• 23 Dec 2022

Country's First Muslim Woman Fighter Pilot

Why In News?

• According to information received from the media on December 22, 2022, Sania Mirza, who hails from a small village in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh, has secured second place in the flying wing with 149^th rank in the NDA examination. Sania Mirza is expected to become India's first Muslim woman fighter pilot.

Key Points

• Significantly, this time there are only two seats in the flying wing. Only 19 posts in the NDA are reserved for women. If all goes well, Sania will have the privilege of becoming the country's first Muslim woman fighter pilot after passing out of the NDA.
• It is known that Sania is a resident of a small village Jasowar in Mirzapur Dehat Kotwali police station area. He completed his education from primary to 10^th class from Pandit Chintamani Dubey Inter College in the village. She has also been a district topper in the Uttar Pradesh Board examination. After this, Sania completed her 12^th education from Guru Nanak Girls Inter College in the city.
• Sania took the NDA exam on April 10. He has been selected in the list released in November. She is one of the two women selected in flying. She will join the NDA on December 27 in Pune for training.

NABL Accreditation to CCRAS-CARI, Jhansi

Why In News?

• On December 22, 2022, the Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Jhansi, premier institute under the Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) of the Ministry of AYUSH, received the official recognition of NABL.

Key Points

• Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) CCRAS is one of the premier institutes of the Ministry of AYUSH, with state-of-the-art quality control laboratories (Chemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacognosy), Ayurvedic Pharmacy, There are Central Herbarium and Museum, and National Raw Drugs Repository (NRDR).
• In addition to The Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Jhansi, the Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), New Delhi has got the official recognition of NABH. Central Ayurveda Research Institute, New Delhi is the first institute under CCRAS to receive the official accreditation of NABH.
• Apart from these two CCRAS institutes, National Ayurveda Research Institute for Panchakarma (NARIP), Cheruthuruthy, Thrissur, Kerala also has the official accreditation of NABL M(EL)T for its clinical laboratory services. NARIP, Kerala is one of the premier research institutions under the Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH.
• NABH is the parent board of the Quality Council of India, which has been set up to establish and run accreditation Programs of healthcare organizations. Official accreditation focuses on patient safety and quality of health care based on national/international standards.

Modern Multi-Specialty Command Hospital for Armed Forces in Lucknow

Why In News?

• On December 22, 2022, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the construction of a modern multi-specialty command hospital for the armed forces in Lucknow. The Command Hospital will be a green field multi-storey hospital with technical facilities for 780 inpatient beds as well as 100 crisis expansion beds to meet emergencies.

Key Points

• The construction of modern multi-specialty hospital in central India will boost the morale of the armed forces and provide desired support to the personnel.
• The existing Command Hospital Lucknow is one of the busiest hospitals of the Armed Forces, a tertiary care referral hospital for 22 military hospitals, two Air Force hospitals and 109 Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinics.
• It caters to the healthcare needs of more than 3.5 lakh dependent customers spread across six states in central India as well as Nepal. Hospital beds are always more than 80% full.
• Apart from being a tertiary care centre for all super specialties of medicines and surgeries, the hospital also has a Malignant Disease Treatment Centre (MDTC) for cancer patients. The hospital also trains trainees, postgraduate trainees, MNS cadets and nursing assistants.
• Considering the number of patients in the existing hospital, the Defence Minister approved a special project at an estimated cost of Rs 496.94 crore. Command Hospital, Lucknow has been planned in line with the latest building code and hospital rules applicable in the country.
• It is planned according to the zone for progressive patient care services that reduce and control patient movement, reduce hospital infection (HAI), planned biomedical waste (BMW) isolation and disposal, disaster evacuation plan in case of emergency with all disabled friendly services, Safe use of radiation for both diagnosis and therapy is among the many modern specialties included in the hospital.
• Integrated services such as building management system as well as hospital information system have also been included in the project for faster access to data and energy conservation.

There will be a Big Change in the Rules of Teacher Planning in Bihar

Why In News?

• According to information received from the media on December 22, 2022, preparations are being made to make major changes in the rules of teacher planning in the seventh phase in the context of teacher planning in Bihar. A single manual has been prepared for the appointment of teachers from primary stage to higher secondary level. Earlier, the rules used to be different.

Key Points

• Under the change in the rules of teacher employment in the state, this time Panchayati Raj institutions will not restore the vacant posts of more than 1.5 lakh teachers of different classes. The state government is going to remove the role of Panchayati Raj from the teacher selection process.
• Centralized units will be formed at the district level to finalize the teacher recruitment process. This institution will not only counsel the recommended candidates for the post of teacher at the district level, but will also distribute appointment letters to them. Appointment letters will be distributed to all selected teachers from panchayat to block and urban bodies from the district headquarters itself.
• All the above facts have been proposed in the rules being prepared for the seventh phase of teacher employment. The rules have been sent for the opinion of the top officers of the state government and the opinion of the top officers will be included by the committee to make the rules of departmental officers and finalize it and send it to the cabinet.
• There will be no written test and interview in the selection process. However, three options have been suggested for the selecting agency. For this, one of the agencies is to be selected from Bihar Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission and Bihar Technical Service Commission.
• This time the vacancies of all including primary, middle, secondary, higher secondary teachers, physical education and health services, laboratory assistant, librarian, computer teacher will be taken out simultaneously. Their appointment schedule will be in the same time period. The appointment will be made on a choice basis. All will be placed in the district cadre.

Shalini Kumari from Bihar won the First Prize for Her Innovation 'Modified Walker with Adjustable Legs’

Why In News?

• On December 21, 2022, Shalini Kumari from Bihar received the first prize for her innovation 'Modified Walker with Adjustable Legs' at the grassroots innovation competition at the 3rd ASEAN-India Grassroots Innovation Forum.

Key Points

• Shalini Kumari from the General Department of Science, Technology and Innovation under His Excellency Dr. Hul Singheng, Chairman of the Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) Cambodia and Director General of the Ministry of Industry Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) in the Kingdom of Cambodia received the award. She won a cash prize of US$1,500 for being the first prize winner.
• The second and third prizes were won by grassroots innovators from the Philippines and Myanmar, respectively, who won US$1000 and US$500 respectively. A total of 45 grassroots innovators participated and represented 9 countries in this competition.
• The first and second prizes in the student innovation competition were won by participants from Thailand, while the third prize was won by a student from Lao PDR. A total of 37 participants representing 9 countries participated in the competition.
• Shalini Kumari, the first prize winner, is a resident of Patna. He was first recognized by the National Innovation Foundation, an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology, for his technology through the IGNITE competition in 2011.
• It may be noted that the Committee of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) 19-21 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia The 3^rd ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum was held till December.
• The forum included grassroots innovation competition, student innovation competition, panel discussion, keynote address and an exhibition of innovations involving participants from India and ASEAN Member States (AMS).
• The 3^rd ASEAN-India Grassroots Innovation Forum as well as the second Government Meeting in Cambodia was also held in which representatives from ASEAN member countries, India and ASEAN Secretariat were also held.
• The ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology and the National Innovation Foundation organizes the annual COETI, which includes conference sessions, innovation competitions and an exhibition. Bringing together key participants i.e. government officials, grassroots innovators, student innovators, academicians, business actors and the wider community, the platform provides a space to promote and strengthen the development of innovation/innovation ecosystem at the grassroots level.
• The first two forums were held in Indonesia (2018) and the Philippines (2019) respectively, while there was a brief two-year break due to the pandemic.

104 Modified Small Drinking Water Schemes (OTMP)

Why In News?

• On December 22, 2022, in the meeting of the Finance Committee of Rajasthan Water Supply and Sewerage Management Board (RWSSMB) under the chairmanship of Dr. Subodh Agarwal, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Health Engineering Department of Rajasthan, the department approved 104 modified small drinking water schemes worth Rs. 1055 crore 99 lakh. Administrative and financial approval was given to the schemes (OTMP).

Key Points

• Dr. Subodh Agarwal said that the department is taking rapid steps towards achieving the target set by the Jal Jeevan Mission. Through these Small Drinking Water Schemes (OTMP), water connections will be provided to 1 lakh 18 thousand 588 every household in the state.
• In the meeting, the tender for Tinwari-Mathania-Osian-Baori-Bhopalgarh water supply project worth Rs 183.83 crore was approved in Jodhpur district. Apart from this, tender for Narmada based water supply project to Barmer and Ramsar tehsils worth Rs 131.97 crore was also approved. Under the project, water connections, construction of clean reservoirs and pumping stations will also be done in 217 villages of these two tehsils.
• In the meeting, a tender of a project worth Rs 34.34 crore was approved to provide drinking water from Lhasi Dam to more than 20 villages of Chhabra and Chhipa Badaud areas of Baran district. Under this, works like high reservoir, pumping station, water connection will be done.
• Apart from this, a tender worth Rs 11.79 crore was approved to provide water connections in 11 villages of Badgaon Panchayat Samiti of Udaipur district.
• A tender worth Rs 6.05 crore was also approved for works like water connection and pipeline in villages under the Desert Development Program (DDP) of Bhopalgarh Panchayat Samiti of Jodhpur district.

25th National Volleyball Championship

Why In News?

• On December 22, 2022, the 25^th National Volleyball Championship was held at Talaiya Field Ground in Panna district of Madhya Pradesh, in which Gujarat in the men's category and West Bengal in the women's category became champions.

Key Points

• It is known that the 25^th National Volleyball Championship was inaugurated on December 16. During this time, players from different states and union territories of the country displayed their outstanding sports talent in the men's and girls category.
• In the 25^th National Volleyball Championship, the final match was played between Gujarat and Haryana in the men's category, in which Gujarat was the winner and Haryana team was the runner-up. Karnataka's team was third and Uttar Pradesh's team was fourth.
• Similarly, in the women's section, the final match was played between West Bengal and Rajasthan, in which West Bengal was the winner and Rajasthan team was the runner-up, while Gujarat's team was third and Tamil Nadu's team was fourth.
• The winning team was given a cash prize of Rs 51,000 and Rs 3,000 each. The runners-up team was given a cash prize of Rs 31,000 and the players were given a cash prize of Rs 2,000 each. The third prize money of Rs 21,000 was given to the third place team and Rs 11,000 to the fourth place team.

USD 128 Million Line of Credit for Rail Infrastructure Projects in Haryana

Why In News?

• Loan of USD 128 million (Rs 1040 crore) from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for rail infrastructure projects in Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC) meeting chaired by Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on December 22, 2022 has been approved.

Key Points

• In the meeting, the Chief Secretary informed that IGI Airport Delhi and Maharaja Agrasen Airport, Hisar via Bijwasan-Gurugram, Basai-Dhankot, Sultanpur-Farukh Nagar, Jhajjar, Asthal Bohar-Rohtak, Dobh Bahali, Hansi- HRIDC is preparing a detailed project report for railway connectivity between Hisar airport.
• On the occasion of the second 'Urban Infra Business Submit and Awards, 2022', HRIDC has been honored by 'Urban Infra Group' along with well-established companies in the rail sector for excellence in 'New Rail Infrastructure Development'.
• HRIDC will have a permanent head office in Gurugram for which the state government has allotted a plot of land in Sector 32.
• In the meeting, the Chief Secretary directed the officers to speed up the land acquisition process for the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor Project for expansion of rail connectivity in the state. Under this, a new double rail line with 17 stations from Sohna to Palwal in this 130 km long corridor will run along the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway via Badli, Manesar and Sohna.

Dr. Ramdayal Munda Padma Shri Award

Why In News?

• On December 22, 2022, at the Dr. Ramdayal Munda Smriti Samman Samaroh organized by the Jharkhand Adivasi Vikas Samiti in Ranchi, Jharkhand, four folk artists from Latehar district of the state were honored with the Padma Shri Dr. Ramdayal Munda Award by Padma Shri Mukund Nayak.

Key Points

• Among the folk artists, Ravikant Bhagat and Sukul Oraon have been awarded for Kudukh singing and music direction, Rinku Oraon for good performance in Kudukh cultural songs, while Jitendra Bhagat has received this honour for good choreography in Kudukh songs and videos.
• Significantly, Ravikant Bhagat, a resident of Patria Chotag of Sadar block adjacent to the city, has been continuously singing songs in Kudukh language for 20 years. Whereas Sukul Oraon has been working as a singer and music director in Kudukh culture for 10 years.
• Rinku Oraon and Jitendra Bhagat said that they will continue to work on Kudukh culture in future also. He also has Sarna Studio in Patria Chotag, under whose banner thousands of Nagpuri video albums have been made on YouTube and is continuously giving opportunities to local artists in the field of singing and art.

Chhattisgarh's Fifth Place in Eklavya National Sports Festival

Why In News?

• Players from Chhattisgarh secured the fifth position with a total of 58 medals in the competition in the 3^rd Eklavya National Sports Festival which concluded at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh on December 22, 2022. This includes 26 gold, 12 silver and 20 bronze medals.

Key Points

• The Eklavya National Sports Festival was held in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh from December 17-22. Children from Eklavya Adarsh Residential School from 22 states participated in this sports festival, in which 288 children from Eklavya Schools of Chhattisgarh participated.
• Players from Chhattisgarh state performed the best in athletics, winning a total of 20 medals including 13 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze. At the same time, a total of 16 medals including 8 gold, 6 silver, 2 bronze in swimming and 10 medals including 3 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze in wrestling.
• Apart from this, 01 gold in chess, 03 medals including 02 bronze, 1 gold in kho-kho (boys), 1 silver in judo, 2 bronze in yoga, badminton, kabaddi (boys) She won 1 bronze medal in handball (boys) and kho-kho (girls) and 1 silver medal in weightlifting.
• Arjun Kovachi, a student of Eklavya Adarsh Residential School Antagarh Kanker, won gold medal in 800 m, 1500 m and 4×400 m race and silver medal in 400 m race.
• Similarly, Sonadai Kashyap of Eklavya Tokapal Bastar won gold medal in 400m, 200m and 100m race, Bhumika Rathia of Eklavya Chharratangar Raigarh and Tania Singh of Eklavya Palarikhurd Sakti won gold medal in high jump. Sohan Oraon got 03 gold medals in swimming under-14.

Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Why In News?

• On December 22, 2022, Uttarakhand's Additional Secretary Legislative Mahesh Kaushiba told that the Governor has approved the Uttarakhand Religion Freedom Amendment Bill 2022. After getting the seal of the Raj Bhavan, the Act has now become effective in the state.

Key Points

• Confirming the Governor's assent to the bill, Additional Secretary Mahesh Kaushiba said that now the amendment law has come into effect in the state. This anti-conversion law is stricter than Uttar Pradesh.
• The Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was approved at a meeting of the Uttarakhand Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on November 16, 2022.
• Under the amendment law, now there will be a punishment of up to 10 years for forcible or luring or fraudulent conversion in the state. In the new law, a fine of 50 thousand rupees has been provided.
• In case of mass conversion, the punishment will now be three to ten years, earlier the maximum punishment was three years. Also, the victims will be able to get a reimbursement of five lakh rupees through the court.
• The law of conversion in the state will now come under the category of cognizable and non-bailable offence. Earlier it was a non-cognizable offence.