• 23 Sep 2023

First Edition of International Trade Show Inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh

Why In News?

On September 21, 2023, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the first edition of 'Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show' in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Greater Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar district.

Key Points:

• Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show is being organized from September 21 to 25, 2023 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida.
• More than 2,000 manufacturers are displaying their products in this trade show. Products from various categories of entrepreneurs, from established industrial houses to new entrepreneurs, are available here.
• More than 400 buyers from 66 countries from different parts of the world are also participating in this trade show.
• 54 G.I.S of the state Exhibition of products is also being organized in this trade show.
• This trade show will showcase products from all sectors. Exhibitions of various sectors including defence, agriculture, industry, e-commerce, education, infrastructure, banking and financial services, dairy products, handloom, textile products are an important part of this Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show.
• Along with handicrafts based products, young entrepreneurs of the state, especially women entrepreneurs are also showcasing their products.
• The state has made a significant contribution to the economic development of the country in the last 06-07 years. The state's GDP, which was around Rs 13 lakh crore in the year 2016-17, is estimated to be around Rs 22 lakh crore in the year 2022-23.
• Uttar Pradesh ranks first among all the states with more than 96 lakh MSME units.

Aspirational Blocks will Develop like Aspirational Districts

Why In News?

According to the guidelines issued by NITI Aayog on September 21, 2023, 61 aspirational blocks of Bihar will also be developed on the lines of aspirational districts.

Key Points:

• Special attention is to be given to health and nutrition, education, agriculture, water resources, financial inclusion and skill development in these blocks. Blocks will also be given a separate amount as a reward for better performance.
• Thinking camps will be organized at the Panchayat level for the blocks where development is to take place. It started from Teghra block of Begusarai district.
• The responsibility of implementing the Aspirational Block Program has been given to the Planning Development Department. The Planning and Development Department has been made the nodal agency.

Nikhil became the Best Actor and Simran became the Best Actress in the State Level Science Drama Competition.

Why In News?

On September 21, 2023, State Level Science Drama Competition-2023 was organized at Shri Krishna Science Center in Patna, the capital of Bihar, in which Nikhil became the best actor and Simran became the best actress.

Key Points:

• A total of 90 children and teachers from all divisions participated in the state level science drama competition program. In which Munger division got the first prize, Darbhanga division got the second prize and Purnia division got the third prize.
• The main theme of the competition was ‘Science and Technology for the Benefit of Mankind’. Under this, five sub-themes ‘Millets: The Super Food’, ‘Food Safety’, ‘Modern Technology in Daily Life’, ‘Current Progress in Health Care’ and ‘Superstition in Society’ were also included.
• The winning participants will participate in the Eastern India Regional Level Science Drama Competition to be held on 27th September in Kolkata and the winners will participate in the National Level Science Drama Competition to be held on 5-6 January in the year 2024 at Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai.
• Best Director- Maneshak (M.A.R.M School Lalbagh), Best Actor- Nikhil Kumar, (Government zed High School Barhiya Lakhisarai), Best Actress- Simran (SS Girls High School Banka) and Best Storyline SS Girls High School, Banka.

Innovation of Election Commission of India - Facility of Home Voting in Assembly General Elections for the First Time in the State.

Why In News?

On September 21, 2023, Chief Electoral Officer of Rajasthan Praveen Gupta said that as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, for the first time in the state, senior citizens above 80 years of age and especially abled voters with more than 40 percent disability category will be eligible for voting in the assembly general elections. Voting initiative has been taken.

Key Points:

• Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that the Commission has made this innovation in the direction of inclusive elections. Under this, booth level officers are going door-to-door and providing information regarding home voting to the eligible voters.
• In these elections, 18.05 lakh eligible voters will be able to get this facility as an option. This feature is available as an option. If eligible voters want to opt for this facility, they will have to fill the 12-D form given by the BLO and submit it to the BLO within 5 days of the issue of election notification.
• Praveen Gupta said that the list of these voters who have chosen the option of home voting will be made available to all the recognized political parties by the returning officer and the polling team formed will get these voters to vote through postal ballot.
• It is noteworthy that in the state, 12 lakh 13 thousand 817 voters above 80 years of age and 5 lakh 95 thousand voters are registered as especially abled people.

Sixth State Finance Commission Report Presented to the Governor

Why In News?

On September 21, 2023, the final report of the Sixth State Finance Commission was presented to Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhavan.

Key Points:

• Under the leadership of State Finance Commission Chairman Pradyuman Singh, Finance Commission member Ashok Lahoti, Member Secretary S. C. Derasree, Joint Secretary Rajesh Gupta and Advisor Shantilal Jain handed over the signed copy of the Finance Commission to the Governor.
• It is noteworthy that this commission was constituted under the chairmanship of Pradyuman Singh on April 12, 2021, under Article 243 of the Constitution.
• In this, there is a provision of financial assistance given by the state government to Panchayati Raj institutions, urban bodies for carrying out the basic tasks assigned under the Constitution and Panchayati Raj and Rajasthan Municipality Act and recommendations to improve their functioning.

Notification Released for University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jobner

Why In News?

In pursuance of the Chief Minister's budget announcement on September 21, 2023, the State Government has issued notification for the establishment of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Jobner.

Key Points:

• Earlier in the Assembly session, Animal Husbandry Minister Lalchand Kataria had presented a bill related to this in the Assembly, which was passed by voice vote.
• Animal Husbandry Minister Lalchand Kataria said that earlier Animal Science University was functioning in Bikaner. The second veterinary university of the state is being established in Jobner. With this, children from rural families will also get an opportunity to get an education equipped with the latest techniques of veterinary medicine and animal science.
• The Animal Husbandry Minister said that Rajasthan is the first state in the country to have two veterinary and animal science universities. To save livestock and move ahead in the field of veterinary medicine, the second veterinary and animal science university of the state is being opened in Jobner.

Madhya Pradesh gets SEEM Award for Energy Literacy Campaign

Why In News?

On September 21, 2023, Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam was awarded the ‘SEEM Star Performance Award-2022’ by the Society of Energy Engineers and Managers (SEEM) in New Delhi for its unique efforts towards energy literacy.

Key Points:

• This award has been given to the Energy Literacy Campaign (Urja Saksharta Abhiyan- USHA) for taking significant steps towards making common citizens aware of energy conservation. Additional Executive Engineer Surendra Vajpayee received the award on behalf of the corporation.
• It is known that for the first time in the country, more than 15 lakh citizens have joined the 'Energy Literacy Campaign' (USHA) started in Madhya Pradesh on November 25, 2021, with the aim of teaching energy conservation, benefits of renewable energy and economy to the common citizens.
• It is noteworthy that the Energy Literacy Campaign is an important effort towards the resolution of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the country to achieve the net zero target. USHA Abhiyan has been started by the New and Renewable Energy Department of Madhya Pradesh to save the country and the world from global warming, climate imbalance and wastage of electricity.
• 7 thousand citizens have become energy literate in the country's first Sanchi Solar City. Usha is proving to be effective in making people aware about wastage of energy, saving traditional fuel sources, reducing carbon emissions, tree conservation etc.

CCL's First Highwall Mining will Take Place in the Dhori Area of Bermo.

Why In News?

According to the information received from the media on September 21, 2023, the first highwall mining of CCL will be done in the Dhori area of CCL under Bermo Coal Plant in Bokaro district. Coal production from highwall mining is likely to start here by February-March 2024.

Key Points:

• According to the information, this highwall mining to be done in Amlo Mines of AADOCM in Dhori area will produce a total of 13 lakh tonnes of coal in three years.
• Every year 3.5 lakh tonnes of coal will be mined from here. There will be three lakh tonnes of coal production in the first year and 5-5 lakh tonnes annually in the subsequent years.
• It will have production like an underground mine's gallery. The size of the coal produced in this will be less than minus 100 mm and after being crushed, completely fresh coal will come out. This will come directly from the coal mines to the conveyor belt and from here will again fall on the surface. From here, this coal will be loaded in the tipper and will be sent to the siding and washery.
• Presently in Jharkhand, production is being done through highwall mining in Tata's Ghati Colliery. A total of 30 highwall mining is going to start across Coal India. Coal production will start with this technology from two in ICL and one in CCL in the Dhori area of Bermo.
• According to the information, due to the presence of villages and settlements on the upper surface of AADOCM's Amlo Mines where this highwall mining will be installed, space is not available. Also, blasting within 100 meters (about 328.08 ft) is also prohibited. In such a situation, high-wall mining will be carried out in Amlo Mines without removing villages and settlements and without clearing the land, i.e., without disturbing the surface.
• Like a gallery in an underground mine, a platform will be built inside the mines, on which the high wall machine will be installed, and production will begin.
• A new coking washery with the capacity to feed 3 lakh tonnes of coal annually is also going to be installed in Tarmi project of Dhori area. According to the management, apart from SDOCM, Amlo, Tarmi of Dhori area, coal produced from Kalyani Expansion Project will be fed into this washery. From here, Washery Grade-5 coal will go to the CHP, while Washery Grade-3 coal will remain in the Washery. From here it will then be sent to other places.
• Soon Kalyani Expansion Mines of 2 million capacity per year will also come into existence in the Dhori area, which is a 20-year project. After this, the coal production graph of the Dhori area will increase significantly, in view of which a washery and CHP are being constructed here.
• According to Dhori regional management, coal production will start in any case by February-March of 2024 from the closed previous mines under Dhori area. A total of 98 acres will produce 20 lakh tonnes of coal, while the entire Pichchi mines are 459 acres (about twice the total floor space of the Pentagon), with 28-30 million tonnes of coal, which is a 16-year project.

Selection of Sarmoli of Pithoragarh Among the Best Tourist Villages of the Country.

Why In News?

According to information received from the media on September 21, 2023, the Union Ministry of Tourism has selected Sarmoli village of Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand in the Best Tourism Village Competition. The village will soon be declared the best tourist village of the country.

Key Points:

• According to sources, Kamakshi Maheshwari, the nodal officer of Rural Tourism India of the Ministry of Tourism, has issued a letter to the state informing about the selection of Sarmoli village as the best tourism village of the country.
• It will be officially announced at an event to be held in Delhi on September 27. Also, the village will be given the award for the best tourism village.
• It is known that to promote rural tourism, the Union Ministry of Tourism has started the Best Tourism Village Competition. Sarmoli village near Munsiyari in Pithoragarh district has been selected in this competition at the national level.
• The competition was organized through the Ministry's Central Nodal Agency for Rural Tourism and Rural Home Stay, which received applications from 795 villages from all states and union territories. Sarmoli village was selected as the best tourist village for the better work done at the village level to promote tourism.
• It is noteworthy that Sarmoli village near Munsiyari in Pithoragarh district boasts of its rich culture and natural beauty. Along with environmental protection, the village people have made rural tourism self-employment.
• Tourists come to Sarmoli village for eco-tourism and adventure tourism. The view of Himalayas, Nanda Devi, Rajarambha, Panchachuli, Nanda Kot peaks from here attracts everyone. Home stay in the village is the first choice of tourists.