• 18 Apr 2022

Tourist facilitation center will be built at every pilgrimage place in Mathura

Why In News?

Recently, Uttar Pradesh Teerth Vikas Parishad has decided to set up a Tourist Facilitation Center (Tourist Facilitation Center) in view of the ever-increasing number of devotees.

Key Points

• Under the scheme, all the centers will be built on one hectare of land.
• It is worth mentioning that till now eight pilgrimage sites have been declared in the 10 square kilometer area of the birthplace of Shri Krishna.
• Tourist Facilitation Center is already available in Vrindavan, under which the following facilities are available-
  
  • 55 bus parking facility
  • 100-100 beds arranged in four halls
  • Own kitchen facility, canteen etc. for devotees.

Mithila's 'Rohu'

Why In News?

Recently, a team of fish experts has been constituted by the Bihar government as part of efforts to get GI tag to 'Rohu' of Mithila.

Key Points

• This 'Rohu' is found in the old ponds of Darbhanga and Madhubani districts of Mithilanchal in Bihar.
• The taste of this fish is quite different from the others, due to the climate, the silt of the old puddles and the fruit trees along the banks.
• The annual growth rate of fish production in Bihar is 7%, however, considering the geography of Bihar, there are immense possibilities in the field of fish production.
• It is worth mentioning that this team has been formed on the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister cum Animal and Fisheries Resource Minister Tarkishore Prasad.

L-Root server established in Rajasthan

Why In News?

Recently, as an initiative to promote e-governance by the State Government, L-Route Server has been installed at Bhamashah State Data Center.

Key Points

• This server has been installed by the state government in association with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
• With this ICANN root server, Rajasthan is no longer dependent on any root server for the domain name system.
• After this arrangement, now if there is a problem in internet connectivity due to any technical glitch or natural calamity in the whole of Asia or India, it will continue to run without any interruption in Rajasthan. Along with this, high speed internet connectivity will also be ensured.
• Significantly, Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to set up an L-Root server.

National Vanmali Story Award

Why In News?

On April 17, 2022, the three-day National Vanmali Katha Award ceremony was held at Rabindra Bhawan, Bhopal.

Key Points

• This literary award has been instituted by Vanmali Srijan Peeth and Rabindranath Thakur University (RNTU) in the memory of Hindi writer Jagannath Prasad Choubey Vanmali.
• It is worth noting that these awards were announced on April 14, 2022, under which Vanmali Katha Apex Samman Prof. Dhananjay Verma and Vanmali National Story Award was given to Geetanjalishree. The two awards were given a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh each, a shawl and a citation.
• Apart from this Vanmali Katha Madhya Pradesh Samman was given to Bhopal's famous writer Hari Bhatnagar, Vanmali Yuva Katha Samman to Bangalore's young writer Chandan Pandey, Vanmali Katha criticism award to Vaibhav Singh of Delhi and Vanmali literature magazine Samman to Kathadesh, a monthly magazine published from Delhi.
• The two new categories included this year include Vanmali Pravasi Bharatiya Katha Samman, London's Divya Mathur and Vanmali Science fiction award to Delhi-based science writer Devendra Mewari. The awards included a cash prize of Rs 51,000, a shawl and a citation.

Women SHGs outlet inaugurated at Raja Bhoj Airport

Why In News?

On April 17, 2022, Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the allotted outlet at the airport to promote women self-help groups at Raja Bhoj Airport, Bhopal.

Key Points

• This women self-help group outlet has been launched under the Opportunity Program of the Government of India.
• It is noteworthy that this scheme has been started to make local products available for sale at all airports and to provide new employment opportunities to the local people.
• Its purpose is to encourage the talents of women and craftsmen as well as provide them suitable opportunities.
• Under this scheme, space is being allotted to self-help groups one by one for a period of 15 days in a designated area of ​​100-200 square feet in Airports operated by Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Recovery of Mahabharata period sand and crystals

Why In News?

Recently, during the excavation of Saraswati Sarovar in village Biholi in Kurukshetra, sand and crystals of Mahabharata have been found.

Key Points

• According to the research of ONGC and Central Water Commission, this sand is found on the course of Saraswati river.
• It is noteworthy that such sand and crystals have also been found in the course of Saraswati river in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• It is said in the Vedas and Mahabharata that the Saraswati river dried up in the desert (possibly the Thar desert). Although the Hindu opinion is that the river Saraswati still flows underground and meets the Ganges and Yamuna at Prayagraj. Some historians believe that the Helmand River in southern Afghanistan is similar to the Saraswati River.
• During the Indus Civilization, Saraswati was a large river, which received water from the Sutlej and Yamuna. But due to the geological movements in this region, Yamuna got separated from the Indus system. After this the flow of water in Saraswati decreased and its drainage area decreased and it dried up.

Ninth National Race Walk Championship

Why In News?

The Ninth National Race Walk Championship concluded on 17th April, 2022 in Ranchi city of Jharkhand.

Key Points

• Under this championship, 35 and 10 km. A walk was organized.
• 35 kms. Five athletes won medals in the event, breaking the national record. In its men's section, Haryana's Junaid, UP's Rambabu and Uttarakhand's Chandan Singh, while in women's section, Punjab's Ramandeep and Manju broke the old record.
• In the men's section, Junaid clocked 2.40.16 seconds, while in the women's section, Ramandeep clocked 3.00.04 seconds to win the gold medal.

National Tribal Literature Festival, 2022

Why In News?

On April 17, 2022, Tribal and Scheduled Caste Development Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam informed that on April 19, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel would inaugurate a three-day National Tribal Literature Festival at Pandit Deendayal Auditorium, Raipur.

Key Points

• Along with the National Tribal Literature Festival, a state level art and painting and tribal dance festival will be organized under the auspices of the Tribal Research and Training Institute.
• Padmashree Damayanti Besara, Padmashree Haldhar Nag, Padmashree Saki Neti Ramachandra (Koya tribe) related to the preservation and development of folk culture will be specially involved in its opening ceremony.
• On the first day of this festival, on April 19, in the first session, a research paper was presented on the topic of tribal literature, linguistics and translation, tribal identity in tribal literature and depiction of tribal life in tribal literature and relevance of the oral tradition of tribal societies and diversity and challenges in tribal literature.
• On the second day, 20th April, research papers will be presented on gender related issues in tribal literature, tribal art literature, socio-cultural conflict in tribal literature, issues of tribal literature, challenges and possibilities and issues and challenges of tribal development.
• In the fifth session on the third day, 21 April, research papers on tribal freedom fighters (their struggle, role and contribution in the Indian independence movement) will be presented.
• Various dance forms of Chhattisgarh, such as Shaila, Sarhul, Karma, Sondo, Kuduk, Dussehra Karma, marriage dance, Madai dance, Garvsingh Gedi, Karsad, Mandari, Dandar etc. will be performed in the festival. Along with this, under the program, theatrical performances based on tribal culture and tribal great men and Krantiveer, Gundadhur, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh will be done by eminent artists.

Advocacy to make Pantnagar International Green Field Airport

Why In News?

Recently, Union Minister of State for Defense and Tourism, Ajay Bhatt, in connection with the expansion of Pantnagar Airport in Udham Singh Nagar district, to build a new green field airport, and to install modern equipment under IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) to the airport, A letter has been written to Scindia.

Key Points

• Union Minister of State Ajay Bhatt informed that apart from completing all the formalities for the development of a new green field airport at Pantnagar in Udham Singh Nagar, land has been transferred as per rules.
• It is worth mentioning that along with Integrated Industrial Estate, many big industries are established in SIDCUL area near Pantnagar.
• Apart from this, there are many religious and tourist places including Nanak Sagar Dam, Kausani, Maa Poornagiri Siddhapeeth, Chitai Golu Devta Temple, Pandukholi, Mahavatar Baba's Cave, Munsiyari, Chowkdi, Dwarahat, Siddhapeeth of Dunagiri.