1. Himachal Pradesh becomes first state to connect all registered commercial vehicles with VLTD
Tags: State News
Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in India to integrate Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) with Emergency Response Support System (ERSS).
Important facts
This system was launched by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur at Peterhof, Shimla.
All registered commercial vehicles equipped with VLTD will be linked to ERSS.
Through this mechanism, these vehicles can be tracked anywhere in India.
More than 9,423 vehicles have been registered and linked with ERSSS.
Under this mechanism, now both the police and the transport department can monitor the vehicles.
Panic button for safety
The Chief Minister also launched the facility of panic button for the safety of women and children in public vehicles.
Vehicle Location Tracking Device consisting of Emergency Panic Button System and Command Control Centre is integrated with Emergency Response Support System 112.
When this panic button is pressed in times of distress, it will send a signal to 112 via satellite.
Thereafter, the system will connect the person in distress and alert the police.
Importance of the system
This monitoring centre or command control centre will help in easy detection of vehicle thefts and vehicle accidents.
It will be easier to monitor the movement of the vehicle to ensure the safety of women and children.
This innovative initiative will make the roads safer in the states.
2. Karnataka NEP referred 'Pythagoras Theorem' as fake news
Tags: Popular State News
A position paper on National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by the Government of Karnataka has described Pythagoras' theorem as "fake news".
Important facts
The Pythagorean theorem has been disputed in many international forums. Pythagoras claimed this to be his theory.
The Karnataka NEP mentions a text called the Baudhayana Sulbasutra, in which the specific verse refers to the theorem.
About Pythagoras
Based on evidence, the existence of the Greek philosopher Pythagoras is believed to be around 570–490 BC.
However, it is believed that mysterious elements were present around him, because of the secretive nature of the school/society he founded in Italy.
Relatively little is known about his mathematical achievements, as no evidence exists of his own writing today.
What is Pythagoras Theorem?
The Pythagorean theorem describes the relationship between the three sides of a right triangle (one of which is 90°).
Its Equation is a² + b² = c²
where a and b are the two perpendicular sides, and c is the length of the diagonal side.
If any two sides of a right triangle are known, the theorem helps you calculate the third side.
Reasons why Vedic mathematicians knew this before Pythagoras?
There are several references in the Sulbasutra, which are written by Vedic Indians and refer to the rituals performed during yaganas.
The oldest of these is the Baudhayana Sulbasutra.
The period of Baudhayana Sulbasutra is not certain. It is inferred on the basis of linguistic and other secondary historical considerations.
In more recent literature, the Baudhayana Sulbasutra is taken from around 800 BCE.
There is a statement in the Baudhayana Sulbasutra called the Pythagorean theorem (this was known as a geometric fact, not a 'theorem').
Yagya rituals included the construction of altars (altars) and fire pits (fire) in various shapes such as isosceles triangles, symmetrical trapezia and rectangles.
The Sulabasutras describe the effort towards producing the prescribed shape of these figures.
How did the Knowledge of Equation Evolve?
The earliest evidence is from the Old Babylonian civilization (1900–1600 BC). They referred to this as the diagonal rule.
The earliest evidence comes from the later period of the Sulbasutras.
The oldest surviving axiomatic proof of the theorem is in Euclid's Elements from about 300 BC.
3. Ramayan Masam started in Kerala
Tags: State News
Ramayan Masam is starting from 17th July, 2022 in the state of Kerala.
Important facts
According to the Malayalam calendar, it marks the beginning of Karkidakam, the last month of the year.
During the month of Ramayana, verses from the Ramayana are recited throughout the month at dusk in Hindu homes in Kerala.
This month is considered favourable for Ayurvedic treatment and pilgrimage.
Ramayan Masam will conclude on 16th August.
The place of Tulsi Ramayana in North India is the same as that of the Adhyatma Ramayana 'Kihipant' composed by Eshutachchan in Kerala.
This popular work, composed in the sixteenth century, is recited continuously for a full month in the year in Shravana (Malayalam Karkidakam).
This ritual takes place before Onam, the famous festival of Kerala.
Kerala is also believed to be related to the forest journey of Sri Ramachandra ji.
A famous pilgrim centre in Kerala, the Shabripeeth, located near Pampasar on the way to Sabarimala, attests to the darshan of Rama-Shabari during the exile period. The word 'Mala' is used for a mountain in Malayalam.
4. CM Dhami launches Uttarakhand Police, e-FIR mobile apps
Tags: State News
Recently, e-FIR facility and Uttarakhand Police App have been launched by the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Important facts
All the important apps like Gaura Shakti, Traffic Eye, Public Eye, Meri Yatra and Lakshya Nasha Mukt Uttarakhand have been made available in the Police App, operated by Uttarakhand Police.
The emergency number 112 and the cyber helpline number 1930 available for lodging complaints of cyber financial frauds have also been linked to this.
Through the Uttarakhand Police App, now the general public will be able to report their stolen vehicles and missing documents online from any district of the state through web portal or mobile phone.
About Uttarakhand State
Formation -9 November, 2000
State bordering the state -2 Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
Countries bordering the state - Nepal, Tibet (China)
Most populated district - Haridwar
Minimum Population District - Rudraprayag
Largest district in terms of area - Chamoli
Smallest district in terms of area - Champawat
Country and state's first engineering college - Roorkee (established in 1847)
The country's and the state's first agricultural university - G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pant Nagar (1960)
No. of Vidhan Sabha Members-71 (70 Elected + 1 Nominated)
Number of Members in Lok Sabha-5
Seats for Rajya Sabha -3
Governor - Gurmeet Singh
Chief Minister - Pushkar Singh Dhami
5. Maharashtra cabinet approves renaming of Aurangabad, Osmanabad cities
Tags: State News
The Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra on July 16 gave cabinet approval to rename the cities of Aurangabad and Osmanabad as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv respectively.
Important facts
The decision to rename these cities was taken in the cabinet meeting of the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government headed by the then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
During the cabinet meeting chaired by Thackeray last month, Aurangabad was renamed as Sambhajinagar, but the Shinde government on 16 July added 'Chhatrapati' prefix to it.
The fresh proposal approved by the cabinet will be sent to the center, after which the renaming of both the cities will be done at the divisional, district, taluka, municipal and council levels.
The cabinet also approved the decision to name the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport after farmer leader D. B. Patil.
The Navi Mumbai airport is being developed as a greenfield airport by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) under a public-private partnership.
Important facts about Maharashtra
Establishment - 1st May 1960
Official Language - Marathi
Neighbouring States - Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Dadra And Nagar Haveli, Chhattisgarh
Members of Parliament - Lok Sabaha 48 (Rajya Sabha seats 19)
Legislature - Bicameral ( Assembly 289 and council 78 seats)
Literacy - 82.91%
Districts - 36
Major Rivers - Tributaries of Tapti, Bhima, Godavari and Krishna
Capital - Mumbai
Population - 11.23 crore (2011 census)
Chief Minister - Eknath Shinde
Governor - Bhagat Singh Koshyari
6. Anayoottu Ritual of Kerala
Tags: State News
Anayuttu, which is an annual ritual at Sri Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur, Kerala, was held recently.
Important facts
There is a history behind this annual ritual at the temple.
Kerala's elephant Pooram was selected along with other cultural forms of the country to perform at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games held in Delhi in 1982.
Taking elephants to Delhi was a difficult task.
A trial run of the train carrying elephants was conducted from Thrissur to Ernakulam before the journey.
Thirty-four elephants from across the State were selected and readied for the journey.
Many of them belonged to the Guruvayur temple in Punnathur Kotta.
The elephants included Kuttinarayanan of Guruvayur Devaswom, who later came to be known as Asiad Appu, the mascot of the Asian Games.
What is Anayoottu?
Anayuttu is an annual religious ritual at Sree Vadakkunathan Temple, Thrissur in which special food is fed to over 50 elephants.
Food is offered to elephants to please Lord Ganesha who, according to Hindu belief, removes obstacles in one's life.
In this, many ornate elephants are kept amidst a crowd of people for worship and food.
A huge crowd gathers in the temple to feed the elephants.
The Vadakkunnathan Temple, which is considered to be one of the oldest Shiva temples in South India, has hosted the Anayattu event for the past few years.
7. Kerala Becomes First State to have Its Own Internet Service
Tags: State News
Kerala has become the first and only state in the country to have its own internet services.
Important facts
This achievement has been achieved after Kerala Fibre Optic Network Limited got the Internet Service Provider licence from the Department of Telecommunications.
The Left government of Kerala announced in 2019 that it would make internet service a fundamental right, after which the Rs 1548 crore KFON scheme was announced.
Under this scheme 20 lakh poor families will get free high-speed internet.
Apart from this, more than 30 thousand government offices and schools of the state will also be linked to this scheme.
About Kerala State
Kerala is located at the south-west end of India. The state of Travancore-Cochin was formed on 1 July 1949 by merging the princely states of Travancore and Cochin.
The state of Kerala was formed on 1 November 1956 by merging Travancore-Cochin and Malabar under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
Kerala was known as Aranyaka in ancient times.
It is the world's first Baby Friendly State recognized by UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Kerala is also known as 'God's own home'.
Kerala accounts for 98% of the country's black pepper production. The rubber sector in Kerala is 83% of the country. There are plantations of tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and spices here.
Lake - Vembanad, Ashtamudi
Festival - Onam is celebrated at the time of harvesting.
Folk Dance - Kathakali
Major Tribes - Adyan, Irrawalan, Kamar, Kurman
Capital - Thiruvananthapuram
Sex Ratio -1084 (State with Highest Sex Ratio)
Literacy -93.91% (Most literate state)
8. 65 kala-azar cases in 11 Bengal districts
Tags: State News
Eleven districts of Bengal, mostly in the northern part of the state, have reported at least 65 cases of black fever, also known as 'kala-azar', in the past few weeks.
Important facts
The districts which reported the maximum number of cases include Darjeeling, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Kalimpong.
Some cases of Kala-azar have also been reported in Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia, Murshidabad districts.
"Kala-azar was practically wiped out from West Bengal.
It was found that the disease was mostly in people who have spent a lot of time in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
Symptoms of Kala-azar have also been seen in some people who came from Bangladesh.
What is Kala-azar?
It is also known as Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), black fever and Dumdum fever.
The disease is the second largest parasite killer in the world after Malaria.
It is a Neglected Tropical Disease affecting about 100 countries including India.
Symptoms
Fever, weight loss, fatigue, anaemia, and swelling of the liver and spleen.
Transmission
It is caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus.
It migrates to the internal organs such as the liver, spleen and bone marrow.
The study warns that kala-azar patients can infect others even after treatment.
National Kala-azar Eradication Program
India's National Health Policy, 2002, set a target of eliminating Kala-azar by 2010, which was revised in 2015.
Under Kala-azar eradication in India, a target of 1 case per 10,000 population was set at the sub-district level.
All the activities related to this program are being implemented through the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program.
India signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh and Nepal to eliminate Kala-azar from the South-East Asia region.
9. Tripura government launched ‘Earn with Learn’ Scheme
Tags: State News
The Tripura government has launched a new scheme named 'Earn With Learn' to bring back the students who have dropped out of schools after the outbreak of Covid-19.
Important facts
This scheme is a part of 'Vidyalaya Chalo Abhiyan' (Let's go to school).
It has been decided to restart the Vidyalaya Chalo Abhiyan to bring back around 9,000 students in the age group of six to 14 years from 4,300 schools across the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 'Earn With Learn' initiative of Tripura Education Department will involve third year students of all colleges in conducting surveys to find out dropouts in all classes.
Rs 500 will be given to each volunteer if they enroll a dropout student in the same school.
Anganwadi teachers will help volunteers to make the program a success
About Tripura
Tripura joined the Republic of India in 1956 and got statehood in 1972.
Capital - Agartala
Governor - Satyadev Narayan Arya
Chief Minister - Manik Saha (11th)
State Bird - Green Imperial Pigeon (Ducula ania)
State Tree - Agar (Aquilaria malaccensis)
State Flower - Nageshwar (Mesua Ferrea)
Boundaries - Bangladesh, Mizoram and Assam
Connected to the rest of India - by NH-44 which passes through Assam, Meghalaya, North Bengal, Kolkata and other parts of India.
Number of Districts - 08
10. Andhra Pradesh government decides to re-join Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Tags: State News
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to re-join the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Important facts
The Andhra Pradesh government has taken this decision after talks between Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan.
Andhra Pradesh has decided to implement PMFBY from the Kharif-2022 season.
With this decision, crops of more than 40 lakh farmers of the state will get insurance cover in case of natural calamity.
Andhra Pradesh had opted out of PMFBY in 2020 citing high premium prices.
Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, Telangana and Jharkhand are still out of the scheme due to low claim ratio and financial constraints.
About 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana' (PMFBY)
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was launched on 13 January 2016.
The scheme provides a comprehensive insurance cover to the farmers in the event of crop failure, which helps in stabilising the income of the farmers.
This includes all food and oilseed crops and annual commercial/horticultural crops for which past yield data is available.
Central and state governments pay more than 95% of the premium amount, while farmers bear 1.5-5% of the premium amount.
A 2% premium will be paid for Kharif crops (Paddy or Rice, Maize, Jowar, Bajra, Sugarcane etc.).
For Rabi crops (wheat, barley, gram, lentil, mustard etc.) 1.5% premium will be paid.
A 5% premium will be paid for annual commercial and horticultural crops insurance.
This scheme was mandatory for farmers who received institutional finance before the year 2020, but by changing it, it has been made voluntary for all farmers.
In order to ensure more efficient and effective implementation of the scheme, necessary reforms in PMFBY were made by the Central Government in the Kharif season of the year 2020.
