State PCS

• 29 Jan 2024

Uttar Pradesh Foundation Day 2024

Why in News?

On 24^th January 2024, Uttar Pradesh celebrates its 75^th Foundation Day. This day is known as Uttar Pradesh Diwas or UP Diwas in Hindi.

Key Points

• The state was called the Brahmrishi Desh or the Madhya Desh in the Vedic period.
  • During the Mughal period, its territory was divided under governors.
• On 24 January 1950, the United Provinces was renamed as Uttar Pradesh.
  • From 1947 to 1950, India continued to adhere to British principles, leading to Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari serving as the Governor General during this time. As a result, Uttar Pradesh was established as a state under his leadership.
• The initiative to celebrate 'Uttar Pradesh Day' was taken by the then Governor Ram Naik and this event has been celebrated for three days every year since 2018.
• Several programs will be organised from January 24 to February 4, 2024, in Lucknow, Delhi and Noida.
  • Several products will be exhibited under One District One Product (ODOP), along with Shilpotsav in all the districts, like Awadh Shilpgram in Lucknow, Noida Haat Sector-32 and Kharak Singh Marg in Delhi’s Connaught Place.
    • Shilpotsav is the annual fair of artisans from across the country, belonging to the weaker sections of the society.
  • Products of craftsmen from different states and cultural programs of the states were organised under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

• This programme aims to enhance interaction & promote mutual understanding between people of different states/UTs through the concept of state/UT pairing.
• The states carry out activities to promote a sustained and structured cultural connection in the areas of language learning, culture, traditions & music, tourism & cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices, etc.

Khelo Uttar Pradesh Centre

Why in News?

According to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, 'Khelo Uttar Pradesh Centre' will be established in every block of the state on the lines of the 'Khelo India Centre' being established in every district by the Government of India.

Key Points

• The Union Sports Minister honoured the medal winners and participants in the 19^th Asian Games-2022, 4^th Para Asian Games-2022 and 37^th National Games-2023 at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar.
  • Prize money worth Rs 62 crore was distributed to 189 outstanding players of the state.
  • Along with this, appointment letters were also given to seven medal winning players as the Deputy Superintendent of Police, District Youth Welfare Officer and Passenger/Goods Tax Officer.
• The players, who can give their time after the games, will be appointed coaches at the 'Khelo UP Centre' on a fixed honorarium.
• Uttar Pradesh is the home of 16% of the country’s population and UP players have won 25% of the Asian Games medals.

Khelo India Programme

• The Khelo India Scheme aims to encourage sports all over the country, thus allowing the population to harness the power of sports through its cross-cutting influence, namely holistic development of children & youth, community development, social integration, gender equality, healthy lifestyle, national pride and economic opportunities related to sports development.
• Under the Scheme, talented players identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels are provided annual financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh per annum for 8 years.

Houses for Poor in Jharkhand by 2027

Why in News?

Recently, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that the state government would provide 20 lakh houses to the poor in the state by 2027, in an event at Torpa in Khunti district.

Key Points

• These houses were provided under a state government-sponsored housing scheme, ‘Abua Awas Yojana' (AAY).
  • The state government has launched the 'Abua Awas Yojana' (My House) and sought applications for the scheme during the 'Apki Yojana, Apki Sarkar, Apke Dwar' campaign.
  • The scheme was a first-of-its-kind initiative after the formation of Jharkhand in 2000.
• During the programme, the CM also distributed approval letters and the first installment for the housing scheme to more than 8,000 beneficiaries from Khunti and Simdega.

Apki Yojana, Apki Sarkar, Apke Dwar campaign

• Under this program, camps will be organized in 4,351 panchayats and 50 wards of the state. In these camps, the needy people who were till now deprived of the schemes will be covered with public welfare schemes.
• In the camps organized at Panchayat and Ward level, benefits of new schemes like Abu Awas Yojana, Birsa Irrigation Well Scheme, matters related to community and individual forest lease, Guruji Student Credit Card Scheme will be given.

Abua Awas Yojana (AAY)

• Under this scheme, the state government will provide housing to the needy people from its own fund by spending more than Rs 15,000 crore in the next two years.
• Three room houses will be provided to the poor, deprived, labourers, farmers, tribals, backward and Dalits.   

Jharkhand Government Brings Down Age for Pension Scheme

Why in News?

Recently, the Jharkhand cabinet approved the proposal to include all women, tribals and Dalits above 50 years in its old-age pension scheme.

• Earlier, those above 60 years used to get the benefit of the scheme, under which Rs 1,000 is provided to each beneficiary per month.

Key Points

• The initiative comes under the Mukhya Mantri Rajya Vridhavastha Pension Yojana. Around 18 lakh people would be benefited by the decision.
  • A total of 35.68 lakh people already get the benefit of the scheme.
• 25 other proposals were also approved by the cabinet, including the distribution of 'Matri Kit' to pregnant women.
  • The kit, worth around Rs 1,500, will have 14 materials, including a mosquito net, a cotton saree, a cotton towel and a toothpaste. 6 lakh pregnant women will be benefited by it.
• The cabinet also granted several other approvals, such as:
  • The appointment of Yogendra Prasad as the chairman of the State Backward Commission for three years.
  • A job and cash award of Rs 5 lakh to Vinita Oraon, a resident of Vrinda Nayak Toli village in Gumla district.
    • Oraon killed an area commander of the banned People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) during an attack on May 5, 2020.
  • Upgrading 146 middle schools to high schools.

Mukhya Mantri Rajya Vridhavastha Pension Yojana

• The primary objective of this scheme is to extend financial support to vulnerable elderly citizens of the state.
• Through the provision of a ₹1,000 monthly pension, the government aims to reduce the dependence of senior citizens on others for their financial needs.
• The scheme emphasizes self-reliance for elderly citizens, particularly those living below the poverty line.

People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI)

• It is a militant Maoist outfit formed in 2007 in Jharkhand.
• Earlier it was known as Jharkhand Liberation Tigers (JLT) founded by Dinesh Gope a resident of Khunti district, Jharkhand in 2003.

Jharkhand State Backward Commission

• It is a permanent body which has been constituted as per provisions of the Jharkhand State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 2002.

Uttarakhand’s Jadung Village Set for Rehabilitation

Why in News?

In a “first-of-its-kind” initiative, the Uttarakhand government has decided to rebuild and rehabilitate Jadung village in Uttarkashi district which was abandoned by the residents since the 1962 Indo-China war, as a major “tourist destination”.

• The village has been under the control of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) since 1962.

Key Points

• As part of the initiative, the tourism department aims to call back the descendants of the original homeowners, now residing in nearby villages, to revitalise the village.
• The October-November 1962 conflict had left the region deserted, impacting relations between India and China, with certain border disputes still unresolved.
  • The locality is a cold desert area (like Ladakh) has proper road connectivity, making it a potential tourist destination.
• In the first phase, the tourism department will renovate and refurbish six “dilapidated” houses and promote them as homestays in vernacular architecture, using locally available material and run by the villagers.
• The initiative will generate “self-employment opportunities” for Jadung village, while providing everyone with a unique tourism destination.
  • The villagers will have to operate the homestays at least for 10 years, with the operators being chosen by the Uttarkashi district administration through applications from original inhabitants of the village.
  • The tourism department has also been planning to provide skill training programmes to the homestay operators, which would be organised by the department from time-to-time. The department will also provide necessary support for marketing and promoting these homestays.
• According to the officials, the scheme will become a milestone towards reverse migration through government intervention and also create new tourism opportunities.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

• It is a dedicated force responsible for safeguarding India's borders with Tibet (China).
• It is a specialized mountain force of India, which was established on 24^th October 1962, soon after the India-China war which was initially meant for deployment along the India-China border.
• ITBP was initially raised under the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Act, 1949. However, in 1992, parliament enacted the ITBP Act and the rules were framed in 1994.
• ITBP has also been deployed for various internal security duties, including anti-Naxal operations. The force is known for its expertise in high-altitude rescue and mountaineering operations.

Note

• The border between India and China is not clearly demarcated throughout and there is no mutually agreed Line of Actual Control (LAC) along certain stretches.
• LAC came into existence after the 1962 Indo-China war.
• India-China border is divided into three sectors:
  • Western Sector: Ladakh
  • Middle Sector: Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
  • Eastern Sector: Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim

Monthly Electricity Bills in Haryana

Why in News?

Recently, Haryana Chief Minister announced that in four cities across Haryana, electricity bills will now be issued on a monthly basis instead of the current system of clubbing bills of two months.

Key Points

• The four cities where monthly electricity bills will be issued are Panchkula, Karnal, Hisar and Mahendragarh.
• According to the Chief Minister, the state government is all set to launch a scheme to provide small land parcels to the homeless and the poor from 1st February, 2024.
  • Under the Mukhyamantri Shehri Awas Yojana, the state government had issued an advertisement to know the requirement for such plots and flats.
• The Atal Kisan Majdoor Canteens will also be opened in 15 more grain markets of the state.

Atal Kisan Majdoor Canteens

• These will provide affordable and cheap meals to farmers and labourers at a concessional rate of 10 rupees per plate.
• The canteen will be run by women self-help groups in collaboration with the Haryana state agricultural marketing board and Haryana state rural livelihood mission.