1. Union Education Ministry released performance grading index for districts
Tags: National News
According to the Performance Grading Index released by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education (MoE), three districts of Rajasthan- Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Jaipur have been placed in 'Utkarsh' grade in the year 2019-20.
A year ago, no district came under the 'Utkarsh' category.
Rajasthan has the highest number of districts in this grade at 24, followed by Punjab (14), Gujarat (13), and Kerala (13).
The districts with the lowest score (1 out of 50) in this category in the year 2020 are South Salmara-Mankachar (Assam), Alirajpur (Madhya Pradesh), North Garo Hills and South Garo Hills in Meghalaya, and Khowai (Tripura).
Bihar, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand have not a single district in the very best and best category.
Progress
As per the report, there has been an increase in the number of districts across all categories.
The number of districts in the very best grade increased from 49 to 86 during 2018-19 to 2019-20, showing "significant improvement".
33 districts improved their scores in the results, but there was no improvement in grade-level.
Digital Learning Category: 20 districts have shown more than 20% improvement as compared to 2018-19, while 43 districts have improved their scores by more than 10% during 2019-20.
Infrastructural facilities: 478 districts improved their score in the year 2019-20 as compared to the year 2018-19.
About performance grading index
The PGI-D assesses the performance of the school education system at the district level by creating an index for comprehensive analysis.
The PGI-D structure consists of a total of 600 points across 83 indicators, grouped under six categories.
These categories are further divided into 12 domains.
Assessment Grade:
The PGI-D classifies districts into 10 grades. The highest grade is 'Daksh', for districts scoring more than 90% of the aggregate marks in that category or overall.
This is followed by 'Utkarsh' (81% to 90%), 'Ati Uttam' (71% to 80%), 'Uttam' (61% to 70%), 'Pracheshta-1' (51 % to 60%) and 'Pracheshta-2' (41% to 50%) is ranked.
The lowest grade in PGI-D is 'Aspirant-3' for a score of up to 10% of the total marks.
2. Defence Ministry approves ‘BRO cafes’ in border areas
Tags: National News
The Defence Ministry has approved setting up of facilities under the brand 'BRO Cafe' at 75 locations on various roads with Border Roads Organization (BRO) in 12 states and union territories.
Its purpose is to provide basic amenities to tourists and to encourage economic activities in the border areas.
These roadside establishments will be known as 'BRO Cafe'.
It is proposed to provide parking for vehicles, food plazas, restaurants, separate public facilities for women, men and differently abled, first aid facilities etc. in these cafes.
For this, the agreement will be for 15 years which can be extended for five more years later.
This scheme will be done in collaboration with agencies on a licence basis.
The agencies will build and operate BRO Cafe as per the guidelines given by the BRO.
This will speed up the development of tourism as well as traffic in the border areas.
For this, approval has been given in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
Border Roads Organization (BRO)
It functions under the control of the Ministry of Defence since 2015.
The Organisation was established on May 7, 1960.
It is responsible for maintaining the road networks in the border areas of India.
This organization plays an important role in the infrastructure development of the border areas of the country.
One of the biggest infrastructural achievements of BRO is the construction of the longest highway tunnel, The Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh.
Director General Border Roads Organisation - Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry
3. Amazon India signs MoU with Manipur govt to sell Panthoibi Emporium products
Tags: Economy/Finance State News
E-commerce Amazon and the Manipur government inaugurated Panthoibi Emporium, an online platform for the display and sale of handlooms and handicrafts from the state.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed for this online store between e-commerce Amazon and the Manipur government.
The initiative will benefit about 300,000 artisans, weavers and members of tribal communities in the state.
Operated under the aegis of the Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles, Panthoibi Emporium is a part of Manipur Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (MHHDCL), a government enterprise for the development of local artisans.
Panthoibi Emporium on Amazon.in includes hand woven clothing, handcrafted hats and bags, terracotta products as well as kauna crafts – a unique handicraft of Manipur in which kauna wood is used to make baskets, purses, bags etc.
The Manipuri queen Phi, a hand-woven shawl made of silk, can also be found on the website.
In addition, food items typical of Manipur, including black rice, tea, GI tagged chillies, lemons and oranges, will also be available for sale.
About Manipur
Manipur is also called the 'Orchid Basket' of the country. 500 species of orchid flowers are found here.
This northeastern state is described as Swarna Bhoomi or 'Suvarnabhu'.
The major population here is Manipuri people known as Meiti.
Loktak Lake is an important lake here.
The language of the people here is Manipuri, which was added to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India in 1992.
Capital- Imphal
Governor- L A Ganesan
Chief Minister- N Biren Singh
4. Tamil Nadu tops food safety index
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Union Health Ministry has released the State Food Safety Index 2021-2022.
Tamil Nadu topped the State Food Safety Index this year.
Top three big states in the index
Tamil Nadu
Gujarat
Maharashtra
Top three smaller states in the index
Goa
Manipur
Sikkim
Top three UTs in the index
Jammu and Kashmir
Delhi
Chandigarh
New Eat Right India initiatives launched
Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launched various innovative initiatives by FSSAI including Eat Right Research Awards and Grants Phase II, Eat Right Creativity Challenge Phase III, a competition at school level.
He unveiled the logo for the Ayurveda diet, which includes the initials of Ayurveda and Ahara, with 5 leaves symbolizing the five elements of nature.
About State Food Safety Index
The index is developed by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).
It was started in 2018-19.
Its aim is to create a competitive and positive change in India’s food safety ecosystem.
It measures the performance of states on five significant parameters of Food Safety.
These parameters are - Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.
For more information please visit 7th June 2022 news.
5. SC Collegium recommends transfer of six HC judges
Tags: National
The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, has recommended to the government the transfer or repatriation of judges in six different high courts.
Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah has been recommended to be transferred from the Andhra Pradesh High Court to the Patna High Court.
Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash from Orissa to Calcutta High Court.
Justice Subhasis Talapatra from Tripura to Orissa High Court.
Justice Lanusungkum Jamir from Manipur to Gauhati High Court.
Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court to Bombay High Court.
Justice Purushendra Kumar Kaurav to Delhi High Court from Madhya Pradesh.
About Collegium System
It is the system of appointment and transfer of judges.
It has evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court collegium is headed by the CJI and comprises four other senior most judges of the court.
The High Court Collegium is headed by its Chief Justice and the four other senior-most judges of that court.
6. The fourth edition of the State Level Shirui Lily Festival 2022 was held in Manipur
Tags: State News
The fourth edition of the State Level Shirui Lily Festival 2022 was held in Manipur from May 25 to 28.
This annual festival is organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur to create awareness about the Shirui Lily flower.
The four-day festival was inaugurated by Manipur Governor La Ganesan and Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in Shirui village of Ukhrul district.
The festival is held around April and May as it is the blooming season of Shirui Lily.
The four-day festival will host a variety of activities ranging from Manipur's rich cultural performances, sports, musical extravaganzas and entertainment, especially of the Tangkhul Naga community.
During this, Shirui Lily Marathon is also being organised under the theme 'Say No to Drugs' in line with the Drugs Campaign of Manipur State Government.
STATE | FESTIVAL |
MIZORAM | ChapChar Kut Festival, Thalfavang Kut |
TAMILNADU | Mahamaham Festival, Thiruvaiyaru Festival |
MANIPUR | Kachai Lemon Festival |
ASSAM | Tea Festival, Magh Bihu Festival, Shilpgram Festival |
About Shirui Lily
It is the state flower of Manipur.
Its scientific name is Lilium mackliniae.
Shirui Lily is a species of ground lily found only around the Shirui Hills of Manipur. Tangkhul Naga tribe resides in this area.
This flower was discovered in Manipur in 1946 by the English scientist Frank Kingdon-Ward.
This flower is found only in Ukhrul district of Manipur and cannot be planted anywhere in the world.
7. Haryana hockey team won the Hockey India Sub-Junior Women's National Championship 2022
Haryana hockey team won the Hockey India Sub-Junior Women's National Championship 2022 by defeating Jharkhand hockey team 2-0 in the final.
The 12th National Sub Junior Women's Hockey Championship 2022 was organised in Imphal, Manipur from May 11-22.
During the final match, Riya scored one goal each in the 13th minute and Sejal in the 39th minute to help Haryana's hockey team win.
In the competition, Uttar Pradesh defeated Madhya Pradesh 3-0 to finish third in the tournament.
Uttar Pradesh got the third position in this competition for the second time in a row.
8. Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi takes over as GOC Strike 1
Tags: Defence Person in news
Lieutenant General Gajendra Joshi has taken over the charge of new General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Strike 1 or 1 Corps.
He took over the reins of 1 Corps from Lt Gen MK Katiyar.
Lt Gen Gajendra Joshi had vast operational experience in the form of operations in Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan.
He was actively involved in counter-insurgency operations as a Battalion Commander in South Kashmir and as a Sector Commander in Manipur.
He has commanded a division along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
His staff experience includes appointments to the General Staff Officer-Grade 1 (Operations) of the Mountain Division, Colonel General Staff (Operations) at Corps Headquarters in the High Altitude Area, Military Operations at Army Headquarters and Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence.
About Strike 1 or 1 Corps
I Corps is a military field formation of the Indian Army.
Its headquarter is in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
It was established on 1st April 1965.
It was launched in the Sialkot sector.
The Corps retaliated during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
In the 1971 war against Pakistan, corps 1 took part in the Battle of Basantar.
Currently it is a 'Strike Corps' within the Indian Army's Central Command.
Central Command headquarters is at Lucknow.
9. India elected as Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for 2022-24
Tags: International News
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India has been unanimously elected as the new Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for 2022-2024 at the recently held meeting of the Executive board and General Assembly at Manila, Philippines.
The Election Commission, Manila was the current chairman of the AAEA.
The new members in the Executive Board now include Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Taiwan and Philippines.
The Election Commission of India's three-member delegation headed by deputy election commissioner Nitesh Vyas, along with CEO Manipur Rajesh Agrawal and CEO Rajasthan Praveen Gupta, attended the executive board meeting in Manila.
62 officials from 12 AAEA members participated in the 3rd International Virtual Election Visitors Programme (IEVP) hosted by ECI during Assembly Elections in 2022.
About AAEA
The AAEA provides a non-partisan forum in the Asian region for sharing experiences and best practices among election authorities.
It discusses and acts upon ways to promote open and transparent elections.
The objective to do so is to support good governance and democracy.
AAEA is also an Associate Member of the 118 member Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).
It was established in pursuance of the resolution passed by participants of the Symposium on Asian Elections in the Twenty First Century held from January 26-29, 1997 in Manila, Philippines.
It was established in 1998.
Currently 20 Asian EMBs are members of AAEA.
10. Central government will reconsider giving minority status to Hindus in some states
Tags: National News
The Centre informed the Supreme Court that the power to notify minorities is vested with the Union government and any decision in this regard will be taken after discussion with states and other stakeholders.
The petition, filed in the Supreme Court, had sought a direction to frame guidelines for identification of minorities at the state level.
The petition said that Hindus are a minority in 10 states.
Population of Hindus in 9 states
1% in Ladakh
2.75% in Mizoram
2.77% in Lakshadweep
4% in Jammu & Kashmir
8.74% in Nagaland
11.52% in Meghalaya
29% in Arunachal Pradesh
38.49% in Punjab
41.29% in Manipur.
Who are the Minorities?
Minorities are not explicitly mentioned anywhere in the Constitution.
Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jain and Zoroastrians (Parsis) have been notified as minority communities under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
According to the 2011 census, the percentage of minorities in the country is about 19.3% of the total population of the country.
The population of Muslims are 14.2%, Christians 2.3%, Sikhs 1.7%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jain 0.4% and Parsis 0.006%.
Article 29 of the constitution deals with the “protection of interest of minorities”.
The constitution recognizes religious minorities in India and linguistic minorities in India through Article 29 and Article 30.
