State PCS

• 20 Aug 2021

Chief Minister Announced Several Concessions

Why in News

• On August 19, 2021, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced several concessions in the assembly.

Key Points

• He raised the dearness allowance from 17 percent to 28 percent for 16 lakh employees and 12 lakh pensioners of the state, increased the honorarium of Anganwadi workers, State Defense Dal personnel, employment servants and increased the security fund for lawyers from Rs 1.5 lakh. 5 lakh has been announced.
• Yogi Adityanath also announced the establishment of a special fund (Nidhi) of Rs 3,000 crore, distribution of one crore smartphones and tablets to diploma and other degree holders to help the youth appearing in competitive examinations.
• Yogi Adityanath said that the government will also bear the cost of providing digital access to the beneficiary youth of the scheme.
• He said that the government has also roped in corporate houses, who will contribute to this fund and universities and other institutions from their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
• The Chief Minister said that the state government has increased the dearness allowance of government employees by 28 percent (as per the order of the Center) from July 2021. The government will increase the honorarium of Anganwadi workers/Anganwadi helpers (AWWs/AWHs).
• The existing DA hike order will benefit state government employees, pensioners, employees of aided educational institutions and technical education institutions and employees of urban local bodies.

Atal Progress Way Included in Bharatmala Phase-1

Why in News

• On August 19, 2021, the Ministry of National Highways and Road Transport, Government of India issued a notification to include the ambitious Atal Progress-Way project of Madhya Pradesh in Bharatmala Phase-I.

Key Points

• This completely new expressway of 404 km length in Madhya Pradesh, from Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) in the east to Kota (Rajasthan) in the west through the Bhind, Morena and Sheopur districts of Chambal division, will be added together.
• The Chief Minister has said that the Atal Progress Way will prove to be the lifeline for the development of Gwalior-Chambal division. Industrial corridor will be constructed around this 404 km length expressway, which will become an important link in the economic development of the region.
• With the construction of this route, a major new route from Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) to Kota (Rajasthan) will be connected, which will benefit 3 districts of Madhya Pradesh. The distance between these two points will also save about 50 kms. With the construction of this expressway, the travel time of 11 hours will be reduced to 6 hours.
• All the land to be used in the expressway is being made available by the state government at its own expense. About Rs 7000 crore is likely to be spent on this project. This expressway is set to be built through 7 different packages. This project is being constructed by NHAI.

Modern Panchayat Bhawans

Why in News

• On August 19, 2021, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala announced the construction of 'modern panchayat buildings' in each district headquarters of the state.

Key Points

• The Deputy Chief Minister made this announcement while presiding over the meeting of the officials of the Public Works (Building and Roads) Department.
• During this, while discussing the proposal of the department, he reviewed the map for the construction of the building and gave necessary guidelines.
• Dushyant Chautala informed that 'modern panchayat building' will be built at each district headquarters of the state, in which separate rooms will be made for the president and councilors of the district council.

Pratismriti: Alumni Reunion 2021

Why in News

• On August 19, 2021, 'Pratismriti: Alumni Reunion 2021' program was organized by Kurukshetra University in the hospitality of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Key Points

• The event was organized by Kurukshetra Alumni Association (KUKA) of Kurukshetra University, in which alumni from more than 21 countries participated both in physical and online form.
• During the event, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the alumni registration portal Kukaa.ac.in, a multi-purpose sports hall and other educational programs for alumni. In addition, he also launched a jingle for Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• He launched the KG-to-PG scheme under the new education policy in the university and the Japanese language certificate and diploma course, BBA Honors and MTech Defense Technology course to be run for the new academic session 2021-22.
• The Chief Minister announced that he would enroll as the first student to study a Japanese language course at Kurukshetra University (KU).
• Significantly, the foundation stone of Kurukshetra University was laid by the first President of India, Rajendra Prasad on January 11, 1957. With the passage of time, KU as a multidisciplinary institution has made its mark at the national and international level. By becoming the first A+ grade university of Haryana, KU has achieved pride in the state and the country.

Distribution of Appointment Letters, and Certificates

Why in News

• On August 19, 2021, Chief Minister Hemant Soren distributed certificates and acceptance letters to the selected beneficiaries for the schemes run by various departments in Dharampur village of Patna block of Sahibganj district. At the same time, appointment letters were given to three people on compassionate grounds.

Key Points

• Among the schemes for which the beneficiaries have been selected, five were under MGNREGA, 7 for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Rural, 3 for Bhimrao Ambedkar Awas, 16 for Mukhyamantri Sukanya Yojana, 9 for Kanyadan Yojana, 2 for distribution of Divyang Yantra, 17 for pension acceptance letter and 6 for green ration card.
• The Chief Minister presented cheques to various Sakhi Mandals on the occasion. In this, a cheque of Rs 7.80 lakh under circular fund, Rs 19 lakh under community investment fund and Rs 28 lakh under cash credit linkage was given to Sakhi Mandals.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister planted saplings and gave the message of environmental protection and listened to the problems of the local people on the spot and directed the concerned officials to solve them.

Olympiad Launched for Online Assessment

Why in News

• On August 19, 2021, Chhattisgarh School Education Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam launched the Olympiad for online assessment of students of Swami Atmanand English Medium Government Schools across the state.

Key Point

• The Olympiad is being held for online assessment of the achievements of the students in Science, Mathematics and English.
• There are four levels of assessment: primary level (Class 3 to 5 - 1,587 students), Secondary (Class 6 to 8), High School (Class 9, 10 ) and Higher Secondary (Class 11, 12).
• 7232 students participated in the Olympiad of Science subject. In these 1587 students of primary level, 2621 of secondary level, 1861 of high school level and 1163 of higher secondary level participated.
• All the questions in the Olympiad are of multiple choice nature. On the basis of marks obtained, students will be ranked at school, district and state level.
• Official sources said that the Mathematics Olympiad is scheduled on August 25 and English on August 31.

Rakhi Gifts for the Women of the State

Why in News

• On August 19, 2021, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced Rakhi gifts for ASHA and Anganwadi workers and all women of the state in the Raksha Bandhan program organized in Khatima.

Key Points

• The Asha and Anganwadi workers of the state would get as a gift of Rs 1,000 on the occasion of Rakshabandhan. On the day, all women would be allowed free ride in the buses of Uttarakhand roadways.
• In the programme a large number of women belonging to the assembly constituency of CM tied Rakhis on the wrist of Dhami.
• In the programme, the CM directed the officials that they should organize multipurpose camps and hold Tehsil Diwas programmes for speedy disposal of the problems faced by the people.

Package for Women Self Help Groups

Why in News

• Recently, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced a relief package of Rs 118.35 crore for women self-help groups (SHGs) and people associated with self-employment schemes of the state government.

Key Points

• This package will help 7,54,984 people of women SHGs associated with Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission.
• Under the Rural Livelihood Mission, a one-time grant of Rs 5 lakh will be given to each of the 159 Cluster Level Foundations (CLFs) in the state.
• Similarly, financial assistance will be provided to active SHGs for the next six months. Under this, an amount of Rs 2,000 per month will be given to 42,989 groups.
• The loan account holders of Mukhyamantri Saur Swarozgar Yojana will be provided compensation for the interest paid during this period.
• Provincial Development Dal and Yuva Mangal Dal of Yuva Kalyan will be given financial assistance of Rs 2,000 per month for six months.

First District of Uttarakhand to Achieve 100% Vaccination

Why in News

• On August 18, 2021, the Bageshwar district became the second district in the country and the first in Uttarakhand to achieve the unique distinction of 100 percent vaccination.
• The Wayanad district of Kerala holds the record for being the first district in the country to achieve 100 percent vaccination.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami himself declared the unique feat of the Bageshwar district while interacting with the media persons at the State Secretariat.
• He said that the Khirsu block of Pauri has also achieved 100 per cent vaccination target of the adult population. He informed that 1,76,776 beneficiaries have received the first dose of vaccine in the Bageshwar district while 37,789 have got the first dose in the Khirsu block of Pauri.
• Dhami informed that necessary steps are being taken at state, district and block levels to give an impetus to the vaccination campaign in the state.
• Significantly, so far 83 percent of the population above 45 years of age in the state has received the first dose while 48 percent of them have received both doses. While 61 percent of the 18 to 44 years age population has received the first dose while 4 per cent have received both doses.
• In the State, a total of 56,61,943 people have received the first dose which is 73 percent of the total adult population.