State PCS

• 21 May 2024

First-Ever City Museum in Bhopal

Why in News?

Recently, the Government has approved the establishment of the first-ever city museum in Bhopal. The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board is setting up the Bhopal City Museum in the left wing of Moti Mahal.

• Moti Mahal is an important heritage site in the city and a building of high significance.

Key Points

• The proposed museum, with 11 galleries, will focus on the rich history of Bhopal and Madhya Pradesh, covering the historical and geographical context of Madhya Pradesh and the formation of Bhopal in particular.
• Collection of prehistoric rock paintings, stone tools, archaeological finds, stamps, attire of kings and queens from Bhopal and surrounding areas, ancient sculptures, temple remains, and exquisite art from the Bhopal Nawab period will be showcased.
  • Modern technology will be utilised to create an engaging and informative experience for all age groups.
• The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Government of Madhya Pradesh, is planning to establish a dedicated and comprehensive museum on the great Parmar King Raja Bhoj, his life, and works at the right wing of Moti Mahal, Bhopal.
• Seven houses of the seven major tribes of the state, namely Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Korku, Bharia, Sahariya, and Kol, have been built in the Tribal Museum, Bhopal, to understand and see the lifestyle of the tribal community closely.
  • The vision of this initiative is to end the myths and beliefs regarding the tribal society.
• Madhya Pradesh is planning to establish various theme-based museums at relevant heritage and cultural destinations to enhance the tourism experience.

Moti Mahal

• Moti Mahal was built by Gond King Hriday Shah king of Garh Mandala between 1651 to 1667.
• The palace is full of mazes, secret tunnels, and underground passages.
• Architecture- Mughal architecture.

Raja Bhoj

• Raja Bhoj was greatest in the Parmar dynasty (1018-1060).
• He tried to regenerate Hindu society. He also fought against muslims.
• Apart from a great warrior, he was an accomplished scholar.
• He constructed a Sanskrit college called Bhojshala at his capital.
• His famous books were:
  • Ayurveda Sangraha
  • Yukti Kalpataru
  • Samranga Suthradhara (deals with architecture).
• He was also a great builder and is believed to have built 104 temples and also a beautiful lake known as Bhojpur lake.
• The power of the Paramara dynasty came to an end with the death of Raja Bhoja.

SC Stays Project in Uttarakhand Forested Area

Why in News?

Recently, the Supreme Court has halted a major hotel development in the Bhimtal-Mukteshwar region due to concerns raised in a petition about extensive deforestation in the lush Jilling Estate area.

Key Points

• According to the court, the thickly forested patch was permitted to be deforested for a hotel project, which intends to carry out construction activities on an area of 20,000 square feet.
  • It would cause irreparable damage to the fragile ecology of the area that could adversely impact the interest of the state to maintain adequate forest cover.
• The main issue lies here is that the High Court permitted construction to go ahead without the mandatory environmental clearance under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006.
  • SC had recently expressed serious concern over the lackadaisical approach of the state government in controlling forest fires that recur every year.

Green Booths in Jharkhand

Why in News?

Green booths, established to advocate for environmental conservation and promote a plastic-free society, have become a popular draw for voters in Koderma district, Jharkhand.

Key Points

• Green Polling booths were located at a senior citizen facility in Jhumri Telaiya within the Koderma Lok Sabha constituency.
• Green elections are practices that aim to reduce the environmental impact of electoral processes. They involve measures such as using recycled materials, promoting electronic voting, and encouraging candidates to adopt sustainable campaign practices.
• Green elections aim to minimise the environmental impact of electoral processes through:
  • Eco-Friendly Campaign Materials: Candidates and parties can adopt sustainable alternatives such as recycled paper, biodegradable banners, and reusable materials.
  • Reducing Energy Consumption: Opting for energy-efficient lighting, sound systems, and transportation during rallies can help reduce the carbon footprint.
  • Promoting Digital Campaigns: Leveraging digital platforms for campaigning (websites, social media, and email) reduces paper usage and energy consumption.

Bihar Lok Sabha Elections Phase 5

Why in News?

Bihar witnessed a voter turnout of 52.35% in five Lok Sabha constituencies that voted in the fifth phase of general elections.

Key Points

• According to the Election Commission, 55.30% of voters have exercised their franchise in Muzaffarpur, 53.81% in Hajipur, 53.13% in Sitamarhi, 50.46% in Saran and 49.01% in Madhubani.
• More than 95 lakh voters in these five seats will decide the electoral fate of 80 candidates at 9,436 polling stations.
  • Out of these voters, 45.11 lakh are women, 21 lakh are under 29 years of age and 1.26 lakh are in the age group of 18-19 years.

Lok Sabha (House of the People)

• It is the lower house (first house or popular house) and represents the people of India as a whole.
• Composition: The maximum number of Lok Sabha members has been fixed at 550, out of which 530 members are representatives of the States and 20 members are representatives of the Union Territories.
  • Presently the Lok Sabha has 543 members, out of which 530 members represent the states and 13 represent the Union Territories.
  • Earlier, the President had also nominated two members of the Anglo-Indian community, but by the 95th Amendment Act, 2009, this provision was valid only till 2020.
• Election of Representatives: Representatives of the states are directly elected by the people of the territorial constituencies of the states.
  • According to the Union Territories (Direct Election to the House of the People) Act, 1965, members of the Lok Sabha are directly elected in Union Territories.
• Function: One of the most important functions of the Lok Sabha is to select the executive, a group of individuals who work together to implement the laws made by the Parliament.
  • When we use the word government the executive often comes to our mind.

Workshop on Global Standards & IPR

Why in News?

Recently, the workshop was hosted by National Telecommunications Institute for Policy Research, Innovation and Training (NTIPRIT), Ghaziabad under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in collaboration with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area office and Innovation Centre, to commemorate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (17th May).

Key Points

• The workshop highlighted the importance of “Global Standards & Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)” for any country’s development.
  • It also provided a platform for national stakeholders to forge global partnerships and align with international best practices in telecommunications standards.
• The workshop set the stage for enhanced participation of Indian experts in the upcoming World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 and provided an extensive opportunity to the participants to engage with global standards and intellectual property dynamics.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD)

• The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) can bring to societies and economies, as well as ways to bridge the digital divide.
• 17 May marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

National Telecommunications Institute for Policy Research, Innovation and Training (NTIPRIT)

• NTIPRIT was established in the year 2010 as National Telecom Academy, the telecom training institute of the Department of Telecommunications.
• Subsequently, in 2011, the mandate of the institute was expanded by bringing into the activities related to Policy Research and Innovations under its ambit and the institute was rechristened as National Telecommunications Institute for Policy Research, Innovations & Training (NTIPRIT).
• Since then NTIPRIT has grown and the institute is now the apex Telecom Training Institute in the country.

Maroon Beret Ceremonial Parade

Why in News?

Recently, to mark the successful completion of training of Air Force Special Forces ‘Garud’ Commandos, Maroon Beret Ceremonial Parade was held at Garud Regimental Training Centre (GRTC), Air Force Station Chandinagar, Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

• The Garud Commando Force is the special forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in February 2004 and has a current strength of over 1500 personnel.
  • Garud forces are tasked with the protection of critical Air Force bases and installations, search and rescue, and disaster relief during calamities.
  • In 2004, Garuds were deployed in Congo as part of the UN peacekeeping operations.