State PCS

• 29 Aug 2022

4 New Facilities at Central Arid Zone Research Institute (KAJRI), Jodhpur

Why In News?

On August 28, 2022, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar simultaneously inaugurated 4 new facilities at the Central Arid Region Research Institute (KAJRI), which has been providing excellent services for more than 60 years under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Key Points

• Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated a new auditorium, agri-business nurturing centre, eco-friendly waste water treatment plant and indoor sports hall at Kajri.
• He said that due to the research work done by Kajri, the income of farmers is increasing due to dune stabilization, sprinkler and drip irrigation system and due to reduced cost in agriculture due to new varieties of crops, grasses and fruits. Kajri's works like solar energy, reduction in cost of cultivation, livestock management will also be beneficial for the farmers of arid region.
• Due to the new technologies and research achievements being developed by Kajri from time to time, Kajri has received 8 awards out of 10 National Awards of Indian Council of Agricultural Research in the last six years.
• It is worth mentioning that the Desert Afforestation Center was established in Jodhpur in 1952 to reduce the process of rapid degradation and productivity reduction of land and to scientific and sustainable management of resources, which was later expanded into a Desert Afforestation and Soil Conservation Center in 1957. Finally, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, it was given the status of a full-fledged institute in 1959 as the Central Arid Zone Research Institute (KAJRI).
• There are 6 divisions in the headquarters located at Kajri Jodhpur. Its four regional research centers are located for on-site problem-based research in different agro-climatic conditions.

Foundation Stone of the First Toy Cluster of Central India

Why In News?

On August 27, 2022, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid the virtual foundation stone of the first toy cluster of Central India 'Indore International Toy Cluster' in the Employment Day program organized at Amardas Hall, Indore.

Key Points

• On this occasion, the Chief Minister also launched an e-learning module for entrepreneurship development training.
• The Chief Minister said that 42 clusters have been sanctioned in the state, out of which this toy cluster built at a cost of Rs 2.84 crore was inaugurated in Indore. In this first toy cluster of Central India, 20 small units will be set up and more than two thousand people will get employment opportunities.
• An investment of Rs 80 crore is expected in the first phase of this cluster. Similarly, through various clusters, not only will investment increase in the state, but employment opportunities will be provided many times faster.
• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced to celebrate Employment Day every month across the state and connect 2.5 lakh unemployed with employment.
• The Chief Minister distributed checks and loan sanction letters to the beneficiaries under the self-employment scheme. For self-employment, assistance of Rs 466 crore was provided to more than 75 thousand beneficiaries. Benefit certificates were also distributed to the selected beneficiaries by the Chief Minister.
• It is noteworthy that on January 12, 2022, the first Employment Day was organized in Madhya Pradesh, in which more than 5 lakh people of the state were provided employment under various schemes. By March 31, 2022, loans worth Rs 7 thousand crore were sanctioned to about 13 lakh beneficiaries by giving benefits of various schemes.

Gwalior International Literature Festival

Why In News?

On August 27 , 2022, Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated the four-day 'Gwalior International Literature Festival' at the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM).

Key Points

• In the 25th year of its establishment, Udbhav Cultural and Sports Institute is organizing 'First International Gwalior Literature Festival' in collaboration with Kendriya Academy School and Akhil Bhartiya Sahitya Parishad under the aegis of its newly formed project 'Udbhav Literary Forum' from August 27 to 30, 2022.
• This literature festival is being organized with the aim of bringing the spiritual practice of literature seekers of Gwalior Chambal region to the international stage.
• In this literature festival, the litterateurs of the region will have interviews with national and international litterateurs.

Book 'The Guru: Guru Nanak Ki Sakhiyan' released

Why In News?

On August 28, 2022, the book 'The Guru: Guru Nanak Ki Sakhiyan', authored by rajni Sekhri Sibal, a retired IAS officer of Haryana cadre, was released at an event held at golf club in Chandigarh.

Key Points

• The book is based on a collection of sakhis about the life of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Rajni Sekhri Sibal has written ten sakhis of Guru Nanak Dev ji in this book.
• Batala, Nankana Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib have been specially mentioned in this book. He has called Guru Nanak Dev Ji Baba Ji in this book.
• The book is a collection of 500-year-old anecdotes: an inquisitive child who questions the world around him; a perceptive teenager who thought rationally in an irrational world; A conscious youth who sought the rationale behind existing norms and customs; An intelligent and sympathetic human being, who tried to remove the deeply rooted prejudices in the society and a gentle, calm and pure soul, who spreads harmony, peace and compassion.

Neeraj Chopra won the Lausanne Diamond League Title

Why In News?

On August 26, 2022, Haryana's javelin thrower and Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Neeraj Chopra won the Lausanne Diamond League title with a throw of 89.08m in his first attempt.

Key Points

• Neeraj Chopra, a resident of Khandara village in Panipat, topped the Diamond League meet to become the first Indian player to win the Lausanne Diamond League title.
• With this win, he has qualified for the Diamond League Final to be held in Zurich, Switzerland on September 7-8, as well as for the 2023 World Championships, which has a qualification mark of 85.20m.
• Neeraj Chopra finished second at the Stockholm Diamond League earlier this year with a personal best throw of 89.94m .
• Recently, Neeraj won a silver medal in the final match of the World Athletics Championships with a throw of 88.13 meters. He is the second athlete to do so after Anju Bobby George (2003).

51st Mayor's Council Conference

Why In News?

On August 28, 2022, the 51st Annual Conference of the All-India Mayor's Council was organized in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, under the leadership of Naveen Jain, the President of the Council and Mayor of Agra.

Key Points

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated this conference on 26 August by worshiping the photograph of Chhattisgarh Mahtari and lighting the lamp. On this occasion, he called upon all the mayors to make the municipal corporations financially self-reliant.
• Describing the utility of Chhattisgarh's ambitious 'Godhan Nyay Yojana' as a source of income to all the mayors, the Chief Minister said that electricity generation has been started from cow dung in Gothan of Raipur, Durg, Bemetara. 79 lakh metric tonnes of cow dung is being received in the state, out of which 20 lakh metric tonnes of cow dung is being given in the fields of farmers, due to which the fertilizer power of the land is increasing.
• In the three-day conference, the Mayor of Surat talked about his water plus city, while the Mayor of Indore gave information about the cleanliness of Indore, the cleanest city of the country. The Mayor of Mohali and Chandigarh explained about Greenery, the Mayor of Agra about composting from waste and the Mayor of Bhopal about the water management system of his city.
• Naveen Jain, President of the Mayor's Council and the Mayor of Agra, said that 20 lakh tonnes of waste from Agra city was composted, soil was prepared, and it was used in construction work. Now electricity will be made from the garbage generated every day in Agra. Soon a plant will be set up for this in Agra.

Raipur's Budha Talab Project got the 'Smart Project' Award

Why In News?

Recently, Budha Talab Project of Raipur Smart City Limited of Chhattisgarh was honored with 'Smart Project' award at a function organized by Smart City Council of India in Mumbai.

Key Points

• Ujjwal Porwal, Chief Operating Officer, Raipur Smart City Limited received this award.
• Under Smart Urbanization-2022, 33 smart cities of the country had nominated their projects for this award, in which the Budha Talab project of Raipur Smart City Limited was awarded.
• Raipur Smart City Limited has awarded the Smart Project Award for the work done by The Budhatalab-Swami Vivekanand Sarovar for the beautification and conduct of economic activities and to prepare safe, picturesque places for the entertainment of the common people.
• The jury formed to select the award considered the project useful for better living standards of the common people and increasing the economic opportunities of the local people. The jury included experts from IT Kanpur and NIUA and representatives of reputed companies and institutions.
• Managing Director of Raipur Smart City Limited Mayank Chaturvedi said that for the entertainment of the people, musical and tunnel fountains in the lake, land shopping has been done around the lake with attractive lights. A suitable playground has also been prepared for children.
• Under the Budha talab project, 28.1 hectares of aquatic area has been developed. Also, vending zone has been developed in 1400 square meters area and floating deck in 700 square meters. Saplings have also been planted to keep this area green.