• 23 Dec 2021

Chief Minister Gave Instructions to Set Up Drone Manufacturing Unit

Why in News

• On December 22, 2021, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed to prepare a concrete action plan for setting up a drone manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh in view of the importance of unmanned aircraft in various fields like disaster relief, agriculture and law and order.

Key Points

• Presiding over a meeting of senior officers in Lucknow, he also directed the officers to chart the rules and regulations on the use of drones and prepare a plan to compile the rich history of villages and cities of the state.
• He also proposed to start certificate or diploma courses on drone technology in industrial training institutes, for which necessary help would be taken from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.
• The Chief Minister asked the officers to document the rich mythological, historical and cultural history of the cities and village panchayats across the state, to compile the data in this regard and to the Urban and Rural Development Departments on the lines of Uttar Pradesh Divas, respectively, 'Gram Days'. And instructed to prepare a plan for celebrating 'city day'.

Vikramotsav-21 Concludes with the
Presentation of 'Varataan Vikramajit Di'

Why in News

• The three-day Vikramotsav-2021, the prestige event of Maharaja Vikramaditya Shodh Peeth, formally concluded with the presentation of 'Varataan Vikramajit Di' on 22 December 2021. Vikramotsav-2021 saw the participation of a large number of Kalarsikas to watch the theatrical performances on all three days in the midst of severe cold.

Key Points

• On the first day of Vikramotsav-2021, Mahanatya 'Samrat Vikramaditya' was presented under the direction of color director Sanjeev Malviya. This great play once took place at Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal, which was presented in a duration of about two hours by director Malviya in a traditional and 3D system.
• In this episode, the second presentation of 'Raja Vikram' of Khel Mach in the Mach style of Malwa was done under the direction of Pandit Omprakash Sharma.
• The third and final presentation of Vikramotsav-2021 was 'Varataan Vikramajit Di'. In this presentation by senior theatrical director Rajiv Singh, Vikramaditya has beautifully presented Punjabi folk songs. Through this play it is also established that the fame of Vikramaditya is not limited only to Malvanchal, but is in every state of the country.
• Shri Ram Tiwari, director of Maharaja Vikramaditya Shodh Peeth, said that Vikramotsav will now be organized in major cities of the country – Ayodhya, Patna, Banaras, Agra, Mathura, Chandigarh, Pune, Jaipur, Delhi and Bangalore. Along with this, a series of lectures focused on India's flourishing and innovation titled 'Bharat Vikram' is also planned to be organized in major cities of the country.
• He said that the purpose of conducting Vikramotsav in other cities of the country is to acquaint the society with Vikram Kirti. Vikram Kirti has been universal and the same thing has to be conveyed to the society.

Five-Day International Forest Fair Inaugurated

Why in News

• On 22 December 2021, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the five-day International Forest Fair to be organized at Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal. The fair will continue till December 26, 2021.

Key Points

• This International Forest Fair is being organized by Madhya Pradesh State Minor Forest Produce Association. The theme of the fair is 'Health Protection from Minor Forest Produce'.
• The main objective of organizing this is to provide a better market and maximum value of forest produce to the beneficiaries associated with forest produce. Subject experts from Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka will participate in a virtual way.
• An exhibition focused on the schemes of the Forest Department has been put on at the International Fair. In the fair, rare varieties of herbs and products prepared by forest committees and Van Dhan centers will be available to the common people.

No Entry for Unvaccinated People in
Public Places in Haryana from 1, January

Why in News

• On December 22, 2021, Haryana Home-cum-Health Minister Anil Vij informed the State Legislative Assembly that in order to boost vaccine coverage, the State Government has decided that from January 1, 2022, both the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be given. If not found, they will not be allowed to enter crowded areas such as restaurants, malls, banks, offices and other public places.

Key Points

• While issuing an order in this regard, the State Government directed all the Deputy Commissioners to constitute teams to ensure this.
• According to the order, with effect from January 1, 2022, restaurants, bars, hotels, grain markets, departmental buildings, liquor shops, malls, shopping complexes, cinema halls, religious places, ration shops, petrol and CNG stations, local markets, private and government Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to enter banks, parks, gyms, bus stands, railway stations and other places of public gatherings in the area.
• Apart from this, Covid-19 vaccination certificate will be mandatory for college/polytechnic students (above 18 years). Also, no person including government employees will be allowed to go to government offices without being fully vaccinated.
• It is noteworthy that about 93 percent of the eligible population in the state have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 59 percent have received both the doses. Whereas in Gurugram, 100% eligible people have received both the doses of the vaccine.

Decision to Appoint Universities Through HPSC, HSSC Withdrawn

Why in News

• On December 22, 2021, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar gave the final decision regarding withdrawal of the decision of recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff in universities and appointments in universities through Haryana Public Service Commission and Haryana Staff Selection Commission in the state assembly. Announced the formation of a committee to take

Key Points

• The Chief Minister said that a five-member committee would be constituted to take decisions regarding appointments to various posts in the universities of the state.
• In this committee, the representative of the Governor (Vice Chancellor), the Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department and the Vice Chancellors of three universities will be included. The committee will submit its report in 15-20 days.
• He said that the earlier letters sent to the universities regarding the recruitments to be done through HPSC and HSSC have been withdrawn.
• The Chief Minister further said that the instructions of the UGC would be followed. The appointments in the universities will be done in a transparent manner and on the basis of merit. The autonomy of universities will remain intact.
• The Chief Minister announced to increase the DA rates for government employees and pensioners from 28 per cent to 31 per cent on the lines of the central government. This will put an additional burden of Rs 672 crore on the state exchequer annually.
• He also announced to increase the employer's contribution from 10 percent to 14 percent with effect from January 1, 2022, on the lines of the Central Government under the New Pension Scheme for its employees by the Haryana Government. With the implementation of this decision, employees will get a benefit of Rs 25 crore monthly and Rs 300 crore annually.
• Along with this, Chief Minister Khattar also announced that a new system would be introduced in the House, under which the questions raised by MLAs during Zero Hour would be answered in writing by the State Government to the MLA concerned within a period of one month.