1. India's deepest metro station to be built at Pune Civil Court
Tags: State News
The city of Pune will soon hold the distinction of having the country's deepest underground metro station.
An overview of the news
Pune's Civil Court interchange station will be 108.59 feet deep with a ceiling of 95 feet.
It will be used as an interchange facility for an underground station on the Pimpri-Chinchwad-Swargate route and one elevated route on Vanaz-Ramwadi route and Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar line.
The metro will be completed in February 2023 and will start in March.
The ceiling of the station will be so high that natural sunlight will fall on the floor of the station. Civil Court Station would be the only station with such a unique feature.
The station is being developed as a commercial complex which will also have a bus station and other facilities.
The station will be so large that 18 escalators will be required to cover it completely.
Seven entry-exit gates will be installed at Pune Metro Civil Court station.
Apart from the railway line, the headquarters of Pune Metro will also be built at the station.
2. Wayanad becomes the first district in the country to provide basic documents to all tribals
Tags: State News
Kerala's Wayanad district has become the first district in India to provide basic documents and facilities like Aadhaar card, ration card, birth/death certificate, election ID card, bank accounts and health insurance to all tribals.
An overview of the news
Wayanad district administration has achieved this feat by providing 1,42,563 services to 64,670 tribal beneficiaries as part of Akshaya Big Campaign for Document Digitization (ABCD) campaign.
Ration cards to 15,796 families, Aadhaar cards to 31,252, birth certificates to 11,300, voter ID cards to 22,488 and digital lockers to 22,888 individuals have been provided through the ABCD campaign.
The campaign was launched in November 2021 with the objective of ensuring basic documents for all citizens of Scheduled Tribe communities from Thondarandu Gram Panchayat.
Kerala first in other areas too -
Recently Kerala was declared as the first state to enable digital banking service.
Recently Dharmadum constituency of Kerala has become the first full library constituency in India.
Recently Kollam district of Kerala has become the first constitution literate district in the country.
India's first carbon neutral farm at Aluva in Ernakulam district of Kerala.
Recently, Kerala has become the first state in India to implement a uniform price of gold across the state.
Recently Kerala has become the first and only state in the country to have its own internet services.
3. Foundation Day of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura
Tags: State News Important Days
The foundation day of the three northeastern states Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya is being celebrated on 21st January.
An overview of the news
Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya were granted full statehood on January 21, 1972 under the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.
Merger of Manipur with India:
Manipur became a part of India from 15 October 1949 after the merger treaty on 21 September 1949.
Manipur was made a Union Territory in 1956.
Merger of Tripura with India:
Tripura was a princely state until its merger with the Indian Union on 15 November 1949.
After the death of Bir Bikram Singh, the last Maharaja of Tripura on 17 May 1947, Maharani Kanchan Prabha (wife of Maharaja Bir Bikram) represented the state of Tripura and merged it with India.
Merger of Meghalaya with India:
The rulers of the Garo and Khasi regions acceded to the Indian Union in the year 1947.
Meghalaya was created as an autonomous state within Assam under the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969.
4. National AIDS Control Organisation forms Largest Human Red Ribbon Chain in Kalinga Stadium of Bhubaneswar
Tags: State News
On 19 January 2023 Odisha State AIDS Control Society organised an awareness program on HIV AIDS in coordination with the Department of Sports and Youth Services and Hockey India under the leadership of National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).
An overview of the news
The event created the 'Largest Human Red Ribbon Chain' at the East Gallery of the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The event was attended by 4,800 students from various schools, Red Ribbon Club members from colleges, civil society and participants from Mission Shakti Department.
Odisha has a low HIV prevalence in the state, with an adult prevalence of 0.14% and an estimated 52,108 people living with HIV (PLHIV), according to government data.
Sustainable Development Goal 3.3 has been set to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
To achieve this goal, awareness activities are being strengthened among the general public as well as high-risk groups in Odisha about the services offered under the leadership of the National AIDS Control Programme.
National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)
Established in 1992, NACO is a division of India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that provides leadership to HIV/AIDS control programs in India through 35 HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Societies.
Along with drug control authorities, NACO also provides joint oversight of blood bank licensing, blood donation activities, and transfusion transmitted infection testing and reporting.
NACO also makes HIV estimates biennially (every 2 years) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Medical Statistics (NIMS).
5. Kollam becomes first constitution literate district in India
Tags: State News
In a remarkable achievement, Kerala's Kollam district has become the first constitution literate district in the country.
An overview of the news
This was announced on January 15 by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a function presided over by Finance Minister KN Balagopal in Kollam.
This achievement of the district is the result of a seven-month long constitutional literacy campaign launched jointly by Kollam District Panchayat, District Planning Committee and Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KLA) to create awareness about the laws of the country and the rights of citizens
The Citizen Constitution Literacy campaign
The campaign has been launched to educate the residents of Kollam district of Kerala about the basics of the Constitution.
Its objective is to make Kollam district a constitutionally literate district.
Under this campaign, more than seven lakh families of the district are being educated on the basic principles of the Constitution.
As part of the campaign, the entire population of Kollam above the age of 10 years was informed about the Preamble of the Constitution and the historical background of the document, its basic principles, fundamental rights of citizens and legal remedies.
Under the campaign, about 20 to 25 persons from each municipality and 10 to 15 persons from each gram panchayat are selected for training and are called senators.
6. NTPC REL signs MoU with Government of Tripura for cooperation in renewable energy development
Tags: State News
On January 16, 2023 NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) in New Delhi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tripura for development of floating and ground mounted based renewable energy projects in the state.
The MoU was signed by Rajeev Gupta, Chief General Manager, on behalf of NTPC REL and Shri Mahanand Debbarma, Director General & CEO, Renewable Energy Development Agency, on behalf of Tripura.
This MoU will play a vital role in the development of large scale renewable energy projects in Tripura and will help the Government of Tripura to fulfill its clean energy commitments and obligations.
About Tripura
Capital - Agartala
Governor - Satyadev Narayan Arya
Chief Minister - Manik Shah
State Bird - Green Imperial Pigeon (Ducula aenia)
State Tree - Agar (Aquilaria malaccensis)
State Flower - Nageshwar (Mesua Feria)
Borders - Bangladesh, Mizoram and Assam.
7. Maghi Mela Festival
Tags: Festivals State News
Maghi Mela festival is being celebrated from January 14 in Punjab.
An overview of the news
The Maghi Mela has been celebrated in the city of Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab for centuries in memory of the 40 Sikh warriors who died fighting the Mughals in the Battle of Khidrana in 1705.
It was only after this war that Khidrana was named Muktsar or Mukti Kund.
About Maghi Mela
Maghi Mela is held every year in the holy city of Sri Muktsar Sahib in January or in the month of Magh as per Nanakshahi calendar.
It is one of the most important festivals of Sikhs.
The festival marks the martyrdom of 40 Sikh soldiers fighting against the Mughals.
In the 1700s, the Mughals and the Sikhs were at constant war with each other.
The Khidrana War began when in 1704, during the siege of Anandpur Sahib by the Mughals, 40 Sikh soldiers deserted their posts.
About Battle of Khidrana
In 1704, during the siege of Anandpur Sahib by the Mughals, 40 Sikh soldiers abandoned their posts and fled.
On reaching their village near Amritsar, a woman named Mai Bhago scolded them and challenged the fighters to return to Anandpur Sahib in the service of their guru.
With Mai Bhago the freshly inspired soldiers marched towards Anandpur Sahib to help Guru Gobind Singh.
He met Guru Gobind Singh at Khidrana where he came face to face with the Mughal army and sacrificed his life in the process.
8. Rajasthan becomes first state to implement blindness control policy
Tags: State News
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The Rajasthan Government implemented the Blindness Control Policy on 13th January. Rajasthan is the 'first state' in the country to implement this policy with the objective of 'right to sight vision'.
An overview of the news
This is an innovative initiative by the Medical and Health Department of the state in the direction of realising the vision of a healthy Rajasthan in the state.
On the directions of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the document of the policy on prevention of blindness was made public by the Medical and Health Department.
The policy has been implemented with the aim of bringing light to the lives of more than three lakh visually impaired people in the state.
The blindness prevalence rate in the country in the year 2020 was 1.1 percent, which will be worked towards bringing it down to 0.3 percent through the 'Right to Sight Vision' policy.
Under this policy of the State Government, Keratoplasty Center and Eye Bank will be compulsorily operated in all Government Medical Colleges.
Cornea collected by private organisations and NGOs receiving financial assistance under this policy will be made available to government institutions on priority.
Under the policy, efforts will be made in collaboration with voluntary organisations, trusts, hospitals and other charitable organisations working in this field in the districts.
A large-scale campaign for eye donation will be launched by taking private organisations along.
Special training will be given to eye specialists, eye surgeons, postgraduate students, counsellors and eye assistants working for eye donation.
9. Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu Festival
Tags: Festivals State News
Union Minister of Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on 15 January burn the traditional Assamese Meji (bonfire) in Guwahati as part of the Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu celebration.
About Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu Festival
Bhogali Bihu which is also known as Magh Bihu is being celebrated in every province in Assam with great enthusiasm.
This is a festival of farmers. It is celebrated in the month of 'Magha' in the middle of January.
After the annual harvest, it is celebrated with community feasts.
The main attraction of this festival is food. The night before 'Bhogali Bihu' which falls on 15th January is called 'Uruka' which means the night of feasts.
The villagers build bamboo huts called 'Bhelaghor' or community kitchen where they start with the preparations for the festival.
Various dishes made from sesame, jaggery (black syrup from sugarcane) and coconut along with vegetables, meat and sweets like pitha and laru are made to celebrate this festival.
This festival is celebrated for a week. It is celebrated by singing, dancing, feasting and bonfires.
As per the customs of the festival, people eat the food prepared for the feast at Bhelaghar and then burn the huts the next morning.
The Sun God is worshiped on this day in different parts of India in the form of various festivals such as Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Maghi (Punjab) and Uttarayan (Gujarat).
10. IAS 'Shanti Kumari' becomes first woman Chief Secretary of Telangana
Tags: Person in news State News
Following the Telangana High Court's order, 1989 batch IAS officer A. Shanti Kumari was appointed as the Chief Secretary of Telangana.
Shanti Kumari has become the first woman to hold the post of Chief Secretary in Telangana.
He has replaced Somesh Kumar, who was the Chief Secretary earlier.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Secretary, IAS officer A.K. Shanti Kumari was holding the post of Special Chief Secretary, Forest.
a. Shanti Kumari is a post graduate in Marine Biology.
During her three decades of service, Shanti Kumari held various positions in education, health, poverty alleviation, skill development and forest departments.
About Telangana -
It was the 29th state (there are now 28 states in India) to be formed on 2 June 2014. It was carved out of Andhra Pradesh.
The Telangana region was a part of Hyderabad State from 17 September 1948 to 1 November 1956, later it was merged with Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh State.
Capital: Hyderabad
District :33
Chief Minister - K. Chandrasekhar Rao
Governor: Dr. Tamilisai Sundarraj
