• 29 Dec 2023

Balaji Temple in Jharkhand

Why in News?

Recently, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) announced to construct a replica of the Tirupati Balaji temple in Jharkhand.

Key Points

• The government of Jharkhand approached Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy with a plea to establish a Lord Balaji temple in the state.
• According to the sources, there is an allocation of 100 acres of land for the temple’s construction at Devgarh, which also has shrines of Shri Vadyanatha, one of the jyotirlingas and also a Shakti Peeth.
• TTD plans to establish at least one replica temple of Lord Balaji in every state and union territory across the country.
  • The trust has already established temples at Jammu, Rishikesh, Delhi, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Odisha etc.

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra Camp in Champawat

Why in News?

Recently, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, participated in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra camp organised at Ramlila Maidan in Tanakpur, Champawat district.

Key Points

• On this occasion, the CM distributed checks of 1 Lakh each to 9 women groups under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), checks of 13 lakhs were distributed to 10 resource cooperative societies of the cooperative department and 10 women beneficiaries under the NRLM.
• Quizzes, cultural programs and drone demonstrations were held to create awareness regarding the schemes. Programmes like 'Meri Kahani-Meri Zubaani' were also conducted to share personal success stories and achievements of the beneficiaries.
  • The CM also flagged off 11 new vehicles for the municipality.
• Bharat Sankalp Yojana is developed by the central government which focuses on public welfare schemes.
  • The resolution of this yatra is to develop India in every way by 2047.
• 19 schemes in rural areas and 15 in urban areas have been identified for the yatra.
  • The identified schemes are related to the healthy India mission, food security, quality education, health services, proper nutrition, housing for the poor, financing services and social security.
• More than 63 thousand participants in the state have so far gotten the benefits of the schemes.

Failure Of Contingency Plan Under SC/ ST Act

Why in News?

The Rajasthan High Court has taken a serious view of the State government’s failure to implement a contingency plan under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995, prepared by a Drafting Committee in 2017.

Key Points

• In 2017, Dalit Manavadhikar Kendra Samiti (DMKS), a non-government organisation,submitted a draft contingency plan to the State government with the provisions for relief and rehabilitation, additional financial assistance to the victims of caste-based violence, protection of witnesses and monitoring mechanism for helping out the victims.
• In the hearing of a public interest writ petition moved by the DMKS, the High Court observed that the very purpose of framing the contingency plan for SC and ST communities would be frustrated if it was delayed in finalisation and implementation.
• 15 States which includes Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Odisha had formulated comprehensive contingency plans and implemented them.
• The State government at present provides relief to the victims of atrocities under Rule 12(4) of the 1995 Rules laying down that the persons belonging to SC/ST and their family members and dependents will get the relief in cash or kind within seven days of registration of the first information report (FIR).
• The contingency plan to be implemented under Rule 15 of the 1995 rules should specify the role and responsibility of various departments.
• The package should include mandatory compensation to the victims, rehabilitation, government employment and strengthening their socio-economic conditions.

UP Outpaces Gujarat In Registered Investors

Why in News?

According to the CEO of National Stock Exchange (NSE), Uttar Pradesh has taken a lead over Gujarat in terms of the number of registered investors.

Key Points

• With a market capital of around 4.5 trillion dollars, India is the fourth largest market in terms of market capitalization in the world, followed by the US, China, and Japan.
• India’s market capitalisation in relation to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has witnessed 10% increase in the current calendar year.
• India has 74% global share in equity derivatives and 61% share across various asset classes.
• States with the highest number of registered investors are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and then Gujarat.

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Birth Anniversary

Why in News?

On the 162^nd birth anniversary of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya on 25^th December 2023, the Prime Minister is scheduled to release the first series of the 'Collected Works of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya.'

Key Points

• The bilingual (English and Hindi) work features writings, speeches, unpublished letters, and other works of Madan Mohan Malaviya.
• Madan Mohan Malaviya (25^th December 1861 - 2^nd November 1946) was an Indian scholar, politician, and educational reformer.
  • He was a leader in the Indian independence movement and served as president of the Indian National Congress four times. He was also the founder of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha and the Banaras Hindu University.

General Consent Principle for CBI

Why in News?

According to the sources, Chhattisgarh government will restore General Consent for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe cases in the state.

• The States give their general consent to CBI under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.

Key Points

• As of March 2023, Mizoram, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jharkhand, Punjab and Meghalaya had withdrawn their general consent given to CBI.
• General Consent Principle for CBI:
  • The consent of the state government to CBI can be either case-specific or “general”.
  • General consent is normally given by states to help the CBI in the seamless investigation of cases of corruption against central government employees in their states.
  • This is essentially consent by default, which means CBI may begin investigations taking consent as having been already given.
  • In the absence of general consent, CBI would have to apply to the state government for its consent in every individual case, and before taking even small actions.