State PCS

• 27 Apr 2023

2 Neuro Doctors of BHU have been honoured with AAN Award 2023

Why in News?

On 25 April 2023, two doctors from the Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU were awarded the AAN Award 2023 by the American Academic Neurology.

Key Points

• The Associate Professors of IMS BHU Dr. Abhishek Pathak & Dr. Anand were awarded the AAN Award 2023 at the annual ceremony organized by American Academic Neurology in Boston.
• Head of the Neurology Department, Prof. Vijay Nath Mishra said that Dr. Abhishek Pathak had presented his research paper on the Causes, Prevention and Vigilance of Paralysis.
• On the other hand, this honour was given to Dr. Anand Kumar for his research work on the headache issues in patients coming from many states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Nepal.

Inauguration of Baba Chuharsiddh Lavkush Vatika in Alwar

Why in News?

On 25 April 2023, Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Tikaram Julie inaugurated Baba Chuharsiddh Lavkush Vatika built at a cost of Rs 2 crore in Alwar district under the budget announcement of the state government.

Key Points:

• To promote tourism in the district, the state government has done the restoration of historical heritage and religious places, due to which employment opportunities have been created for the common people at the local level itself.
• The Social Justice and Empowerment Minister said that this Lavkush Vatika built at the place of Baba Chuhadsiddh would prove important in increasing tourism in the district. There is immense potential for tourism in Alwar district and efforts are being made to provide employment opportunities by developing tourist places here.
• It is known that an announcement has also been made to electrify Baba Chuhadsiddh temple with solar energy.
• This garden will prove to be very useful in the direction of religious tourism and environmental protection. Also, this will provide employment opportunities to the common people at the local level. This Vatika will prove to be extremely beneficial in providing a healthy environment to the general public.

National Seminar inaugurated by the Governor

Why in News?

On 26 April 2023, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel inaugurated a two-day AISECT National Seminar at Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Center. The seminar was organized to discuss the topic of social entrepreneurship and skill development for Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

Key Points

• On this occasion, a mutual agreement was signed between AISECT and Microsoft on Social Entrepreneurship. Along with this, young entrepreneurs were also felicitated.
• Santosh Choubey, The Chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University informed that Central India's first skill development university is being established by AISECT. This will be the sixth university of the institution.
• He informed that AISECT is running 37 thousand centres based on social entrepreneurship in 27 states. The model of the centre is based on Indian languages and social connections. Along with technology, initiatives have also been taken by the institute in the field of agriculture.
• Highlighting the framework of the seminar, Dr. Siddharth Chaturvedi, Secretary, AISECT said that the seminar is being organized in a series. 15 such conferences are to be organized by AISECT.
• It was said in the seminar that new opportunities have been created for startups in the knowledge-based digital economy, and innovation in future technology, logistics, and defence space sector in the country.
• The Green Hydrogen Mission has received Rs 20,000 crore. Defence exports have increased by 6 times in the last years. The agriculture budget has also reached Rs 1 lakh 25 thousand crores. A new program has been launched to promote research and innovation in the field of drugs through the centres of excellence.
• The government is opening 30 Skill India International Centers, three Artificial Intelligence Centers of Excellence and 100 laboratories for 5G application development in the country for skill training under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

Gumla's Navratnagarh will be included in Prime Minister's 'Mann Ki Baat'

Why in News?

According to the information received from the Archaeological Department, Ranchi on 26 April 2023, in the 100th episode of the 'Mann Ki Baat' program on 30 April 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will mention Navratan Garh, the capital of Nagvanshi King Durjanshal, included in the World Heritage of Gumla.

Key Points

• It is known that the Ministry of Culture has selected 12 locations in the country for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' program, including Navratan Garh in Gumla district.
• On 30 April is the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat'. Before 'Mann Ki Baat', colourful programs will be held on 29 April at all the 12 historical and religious places of the country. Along with this, video recordings of all historical and religious places will be sent to the PMO, so that the Prime Minister can mention the features of these historical and religious places in 'Mann Ki Baat' to be held on 30 April.
• Preparations have been started for the program to be held on 29 April at Navratan Garh in Gumla. On this day the door of Navratan Garh will be open for the general public so that people can come here to see the beauty of Navratan Garh and also witness the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat'.
• Significantly, Navratnagarh, also known as Doisagarh, is a World Heritage Site. It is situated on the Ranchi and Gumla road in Nagar village of Sisai block. The history of the Mughal Empire and Nagvanshi kings is hidden here. This is the historical heritage of the Nagvanshi kings of Chotanagpur.
• According to history, it was built by King Durjanshal to escape from the Mughal Empire. There was a ditch all around Navratan Garh and the only way to enter here was through a hill. That's why King Durjanshal made Navratna Garh his capital from the point of view of security.
• Excavations have been found; Intelligence Building Archaeological Department excavated Navratna Garh a year ago. Here many secret buildings and palaces have been found inside the ground, to see which people are reaching from far and wide. Whereas the old buildings which had become ruins, are being lightly repaired with old technology so that the buildings can be saved from collapse.

Young Poetess Dr. Parvati Tirkey Received 'Pralek Navlekhan Samman'

Why in News?

According to the information received from the media on 26 April 2023, the Pralek Trust has unanimously announced the 'Pralek Navlekhan Samman' for the year 2023 to young poetess Dr. Parvati Tirkey.

Key Points

• According to the information, Pralek Navlekhan Samman is being given for Parvati Tirkey's first poetry collection 'Phir Ugana'.
• Parvati Tirkey while talking to the media after receiving the honour said that this is the first honour in her life. His first poetry collection is related to tribal life, culture, folklore and folklife.
• Along with the information about the award, it has also been said on behalf of the trust that the poems of Parvati Tirkey not only tell the reality of society but also show the possibilities of the future.
• Dr. Parvati Tirkey, 29 years old, is originally from the Gumla district of Jharkhand. He is currently working as Assistant Professor at Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav College, Ranchi.

PRI-CBO Convergence Project launched

Why in News?

On National Panchayati Raj Day on 24 April 2023, Director of Thakur Pyarelal State Panchayat and Rural Development Institute (SIRD) P.C. Mishra launched the PRI-CBO Convergence (Panchayati Raj Institutions-Community Based Organization Convergence) project in Chhattisgarh.

Key Points

• Under the project, self-help groups formed under the mission will be made entrepreneurs through the convergence of community organizations and gram panchayats of the State Rural Livelihoods Mission (Bihan) to increase livelihood opportunities & reduce poverty in villages.
• Under the PRI-CBO Convergence Project, Gram Panchayats and federations of self-help groups will work in convergence by promoting sustainable community-based organizations such as cluster organizations, village organizations & self-help groups to reduce rural poverty and generate livelihood opportunities.
• Under this, better coordination will be established between the local government and line departments to enhance the service delivery mechanism within the community. CBO network will also be created with gram panchayats and line departments.
• This project will be implemented in a total of 200 Gram Panchayats of Bakavand, Bastanar, Lohandiguda & Tokapal development blocks of Bastar district and Abhanpur, Arang, Dharsiwa & Tilda development blocks of Raipur district.
• In this, a total of 32 cluster organizations of 'Bihan' of 25-25-gram panchayats of all these development blocks and self-help groups associated with them, including 640 village organizations will participate.
• Chief Operating Officer (CCO) of the State Rural Livelihood Mission Smt. Alice Lakra said in the workshop that the 17 indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been regionalized and classified into nine themes for the development of villages with better coordination between the three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions and the community organizations formed under 'Bihan'.

Chhattisgarh's First Zero Waste, State-of-the-art Water Treatment Plant

Why in News?

On 26 April 2023, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated Chhattisgarh's first zero waste, state-of-the-art water treatment plant of 80 MLD capacity at Bhatagaon during a meeting in Raipur South Legislative Assembly.

Key Points

• In the program, he also flagged off 9 backhoe loader vehicles of Municipal Corporation Raipur for solid waste management.
• The state-of-the-art water purification plant has been built at a cost of about Rs 15 crore 86 lakhs.
• The plant will be operated on the lamella tube settler method. It is based on a fully automated system.
• The Chief Minister took the complete process and technical details of the operation of the newly constructed water purification plant & also inspected the control room. On this occasion, he also inaugurated two old water purification plants in Bhatagaon after upgrading them. The capacity of these old water treatment plants has been increased.
• Municipal officials said that the newly constructed water purification plant will play an important role in making the capital Raipur tanker-free and ensuring adequate water availability. Along with this, the modernization of old treatment plants and expansion of capacity will also make the capital tanker-free.
• Six new motor pumps have been installed to increase the capacity in the already established 150 MLD filter plant at Bhatagaon. With these new motor pumps, the plant's capacity to deliver water from 1706 cubic meters per hour has increased to 2046 cubic meters per hour. Similarly, six new motors have been installed in the old filter plant of 80 MLD. The capacity of this plant has increased from 954 to 995 cubic meters per hour.

Now the PCS Exam will be held on the Old Pattern in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

On 26 April 2023, the Uttarakhand government rejected the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission's proposal to implement the UPSC pattern and sent it back to the commission. The PCS exam pattern will not change. The upcoming PCS exam will be from the old pattern only.

Key Points

• Additional Secretary Lalit Mohan Rayal has sent a mandate in this regard to the Secretary of the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission.
• Significantly, the State Public Service Commission had recently passed a resolution that since the youth have to prepare separately for the Civil Services Examination and separate for the Uttarakhand PCS, therefore, in the interest of the youth of the state, the Civil Services Examination pattern of UPSC should be implemented in the PCS examination.
• There were mixed reactions from across the state regarding this proposal. Many people said that if the UPSC pattern of the Center is implemented in the state as well, then the path of PCS will become difficult for the youth of the state. There was also a demand that if the UPSC pattern is implemented, then the question papers related to Uttarakhand should be kept separately.
• Several rounds of meetings were also held between the commission and the officials of the government regarding the PCS exam pattern. Now the government has decided that for the time being only the old pattern will be applicable. The upcoming PCS exam will be on the same pattern. No change is accepted in this.
• The exam will be on this old pattern-
  • PCS Pre Exam: General Studies for 150 marks and General Intelligence Test for 150 marks.
  • PCS Main Exam: There are seven papers. 1st - Language (300 marks), 2nd - History of India, National Movement, Society and Culture (200 marks), 3rd - Indian Polity, Social Justice and International Relations (200 marks), 4th - India and World Geography (200 marks), 5th – Economic and Social Development (200 marks), 6th – General Science and Technology (200 marks) and 7th – General Aptitude and Ethics (200 marks). It is necessary to score at least 35 marks on the language paper in the PCS exam.
  • Interview: 200 marks.