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By admin: Aug. 7, 2023

A special art exhibition titled "Together We Art" begins at Bihar Museum, Patna

Tags: State News

On 7 August 2023, a special art exhibition dedicated to the G-20 member countries in Bihar titled "Together We Art" will open at the Bihar Museum in Patna.

An Overview of the News 

• The exhibition will run for two months starting today and will end on 7th October 2023.

• Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the exhibition.

• The event is organised by the Union Ministry of Art and Culture as part of India's chairmanship of G-20 countries.

• A total of 29 countries including India are participating in the exhibition.

• To mark the foundation day, the Bihar Museum Biennial 2023 will also begin, which will run for five months.

About the G20

• It is an international forum of the world's leading economies established in 1999.

• Its primary objective is to promote international financial stability and sustainable economic growth.

• The G20 serves as a forum to discuss and coordinate policies related to a wide range of economic and financial issues such as trade, investment, employment, energy and climate change.

Bihar:

• Formation - 22 March 1912

• Capital - Patna

• District - 38

• Governor - Rajendra Arlekar

• Chief Minister - Nitish Kumar

• Deputy Chief Minister - Tejashwi Yadav

• Rajya Sabha - 16 seats

• Lok Sabha - 40 seats

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches digital portal to promote cooperative movement in Maharashtra

Tags: National News

Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the digital portal of the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) office in Pune, Maharashtra.

An Overview of the News 

• Cooperative culture in India originated from Maharashtra, and the cooperative model of Maharashtra is driving the cooperative movement in the country.

• The digital portal will enable all operations of cooperative societies, such as opening new branches, expanding to other states or auditing, to be conducted online.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Saharkar se Samriddhi" aims to provide basic amenities to lakhs of poor people of the country

• The Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2022 aims to increase transparency, accountability and eliminate nepotism in cooperatives, allowing young talent to join the movement.

• The portal will benefit 1555 multi-state cooperatives, of which 42% are located in Maharashtra, highlighting the strength of the cooperative movement in the state.

• The government is planning to computerise the offices of registrar of cooperatives in states to ease communication with 8 lakh cooperatives in the country.

• The Modi government aims to make Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) viable and plans to form 3 lakh new PACS across the country in the next 5 years.

• The government is building a cooperative university and a national cooperative database to enhance technical education in the cooperative sector.

• Three new multi-state cooperatives have been set up to assist in marketing of organic produce and seed production, which will benefit over 10 crore farmers in the country.

• The government's vision is to contribute towards making India a $5 trillion economy and the world's third largest economy with a significant contribution from the cooperative sector.

About Maharashtra

• It is a state located in the western part of India and covers a significant part of the Deccan Plateau.

• Chief Minister - Eknath Shinde

• Governor - Ramesh Bais

• Official Animal - Indian giant squirrel

• Official Bird - Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

• Official Dance - Lavani

Folk singer and activist Gaddar passed away at the age of 74

Tags: Person in news

Noted folk singer and activist Gaddar passed away at the age of 74 after battling a serious heart ailment. He was undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad for the last 10 days after cardiac arrest.

An Overview of the News 

People's Singer and Activist:

• Gaddar, also known as Gummadi Vitthal Rao, gained popularity by his stage name.

• His songs highlighting various issues faced by the common people earned him the sobriquet "The People's Singer".

• He also showcased his acting skills in films like "Maa Bhoomi" and "Rangula Kala".

Early Life and Background:

• Gaddar was born in 1949 in a Dalit family in Medak district of Telangana. His life experiences influenced his commitment to address social issues through his art.

Association with the People's War Group:

• In the 1980s, Gaddar himself went underground and joined the People's War Group, an underground Communist Party of India.

Establishment of Jan Natya Mandali:

• Gaddar founded Jan Natya Mandali, a theatre company in Delhi, which later became the cultural wing of the Naxalite organisation.

• This demonstrated his dedication to using art for social and political purposes.

List of Awards:

• Gaddar received recognition for his artistic contributions, including the 1995 Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for the song "MallethigaKu Pandiri Vole" and the 2011 Nandi Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Jai Bolo Telangana".

About Telangana

• Formed (by split) - 2 June 2014

• Capital - Hyderabad

• District - 33

• Governor - Tamilisai Soundararajan

• Chief Minister - K Chandrasekhar Rao (BRS)

• Council - (40 seats)

• Legislative Assembly - (119 seats)

• Rajya Sabha - 7 seats

• Lok Sabha - 17 seats

Bihar constitutes 'Rhino Task Force' to revive rhino conservation in Valmiki Tiger Reserve

Tags: State News

The Bihar government will set up a 'Rhino Task Force' to propose measures to restart the rhino conservation plan in 'Valmiki Tiger Reserve' (VTR) located in West Champaran district.

An Overview of the News 

• The VTR has seen a significant increase in the tiger population, prompting state wildlife officials to focus on reviving the rhino population in the region.

• At present, VTR has only one rhino, while Patna Zoo has 14 rhinos. With the formation of a 'rhino task force', officials aim to bring more rhinos back into the reserve.

Valmiki Tiger Reserve selected for National Rhino Conservation Plan:

• Valmiki Tiger Reserve has been selected as a potential site under the National Rhino Conservation Plan.

• This national level scheme allows rhinos to be introduced into Valmiki Tiger Reserve from other reserves across the country to boost their conservation.

Committee Recommendations Lead to Formation of 'Rhino Task Force':

• A committee was set up about two years ago to evaluate the habitat and security conditions in Valmiki Tiger Reserve.

• The main objective of the committee was to assess the feasibility and potential challenges of reintroducing rhinos to the reserve.

• Based on the recommendations and findings of the report of the committee, a 'Rhino Task Force' is being formed.

The revitalization plan Aims to Expand Rhino-Bearing Areas in VTR:

• The reintroduction plan aims to increase the areas within the Valmiki Tiger Reserve where rhinos can thrive.

• The goal is to expand rhinoceros-bearing areas by about 5% over the next two years.

• This includes strategic relocation of rhinos from congested habitats to identified locations within the reserve, such as Ganauli and Madanpur, to provide more space for breeding and population growth.

India's Vital Role in One-Horned Rhino Conservation:

• India plays a critical role in the conservation of the one-horned rhinoceros species.

• Approximately 75% of the world's rhino population is found in India.

• Notably, over 93% of India's rhino population resides in just one protected area, the Kaziranga National Park in the state of Assam.

• This highlights India's significant responsibility in safeguarding and preserving the endangered one-horned rhinoceros for its global conservation efforts.

About Valmiki Tiger Reserve

• It is located in the West Champaran district of Bihar and was established in 1990 as the 18th Tiger Reserve. It covers a core area of 909.86 km² within the Valmiki Sanctuary.

• Valmiki Tiger Reserve has seen a significant increase in tiger population, which ranks fourth in tiger density. From 31 tigers recorded in 2018, the reserve sees a significant increase to 54 tigers in 2022, representing a 75% increase in numbers.

• In the last four years, there has been an impressive addition of 23 tigers to the reserve, further boosting conservation efforts.

• The successful increase in the number of tigers in Valmiki Tiger Reserve has prompted the Bihar government to take action. He has initiated the process of developing the 'Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWC)' into another tiger reserve or 'tiger-bearing landscape' within the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) in 13 railway stations through video link

Tags: National News

On 6 July 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) through a video link from Delhi, which aims to revitalise 1,309 railway stations across India and turn them into world-class travel hubs.

An Overview of the News

• ABSS will start its rejuvenation work at 508 railway stations in different states with an investment of ₹25,000 crore. In the state, 13 railway stations will be modernised with an investment of ₹303 crore.

List of Stations under ABSS in the State:

• ABSS will focus on 13 railway stations in a specific state.

• These selected stations will receive a modern makeover and substantial investment as part of ABSS.

• The 13 railway stations selected for ABSS in the state are Ballari, Ghataprabha, Gokak Road, Bidar, Alnavar, Gadag, Koppal, Harihar, Arsikere, Mangaluru Junction, Wadi, Kalaburagi Junction (Gulbarga), and Shahabad.

Features of Revamped Stations:

• The revamped railway stations will provide world class amenities.

• Key features include rooftop plaza, shopping zone, food court, children's play area and separate entry and exit gates.

• Multi-level parking, lifts and escalators, executive lounge, waiting area and travelators will also be included.

• Facilities to meet the needs of the physically challenged shall be provided.

• The integration of these facilities is expected to enhance the passenger experience and make the stations iconic landmarks in their respective cities.

• Additionally, the stations will become hubs of socio-economic activities in their areas due to better multimodal connectivity.

Railway Minister of India - Ashwini Vaishnav