• 20 Sep 2021

Kanpur and Agra Metro's First Prototype Train Unveiled

Why in News

• On September 18, 2021, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled the first prototype train of Kanpur and Agra Metro.

Key Points

• Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that under the Prime Minister's 'Make in India' and 'Self-reliant India' campaign, this metro train has been completely manufactured in the country.
• He said that this first prototype train has been made available ahead of time despite the adverse conditions of the Covid period by the undertaking of Vadodara.
• Adityanath said that metro trains are being successfully operated in four cities of the state – Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida. Metro work has been completed in Kanpur and Agra. Along with this, DPRs for Metro in five other major cities- Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Meerut and Jhansi are ready or in the final stages.
• According to the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation, metro trains in Kanpur will have the feature of 'regenerative braking', with the help of which up to 45 percent of the energy through the brakes applied in the train will be regenerated and used again in the system.
• These trains will have state-of-the-art 'propulsion systems' to reduce air pollution. These trains will have a carbon dioxide sensor based air conditioning system, which will run according to the number of passengers present in the train and will save energy.
• Keeping in mind the automatic train operation, these trains will run on a Transmit Based Train Control System. The passenger capacity of Kanpur Metro train will be 974 passengers.
• These trains will have a design speed of 90 km/h and an operation speed of up to 80 km/h. There will be a separate space for wheelchairs of Divyangjan in the first and last coach of the train. There will be a 'Long Stop Request Button' near the wheelchair location, by pressing which PwD can inform the train operator to keep the door open for a longer period of time.
• The metro train of Kanpur will draw energy from the third rail, which will run parallel to the tracks, so it will not require the setup of pillars and wires and the infrastructure will look better and beautiful.
• These trains are designed on the basis of state-of-the-art fire and crash safety standards. Each train will have CCTV cameras, the video feed of which will directly reach the train operator and the center security room.
• Every train will also have LCD screens or panels for infotainment. By pressing the talk back button, passengers will be able to talk to the train operator in case of emergency. The location of the passenger and the CCTV footage will be directly visible on the monitor placed with the train operator.

Aarogya Vatika in Educational Institutions of Uttar Pradesh

Why in News

• Recently, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has announced to set up Arogya Vatikas in all the school colleges of the state.

Key Points

• Aarogya Vatika is an exclusive health corner started by Navbharat Times, under which high medicinal quality and immunity boosting plant species will be planted in various parks of the city, so that the general public can become aware of the health benefits of plants available around them.
• According to the announcement of the government, the purpose of setting up Aarogya Vatika in educational institutions is to make the students aware about the ancient Indian traditions of medicinal plants and their use.
• According to Scientist R.A. Ram of Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, common man can also grow medicinal plants at home in kitchen garden and terrace garden and the waste generated from it can be converted into manure.

Sixth Session of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Adjourned Indefinitely

Why in News

• On 18 September 2021, the sixth session of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly was adjourned sine die.

Key Points

• Speaker of the Assembly Dr. C.P. Joshi said that this session started with the Governor's address on February 10, 2021. A total of 26 sittings were held in this and the assembly proceedings lasted for about 186 hours and 46 minutes till the end of the proceedings.
• He said that a total of 8763 questions were received in this session, out of which starred questions are 3941 and unstarred questions are 4822. A total of 447 starred questions were listed out of which 290 questions were asked orally and answered. Similarly 470 unstarred questions were listed.
• A total of 405 adjournment motions were received from the members under Rule 50 of the Procedure. Out of these 125 adjournment motions were given an opportunity to speak in the House and 116 members gave their views.
• 362 Special Mention proposals were received from the members under Rule 295 of the Procedure. Out of these, 52 notices lapsed due to absence of members in the House.
• Intimations of 890 proposals were received under Rule-131 of Procedure. A total of 4 calling attention motions were disallowed in the House.
• A total of 272 members participated in the discussions held on different days on the demands of 11 grants related to different departments.
• Information about 2682 cut motions was received on Demands for Grants, out of which 1929 cut motions were presented in the House and 753 cut motions were disallowed.
• Dr. Joshi informed that a total of 20 Bills were passed by the House, including 17 Bills introduced in the current session and the Bills introduced in the previous session.
• A total of 362 amendment proposals were received from the members on the bills, out of which 30 amendment proposals were inadmissible and 332 amendments were accepted at the secretariat level. 9 petitions were presented by the members in the House. A total of 41 reports of various committees were presented in the house during the session.

Super Specialty Treatment in Homeopathy on the Lines of Allopathy

Why in News

• Recently, a Fellowship course in Homeopathy has been approved by Madhya Pradesh University of Medical Sciences.

Key Points

• For the first time in the country, a six-month fellowship course is being started in Government Homeopathy Colleges of Bhopal from the current session to prepare super specialists in Homeopathy.
• 20 subjects, such as Diabetes Management, Hospital Management, Pharmacovigilance etc. have been selected for the fellowship.
• The benefits of this initiative are as follows-
  
  • Specialist clinics can be started in homeopathy colleges.
  • These doctors can be used in government schemes like National Health Mission, which will reduce the regional disparity in the availability of doctors.
  • A separate unit can be created in homeopathy hospitals for the treatment of specific diseases, such as obesity, geriatric diseases, neurological disorders, etc. As a result, people will have easy access to secondary and tertiary health care facilities.

Changes in the DNA of Red Corn by Electron Beam Irradiation

Why in News

• Recently, positive changes were made in the DNA of red maize seeds with the help of electron beam irradiation at Krishi Vigyan Kendra located at Kasturba village, Indore.

Key Points

• This experiment has been done by Krishi Vigyan Kendra Indore in collaboration with Raja Ramanna Center for Advanced Technology.
• Red maize has high protein content along with anti-carcinogenic properties, so it has been used to increase its production.
• This genetic variation will not only reduce the height of the red maize, but also increase the length of its cob.
• Electron beam radiation is also being used in other areas, such as cancer treatment, treatment of environmental pollutants such as VOCs (Volatile organic compounds), food preservation, etc.

Real Time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS)

Why in News

• On September 18, 2021, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the Real Time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS) in Haryana to check theft of canal water. In the first phase, RTDAS have been installed at 90 places across the state.

Key Point

• The Chief Minister said that RTDAS will enable the tracking of water released into the canal and water reached till the last tail. If there is a case of water theft in the middle of the canal, then a message will be sent to the concerned officer that due to which reason, the water has been reduced till tail end. Through RTDAS, the data of complete water level in canals will also be available with the Department.
• On this occasion Femina Miss Grand India-2021 Ms. Manika Sheokand was appointed as Goodwill ‘Ambassador’ of Water Conservation Campaign.
• The Chief Minister said that the Haryana Government had prepared a two-year plan for water management last year. Under this, Mera Pani Meri Virasat Yojana is getting good public response, as an incentive of Rs 7,000 is being provided to the farmer’s adopting the scheme.
• It is worth noting that the Haryana Government is also implementing Jal Jeevan Mission and other water management schemes across the State. Micro Irrigation System Scheme has been installed for irrigation so that water can reach even the areas of South Haryana having water scarcity issues.

Conservation of 'Python' at Dalma Hill

Why in News

• Recently, the State Forest Department has taken an initiative to conserve species of snakes including python in Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary.

Key Point

• It is noteworthy that there are three species of Python found in India-
  
  • Indian Rock Python
  • Burmese Python
  • Reticulated python
• The Indian Python is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. In such a situation, along with identifying the habitats of python by the State Forest Department for the conservation of python, rural people are being made aware about the measures to avoid human-wildlife conflict.
• Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary located in Jamshedpur is famous for elephants. Barking deer, sloth bear and various reptile species are notable among other fauna found here.
• It is worth noting that in the year 2017, a nationwide initiative named 'Living with Python' was started by Goa-based herpetologist Nirmal Kulkarni to raise awareness about the Indian python species.

Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club Scheme

Why in News

• On September 18, 2021, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched 'Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club Yojna' in the state during a function organized at his residence office and also released an amount of Rs 19.43 crore to the districts for the formation and operation of the club.

Key Points

• Under this scheme, a total of 13,269 Rajiv Yuva Mitan Clubs will be formed in all the gram panchayats and urban bodies of the state in a phased manner. A grant amounting to Rs 132. 69 crore will be given to the clubs during the year.
• For Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club, Chhattisgarh government has made a provision of Rs 50 crore in the budget. Each club will be given one lakh rupees for conducting creative activities in a year at the rate of 25 thousand rupees every three months.
• The Chief Minister said that the Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club scheme was started to the former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna in the state of Chhattisgarh to realize the dream of late Shri Rajiv Gandhi’s youth India.
• Its objective is to carve out the young talents of the state, organize them and provide them with a suitable platform and use their energy in building a new Chhattisgarh.
• The Chief Minister said that youth power is an important capital for the development of the state. This is a revolutionary program to organize the youth power of the state and connect them with creative work. Through youth, it will help to advance the culture, environment, sports of Chhattisgarh and to reach the welfare schemes to the people and people will get its benefits.
• Sports and Youth Welfare Department Secretary N.N. Ekka said that Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club would be formed at ward level in Gram Panchayat and urban bodies. The club will be registered under the Firms and Societies Act. Each club will have 20 to 40 youth, aged between 15 and 40.
• A ministerial committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister for the implementation, supervision and guidance of the scheme. The chief secretary will be the chairman of the state level executive committee. Committees will also be constituted at the district and sub-division level. The ministers in charge of the districts will be the custodians of the district level committee.
• It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had announced the formation of Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club at the closing ceremony of Chhattisgarh Youth Festival on January 14, 2020.

Policy for the Third Gender Community

Why in News

• On September 18, 2021, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel honored 13 newly-appointed police constables of the third gender community in a program organized at his residence office and congratulated them.

Key Points

• On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Government of Chhattisgarh is working for the protection of the interests and constitutional rights of the people of all caste, class, community and gender in the state. It is the policy of the state government to promote social amiability and harmony.
• He said that Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country, which has made a policy for the welfare of the third gender community of the state and to bring them into the mainstream.
• The state of Chhattisgarh has also constituted a welfare board for the rehabilitation and protection of rights of third gender persons.
• The Chief Minister said that the government has made a provision of Rs 76 lakh in this year's budget for setting up ashram-cum-rehabilitation centers for the rehabilitation of third gender persons. This will be the first center of its kind in the country.
• The state government has prepared online software for data storage of third gender communities. 2919 third gender persons have been identified in the survey, out of which 1,025 persons have been issued identity cards, which are valid for ration cards, passports, Aadhar cards, etc.

Religious City Ratanpur will be Developed as a Tourist Site

Why in News

• Recently, the Union Ministry of Tourism has directed to prepare a state government action plan to bring Ratanpur, the religious and mythological city of Chhattisgarh in front of the tourists of the country and the world, and to develop it as a tourist destination/site.

Key Points

• On the instructions of the Union Ministry of Tourism, the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and the State Government took stock of Ratanpur and its surrounding tourist places in the past.
• After developing as a tourist destination, tourists from all over the world will now be able to see this city of King Mordhwaj and Ratnadev.
• From the point of view of tourists, the specialty and art will be raised here, palaces and forts of historical and archaeological importance will be decorated.
• The biggest feature of Ratanpur, popularly known as the city of ponds, is that there is such a series of 200 ponds that are several hundred years old, due to which there has not been a famine here. The ponds have been constructed in such a way that during the rainy season, when one pond is full, the water reaches the other.
• It is noteworthy that this city located in Bilaspur district is famous for the temple of Adishakti Maa Mahamaya Devi. This holy mythological city has an ancient and glorious history. It is also called 'Chaturyuga city', which means that its existence has been present in all the four ages.
• The Kalchuri king Ratnadev I of Tripuri first made Ratanpur his capital and later Kalchuri kings ruled Chhattisgarh for a long period from this capital.
• The Mahamaya Temple was built by King Ratnadev I in the 11^th century. The idols of goddesses Mahakali, Mahasaraswati and Mahalakshmi are seated inside the temple.
• It is believed that the right skanda of Goddess Sati had fallen in Ratanpur. Lord Shiva himself appeared and gave it the name of Kaumari Shakti Peeth, due to which unmarried girls get good fortune from the sight of the mother. Thousands of wishing Jyoti Kalash are lit here by the devotees during Navratri.

Literacy Vehicles

Why in News

• On September 20, 2021, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami flagged off 5 financial literacy vehicles with ATMs of Uttarakhand Gramin Bank financed by NABARD.

Key Points

• These vehicles will be used to make the people of the state financially literate and promote tax digitization through ATMs.
• Rural Bank Mobile ATM Van will also provide financial literacy awareness along with transactions through ATMs to the residents of remote areas of the state.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand also released the ninth annual report of Uttarakhand Gramin Bank.
• All the above mentioned efforts will prove to be effective in making Financial Inclusion and Digital India Mission more powerful.
• It is noteworthy that in collaboration with NABARD, a financial literacy vehicle provided earlier is being used in Almora district.