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22nd August 2019.

 

Topic:- Festival.

 

Prelims.

 

1) News:- A meeting related to preparations for Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti (550th Prakash Utsav) was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Jairam Thakur.

  • It was decided at the meeting that “Prakash Utsav” will be celebrated as a state-level celebration in Shimla. The state government will provide assistance to make it a mega event.

 

About Guru Nanak Dev Ji:-

  • Date of Birth: April 15, 1469
  • Place of Birth: Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi (present-day Punjab, Pakistan)
  • Date of Death: September 22, 1539
  • Place of Death: Kartarpur (present-day Pakistan)
  • Father: Mehta Kalu
  • Mother: Mata Tripta
  • Wife: Mata Sulakhni
  • Children: Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das
  • Successor: Guru Angad
  • Famous As: Founder of Sikhism
  • Resting Place: Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartar Pur, Kartarpur, Pakistan
  • Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism, one of the youngest religions. Guru Nanak became the first Sikh Guru and his spiritual teachings laid the foundation on which Sikhism was formed.

 

 

Topic:-Solar Energy.

 

Both Prelims and Mains.

 

2)News:-Panchayat buildings will illuminate in Mandi with solar energy.

 

Context:-

  • Solar power plants are being installed on the roof of 300 panchayat buildings and all BDO offices out of 469 panchayats in Mandi district.
  • Mandi became the first district of HP which harnessed Solar Energy.

 

What is Solar Energy?

  • Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, solar architecture, molten salt power plants and artificial photosynthesis.

 

How it will benefit the district?

  • This will save about 40 to 50 lakh rupees electricity bill annually. Power will be generated by installing solar power plants ranging from 1 to 5 kW on the roofs of Panchayat buildings and BDO offices in the district. This way the electricity generated will be used in the office, this will save the electricity bill.
  • Apart from this, the electricity which will be saved from use in offices, i.e. the State Electricity Board will buy the excess power produced. In lieu of this, the money will also be paid at the rates fixed by the State Regulatory Commission.
  • Himurja has set a target of 2 MW this year for use in government offices across the state. Mandi district alone has fulfilled its 50 per cent target.

 

For Residentials:-

  • The central government is giving 70 per cent and the state government a subsidy of Rs 4,000 per kWh for people to install solar power plants on the roofs of houses.

 

 

Topic:- Food Industry.

Important for Mains.

 

3)News:- Apple will be packing in the universal carton from next year in Himachal.

 

Context:-

  • The Jairam government has begun preparations to close the telescopic carton.

 

What is telescopic carton?

  • Telescopic boxes consist of a separate top, or top and bottom that fit over each other or a separate body.

 

Why this step?

  • Apples are being overcapacity in telescopic cartons. Industrialists created this carton for profit. 25 to 28 kg of apples are being packed in a 20 kg box.

 

Benefits of Universal Carton:-

  • The cost of the telescopic carton is between Rs 45 and Rs 47 per carton and additional three trays costing Rs 5 each can be added to the box which further increases the cost, while universal cartons could be procured at Rs 40 and only fours trays, would be used.

 

The loss to apple cultivator:-

  • Because of Telescopic boxes, they get to pay for 20 kg but 25 to 28 kg of apples are being packed in a 20 kg box which only benefits to commissioning agents.

 

Loss due to weather:-

  • Apple growers are also the victim of vagaries of weather and closed roads, setting up of apple processing plant in the apple belt in Upper Shimla would help to a great extent.

 

Government initiative for this:-

  • Big orchardists can build small CA (controlled Atmosphere) stores in their orchards which could store up to 30 MT of apple. The government would provide a subsidy of Rs 7.5 lakhs for the same.

 

 

Topic:-Transport.

Important for HPAS Mains.

 

4)News:- Zero-tolerance to accidents, says Transport Minister.

 

Context:-

  • Minister said that the government was following the policy of zero tolerance towards bus accidents as 95.05 per cent of 12,175 accidents during August 1, 2015, and August 16, 2019, was caused due to human error.
  • Only 4.50 per cent of accidents occurred due to mechanical failure or bad weather and 3.89 per cent of accidents were attributed to drunken driving.

 

Preventive steps to avoid the human error:-

  • 674 drivers being recruited by HRTC would have to undergo training of one-and-a-half month to prevent accidents due to human error and the process of recruitment of 674 drivers and 693 conductors would be completed by March 2020.

Penalty:-

  • In future, the contractors would be held responsible for accidents caused by black spots adding that there are 167 sensitive black spots out of 17 have been improved.

 

Write a question……Look at the increasing road accidents in Himachal Pradesh due to human error. Challenges and steps were taken by the government.

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QUIZ:-

 

Question 1:- What is the International standard of layers for Universal Carton?

  1. 3 layers
  2. 4 layers
  3. 6 layers
  4. 8 layers

 

Question 2:-  Where is the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji?

  1. Talvandi (present day Punjab, Pakistan)
  2. Kartarpur, Pakistan
  3. Amritsar,Punjab
  4. None

 

 

Answers:-

 

  • Q1:-2
  • Q2:-1

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