• 30 Dec 2021

CM Inaugurates 96th National Annual Convention of IMA

Why in News

• On 28 December 2021, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the 96th National Convention of IMA by lighting the lamp at Bapu Auditorium located at Samrat Ashok Convention Center.

Key Points

• Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that PMCH is the oldest hospital in the state. It will be made a medical college hospital of international standard. Its construction work will be completed in three phases in four years. It will be a hospital of more than 5400 beds.
• He said that NMCH will also have 2500 beds. Medical colleges of Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Gaya will also be a 2500 bedded hospital. The state's second AIIMS will be built in Darbhanga.

Autumn Festival-2021

Why in News

• On December 29, 2021, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated the Sharad Mahotsav-2021 of Abu Parvat Municipality through video conferencing.

Key Points

• Along with this, the Chief Minister unveiled the statue of Gandhiji at Gandhi Vatika on the famous Nakki Lake in Mount Abu and inaugurated the Mahatma Gandhi Library and also laid the foundation stone of the parking and terrace garden at the kitchen garden of the lake.
• The Chief Minister said that Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan. In the field of tourism, Rajasthan has a unique identity in the country and in the world. A large number of domestic and foreign tourists come here to see the pleasing culture, forts, palaces, stepwells and attractive places related to wildlife, desert etc.
• He said that for the first time Rs 500 crore tourism development fund has been created to take Rajasthan to new heights in the field of tourism. With this fund, works like development of infrastructure facilities at tourist places, their conservation and strong branding at national and international level will be done.

Rajasthan Police Vision-2030 Book

Why in News

• On December 29, 2021, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot released the book Rajasthan Police Vision-2030.

Key Points

• Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that this book, published with the vision of the year 2030, will inspire the police to work with more commitment.
• He said that the State Government is continuously innovating in the direction of strengthening law and order and modernization of police, which has yielded positive results.

Rana Pratap Sagar Hydro Power Station

Why in News

• On December 29, 2021, power generation was started again by synchronizing unit number 1 of 43 MW capacity of Rana Pratap Sagar Hydro Power Station in Rajasthan. If operated at full capacity, 10.32 lakh units of electricity will be generated daily from this unit.

Key Points

• Under the joint Chambal Valley Project of the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, in the year 1968, the 172 MW capacity hydroelectric powerhouse established on the Rana Pratap Sagar dam on the Chambal river was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi. After its establishment in the year 1968, the cheapest and greenest electric energy of Rs 2,365 crore unit has been produced from this powerhouse.
• Four units of the hydroelectric power plant were completely submerged in the severe water hazard that arose on September 14, 2019 in the Chambal river. A revival plan was proposed for re-generation of power from these 51-year-old units, in which it was estimated that the units would remain closed for 5-6 years.

Ujjain's Madhav Science College got the Highest A+ Grade from NAAC

Why in News

• On December 29, 2021, Madhav Vigyan Mahavidyalaya, Ujjain got the highest grade A+ in the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

Key Points

• State Higher Education Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that the college has scored the highest marks among all the government colleges in the state. It's a matter of pride. The college has scored A+ grade with 3.48 marks.
• The Higher Education Minister said that efforts are being made to provide NAAC grade to 55 government colleges in the first phase, 75 in the second phase and 80 in the third phase in Madhya Pradesh. About 85 percent eligible government colleges will be able to get NAAC grade by the year 2023.
• In this series of reforms in higher education, master facilitators have been appointed in all colleges. Help is also being given by the government for self study reports.
• NAAC assessment is determined on the basis of SSR itself. About 107 government colleges of the state have got NAAC grades so far.

HAU First in the Country For The Second Time in a Row in The Atal Ranking of Agricultural Universities

Why in News

• Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar has topped the country in the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation and Achievements released by the Ministry of Education, Government of India and All India Council for Technical Education on December 29, 2021.

Key Points

• The nationwide Atal Ranking Scheme was launched in the year 2018. In the last year 2020 also, the university had secured the first rank, but at that time only 674 educational institutions had applied. This time 1438 universities and institutes from across the country including all IITs, NITs, IIS etc participated.
• The university has secured the fourth position in the country in the category of government and government aided universities.
• The main objective of Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation and Achievements is to promote innovation in higher educational institutions. In this, educational institutions are ranked on the basis of several indicators. The University includes intellectual property rights, programs and activities for innovation, start-up and entrepreneurship, pre-incubation and incubation infrastructure and facilities to support I&E and to support and promote I&E activities.
• The Vice Chancellor of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University informed that the ABIC Center established in the University is the first center in North India and second in India, which is promoting innovation, startups and entrepreneurship. It is known that the Ebic Center has also recently been awarded with the Best Incubation Center award in the country.

End of State Level Sports, Cultural and Intellectual Competition of Eklavya Model Residential Schools

Why in News

• On December 29, 2021, the three-day state level sports, cultural and intellectual competition of Eklavya Model Residential Schools was concluded at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium. Bastar division was the overall champion in the competition.

Key Points

• In the state sports competition, Bastar division has secured first, Surguja second and Bilaspur division has secured third position.
• Similarly, in cultural and intellectual competition, Bilaspur division got first place, Durg division got second and Raipur division got third place in cultural and intellectual competition for age group below 14 years and age group up to 19 years.
• State Scheduled Castes and Tribes Development Minister Dr. Prem Sai Singh Tekam presented prizes to all the winning participants.
• Secretary, Scheduled Castes and Tribes Development Department DD Singh said that more than 15 thousand children displayed their talent in the state level competition. In the sports competition, participants performed in 16 types of sports disciplines. The competition was organized for boys and girls in the age group of 14 years and above 19 years.
• Commissioner of Scheduled Castes and Tribes Department Shammi Abidi informed that a total of 71 Eklavya Model Residential Schools are operating in the state.

Kakra Crocodile Trail

Why in News

• On December 29, 2021, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Kakra Crocodile Trail in Terai Eastern Forest Division at Khatima. This is the first Crocodile Trail in the state.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister said that with the creation of the Crocodile Trail, where there would be conservation and enhancement of the natural habitat of the crocodiles, tourism activities would be encouraged in the area. Its establishment will increase employment and economic activities.
• He said that its construction will help both ecology and economy. With the formation of these, local people will get employment, efforts will also be made to increase tourism activities in the area through homestays.
• Kakra Crocodile Trail Kakra Nala is located on the western border of Surai Ecotourism Zone. This Nala is the natural habitat of Crocodile (Marsh Crocodile). This species of crocodile found in freshwater sources has become extinct in many countries like Bhutan and Myanmar.
• For tourists to see crocodiles easily, 4 km. The long drain has been developed as Kakra Crocodile Trail by channeling fencing. Three viewpoints and several watch towers have been built in this first Crocodile Trail in the state so that crocodiles can be seen up close in a safe manner.

Jungle Safari Launched in Surai Ecotourism Zone

Why in News

• On December 29, 2021, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched Jungle Safari at Surai Ecotourism Zone in Khatima. During this he also did jungle safari. Surai Ecotourism Zone is the first such ecotourism zone in the state, where tourists can enjoy jungle safari.

Key Points

• Terai Eastern Forest Division, which is full of biodiversity and wildlife, will be developed in a planned manner and converted into an eco-tourism zone so that its natural beauty can be used to provide direct and indirect employment to the local people.
• The Chief Minister said that CM Young Ecopreneur Yojna was launched in Dehradun on October 1, 2021 with the objective of providing self-employment opportunities to the local people by linking forest and wildlife with the economy.
• The implementation of this scheme has been started. As a beginning, jungle safari is being started in Khatima by developing the Surai Ecotourism Zone. The scheme will be operated through village committees.
• The influx of tourists in the Surai Ecotourism Zone will provide direct and indirect employment to the local people. This scheme will be extended to the entire state.
• He said that nature guide, drone pilot, wildlife photographer, ecotourism, wildlife tourism based skills would be converted into enterprise under CM Young EcoPreneur Scheme.
• The forest routes of Surai forest area have been developed as Biodiversity Trail. This area is spread over an area of 180 square kilometers, bordered by Sharda Sagar Dam in the east, Khatima Nagar in the west, Melghat Road in the north and Pilibhit Tiger Reserve area in the south.
• Naturally beautiful, this forest area is rich in sal trees, pastures and water. Due to all these reasons, the movement of tigers continues here. Apart from this, about 125 species of mammals, more than 150 species of birds and about 20 species of reptiles are also found in this forest area.