• 18 Feb 2022

Orientation Program in Bihar Legislature

Why in News

• On February 17, 2022, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar addressed an Orientation Program organized for the members of the Legislature in the Central Hall located in the extended building of the Bihar Legislature.

Key Points

• The theme of the Orientation Program was 'Orientation and Responsibility of Legislators in the Journey of Democracy'.
• This program has been organized under the joint aegis of Parliamentary Democracy Research and Training Institute, Lok Sabha and Bihar Vidhan Sabha, Secretariat on the occasion of centenary year and foundation day of Bihar Vidhan Sabha building.
• The first Orientation Program was held in 2006, in which the then Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee Margate Alva participated. At that time the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly was Uday Narayan Choudhary.
• The second Orientation Program organized in 2011, was attended by the then Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley. The Third Orientation Program was attended by Parliamentary Affairs expert JC. Malhotra.
• It is worth mentioning that on March 22, 1912, Bihar and Orissa were separated from Bengal and in 1920 it got statehood. The first meeting of the Legislature was held on February 7, 1921. Several programs were organized recently to commemorate the completion of 100 years of the Legislature Building.
• President Ram Nath Kovind attended the program organized in October 2021. He had laid the foundation stone of the Shatabdi Smriti Stambh (Centenary Memorial Pillar) in the Bihar Assembly Complex and planted a baby sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree brought from Bodh Gaya.

Magazine ‘Rajasthan Swayat Shasan’

Why in News

• On February 17, 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot released 'Rajasthan Swayat Shasan (Rajasthan Autonomous Governance), the magazine of the Rajasthan Autonomous Governance Organization.

Key Points

• Congratulating the Chairman of the organization Kewal Chand Gulechha and other office bearers for the publication of the magazine, the Chief Minister said that this magazine would prove to be useful as a reference book for autonomous government institutions as well as other departments.
• The general public will be able to get necessary information regarding the work related to autonomous institutions from this book.
• Secretary of the organization, former IAS Pradeep Borad said that orders, instructions, circulars and other useful information related to autonomous institutions have been included in the magazine.

Stay on 27 Percent OBC Reservation in MPPSC Exam

Why in News

• Recently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has stayed the 27 percent reservation of Backward Classes (OBC) in the MPPSC exam.

Key Points

• The High Court, while issuing notices to the Madhya Pradesh government and MPPSC, has directed to give 14 percent reservation to OBCs. Along with this, clarification has also been sought on giving reservation to 27 percent OBCs.
• It was said in the petition that by giving 27 percent reservation to OBC category, the total reservation would be 63 percent. Which is a violation of the order given in the Indira Sawhney case.
• It is noteworthy that Niharika Tripathi, a student from general category, had filed a petition in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Jabalpur against the 27 percent reservation, challenging the exam results released by the MPPSC on December 31, 2021.
• In August 2021, the Madhya Pradesh government increased the reservation of students from 14 percent to 27 percent for backward classes in the state.
• Hearing the petition filed against the government's increase from 14 percent to 27 percent reservation for OBCs, the Madhya Pradesh High Court gave an interim order in March 2019 to continue the 14 percent reservation for backward class students in the field of medical education as before. Along with this, the High Court had also given an interim order to give 14 percent reservation to OBCs in the selection list of various posts examinations by MPPSC.
• The High Court, while hearing four other petitions, had stayed the 27 percent OBC reservation.
• Petitions were also filed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court in support of OBC reservation, regarding EWS reservation, 27 percent OBC reservation in judicial service, NHM recruitment and women's reservation. All these petitions are being heard in the High Court. Despite this, the Madhya Pradesh government had released the MPPSC exam result with 27 percent reservation on December 31, 2021.

Madhya Pradesh High Court gets 6 New Judges

Why in News

• Recently, Chief Justice of Jabalpur Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court Ravi Kumar Malimath administered the oath of office and secrecy to 6 new judges.

Key Points

• Significantly, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended to the President the appointment of 6 new judges in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. These new judges include 3 senior advocates and 3 judicial officers.
• In the advocate category, senior advocate Maninder Singh Batey of Jabalpur, advocate DD Bansal of Gwalior and advocate Milind Ramesh Phadke of Indore have been appointed as judges in the High Court.
• On the other hand, in the judicial officers category, Chief District Judge of Ujjain Prakash Chandra Gupta, Indore Judicial Officer Dinesh Kumar Paliwal and Balaghat District Judge Amarnath Kesarwani have been made High Court judges.
• The sanctioned strength of judges in the Madhya Pradesh High Court is 53, but there were 29 judges working; after the appointment of 6 new judges, the number of judges in the MP High Court has increased to 35.

Haryana Giving Highest Honorarium to ASHA Workers

Why in News

• On February 17, 2022, a spokesperson of the Haryana Government said that the Haryana Government is very serious about the legitimate demands of the ASHA workers, which are being considered sympathetically.

Key Points

• According to the spokesperson, the Haryana Government is providing better remuneration in various fields, which is highest in the country. In this series, the Haryana government is also on top in giving best remuneration to ASHA workers as compared to other states.
• The state government is giving the highest honorarium to the ASHA workers in the entire country from the state budget.
• At present, a total of 20,001 Asha workers are registered on the Asha Pay-App in Haryana, for whom there is a provision to give 'Performance Based Incentives only after doing various activities, as per the rules of the Government of India, under the National Health Mission.
• However, the Haryana Government has made a provision of Rs 154.45 crore for additional honorarium for ASHA workers from the state budget as follows:
  
  • Rs. 4000 monthly fixed honorarium
  • Additional honorarium of 50 percent of monthly amount earned on work-based basis under National Health Mission.
  • 750 additional honorarium for 7 core activities based on work.
  • Three lakh rupees for the financial assistance of the family after the death of ASHA.
• From March to November, 2021, 5033 (25.16 per cent) ASHA workers have been given honorarium above Rs 10,000 per month, out of which 38 ASHA workers have been given more than Rs 18,000 per month, 318 ASHA workers between Rs 18,000 and Rs 14,000 and 4677 ASHA workers have been given Rs 14,000 to Rs 10,000 per month.
• Similarly, the remaining 14968 ASHA workers have been given Rs 10000 to Rs 6000 per month, out of which the number of ASHA workers taking Rs 6000 per month is only 20 in the entire state.
• At the same time, the National Health Mission (Haryana) has been the first in the country to provide Asha workers with Android based smartphones CUG SIM with 30 GB data and unlimited talk-time. Haryana is the first state in the country to do so.
• It is noteworthy that ASHA workers provide health facilities to the people of the society, but there was no scheme for their health-welfare in the state, that is why the Haryana Government decided to give them the benefit of AB-PMJAY, under this Asha and her family members Facility to get treatment up to five lakh rupees per year will be made available in the registered hospitals by the Haryana government.

Supreme Court Quashes High Court's stay on 75 Percent Reservation in Private Sector

Why in News

• Recently, the Supreme Court quashed the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court that stayed the law granting 75 per cent reservation to local people in the private sector.

Key Points

• Significantly, the Haryana government had filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has asked the High Court to take a decision in this matter within a month and instruct the State Government not to take any coercive step against the employers during this period.
• On January 15, 2021, the Haryana Government had implemented the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020. The law provides 75 per cent reservation in the private sector to job seekers who are 'residents of the state of Haryana'.
• After this, the High Court stayed this decision. Faridabad Industrial Association along with others had told the High Court that their employees are selected on the basis of merit. The High Court was told that if the companies are not able to choose the employees of their choice, then their business will be affected.
• It was argued on behalf of the petitioner in the High Court that if this decision of the government is implemented, then there will be anarchy regarding employment and deserving people will be deprived. The Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed this decision of the government. After this, the Haryana government challenged the decision of the High Court in the Supreme Court.
• Private companies, societies, trusts and partnership firms are also covered under this law and it also applies to jobs that provide a maximum gross monthly salary or wages up to Rs 30,000. The Central or State Governments or any organization owned by these Governments is outside the purview of the Act.

District and State level Competition for Sports Training

Why in News

• On February 17, 2022, the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Jharkhand directed all the district sports officers of the state to organize district and state level selection competitions for worm training.

Key Points

• Talent selection competition 2021-22 will be organized for the selection of trainees in residential (except hockey and archery) and day-boarding sports training centers operating in different districts of the state. This event will be organized from district to state level.
• Under the selection competition, the district level competition will be held in the district headquarters from 21 to 24 February 2022 and the state level competition will be held in Ranchi from 1 to 4 March 2022.
• To participate in this competition, the age limit of the participating boy/girl is mandatory between 10 to 12 years. At the district level, 20 boys and 20 girls will be selected. They will participate in state level competition.
• The selected children who have excelled in the state level competition will have to undergo a medical examination. After that the trainees will be selected according to the vacancy in the residential training centers.
• The selection of trainees in the Talent Selection Competition will be based on Battery Test (NSTC), Norms. Through this test, it will be mandatory for the trainees to have a maximum body weight of 35 kg, height maximum 124 to 153 cm. Trainees will participate in 30m Flying Start, 6'10m Shuttle Run, Ball Throw, Vertical Jump and 800m Run.

Rare Ancient Statue of Yoga Narasimha

Why in News

• On February 17, 2022, a rare ancient idol of Yoga Narasimha, found during pond deepening in village Kumhari under Arang block of Raipur district of Chhattisgarh and was brought to the Ghasidas Memorial Museum in Raipur by the Department of Culture and Archeology.

Key Points

• This ancient idol of Yoga Narasimha is made of red sandstone and is dated back to 4th-5th century AD. During the excavation of the pond, pottery of the Gupta period tradition has also been found.
• It is worth mentioning that on the basis of the news of the discovery of an ancient statue of Narasimha, the Director of Culture and Archeology Department, Vivek Acharya, formed a team of departmental officers and inspected the statue and its receipt. were instructed to do.
• This idol was found on Bhatha land, located near the temple named Bagdhara, in the north of the settlement.
• According to the Department of Archeology, this is a unique and rare idol. It is also called Narasimha or Shanta Narasimha. In such a posture the deity is depicted sitting alone in silence. Usually the idol of Narasimha killing Hiranyakashyap is found in abundance, but the sculpture of this form of Narasimha is relatively less.
• The size of this idol made of red sandstone is 18×12.5×02 cm, the lower part of which is partially fractured.

Gadh Kaleva Chowpatty

Why in News

• On February 17, 2022, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel gave instructions to start Gadh Kaleva Chowpatty for Chhattisgarhi and local cuisine in all district headquarters. In this episode, the Vice-Chairman of Surguja Development Authority and Ramanujganj MLA Brihaspat Singh inaugurated Gadh Kaleva Chowpatty at District Headquarters Balrampur.

Key Points

• While emphasizing on making women self-help groups self-supporting, MLA Brihaspat Singh said that Garh Kaleva Chowpatty has been started in the district headquarters by the Chhattisgarh government ensuring the participation of women self-help groups.
• With the opening of Gad Kalewa Chowpatty in the district headquarters, people will be able to taste Chhattisgarhi cuisine as well as local delicacies.
• In this Gadh Kaleva Chowpatty, stalls of various dishes have been set up by Lakshmi Self Help Group, Mango Self Help Group, Jeevan Palan Self Help Group, Durga Self Help Group and Shivshakti Self Help Group.

Voting In Uttarakhand

Why in News

• In the recently concluded Uttarakhand assembly elections, nine districts have registered an increase in the voting percentage, while four districts have seen a decline. Chamoli district has seen the highest increase in polling percentage, while Udham Singh Nagar is at number one among the declining districts.

Key Points

• With the active participation of women voters in the assembly elections, some of the districts were able to make their place in the list of districts with the highest voter turnout. A total voter turnout of 65.37 per cent was recorded in the state, out of which women polled 67.20 per cent and men 62.60 per cent.
• There were a total 75 lakh 12 thousand 559 voters in the 2017 assembly elections out of which 49 lakh 24 thousand 993 had cast their votes. This time 53 lakh 42 thousand 462 have cast their vote out of total 81 lakh 72 thousand 173. In 2017, out of 39 lakh 33 thousand 564 males, 24 lakh 44 thousand 759, i.e. 62.15 percent casted their vote for the first time.
• This time out of 42 lakh 38 thousand 890 males, 26 lakh 53 thousand 642, that is, 62.60 percent males have casted their vote. In the 2017 election, out of 35 lakh 78 thousand 810 women, 24 lakh 80 thousand 218, i.e 69.30 percent, casted their vote. This time out of 39 lakh 32 thousand 995 women, 26 lakh 42 thousand 930, i.e. 67.20 percent women have voted.
• In this year's assembly elections in Uttarakhand, the voting percentage increased in 35 out of 70 assembly seats and decreased in 35 seats as compared to 2017. Of the seats where there has been a decline, a large number of seats are from the plain districts.