State PCS

• 16 Mar 2024

Smart Prepaid Meter Installed in Bihar

Why in News?

Recently, the North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL) reached the milestones of the fastest 10 lakh Smart Prepaid Meter (SPM) installation in Muzaffarpur and Motihari Circles.

Key Points

• The 10 lakh SPMs in both Muzaffarpur and Motihari Circles were installed in a record 14 months.
• The NBPDCL also accomplished the feat of saturation of the first rural division of Muzaffarpur Urban-2 Division.
  • This means that 100% of households in the Muzaffarpur Urban-2 Division are covered by the SPM.

Prepaid Smart Meters

• These are the new generation of energy meters that are used to record electricity consumption in real time.
• As they are connected to the internet, users and utilities can easily track and monitor electricity usage and get accurate bills.
• Their remote meter reading capabilities completely eliminate the need for manual inspection, making them highly efficient and convenient.

Centre Sanctions Rs 972 Crore for Roads Development in Rajasthan

Why in News?

Recently, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has sanctioned 972.80 crore rupees for widening roads in Rajasthan.

Key Points

• The amount has been sanctioned for widening and strengthening work of 31 major district roads and State Highways.
• Rs 384.56 crore have been sanctioned for construction work of 7 Road Over Bridge/Road Under Bridge/Flyovers in various districts under Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) Setu Bandhan Yojana.

Setu Bandhan Yojana

• The "Setu Bandhan Scheme" is a program initiated by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, aimed at facilitating the construction of Rail Over Bridges (ROBs), Rail Under Bridges (RUBs), and Bridges on State Roads.
• This program is designed to enhance road safety by replacing existing level crossings with bridges, ultimately reducing accidents at these locations.

Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF)

• The Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (earlier known as Central Road Fund) was established in 2000 under Central Road Fund Act, 2000.
• The fund comprises a cess imposed along with excise duty on petrol and diesel.
• The administrative control of the CRIF falls under the Ministry of Finance.
• Earlier it was under the domain of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Uttarakhand Approved Forest Panchayat Amendment Rules

Why in News?

Recently, in an effort to make Van (Forest) Panchayats strong and self-reliant, the Uttarakhand government during a cabinet meeting approved the Forest Panchayat Amendment Rules, under which the British-era ‘Acts of Forest Panchayat’ have been amended.

Key Points

• According to the new rules, a nine-member forest panchayat will be formed, which will have the rights to participate in herbal production, tree planting, water harvesting, forest fire prevention, eco-tourism.
• For the first time three-tier local bodies have also been linked to the forest management of Van Panchayat.
  • The concept of van panchayat- legally demarcated village forests which are managed and its natural resources shared by village communities introduced in 1921.
• Uttarakhand is the only state in India where the van panchayat system is implemented.
  • It is a historical community forest management organisation which has been operating since the year 1930.
  • At present, 11,217 forest panchayats are in the state of which have 4.52 lakh hectares of forest area.
• The cabinet gave approval to the ‘Uttarakhand Clean Mobility Transformation Policy’ with an aim to improve public transport in urban areas and reduce pollution caused by old diesel fueled buses and three wheeler tempos.
  • The policy would be first implemented in Dehradun and thereafter extended to other districts.

Uttarakhand Launches Development Schemes in Gopeshwar

Why in News?

Recently, Uttarakhand Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development schemes worth Rs 229.3 crores.

Key Points

• The development schemes were launched in the 'Beneficiary Honor Ceremony' organized at the Police Ground Gopeshwar in Chamoli district.
• During the occasion, the Chief Minister also made several announcements for the development of the district, which include:
  • the early completion of the construction work of the Hapla-Dhotidhar motor road,
  • government and financial approval for the construction of motor road from kilometre one of Baitarni-Sirkhoma-Sentuna-Bairagana motor road to Setuna in Dasholi block from Gopeshwar temple road,
  • construction of hanging bridge on Ramganga river from Ganganagar Mai temple to Bhairav Tok under Lambagad in Karnaprayag,
  • establishment of Gau-Sarakshan Seva in four development blocks in Tharali assembly and approval of Center of Excellence in public interest in Tharali Kulsari.
• The Chief Minister also handed over the keys to beneficiaries of the houses constructed under Atal Awas Yojana.
  • Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), a cheque of 60 thousand was given to Neelam Devi under the second installment.
  • Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), the keys of the house were given to Sangeeta Devi and Guddi Devi.
• Under the Chief Minister's Self-Employment Scheme, Rajeshwari Devi and Narendra Singh were given cheques of contribution amount of Rs 50,000 each.
• Under women empowerment, Mandodari Devi was given a Mahalakshmi kit.
  • For remarkable work, Yuvak Mangal Dal Bura was given cheques of Rs 75,000 and Mahila Mangal Dal Ala Jokhna was given cheques of incentive amount of Rs 37,500.
  • A cheque of Rs 20 lakh was given to Devbhoomi Matsya Jeevi Sahakarita Samiti.

Ministry of Minority Affairs Approves Projects Under PMJVK Scheme

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has approved projects under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) Scheme for ‘Establishment of Centre for Jain Studies in Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), Indore Campus with the total estimated cost of Rs. 25 crore.

Key Points

• These projects were approved for strengthening infrastructural development pertaining to development of Jain philosophy, fostering academic collaboration, promoting interdisciplinary research, preservation of language via digitisation of manuscripts, community outreach via hubs establishment.
• The project by the university will be undertaken for preservation and promotion of Jain Heritage, enhancing global understanding of Jainism and its principles and practices and developing a support for community engagement.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK Scheme)

• The Central Government renamed and restructured the Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) as Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK).
• The programme aims to develop socio-economic and basic amenities assets like school, college, polytechnic, girls hostel, ITI, skill development centre etc for the minority communities.

Jainism

• It came to prominence in the 6^th century BC, when Lord Mahavira propagated the religion.
• There were 24 great teachers, the last of whom was Lord Mahavira.
• These twenty-four teachers were called Tirthankaras-people who had attained all knowledge (Moksha) while living and preached it to the people.
• The first Tirthankara was Rishabnatha.

Jain Literature

• Jain literature is classified into two major categories:
  • Agam Literature: Lord Mahavir's preaching was methodically compiled by his followers into many texts. These texts are collectively known as Agams, the sacred books of the Jain religion. Agam literature is also divided into two groups: Ang-agama and Ang-bahya-agams.
  • Non-agam Literature: This consists of commentary and explanation of Agam literature and independent works, compiled by elder monks, nuns, and scholars.
    • They are written in many languages such as Prakrit, Sanskrit, Old Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannad, Tamil, German, and English.