Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s 137th birth anniversary : 3 December 2021
• First President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s 137th birth anniversary was
observed on 3 December 2021.
• Rajendra Babu was born on 3 December 1884 in a village called Jiradei
in the then Saran district (now Siwan) of Bihar.
• Apart from being involved in politics, he was also a freedom fighter,
teacher, and lawyer.
• He was known to be an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Dr. Rajendra Prasad served as the President from 1950 to 1962.
• In 1962, for his political and social contribution, he was awarded “Bharat
Ratna”, India’s best civilian award.
• He remains the longest-serving president of the country to date.
Parliament passes pharmaceutical education amendment Bill
• Parliament on 9 December 2021 passed the National Institute of
Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
• It seeks to accord the status of institute of national importance to six
more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research, and also set
up an advisory council for them.
• These institutes are in Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Guwahati (Assam), Hajipur
(Bihar), Hyderabad (Telangana), Kolkata (West Bengal) and Raebareli
(Uttar Pradesh).
BLFA ties up with Bihar govt’s livelihood programme JEEViKA
• The Better Life Farming Alliance (BLFA), led by global life sciences firm
Bayer, has tied up with JEEViKA, the Bihar govt’s livelihood programme
for poverty alleviation.
• The partnership aims to empower the state’s small and marginal
farmers.
• Under this partnership, about 500 Agri Entrepreneur Service
Centers will be set up to support 2,500 villages and over 2.5 Lakh farmers
across the state.
Centre grants Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Mithila Makhana
• The Geographical Indications Registry (GIR) under the Central Ministry
of Commerce has accepted the plea to rename GI-tagged Bihar
Makhana as Mithila Makhana.
• It has also suggested amendments in the brand logo to better reflect
its origins apart from protecting the product’s GI rights.
• Mithila region is known for a specific type of aquatic crop fox nut, which
is identified with its culture.
NHPC plans clean energy projects of 27GW in 9 states and Nepal
• NHPC Ltd has decided to set up new hydro and solar projects of more
than 27,000 MW capacity in nine states and Nepal.
• The new capacities would come up in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha,
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and
Odisha.
• This was informed by NHPC CMD Abhay Kumar Singh.
• NHPC, under the Ministry of Power, is the largest hydropower company
in India.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan accounts surpass the 44 crore mark
• Centre’s financial inclusion scheme, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
(PMJDY), has crossed the 44 crore mark.
• As per Government data, the total number of accounts opened under
PMJDY stood at 44.05 crores, with a total balance of ₹1,47,812 crore.
• Uttar Pradesh tops the state’s list with the highest number of accounts
followed by Bihar.
• PMJDY scheme was launched on 28th August 2014.
Seven-term Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Prasad passes away
• Rajya Sabha MP from the Janata Dal(United) and industrialist
Mahendra Prasad passed away in December 2021.
• Estimated to be one of the richest members of Parliament, the founder
of Aristo Pharmaceuticals was a seven-term Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar
and was also elected to the Lok Sabha once.
• Prasad was first elected to the Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket in 1980.
CESL achieves 50 lakhs LED bulbs distribution under Gram Ujala
program
• Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a subsidiary of Energy
Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), has achieved a remarkable milestone
of distributing 50 lakhs LED bulbs under the Gram Ujala programme.
• CESL achieved this target under Project Crore of their Gram Ujala
scheme which is being implemented in rural households in Bihar, Uttar
Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana.
Bihar’s Carrom player Rashmi Kumari wins her third Federation Cup
• The two-time World Champion Rahmi Kumari has won her third
Federation Cup title in Varanasi.
• Rashmi Kumari is the most accomplished woman carrom player in the
country.
• It was her third Federation Cup trophy, after the earlier triumph in 2012
and 2010.
• Rashmi beat the reigning World Champion S. Appoorwa in the final.
• Rashmi has also won the World Cup twice, and four times SAARC
champion.
Bihar Current Affairs: December 2021
