State PCS

• 16 Nov 2022

New Technology of Clothes Made from Enzymes

Why in News?

On November 16, 2022, Director, Department of Uttar Pradesh Institute of Textile Technology, Dr. G. Nalan Killi said that the scientist of the department, Prof. AK Patra has discovered a new technique to prepare clothes of favorite color and design from enzymes instead of chemicals. It has also been successfully used in the lab.

Key Points

• Prof. Patra said that clothes made with enzyme technology will not harm the human body and environment. In this, environmental friendly enzymes are used as an alternative to various chemicals.
• He said that in case the cloth is damaged or thrown away, this enzyme will mix it in the soil and make it fertile. This enzyme will not harm water or the human body either.
• It is worth mentioning that Kanpur-based scientist Prof. Patra is the head of the Department of Textile Chemistry at the Uttar Pradesh Institute of Textile Technology. He has listed more than 800 such chemicals, which are being used in the textile industry and harmful to the environment. His research paper has been published in a prestigious Journal of England.
• For such works, including finding techniques to protect textiles from chemicals, Prof. Patra will be honoured with the world's highest textile award. The award will be given to him by England's 'The Society of Dyer and Colorist'. Prof. Patra will be the first scientist in the country to receive the Chartered Colourist Award.
• It is noteworthy that the Chartered Colorist Award is given for research in textiles and outstanding work in the academic field.

66th State Level Hockey Competition

Why in News?

On November 15, 2022, Rajasthan Sports and Youth Affairs and Public Relations Minister Ashok Chandna inaugurated the 66^th State Level Under-17 Student Hockey Competition being held at Government Higher Secondary School of Gram Panchayat Lava in Sub-Division Malpura of Tonk district.

Key Points

• Highlighting the importance of sports, Ashok Chandna said that the environment of sports eliminates the trend of drugs among the youth and reduces crimes.
• He informed that more than 600 players in the state have been given government jobs by the state government so far. All the players have made the country proud by participating in the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. For the first time, the Rajasthan women's team has won the title by performing brilliantly at the international level in volleyball.
• He said that on the demand of the players and villagers of Lava, it has been announced to get the work done under Major Dhyan Chand Yojana for the construction of mini sports stadium in Government Higher Secondary School Lava and an amount of Rs 50 lakh has been announced for mini stadium on its behalf.

Online Portal for Academic Session 2022-23 of Ambedkar DBT Voucher Scheme

Why in News?

On November 15, 2022, Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Tikaram Juli launched the portal for submission of online applications for the academic session 2022-23 of the Ambedkar DBT Voucher Scheme run by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Key Points

• Tikaram Juli said that the department will provide Rs.2000 per month (for a maximum of 10 months) under the Ambedkar DBT voucher scheme as reimbursement for facilities like accommodation, food and water for students (who stay away from home and study at another place by renting a room or as paying guest) studying in all Graduate and Post Graduate colleges (only for academic courses- arts, science and commerce faculty) run by the district headquarters.
• He said that the benefit of the scheme will be payable to the students of SC, ST, OBC, MBC, EWS and Minority studying regularly in undergraduate or postgraduate classes of government colleges in the academic session 2022-23 .
• Under this scheme, 1500 students of Scheduled Castes, 1500 of Scheduled Tribes, 750 of Other Backward Classes, 750 of Most Backward Classes, 500 students of Economically Backward Classes and 500 students of Minority Classes will be benefited.
• The Social Justice and Empowerment Minister said that the system of submitting online applications of students has been implemented in the scheme. A detailed description of the general guidelines is available on the department's website http://sje.rajasthan.gov.in.
• He said that after thorough examination of the applications received online by the government college where the student is currently studying, the application form will be sent to the sanctioning officer (Departmental District Officer) and the approver officers will approve the complete applications received from the educational institutions online and the prescribed amount will be paid thorough DBT in the student's account.
• To be benefited under the scheme, according to the district-wise, class-wise and faculty-wise goals, approval will be given to the concerned Deputy Director/Director as per rules. The Assistant Director (District Magistrate) will be issued by the Social Justice and Empowerment Department. The candidate will be will be paid every month.

Sahitya Puraskar of Sindhi Sahitya Akademi

Why in News?

On November 15, 2022, Rajesh Kumar Wadhwani, Director of Madhya Pradesh Sindhi Sahitya Akademi, said that the Akademi has announced the prestigious honors and awards to be given in the field of Sindhi literature. Sahitya Gaurav Samman established in the name of Sant Shiromani Hirdaram ji will be given for the year 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Key Points

• Amar Goplani of Indore will be awarded the Sahitya Gaurav Samman for the year 2019, KT Dadlani of Bhopal for the year 2020 and Bhagwan Babani of Bhopal for the year 2021.
• Rs 1 lakh will be given under Sahitya Gaurav Samman and Rs 21,000 in all other award categories.
• Krishna Khatwani Smriti Best Prose Work Award will be given to Gop Golani's work 'Jogan Ji Preet' for the year 2019, Asudo Lachhwani's work 'Suhinon Supino' and Dr. Nadia Masand's work 'Maa, Minto ain Nafsiyat' for the year 2020.
• Khiladas Begwani Smriti Best Poetry Award will be given to- Rashmi Ramani's work 'Maa Hik Sindhin' for the year 2019, Kanhaiyalal Motwani Mando's work 'Aas Ja Kakh' for the year 2020 and NandKumar Sanmukhani's work 'Nawan Pan' for the year 2021.
• The Gavanti Navani Smriti Best Singer Award will be given to Sarla Nagdev for the year 2019, Nisha Chellaney for the year 2020 and Priya Gianchandani for the year 2021.
• Master Chandra Smriti Best Singer Award will be given to Govardhandas Udasi (Balak Mandali) for the year 2019, Ramesh Kumar Tanwani for the year 2020 and Dilip Lalwani for the year 2021.
• Best Drama Director or Best Artist Award will be given to - Parasram Nathani for the year 2019, OP Asoodani for the year 2020 and Kavita for the year 2021.
• The Best Young Writer Award will be given to Gulab Ladhani for the year 2019, Rakesh Shevani for the year 2020 and Kiran Pariyani for the year 2021.
• The director of the academy told that soon this honor and award will be given by organizing a felicitation ceremony.

Golden Card Distribution Programme Under Ayushman Bharat Scheme to Be Launched in Manesar

Why in News?

According to the information received from Haryana Information, Public Relations and Language Directorate on November 15, 2022, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will issue golden cards to the beneficiaries by launching the Golden Card Distribution Program in Manesar on November 21 to make golden cards under Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

Key Points

• The Haryana government has also started giving benefits to such needy families of the state under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, whose names were not recorded in the Social, Economic and Caste Census (SECC) data of the year 2011.
• Health services are constantly being strengthened and expanded by the government to provide the benefit of health facilities to every person. Therefore, under the guidance of the Chief Minister, the state government has taken a big step and decided to give the benefit of Ayushman Bharat Scheme to all such families, whose annual income is up to Rs 1.80 lakh, apart from the families included in the SECC list in the state.
• Apart from SECC data, the expenditure of up to Rs 5 lakh of other families to be included in this scheme will be borne by the state government.
• It is noteworthy that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government had announced the 'Ayushman Bharat Yojana' in 2018, which was aimed at providing health facilities to the needy and deprived in the country.
• In the state too, the benefit of this scheme is being given to the eligible beneficiaries as per the SECC list, but the Chief Minister has increased the annual income limit of BPL families from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 1.80 lakh with the aim of providing the benefit of Ayushman Bharat Scheme to more and more poor families.
• It is to be noted that according to the parameters of the Central Government, 15,51,798 families in Haryana were being covered in this scheme, but the state government increased the scope of the scheme, due to which now 28 lakh families of the state will get the benefit of this scheme. All these families will also be provided free medical facilities up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
• So far, 28,89,036 Ayushman cards have been made in Haryana. A total of 715 hospitals are empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the state, including 539 private hospitals and 176 government hospitals. Through these hospitals, the needy persons are getting the benefit of health facilities.

Uttarakhand Earthquake Alert App to Be Upgraded

Why in News?

On November 15, 2022, Piyush Rautela, Executive Director, Uttarakhand Disaster Management Authority, informed that the mobile application 'Uttarakhand Earthquake Alert' app developed by the State Disaster Management Authority, Disaster Management Department (USDMA) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee will be upgraded. For this, a proposal of Rs 58 crore has been sent to the central government by USDMA .

Key Points

• Uttarakhand is the first state in the country to develop an early earthquake warning system.
• Girish Joshi, senior disaster management expert at the World Bank project, said the earthquake alert app works on a sensor-based system. So far, there are about 163 sensors installed in the state from Chakrata to Pithoragarh, based on the input received from which the 'Alert App' beeps in the event of an earthquake, but there is a need to increase the sensors to develop an accurate warning system. Sensors will be installed at 350 new locations in different parts of the state to upgrade the Uttarakhand Earthquake Alert app.
• He informed that in the coming time the existing network would be made more intensive by installing more than 500 sensors in the state. The objective is to have at least one sensor at a minimum distance of 5-10 km. Not only Uttarakhand, the surrounding states including Delhi will also be benefited by these sensors.
• Seismologist Girish Joshi said that when an earthquake occurs, P waves and S waves travel towards the upper surface (ground landscape) in different directions from the center. The P wave travels faster and triggers sensors mounted in the landscape. The data from the sensor reaches the control room and an alert is issued immediately. In this way, the user gets an alert through the mobile app.
• The USDMA claims that an alert was received on some mobile phones in Delhi, including Uttarakhand, about the 5.4 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal on November 12. The alert was received on those mobiles that updated the app from time to time.