• 13 Oct 2021

Amit Khare

Why in News

• On October 12, 2021, the order regarding the appointment of Amit Khare as Advisor to the Prime Minister was issued by the Union Ministry of Personnel.

Key Points

• Amit Khare, a 1985 batch IAS officer of Bihar/Jharkhand cadre, retired from the post of Higher Education Secretary on 30 September this year.
• His major achievements/contributions are as follows-
  
  • Exposing Bihar's fodder scam.
  • Significant contribution in reshaping the country's National Education Policy, 2020.

Diarrhea Outbreak in Bihar

Why in News

• Recently, after Aurangabad in Bihar, West Champaran district has seen a sharp increase in the cases of diarrhea.

Key Points

• According to the World Health Organization, diarrhea leads to a state of dehydration.
• A variety of bacteria, viruses and parasitic microorganisms are responsible for diarrhea, for example rotavirus and norovirus.
• Diarrhea infection is the result of eating contaminated food, drinking polluted water and person to person filth and uncleanliness.
• Diarrhea can be treated by drinking clean water, maintaining hygiene, oral rehydration etc.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Trust

Why in News

• On October 12, 2021, in a virtual meeting of the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, approval was given for the construction of the memorial of former Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Gwalior and the formation of an autonomous 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Trust' under the Department of Culture.

Key Points

• Necessary efforts will be made to spread awareness and sensitivity towards nation building and nation development among the youth through the memorial trust.
• A grand statue of Vajpayee ji and his life character will be promoted through audio-visual media. Well-organized public facilities will be developed around the statue site. Along with this, workshops, seminars, research, seminars, lectures etc. will be organized for conducting activities related to his philosophy of life.
• In the memorial complex, publication of literature related to Vajpayee ji and his philosophy of life will be done, and library/e-library of books, study centre for good governance and policy making will be established and for tourism development, water body, canteen, park etc. will be established.
• For the fulfillment of the objectives of the Trust, implementation will be done by establishing contact, coordination and cooperation with the Government of India, State Government, non-governmental institutions, organizations, national and international level bodies and individuals.

Justice Arup Kumar Goswami

Why in News

• On October 12, 2021, Chhattisgarh Governor Anusuiya Uikey administered the oath to Justice Arup Kumar Goswami as the 14^th Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court.

Key Points

• Justice Arup Kumar Goswami was the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court before being transferred to the Chhattisgarh High Court.
• Justice Arup Kumar Goswami replaces outgoing Chief Justice (Acting) of Chhattisgarh High Court Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, who has been transferred as Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court.
• It is noteworthy that under Article 222 of the Constitution of India, a provision has been made regarding the transfer of judges of the High Court.
• However, presently, the appointment and transfer of the judges of the High Court is being done under the collegium system, whose present form has evolved from the decision of the Supreme Court in the 'Second Judges Case 1993'.

Incentive Amount through DBT: Anganwadi

Why in News

• On October 12, 2021, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, from the Secretariat, initiated the process of providing incentive to Anganwadi workers through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).

Key Points

• An incentive amount of Rs 40 crore was sent to the account of 33,297 Anganwadi workers through DBT.
• According to the announcement by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, this incentive amount of Rs 1 thousand per worker was provided through DBT for the duties performed by 33,297 Anganwadi workers in a dedicated sense.
• Apart from this, according to the announcement made in the month of September, an incentive amount of Rs. 2 thousand per Anganwadi worker was transferred for 5 months.

Annotsav Program

Why in News

• On October 12, 2021, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Annotsav program in the state under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

Key Points

• Under this Annotsav program, 14 lakh ration bags (free of cost) will be distributed in the entire state in a month.
• Along with this, free food grains will be distributed through all 9230 ration shops in the state for the entire month itself.
• It is noteworthy that under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, in the year 2020, the beneficiaries of Antyodaya and primary families got 5 kg per unit from April to November. Food grains (wheat/rice) and 1 kg. Pulses were distributed free of cost per ration card.
• Similarly, in the year 2021, 5 kg food grains per unit will be distributed free of cost to the beneficiaries of Antyodaya and primary families for a total of 7 months from May to November.
• It is noteworthy that under the 'One Nation One Ration Card' scheme, ration card portability has been implemented in the state from August 2020, through which food security is being provided to the migrant families coming from other states in the state.

Dengue Outbreak in Uttarakhand

Why in News

• There is an outbreak of dengue in various districts of the state including Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. On October 12, 2021, new dengue cases were reported in Roorkee and Dehradun.

Key Points

• Dengue is a tropical mosquito-borne disease caused by dengue virus (genus flavivirus).
• It is mainly spread by the female Aedes aegypti mosquito.
• There is no specific medicine available to treat dengue infection.
• However, the dengue vaccine 'Dengvaxia' was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the year 2019.

MoU for Waste Management and Execution

Why in News

• On October 12, 2021, a MoU was signed between Municipal Corporation Bhopal and NTPC and Bhopal RNG Pvt Ltd for waste management and execution.

Key Points

• This MoU was signed for setting up of 200 ton per day wet waste to bio-CNG plant and 400 ton per day dry waste torified charcoal plant.
• It is known that, at present, around 800 tonnes of garbage is collected from Bhopal city every day. For its execution, an expenditure of Rs 333 per metric ton is being spent by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation. With the installation of this plant, Bhopal RNG Private Limited will give an amount of Rs. 83 lakh to Bhopal Municipal Corporation as royalty every year for 20 years and Bio-CNG will be provided at the rate of Rs. 5 less than the market rate.
• The Bio-CNG generated from the plant will be used in city buses. An estimated expenditure of Rs 40 crore on setting up the plant will be fully borne by the agency itself. No processing fee will be charged by the agency for waste disposal from Municipal Corporation Bhopal.
• A Torified Charcoal Plant will be set up in Adampur Cantonment on an area of 15 acres of land at an estimated cost of Rs. 80 crore. This amount will be fully borne by NTPC. The torified charcoal produced will be used in NTPC's power plants.
• The construction of the torified charcoal plant with 400 tonnes per day dry waste will be based on the ‘build own operate model’. Establishment and operation-maintenance work of the plant is to be done by NTPC itself for 25 years.