Indo Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise Dustlik (GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- Recently, the 4th edition of joint military exercise ‘DUSTLIK’ between the Indian Army and Uzbekistan Army commenced in Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand).
Background:
- The first edition of the exercise was held at Uzbekistan in November 2019.
Key Highlights:
- The 14 days long joint exercise would focus on joint counter-terrorist operations in mountainous and semi-urban scenario under UN mandate and will include field-training exercises, combat discussions, lectures, demonstrations and culminate with a validation exercise.
- Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of tactical drills for neutralisation of likely threats, while learning to exploit new generation equipment and technology for conducting joint operations.
- Due emphasis is being laid on increasing interoperability between forces.
Way Forward:
- The bonhomie, espirit-de-corps and good will generated during the exercise will go a long way in further strengthening the bonds between both armies by enabling understanding of each other’s organisation and methodology of conducting various operations.
‘JaduiPitara’ Teaching Material for Foundational Stage launched
(GS Paper 2, Education)
Why in news?
- As envisaged under National Education Policy 2020, Union Education Minister launched Learning - Teaching Material for Foundational.
- In line with the vision of Prime Minister, ‘JaduiPitara’ -a play-based learning-teaching material tailored for children between the age group of 3-8 years has been launched.
JaduiPitara:
- ‘JaduiPitara’ comprising of playbooks, toys, puzzles, posters, flash cards, story books, worksheets as well as reflecting the local culture, social context and languages is designed to pique curiosity and accommodate the diverse needs of learners in the foundational stage.
- Learning and Development in 5 domains: Physical Development, Socio-emotional and Ethical Development, Cognitive Development, Language and Literacy Development, Aesthetic and Cultural Development, Positive Learning Habits has been included as another domain of development at this stage.
- ‘JaduiPitara’ developed under the National Curriculum Framework is available in 13 Indian languages.
- These resources should be made digitally available on DIKSHA platform - portal and mobile app.
- All Foundational Learning material should be in mother tongue.
Pedagogical structure:
- NCERT has developed trainers handbook mapping to panchkoshiyavikash and curricular goals of NCF-FS for future training of teachers at Foundational Stage.
- The National Education Policy 2020 envisages 5+3+3+4 curriculum pedagogical structure.
- The Department of School Education & Literacy under Ministry of Education has constituted a National Steering Committee headed by Prof. K. Kasturirangan to develop the National Curriculum Framework for each of the stages.
- The NCF for foundational stage (FS) was launched by Ministry of Education on 20th October, 2022 and as per the curriculum framework, NCERT has developed and collected Learning Teaching Material (LTM).
Way Forward:
- It is a giant leap towards enriching the learning-teaching environment and making it more child-centric, lively and joyful for the Amrit Generation as envisioned in the NEP 2020.
Mountain on Moon named after mathematician Melba Mouton who led ‘human computers’
(GS Paper 3, Science and Tech)
Why in news?
- Recently, NASA has named a mountain on the Moon in the honour of mathematician Melba Mouton for her immense contribution that paved way for operating satellites in space.
Location of the mountain named after her:
- The flat moon mountain is located near the water-rich lunar South Pole.
- The lunar South Pole is a target for landing the Artemis missions, which will mark the return of humans to the lunar surface in over half a century.
- The name has been proposed by the team of the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission to the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Key Highlights:
- The newly named mountain on the Moon is adjacent to the western rim of the Nobile Crater, on which VIPER will land and explore during its approximately 100-day mission as part of NASA’s Artemis program.
- The flat-shaped moon named after the mathematician was created over billions of years by lunar impacts, which sculpted it out of its surroundings.
- Mons Mouton stands as tall as Denali, the tallest mountain in North America approximately 20,000 feet higher than its neighboring features on the Moon’s South Pole.
Who was Melba Mouton?
- Melna Mouton was one of the leading mathematicians of the 'Hidden Figures' era of NASA. Being black, she was first employed at NASA in 1959, just a year after the space agency was established.
- She became the head mathematician who led a group of "human computers," who tracked the Echo 1 and 2 satellites, launched into Earth’s orbit in 1960 and 1964, respectively.
- She was also the head programmer responsible for the Mission and Trajectory Analysis Division's Program Systems Branch. Her team coded computer programs used to calculate spacecraft locations and trajectories, giving NASA the ability to track spacecraft while in orbit.
- In a career spanning 14 years at NASA, Mouton also served as the assistant chief of research programs for the Trajectory and Geodynamics Division at Goddard. Her work was instrumental in the landing and safe return of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon.
