25 June 2024 PIB
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) 2. C-DAC and AICTE sign MoA 3. Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao Initiative 4. 9th Anniversary of AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, and PMAY-U 5. Prelims Facts
1. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)
Syllabus: GS-3, Defence & Security
Prelims: Innovations for Defence Excellence
Mains: Make in India for the defence sector
Context:
Landmark 350th iDEX contract inked.
Details:
- Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence, signed the landmark 350th contract in New Delhi.
- The contract was inked with SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd for the design and development of a ‘Miniaturised satellite capable of carrying Electro-Optical, Infrared, Synthetic Aperture Radar, and Hyperspectral payloads up to 150 kgs’.Â
- This enables innovation in space electronics, wherein many payloads earlier deployed on dedicated large satellites are now miniaturised.Â
- The modular small satellite will integrate multiple miniaturised payloads as per requirement, providing advantages like faster and more economical deployment, ease of manufacturing, scalability, adaptability, and less environmental impact.
Learn more about iDEX in the linked article.
2. C-DAC and AICTE sign MoA
Syllabus: GS-3, Science and Technology
Prelims: C-DAC, AICTE, National Supercomputing Mission
Context:
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) today entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to create an ecosystem for human resource development in High Performance Computing (HPC) and allied areas.
Key activities to be taken up under this agreement:
- Master Trainer Programs: Training and refresher programs will be conducted to train the Master Trainers to enhance their teaching skills in HPC and allied technologies.
- Quality Improvement Programs: Training programs will be conducted to enhance the subject expertise in HPC and allied technologies of faculties from streams other than Computer Science.
- Courses on SWAYAM: Courses in HPC will be offered on the SWAYAM platform which offers free online courses in various disciplines to the learners.
- Formulation of Course Aligned with Industry Needs: HPC-related courses will be designed to ensure that they align with the HPC industry’s current and emerging requirements.
- Offering C-DAC developed HPC learning platforms: C-DAC will offer HPC learning platforms like PARAM Shavak, PARAM Vidya and other upcoming ones through AICTE to nominated institutes.
Objectives of the agreement:
- The MoA between C-DAC and AICTE aims to drive sustainable human resource development in HPC and allied technologies, foster innovation, and meet the industry’s and academia’s evolving needs.
Significance of the agreement w.r.t the National Supercomputing Mission:
- The development of HPC-aware manpower is a key deliverable of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).Â
- The NSM is a flagship program of the Government of India to build capacity and capability in HPC in the country which is being executed by MeitY and DST.Â
- AICTE is mandated with planning and coordinated development of the technical education system across India and the promotion of qualitative improvements of such education.Â
- Hence, to advance HPC education in AICTE-affiliated colleges across the country, C-DAC is partnering with the AICTE to meet the goals of the NSM.
3. Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao Initiative
Syllabus: GS-2, Govt schemes
Prelims: Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao initiative, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Mains: Initiatives and schemes towards Swachh Bharat
Context:
MoHUA rolled out the Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao initiative under SBM-U 2.0.
Details:
- The Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) introduced the Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao (SABB) initiative.
- The initiative will run from 1st July to 31st Aug 2024.
- This initiative seeks to enhance the preparedness of Urban Local Bodies, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and heightened health risks during June to August.
- Aligning with the ‘STOP Diarrhoea Campaign’ of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the initiative seeks to deal with the multifaceted challenges associated with cleanliness and diseases during the monsoon season.Â
- This acknowledges the need for a comprehensive approach through various initiatives around cleanliness and sanitation in the ULBs.
Key Features of the Safai Banao, Bimaari Bhagao Campaign:
- The key elements of the campaign will include special cleanliness drives, collection and transportation of waste, regular cleaning of all community and public toilets, sanitation and hygiene facilities for children, adequate sampling of water quality, supply of safe drinking water, maintenance of water works and planning for IEC and door-to-door mobilization.Â
- The initiative also envisages rapid assessments to identify high-risk areas, adoption of the Protect Prevent Treat Strategy (PPTS) and coordination & monitoring.
- The focus will be on community involvement and public awareness, community engagement and education, rainwater harvesting, and post-monsoon maintenance planning & integration. Â
Also read: Swachch Bharat Abhiyan
4. 9th Anniversary of AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, and PMAY-U
Syllabus: GS-2, Govt schemes; GS-3, Infrastructure, Urban Development
Prelims: AMRUT Scheme, Smart Cities Mission, PMAY-U
Context:
MoHUA celebrates the 9th Anniversary of AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, and PMAY-U.
Details:
- These schemes were launched by the Prime Minister in June 2015 and have collectively transformed urban infrastructure and improved the quality of life for millions of residents across India.
Learn more about the features of these schemes from the links given in the table below:
| AMRUT Scheme |
| Smart Cities Mission |
| Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) |
5. Prelims Facts
Ladakh Achieves Full Functional Literacy
- Ladakh Lieutenant Governor declared the union territory as having achieved Full Functional Literacy under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram, after having achieved more than 97% literacy.Â
- The entire ULLAS model is based on volunteerism in which volunteers register through the ULLAS Mobile App without any expectation of reward and simply teach the non-literates.
- ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Programme (NILP) is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented from 2022-2027.Â
- The scheme aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to empower those adults aged 15 years and above from all backgrounds who could not get due schooling and mainstream them with society.
- Five components of the scheme:
- Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
- Critical Life Skills
- Basic Education
- Vocational Skills
- Continuing Education
Read previous PIB articles here.
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