State PCS

• 14 Mar 2022

Hindi Sahitya Sammelan

Why in News

• The two-day 73rd Annual Convention of Hindi Sahitya Sammelan was organized at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh from March 12 to 13, 2022.

Key Points

• It is worth mentioning that in the 111-year history of the convention, so far seven conventions have been held in Prayagraj. The last convention was held here in 1994.
• In this session, two sessions were held on literature and the Rashtriya Sahitya Parishad (National Language Council).
• Under the Sahitya Parishad, in the first session, various litterateurs gave their views on the role of literature in the freedom movement.
• In the second session, the topic 'National Education Policy and National Language' was discussed under the Rashtrabhasha Parishad.
• Scholars from all over the country stressed on linking Hindi language with employment and said that if a person studying Hindi gets employment, then its acceptance will also increase.

Film 'The Kashmir Files' Tax Free in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News

• The State Government has exempted the Hindi feature film 'The Kashmir Files' from the State Goods and Services Tax for its exhibition in Madhya Pradesh, keeping in view the plot and other special social useful qualities.

Key Points

• In the order issued by the Commercial Tax Department, this exemption has been given from March 14 to September 13. This relaxation for the audience will be applicable on film screenings at all locations including single screen theaters and multiplexes.
• It is worth mentioning that the Haryana govt. has already made this film tax free. Along with Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat has also made this film tax free.
• The Film is directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, a member of the Central Board of Film Certification.
• Tickets of the film will be sold to the audience by deducting the amount of State Goods Service Tax (SGST) by the respective cinemas/multiplexes to take advantage of the reimbursement in the exemption given on this film.
• There will be no increase in the prevailing general admission fee of the respective cinemas/multiplexes for the screening of the film. The amount of State Goods and Services Tax payable on this service will be borne by the multiplex/theatre itself.
• An amount equal to the share of State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) due and paid will be reimbursed by the State Government.
• 'The Kashmir Files' tells the story of pain, suffering, struggle, migration and trauma of Kashmiri Hindus.
• The director of the film Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri is originally from Madhya Pradesh. He has also lived in Bhopal for many years. The film, directed by him, has other actors including noted actor Anupam Kher.

Indore-Gondia-Hyderabad Flight Launched

Why in News

• On March 13, 2022, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Indore-Gondia-Hyderabad flight through video conferencing. This flight has been started by Fly Big Airlines.

Key Points

• Flights have been started from Indore to Ahmedabad, Goa, Pune. Along with this, flights have been started from Bhopal to Pune, Jabalpur and Gwalior to Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai and Jabalpur to Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that places of tourist and religious importance in the state would be connected by air services and helicopter services.
• Helicopter service will be started from Khajuraho to Panna Tiger Reserve, Jabalpur to Kanha, Khajuraho to Orchha, Gwalior to Shivpuri and historical places of Morena, Indore to Maheshwar etc.

Indian Tent Turtle

Why in News

• According to the information received from the study of scientists of the Zoological Survey of India, due to illegal sand mining and smuggling in the Narmada river, the Indian Tent Turtles found in it are on the verge of extinction.

Key Points

• Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India have said that these turtles have completely disappeared from the area around Harda and Khandwa along with the confluence of Narmada-Tawa river 'Bandrabhan'.
• These turtles, known as natural cleaners, survive by eating moss and algae etc. and increase the amount of oxygen in the water.
• Zoological Survey of India scientist Pratyush Mohapatra, who is researching turtles, said that five years ago, turtles were found on the banks of Narmada near Narmadapuram, Harda and Khandwa from Jabalpur, which were not visible in January this year.
• The female tortoise goes to her residence by laying eggs in the sand, which are incubated in summer. Illegal mining of sand is disrupting their breeding.
• Pangshura tentoria or Indian tent turtles are found in Narmada. It is a species of tortoise found in India and Bangladesh.
• In view of the danger looming over them, they have been kept in Schedule-I.

Foundation Stone of Adventure Tourism Center in Village Damdama

Why in News

• On March 12, 2022, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar laid the foundation stone of Adventure Tourism Center in Damdama village of Gurugram district to promote tourism in the state.

Key Points

• Along with this, he also flagged off the two-day Haryana Aero Sports Carnival organized by Haryana Tourism and Aero Club of India.
• The Chief Minister also released the brochure of Center for Adventure Tourism, Damdama on the occasion. He honored Dr. Supriya Dhanda, Professor of History in Government College, Faridabad with the Outstanding Women Achievers Award given by the Department of Women and Child Development.
• This adventure tourism center of Damdama will be developed on about 19 acres of land, for which Haryana Tourism Department has coordinated with Aero Club of India.
• To be started in Damdama, a village in the lap of Aravalli, an infrastructure will be created for various adventure activities which will include camping sites, air strip for paramotors, aero sports activities, cafeteria and other activities.
• Continuous efforts are being made by the state government to promote tourism. Recently adventure sports were also started in Tikkartal of Morni.
• The Haryana government has planned to open 1000 nurseries in the state to motivate the children towards sports from the very beginning. These nurseries will be established in government and private schools, besides in sports departments, so that children become physically and mentally strong as well as character.

Mainpat Festival 2022

Why in News

• Mainpat Mahotsav 2022 was organized near Ropakhar reservoir at Mainpat, a major tourist destination of Surguja district, from March 11 to 13, 2022.

Key Points

• The festival was inaugurated by Chhattisgarh's Culture Minister Amarjit Bhagat in the presence of local artists and eminent artists.
• At the conclusion of the festival, C-Mart operated in Ambikapur and Humic Acid manufacturing unit at Sohga Gothan were inaugurated. Along with this the Gothan calendar was also released.
• Mainpat Mahotsav is organized every year with the aim of promoting the culture and tourism of Surguja.
• Wrestling competition was also organized for the first time in this festival. Along with this, adventure sports, boating, parasailing and a fair were organized for three days.
• On the last day of the festival, Pahari Korwa Archery Competition was organized by the Tribal Development Department at Eklavya Vidyalaya Ground, in which 33 participants from 7 blocks of the district participated.

Embankment on Kali river

Why in News

• Recently, District Magistrate of Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, Dr. Ashish Chauhan said that the work of embankment construction has started to save Indian land from the havoc of Kali river.

Key Points

• The embankment with a length of 936 meters and a width of three meters will be built from Ghatkhola to Khokhila in Dharchula.
• It is noteworthy that the Kali river, which determines the Indo-Nepal border, causes heavy erosion in this area.
• Due to the embankment on the Nepal side and the absence of embankment in India, the Kali river causes large-scale erosion every year, as a result of which the river is flowing and eroding towards India.
• The Kali River (also known as Mahakali, Kaliganga or Sharda) flows through Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
• This river originates from a place called Kalapani in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. On its upper course, this river forms the continuous eastern border of India with Nepal.

Typhonium Inopinatum

Why in News

• Recently, in the Biodiversity Report of Flora and Fauna released by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, it has been said that a plant of Typhonium inopinatum has been found in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee campus.

Key Points

• This Biodiversity Report released by the Wildlife Institute of India is the first such document on the biodiversity of the IIT Roorkee campus.
• According to Professor Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, Director, EIT, the botanical survey conducted for five months has revealed the presence of trees, shrubs and herbs as well as plants related to wood and vines of herbs.
• Typhonium inopinatum is a medicinal plant belonging to the Araceae (Arum) family. Its root is used to make medicine. It is used for cold, sore throat, congestion and other conditions.