• 28 Mar 2022

Launch of Daily Direct Flight Between Varanasi-Gorakhpur Under UDAN-RCS

Why in News?

On March 27, 2022, in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the first direct Gorakhpur-Varanasi flight of SpiceJet under RCS-UDAN 4.1 was inaugurated through video conferencing.

Key Points

• SpiceJet airline will operate daily flights. SpiceJet is India's largest regional aircraft carrier. It operates 63 daily flights connecting 14 UDAN destinations in different parts of the country under the UDAN scheme.
• Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia informed that at present a total of 9 airports have been established in Uttar Pradesh. In future, 7 new airports will be established at Saharanpur, Moradabad, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Shravasti, Chitrakoot and Sonbhadra and 2 new international airports at Noida and Ayodhya. With this, Uttar Pradesh will have 18 domestic and 5 international airports.
• Varanasi is a cultural center of North India and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, which is famous for the bathing ghats on the banks of the river Ganges. The most notable temples in Varanasi are Kashi Vishwanath, Sankat Mochan Temple and Durga Temple.
• Varanasi has long been a center of education and music. Many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers and musicians lived or lived in this city. Apart from this, India's first residential university, 'Banaras Hindu University' is also located here.
• Gorakhpur is located near the Nepal border on the banks of the Rapti River and is also a famous landmark for being the center of the Gorakhnath Math and Gorakhnath Temple, the Nath sect and other Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh saints.
• It may be mentioned that Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) was launched in the year 2016 as a Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation under which formerly UDAN 1.0, UDAN 2.0, UDAN 3.0, UDAN 3.1 and UDAN 1.0. UDAN 4.0 schemes were launched.
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation is planning to build 34 new airports taking the total airports in India to 100 new airports with 1,000 new routes under UDAN RCS scheme by the year 2025.

All India Inter Zonal Hockey (Women) Championship

Why in News?

All India Inter Zonal Hockey (Women) Championship was organized at Astroturf Courts and hosted by Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan from 21^st to 27^th March, 2022.

Key Points

• This championship was organized at Hockey Astroturf located at Maharana Pratap Khel village, Chitrakootnagar.
• In the final match of this championship, Jiwaji University, Gwalior of Madhya Pradesh won the title by defeating ITM University, Gwalior.
• Kalraj Mishra, Governor of Rajasthan and Chancellor of Mohanlal Sukhadia University, presented the trophy and gold medal to the winning team and silver medal to the runner-up team.
• The team of Panjab University, Patiala and SavitriBai Phule University, Pune stood third and fourth respectively. Bronze medal was awarded to the team of Panjab University, Patiala.
• The Governor also presented a prize of Rs 1 lakh to the winning team and Rs 75,000 to the runner-up.

Gobar-Dhan Projects

Why in News?

On March 26, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Gobar-Dhan project will be started in various cities of the state.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister said that arrangements will be made to purchase cow dung. Cow dung is extensively used in the manufacture of cow-wood (the dried cow dung with a length of one to three feet in round shape like trees is called cow-wood or Gau-Kashth). This will be encouraged, due to which the cow owners will also get the amount.
• New works will be started in Madhya Pradesh by studying the experiments of cow promotion and cow protection in other states including Gujarat. Concrete efforts will also be made to make Gaushalas self-supporting.
• Work will also be done to create awareness among the general public about the care of cows and other animals roaming on the road. The common people will be motivated for cow rearing if there is income from cow dung and cow urine.
• Chief Minister Chouhan said that the successful experiment of operation of the PNG plant under Gobar-Dhan Yojana in Indore would be taken to other places.

Maheshwar Utsav

Why in News?

On March 26, 2022 Maheshwar Utsav was inaugurated at Mrignayani Emporium GTB Complex, Bhopal. The festival will continue till April 22.

Key Points

• Maheshwar Utsav was started by the famous Gondi painter Durgabai Vyam.
• On this occasion, Durgabai Vyam said that this festival is our cultural identity. This will provide new enthusiasm to the artists.
• Madhya Pradesh Handicrafts and Handlooms Commissioner Anubha Srivastava said that the main objective of Madhya Pradesh Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation is to provide employment and respect to weaver painters and to advance the artists of ancient art and culture.
• Maheshwari sarees as well as other products are being displayed and sold in this festival. The exhibition also includes the products of Kabir Weaver Award winning artist Vikas Bade.

Railways Won the Obaidullah Khan Hockey Cup Tournament

Why in News?

On March 27, 2022, the Indian Railways men's hockey team won the Obaidullah Khan Heritage Hockey Cup tournament held in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. In the final match, the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) team defeated Army XI by 2 goals.

Key Points

• This prestigious hockey tournament was played at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Bhopal from March 21 to March 27, 2022, in which a dozen teams participated.
• Started in 1931 as the Obaidullah Gold Cup, this prestigious tournament has been going on for several decades and has given many international players during its sporting journey.
• The competition was last played in 2016 and this year it was held again after a gap of six years. The last time this tournament was won was by BPCL in 2016 and the Railways team was the runner-up.
• Joginder of Railways, became 'Man of the Final Match'. While Jasjit was the 'Best Defender' and Niaz Rahim was the 'Best Mid Fielder'. Arjun of Railway team was adjudged 'Man of the Tournament'.
• It is worth mentioning that there are about 3000 active male and female players in Indian Railways. Railways has a vast sports infrastructure across the country including a dedicated Hockey Academy at RCF, Kapurthala.
• The Indian women's hockey team, which finished fourth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, had 12 players from the Railways out of a total of 16 players. The Indian men's hockey team at the Olympics also had two players from the Indian Railways.
• It is worth mentioning that during the year 2021-22, RSPB men's hockey team has participated in 5 national level tournaments and played the final match of all the five tournaments.

Patwaris Will be Honored for Performing Excellent Work

Why in News?

On March 27, 2022, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala informed that the state government will honor patwaris who have performed excellent work in collaboration with the district administration in covid-19 and other revenue related works.

Key Points

• To encourage the Patwaris, the government has decided to honor them. This award ceremony will be held in Jind on March 29.
• Top 50 patwaris who have done commendable and good work will be rewarded with one motorcycle each and a certificate of appreciation. Some other Patwaris will be awarded with Certificate of Excellence.
• The Deputy CM said that in the last two years, during the Kovid epidemic, many Patwaris have fulfilled their responsibility better. The Girdawari assigned related to natural calamities, hail, unseasonal rain, water logging etc. has also made excellent contributions in maintaining the smooth functioning of the system by doing it in a time bound manner.
• It is worth mentioning that earlier, the Haryana Government had honored 100 women achievers by presenting one scooty each for doing commendable work while holding various posts in Panchayati Raj Institutions from across the state.

Comet Leonard

Why in News?

Recently, a very bright comet (C2021A1)) broke apart. Its fragmented remains have been seen in the skies of the Southern Hemisphere.

Key Points

• Dr. Shashibhushan Pandey, senior astronomer of Aryabhatta Observational Science Research Institute (ARIES), Nainital said that this comet was discovered by GJ Leonard on January 3, 2021, due to which it is also known as Comet Leonard.
• This comet passed close to Earth on December 12, 2021, whose photo was taken by astrophotographer Rajiv Dubey of Nainital.
• It reached close to the sun on January 3, 2022. On reaching near the sun, it had lost its direction and began to break apart.
• This comet was very bright, which was seen even with the naked eye. Astronomers from many parts of the world captured it on camera when it came close to Earth.

Ritu Khanduri: Speaker of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly

Why in News?

On March 26, 2022, Ritu Khanduri Bhushan, the Bharatiya Janata Party's MLA from Kotdwar, was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the fifth Legislative Assembly of Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• Ritu Khanduri is the first woman speaker of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. She has become an MLA for the second time. In the last assembly elections, she became an MLA from Yamkeshwar.
• Born on January 29, 1965 in Nainital, Khanduri is the daughter of former Chief Minister and former Union Minister Major General (Retd) Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri.
• She has graduated from Raghunath Girls College, Meerut (UP) and is a Postgraduate (PG) in History from Rajasthan University.
• Khanduri has worked as a faculty member at Amity University in Noida from the year 2006 to 2017 and has authored three books on Indian history.