By: D.K Choudhary
Himachal Pradesh Found Best State in Learning Outcomes by ASER
i. According to the 2016 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), developed by a non-governmental organisation, Pratham, Himachal Pradesh was found to be best performing state in India on the education front as compared to the rest of the states.
ii. Himachal Pradesh had the highest reading and mathematics learning levels, surpassing even Kerala which is regarded as the most literate state of India.
iii. As per the report the enrolment rate of students in the age group 6-14 in Himachal Pradesh was 99.8 percent and the state secured first rank in achieving learning outcomes in basic reading and mathematics across the country.
Bihar Forms 11,292 km Human Chain to Eliminate Alcohol
i. Bihar formed the world’s largest human chain in the state on January 21, 2017 by holding hands of each other in order to express unity and support towards liquor ban.
ii. The human chain was about 11,292 km comprising of two crore citizens.
iii. The 45-minute-long human chain formation was inaugurated at the historic Gandhi BiharMaidan by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar by holding the hand of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on one side and state Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary on the other.
iv. The CM, Lalu Prasad and other leaders stood in lines to form a map of Bihar. A picture of liquor bottle with a cross sign was drawn in the middle of this map to give the message against alcohol.
v. Besides, BIHAR was written in dark black color in the middle of the map so that ISRO sattelite, drones and helicopters could capture the clear picture of the event.
vi. This human chain is considered to be the world’s largest. The previous record is of 1050 km long human chain that was formed in Bangladesh in 2004.
Special Task Force for Women Safety in Delhi Reconstituted
i. A special task force (STF) for women safety has been reconstituted under the Chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal to review the decisions taken by the Delhi Police and other departments regarding women’s safety on January 20, 2017.
ii. The 11-member STF will have Delhi Chief Secretary, Delhi Police Commissioner, DCW chief, and Principal Secretary, Home Department (Delhi) among others as its members. The force will conduct a meeting every 15 days.
iii. The decision regarding reconstitution of the force was taken after a notice issued by the High Court to the L-G on a petition by Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal seeking response as to whether any committee on women’s safety was in place or not.
iv. The task force was established in 2013 following the December 16, 2012 Nirbhaya Gangrape. It was disbanded in 2016.
Three-Day Arogya Mitra Conference Begins in Silchar, Assam
i. Assam State Governor Banwarilal Purohit inaugurated the Arogya Mitra conference on January 21, 2017 at Silchar. The three day conference has been organised by the south Assam zone of the NGO, Keshab Smarak Sanskriti Surabhi at the campus of Veterinary College, Ghungoor.
ii. Aim of the Conference
1.Make available minimum free medical services to the people of isolated and backward places.
2.Make people conscious of their health.
3.Provide special training to the workers, extend social services.
4.Arrange health check up camps.
iii. Aarogya Mitra Seva Kendra have been set up in 701 places to achieve the objective. The conference would see participation by over 1000 people from Barak Valley and adjoining areas.
Centre Foms Committee to Frame Rules for Implementation of RPD Act
i. A committee has been constituted by the Centre on January 22, 2017 to frame uniform rules for the states to avoid delay in proper implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPD) Act across the country.
ii. The Committee will be headed by Secretary from Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). It will also comprise of representatives from Ministry of Health, Department of Personnel and Training, Labour, Legislative Department, and representatives from NGOs.
iii. Besides, it will also have Principal Secretary/Secretary, Social Welfare Department from Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Uttar Pradesh.
iv. The committee has to submit its report within three months. The Ministry plans to notify the rules on April 14, 2017, the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar.
PM Modi attend the Combined Commanders Conference in Uttarakhand
PM Modii. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Dehradun to inaugurate the Combined Commanders Conference.
ii. The Prime Minister reached the Indian Military Academy (IMA) campus from the Jolly Grant airport in a special Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper.
iii. The military conference is being attended by the defense minister Manohar Parrikar.
Russian Railways help India to increase the speed of train to 200km
i. India’s passenger train speed will be increased to 200 km per hour with the help of Russian Railways and budget of the high speed train will be shared between the two countries in the ratio 50:50
ii. Russian Railways is at present collaborating with Indian Railways on a 575-km stretch between Nagpur and Secunderabad.
iii. The fastest train in India is Gatimaan Express with the speed of 160 km per hour.
Russia :
♦ Capital: Moscow
♦ Currency: Russian ruble
♦ President: Vladimir Putin
