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  Bankim Chandra — the man who wrote Vande Mataram, capturing colonial India’s imagination Bankim Chandra Chatterjee also known as Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was one of the greatest novelists and poets of India. He is famous as author of Vande Mataram, the national song of India. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was born on June 27, 1838 in the village Kantalpara of the 24 Paraganas District of Bengal. He belonged to a family of Brahmins. The word 'Bankim Chandra' in Bengali means 'the moon on the second day of the bright fortnight'. Bankim Chandra's father Yadav Chandra Chattopadhyaya was in government service. After his birth he was posted to Midnapur as Deputy Collector.   Bankim Chandra Chatterjee had his early education in Midnapur. He was a brilliant student. After his early education in Midnapur Bankim Chandra Chatterji joined the Mohsin College at Hoogly and studied there for six years. Apart from his textbooks, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, used to read other bo

June 24 1989: A Majority of Opposition Members in the Lok Sabha Resign on the Issue of the CAG Report on the Bofors Gun Deal.  On June 24th 1989, a majority of opposition members resigned from the Lok Sabha on the issue of the CAG report on the Bofors gun deal. The Bofors Scam was a serious corruption scandal which rocked India in the 1980s and 1990s and included the names of many prominent Congress politicians including the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. Politicians involved in the scam had been accused of receiving bribes from Bofors (a Swedish weapon manufacturer) so that they could win a bid to supply India with a 155 mm Field Howitzer (a heavy weapon of war used by the army). The scam was the most deplorable of its kind, which ultimately led to the defeat of the ruling Congress party in the 1989 general elections. Investigations into the matter revealed that top Congress politicians and defence officials had received $12 million as bribes. This scandal came out in the open du

CEOS COAST: ISRO- NOAA Project endorsed by UN Body   A multinational project, co-led by ISRO and NOAA from the US, that aims to improve the accuracy of coastal data based on satellite and land-based observations has been recently endorsed by a UN body for its use of innovative technology, and for fostering trust and collaboration among scientists. The project is called Committee on Earth Observation Satellites—Coastal Observations, Applications, Services, and Tools (CEOS COAST). Its pilot projects are uniquely capable of using Earth Observation technologies to meet several of the 17 UN-designated sustainable development goals for the Ocean Decade initiative, NOAA said in a statement on Wednesday. NOAA stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The themes of these projects include disaster risk reduction and coastal resilience among continental shorelines and small island nations. "Their work will improve the way we study how the sea can affect the land, such as in

  Ministry of Tribal Affairs and NCERT  come together on a joint mission for NISHTHA Capacity Building Programme for EMRS Teachers and Principals To fulfill the long-standing vision of Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) to achieve academic excellence in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), 120 EMRS teachers and principals from 3 states completed a 40 days’ NISHTHA-National initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement Program, a national flagship program of NCERT on 19 th  June 2021 .  The capacity building program is  aimed  to build competencies among teachers and school principals and  Improving Quality of School Education through Integrated Teacher Training.    MoTA has recently collaborated with National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) , which a national apex education body for several programmatic initiatives and interventions, for conducting such programs across  350 functional EMRS schools across the country. This was the first b

Shri Arjun Munda, Minister for Tribal Affairs launches the tribal livelihoods initiative “Sankalp Se Siddhi – Mission Van Dhan” Shri Arjun Munda, Minister for Tribal Affairs launches the tribal livelihoods initiative “Sankalp Se Siddhi – Mission Van Dhan”  Seven new Tribes India Outlets inaugurated virtually at Jagdalpur, Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Sarnath  Immunity boosting hampers, Tribes India Coffee table book, new TRIFED Head Office among other highlights of the mega-launch event  ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’ – Mission Van Dhan, was launched by Shri Arjun Munda, Minister for Tribal Affairs at the new premises of TRIFED Head Office in New Delhi today . Earlier at the event , the new premises were inaugurated by  Shri Arjun Munda at Okhla Industrial Area, New Delhi.  The event also witnessed the inauguration and launch of several other programs including “Sankalp Se Siddhi – Mission Van Dhan”, 7 new Tribes India Outlets, Van Dhan website and software application, coffee table book among others

  Mustard oil blending banned: How 30 years of regulation affected health, farmer profits The cooking oil of millions of Indians underwent a change from June 8, 2021: From that day mustard oil did not need to be blended with anything else. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had decided this on March 31. This would end the pratice to add other edible oil (like from palms, rice bran, etc) to mustard oil.  This is a good news for mustard farmers whose fortunes were adversely hit as up to a fifth of mustard oil volume could earlier be blends of other oils. But why did India start the practice in the first place? And how has it affected consumer health?  The dropsy epidemic The Union health ministry had allowed blending in edible vegetable oil in a notification in 1990.  In 1998, Delhi and other north Indian states witnessed the dropsy epidemic — a disease that caused swelling in the body due to the build-up of fluid in tissues. At least 60 people died and 3,000 were hospita

  Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh says, Devika River National Project in J&K is a symbol of harmony and unity Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the River Devika National Project in Jammu & Kashmir is going to reflect our collective pride and faith, and will be the first-of-its kind in North India. Therefore, he said, it is important that the concerned authorities executing the work should take all sections of society in confidence, regardless of ideology or political affiliation, so that when this project is accomplished, it is seen not only as a role model for similar other projects in other parts of the country but should also signify a sense of harmony and unity which river Devika has symbolised over the centuries. During a visit to the site of the Devika Rejuvenation Project and the subsequent meeting here today, accompanied by DDC Chairman Lal Chand Bhagat, District Development Commissioner InduKanwalChib, Municipal Chairman Dr Yogeshwar Gupta, former Min

Central Government allocates Rs. 10,870 Crore to Uttar Pradesh under Jal Jeevan Mission in 2021-22  To translate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of providing clean tap water to every household, Union Government has increased the Central allocation for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission to Uttar Pradesh to Rs. 10,870.50 Crore.In 2019-20, Central Government allocated Rs. 1,206 Crore, which was increased to Rs. 2,571 Crore in 2020-21. Thus, this year Central allocation for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in Uttar Pradesh has increased four-fold.        Union Minister, Jal Shakti Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat during his last meeting with the Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh had assured to provide all assistance to the State to make provision of tap water supply to every rural home under Jal Jeevan Mission. During the review, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh assured that Uttar Pradesh government will ensure tap water connection to every rural home by 2024 as announced by th

  Prime Minister participates in the first Outreach Session of G7 Summit Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the first Outreach Session of the G7 Summit today.   The session, titled ‘Building Back Stronger - Health’, focused on global recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and on strengthening resilience against future pandemics.  During the session, Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the support extended by the G7 and other guest countries during the recent wave of COVID infections in India.  He highlighted India's ‘whole of society’ approach to fight the pandemic, synergising the efforts of all levels of the government, industry and civil society.    He also explained India’s successful use of open source digital tools for contact tracing and vaccine management, and conveyed India's willingness to share its experience and expertise with other developing countries. Prime Minister committed India's support for collective endeavours to improve global h

Maharashtra govt. clears action plan to protect heritage trees The Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday passed an action plan to protect and preserve trees older than 50 years in urban areas by terming them heritage trees.   The plan includes the concept of heritage tree and plan of action for conservation; method to define age of the tree; compensatory plantation; rules to be followed before hacking trees; formation of the Maharashtra Tree Authority; structure of the local tree authority and their duties; tree census; fixing land of tree plantation; transplantation of trees; and tree cess and fine to be charged.  The State will also bring about amendments in the Maharashtra (Urban Area) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act. As per the plan, trees older than 50 will be termed heritage trees. The Environment and Climate Change Department will issue guidelines in consultation with the State Forest Department based on the existing methods. Compensatory plantation will include planting the

Rs 40,700 crores allocated under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) towards SLWM support for over 2 Lakh Villages in 2021-22 The Ministry of Jal Shakti under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G) Phase 2 is poised to support over two lakh villages achieve solid and liquid waste management (SLWM) arrangements through an investment of over Rs. 40,700 crores in the present FY 2021-22. The National Scheme Sanctioning Committee (NSSC) of SBM-G under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti approved the Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) of States and UTs.  While the Central share would be around Rs.14,000 crores, the States shall spend over Rs.8300 crores. Funds to the tune of Rs. 12,730 crores will be made available through the Fifteenth Finance Commission and over Rs.4,100 through convergence with MGNREGS.  Further, over Rs.1500 crore will be invested by the States through other sources e.g. Business Model, CSR, other schemes, etc.  SBM(G) Phase 2 aims at achieving comprehensive c