• 22 Dec 2023

8th Edition of Water Festival

Why in News?

On December 20, 2023, the 8th edition of the Water Festival started at Hanuwantiya Island, famous across the country for water tourism, in the reservoir of Indira Sagar Dam in Khandwa district. The festival will conclude on 20th February.

Key Points

• Collector Anoop Kumar Singh started the Water Festival in the presence of local public representatives.
• Tourists will be able to enjoy tent city, water sports and exciting activities in water, land and sky for two months in Hanuwantiya, which is called the Singapore of Nimar, situated in the backwaters of Indira Sagar Dam built on the Narmada River.
• Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture and Managing Director Tourism Board Shiv Shekhar Shukla said that a grand tent city has been set up to ensure a memorable and comfortable experience. The tent city will provide a great opportunity to the tourists to relax and spend time with their loved ones after doing adventure activities amidst the beautiful views of Hanuwantiya.
• Along with cultural activities, many types of wellness activities will also be organised here which will be the centre of attraction for the tourists visiting Mini Goa of Madhya Pradesh.
• Water adventure activities will provide an exciting and unique experience to the tourists. Jet ski, Speed Boat, Banana Ride, Bumper Ride, Hot Air Balloon, Land Parasailing, Para Motor, Reverse/Ejection bungee Archery, Boat and Water Activities, ATV Bike Ride, Trekking on Island, High Rope Course, Zip Line, Zubbing (Water Activity), Air Gun Shooting, Wall Climbing and other activities will be enjoyed by the tourists.
• It is worth mentioning that the Water Festival is organised by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board in collaboration with Sunset Desert Camp. Extensive arrangements have been made for the convenience and safety of tourists as per the highest standards.

Haryana is the first state in the country to block more than 55000 mobile numbers.

Why in News?

On December 19, 2023, Haryana reached the first position in the country by blocking more than 55000 mobile numbers related to cyber fraud.

Key Points

• Haryana Police has saved Rs 66 crore of the people of the state from being cheated till 30^th November in the year 2023.
• Haryana Police has arrested 1707 cyber fraudsters through 29 cyber police stations and has also registered 2354 cyber fraud cases, out of which 409 are high profile cases.
• Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapoor said that the number of policemen deployed on the cyber helpline number has been increased from 35 to 70.
• Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapoor said that 27 police personnel have been appointed as incident managers at the National Cyber Helpline 1930 headquarters located in 112 ERSS Building, Panchkula.
• It is the responsibility of these incident managers to immediately contact the nodal officer of the bank where the fraud amount has gone and get the fraud amount frozen when the fraud reporting is registered on the helpline 1930.

3 Players & 1 Coach will be Decorated with National Sports Honor

Why in News?

On December 20, 2023, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2023, in which three players from Madhya Pradesh have been selected for the Arjuna Award & one coach has been selected for the Dronacharya Award.

Key Points

• President Draupadi Murmu will honour the players who have performed outstandingly in the field of sports with the National Sports Award at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9, 2024.
• It may be noted that for the first time, three players and one coach from Madhya Pradesh will be decorated with the National Sports Award.
• Olympic player Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar of Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy, Prachi Yadav of Para Canoeing & former player of Madhya Pradesh Women's Hockey Academy and currently Hockey India star player Sushila Chanu will be honoured with the national level excellence sports award Arjuna Award. Indian hockey team coach Shivendra Singh will be honoured with the Dronacharya Award.
• Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar – Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy's star shooter Aishwarya was the most successful Indian athlete in the Asian Games held this year. He won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal in the Asian Games. Also Aishwarya Pratap Singh made a world record in her name and 50 m. Won silver medal in rifle three position men's singles event.
• Prachi Yadav – Madhya Pradesh's Para Canoe Prachi Yadav recently qualified for the Paris Paralympics by finishing fourth in the ICF Sprint and ParaCanoe World Championships, Germany. Prachi is the first athlete from India to achieve a quota for the Paris Paralympics.
• Sushila Chanu – Sushila, an excellent player of the first batch of Madhya Pradesh Women's Hockey Academy, Gwalior, has achieved many achievements. In the Women's Hockey Junior World Cup held in Germany, the Indian team won the bronze medal under the captaincy of Sushila. He played an important role in helping the Indian team win the bronze medal in the 2014 Asian Games. Sushila was the captain of the Indian team in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
• Shivendra Singh – Shivendra Singh of Madhya Pradesh is currently included in the coaching staff of the Indian hockey team. He has played about 160 international matches and has scored about 80 goals.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai released the book 'Shri Krishna Janmasthan Newspaper'

Why In News?

On December 21, 2023, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai released a book titled 'Shri Krishna Janmasthan Samachar Patra' re-edited and compiled by senior historian Acharya Ramendranath Mishra on the occasion of the birth anniversary of freedom fighter & senior litterateur Pandit Sunderlal Sharma.

Key Points

• It is worth mentioning that Pandit Sunderlal Sharma, the pioneer of social change, had published the handwritten newspaper Shri Krishna Janmasthan from jail in 1922-23 during the freedom struggle.
• Senior historian of Chhattisgarh, Acharya Ramendranath Mishra, has compiled and compiled Shri Krishna Janmasthan newspaper in the form of a book.
• Chief Minister VishnuDeo Sai congratulated Acharya Mishra for saving and re-editing the Shri Krishna Janmasthan newspaper handwritten by Pandit Sunderlal Lal Sharma.
• The Chief Minister said that the compilation of this important and historical work will give the young generation an opportunity to know & to understand the struggle of their ancestors & their contribution.

Basukinath Jha Received Sahitya Akademi Award -2023

Why In News?

On 21 December 2023, the Sahitya Akademi has announced to give the Sahitya Akademi Award for the year 2023 to Maithili language writer Basukinath Jha.

Key Points

• Maithili litterateur Basukinath Jha has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award-2023 for his Maithili essay collection “Bodh-Sanketan”.
• Maithili litterateur Basukinath Jha is a resident of Samastipur district of Bihar.
• Maithili litterateur Basukinath Jha, in Maithili language, wrote Vidyapati Kavya Lochan (Classical Criticism), Anushilan-Avabodh (Critical Research and Essay Collection), Parivaha (Modern Critical Essay Collection), Bodh Sanketan (Collection of Introductions to Books written by Various Authors), Vastuvaachi Sanketan. Has written many books including (Literary Trend based Essay Collection), Vyaktiwaachi Sankhanan (Personality based essay collection), Maithili literary outline (Part one and two), Novel and Social consciousness.
• Maithili litterateur Basukinath Jha has been given many awards for his work including Grierson Award from the state government, Sahasrabadi Award in Hindi Conference, Mithila Vibhuti Award from Vidyapati Seva Sansthan, National Shikhar Sahitya Samman from Sahityakar Sansad.