• 21 Nov 2022

Integrated Check Post (ICP) Land port

Why In News?

On November 20, 2022, Satyendra Kumar, DM of Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh, said that the Integrated Check Post (ICP) landport will be built on the 120-acre campus on the lines of the airport at Sonauli, the international exit point of the Buddhist circuit of Maharajganj.

Key Points

• Satyendra Kumar said that the land acquisition work for the land port has been completed. The construction work of The Chahardawari is underway. Soon after the foundation stone, according to the DPR, the executing body will build the land port.
• The Integrated Check post coming up near the Sonauli border is an important exit point of the Buddhist circuit. It is close to Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha and a popular Buddhist tourist hub. This land port will be developed on the basis of the criteria of making passengers and tourists coming from abroad feel the state-of-the-art facilities in Sonauli.
• After construction, offices of intelligence agencies including customs, SSB, police immigration will remain in the same campus. This will facilitate investigation and speed up trade with Nepal.
• Terminal building in land port, Nepal and India side parking / bus terminal, hotel, inspection shed customs, warehouse for import and export, building for import and export in railway terminal, truck parking, pylon, maintenance shed, helipad, Quarantine blocks, isolation blocks, watch towers and petrol bunks etc. will be constructed.
• In 2004, the Indian government had approved the construction of an integrated check post at the Sonauli border in Indo-Nepal.

Statue of Sita Mata

Why In News?

On November 19, 2022, Bihar MP Sunil Kumar Pintu said that preparations have started to install a 257 feet tall statue of Sita Mata at Radhopur Bakhri in Sitamarhi district of the state. Its construction work will start soon.

Key Points

• It is known that the tallest statue of Sita Mata in the country will be installed at Radhopur Bakhri in Sitamarhi. It will be constructed by the Ramayana Research Council.
• Sunil Kumar said that 18 acres of 40 decimal land has been donated to the council of Manhat of Radhopur Bakhri. Nearby farmers have also signed an agreement to give about 6 acres of land. In all, the council has so far signed an agreement for 24.39 acres of land. Discussions have also been held with the President and the Prime Minister in this regard.
• He said that people of every religion and class are helping in making this statue in Sitamarhi. The country's first cultural embassy centre will also be set up here.
• It is to be noted that the Rath Yatra will be flagged off from January 14 to promote the statue of Sita Mata to be installed in Sitamarhi. This rath yatra will tour the entire country.

48th Junior Boys National Kabaddi Championship

Why In News?

On November 20, 2022,The Rajasthan team won the gold medal in the final of the 48^th Junior Boys National Kabaddi Championship held in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• In the 48^th Junior Boys National Kabaddi Championship, Rajasthan team has won the gold medal by defeating Haryana by a margin of 36-23 in the final. Rajasthan has got this gold medal in Kabaddi after 18 years.
• The four-day championship began on November 17 in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, in which around 600 players from teams from 29 states participated.
• Medals and blankets were presented to all the players as gifts by the Uttarakhand Kabaddi Association.

7th Edition of 'Jal Mahotsav'

Why In News?

On November 20, 2022, Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture Department of Madhya Pradesh and Managing Director of MP Tourism Board Shiv Shekhar Shukla said that the seventh edition of 'Jal Mahotsav', one of the biggest events of the state, will be organized by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board at Hanuvantiya Island in Khandwa district from November 28, 2022 .

Key Points

• The two-month-long water carnival will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. It will conclude on January 28, 2023 .
• Shiv Shekhar Shukla said that Jal Mahotsav has been established as an ideal destination for adventure lovers across the country. In order to increase the enthusiasm and joy of tourists, flying inflatable boat activity is being organized on Hanuvantiya Island located on the backwaters of Indira Sagar Dam. For the first time in the country, tourists will enjoy such activity.
• Adventure activities like scuba diving, night safari on Boriamal Island, luxury regal series boat, 40 feet high rope swing, zip cycle, paramotoring, parasailing, speed boat, jet sky, hot air ballooning, motor boat riding etc. will be the major attractions. A video film will also be screened on the occasion.
• Shukla said that the Test City located in Hanuvantiya Island is being operated by the Tourism Board in association with Sunset Desert Camp for tourists. The tent city will have 104 luxury Swiss tents as well as AC conference halls for corporate conferences.
• Many activities like wellness spa by famous Kareli group of Kerala, national international anglers three day angling sport event, music festival, kite festival will be organized for the entertainment of the tourists in Jal Mahotsav.
• It is noteworthy that 'Jal Mahotsav' is organized by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board every year with the aim of developing Hanuvantiya Island, located on the banks of Indira Sagar Dam, an ideal tourist destination.
• The 'Jal Mahotsav' was awarded the India's Unique Water and Adventure Carnival in Spain in January 2022. In 2017, the most unique new tourism product has been awarded by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India for the year 2015-16.
• It is worth mentioning that during the 60 days of Jal Mahotsav 2021, more than 2 lakh 40 thousand people visited.

Good Governance Award Scheme

Why In News?

On November 19, 2022, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal said that the state government has started 'Good Governance Award Scheme' to encourage employees doing remarkable and innovative work. A notification has also been issued for this.

Key Points

• Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal said that the objective of 'Good Governance Award Scheme' is to promote good governance and reward those employees who promote good governance in the state through their individual innovations and special efforts.
• He informed that good governance awards will be given at two levels - one state level award and the other district level award. The first prize of Rs 51,000, the second prize of Rs 31,000 and the third prize of Rs 21,000 will be given to the winning team of individual employees or employees.
• Similarly, the first prize of Rs 31,000, the second prize of Rs 21,000 and the third prize of Rs 11,000 will be given. The award will also carry a trophy, a certificate of appreciation signed by the Chief Minister (a copy of which will be displayed in the service book of the employee) along with the cash prize.
• According to the scheme, a maximum of 10 awards will be given at the state level. Two prizes will be given for the first place, three prizes for the second place and five prizes for the third place. Similarly, at the district level, 3-3 awards will be given in each district for the three ranks.
• It is noteworthy that the state government has launched the Haryana Good Governance Award Scheme, 2022, which covers all employees of Group A, B, C and D and any department, board, corporation, statutory authority, mission, society, institute, university, under the Government of Haryana . Applicable to employees and persons working under the outsourcing policy in public sector undertakings etc., who have done remarkable and innovative work in specified sectors. However, the scheme is not applicable to administrative secretaries, heads of departments and AIS officers.

Increase in Honorarium of Sanskrit Writers

Why In News?

Recently, Director of Haryana Sanskrit Academy Dr. Dinesh Shastri said that the state government has announced to increase the honor amount of Sanskrit scholars and litterateurs of the state.

Key Points

• Dr. Dinesh Shastri told that apart from the amount of honor, changes have also been made in the rules of honor. The restriction of age limit has now been removed for the highest honor Sanskrit Literature and Haryana Gaurav. The amount of scholarship, grant and financial assistance scheme has also been increased manifold.
• He informed that the national level honor 'Sanskrit Sahityalankar Samman' has been increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. Similarly, the prize money of 'Haryana Sanskrit Gaurav Samman' has been increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
• The amount of Maharishi Valmiki and Maharishi Ved Vyas Samman has been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. The amount of Maharishi Vishwamitra Samman has been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh, while Acharya Sthanudatta Samman will now get Rs 2 lakh instead of Rs 1.5 lakh. In the same order, under Mahakavi Baanbhatt Samman, Rs 2.5 lakh will be given instead of Rs 1 lakh. The literary award amount was earlier 11 lakhs, which has now increased to 25 lakhs.
• The director informed that the prize money of Acharya Samman has been increased from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 8 lakh. Similarly, now Guru Virja Nand Acharya Samman, Vidyamartand Pt. Sitaram Shastri Acharya Samman, Pt. Yudhishthir Mimansak Acharya Samman have now been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. Now the amount of one lakh rupees has been increased to two lakh rupees for Swami Dharmadev Sanskrit Samara dhak Samman.
• The prize money for the book for Sanskrit innovation talents has also been increased from Rs.31,000 to Rs.51,000. With this, talents will work more enthusiastically in literature writing. The amount of honorarium for grant-in-aid for manuscript publication has been increased from Rs.10,000 to Rs.21,000. In the short Sanskrit story writing, drama writing competition, the first prize will now be Rs 10,000, the second Rs 8,000 and the third Rs 5,000. The consolation prize has also been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000.
• Dr. Shastri told that the government has given a special gift to the students studying Sanskrit. Under this, students studying in Prathama, Purva Madhyama, Uttar Madhyama, Visharad, Prak Shastri and Shastri room will now get Rs 8,000 instead of Rs 3,000 as scholarship. Apart from this, students of Acharya classes will get Rs 10,000.
• Needy Sanskrit writers will be able to get an assistance of Rs.50,000 instead of Rs.3,000 in a year for medical expenses. Similarly, the financial grant amount received by the writer in the financial year has also been increased from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 21,000 directly.

15th National Conference of IPTA at Palamu

Why In News?

On November 20, 2022, in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Dr. Arun Shukla, State President of IPTA, located in Jelhata, Palamu, Jharkhand, it was told that the 15^th National Convention cum All India Cultural Festival of IPTA will be held in Palamu from 17 to 19 March 2023 .

Key Points

• More than 500 cultural activists from the country will attend the 15^th National Conference of IPTA. Apart from folk cultural performances from different states, many renowned artists from all over the country will make this conference memorable with their performances in this three-day conference.
• IPTA National Secretary Shailendra Kumar said that IPTA sang songs of love, kindness, compassion and democracy through its cultural work, so the slogan for this conference has been given 'Aao Ki Koi Khwaab Bunaye Kal Ke Liye'.
• IPTA's State General Secretary Upendra Mishra said that even though this conference is of IPTA, but this entire event is for all the artists of Palamu, in which everyone's cooperation is needed.

Jharkhand State Level Judo Championship

Why In News?

On November 18-20, 2022, under the aegis of Jharkhand Judo Association, a state level judo competition was organized at the Khel Gaon Stadium in Ranchi, in which Palamu has won two bronze medals.

Key Points

• 1000 participants from all over the state participated in this competition.
• State judo coach Sensei Sumit Varman said that for the first time four players from Palamu participated in this competition and these players performed brilliantly.
• Judo coach Sensei Sumit Varman, who was successful in getting his players to perform impressively in the state level competition, was awarded the best coach of Palamu district.
• Ashwin Kumar of Green Valley International School, Medinagar, Palamu, minus 50 kg in the sub-junior category. Playing from Bokaro, Dhanbad, reached the semi-final round by defeating Giridih, while Saurabh Kumar of The Karate Academy won the minus 50 kg. Playing in the weight category, he impressed the players of Ranchi with his technique and won the bronze medal. In the junior category, Ram Pratap Singh of Palamu won 55 kg. Playing in the weight category, the players of Koderma won bronze by defeating them.

Frontier Mountain District Children's Science Festival-2022

Why In News?

On November 19, 2022, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the two-day Frontier Mountain District Bal Vigyan Mahotsav-2022 under the joint aegis of Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) Dehradun and District Administration Champawat at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Champawat, state.

Key Points

• On this occasion, 5 scientists and personalities were honored by the Chief Minister for their outstanding work in the field of science in the festival.
• The Chief Minister said that this festival is the first such science-based festival which is being organized for students studying in remote areas. In addition to all the students, teachers from the marginal 6 districts of the state, scientists and enlightened people participated.
• He said that the main theme of this festival is traditional knowledge and modern science. Traditional knowledge and modern science are two components of development that serve as a strong foundation for science-based development. This first frontier hill district Children's Science Festival will work to strengthen the scientific concept in the state.
• Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the objective of organizing this science festival is to take scientific technology to every remote area of the state and to develop science to the people and scientific thinking in every child.
• All the children will be exposed to their interests through various competitions (poster making, drama, science quiz, poetry recitation etc.) to be held in the festival.
• He informed that the geographical conditions of Champawat represent the entire state of Uttarakhand. There are plains, high and central Himalayan regions here, that is why the government has decided to first develop Champawat district as a model district for model Uttarakhand, for which all the departments of the state government are working at their level and UCOST is working as the nodal agency in this.
• Science City is being constructed in the state to awaken scientific temper, to promote science education and to encourage innovation research. In order to take research and research activities to every region of the state, the concept of Labs on Wheel has been brought for every district of the state, so that research and research activities can reach even remote areas of the state.
• For awareness in space technology, UCOST and ARIES together are building 'Astro Park' in Haldwani which will be a mix of traditional and modern knowledge and science.
• A sub-regional science center is also being constructed in Almora where science-based activities and programs will be conducted and it is proposed to set up a science center in Champawat so that science-based education and awareness can be spread in the region.