Toycathon 2021

Toycathon 2021 launched on 5th January 2021 is a virtual toy hackathon that is aimed to conceptualize innovative toys based on the Indian value system which will inculcate positive behaviour and good value among the children.

The topic Toycathon is imperative from the perspective of the current affairs part of the IAS exam and other competitive exams.

Details regarding Toycathon 2021 will help aspirants prepare for the upcoming UPSC Prelims. 

Toycathon 2021 – Background

1. India, despite being a home of many globally popular games like Chess, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, is not among leading developers and manufacturers of toys. 
2. Currently, India’s toy market stands at around 1.5 Billion USD, which primarily is dominated by imported toys. Moreover, the majority of these toys do not represent Indian heritage, civilization and value systems.
3. The government is working towards promoting the indigenous toy industry for making the country self-reliant in this sector.

Toycathon 2021 – Overview

1. Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and Union Minister WCD and Textiles Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani jointly launched Toycathon 2021 on January 5th 2021. 
2. Toycathon 2021 is an inter-ministerial initiative organized by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell with support from All India Council for Technical Education – AICTE, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
3. Toycathon 2021 is conceived to challenge India’s innovative minds to conceptualize novel Toy and Games based on Bharatiya civilization, history, culture, mythology and ethos taking a giant leap in the path of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
4. Winners of the Toycathon can get prizes up to 50 lakhs.

Features of Toycathon

1. This is a special kind of hackathon where students and teachers from schools and colleges, design experts, toy experts and startups will get together to crowdsource ideas for developing toys and games.
2. It is based on Indian culture and ethos, local folklore and heroes, and Indian value systems.
3. The Toycathon is based on nine themes, these are-
   • Indian Culture, History,
   • Knowledge of India and Ethos; 
   • Learning, Education and Schooling; 
   • Social and human values;
   • Occupations & specific fields; 
   • Environment; 
   • Divyang ; Fitness and sport; Out of the box,
   • Creative and logical thinking and 
   • Rediscovering and redesigning traditional Indian toys
4. The Toycathon will have 3 variants of tracks of Junior Level, Senior Level and Startup Level.

Aspirants can go through the following related links to prepare for the upcoming Civil Services exam even better – 

Aim of Toycathon 

1. Toycathon aims to tap India’s one billion USD toy market
2. Aligned with the goals of National Education Policy – NEP 2020, the Toycathon aims to capture the innovative prowess of 33 crores students across the country

Significance of Toycathon

1. Toycathon will help in reducing toy imports by developing India as the global Toy manufacturing hub.
2. Toycathon will help in promoting the use of educational toys in line with the National Education Policy 2020.
3.  It is the first time in India, schoolchildren would get to innovate, design and conceptualize toys
4. Toys can be an excellent medium to further the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’
5. Toycathon is an endeavor by the government to create an ecosystem for the domestic Toy industry and the local manufacturers, tapping the untapped resources and utilizing their potential.
6. It supports missions like Swatch Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Environment Conservation, Climate Change, Digital India, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Skill India. Read in detail about the Skill India Mission on the linked page. 
7. It promotes eco-friendly, indigenous, non-hazardous or recycled material.
8. Inculcate positive behaviour and good values.
9. It encourages national unity and respects cultural diversity.

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