted under intensive plantation.
• Apart from this, the calculation of water sources and their geo-tagging work has been done. Information about water sources has been uploaded 100 percent in the portal.

Chhattisgarh's Contingent got 'A Grade' in 4 Events in National Jamboree

Why In News?

• On January 10, 2023, The Chhattisgarh contingent made an impressive presence in the 18^th National Jamboree of Bharat Scouts and Guides held at Rohat (Pali), Rajasthan and secured 'A Grade' in four competitions.

Key Points

• President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the National Jamboree held from January 4 to 10 at Rohat, Pali in Rajasthan. The exhibition of Chhattisgarh remained the center of attraction in the whole Jamboree. People also showed a lot of interest in the science project related to the safety of girls of Chhattisgarh.
• Chhattisgarh Contingent won 'A Grade' in two joint competitions State Exhibition and Ethnic Show. In both these competitions, the art culture of Chhattisgarh was displayed. Similarly, scout wing received 'A grade' in marchpast and guide wing received 'A grade' in physical display.
• Along with this, 'B grade' was received in global development village, color party, pageant show, food plaza, folk dance in joint competitions. 'B grade' was also achieved in scout wing competition camp fire and physical display and guide wing competition state gate and rangoli competition.
• It is noteworthy that a team of 381 from Chhattisgarh participated in the National Jamboree under the guidance of School Education Minister and President of Bharat Scouts and Guides Dr. Prem Sai Singh Tekam and Parliamentary Secretary Vinod Sevan Lal Chandrakar and under the leadership of State Secretary Kailash Soni. It included about three hundred Scouts, Leaders including Guides, State Headquarters Staff, Service Rovers, Rangers from 24 districts.
• Apart from competitions, scouts, guides actively participated in activities like adventure, fun games, night hike etc. The contingent leader of the scout wing was C.L. Chandrakar and the guide wing's contingent leader was Seema Sahu. Shailendra Mishra served as a national staff. The 18th National Jamboree saw participation of 37,000 scouts, guides, rovers, rangers from all the scouting states of India and seven other countries.

Notification of Uttarakhand Public Service (Horizontal Reservation for Women) Act 2022

Why In News?

• On January 12, 2023, the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department of Uttarakhand issued a notification of the Uttarakhand Public Service (Horizontal Reservation for Women) Act 2022. According to the notification issued, 30 percent horizontal reservation in government jobs has been approved for women in the state.

Key Points

• Significantly, on January 10, 2023, the Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt. J. Gurmeet Singh (Sen.) had approved the Uttarakhand Public Service (Horizontal Reservation for Women) Bill 2022, after which this bill became an act.
• After the formation of the Uttarakhand Public Service (Horizontal Reservation for Women) Act 2022, women of the state will get the benefit of 30 percent horizontal reservation in government jobs. The notification lays down responsibility and power to comply with the Act, power to issue certificates, rule-making power and power to remove difficulties.
• The notification said that due to the heterogeneous geographical structure of the state, people living in remote areas lead a miserable life. Especially the women of the state live in adverse conditions. Because of this, the standard of living of these women is lower than the women of other states.
• Women of the state have not been able to achieve the desired social, economic and political level and the representation of women in government services in the state is also very low. In order to ensure social justice, equality, improvement in living standards, gender equality in public employment, women of the state were given the benefit of 30 percent horizontal reservation in government jobs.

Heli Services will Start at Three More Places in Uttarakhand

Why In News?

• On January 12, 2023, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Secretary Dilip Jawalkar said that in order to gradually increase the scope of Heli Services in the state, the state government has now decided to run Heli services to three more places.

Key Points

• Civil Aviation Secretary Dilip Jawalkar said that under increasing the scope of Heli Services in the state, now preparations are being made to connect Dehradun with Nainital and Joshimath and Haldwani with Munsyari.
• Out of this, two Heli services will operate from Dehradun, including Dehradun to Nainital and Dehradun to Joshimath Heli Service. Apart from this, there is a plan to start Heli service from Haldwani to Munsiyari, finding it suitable for Heli service.
• He said that aerial tour of the valleys of Devbhoomi, which is important from the point of view of tourism and pilgrimage, is now becoming easier and easier. In order to attract tourists, the government is continuously expanding Heli services. In this sequence, new helipads are also being built in the state.
• Secretary Dilip Jawalkar said that the central government's 'UDAN scheme' has an important role in expanding Heli services in the state. Under this scheme, Heli services are being operated from Dehradun to Chinyalisour, Dehradun to Gauchar, Dehradun to Tehri, Dehradun to Srinagar, Dehradun to Almora and Haldwani to Pithoragarh.
• It is known that Heli services are being operated from Dehradun to Kedarnath and From various places of Chamoli district to Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib.