• 20 Jan 2023

PG Girl Students in Bihar will get Full Scholarship for Maternity Leave

Why In News?

• On January 19, 2023, the National Medical Commission issued a notice to all medical colleges in Bihar, according to which now students pursuing post-graduate (PG) in medical colleges will also be given scholarships for the time taken to complete their studies after maternity leave.

Key points

• Now if the post graduate (PG) students of medical colleges of Bihar stay in maternity leave, then they will not suffer financial loss. Now these students will get scholarships for the period of time taken to complete their studies after maternity leave.
• It is known that earlier such students used to get the benefit of maternity leave only on humanitarian grounds, but they were not given any scholarship during the completion of their three-year course later.
• Significantly, scholarships are given to the students who have done post-graduation as junior residents. After maternity leave, she has to complete three years of education. The longer she is on leave, her training has to be completed later. They are given degrees only after three years of training.
• It is known that there is a three-year post graduate course in government medical college hospitals of Bihar. In this, students are given a scholarship of Rs 68,545 per month in the first year, while in the second year, Rs 75,399 per month is given as scholarship. Similarly, during the third year of training, a scholarship of Rs 82,000 per month is given to the girl students who do post-graduation.

Gandhi Literature and Philosophy Corner Inaugurated in Government Colleges

Why In News?

• On January 19, 2023, Minister of State for Transport and Road Safety and Churu District In-charge Minister Brijendra Singh Ola and District Collector Siddharth Sihag inaugurated Gandhi literature and philosophy corner in collaboration with Prabha Khaitan Foundation at Government SBD College and Government Girls College at Sardarshahar headquarters of the district.

Key points

• Expressing his views on Gandhi philosophy, Minister in-charge Brijendra Singh Ola said that Gandhi's thoughts are becoming more relevant with time. Gandhi gave the world a weapon called Satyagraha and proved that any war of life is possible to be fought even without violence.
• He said that Gandhi literature is a guide. Both means and means should be sacred in life. Following the path shown by Gandhiji, everyone should follow truth and non-violence.
• Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi President and District Convenor of Mahatma Gandhi Jeevan Darshan Samiti Dularam Saharan thanked Prabha Khaitan Foundation and said that Gandhi Darshan is the path of life and Gandhi Literature and Philosophy Corner will prove to be very useful in establishing an atmosphere of non-violence and peace in this atmosphere of unrest and violence.
• He said that books would also be made available in the corner run by Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi as books of Gandhi literature create personality.

Agreement Between Rajasthan Export Promotion Council and Aaroh Consulting for Digitization of Micro and Small Enterprises

Why In News?

• On January 19, 2023, a bilateral agreement between Rajasthan Export Promotion Council and Aaroh Consulting for digitization of micro and small enterprises of Rajasthan was signed by REPC Chairman Rajiv Arora and Arundhati Mukherjee, Director, Aaroh Consulting, at Udyog Bhawan.

Key points

• REPC Chief Executive P.R Sharma said that as per the bilateral agreement, REPC and Aaroh have agreed to cooperate on providing courses and faculty for running programs in areas like digitization and export facilitation for MSMEs across the state.
• Arundhati Mukherjee, founder director of Aaroh Consulting, said the organization will be ready to help grow micro and small enterprises, expand overseas markets and remove MSME tags known as MNCs.
• Aaroh Consulting has over 7 years of experience in supporting MSMEs to expand their markets and automate their processes.
• P.R. Sharma informed that as a part of the agreement, Aaroh will tie-up with technology providers to bring low-cost solutions for digitization of MSMEs of all sizes. It will also develop an agenda for training and provide qualified and experienced faculty for the same over the next 2 years.
• Aaroh will work with associations in India and globally to coordinate with buyers and trade delegations from various countries, he said. It will help micro enterprises in Rajasthan to streamline business processes by facilitating and using new-age IT tools.
• He informed that this would help micro and small enterprises to have access to all the business data required for data-driven decision making to improve their businesses. With this, the MSME units of the state will be able to give new direction to the business in the country and abroad based on demand and availability of their products.

Singrauli will get the Gift of Medical College Building

Why In News?

• On January 19, 2023, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed that as announced earlier by him, the foundation stone of government medical college building will be laid in Singrauli on January 22.

Key points

• Singrauli district is the highest revenue generating district in the state due to thermal power plants and coal mining projects.
• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the demand for a medical college in Singrauli was being made for a long time. The medical college building is being constructed in village Naugarh. For this, 25 acres of land has been allotted. Rs 248.27 crore has been sanctioned for construction of building complex.
• It is being constructed by M/s DV Projects Limited, which will be completed by December 19, 2024.
• Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that with the construction of the medical college, the arrangements for treatment here will be better. Not only Singrauli, the dream of students of the entire Vindhya region to become doctors will also be fulfilled. Students of tribal dominated areas will be able to study medicine by staying near their homes.
• Senior doctors and experienced professors will be appointed to provide education to the students in the medical college. Singrauli district will benefit from their medical knowledge and efficiency.

Madhya Pradesh Transco Energized Two New 220 KV Circuits at Bairagarh Substation

Why In News?

• On January 19, 2023, NP Gupta, Superintending Engineer of Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company, said that Madhya Pradesh Transco Company has succeeded in energizing two new circuits (feeder and line) of 220 KV.

Key points

• Two new circuits (feeder and line) of 220 KV, built by Madhya Pradesh Transco Company at 220 KV sub-station Bairagarh Bhopal at a cost of Rs 10 crore 85 lakhs, were energized, due to which Bairagarh where 400 KV sub-station is directly connected to Ashta At the same time, an additional 220 KV circuit from 400 KV substation Bhopal has also become available at Bairagarh.
• Company's Superintending Engineer NP Gupta said that the company was successful in making this arrangement because some time back 400 KV. A power transformer of 315 MVA capacity was energized at sub-station Ashta, due to which Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company has been able to get additional power from the center grid and Bhopal has benefited from it.
• He informed that first 220 KV sub-station in Bairagarh. Supply of 400 KV Sub Station Sukshwania Bhopal to 220 KV. was received through two circuits of
• NP Gupta said that construction of new 220 KV circuit will benefit 132 KV IT Park, Itkhedi, Ruhana, Shyampur Kurawar, Sehore, Lalghati substations connected to Bairagarh, where 132 KV voltage level quality electricity can be transmitted.

54th Meeting of Haryana State Drought Relief and Flood Control Board

Why In News?

• On January 19, 2023, the 54^th meeting of the Haryana State Drought Relief and Flood Control Board was held in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, in which they have set a target to make Haryana flood-free by the year 2026.

Key points

• In the meeting of the Drought Relief and Flood Control Board, 528 projects have been approved, under which an amount of about Rs 1100 crore will be spent. Schemes worth more than Rs 312 crore have been approved for drainage and reuse of standing water in the fields.
• Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that special projects will be set up this year to find a permanent solution to the waterlogging problem in the areas of the state which are facing severe water logging.
• Apart from this, more and more emphasis is also being laid on water conservation and reuse of rain water, which will help in handling flood situations as well as ground water recharging and water in drought affected areas.
• This time plans have been prepared through cluster approach for drainage of waterlogging. Bhiwani district has been considered as a cluster , under which HDPE pipelines will be laid in populated areas and waterlogged areas of 8 villages Kundad, Jatai, Dhanana, Badhesra, Siwada, Premnagar, Ghuskani, Dhani Sukhan. More than Rs 16 crore will be spent on this. This will lead to the extraction of water from about 2 thousand acres of waterlogged land.
• Apart from this, a plan has been made by combining 3 villages Singhwa Khas, Putthi, Madanheri, on which an amount of Rs 9.31 crore will be spent. This will lead to drainage of water from about 1500 acres of waterlogged land. Similarly, another plan has been made at a cost of about Rs 4 crore, which will drain out water from 885 acres of waterlogged land.
• He said that a plan of Rs 3.20 crore has been approved for the extraction of water from the fields of three villages Bhatol Jatan Rangdan and Kharkra considering district Hisar as a cluster. This will improve about 750 acres of waterlogged land.
• Apart from this, a scheme of Rs 2.50 crore has also been approved for Kharbala village. Separate schemes have also been approved for district Rohtak.
• Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal directed the officials to build lakes on such land where there is a lot of waterlogging. A plan should be prepared to create about 100 lakes, especially in NCR districts.
• With the formation of these lakes, the problem of waterlogging will also be solved permanently and the capacity of ground water recharging will also increase. To build these lakes, proposals will be sought from farmers for their waterlogged land.
• The Chief Minister said that availability of water is a big challenge in the present time, for which water conservation is the only solution. In this direction, recharging borewells are being installed in the districts by the government for ground water recharging.
• He said that taking a step forward in this direction, the state government has made a new scheme, under which farmers can install recharging borewells on their land. The government will spend money on these borewells and some cooperation will also be taken from the farmers.
• The Chief Minister informed that in the 54th meeting, schemes have been made under various categories. In this, more than Rs 179 crore will be spent on 97 schemes for water conservation and reuse of water.
• Apart from this, Rs 71.41 crore on 67 schemes of population protection category, Rs 132.86 crore on 125 schemes in protection of agricultural land category, Rs 77.90 crore on 49 schemes in dewatering machinery category, Rs 119.50 crore on 68 schemes of reclaimed of agricultural land category. An amount of more than Rs 110 crore has been approved on 59 schemes for reconstruction, repair of water and construction of new structures for proper flow of water in drains.
• Similarly, an amount of Rs 167 crore has been approved on 63 schemes under Haryana Water Resources Authority and Atal Bhujal Yojana.
• After the meeting, Manohar Lal said that generally 10 districts namely Rohtak, Jhajjar, Bhiwani, Hisar, Jind, Fatehabad, Sonipat, Kaithal, Palwal and Sirsa face waterlogging problem. Therefore, most of the schemes have been approved for these districts in the meeting, giving special focus to these 10 districts.
• He said that a meeting of the Haryana State Drought Relief and Flood Control Board has been scheduled to be held twice a year in the months of January and May. Short-term projects and long-term projects decided in the January meeting in May will be reviewed.
• For water conservation and reuse of water, the budget has been increased from Rs 35 crore to Rs 167 crore last time.
• He said that emphasis is being laid on recharging the water accumulated in the population and agriculture sector instead of draining out. Water is standing in more than 50 acres, the government is ready to take that land. Work will be done to build a pond or recharge well at that place.

'Haryana Road Safety Manual' Launched

Why In News?

• On January 19, 2023, Haryana Transport Department Principal Secretary Navdeep Singh Virk launched the 'Haryana Road Safety Manual' prepared with an aim to reduce road accidents .

Key points

• Principal Secretary Transport Department Navdeep Singh Virk said that by reading the 'Haryana Road Safety Manual', all kinds of information will be available to the road user and he will be able to make his journey safe by following the rules of road safety.
• He said that a provision has been made in the rules issued in 2018 to use 50 percent of the income received from vehicle challans for road safety. The lead agency/transport department seeks schemes/schemes related to road safety from the concerned departments under these rules.
• Last year, Rs 37 crore was received, which has been distributed to police, transport, education, local bodies departments for works/schemes related to road safety.
• Navdeep Singh Virk said that there is a need to expand the subject of road safety further and bring new aspects. In the meeting of the Road Safety Council held last month, it was decided to register FIRs against the concerned on the highways on which illegal cuts have been made.
• In compliance with this, all the District Transport Officers have been instructed to select one National Highway and one State Highway and take action from the concerned departments.
• He said that an agreement has been signed with IIT Madras to fix speed limits for various rots, under which they will conduct a state survey in this regard and also provide training to the employees.
• Additionally, the IRAD portal set up by the Ministry of Transport in the state has been launched to detect road accidents and black spots. He informed that 22 faceless services have been started in the state by VAHAN & SARATHI portal, due to which facilities will be provided on time through online application as per right to service act.
• It is known that Harman Singh Sidhu has prepared this manual and 10,000 copies of this manual in English language have been prepared by Maruti Company Executive Director Rahul Bharti with CSR funds.
• Similarly, in Hindi language, 5,000 copies of this manual will be prepared by Maruti company, which will be given to road safety knowledge centers and driving schools / training institutes.
• Transport Commissioner Yashendra Singh said that road safety is a serious issue in which the participation of all departments and public is very important so that road accidents can be reduced. For this, this manual will prove to be very useful and by reading it, driving learners and license makers and the general public will get information about the rules about road safety and reduce road accidents.
• On this occasion, Harman Singh Sidhu said that this road safety manual has been prepared under the guidance of the then Transport Commissioner Amitabh Dhillon.
• This manual is divided into four parts, in which Part-1 deals with road accidents and major risk factors, in Part-2 with knowing your vehicle which includes tyres, brakes, steering, wheels, lights, wind screen, rear view mirror, horn, Knowing blind spots, rules of the road, safe driving, polite driving towards other road users and safe driving, proper distance driving in part-3, following distances, about emergency vehicles, traffic signals at intersections Driving in compliance, types of signals, authority to mark, giving signals, changing lanes, highway driving, overtaking, railway crossing, driving in different conditions, stopping, parking and road signs and emergency situations and accidents in Part-IV Sharing the road, helping an accident victim, helping a Good Samaritan, responsibility towards the environment and laws, etc. have been explained.

Arvind Varnwal hoisted the Tricolor on the 12050 Feet High Peak of Kedarkantha Mountain

Why In News?

• According to information received from the media on January 18, 2023, Arvind Varnwal of Jamtara, Jharkhand has made the country proud by hoisting the tricolor before the Republic Day at a height of 12050 feet of Kedarkantha mountain of the Himalayan Mountain range.

Key points

• Arvind Varnwal said that 30 people from eight states from all over India were involved in the journey of hoisting the tricolor on the Himalayan mountain range before Republic Day, including trekkers from Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar.
• He said that under the leadership of Uttarakhand trekker Trilok Rai, the yatra was started from Sankari village to hoist the tricolor at an altitude of 12050 feet on the Kedarkantha mountain peak of the Himalayan range located in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. 12 km from Sankari village. But there was Kedarkantha Mountain.
• Two base camps were built while conquering this mountain. The first base camp was at the foothills of the mountains, while the second base camp was at an altitude of 10,000 feet.
• It is known that Arvind Varnwal has already visited Amarnath and Kedarnath.
• Arvind Varnwal said that he started the journey from Dehradun on 15 January. From there to Mussoorie, Navgaon, Purola, Muri, Netvad Kotgaon (Sankari) 220 km. The journey reached in about ten hours.
• On the second day on January 16, we reached the first base camp located at 9100 feet of Kedarkantha mountain from Kotgaon (Sankari) and on the third day on January 17, the second base camp Shepherd Camp located at 11250 feet reached the camp after about five hours of trekking. After about four hours of climbing, on January 18, at 7 am, he reached the highest peak of Kedarkantha and hoisted the tricolor.

Code-a-Thon Olympiad

Why In News?

• On January 19, 2023, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel informed that the Chhattisgarh government is organizing coding Olympiad in association with Hindustan Times to encourage students of government schools of the state towards coding.

Key points

• Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel said that considering the importance of technology and its mandatory need in the future, students have been attracted to and mastered coding from small classes. Coding is also called the language of the future.
• He said that this Olympiad is considered to be one of the largest coding Olympiads of India. The Coding Olympiad, on the theme of Getting Future Ready, is teaching coding to 5000 students of government schools with the mantra of learn, participate and win (win).
• The last date for registration for students appearing in this coding Olympiad is February 5, 2023. To participate in the Olympiad, students can register themselves on www.htcodeathon.com website.
• The students' qualifier round will be held on February 23 and the finale of the students will be held on February 23.

96 Policemen will be honored for their Excellent Service in Uttarakhand

Why In News?

• According to information received from the media on January 19, 2023, Uttarakhand Governor Gurmeet Singh will give Outstanding Service Medals and Meritorious Service Awards to 96 police officers and employees on Republic Day for doing better work in the state. The police headquarters has released a list in this regard.

Key points

• According to the list released by the police headquarters, Deputy Superintendent of Police Narendra Nagar Dinesh Chandra Badola and Inspector Puran Singh Rawat will get the Outstanding Service Medal.
• Apart from this, Deputy Superintendent of Police Champawat District Vipin Chandra Pant, Inspector SDRF Harshvardhan, Inspector SDRF Harak Singh, SI Telecommunication Khayali Dutt Joshi, Gajpal Singh Rawat, Additional Sub-Inspector Mangal Singh, Yogendra Singh and Dinesh Chandra have been given excellent service honor mark and constable Jagdish Chandra Pant for distinguished work. Inspector Police Telecommunication Pramod Petwal and SI Vimleshwar Prasad Raturi will be awarded the Outstanding Service Award.
• Along with this, 14 police officers and employees will be honored with Meritorious Service Honor Mark for meritorious service and 70 police personnel will be honored with Meritorious Service Honor Mark for distinguished work.

Maternity and Child Care Leave of Women Workers of Uttarakhand will be Calculated in MACPS

Why In News?

• On January 18, 2023, Uttarakhand Finance Secretary Dilip Jawalkar informed that their maternity leave and child care leave related to women workers of the state government will be calculated in the Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS).

Key points

• Additional Chief Secretary (Chief Minister) Radha Raturi had written a letter to Additional Chief Secretary Finance Anand Bardhan requesting him to include the period of maternity leave and child care leave of women workers in the MACP system.
• Additional Chief Secretary Radha Raturi said that such cases of women workers working in many departments came to their notice, they could not get the benefit of ACP Scheme.
• He said that the minimum standard of annual confidential entry of five years is good for grant of MACP. However, due to non-calculation of external service period and external waiting period and various types of leave (except exceptional and unpaid leave) sanctioned by the competent officer, the benefit of ACP Scheme was not available.
• In the absence of annual confidential entry for a period of less than three months in a given year, that period was also not being taken into the calculation of MACP.
• According to the government order, workers will now be taken cognizance of the annual entries of five years prior to the date of grant of MACP if the annual confidential entry of a year has not been written due to a tenure of less than three months during a year. If the standard of good ACR is not being met even in that period, then the date of MACP will be extended further.