• 21 Nov 2024

Assembly Election Polls Concludes in Jharkhand

Why in News? 

Assembly elections of 2024 concluded in Jharkhand state. The state recorded 67.59% voting, surpassing 67.04% voting in the Assembly Elections of 2019.

Key Points

• Polling in Jharkhand: 
  • Peaceful and Orderly Voting began and progressed peacefully across 38 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) in 12 districts of Jharkhand. 
  • Large voter turnout characterized the polling atmosphere, with diverse groups, including first-time voters, women voters, tribal voters, and PwD voters, actively participating. 
• Focus on Tribal Voters and Unique Polling Stations: 
  • Special efforts were made to boost participation among tribal voters, including 100% enrollment of 1.78 lakh members from 8 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). 
  • 48 Unique Polling Stations were decorated with themes reflecting tribal culture, creating a welcoming atmosphere for voters. 
• Accessibility and Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF): 
  • Polling stations were equipped with toilets, ramps, drinking water, and sheds, ensuring voter comfort. 
  • Facilities were provided to make the voting process smooth and inclusive, such as benches, volunteers, and wheelchairs, etc. 
• Combatting Electoral Malpractices: 
  • Vigilant approach was used to ensure fairness, with seizures of money, narcotics, and other inducements. 
  • Coordination among law enforcement agencies helped curb money and muscle power effectively. 
• Digital Facilitation and Monitoring: 
  • Suvidha 2.0 App facilitated campaign permissions, with 11,932 applications processed in Jharkhand. 
  • cVIGIL App enabled voters to report Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations. Jharkhand recorded part of the 24,992 complaints, resolved at a 99% resolution rate, with most resolved within 100 minutes. 
• Counting and Results: 
  • Counting of votes for Jharkhand's Assembly Elections is scheduled for 23rd November 2024.

Suvidha Portal 

• It is a technological solution developed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure a level playing field upholding the democratic principles of free, fair, and transparent elections. 
• The Portal aims to streamline requests for permissions and facilities from political parties and candidates during elections, transparently prioritising requests based on the First in First Out principle. 
• It caters to permissions for organising rallies, opening temporary party offices, door-to-door canvassing, video vans, helicopters, obtaining vehicle permits, and distributing pamphlets.

cVIGIL App

• The cVIGIL app by the Election Commission of India has emerged as a powerful tool for citizens to report election code violations, particularly during the ongoing General Elections 2024. 
• Key Features: 
  • Register Complaints: cVIGIL allows anyone in the election-bound state to report violations of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) that comes into effect from the date of announcement of elections and goes on till a day after the polls. 
  • Anonymous Reporting: Users can submit complaints anonymously, ensuring their personal details remain undisclosed. 
  • Geotagging: The app automatically adds geotags to reports when users use the camera feature, providing precise location information to field units.

Debris in Gurugram’s Green Belt

Why in News? 

Recently, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) faces backlash for dumping garbage and debris from the Gurgaon-Faridabad highway into the ecologically sensitive green belt of Baliwas village in the Aravalli forest. 

Key Points

• Importance of the Green Belt: 
  • The green belt is vital for groundwater recharge, agriculture, recreation, and houses the revered Hill of Devta temple, intensifying local opposition. 
  • Environmentalists highlight the area’s role in preventing desertification and maintaining the balance of the Aravalli forest ecosystem. 
• Concerns: 
  • Baliwas residents fear being trapped between the Bandhwari waste dump and the new dumping site. 
  • Environmentalists caution that continued dumping could lead to irreversible ecological damage, affecting soil quality, biodiversity, and groundwater recharge. 
• Government and Administrative Response: 
  • Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) plans to inspect the site, raising hopes for stricter enforcement. 
  • The MCG Commissioner promised action, forming a dedicated team to assess the situation and recommending strict measures against violators to protect the green belt.

Aravallis 

• About:  
  • The Aravalli Range extends from Gujarat to Delhi through Rajasthan, 692 km in length and varies between 10 to 120 km in width. 
    • The range acts as a natural green wall, with 80% located in Rajasthan and 20% in Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat. 
  • The Aravalli mountains are divided into two main ranges the Sambhar Sirohi Range and the Sambhar Khetri Range in Rajasthan, where their extension is about 560 km. 
  • It serves as an ecotone between the Thar Desert and the Gangetic Plain. 
    • Ecotones are areas where two or more ecosystems, biological communities, or biotic regions meet. 
  • Gurusikhar (Rajasthan), the highest peak in the range, reaches an elevation of 1,722 meters. 
• Significance of Aravalis: 
  • The Aravallis prevent the Thar Desert from encroaching on the Indo-Gangetic plains, historically serving as a catchment for rivers and plains. 
  • The range supports 300 native plant species, 120 bird species, and exclusive animals like jackals and mongooses. 
  • During monsoons, the Aravallis direct monsoon clouds eastward, benefiting sub-Himalayan rivers and North Indian plains. In winter, they shield fertile valleys from cold westerly winds. 
  • The range aids in groundwater replenishment by absorbing rainwater, thus reviving groundwater levels. 
  • The Aravallis act as the “lungs” for Delhi-NCR, mitigating some effects of the region's severe air pollution.

Haryana Good Governance Award Scheme 2024

Why in News? 

The Haryana government launched the ‘Haryana Good Governance Award Scheme 2024’ to recognize and reward employees for innovative practices and exceptional efforts that enhance governance across the state.

Key Points

• Objective of the Scheme: 
  • The scheme aims to promote excellence in governance by recognizing and rewarding employees for innovative practices and exceptional efforts that enhance governance across the state. 
• State-Level Awards: 
  • Flagship Scheme Awards: 
    • Teams working on flagship projects will be rewarded with a trophy, an appreciation certificate signed by the Chief Secretary. 
      • A cash prize of Rs 51,000, shared equally among team members. 
    • Maximum of six awards will be given in this category. 
  • General State-Level Awards: 
    • Given to teams demonstrating high performance in governance initiatives. 
    • A trophy and certificate of appreciation, added to recipients' service records. 
      • Cash prizes: 
        • Rs 51,000 for first prize. 
        • Rs 31,000 for second prize. 
        • Rs 21,000 for third prize. 
    • Cash rewards will be equally distributed among team members. 
  • District-Level Awards: 
    • Presented by the Deputy Commissioner of each district. 
    • Rewards included a trophy, an appreciation certificate signed by the Divisional Commissioner. 
    • Cash prizes: 
      • Rs 31,000 for first prize. 
      • Rs 21,000 for second prize. 
      • Rs 11,000 for third prize. 
• Good Governance Day: 
  • The awards align with Good Governance Day, celebrated annually on 25th December. 

Good Governance 

• About: 
  • Governance refers to the processes, systems, and structures through which organizations, societies, or groups are directed, controlled, and managed. 
    • Good governance is defined as a set of values through which a public institution conducts public affairs and manages public resources in a way that respects human rights, the rule of law, and the needs of society. 
  • The World Bank defines good governance in terms of the traditions and institutions by which authority in a country is exercised. This includes: 
    • the process by which governments are selected, monitored and replaced 
    • the capacity of the government to effectively formulate and implement sound policies 
    • the respect of citizens and the state for the institutions that govern economic and social interactions among them. 
• Basic Principles of Good Governance: 

Inactivity at India’s First Dolphin Research Centre

Why in News? 

Dolphin conservation in India faces challenges as the National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) in Bihar, remains non-operational, months after inauguration due to a lack of advanced equipment and skilled manpower.

Key Points 

• Inauguration and Current State: 
  • The NDRC, located near the Ganga in Patna, was inaugurated by Bihar Chief Minister on 4th March 2024. 
  • Despite its opening, the centre remains non-functional, marked by neglect and locked glass doors. 
• Impact on Dolphin Conservation: 
  • The delay has hindered essential research on Gangetic dolphins, India’s national aquatic animal. 
  • RK Sinha, the "Dolphin Man of India," who proposed the NDRC 15 years ago, expressed disappointment over the lack of progress. 
• Official Assurance: 
  • Bihar Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden assured that the NDRC would begin operations within the financial year 2024-25. 
  • The centre aims to conserve dolphins, study their behaviour and habitat, and train fishermen to safeguard dolphins during fishing. 
• Strategic Location and Importance: 
  • The 4,400-square-metre facility is situated on Patna University campus near the Ganga, allowing direct observation of dolphins in their natural habitat. 
• Conservation Challenges: 
  • Bihar, hosting half of India’s 3,000 Gangetic dolphins, faces threats to habitats due to activities like construction and pollution. 
  • The National Green Tribunal recently highlighted the danger posed by bridge debris in Bhagalpur to the dolphin population. 
• Significance of Gangetic Dolphins: 
  • These endangered dolphins, blind and reliant on echolocation, are crucial to the river ecosystem. 
    • Echolocation is a technique used by bats, dolphins and other animals to determine the location of objects using reflected sound. 
  • They thrive in deep waters with minimal currents and are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines. 
  • The Ganges river dolphin, discovered in 1801, historically inhabits the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. 
  • Recent studies in the Ganga River Basin show their presence in the mainstream and tributaries like Ghagra, Kosi, Gandak, Chambal, Rupnarayan, and Yamuna. 

Rajgir to Host Men’s Hockey Asia Cup

Why in News? 

According to the officials, the Rajgir Sports Complex will be hosting the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup in 2025. Scheduled from 27th August to 7th September, the event will also be a qualifying event for the World Cup, 2026.

Key Points

• Preparation for Hosting a Men's Event: 
  • Following the success of the women’s six-nation event, Bihar is gearing up to host the prestigious Asia Cup men’s tournament. 
  • The Asia Cup, a qualifying event for the 2026 World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, is expected to draw larger crowds and increased interest.

The Men's Hockey Asia Cup 

• It is an event held annually by the Asian Hockey Federation since 2011 with India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and China participating in the inaugural tournament. 
• The Asian Hockey Federation is the governing body for hockey in Asia.  
• It has 33 member associations and it is affiliated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH). 
• The Asia Cup is an eight-team tournament, with the winner securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup.