UPPSC Monthly Current Affairs: December 2023 | Monthly Current Affairs UPPSC - UPPSC (UP) PDF Download

Historic Convocation at Kashi Vidyapeeth: President as Chief Guest

During a meeting on November 29, 2023, at the Central Library's auditorium, it was announced that for the first time in its history, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth will have the President of India as the chief guest for its convocation ceremony.

Key Details

• The 45th convocation of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth is scheduled for December 11, 2023.
• Governor Anandi Ben Patel will preside over the ceremony.
• Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, was originally known as Kashi Vidyapeeth. It was renamed on July 11, 1995, to honor Mahatma Gandhi by adding his name to the university's title.
• Kashi Vidyapeeth was founded by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta on February 10, 1921, during the Non-Cooperation Movement, with Mahatma Gandhi laying its foundation stone. The institution quickly became a hub for national education in the Hindi medium.
• In July 1963, Kashi Vidyapeeth was recognized as a deemed university by the University Grants Commission. It was later granted the status of a Chartered University on January 15, 1975.

Notable Alumni

• Chandrashekhar Azad - Indian freedom fighter
• Lal Bahadur Shastri - Former Prime Minister of India
• Ramakrishna Hegde - Former Chief Minister of Karnataka
• B.V. Keskar - Former Union Minister of India
• Kalraj Mishra - Former Governor of Rajasthan
• Bhola Paswan Shastri - Former Chief Minister of Bihar
• Tribhuvan Narayan Singh - Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
• Kamalapati Tripathi - Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh

Asia’s Second Largest Fish Market to be Established in Moradabad

On December 2, 2023, Vijay Shankar Chaurasia, the Assistant Director of the Fisheries Department in Uttar Pradesh, announced the plan to set up Asia’s second-largest fish market in Moradabad to promote fish farming.

• The modern fish center, which will be built at a cost of Rs 50 crore on a 2.125-hectare land, will be air-conditioned and offer all facilities related to fish farming and trade under one roof.
• This initiative aims to provide fish producers in the district with a larger market and better prices, boost fish production, and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
• The project was allocated to Moradabad due to the efforts of Divisional Commissioner Anjaneya Kumar to promote fisheries, despite initial land availability issues.
• Fish production in the division has been increasing rapidly, from 19,396 tonnes in 2021-22 to 23,885 tonnes in 2022-23.

Features of the Modern Fish Market

• A large auction hall covering 6,470 sq.m.
• A retail building of 2,936 sq.m. with 23 retail stores, 34 restaurants, and e-kiosks.
• A 2,114 sq.m. conference hall and training center, including a laboratory.
• A service building of 795 sq.m.
• Four cold stores of 86 sq.m. each on the ground floor.
• Solar power installations and large generators to maintain the cold chain.
• Infrastructure facilities such as CC roads, drainage systems, boundary walls, fire hydrants, high mast lights, and guard rooms.

National Awards for Persons with Disabilities 2023

On December 3, 2023, President Draupadi Murmu presented the National Award-2023 to Divyang Tejveer, Abhinav Chaudhary, and the Divyang Development Society of Uttar Pradesh for their outstanding contributions to the empowerment of persons with disabilities.

• Tejveer Singh, a resident of Dujana village in Gautam Buddha Nagar with a 90% locomotor disability, received the National Award for Individual Excellence-2023 in the ‘Best Disabled’ category for his exceptional social work. He had previously been honored by the district administration and the state government for his efforts.
• Abhinav Chaudhary, hailing from Ghaziabad with a 60% intellectual disability, was recognized with the National Award for Individual Excellence-2023 in the ‘Best Disabled’ category for his achievements in art, culture, and social service. He is known for his participation in national dance programs and for running a dance academy for special needs and underprivileged children.
• The Disabled Development Society based in Kanpur received the National Award 2023 for their work in empowering the disabled, specifically in the category of the best organization working in the development of rehabilitation professionals.
• In 1969, the Central Government approved a scheme to confer National Awards to exceptional individuals with disabilities, both as employers and employees. The aim of these awards is to draw public attention to issues concerning persons with disabilities and to promote their inclusion in society.
• National Awards are presented annually on the 'International Day of Persons with Disabilities' on December 3rd, recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities.

The National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for 2023 have been given in the following categories:

I. National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities-2023 Individual Excellence

• Super Disabled Person: Includes categories such as Locomotor, Muscular Challenges, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victim, Leprosy Recovered, and Cerebral Palsy.
• Locomotor Challenge:  Covers Blindness and Low Vision.
• Visual Impairment: Includes Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Speech and Language Challenges.
• Hearing Loss: Includes Mental Retardation, Psychotic Behavior, Specific Learning Challenges, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Intellectual Disability: Other disabilities not mentioned above.
• Rehabilitation Professionals/Workers working in the field of disability.

II. National Award for Institutions Engaged in Empowering Persons with Disabilities-2023

• Private Organizations and NGOs.
• Best Institute for Empowerment of Disabled: Government Organizations, Public Sector Enterprises, Autonomous Bodies, and Private Sector.
• Best Employer for Disabled: In implementation of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan and creation of a barrier-free environment.
• Best State/UT/District: Government and private organizations.
• Best Accessible Means of Transport/Information and Communication Technology: In implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, UDID, and other schemes for empowerment of persons with disabilities.
• Best State/UT/District: Best in implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 in their respective states.
• Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities: Engaged in the development of rehabilitation professionals.

Construction of Rajasthan’s Longest High-Level Bridge Commences

• The construction of Rajasthan's longest high-level bridge has officially begun. This impressive bridge will span the Kalisindh River and is located near Sarmathura in the Dholpur district. The bridge will be a significant 1,392 meters long and 12.5 meters wide, featuring a central span of 100 meters.
• The estimated cost for this ambitious project is around , with the completion deadline set for . This development is expected to enhance connectivity in the region and is part of a broader initiative to improve infrastructure in Rajasthan.
• Harshad mentioned that the next phase of research aims to verify the presence of oil and gas using a method called well log data. However, this process is quite costly, with each well log estimated to cost around Rs 200 crore. It also involves manual labor. The detection of gas and oil is done by inserting pipes into water.

Kaushambi District Achieves Second Place in NITI Aayog's Delta Ranking

• The Kaushambi block in Uttar Pradesh has secured the second position in NITI Aayog's inaugural delta ranking of the Aspirational Block Program (ABP), announced on December 7, 2023.
• The top spot was claimed by the Tiriyani Kumuram Bheem block in Asifabad, Telangana.
• Blocks were ranked based on their performance in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for June 2023, reflecting a spirit of competitive federalism.
• Zone-wise Highlights: Amri block (Assam) and Ngopa block (Mizoram) topped the ranking.
• Zone 1: Harraiya block and Viron block from Uttar Pradesh excelled.
• Zone 2: Maski block (Karnataka) and Naranur (Telangana) were the best performers.
• Zone 3: Sironcha and Aheri blocks in Maharashtra led the rankings.
• Zone 4: Tirla block (Madhya Pradesh) and Pat block (Barwani) were the top contenders.
• Zone 5: Andar (Bihar) and Ramgarh (Jharkhand) secured the top positions.
• Zone 6: Winners in each category will receive cash prizes of Rs 1.5 crore for the top rank and Rs 1 crore for the second rank. The ADP rankings for October 2023 were also released, with Rayagada (Odisha) and Jamui (Bihar) achieving the first and second ranks, respectively.

The largest defense center is set to be established in Ayodhya: A British company plans to invest ₹75,000 crores

According to media reports on December 11, 2023, the British company Trafalgar Square Capital is planning to set up defense manufacturing units in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, with a total investment of ₹75,000 crores.

• Several multinational companies have shown interest in investing in the state under the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy, including Hong Kong’s Taushan International Group, RG Group, Austin Consulting Group, Cosis Group, the Indo-European Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, Britain’s Trafalgar Square Capital Group, ABC Cleantech, and Unicorn Energy from Germany.
• Trafalgar Square has signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), while Unicorn Energy has signed two. The defense manufacturing units by Trafalgar Square are expected to create at least 26,000 new jobs with the ₹75,000 crore investment, which is being made outside the defense corridor. This investment could be the largest in a single district in the country.
• Unicorn Energy from Germany plans to invest approximately ₹42,000 crores in two solar energy projects in Lucknow and Jaunpur, generating around 2,200 jobs. GMR Group has also signed an MoU for a ₹40,000 crore investment in solar energy, while the Aditya Birla Group has signed a new MoU for ₹25,000 crores in textiles and ready-made garments.
• The Hinduja Group has invested ₹25,000 crores in film, media, and solar energy sectors after signing an agreement with Ashok Leyland for electric vehicles, with locations yet to be decided. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has signed six MoUs in the solar power and energy sector, planning to set up plants in Jhansi, Sonbhadra, and Prayagraj with an investment of ₹74,000 crores.

Helicopter Service for Sightseeing in Agra and Mathura

The Tourism Department and Rajas Aero Sports and Adventure Private Limited signed an MOU on December 12, 2023, to start helicopter service for sightseeing in Agra and Mathura.

• Heliports: Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
• Operation Mode: Expected on December 25, coinciding with the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• Inauguration Date: The helicopter service aims to boost tourism, create local employment opportunities, and provide air service to domestic and foreign tourists and devotees.
• Benefits: The next phase involves selecting institutions for operating similar services at other major tourist destinations in the state, including Lucknow, Kapilvastu, Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Naimisharanya.
• Future Plans: Initially, six plus one seater helicopters will be used, with the possibility of increasing the number based on demand.
• Service Details: Three types of services will be offered: Aerial tour of Mathura, Aerial tour of the entire Mathura, and Connectivity tour.
• Services in Mathura: Air Safari Agra, Connectivity with Delhi Airport, Hot air balloon facility, and Taj Mahal Air Safari.
• Services in Agra: This is the first time in the country that air parikrama (aerial circumnavigation) of a religious place is being introduced.

New Star Classification System for Hotels and Resorts in Uttar Pradesh

To boost the tourism sector in Uttar Pradesh, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department has introduced a ‘new star classification system’ for the approval of star ratings for operational hotels and resorts in the state. This initiative aims to increase the availability of hotel rooms, enhance the hospitality industry with better facilities, and provide subsidies and incentives to hotels and resorts in line with industry standards.

• The new classification system will assess hotels based on their quality, services, overall facilities, and guest experience, thereby aiming to enhance tourism in the state.
• The revised classification includes five categories: Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, which correspond to the traditional star ratings of 5-star, 4-star, 3-star, 2-star, and 1-star classifications, respectively, as prescribed by the Ministry of Tourism.
• This system aims to simplify the selection process for tourists and encourage higher service standards among hotels.
• Hotels recognized under this system will be eligible for various incentives, subsidies, and tax benefits.
• The Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (UPSTDC) will oversee the implementation of the New Star Hotel Classification System in the state.

PM inaugurates Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 in Varanasi

Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17 December 2023 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

• Kasi Tamil Sangamam aims to reaffirm and rediscover the age-old relationship between Tamil Nadu and Kasi, two of the most important and ancient seats of learning in the country.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Kanyakumari-Varanasi Tamil Sangam train.
• Multilingual and Braille translations of Thirukkural, Manimekalai and other classic Tamil literature were also released on the occasion.
• Under the Vidya Shakti initiative of IIT, Chennai, online assistance is being provided to thousands of students of Varanasi in Science and Mathematics.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Kashi Tamil Sangamam takes forward the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’.

Prime Minister Flags Off Second Vande Bharat in Varanasi

On December 18, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the second Vande Bharat Express in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. This train, running between Banaras and New Delhi, is set to enhance connectivity and service in the region.

• Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 04015) will depart from Banaras (formerly Manduadih) Railway Station at 6 am regularly.
• Train Details: The train will operate six days a week, with Tuesday reserved for maintenance.
• Schedule: Along with the Vande Bharat Express, a new MEMU train from Indaraghat to Dohrighat was also inaugurated.
• Inauguration of New Services: The first Vande Bharat Express train was launched on February 15, 2019, marking a significant step in modernizing Indian rail services.