PM SHRI Schools (GS Paper 2, Education)
Why in news?
- On the occasion of National Teachers’ Day, the Prime Minister announced a new initiative - PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India).
Key Highlights:
- This will be a new centrally sponsored scheme for upgradation and development of more than 14500 Schools across the country by strengthening the selected existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies.
PM SHRI Schools will showcase all components of the National Education Policy 2020 and act as exemplar schools and also offer mentorship to other schools in their vicinity.
Focus:
- The aim of these schools will not only be qualitative teaching, learning and cognitive development, but also creating holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21st century skills.
- Pedagogy adopted in these schools will be more experiential, holistic, integrated, play/toy-based (particularly, in the foundational years) inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, flexible and enjoyable.
- Focus will be on achieving proficiency in learning outcomes of every child in every grade. Assessment at all levels will be based on conceptual understanding and application of knowledge to real life situations and will be competency-based.
Infrastructure:
- These schools will be equipped with modern infrastructure including labs, smart classrooms, libraries, sports equipment, art room etc. which is inclusive and accessible.
- These schools shall also be developed as green schools with water conservation, waste recycling, energy-efficient infrastructure and integration of organic lifestyle in curriculum.
- They will provide leadership in their respective regions in providing high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive and joyful school environment that takes care of the diverse background, multilingual needs, and different academic abilities of children and makes them active participants in their own learning process as per the vision of NEP 2020.
Indias first night sky sanctuary to come up in Ladakh, boost Astro tourism
(GS Paper 3, Science and Tech)
Why in news?
India's first night sky sanctuarywill be established in Ladakh in a bid to boost Astro tourism in the country and attract foreign researchers to work with high-altitude telescopes in the region.
Details:
- The Department of Science and Technology will set up the proposed Dark Sky Reserve at Ladakh'sHanle as part of the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Hanle is located in Ladakh’s cold desert region, away from any form of human disturbance with clear sky conditions and dry weather conditions that exist throughout the year
- The facility will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical, infrared, and gamma-ray telescopes.
- The facility will also have activities aimed at boosting local tourism and the economy.
Stakeholders:
- A tripartite MoUwas signed recently between the Union Territory Administration, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) for launching the Dark Space Reserve.
- All the stakeholders will jointly work towards the preservation of the night sky from unwanted light pollution and illumination, which is a serious threat to scientific observations and natural sky conditions.
What’s next?
- With the announcement, a high-level delegation of scientists and officials from Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai will visit Ladakh by the end of this year to explore the possibility of setting up a regional branch of CLRI, as the UT has a very rich and wide variety of animals for leather research and the industry and to promote bio-economy of animal skin-derived products.
- The Charthang in Ladakh has over 4 lakh animals, mainly pashmina goats, besides sheep and yaks.
Centre renames Rajpath to Kartavya Path
(GS Paper 2, Governance)
Why in news?
- The Centre will be renaming the Rajpath and the Central Vista lawns as ‘Kartavya Path’.
- In his Independence Day speech on 15 August, Prime Minister stressed on the abolition of symbols related to colonial mindset.
The move comes days after the government replaced the colonial St. George’s Cross with Chhatrapati Shivaji’s seal on the Indian Navy’s new ensign (flag).
What is Kartavya Path?
- The route runs from RashtrapatiBhavan on Raisina Hill through Vijay Chowk and India Gate to National Stadium in Delhi.
- Built during British rule in the early 20th century, Rajpath literally translates to king’s way. It was named so in honour of King George V.
- In 2015, the name of the road on which PM’s official residence is located was changed from Race Course Road to LokKalyan Marg.
Renaming of roads in New Delhi:
- Roads named after Mughal emperors have also been renamed. In 2015, Aurangzeb Road was renamed APJ Abdul Kalam Road.
- In 2017, Dalhousie Road was renamed Dara Shikoh Road. Dara Shikoh was the eldest son of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Dara Shikoh was killed by his younger brother Aurangzeb who wanted to ascend the throne.
- Apart from this, Teen MurtiChowkwas changed to Teen Murti Haifa Chowk in 2018. There have been several proposals to rename Akbar Road, but nothing has been done yet.
Revamped Central Vista:
- The redevelopment project of the Central Vista the nation’s power corridor also envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a common central secretariat, a new residence of the prime minister, a prime minister’s office, and a new vice-president’s enclave.
- The revamped Central Vista Avenue along the Rajpath will have state-wise food stalls, red granite walkways with greenery all around, vending zones, parking lots and round-the-clock security.
Indian Army chief General conferred with honorary rank by Nepal
(GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
Recently, President of Nepal conferred the Honorary Rank of General of the Nepal Army to Gen. ManojPande, chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army.
Tradition since 1950:
- The President at the Shital Niwas, the official residence of President, conferred the honorary rank, a long tradition of exchange of visits by the army chiefs of Nepal and India and conferring the title of honorary General to both the army chiefs.
- The tradition started in 1950. India also confers the honorary rank of “General of Indian Army” to the Nepal Army Chief.
India’s assistance:
- Gen Pandehanded over non-lethal equipment and items, including four horses, 10 MPV (mine protective vehicles), and some medical equipment.
- The total amount of assistance is equivalent to NRs. 223.8 million (USD 17,51,821.36).
- This is a special subsidy provided by the Indian Army, which includes 60 per cent grant assistance.
India-Nepal border:
- Nepal is important for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old “Roti Beti” relationship.
- The country shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transportation of goods and services.
India, Australia ink six new memorandums for collaboration in space sector
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Why in news?
Recently, six new industry-to-industry memorandums for collaboration between the India and Australia were signed at the seventh ‘Bengaluru Space Expo 2022’.
Six separate Australia-India space industry memorandums exchanged were
- Australia’s Space Machines Company will collaborate with Bengaluru-based aerospace and defence manufacturer Ananth Technologies on product integration, testing, technology development and joint-space missions.
- Australian startup HEX20 will work with Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace to provide launch services, spacecraft avionics and components to Australian Space Initiatives.
- Perth-headquartered QL Space will also partner with Skyroot Aerospace to further develop launch facilities in Australia and support joint mineral exploration missions in space. Perth is known as Australia’s resources, mining and mining technology capital.
- QL Space will partner with Chennai-based GalaxEye to develop a hybrid optic and Radar payload to reduce the adverse environmental impact of critical mineral exploration in Australia and beyond.
- QL Space and Bengaluru-based SatSure will work together to build satellite and AI-based solutions to support the agriculture, mining and defence industries, and apply this technology to the outer space environment.
- Australia’s SABRN Health, Altdata and India’s DCube will work together on the development and integration of hardware, sensor technology and software to provide health support to astronauts, it was stated.
Way Forward:
- The establishment of a Consulate-General in Bengaluru from 2023 will allow Australiato further develop the space relationship.
Australia is also open to launching Indian satellites from their land sometime, and vice versa.
