26th, January, 2023

 

Topic: 74th Republic Day was celebrated with gaiety and fervor across the State.

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

Importance for Prelims: Himachal Current Events of Himachal Pradesh.

Importance for Mains Exam:

• PAPER-IV: GENERAL STUDIES-I: Topic: Modern Indian history from mid – 18th century to 1980.

 

What is the news?

• In Himachal Pradesh, the 74th Republic Day was celebrated with gaiety and fervor across the State.
• The state-level function was organized on the Historic ridge ground in Shimla where Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar unfurled the national flag.
• 74th Republic Day: Himachal Pradesh Governor and CM appeals people to voluntarily contribute towards Sukh-Ashray Kosh.

Performances:

• The culture troupes from Chamba, Hamirpur, Government Senior Secondary School, Anni, and cultural troupe from Kinnaur were part of cultural performance, besides troupes sponsored by the North Zone Cultural Center from Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir also performed on the occasion.
• The mesmerizing performance of the police band was the main attraction Tableaux of the State Tourism Department and was given the first prize of Rs. 10,000.

 

Important Appeal:

• Giving the message of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, the Governor and the Chief Minister appealed to voluntarily contribute towards Sukh-Ashray Kosh.

 

About 26 January:

• January 26th is celebrated as Republic Day in India, marking the day when the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India.

Why is January 26th designated as Republic Day?

• The date of January 26th, 1950 was chosen because it was on this day in 1930 that the Indian National Congress, led by Mahatma Gandhi, declared Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) as the goal of the Indian freedom movement. The Congress passed the resolution in Lahore, and January 26th was designated as the date to commemorate this historic event and the call for complete independence.
• Additionally, India became a republic on January 26th, 1950, when the Constitution of India came into effect, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of the country. This date was chosen because it marks the transition of India from a British colony to a sovereign republic.
• Therefore, January 26th was chosen as the date for India’s Republic Day to commemorate the country’s transition to a republic and its call for complete independence.

Topic: Award for three Himachal Pradesh election officials for “Best Electoral Practices”

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

Importance for Prelims: Himachal Current Events of Himachal Pradesh.

Importance for Mains Exam:

• PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: SUB UNIT 3: Topic: Development of political parties, major Political parties and their support base and performance in the Assembly and Parliamentary elections in Himachal Pradesh.

 

What is the news?

• Three officers from the state have been selected for the Best Electoral Practices Awards for 2022.
• The Election Commission of India confers these awards every year to selected officers and organisations from across the nation for their distinguished services in the electoral process.

Who are these officers, and why were they chosen?

• For his development and implementation of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign during the Vidhan Sabha elections last year, HP Chief Electoral Officer Maneesh Garg won the Best State Award.
• It acknowledged a number of state-level initiatives that increased voter turnout, including UTSAV, Mission 277, Elderly Persons’ Day, online election quizzes, Gram Sabha meetings, Chatbot Voter Sathi, and election pledge.
• Pankaj Rai, the Deputy Commissioner (DC)/District Election Officer (DEO) in Bilaspur, and Nipun Jindal, the DC/DEO in Kangra, each got the prize in the general category for their respective work on an IT project and SVEEP operations.

 

President Droupadi Murmu today conferred the Best Electoral Practices Award for 2022 on Maneesh Garg for his various initiatives taken as Chief Electoral Officer in the 2022 Assembly elections.

• Garg was honored with the award during a special event organized to mark National Voters’ Day in New Delhi for his meticulous planning and execution of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program during the last Vidhan Sabha elections.

(News Source: The Tribune)