Why in news?

• The Ministry of Coal had launched 2nd Attempt of auction of 11 coal mines for commercial mining on September 27, 2021 and bids were received for 4 mines.
• Recently, the auction was held for two mines that have received multiple bids.
• Adhunik Power and Natural Resources Ltd has emerged as preferred bidder for Lalgarh (North) coal mine in Jharkhand. Auro Coal Pvt Ltd has emerged as preferred bidder for Beheraband North Extension coal block in Madhya Pradesh, the coal ministry said in a statement.
• The results of the auction are as under.

Why in news?

• Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation, Mr Amit Shah released the Good Governance Index 2021 prepared by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) on Good Governance Day.

About Good Governance Index 2021

• Good Governance Index, GGI 2021 Framework covered ten sectors and 58 indicators.
• The sectors of GGI 2020-21 are 1) Agriculture and Allied Sectors, 2) Commerce & Industries, 3) Human Resource Development, 4) Public Health, 5.) Public Infrastructure & Utilities, 6) Economic Governance, 7) Social Welfare & Development, 8) Judicial & Public Security, 9) Environment, and 10) Citizen-Centric Governance.
• The GGI 2020-21 categorises States and UTs into four categories, i.e., (i) Other States – Group A; (ii) Other States – Group B; (iii) North-East and Hill States; and (iv) Union Territories.
• Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa top the composite rank score covering 10 sectors.
• Rajasthan has topped the Other States (Group B) category in Judiciary and Public Safety, Environment & Citizen Centric Governance.
• In the North-East and Hill States category, Mizoram and Jammu and Kashmir have registered an overall increase of 10.4% and 3.7% respectively over GGI 2019.
• In the Union Territories category, Delhi tops the composite rank registering a 14 percent increase over the GGI 2019 indicators.

Why in news?

• P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has won the “Digital Innovation of the Year” award at the distinguished Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Awards 2021.

About JGU winning ‘’Digital Innovation of the Year’’

• JGU was the only Indian University to be Shortlisted for the “Digital Innovation of the Year”
• JGU’s win at the Awards is a recognition of JGU’s successful digital transformation and impact over the last two years. This award is also a reflection of JGU’s commitment to ensure continued education for its students during the ongoing pandemic.
• However, with the collective effort put in by the faculty, students and staff and the digital governance led by our IT team, by December 2020, 24,000+ online classes were completed, 1250+ unique online examinations were conducted and 69,000+ assessments were submitted.

Why in news?

• Chalo mobile app and smart card launched for convenient bus travel in Mumbai

About Chalo mobile app

• The mobile application will provide live bus tracking, and information on how crowded the vehicle is, along with the arrival time of the bus.
• Bus travelling will get convenient in Mumbai. From ticket purchasing through e-wallet to live bus tracking, passengers can now enjoy smooth and convenient bus travel with Chalo smart cards and Chalo mobile application. Recently, Tourism and Environment Minister of Maharashtra, Aaditya Thackeray launched Chalo mobile application as well as Chalo smart cards. This mobile app and smart card will facilitate digital, and advance purchase of BEST bus tickets. Chalo mobile app will allow passengers to buy bus tickets and passes through e-wallet. Besides, the mobile application will provide live bus tracking, and also information on how crowded the vehicle is, along with the arrival time of the bus.
• Moreover, bus commuters can book tickets online and also, they will have access to bus passes for purchase and renewal through the Chalo mobile app and the Smart Card.

Why in news?

• The Indian Army has launched its latest messaging application dubbed as ASIGMA (Army Secure IndiGeneous Messaging Application), which has been exclusively developed by the team of officers of the Corps of Signals of the Army.

About ASIGMA (Army Secure IndiGeneous Messaging Application)

• The new generation web-based messaging application is entirely in-house and has been exclusively developed by the team of officers of the Corps of Signals of the Army.
• The new ASIGMA application is being deployed on the Army’s internal network, as a replacement of the AWAN (Army Wide Area Network) messaging application which has been in service for the past 15 years. The application has been sent out on Army-owned hardware and will cater to the army from this time forward, lending itself to lifetime support with future upgrades.
• The messaging application is designed to meet all futuristic requirements for the army and boasts of an enhanced user experience. It comes with a variety of contemporary features including multi-level security, dynamic global address book, message prioritisation, and tracking, and options to meet the requirements of the army at present.
• This future-ready messaging application will meet the real-time data transfer and messaging requirements of the Army, especially in the backdrop of the current geopolitical security environment. ASIGMA has been developed in line with the Government of India’s, Make in India initiative.
• The Indian Army has braced automation in a major way, especially post COVID-19 outbreak, and is taking substantial steps towards paperless functioning. ASIGMA will further boost these efforts and will add to the host of other applications already being employed by the Army over its captive pan Army network.

Why in news?

• Recently, the foundation stone was laid by PM Modi for ‘Banas Dairy Sankul’ at Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority Food Park, Karkhiyaon, Varanasi.

About Banas Dairy Sankul

• It is a dairy project covering an area of 30 acres and built at a cost of about Rs 475 crore which is likely to process about 5 lakh litre milk per day.
• This will strengthen the rural economy and help the farmers of the region by creating new opportunities for them.

Why in news?

• Divya Hegde from Udupi, coastal Karnataka, has won the UN Women’s Award for Leadership Commitment at the 2021 Regional Asia-Pacific Women’s Empowerment Principles Awards ceremony on November 18th, 2021.

About Divya Hegde and the award

• The UN Leadership Commitment Award recognises leaders who have been instrumental in setting up strong commitments that aim to promote gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and/or community.
• This award is a joint initiative of UN Women and the UN Global Compact aimed at empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors.
• Divya Hegde has been recognised for her sustained efforts in advancing gender equality through climate action efforts. Her organisation, Baeru Environmental Services, works in the areas of waste management, creation of livelihoods for rural women, and developing a circular economy in the region.

Why in news?

• The Jharkhand Assembly recently passed Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021

About the Bill

• The Bill seeks punishment for “conspiracy or abetment or attempt to lynch”; “obstructing legal process” as well as “dissemination of offensive material”.
• The government has brought this Bill to maintain peace, communal harmony, and brotherhood in the state,” Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said after the Bill was passed in the state Assembly.

Why in news?

• The Jharkhand Assembly recently passed Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021

About the Bill

• The Bill seeks punishment for “conspiracy or abetment or attempt to lynch”; “obstructing legal process” as well as “dissemination of offensive material”.
• The government has brought this Bill to maintain peace, communal harmony, and brotherhood in the state,” Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said after the Bill was passed in the state Assembly.

Why in news?

• Government of India & European Investment Bank (EIB) recently signed finance contract for first tranche loan of Euro 250 million for Agra Metro Rail project

About the contract

• Government of India & European Investment Bank sign finance contract for first tranche loan of Euro 250 million for Agra Metro Rail project
• EIB had approved a total loan of Euro 450 million to fund the Agra Metro Rail Project.
• The project aims to provide a safe, reliable, affordable, and environment-friendly public Mass Rapid Transit System for Agra city which will improve mobility and support endeavor for planned urban development in Agra, according to the statement.

Why in news?

• Recently, the Fifth Siddha Day was celebrated in India.

About Siddha and Siddha Day

• Siddha system of medicine is one of the oldest codified traditions of healthcare originated in the Indian sub-continent with many intricate, novel therapeutic interventions and treatment modalities.
• The fundamentals and principles largely rely upon Panchabootham, taste and three humours.
• It enjoys state patronage as part of the officially recognized Ayush systems and caters to considerable proportion of population through public and private health care facilities Ministry of Ayush observes Siddha Day on eve of Agathiyar’s birthday every year, which falls during the Ayilyam star of Margazhi Month.
• This year, the Fifth Siddha Day celebration on “Strength of Siddha Medicine for Communicable Diseases” has been jointly organized by Central Council for Research in Siddha, National Institute of Siddha and Directorate of Indian Medicine & Homeopathy, Government of Tamil Nadu on 23rd December 2021.