02 January 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

1. Indian Science Congress
2. Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Prakash Parv
3. Integrated Railway Helpline Number
4. Swarna Jayanti Fellowships

Context:

PM set to inaugurate the 107^th Indian Science Congress (ISC) at University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore.

Details:

• Prime Minister Modi will deliver the inaugural address on the occasion and also launch I-STEM Portal on the occasion.
• The theme of the ISC for 2020 is “Science and Technology: Rural Development”.
• More than 15,000 participants, including Nobel Laureates, scientists, intellectuals, academicians, policy makers, researchers, students and delegates from different institutions are expected to participate in the event.
• The ISC is organised by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA).

About the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA):

• The ISCA was formed in 1914 and is a premier scientific organisation in India.
• It organises the ISC every year in the first week of January.
• Its first meeting was held in the Asiatic Society, Kolkata.
• It is headquartered in Kolkata.
• The ISCA was started by two British chemists, Professor J. L. Simonsen and Professor P.S. MacMahon.
• Starting with just over a hundred members, the ISCA today boasts of a membership of over 60,000.
• Objectives of the ISCA:
  • To advance and promote the cause of science in India.
  • To hold an annual congress at a suitable place in India.
  • To publish such proceedings, journals, transactions and other publications as may be considered desirable.
  • To secure and manage funds and endowments for the promotion of Science including the rights of disposing of or selling all or any portion of the properties of the Association.

Details:

• Prakash Parv or Prakash Utsav is the birth anniversary of the Sikh Gurus.
• 2019 was the 352^nd Prakash Parv of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
• Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Sikh Guru, who also institutionalised the Khalsa.
• The occasion is celebrated widely by the Sikh community and the Takht Sri Patna Sahib Gurudwara in Patna, Bihar witnesses a lot of fanfare on this occasion.
• This Gurudwara was built by the founder of the Sikh Empire Maharaja Ranjit Singh to commemorate the birth of Guru Gobind Singh, who was born in Patna in 1666.
• Read more on Guru Gobind Singh here.

Context:

PM extends greetings on Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Prakash Parv.

Context:

Indian Railway announces one integrated Helpline number “139” for any help, enquiry and grievances redressal during travel.

Details:

• To overcome the inconvenience over multiple helpline numbers for grievances and enquiry during railway travel, Indian Railway has integrated railway helplines into single number 139 for the passengers for quick grievance redressal and enquiry during their journey.
• The Helpline 139 will be available in twelve languages. It will be based on IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System).
• There is no need for a smartphone to call on 139, thus, providing easy access to all mobile users.

Also read about Dial 112 at PIB dated 20^th Sep 2019 under the headline “ERSS- Dial 112, ‘E-Beat Book’ System and ‘E-Saathi’ App”.

Context:

14 scientists awarded Swarna Jayanti Fellowships for 2018-19.

About the Swarna Jayanti Fellowships:

• The Swarna Jayanti Fellowships scheme was instituted by the Government of India to commemorate India’s fiftieth year of independence.
• Under this scheme, a selected number of young scientists, with a proven track record, are provided special assistance and support to enable them to pursue basic research in frontier areas of science and technology.
• The awardees are supported by the Department of Science & Technology for fellowship and research.
  • This will cover all the requirements for performing research and includes a fellowship of Rs. 25,000/- per month as well as a research grant of 5 lakh Rupees for 5 years in addition to their salary.

January 2nd, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

 Related Links:

UPSC 2020	UPSC Current Affairs
Monthly Magazine for UPSC Current Affairs	UPSC Current Affairs Quiz
Government Exams	UPSC Prelims Exam

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