• 24 Mar 2022

Appointment of Pro tem Speaker of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly

Why in News?

• On March 23, 2022, Governor Anandiben Patel appointed Ramapati Shastri as the Pro tem Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

Key Points

• Ramapati Shastri, who was elected from Mankapur assembly seat of Gonda in the recently concluded assembly elections, is one of the senior-most members of the House.
• Ramapati Shastri has been a minister in the government of Uttar Pradesh thrice from June 1991 to December 1992, September 1997 to November 1999 and from March 2017 to present.
• It is worth mentioning that when the Speaker of the previous Legislative Assembly vacates his office immediately before the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly, the Governor appoints a member of the Assembly as the Pro-tem Speaker, who is usually the senior most member of the House. .
• Its main function is to administer oath to new members and enable the House to elect a new Speaker.
• When the new Speaker is elected by the House, the term of the Pro-tem Speaker ends.

The Rajasthan Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Why in News?

• On 23 March 2022, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed the Rajasthan Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2022 by voice vote.

Key Points

• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Kumar Dhariwal introduced this bill in the House for discussion. During the discussion in the House on the Bill, the objectives and reasons for the Bill were explained.
• The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said that Rajasthan Public Service Commission will now conduct an examination to make appointments to the posts of direct recruitment of Municipal (Administrative and Technical) Services.
• He said that at present, the selection of candidates for the posts of direct recruitment of Municipal (Administrative and Technical) service is done by the State Level Commission constituted under the provisions of the respective service rules.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)

Why in News?

• Recently, houses of one lakh 15 thousand 564 beneficiaries have been approved by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in the BLC component of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) for Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• Urban Development and Housing Minister Bhupendra Singh informed that Rs 2889 crore will be transferred to the accounts of the beneficiaries for the construction of houses as the share of the Center and the State for these houses.
• A grant amount of Rs 2.5 lakh is given to the beneficiaries for the construction of Pradhan Mantri Awas (BLC). These houses have been sanctioned for the beneficiaries of 197 urban bodies.
• It is noteworthy that Urban Development and Housing Minister Bhupendra Singh met Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri in New Delhi on March 17 and urged him to approve the pending proposals of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).

Release of book written by Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto

Why in News?

• On March 23, 2022, Chief Minister Hemant Soren released the book 'Vicharon Ke Eleven Adhyay' written by Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato.

Key Points

• In this book many dimensions have been highlighted by the author. Historical movements in Jharkhand and rich tradition and culture of tribals have been saved in this book. This book is dedicated to the martyrs of Jharkhand separate state movement.
• Through this, an attempt has been made to tell how important the formation of small states is in Indian democracy.
• An attempt has also been made in this book to make aware of the sports and sports talents of Jharkhand.
• The Chief Minister said that this book also has a special focus on the Constitution and Parliamentary traditions. An attempt has also been made to tell how the parliamentary system can be strengthened by better coordination and relations between the legislature, executive and judiciary.
• In this book, the Speaker has tried to tell about the changes taking place in the environment and measures to promote environmental protection.

Formation of New Government in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

• On 23 March 2022, Pushkar Singh Dhami took the oath of office and secrecy as the 12th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• Along with the Chief Minister, 8 cabinet ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Uttarakhand Governor Gurmeet Singh.
• The eight cabinet ministers who took oath include Satpal Maharaj, Dhan Singh Rawat, Subodh Uniyal, Ganesh Joshi, Saurabh Bahuguna, Chandan Ramdas, Rekha Arya and Premchand Agarwal.
• It is noteworthy that since the formation of Uttarakhand on November 9, 2000, this is the first time in the state that a political party has again formed the government in Uttarakhand.
• Significantly, in the 2022 assembly elections, the BJP has won 47 out of 70 assembly seats.