• 13 Oct 2023

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Memorial Birth Anniversary Fair in Mathura

Why In News?

On October 11, 2023, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the four-day Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Memorial Birth Anniversary Fair to be organized at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Dham, Nagla Chandrabhan Farah in Mathura district.

Key Points:

• On this occasion, the Chief Minister also addressed the Virat Kisan Seminar and announced the construction of a mini stadium in Farah.
• The Chief Minister flagged off the golf cart purchased by the Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority for the facilities of the devotees.
• He called for an MoU between Deendayal Upadhyay Cow Research and Training Center and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Veterinary University to make farmers self-reliant through cow conservation.
• It is known that last year a big food processing center was established in Kosi Kalan. Now a new center for potato processing will be established in Agra district.

Purnia District is on Top in Providing Banking Facilities to Aspirational Districts.

Why In News?

According to the report received by the state government from the Bankers' Committee on October 12, 2023, Purnia district topped the list of aspirational districts of Bihar in terms of providing banking facilities.

Key Points:

• Under the second phase of the Targeted Financial Adjustment Integrated Programme (TFIIP), banking facilities are extended to the target group under the integrated programme in the aspirational districts of Bihar. Through that, they get the benefit of government schemes.
• The Finance Department said that the achievement of Atal Pension Yojana in Aurangabad, Nawada and Purnia has been more than 200 percent. The lowest achievement was 131 per cent in Muzaffarpur.
• Purnia has been at the top with an achievement of 23.1 percent. The achievement of Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana in Sheikhpura has been 111 percent. Sitamarhi district has been the worst performer in this scheme at 58 per cent.
• In Araria, Begusarai, Jamui, Muzaffarpur, Purnia and Sheikhpura, the achievement of Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana was found to be more than 100 percent. Overall, the achievement of all the aspirational districts has been better.
• Significantly, 13 districts of Bihar are included in the aspirational districts. These include Araria, Banka, Aurangabad, Begusarai, Gaya, Jamui, Katihar, Khagaria, Muzaffarpur, Nawada, Purnia, Sheikhpura and Sitamarhi. In all these districts, the target was to open the account of the citizens deprived of banking facilities as well as to provide the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana.

Bhojpur Team became Winner in Folk Dance Competition

Why In News?

On October 11, 2023, The team of Kahari High School, Bhojpur became the winner in the state level folk dance competition organized by the State Education Research and Training Council.

Key Points:

• The winning team of Bhojpur will now participate in the National Folk Dance Competition. The team of Nawada Ekma (Saran) High School stood second. The team of Rungta Girls High School, Naugachia, Bhagalpur stood third.
• The program was inaugurated by Dr. Rashmi Prabha, Joint Director of SCERT DIET, Amitabh, Project Coordinator of Shri Krishna Science Center and Dr. Vibha Rani, Department In-charge of Population Education Cell of SCERT.
• The theme of the competition was equal opportunities for boys and girls, drug abuse prevention, healthy relationships during adolescence, role of joint family in child development and protection of the environment.
• In this state level folk dance competition, a total of 8 participating teams from 18 districts of the state participated.

Chief Minister's Invitation Football Competition will be organized in Jharkhand

Why In News?

On October 12, 2023, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha has directed all BDOs to conduct 'Chief Minister Invitation Football Competition' as per the scheduled date as per the sports calendar 2023-24.

Key Points:

• It may be noted that the 'Chief Minister Invitation Football (Men/Women) Competition' 2023-24 will be organized in Jharkhand at a total of five levels - Panchayat, Block, District, Zonal and State level.
• Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha has directed all block development officers of Ranchi district to ensure that panchayat level and block level competition, 2023-24 is held as per the date fixed according to the sports calendar 2023-24.
• The Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs under the Department of Tourism, Art- Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs of Jharkhand is organizing a competition from Panchayat to State level under the Chief Minister's Invitation Football (Men/ Women) Competition in the financial year 2023-24.

Direct Air Service Facility from Bilaspur to New Delhi will start soon

Why In News?

On October 11, 2023, the Central Government and Alliance Air announced plans to run direct air service from Bilaspur to Delhi three days a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in the winter schedule. This air service will start from October 31.

Key Points:

• Now direct air service from Bilaspur to Delhi will be available three days a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Air service to Prayagraj will also be available during these days, because only one aircraft will connect Bilaspur to both these cities.
• According to the schedule issued for the air service, the plane going from Bilaspur to Delhi will take off from here at 3.15 pm and will land in Delhi at 5.25 pm. This plane will take off from Delhi at 9 am and reach Bilaspur at 11.15 am. In this way, Delhi can be reached from Bilaspur in two and a quarter hours.
• The plane coming from Delhi to Bilaspur will take off for Prayagraj at around quarter to 12 noon and reach there at 1 pm. On return, this plane will take off from Prayagraj at 1.30 pm and reach Bilaspur at 3.45 pm.
• It may be noted that Alliance Air Company had started the trial for direct air service from Bilaspur to Delhi from 4 to 8 October, which was successful.
• It is noteworthy that the residents of the region had been demanding direct air service from Bilaspur to metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad for a long time. At present only one flight is running from Bilaspur via Jabalpur-Prayagraj. Meanwhile, air service was started for Indore and Bhopal. It was closed citing low number of passengers, and is still closed.

SISF and Tourism Police will be Formed in Uttarakhand

Why In News?

On October 10, 2023, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) of Uttarakhand, Radha Raturi, in a meeting with Home Department officials, made a clear proposal for the formation of State Industrial Security Force (SISF) and Tourism Police for the security of public establishments and tourist places of the state. Gave instructions to give.

Key Points:

• It may be noted that both these proposals were discussed in the meeting of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The state government will send both these proposals to the central government for approval.
• Those proposals which are under consideration in the Home Ministry were also discussed in the meeting. After Home Minister Amit Shah's assurance on all these proposals, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Radha Raturi held a meeting with Home Department officials.
• In the meeting, ACS gave instructions to fully constitute the Anti Narcotics Task Force to deal strictly with drug smugglers. There is a provision for 40 posts in the task force, but not a single post has been filled.
• The cooperation of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) will be taken to break the backbone of drug smugglers and crack down on inter-state and international gangs.
• In the meeting, ACS gave instructions to send the proposal for scrapping the policy of vehicles to the Central Government as soon as possible. The Union Home Minister had emphasized on providing quality training to police officers and employees, in this regard the ACS instructed the officers to prepare proposals immediately.
• In the meeting, ACS gave instructions to implement the Model Jail Manual and Model Jail Act 2023 implemented at the Center with certain amendments as per the situation of the state. He asked to receive a clear proposal regarding the Model Fire Bill from the Police Headquarters in a timely manner.