State PCS

• 25 Apr 2022

Operation Kayakalp

Why In News?

On April 25, 2022, a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government said that technology based education is being used along with traditional teaching methods under 'Operation Kayakalp' to improve the quality of state-run school education.

Key Points

• Under 'Operation Kayakalp', primary and secondary schools will be converted into 'smart schools' with the objective of continuously improving the education facilities in the state.
• Under this, about 30,000 secondary schools will be equipped with smart classrooms, playgrounds, proper toilets, libraries, computer laboratories, art rooms and other modern facilities.
• In this context, an action plan has been prepared by the government to fulfill the resolution of quality education and to make government schools at par with private schools in terms of facilities and infrastructure.
• It is noteworthy that 'Operation Kayakalp' was started by the Government of Uttar Pradesh in the year 2019.

Kayakalp Scheme

Why In News?

Recently, as per the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has appointed nodal officers for all the divisions under the 'Kayakalp Yojana', which aims to improve the passenger amenities at the roadways bus station.

Key Points

• Under this scheme, provision of clean drinking water and water coolers will be the top priority at every bus stand to give relief to the passengers from the heat. Apart from the arrangement of cleanliness at the bus stations, there will also be regular cleaning of toilets for men and women.
• Along with this, bus stations will be repainted and new signs will also be installed informing the passengers about the timetable and fare table.
• In addition, repair of yards, buildings and rooms at bus stations will be done. Along with the arrangement of seats in the passenger shed, proper arrangement of lights, fans/coolers will be made to give relief from the heat.

Babu Veer Kunwar Singh Vijayotsav

Why In News?

On 23 April 2022, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah addressed the Babu Veer Kunwar Singh Vijay Utsav in Jagdishpur, Bihar.

Key Points

• This was the 164^th Victory Festival celebrated under the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence in Jagdishpur, the birth and birthplace of Veer Kunwar Singh.
• The record for hoisting the highest number of flags was created by hoisting 77 thousand 993 flags simultaneously in this victory festival.
• It is noteworthy that Veer Kunwar Singh had provided leadership in the Jagdishpur area in the revolt of 1857.
• Born in Jagdishpur village of Bhojpur district of Bihar in 1777 AD, the sphere of influence of Veer Kunwar Singh was also in Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Ballia, Ghazipur in eastern Uttar Pradesh along with Bihar.

CSI SIG e-Governance Award

Why In News?

In the 19^th CSI-SIG Awards ceremony held at Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Prayagraj on 23^rd April, 2022, MP Tenders Portal received the prestigious National Level 'CSI SIG e-Governance' Award of Appreciation for the year 2021 in Project Category.

Key Points

• 19^th 'CSI SIG e-Governance' Award 2021 as 'Award of Appreciation' for tenders is a milestone for Madhya Pradesh Government e-Procurement System MPSEDC.
• The work was started in the year 2006 with the participation of MPSEDC as the nodal agency for the online e-tendering system. This achievement has proved to be a visionary project for Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC).
• MPSEDC has created stable solutions for foolproof programs with minimal human involvement. The organization has achieved this success through transparency, modern technology, strong infrastructure and strong team.
• The organization aims to deliver value-based services to its partners, adoption of sound project management ideas, consistent training, a data analysis dashboard feature and focus on all its stakeholders to help the firm reach its goals.
• The organization has implemented the latest technological developments to make its project easier. It has also improved by using data analytics as a tool by taking advantage of the asymmetries and helping to find the root cause of the problems.
• It may be mentioned that the CSI SIG e-Governance Award is a prestigious national level award given by the Computer Society of India to recognize the best innovations in e-Governance.

Maa Tujhe Pranam Scheme

Why In News?

On 23 April 2022, Madhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia said that 'Maa Tujhe Pranam Yojana' is being restarted after the Covid period. This year, for the first time in the scheme, Ladli Laxmis of the state will travel to the border of the country.

Key Points

• In order to realize the dream of a strong India and self-reliant Madhya Pradesh, 'Maa Tujhe Pranam Scheme' is aimed at bringing awareness among the youth towards the security of the country's borders, devotion to the nation and attracting the youth towards the army and paramilitary forces.
• The minister said that on May 2, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan would flag off 200 Ladli Laxmis to visit the Bagha border in the 'Ladli Laxmi Utsav', which would run from May 2 to 11.
• This journey will not only inculcate the feeling of patriotism among the adolescent girls, but they will also be successful in making themselves self-reliant by serving the country in future.
• It is noteworthy that in the 'Maa Tujhe Pranam Yojana' of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department, the selection committee constituted under the chairmanship of the District Collector, selected through lottery, the youth are taken in different groups for a tour of the international border of the country.
• In the borderlands, tributes are paid to the martyrs with the water carried by the youth from their place of residence. Animal husbandry, agribusiness, industry, irrigation facilities, geographical features, cultural customs, beliefs, festivals, etc., are also studied by the youth with the help of the residents of the international border area.
• Leh-Ladakh, Kargil-Drass, RS Pura, Bagha-Hussainiwala, Tanot Mata Temple, Longowal, Kochi, Bikaner, Barmer, Nathula, so far 12 thousand 672 youths of the state have been given Maa Tujhe Pranam Yojana starting from the year 2013. Travels have been made to Darra, Petrapole, Tura, Jaigaon, Andaman and Nicobar and Kanyakumari.
• In this scheme of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department, selected youth are provided travel fare, daily allowance, accommodation, food, local transport system, rail reservation system, track suit, T-shirt and kit bag.

Webinar on Bhimbetka Rock Painting and Shelter

Why In News?

Recently a webinar was organized by the Ministry of Tourism on Bhimbetka Rock Painting and Shelter, a World Heritage Site and one of the oldest rock paintings in the world.

Key Points

• Guides, archaeologists and history lovers from the country and the state participated in this webinar.
• In the webinar, Ajay Singh Chauhan, Regional Guide of Central India, Bhopal told that 4 colors (red, white, green and yellow) have been used in Bhimbetka rock painting. All these colors are made from natural sources like leaves, stones, hematite etc.
• Bhimbetka depicts dance and music, body art, hunting and animals. These types of paintings are called pictographs.
• The Bhimbetka rock painting and shelter depicts the journey of human life, showing the day-to-day activities of life, animals, hunting, collecting useful things in the forest, etc.
• It is worth mentioning that Bhimbetka Rock Painting and Shelter is a UNESCO World Heritage Rock Site in India. It is very popular for prehistoric rock paintings and rock shelters.
• According to the Archaeological Survey of India's carbon dating process, the rock paintings of Bhimbetka are 30 to 35 thousand years old. The famous archaeologist Vishnu Sridhar Wakankar discovered Bhimbetka in the Vindhya mountain range during his visit to Nagpur in 1957-58.
• Recently, the team of the Geological Survey of India has discovered a fossil from Bhimbetka, which is about 25 million years old. Such fossils have also been found in Ukraine, Russia and China.

Announcement of Medical College in the name of Guru Tegh Bahadur

Why In News?

On April 24, 2022, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar made four major announcements at the 400th Prakash Utsav of 'Hind Ki Chadar' Guru Tegh Bahadur in Panipat, including a medical in the name of the ninth Guru of the Sikhs at Panjupur village in Yamuna Nagar district. Including the establishment of the college.

Key Points

• It also included the establishment of a medical college named after the ninth guru of the Sikhs at Panjupur village in Yamuna Nagar district.

Riddhi of Haryana won the gold medal in the mixed doubles of Archery World Cup

Why In News?

Haryana's archer Riddhi Fore along with her partner Tarundeep Rai won India a gold medal in the mixed doubles of the Archery World Cup in Antalya, Turkey on April 24, 2022.

Key Points

• Tarundeep and Riddhi won the gold medal for India by defeating Britain's Briony Pittman and Alex Wise in a shoot-off in the mixed team event.
• With this India ended their campaign in the tournament with two golds. Earlier on April 23, the compound men's team of Abhishek Verma, Rajat Chauhan and Aman Saini won the gold medal for the country.
• It is worth noting that this is the first World Cup medal of 17-year-old Riddhi, while 38-year-old Tarundeep, who won a silver medal in Guangzhou Asian Games (2010), was successful in winning the gold medal in the mixed category of the World Cup for the first time.

One Station One Product Scheme

Why In News?

In order to promote local arts and products, the Institute of Agricultural Consultancy and Rural Development launched the second temporary stall of 'One Station One Product Scheme' at Ranchi station under Ranchi Railway Division of South Eastern Railway (SER) on 23rd April, 2022. .

Key Points

• Under the scheme, this stall operated at Ranchi Railway Station will display and sell hand woven bags, bamboo products and woven artifacts from April 24 to May 8.
• Under the 'One Station One Product Scheme', 15 stations of Ranchi Railway Division are to be selected where stalls have been opened to promote local arts and craftsmen.
• This is the second temporary stall at Ranchi Railway Station under the 'One Station One Product Scheme'. Earlier, a 15-day temporary stall of Jharkhand Silk Textile and Handicraft Development Corporation Limited (Jharcraft) was set up.
• Through the stalls, the passengers will be able to get information about the particular product at the railway station and will be able to buy it easily. This will increase local employment and promote the product.
• It is noteworthy that in view of the important role of Railways in promoting local products of different places, the 'One Station One Product' scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23.
• This scheme was launched on March 25, 2022 at 19 stations of Indian Railways. After this it was extended to 69 more stations. After its success, this scheme is being implemented in a phased manner at 1000 railway stations across the country.

Jamshedpur's Anshuman won the award for the best writer of the year 2022

Why In News?

On April 24, 2022, Jamshedpur writer Anshuman Bhagat has been awarded the Best Writer Award for the year 2022 by the Mumbai-based organization 'Man O Mausumi'. He has been given this award for his book 'Ek Safar Mein'.

Key Points

• Anshuman has been selected as the best author for his best contribution to his book and writing style. His book 'Ek Safar Mein' is based on the behind-the-scenes stories of the Bollywood TV industry and the struggles of the actors.
• Anshuman Bhagat's book 'Ek Safar Mein' was published by Authors Tree Publishing House, Chhattisgarh on December 18, 2021.
• Mann O Mausumi, a Mumbai-based organization, inspires talented writers to explore their creativity, research and organization skills and develop their writing skills.
• Man o Mousumi as a writing competition continues to create opportunities for writers from all over the world, in which writers from almost all countries of Asia participate.

CSI SIG e-Governance Award

Why In News?

The School Education Department of Chhattisgarh was awarded the CSI-SIG e-Governance Award 2021 at the 19^th CSI-SIG Award ceremony held at Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Prayagraj on 23^rd April, 2022.

Key Points

• This award has been given to the state of Chhattisgarh in the recognition category for tele-practices implemented to make assessment and practice work easier for school children.
• It is noteworthy that the Department of School Education in collaboration with the National Informatics Center (NIC) is implementing a program called Tele-practices to simplify the assessment and practice of children and to remove the commonly occurring discrepancies in the assessment procedures.
• In this, teachers and students have to work in a group in Telegram. Questions come and go in front of the children, which children have to answer without wasting time. Each child's e-answer automatically generates a separate video. After watching these videos teachers can assess the children.
• Tele-practices program is being fully utilized by the School Education Department in Chhattisgarh in collaboration with NIC Chhattisgarh. The questions used in this are also prepared by the teachers here.
• Various organizations have observed tele-practices prevalent in the state and found them useful for easing the work of children's practice and teachers' assessment.
• It may be mentioned that the CSI SIG e-Governance Award is a prestigious national level award given by the Computer Society of India to recognize the best innovations in e-Governance.

Aakarshi Kashyap in Commonwealth and Asiad

Why In News?

Recently, the emerging badminton player of Chhattisgarh, Akarshi Kashyap became the winner in the women's singles in the selection competition organized by the Badminton Association of India.

Key Points

• Akarshi Kashyap has now decided to participate in the Commonwealth Games, 2022 and Asian Games, 2022 to be held in England due to getting the first position in the selection competition.
• In both these international tournaments, Akarshi will participate with India's top female badminton player PV.Sindhu.
• Apart from Asiad and Commonwealth, Akarshi will also get a chance to play in the Uber Cup 2022.
• It is worth noting that in the final match of the women's singles selection event, Akarshi defeated Ashmita Chaliha in a thrilling three-set competition to claim the top spot.

Kranti Diwas Mela

Why In News?

On 23 April 2022, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the Kranti Diwas fair at Masau Choprakot in Peethsain area of Pauri district.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister announced that the Kranti Diwas fair, which is celebrated in the memory of Peshawar massacre veteran Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, would be celebrated every year as a state fair.
• Significantly, during the Civil Disobedience Movement, on 23 April 1930, Havildar Major Vir Chandra Singh Garhwali of the British Royal Garhwal Rifle refused to obey the instructions of the British government to open fire on the unarmed Pathans.
• These Garhwali soldiers were prosecuted for their disobedience, which was advocated by Mukundi Lal.
• After the trial, in 1930, Chandra Singh Garhwali was sent to the Abbottabad jail for 14 years, but later his sentence was reduced to 11 years after he was released on 26 September 1941.