• 31 Jul 2024

Rs 450 Gas Cylinders to Ladli Behna Beneficiaries

Why in News?

The Madhya Pradesh government announced that beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna scheme will receive gas cylinders at a subsidized rate of Rs 450 throughout the year.

Key Points

• Scheme Background: The Ladli Behna scheme was initially launched by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
• Beneficiaries: This subsidy is aimed at women beneficiaries, particularly those under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
  • Beneficiaries will receive Rs 250 for the Rakhi festival.
  • In a written response to the Rajya Sabha, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas stated that the central government is providing a targeted subsidy of Rs 200 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), applicable for up to 12 refills per year.
  • The Centre increased the targeted subsidy to Rs. 300 per 14.2 Kg LPG cylinder for all Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries.

What is Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)?

• About:
  • The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG), introduced the ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ (PMUY) as a flagship scheme with the objective of making clean cooking fuel such as LPG available to the rural and deprived households which were otherwise using traditional cooking fuels such as firewood, coal, cow-dung cakes etc.
    • Usage of traditional cooking fuels had detrimental impacts on the health of rural women as well as on the environment.
• Objectives:
  • Empowering women and protecting their health.
  • Reducing the number of deaths in India due to unclean cooking fuel.
  • Preventing young children from a significant number of acute respiratory illnesses caused due to indoor air pollution by burning fossil fuel.

Shah Jahan's Daughter-in-law's Tomb Not Waqf Property

Why in News?

Recently, Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that three ancient monuments in Burhanpur, including the tomb of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s daughter-in-law, Begum Bilqis, are not Waqf property.

Key Points

• Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) Argument: The ASI argued that these sites - Shah Shuja monument, Tomb of Nadir Shah, and Bibi Sahiba’s Masjid are ancient and protected monuments under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904.
• Court’s Observation:
  • Justice GS Ahluwalia noted that the properties are ancient and protected monuments, and the CEO of the M.P. Waqf Board committed material illegality by declaring them as Waqf property.
  • The ASI submitted that “as per section 11 of Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904, Commissioner would be a guardian of the monument and for the purposes of maintaining such monument shall have access to the monument at all reasonable times by himself and by his agents.
  • “Unless and until guardianship is relinquished under Section 14 of Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904, the same cannot be declared as a waqf property.”
• Details of the Monuments:
  • Shah Shuja Monument:
    • The Shah Shuja monument houses the tomb of Begum Bilqis, wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s son, Shah Shuja.
    • She was buried in Burhanpur after she died giving birth to her daughter.
    • The tomb also known as Kharbuza Mahal is “crowned with a dome.” The site “stands on a raised fluted circular plinth” and “built of stone and plastered with shell mortar and decorated with paintings.”
  • Tomb of Nadir Shah:
    • The tomb of Nadir Shah is a “massive tomb, built on a raised platform” and “supported on eight archways.” The chamber is occupied by three graves.
  • Bibi Sahiba’s Masjid:
    • Bibi Saheba’s mosque alias Bibi ki Masjid was completed by queen Begum Rokeya, daughter of Gujarat Sultan Muẓaffar Shah II, around 1529.

Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day

Why in News?

Recently, The Haryana government has announced that July 31^st will be a gazetted holiday in honor of Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day.

Key Points

• Holiday Declaration: The Haryana government has declared July 31^st, as a gazetted holiday to observe Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day.
• School Closures: This declaration results in the closure of all government and private schools throughout the state, including in Gurgaon and Faridabad.
• Public Holidays Announcement: In December of the previous year, the Haryana government announced the public holidays for 2024, which included the closure of all public offices, schools, and colleges on July 31, 2024, to honor Shaheed Udham Singh and other martyrs.
• Significance of Shaheed Udham Singh: Shaheed Udham Singh is recognized for avenging the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by assassinating its mastermind, Michael O'Dwyer.

Udham Singh

• Born in Sunam in Punjab’s Sangrur district in 1899, also referred to as Shaheed-i-Azam Sardar Udham Singh which means ‘Great Martyr’.
• He is regarded as one of the foremost revolutionaries of the Indian Freedom Struggle.
• Following the Jallianwala Massacre on 13^th April 1919, he got profoundly involved in revolutionary activities and politics. He was deeply influenced by Bhagat Singh.
• He joined the Ghadar Party in 1924 to organize overseas Indians with the purpose of overthrowing colonial rule.
• In 1927, while returning to India with associates and weapons to carry out revolutionary activities, he was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and sentenced to five years in prison.
• On 13^th March, 1940, Singh shot Michael O’Dwyer instead of General Dyer at a meeting of the East India Association and the Royal Central Asian Society at Caxton Hill.
• He was sentenced to death and was hanged on 31^st July, 1940 at Pentonville Prison in London.

Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana Lead in H1N1 Deaths

Why in News?

Recently, Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana have reported the highest number of H1N1 deaths in India, with 41, 27, and 26 deaths respectively.

Key Points

• Total Cases: India has recorded over 7,000 H1N1 cases so far.
• Top States for Cases: Delhi (1,563), Gujarat (1,049), and Rajasthan (1,008) have the highest number of cases.
• Health Ministry Guidelines: The Health Ministry has issued guidelines on screening, categorization, laboratory diagnosis, infection control, home care, and clinical management.
• Prevention Measures: Public awareness campaigns emphasize hand washing, covering the mouth while coughing or sneezing, and avoiding crowded places.
• Vaccination: Vaccination is highlighted as the best preventive measure against influenza.

H1N1

• H1N1 influenza causes a respiratory illness that can affect the respiratory tracts of pigs.
• Humans are at risk of swine flu, a zoonotic disease, through close contact with infected pigs.
• Swine influenza viruses can infect humans if their antigenic properties change due to reassortment with other influenza strains.
• This genetic shift can improve the virus's ability to replicate and spread, making it easier for human transmission.
• Such changes have led to pandemics, as seen in 1918 and 2009, when the virus gained the ability for efficient human-to-human transmission.

Uttarakhand Mandates Garbage Bags in Vehicles

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttarakhand Government has implemented a new rule mandating that all vehicles entering the state must be equipped with garbage bags or dustbins.

• This measure aims to promote responsible tourism and preserve the pristine environment of Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• Inspections: The transport department will conduct inspections at entry points to ensure compliance.
• Trip Cards: Vehicles will be issued trip cards only if they have the required garbage disposal facilities.
• Documentation: Vehicle owners must present valid documents like registration certificates, fitness certificates, insurance papers, and pollution certificates to receive a trip card.
• Broader Strategy: This initiative is part of a larger effort to protect Uttarakhand’s natural beauty, especially along popular tourist routes.
• Cooperation: The transport department is seeking cooperation from neighboring states to enforce this rule.
• Collective Responsibility: The regulation emphasizes the shared responsibility of residents and tourists in maintaining the state’s cleanliness.