Uttar Pradesh govt has renamed eight districts in the state. The erstwhile BSP government had named these districts after the dalit and OBC personalities. The current UP government’s has decided to restore the early names of the districts.

Previous Name (Restored Name)

• Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar (Amethi)
• Rambai Nagar (Kanpur Dehat)
• Bheem Nagar (Sambhal)
• Prabuddha Nagar (Shamli)
• Panchseel Nagar (Hapur)
• Kanshiram Nagar (Kasganj)
• Mahamaya Nagar (Hathras)
• JP Nagar (Amroha)

The name of King George’s Medical University (KGMU), which was renamed Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University by the previous BSP government, was also restored.

• The Export Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) will utilize Rs 2,000-crore fund in research activities for the pharma sector. It is being done to increase exposure in research and development.
• The fund has been allocated by the Commerce Ministry for the pharma sector. Exim Bank is looking for government contribution in this fund to keep the cost of lending rates low.
• Besides providing finance to export and import related activities, the bank is already into funding for research activities for corporates to boost competitiveness for exports. The Bank is also keen in having sector-specific fund for engineering.
• The bank has is planning a $ 500 million fund for the SME sector’s modernization and technology development.
• The bank also proposed a scheme for financing art, design and IT sector.

Showing concern about the increasing number of oral cancer cases, the state cabinet of Jharkhand has approved a complete ban on the manufacture, storage and distribution of all types of gutkha and paan masala which contain tobacco and nicotine. The ban has been imposed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Since 2006, the state has witnessed around 30 % surge in the number of oral cancer cases, a major chunk of which were pertaining to tobacco and related products.

Which state was the first to ban gutkha and paan masala?

• Madhya Pradesh.

How many states have banned tobacco containing products or gutkha & paan masala?

• Till date six states namely Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan have banned these products.

Famous Painter Sumahendra passed away. He was the director of Visual Art in Jawahar Kala Kendra, Rajasthan. He had also served as Principal of Rajasthan School of Art. He was a resident of Rajasthan.
He was master in Rajasthani miniature paintings and frescos.

His renowned works include World Famous frescos in Bundi fort in the National Museum at Delhi. He authored many books centered on painting.  His book Varnamala is very famous.

What are Frescos?

• Fresco belongs to Italian word affresco which is derived from Latin word for "fresh". Fresco is an art form. It can be of several related mural paintings type, executed on plaster on walls, ceilings or any other type of flat surface.

Mr. Kulandai Francis has been awarded with Ramon Magsaysay award for his endeavors to alleviate more than one lakh rural women out of poverty and empowering for 35 years.
He runs an organization, the Integrated Village Development Project (IVDP) which is at Krishnagiri district of Tamilnadu. The organization has 8500 strong self help groups. 

The IVDP renders the following services:

• Imparts training to rural students
• Enhances skills like training in rural sanitation, accountancy, management,
• Offers educational aid for students in high schools, scholarships and computer skills.
• Created science labs, computer labs, solar lamps in schools
• Encourages savings and credit activities among the economically weak and backward.
• Constructed at least 300 check dams in the region to save water for irrigation and drinking purposes
• HIV testing for pregnant women
• Non formal schools for child laborers
• Sanitation facilities in the tribal areas