1. PM flag off two Vande Bharat trains in Mumbai
Tags: State News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off two new Vande Bharat trains from Mumbai on 10 February.
An overview of the news
PM Modi first flagged off the Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat Express from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).
Later, he flagged off the second Vande Bharat Express train connecting Mumbai to the temple town of Sainagar Shirdi in Ahmednagar.
With the commissioning of the two trains, the number of Vande Bharat Express trains running from Mumbai has increased to three, taking the number to 10 in the country.
The first Vande Bharat train in Maharashtra connects Mumbai to Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
Prime Minister Modi also dedicated the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road section and the Kurar underpass to the public.
He also inaugurated the new campus of Aljamia-tus-Saifiyah in Marol, a western suburb of Mumbai.
Aljamia-tus-Saifiya is an educational institution of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community.
About Vande Bharat Express Train
The first Vande Bharat Express was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 February 2019.
These trains have a self-propelled engine that can save diesel and reduce electricity usage by up to 30%.
The first Vande Bharat Express was manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
It was manufactured under the 'Make in India' program at a cost of around Rs 100 crore.
These trains can attain a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
In the Union Budget for 2022-2023, the government has proposed to develop and manufacture 400 new Vande Bharat trains over the next three years.
Governor of Maharashtra: Bhagat Singh Koshiyari
Chief Minister of Maharashtra; Eknath Shinde
2. UP Government launches 'Family ID' portal
Tags: State News
The UP government has launched an online portal, "Family ID - One Family One Identity" to make access to government schemes easier for the families of the state.
An overview of the news
Its objective is to provide free or subsidised ration to those families who do not have ration cards and are not eligible for the National Food Security Scheme.
Through the portal, families can create their ID and can avail the benefits of the schemes.
For those who already have an ID, the family ID will be the same as the ration card ID.
For others, ID will be generated through the portal and all the families will get a unique identity.
It will create a comprehensive database of households in Uttar Pradesh.
This ID will also be useful for other purposes. For example, a family member can use the ID to determine caste and apply for the same for a birth certificate.
The National Food Security Scheme, which provides free or subsidised ration to people living in Uttar Pradesh, can also be availed through the portal.
3. Kala Ghoda Art Festival 2023
Tags: Festivals State News
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2023 is being organised in Mumbai (Maharashtra) from 4 -12 February.
An overview of the news:
In the Kala Ghoda Festival, dance, art and music, architecture, food, handicrafts, graphics, and many other types of art exhibitions are seen.
Kala Ghoda Kala Mahotsav is an arts festival organised in Mumbai, which was started in 1999 by Kala Ghoda Foundation.
It is named Kala Ghoda because it is held at a place in the South Mumbai area where there is a statue of a black horse.
This festival is organised every year starting from the first Saturday of February till the second Sunday.
Other Festivals of Maharashtra:
Gudi Padwa
This festival is generally celebrated by Maharashtrians as Hindu New Year celebrations.
Pola Festival
It is a harvest festival and is celebrated all over the state of Maharashtra, especially in the rural areas.
Elephanta Festival
Elephanta festival is held every year in February. Elephanta is a small island near Mumbai.
Kalidas Mahotsav
The Kalidas Samaroh is held annually in the month of November in Nagpur's Ramtek area, in honour of the famous Sanskrit poet and dramatist Kalidas.
4. Gujarat government signs deal with OECD to hold PISA test for govt school students
Tags: State News
The Gujarat government 4 February signed an agreement with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to conduct the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test for students of government schools.
An overview of the news
The agreement was signed in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and OECD Paris Director Andreas Schleicher.
This is a significant step towards the objective of achieving grade-appropriate learning outcomes in government schools.
Gujarat is the first state in the country to sign such an agreement.
PISA measures the ability of 15-year-olds to read and apply math and science skills to meet real-life challenges.
It will improve thinking, problem solving and effective communication skills of the students.
This will help in achieving the objective of ensuring quality learning outcomes in government schools.
About Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)
It is an international assessment that measures the maths and science literacy of 15-year-old students every 3 years.
It was first organized in 2000.
This worldwide study is conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in member and non-member nations.
It aims to provide countries with comparative data to improve their education policies and outcomes.
5. 36th Inter-University North Zone Youth Festival at Jammu University
Tags: Festivals State News
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Thakur attends valedictory function as Chief Guest of 36th Inter-University North Zone Youth Festival (Antarnaad) at Jammu University.
An overview of the news
The festival was organized under the aegis of Association of Indian Universities (AIU) at Zorawar Singh Auditorium, Jammu University.
He said India is now the hub of ‘Start-up’ ecosystem in the world, ranking third with 90,000 ‘Start-Ups’, 107 unicorn companies worth 30 billion dollars.
1000 participants from 18 universities across the country participated in the festival.
Competing teams in the festival
University of Jammu,
Dev Sanskriti Vishavidhalya Haridwar Uttarakhand,
GADVASU-Ludhiana,
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
Doon University Uttarakhand,
University of Kashmir,
Cluster University of Jammu,
Punjabi University Patiala,
CT University Ludhiana,
IK Gujral Punjab Technical University Kapurthala,
Himachal Pradesh University Shimla, GNDU Amritsar,
Lovely Professional University, Chandigarh University, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana,
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University Bathinda
DAV Jalandhar.
6. LG Manoj Sinha inaugurates SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2023 in Jammu
Tags: Festivals State News
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Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on 4 February inaugurated the SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2023 at Aquaplex Crown at Bagh-e-Bahu, Jammu.
An overview of the news
Women self-help groups from around 25 states and union territories across the country are participating in the fair.
The 11-day fair is the first of its kind in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
This mega event will provide a platform to rural SHG women to sell and promote their self-made products and build marketing tie-ups with various sales platforms.
75 stalls and 10 food courts have been set up at the exhibition venue to display crafts, handicrafts, handlooms and delicacies.
Self Help Groups will display handicrafts, handlooms and natural food items from different rural areas across the country.
It is a national level fair which showcases unique and famous indigenous products from different states and union territories.
SARAS Aajeevika Mela
It is an initiative of the Deen Dayal Dayal Upadhyaya Yojana of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
It aims to provide an opportunity to rural women self-help groups to showcase their skills, sell products and make direct contact with bulk buyers.
This fair serves as an integrated approach for women empowerment. This has been linked with the Atmanirbhar Bharat approach.
7. MP Government has changed the name of Bhopal's Islam Nagar village to 'Jagdishpur' with immediate effect
Tags: State News
Madhya Pradesh government announced that Islam Nagar village located in Bhopal district has been renamed as Jagdishpur.
An overview of the news
The notification informing the change of name also states that the central government has not objected to the decision.
Islam Nagar village is located at a distance of about 12 km from Bhopal and is famous for forts.
308 years ago the name of Islam Nagar used to be Jagdishpur.
The iconic Mughal Gardens at the Rashtrapati Bhavan was renamed Amrit Udyan recently.
According to the Madhya Pradesh Raj Bhavan website, Bhopal was founded in 1724 by Dost Mohammad Khan, an Afghan soldier.
Dost Mohammad Khan established his capital at Jagdishpur, 10 km from modern Bhopal and named it Islam Nagar (City of Islam).
Dost Mohammad Khan built a small fort and some palaces at Islamnagar.
After a few years, he built a big fort on the northern bank of the upper lake. This new fort was named Fatehgarh Fort (Fort of Victory).
After some years, he shifted his capital to the present city of Bhopal.
Earlier, the Madhya Pradesh government had renamed Hishangabad as Narmadapuram and Nasrullaganj as Bhairunda.
8. 46th International Kolkata Book Fair inaugurated
Tags: Festivals State News
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on 30 January inaugurated the 46th edition of the International Kolkata Book Fair.
An overview of the news
The fair is being organised at Boimela Courtyard, Central Park Fair Ground, Karunamayee, Salt Lake Kolkata.
Mara José Gálvez Salvador from the Spanish Ministry of Culture and Sports and Ambassador of Spain to India, Jose Maria Ridao Domínguez were present at the inauguration.
The fair will be open for visitors from January 31 to February 12.
Around 20 countries from all over the world are participating in the fair. Spain is the focal country for the second time this year.
The United States, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Japan, France, Cuba, Italy, Australia and many other Latin American countries will be represented at the book fair.
Thailand is participating for the first time.
The fair will have several kiosks sponsored by the Jute Board to reduce plastic and bio-toilets.
About International Kolkata Book Fair
It is the largest book fair in Asia and the most attended book fair by the people.
It is the world's third largest annual collection of books after the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair.
The book fair was started in 1976 on a small scale by the Kolkata Publishers and Booksellers Guild.
9. Madhya Pradesh government announces 'Laadli Bahna' scheme
Tags: Government Schemes State News
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the implementation of Ladli Bahna Yojana on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti.
An overview of the news
Through this scheme, ₹ 1000 per month will be given to the sisters of poor and middle class families of Madhya Pradesh.
Scheme Benefits / Eligibility
To get the benefit of the scheme, the woman must be a resident of Madhya Pradesh.
Women of all castes of the state – General, Backward, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes will be able to get the benefit of this scheme.
The benefits of the scheme will be given to such sisters who are not income tax payers.
65% sisters of Madhya Pradesh will be able to get the benefit of this scheme.
Through the scheme, an amount of ₹ 60000 will be added to each sister's account by the government in 5 years.
Madhya Pradesh
Capital - Bhopal
Chief Minister - Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Governor - Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel
Lok Sabha seats - 29
Rajya Sabha seats - 11
National Parks - Kanha Tiger Reserve, Bandhavgarh National Park, Panna National Park
Festivals - Khajuraho Festival, Bhagoria Haat Festival, Madai Festival
10. First survey of migrants started in Jharkhand
Tags: State News
Recently the first survey of migrants has been started by the Government of Jharkhand.
An overview of the news
This survey will be done in 11 thousand houses in 24 districts of the state.
The objective of the survey is to create a robust database of migrants and migration patterns in the state.
The results of the survey will be used for state level policy making.
The survey will collect information about migrants coming into the state, migrants going out of the state, quality of life of migrants, understanding the mindset of migrants etc.
Jharkhand:
Capital - Ranchi
Chief Minister - Hemant Soren
Governor - Ramesh Bais
Lok Sabha seats - 14
Rajya Sabha seats - 6
National Parks - Hazaribagh National Park, Palamu National Park and Betla National Park, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhendia Wildlife Sanctuary.
Festivals - Karma, Sarhul, Jitiya, Sohrai Parab
