• 28 Feb 2022

Charkula and Kathak

Why in News

• Presentations of Charkula and Kathak from Uttar Pradesh were performed recently in the cultural event organized at Purana Quila, Delhi.

Key Points

• The cultural event was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi. The event was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• In this, 175 artists from 25 states performed, including Charkula and Kathak from Uttar Pradesh.
• Charkula is a dance performed in the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh. In this dance, women dance to Krishna devotional songs by placing large multi-tiered circular wooden pyramids on their heads.
• Kathak is one of the classical dances of India which is mainly performed in North India. The development of Kathak as a distinct form of dance coincided with the spread of the Bhakti movement in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
• It developed into a major art form under the patronage of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh. Among its main artists, the name of Birju Maharaj is notable, who has recently died.

Bihar Police Reforms

Why in News

• During the closing ceremony of Police Week on February 27, 2022, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the state government is aimed at increasing the number of policemen in the state from 165 to 170 per one lakh population.

Key Points

• It is worth mentioning that the sanctioned strength of policemen per lakh persons in India is 195.39 while the actual number is 155.78. At the same time, Bihar still has only 100 policemen per one lakh population.
• According to the NCRB 2020 data, Bihar is ranked 23rd in terms of crime rate, while in terms of crimes itself, it has been ranked third in terms of population and 12th in terms of area.
• Modern policing in Bihar began in 1862 with the enactment of the Indian Police Act, 1861.
• Post-independence Bihar Police inherited a rich tradition with the introduction of innovative policing and welfare practices such as the creation of the Police Welfare Fund, Police Hospital and Police  Information Cell (PIR) in 1952.
• A Police Commission was also set up in 1958, whose task was to bring the police closer to the people.

Uday Sports Festival

Why in News

• On 26 February 2022, the seven-day 'Uday Khel Mahotsav' started with the aim of encouraging sportspersons and bringing forth sports talents in Nimbahera of Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan came to an end.

Key Points

• During the 'Uday Khel Mahotsav', competitions were organized in various sports categories in which the players showed great enthusiasm.
• In football, the final match was between Aman Club and Uday Club in which the team of Aman Club Nimbahera was the winner. At the same time, the last match between Mangrol Club and Gagron Club was held in the cricket competition, in which Mangrol's team was the winner.
• A volleyball match between Arnoda club and Marjeevi club was held in which the Marjeevi club was the winner. Similarly, the match between Facher Ahiran and Kadmali took place in Kabaddi.
• The players of the winning team were given a trophy and incentive amount of Rs 55,555 to the teams and a check of Rs 10 lakh was distributed to the respective winning team for development work in their ward. An incentive amount of Rs 25,555 was given to the runner-up teams.
• Cooperative Minister Udai Lal Anjana in his address said that the main objective of such a festival is to develop the physical and mental development of the players of rural and urban areas. Uday Khel Mahotsav encourages brotherhood along with physical-mental development of the players. There is an exchange of ideas with each other.
• Sports Minister Ashok Chandna encouraged the players in his speech and announced Rs two crore for Nimbahera assembly constituency for the development of sports.

Astronomy Lab

Why in News

• Recently, the Chief Minister of Haryana inaugurated the Astronomy Lab established at Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bhiwani. Through this lab, students will be able to understand the secrets of the universe.

Key Points

• In the first phase in the district, Government Model Sanskriti School and Government Girls Senior Secondary School at the district headquarters and Astronomy Lab at Government Model Sanskriti School in Bawani Khera town have been established.
• Kalpana Chawla Astronomy Lab in Government Model Sanskriti School and Astronomy Lab in the name of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai in Government Girls Senior Secondary School has been set up.
• In this astronomy lab, children will be able to see the Earth's atmosphere, moon and stars through telescopes. Children will learn new things about twinkling stars. There is a plan to provide the facility of four telescopes in one lab.
• In the Astronomy Lab, kids will find answers to every question about the universe. For this, there will be 25 working models in the lab, so that children will be able to know why the color of the sky is blue? Why do stars shine? Where do the moon and the sun hide? Or why does the sky appear black at night?
• There are three main objectives of setting up a lab-
  
  • To bring curiosity amongst all students in 21st century India through practical knowledge of space.
  • To develop scientific temper in all the children from a young age.
  • Through the telescope, the other planets of the solar system have to be seen closely and their pictures are captured in the camera.

38th State Level Livestock Exhibition

Why in News

• The 38th State Level Livestock Exhibition was organized at HUDA Ground, Bhiwani, Haryana from February 25 to 27, 2022. Chief Minister Manohar Lal attended the last day of the exhibition as the chief guest.

Key Points

• The 38th Livestock Exhibition organized by the State Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department and Haryana Livestock Development Board was inaugurated by State Governor Bandaru Dattatreya.
• Addressing the livestock exhibition, Chief Minister Manohar Lal announced to double the budget of medicines of the Animal Husbandry Department.
• Agriculture Minister JP Dalal said that this livestock exhibition has been successfully organized after two years due to Covid epidemic. It will be organized every year.
• 70 mobile vans will be started by the Animal Husbandry Department for ambulance service and the process of artificial insemination will also be started for goats.
• Two thousand better breed animals were brought in this exhibition, seeing which other farmers were also inspired to improve their animal's diet and breed.
• In the exhibition, 53 categories of best breed animals including cow, buffalo, sheep, goat, camel, horse were given cash prizes by the government, in which first, second, third and consolation prizes were allotted in each category.
• In the exhibition, in the breed champion category, each male and female of Murrah, Haryana Sahiwal and Aegyotic breeds were given cash prizes of Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh. In this way, a cash amount of 37 lakh 31 thousand 800 rupees was distributed by the state government to the cattle owners keeping the best animals in the exhibition.

Guni Village : 3rd National Water Award Winner

Why in News

• Recently, in the third National Water Award announced by the Ministry of Jalshakti, Guni village has got the third position in the Best Village Panchayat Category East Zone.

Key Points

• Guni village is 30 km. from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state. Far is located in Ghunsuli Panchayath in Karra Block of Khunti District.
• The credit of this achievement of Guni village is due to several schemes run by the Jharkhand government under MGNREGA with the aim of strengthening the rural economy, such as 'Nilamber-Pitamber Jal Samridhi Yojana', 'Birsa Harit Gram Yojana' etc. whose purpose is to increase the water level of the land by storing water, to reduce soil erosion, to store water suitable for irrigation of crops, etc.
• It is worth mentioning that in 2018, the Ministry of Jalshakti launched the first 'National Water Awards' with the objective of motivating individuals/organizations doing commendable work in the field of water resource conservation and management and to create awareness among the people about the importance of water and to encourage them to adopt best water use practices.

Gondwana Cup All India Tennis Tournament

Why in News

• On February 27, 2022, Chhattisgarh Governor Anusuiya Uikey launched the prestigious Gondwana Cup All India Tennis Tournament of Central India at Union Club Raipur.

Key Points

• The emerging tennis players of the state were felicitated by Governor Uike at the launch ceremony. On this occasion, Governor Uike was honored with a memento by the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Tennis Association.
• Gondwana Cup was started about 85 years ago in 1937-38 and Union Club, Raipur was the first organizer of the Gondwana Cup.
• Chhattisgarh Pradesh Tennis Association, doing another remarkable work, has started the Gondwana Cup ITF Women's Tennis Competition from last year.

Vasantotsav 2022

Why in News

• In a meeting held under the chairmanship of Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh (SEN) Governor of Uttarakhand, it was decided to organize Vasantotsav, 2022 on March 8 and 9, 2022.

Key Points

• Vasantotsav is organized every year in Uttarakhand Raj Bhavan, which will be started this year with the folk festival of Uttarakhand, Phuldei.
• The main theme of the cultural program organized in this will be Holi of flowers.
• During the festival, five brand ambassadors who have done excellent work in the fields of mushroom, honey production, herbs, organic farming etc. will be honored by the Governor. Along with this, a special postal cover will be issued on Yamuna Tulsi (Kunj) to be offered in the temple of Mother Yamuna by the Department of Posts.
• A painting competition will also be organized for all school children in the age group of 5 to 18 years in the Vasantotsav, in which children living in different orphanages, children with disabilities and rag pickers will also be specially invited. 21 prizes will be given for this competition.