State PCS

• 13 Dec 2023

Helicopter service for sightseeing in Agra and Mathura

Why In News?

Regarding starting helicopter service for sightseeing in Agra and Mathura on December 12, 2023, an MOU was signed between the Tourism Department and M/s Rajas Aero Sports and Adventure Private Limited in the presence of State Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh.

Key Points

• Heliports are ready at both places to start helicopter service in Agra and Mathura. It will be operated on PPP mode. It is likely to be inaugurated on December 25, the birth anniversary of former Bharat Ratna Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• The Minister of Tourism and Culture said that with the facility of heliport at these places, domestic and foreign tourists and devotees will get the opportunity of air service. This will increase the number of tourists, increase activities at the local level and create new employment opportunities.
• He said that in the next phase, the process of selection of institutions is being done for its operation on PPP mode at other major tourist destinations of the state (Lucknow, Kapilvastu, Ayodhya, Varanasi and Naimisharanya).
• Helicopter service is being started to meet the needs of tourists and provide special services. It is being given on a 30 years lease to M/s Rajas Aerosport and Adventure Private Limited for operation on PPP mode.
• First, six plus one seater helicopters will be operated, then this number can be increased as per need. Three types of services will be provided in Mathura – first aerial tour, second aerial tour of the entire Mathura and third connectivity tour.
• Similarly, a tour will be organised in Agra under Air Safari Agra. Keeping in mind the foreign tourists in Agra, connectivity with Delhi Airport will be provided. Besides, the facility of hot air balloons will also be provided. Taj Mahal Air Safari will also be organised for the first time.
• Let it be known that this is happening for the first time in the country, when air parikrama of a religious place is being started.

Kanpur's Adarsh Singh selected in Indian team for Under-19 World Cup

Why In News?

On December 12, 2023, BCCI announced the Indian team for the Under-19 World Cup and Tri-Series to be held in South Africa, in which the name of Kanpur's Adarsh Singh is also included.

Key Points

• Due to his consistent performance in domestic cricket, Adarsh Singh has been selected in the Indian team for the Under-19 World Cup. Earlier, he was also selected in the UP T-20 Cricket League.
• Adarsh Singh, son of farmer Narendra Kumar Singh and Manju Lata, originally from Jaunpur, has learned cricket by staying in a rented house.
• On the basis of his excellent game, Adarsh Singh was the captain of Uttar Pradesh in Under-14 as well as Under-16 and Under-19 cricket teams.
• In the year 2023, Adarsh Singh was selected in the National Cricket Academy. Here Adarsh learned the nuances of cricket from VVS Laxman, Irfan Pathan, Pragyan Ojha, Lokesh Rahul.
• It is worth mentioning that Adarsh Singh is the fourth player to play for Kanpur in the Indian team of Under-19 World Cup. Before him, those who played in the Under-19 Indian team from the city include Arvind Solanki, Kuldeep Yadav and Archana Devi. Arvind Solanki and Kuldeep Yadav played as spin bowlers. Archana Devi played as an all-rounder. Whereas Adarsh Singh will play as an opening batsman.

Chief Minister inaugurates units of 'Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana' in Bihta

Why In News?

On December 12, 2023, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the units of ‘Plug and Play Shed’ and ‘Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana’ in Sikanderpur Industrial Area of Bihta in Patna district.

Key Points

• On this occasion, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar distributed checks of the second instalment to the beneficiaries under the Scheduled Caste/Tribe/Extremely Backward Class/Women/Young Entrepreneur Scheme.
• Under this, the Chief Minister presented a symbolic check of Rs 3 lakh each to Bhojpur Enterprises, Aastha Textiles, Priyanka Enterprises and Anand Enterprises.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated the newly constructed Britannia Industries Limited in the industrial area complex itself.
• In the year 2011, the first unit of Britannia Industries Limited was established in Hajipur and on December 12, 2023, the second unit was inaugurated and production work also started.

Chief Minister inaugurated the road convenience centre cum cafeteria of Kesariya Stupa

Why In News?

On December 12, 2023, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the wayside convenience centre cum cafeteria of Kesariya Stupa in East Champaran district by cutting the ribbon and laid the foundation stone of the development works of the tourist facility in the premises of Kesariya Stupa.

Key Points

• The cost amount of this scheme is Rs 6.90 crore. With the construction of the cafeteria, the tourists coming here will find it convenient to stay. The cost of the important scheme for the development of tourist facilities in the premises of Kesariya Stupa is Rs 19.77 crore.
• Here, a replica of the Kesariya Stupa, which has special importance among Buddhist symbols, will be built near it. In this, the extinct parts of the main stupa will be carved into the structure.
• A total of eight miniature replicas will be built around the main structure, which include Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Mahabodhi Temple, ruins of Nalanda University, Ashoka Pillar Vaishali, Vikramshila, Gurupa Bodh Sthal, Barabar Ki Cave and Sujata Stupa.
• In this, tourists will get a complete glimpse of Buddhist architecture. A 45-seat auditorium will also be constructed inside the stupa-like shape, which will be equipped with audio-visual system.
• In this structure, an exhibition hall has also been arranged to show short documentaries and exhibitions related to Lord Buddha.
• This scheme has been implemented by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation. Tourist visiting center and cafeteria building have been constructed under the scheme.

Bhajan Lal Sharma will be the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan

Why In News?

Bhajan Lal Sharma, MLA from Sanganer seat of Jaipur, was elected as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan in the Rajasthan BJP Legislature Party meeting on December 12, 2023 in the presence of observers appointed by the Bharatiya Janata Party central leadership.

Key Points

• Vasundhara Raje had proposed the name of Bhajan Lal Sharma in the legislature party meeting in the presence of Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Vinod Tawde and Saroj Pandey, who were sent as observers to Rajasthan.
• In the legislative party meeting, MLA Diya Kumari from Vidyadhar Nagar seat of Jaipur and Prem Chandra Bairwa, MLA from Dudu seat of Jaipur, were elected as Deputy Chief Ministers. Vasudev Devnani, who became MLA from Ajmer North for the fifth consecutive time, will be made the speaker of the assembly.
• After being elected the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Bhajan Lal Sharma has met Governor Kalraj Mishra and staked claim to form the government. The new government will take oath on 15 December.
• 56 year old Bhajan Lal Sharma is an MLA from Sanganer Assembly seat and after becoming an MLA for the 1^st time, he will now be the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. He is also the state general secretary of BJP.
• It is worth mentioning that since independence, there have been 13 Chief Ministers in Rajasthan. Bhajan Lal Sharma will be the 14^th Chief Minister.
• The record of serving as Chief Minister for the longest period in Rajasthan is held in the name of Ashok Gehlot. He has been the Chief Minister for 15 consecutive years. Mohanlal Sukhadia has been at 2^nd place in the longest tenure.
• Governments have been formed in Rajasthan 25 times since 1949, out of which Congress has formed 20 times, BJP 4 times and Janata Party once. BJP is now going to take power for the fifth time. Till now, President's rule has been imposed in the state thrice.

Deputy Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of Air Traffic Control Room and Terminal Building of Hisar Airport

Why In News?

On December 11, 2023, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth about Rs 280 crore, including the state government's ambitious Maharaja Agrasen Airport in Hisar and also inaugurated several projects.

Key Points

• After laying the foundation stone of an additional building in the existing Civil Building Rest House premises of Hisar, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the rest house of Hisar will be the best rest house of the state, which will have 1 CM suite, 5 VIP suites, 15 rooms of officers and 20 other rooms.
• Nirman Sadan will also be established in the same complex, in which offices of various technical branches of the Public Works Department will be established at one place.
• The Deputy Chief Minister said that the feasibility of an elevated road in Hisar city has been approved by Japan International Cooperation (JICA). There will be 7 entries and 7 exits on this road.
• Urban Local Bodies Minister Dr. Kamal Gupta said that Delhi's IGI Airport is about 5250 acres, while Hisar Airport has been allotted 7200 acres of land.

To crack down on cyber fraud, a list of 50 hotspot areas in 7 states of the country has been prepared

Why In News?

On December 11, 2023, Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapoor said that to prevent cyber fraud, Haryana Police has identified 50 hotspot areas in 7 states across the country, from where cyber fraud cases are being reported.

Key Points

• To deal with these cases, teams have been deployed in these hotspot areas, so that cyber fraud related cases can not only be controlled but also the accused can be reached and action can be taken against them.
• Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapoor said that most cases of cyber fraud are being reported from Rajasthan. There are 21 such hotspot areas in Rajasthan, where these types of fraudsters have been identified.
• Similarly, hotspots have been identified in other states including Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Delhi, West Bengal and Telangana.
• Moving towards cyber security, a team of bank nodal officers along with the team of cyber helpline 1930 is working in solidarity to ensure that cyber fraud money freezes in Golden Hour in coordination with the bank personnel in case of cyber frauds.

CM Hemant Soren laid the foundation stone of 5308 Schemes

Why In News?

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren laid the foundation stone of 5308 schemes worth Rs 835 crore in the ‘Aapki Yojana-Aapki Sarkar-Aapke Dwar’ program organised at Bada Dhaka of Heth Koraiya Panchayat of Dumka Sadar Block on December 12, 2023.

Key Points

• On this occasion, while inaugurating 50 schemes worth Rs 199.38 lakh, the Chief Minister said that the 3rd phase of 'Aapki Yojana-Aapki Sarkar-Aapke Dwar' program is going on in the state from November 24 to December 29.
• The Chief Minister said that many ambitious schemes including Sarvajan Pension, Guru Ji Student Credit Card, Abua Awas, Mukhyamantri Pashudhan Yojana, Savitribai Phule Yojana have been implemented.
• The Chief Minister said that a target has been set to establish 5000 excellent schools in the state for quality education. At present 80 excellent schools are running in the state.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that 800 kilometres of rural roads will be constructed in Dumka at a cost of Rs 650 crore, while 650 kilometres of roads will be built through the Road Construction Department at a cost of Rs 1000 crore.
• The Chief Minister said that 20 lakh additional green ration cards have been made for the poor of the state. Now 1 kg pulses will also be provided to these card holders.

Unity Mall will be built in Jwalapur, one shop each from all the States will be included

Why In News?

On December 12, 2023, Uttarakhand Finance Minister Premchand Aggarwal said that Unity Mall will be built in Jwalapur, Haridwar at a cost of Rs 164 crore, in which all the states of the country will have one shop each.

Key Points

• Finance Minister Premchand Aggarwal said that Haridwar Roorkee Development Authority will soon build this Unity Mall in Jwalapur on Haridwar-Delhi Highway.
• He said that with the opening of Unity Mall, the tourists and devotees coming to Haridwar will be able to get the famous handicrafts & traditional clothes of not only Uttarakhand but any state of the country under one roof while returning home.
• He said that a place has been identified for the mall near Ranipur Jhal. Starting from DPR, the design has also been finalized.
• With the opening of Unity Mall, traditional products of Uttarakhand will also get a new identity. An open cinema hall will also be built in the multi-storey mall, in which short plays or films can be watched from any floor.