State PCS

• 31 Jul 2021

'Area Officer App' and 'Mobile Monitoring System App'

Why in News

• On July 30, 2021, the use of two new mobile apps 'Area Officer App' and 'Mobile Monitoring System App' was started for effective implementation of MGNREGA scheme in Madhya Pradesh.

Key Point

• Through these apps, the inspections done by the officials and the attendance of wages made by the laborer will be recorded online.
• Notes on the quality and usefulness of MGNREGA works at the time of checks/visits by concerned officers will be uploaded along with geo-tagged photos from the workplace through the 'Area Officer App'.
• Similarly, the attendance of workers engaged on works under MGNREGA will be taken through 'Mobile Monitoring System App' instead of recording them on paper.
• The attendance of the recorded workers from the workplace every day will be available on the MGNREGA portal along with geo-tagged photographs, which will ensure transparency in the implementation of MGNREGA works.

Panna Tiger Reserve

Why in News

• On July 30, 2021, Panna Tiger Reserve was awarded the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CAITS) certificate by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for meeting the established international standards for tiger conservation and management.

Key Points

• Panna National Park was established in 1981. It has a geographical extension in the districts of Panna and Chhatarpur. It is spread over an area of about 543 square kilometers.
• This national park was declared a Project Tiger Reserve in the year 1994 by the Central Government.
• UNESCO designated the Panna Tiger Reserve as a Biosphere Reserve on August 25, 2011.
• Madhya Pradesh is considered not only that of the country, but the world's Tiger Capital. The management of Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves has been recognized as the best in the country.

School of Excellence

Why in News

• On July 31, 2021, Chief Minister Hemant Soren took a concrete measure towards providing quality education to the students of Jharkhand by converting government schools into 'Schools of Excellence'.

Key Points

• As per the vision of the Chief Minister, almost 5,000 government-run schools will be transformed into modern education facilities. It is aimed that by the start of the 2022-23 academic session, 80 district-level schools of excellence would be ready to cater to almost 2,00,000 students from across the state.
• The government aims to make 80 district level schools of excellence before the session 2022-23, 329 block schools before the 2023-24 session and over 4,000 panchayat level schools before the 2024-25 session as schools of excellence.
• In the first phase, the proposed 80 schools across all the districts of the State are being transformed into ‘School of Excellence’.
• The government has planned to make all the ‘Schools of Excellence’ of the world-class education system. The school will have other facilities like an uninterrupted power supply, a clean environment and a smartboard. These schools are being developed on the model of private schools.
• Earlier, due to lack of sanitation and lavatory facilities at schools, the drop-out rate of girls from schools was high. To address this issue the government has planned to equip all the school premises with separate lavatory facilities for both girls and boys.
• A dedicated language lab will be set up in these model schools to improve learning outcomes and it will also be used as a review mechanism tool.
• With the help of premier institutes of the country, teachers deputed at ‘School of Excellence' will be provided with focused training as per the National & International Standards.
• School of Excellence will cater to students from pre-primary level till the 12^th standard. The scheme will benefit approximately 15 lakh children from across the state.

Tourist Police

Why in News

• On July 31, 2021, a Tourist Police was established from Ghatarani-Jatmai in Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh to provide security to the tourists.

Key Points

• Most areas in the district are famous for tourism but sometimes untoward incidents occur, keeping that in mind, the Tourist Police was announced on 30 July.
• The Tourist Police will wear yellow T-shirts for easy identification. They will have a medical kit, rope, torch, umbrella and other safety equipment.
• Gariband district is located 90 km from Raipur. The Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, Sikaser Dam and Bhooteshwarnath, Ghatarani, Jatmai and Rajiv Lochan temples are the main tourist spots.

Ultra High Pressure Power Substation

Why in News

• On July 30, 2021, Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company energized the 400^th ultra high pressure sub-station of the state at Ghansor, Tehsil headquarter of Seoni district.

Key Point

• Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company has set up a new 132 kV ultra high pressure substation at Ghansor in Seoni district. Apart from this, 14 sub-stations of 400 KV and 84 sub-stations of 220 KV are functional in the state.
• With the commissioning of the ultra high pressure sub-station, continuous electricity will be provided to about 21 thousand consumers of 350 villages situated amidst dense forests and difficult geographical conditions in the tribal area of Ghansor.
• This will be the fourth ultra high pressure sub station in Seoni district. Earlier, electricity was supplied to the district from 220 KV sub-station Seoni, 132 KV sub-station Seoni and 132 KV Lakhnadaun.

Increase in Public Debt

Why in News

• On July 30, 2021, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel told the Legislative Assembly that the total public debt of the state has increased by 20.85 percent to Rs 63,164.72 crore in 2019-20.

Key Points

• On the last day of the monsoon session, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel presented the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India while presenting the Finance and Appropriation Accounts of the Chhattisgarh Government for 2019 in the House.
• According to the report, the total public debt of Chhattisgarh has increased from Rs 52,254.22 crores (2018-19) to Rs 63,164.72 crores (2019-20).
• In 2019-20, the fiscal deficit was Rs 17,969.55 crores, which is 5.46 percent of GSDP and which exceeded the MTFP (Money Follows the Person Initiative) target of 2.99 percent of GSDP. During 2018-19, the state fiscal deficit was within the FRMB (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) target of 3.07 percent of GSDP.
• The report said the gross budget for 2019-20 was Rs 1,06,913.44 crores. Against it, the gross expenditure was Rs 92,261.34 crores.
• The tax revenue stood at Rs 42,323.69 crores and the state’s own revenue rose to Rs 22,117.85 crores against Rs 21,427.26 crore (2018-19). The state received Rs 13,611.24 crores Grants in aid from the Centre as compared to last fiscal.
• The capital expenditure of the state government was Rs 8,566,39 crores, Rs 337.06 crores less as compared to 2018-19. The revenue deficit of Rs 9,608.61 crores constitutes 2.92 percent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) during 2019-20.
• The state government has an off-budget liability of Rs 694.26 crores towards repayment of loans taken by various entities, in addition to its budgeted liabilities of Rs 78,712.46 crores.