1. Tribal Affairs Minister launched Marketing, Logistics Development for PTP-NER scheme
Tags: State News
Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda on 18th April launched a new scheme “Marketing and Logistics Development for Promotion of Tribal Products from North -Eastern Region (PTP-NER)” for the benefit of Scheduled Tribes of Northeastern Region.
An overview of the news
The scheme has been introduced for the benefit of Scheduled Tribes of the North-Eastern Region.
The objective of the scheme is to strengthen livelihood opportunities for tribal artisans through enhanced efficiency in procurement, logistics and marketing of tribal products from North Eastern States.
The scheme will be applicable to the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.
As part of this plan, there is a plan to start a panel of tribal artisans from the North Eastern Region by organizing 68 Tribal Artisan Melas in different districts of the region.
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED)
It came into existence in 1987.
TRIFED is a national-level organisation functioning under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Its Head Office is located in New Delhi and has a network of 13 Regional Offices.
It aims at socio-economic development of tribal people in the country through marketing development of tribal products.
About India's North-East region
The North Eastern Region (NER) comprises eight States - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
The North Eastern region of India is a landlocked region with no access to the sea.
It is geographically isolated from the rest of India and is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land called the Siliguri Corridor (Chicken’s Neck).
Sikkim - the ‘Brother’ of the Seven Sisters
Assam- World’s largest ‘Tea Producer’
Manipur- Jewel of India
Arunachal Pradesh- Land of Rising Sun
Meghalaya- Scotland of India
Tripura- the most ‘Literate’ in the Northeast around 95% Literacy rate
Mizoram- Molasses Basin
Sikkim- Sparsely Populated, the only state having world’s largest ‘Kanchenjunga Mountain’
Nagaland- famous for Mon’s Ethnicity
2. First AIIMS inaugurated in the Northeast at Changsari near Guwahati
Tags: State News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Changsari near Guwahati on 14th April. It is the first AIIMS in the Northeast.
An overview of the news
He announced three other medical colleges in Assam.
The three medical colleges at Nalbari, Nagaon and Kokrajhar have been built at a cost of around Rs 615 crore, Rs 600 crore and Rs 535 crore, respectively.
He also laid the foundation stone of Assam Advanced Health Care Innovation Institute (AAHII) at IIT-Guwahati
The Prime Minister also launched a healthcare scheme to provide free medical treatment of Rs 5 lakh each year to 11 million beneficiaries.
The AIIMS campus, built at a cost of Rs 1,123 crore, is a one-of-a-kind healthcare facility in the entire northeastern region.
It will have an annual intake capacity of 100 medical students every year.
The foundation stone for the institute was laid by PM Modi in 2017.
He distributed Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards in all districts.
About Northeast India
Northeast India comprises seven states : Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
The northeast is bordered by Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh with a total length of over 2000 km and is connected to the rest of India by a narrow 20 km wide corridor of land.
Northeast India is also known as the “Seven Sisters”.
3. Bihu performance in Guwahati creates Guinness World Record
Tags: State News
Bihu, a beloved cultural event in Assam, was performed in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries at the Suraszai Stadium in Guwahati on 14 April.
News Overview
The festival is known for bridging differences and symbolising harmony between human beings and nature.
More than 11,000 folk dancers and drummers performed the Bihu dance and played the dhulia (drum) at one place, creating two Guinness World Records.
The performance set a new record for the largest Bihu dance at a single venue, while the dhol players set a record for the highest number of drummers performing at a single venue.
The Assam government announced an appreciation of Rs 25,000 for each artist.
About Assam:
Location: It is a state located in the northeastern region of India. It is bounded by Bhutan in the north, Arunachal Pradesh in the east, Nagaland in the northeast, Manipur in the southeast, Mizoram in the south and West Bengal in the west.
Wildlife: Contains Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park and Nameri National Park.
Language: Assamese is the official language of the state, but several other languages are also spoken, including Bengali, Bodo, and Hindi.
Formation (as a state) - 26 January 1950
Capital - Dispur
Chief Minister - Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor - Gulab Chand Kataria
Rajya Sabha - 7 seats
Lok Sabha - 14 seats
Official Animal - Indian Rhinoceros
Official Bird - White-winged Duck
Official Dance - Bihu Dance
Official flower -Rhynchostylis retusa
Official river -Brahmaputra
4. 125 feet tall Ambedkar statue unveiled in Hyderabad
Tags: State News
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao recently unveiled a 125-feet tall bronze statue of BR Ambedkar in Hyderabad.
An Overview of the News
The statue was unveiled to mark the 132nd birth anniversary of Ambedkar, who is best known for his role in drafting the Indian Constitution.
It is now the tallest statue of Ambedkar in India with a height of 125 feet.
This statue is situated near the State Secretariat on the beautiful banks of Hussain Sagar Lake.
Ambedkar's statue is a symbol of social justice and equality. It commemorates the contribution of BR Ambedkar towards building a just and equal society for all.
About Telangana
It is a state located in south-central India on the high Deccan Plateau.
It is the eleventh largest state of India by area.
Telangana was carved out of the northwestern part of Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014 and became the newly formed state of Telangana with Hyderabad as the capital.
Telangana is bordered by Maharashtra to the north, Chhattisgarh to the northeast, Karnataka to the west, and Andhra Pradesh to the east and south.
As of 2019, the state of Telangana is divided into 33 districts.
Formed (by split) - 2 June 2014
Capital - Hyderabad
District - 33
Governor - Tamilisai Soundararajan
Chief Minister - K Chandrasekhar Rao (BRS)
State Legislature - Bicameral
Legislative Council - (40 seats)
Legislative Assembly - (119 seats)
Rajya Sabha - 7 seats
Lok Sabha - 17 seats
High Court - Telangana High Court
5. Aman Sehrawat won gold medal in Asian Wrestling Championship 2023
Tags: State News
On 13 April, Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat won the gold medal in the men's 57 kg freestyle category at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2023 held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
An Overview of the News
- Sehrawat won the gold medal by defeating Almaz Samanbekov of Kyrgyzstan with a score of 9-4.
- India got its first gold medal in the Asian Wrestling Championship 2023.
- It was Aman Sehrawat's second podium finish of the year. He had earlier won the gold medal in the Under-23 World Championship held in Spain last year.
- India won 13 medals at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2023 with two freestyle medals, four Greco-Roman medals and seven women's wrestling medals.
- The Asian Wrestling Championships is an annual wrestling competition organised by the Asian Wrestling Federation (AWF).
- The championships consist of men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman and women's freestyle wrestling events.
- The first Asian Wrestling Championship was held in 1979 in Tehran, Iran.
About Kazakhstan:
- It is a Central Asian country that was once a part of the Soviet Union. It became an independent nation in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
- The country is the ninth largest country in the world by land area, stretching from the Caspian Sea in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east.
- The capital of Kazakhstan is Nur-Sultan, which was renamed from Astana in 2019. It is a modern city known for its futuristic architecture.
- Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan and an important cultural and economic centre. It was the capital of Kazakhstan until 1997 when the government was moved to Astana.
6. Gond painting of Madhya Pradesh gets GI tag
Tags: State News
Gond paintings from Madhya Pradesh have bagged the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, a recognition that protects and acknowledges the work of tribal artists.
An Overview of the News
- Patangarh village in Dindori district is home to many Gond artists, one in every household whose artwork is popular in the state and recognized internationally.
- Narbadia Armo, a physically challenged tribal woman from Khannat village, makes mouth paintings and acts as a role model for women who feel helpless.
- With the GI tag, Narbadiya Armo's paintings will get recognition, a unique identity and a fair price for her artwork.
What is GI Tag?
- A Geographical Indication (GI) is a name or sign given to products coming from a specific geographical location.
- GIs certify that products have been made using traditional methods or have specific qualities due to their origin.
- GI is used for food, handicrafts and industrial products.
- GI tag ensures that only authorised users can use the name of the product.
Who grants and regulates Geographical Indications?
- Geographical Indications (GI) are a type of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) recognized and protected under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
- The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) provides a framework for the protection of GIs at the international level.
- In India, the registration and protection of GI is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which came into effect in September 2003.
- The first product in India to receive the GI tag was Darjeeling tea, which was given the GI tag in the year 2004-05.
About Madhya Pradesh
- It is the second largest state of India by area after Rajasthan.
- Forests occupy 25.14 percent of its area.
- Governor - Mangubhai Patel
- Chief Minister - Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- Capital - Bhopal
7. Maharashtra government announces Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's birth anniversary as 'Swatantraveer Gaurav Din'
Tags: State News Important Days
On 11 April, the Maharashtra government declared 28 May, the birth anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, as 'Swatantraveer Gaurav Diwas'.
An Overview of the News
- Various programs will be organised to promote and propagate the thoughts and works of Veer Savarkar on Swatantraveer Gaurav Divas.
- It aims to highlight Savarkar's contribution to India's independence movement, his ideology and his campaigns for social reforms and the eradication of untouchability.
About Veer Savarkar
- Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, also known as Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, was an Indian freedom fighter, writer and politician who played an important role in the Indian independence struggle.
- He was born on May 28, 1883 in Bhagur village of Nashik district, Maharashtra.
- Savarkar is credited with establishing the concept of Hindutva, which aimed to create a Hindu nationalist identity for India.
- In addition to his role in the Indian independence movement, Savarkar was a prolific writer, writing several books, including "The Indian War of Independence of 1857", "Six Glorious Ages of Indian History", and "Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?"
About Maharashtra
- Capital - Mumbai
- Chief Minister - Eknath Shinde
- Governor - Ramesh Bais
- State Industries Minister - Uday Samant
8. Sanjeevani Project launched by the Government of Himachal Pradesh
Tags: State News
To support small dairy farmers and cattle rearers, the state government launched a project called Sanjeevani on April 9 to enhance their livelihood.
An Overview of the News
The Sanjeevani project uses telemedicine and technology to provide convenient and high-quality livestock care services to farmers' doorsteps, potentially preventing outbreaks and reducing turnaround time for services.
The Animal Husbandry Department of Himachal Pradesh collaborated with Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited (BFIL) for the National Animal Disease Control Programme-Mobile Veterinary Van (NADCP-AHD-MVU) project.
The objective of the NADCP-AHD-MVU project is to provide door-to-door livestock care services through a toll-free telephone number.
About Himachal Pradesh
Chief Minister - Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu
Governor - Shiv Pratap Shukla
Official tree - Deodar (Scientific name: Cedrus deodara)
Capitals - Shimla (Summer), Dharamsala (Winter)
9. New species of frog discovered in Meghalaya cave
Tags: Science and Technology State News
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recently discovered a new species of frog, Amolops siju, in the South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
An Overview of the News
Researchers found the frog inside a cave in Meghalaya and named it Amolops siju after the cave in which it was found.
Three new species of cascade frog (Amolops) were also found in Arunachal Pradesh.
About Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established in 1916 with the objective of survey, exploration and promotion of research on various aspects of animal life in India.
The primary objective of the ZSI is to study and document the biodiversity of India, including the classification, distribution and abundance of animal species.
ZSI is responsible for preparing national and regional animal databases, which serve as important tools for conservation planning and management.
Apart from its research activities, ZSI also plays an important role in providing taxonomic expertise and training to researchers, students and conservationists.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) is the administrative ministry of the ZSI, and it redefined the objectives of the ZSI in December 1987 to focus on the conservation and management of biodiversity.
Formation - 1 July 1916
Objective - Animal Classification and Conservation
Headquarters - Kolkata
Place - West Bengal, India
Director - Dr. Dhriti Banerjee
Parent Organization - Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
10. Justice Apresh Kumar Singh appointed as new Chief Justice of Tripura High Court
Tags: Person in news State News
On 11th April 2023, Justice Apresh Kumar Singh was appointed as the new Chief Justice of Tripura High Court by the Central Government.
An Overview of the News
Apresh Kumar replaced Justice T Amarnath Goud, who was serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court from November 2022.
The Tripura High Court was established on 23 March 2013 following an amendment to the Constitution of India and the North-Eastern Areas Act of 1971.
Chief Justice of High Court
Allahabad High Court - Uttar Pradesh - Pritinkar Diwakar - 26 March 2023
Andhra Pradesh High Court - Andhra Pradesh - Prashant Kumar Mishra - 13 October 2022
Chhattisgarh High Court - Chhattisgarh - Ramesh Sinha - 29 March 2023
Delhi High Court - Delhi - Satish Chandra Sharma - 28 June 2022
Gauhati High Court - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland - Sandeep Mehta - 15 February 2023
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court - Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh - N Kotiswar Singh - 15 February 2023
Jharkhand High Court - Jharkhand - Sanjay Kumar Mishra - 20 February 2023
Karnataka High Court - Karnataka - Prasanna B. Varale - 15 October 2022
Kerala High Court - Kerala, Lakshadweep - S Manikumar - 11 October 2019
Madhya Pradesh High Court - Madhya Pradesh - Ravi Malimath - 14 October 2021
Meghalaya High Court - Meghalaya - Sanjib Banerjee - 24 November 2021
Orissa High Court - Odisha - S Muralidhar - 4 January 2021
Patna High Court - Bihar - K Vinod Chandran - 29 March 2023
Punjab and Haryana High Court - Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh - Ravi Shankar Jha - 6 October 2019
Sikkim High Court - Sikkim - Biswanath Somadar - 12 October 2021
Telangana High Court - Telangana - Ujjal Bhuiyan - 28 June 2022
