Continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Umbrella Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats beyond 12th Plan
The Scheme consists of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of
Project Tiger (CSS-PT)
Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-DWH)
Project Elephant (CSS-PE)
A total of 18 tiger range States, distributed in five landscapes of the country would be benefitted under the Project Tiger scheme. Similarly, for other two schemes, the coverage is entire country in case of Development of Wildlife Habitats (DWH) and 23 elephant range States for Project Elephant. It would foster wildlife conservation in general with specific inputs for tiger in Project Tiger area and elephant in Project Elephant area.
Intended impact:
Overall strengthening/ consolidation of tiger, elephant and wildlife conservation in the country
Address the human wildlife conflict effectively
Generate employment opportunities resulting in economic upliftment of people in and around tiger reserves/ Protected Areas
Reduction in natural resource dependency with substitution by clean energy use
Will generate direct employment of about 30 lakh mandays annually which shall include many local tribes besides non-tribal local workforce.
People living in vicinity would also get indirect benefits
Local populace would get opportunities to serve as guides, driver, hospitality personnel and in other ancillary jobs
These schemes would foster imparting various skills towards making people self-dependent through various eco-development projects, thereby enabling them to go for self-employment.
Resource generation through tourist visits, thereby fostering in securing tiger source areas and other areas important for wildlife conservation, besides being helpful in sustaining life support systems as well as ensuring the food, water and livelihood security.
Establishment and operationalization of permanent campus of seven new IIMs at:
Amritsar
Bodh Gaya
Nagpur
Sambalpur
Sirmaur
Vishakhapatnam
Jammu
India and Bulgaria have signed five agreements during President Kovind’s visit
(Topic: India’s relations with various countries)
An agreement between Invest India and Invest Bulgaria
An agreement on cooperation in and facilitation of tourism
An agreement on enhanced science and technology cooperation
An agreement on civil nuclear research and cooperation
An agreement between the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and Sofia University to promote Hindi studies
India and Czech Republic sign five agreements
(Topic: India’s relations with various countries)
Cooperation between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, India, and the Czech Academy of Sciences
A work plan to support Indo-Czech projects in diverse areas of science and technology, with the Department of Science and Technology taking the lead from the Indian side
A visa waiver agreement for diplomatic passport holders
Cooperation in laser technology between ELI Beamlines and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Cooperation between the Haryana Agricultural University and the Czech University of Life Sciences
Have also agreed to initiate cooperation in civil nuclear energy.
India and France sign an implementation agreement on “MOBILISE YOUR CITY” (MYC)
(Topic: India’s relations with various countries)
Mobilise Your City (MYC) is part of an international initiative which is supported by the French and the German Governments and was launched at 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) meeting in December, 2015.
Based on a proposal made by AFD in 2015, the European Union has agreed to provide funds of Euro 3.5 million through the AFD to contribute to specific investments and technical assistance components within the Mobilise Your City (MYC) programme in India. The MYC aims at supporting three pilot cities viz. Nagpur, Kochi and Ahmedabad in their efforts to reduce their Green House Gas (GHG) emissions related to urban transport by implementing urban mobility plans at local level and to help India at national level to improve their sustainable transport policy.
The three pilot cities selected under the programme as well as MoHUA will benefit from the Technical Assistance activities. The main components of the proposed assistance are:
(1) To support planning and implementation of sustainable urban transport projects,
(2) Support to strengthening institutional capacity for regulating, steering and planning urban mobility, and
(3) Learning and exchange formats with other cities across India for exchanges on best practices.
3rd ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Conference
(Topic: India and international groups and Summits)
On: Global Ageing and Human Rights of Older Persons
Where: Seoul, Korea
Purpose:
Will reaffirm the universal value of the human rights of older persons
Share information on discrimination against the elderly and exemplary cases of long-term and palliative care in Asia and Europe
Discuss operation and tasks of the ASEM Global Ageing Centre as an implementing institution for mutual cooperation among ASEM members for the protection and promotion of the human rights of older persons.
Will be beneficial for Policy formulation and implementation for welfare of senior citizens.
13th Sustainability Summit
(Topic: India and international groups and Summits)
Theme – “Everyone’s future”
Environment
India has registered 1 per cent growth in its forest and tree cover, according to the latest report of Forest Survey of India.
‘PARIVESH’- a single window clearance system in the spheres of Environment, Forest, Wildlife and Coastal Regulation Zone – the automated system will help applicants track the application status, as well as help in improving environmental compliance.
India’s affirmative action in embracing a sustainable lifestyle by aligning the 5 Ps – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership.
National Clean Air Action Plan and air quality monitoring infrastructure are the Government’s key areas of focus
Housing and Urban Development
India stands united in its efforts against rising global temperatures and a quick glance at India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions reaffirm this point.
India’s target: 175 GW renewable energy capacities by 2022
Adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 recognized the intrinsic linkages between climate change and urbanization. “Goal 11, titled “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” has embedded in it, critical elements of climate action.
Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM)is not only about infrastructure, but also bringing about behavioural and cultural changes among citizens (to make India ODF and have 100% scientific solid waste management by October 2, 2019)
To ensure India’s city driven development is sustainable, the government has embarked on the world’s largest planned urbanization programme. The key to the process is “integration”, meaning all policies, projects, and proposals are considered in relation to one another.
Use of new and alternate construction technologies in the construction of houses, locally available eco-friendly materials suited to local climatic conditions are being encouraged, reducing not only the cost of construction but also the resultant carbon footprint.
Circular economy and resource efficiency can provide solutions to the challenges posed in the process of reconciling economic growth with environmental sustainability, and hence there is a need for corporate participation in building resource efficiency and a circular economy.
MOVE: India’s First Global Mobility Summit 2018
(Topic: India and international groups and Summits)
Focus of the summit:
On raising awareness about various aspects of Mobility and bringing various stakeholders involved in enhancing mobility across different platforms.
To revolutionise the way people travel in India, along with making mobility more connected, shared and seamless
With disruptions in the mobility sector, we will be able to generate more employment & enhance the ease of living for citizens in India
Please Note:
2030: Timeline for elimination of Tuberculosis fixed by WHO; For India, the timeline is 2025 (Link)
AMRIT Deendayal: An acronym for ‘Affordable Medicines & Reliable Implants for Treatment’ – Centres that provide medicines for cancer & cardiovascular diseases and cardiac implants at significantly reduced prices.
Joint surprise check to unearth misuse of oxytocin:
Oxytocin is a peptide hormone used in various conditions such as induction of labor, control of postpartum bleeding or haemorrhage, etc.
It has been reported from time to time that clandestine activities of manufacture and sale of oxytocin is leading to its grave misuse, which is harmful to animals and humans.
Its misuse is mostly in the dairy industry, where livestock are injected with oxytocin to make them release milk.
KAZIND: Indo-Kazakhstan Joint Army Exercise
IOWave18:
India, along with 23 otherIndian Ocean Nations, participated in a major Indian ocean-wide tsunami mock exercise (drill)
Organized by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, which coordinated the setting up of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) in the aftermath of the 26 December 2004 tsunami.
All coastal states tested communication modes for receipt of bulletins from INCOIS. The end-to-end warning system from tsunami detection and forecast, threat evaluation and alert formulation, alert dissemination to public and their awareness and response was put to test during this exercise.
2nd World Hindu Congress: At Chicago, on the occasion of 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s Historic Speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 1893.
Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC):
A 4-day international conference that will bring together Sanitation Minsters and other leaders in WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) from around the world.
To mark the beginning of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, also coinciding with the fourth anniversary of the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission.
India aims to eliminate open defecation by October 2nd, 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who held sanitation very close to his heart.
The success of the Swachh Bharat Mission will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the global achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 6.2), i.e. to achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all. Simultaneously, coordinated efforts are in place to improve sanitation levels in all sectors and all public places.
The global Convention will be aimed at sharing sanitation success stories and lessons across all participating countries.
WAN Connectivity to district and subordinate courts
One of the important components of eCourts Mission Mode Project Phase-II (2015-19) is establishment of Wide Area Network (WAN) connecting all District and Subordinate court complexes, spread across the country.
The eCourts project has made significant progress under the guidance of e-Committee of Supreme Court of India in computerizing 16,089 district and subordinate courts of the country through installation of case information software, hardware and local area network in courts, thus making judiciary ICT – enabled for efficient and transparent functioning with a positive overall impact on the justice delivery system.
Launch of an online monitoring tool prepared by NIC for tracking real-time progress and monitoring of pan – Indian Wide Area Network (WAN) project against the set baselines
Agreement between Financial Intelligence Unit, India, and Unit for Combating Money Laundering of Cyprus: Aims at sharing financial intelligence and fighting money laundering, terror financing and related crimes.
ISA
Stands for co-operation among 121 solar rich countries lying fully or partially between the tropics in order to promote massive deployment of solar energy and make solar energy affordable.
Provides an opportunity to all countries to bring prosperity, energy security and sustainable development to their peoples.
Pradhan Mantri JanDhan Yojana (PMJDY): National Mission on Financial Inclusionto
Increase banking penetration
Promote financial inclusion
Provide at least one bank account per household across the country
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership: A mega regional free trade agreement being negotiated amongst 16 countries, comprising 10 ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and six ASEAN FTA partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand.
Coffee Connect – India coffee field force app
To ease the work of field functionaries
To improve the work efficiency
Provides solution by harnessing the power of mobility comprising the latest technology in easing the whole process of the field activities like digitization of Coffee Growers & Estates with Geo Tagging, collecting the Plantation details
Help in transparency in the activities of the extension officers and officials, transparency in subsidy disbursement and real time report generation.
Coffee KrishiTharanga – Digital mobile extension services for coffee stakeholders
Aimed at providing customized information and services to increase productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability.
The solution will help in to reach maximum growers in limited period, efficient, timely, customised advisory, improve the efficiency through digitisation and leverage existing mobile reach for wider delivery of improved technology.
Quotes:
President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind
On Youth, Technology and Ideas: Shaping the Contours of the 21st Century
Perhaps for the first time in history, youth are directly involved in bringing about sweeping changes and on such a massive scale.
Technology has opened a whole new world of learning. And it has also made it easier to accomplish our tasks.
The pursuit of excellence should be the key factor that dominates the minds of future generations.
Access, equity and inclusion should remain key to developing and deploying technologies.
By adding sustainability to development, by preserving forests, respecting ecology and by adopting clean energy options, we can tackle climate change. On this count, India has taken the lead through the International Solar Alliance.
New age technology combined with the wisdom of the past can solve many of our ecological problems.
Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu
On the book release of Constitutionalizing India: an Ideational Project authored by Shri Bidyut Chakrabarty
Constitution is the guiding light on all matters of governance and jurisprudence
Even 68 years after it came into force, the Constitution continues to be the guiding light on all matters connected with governance and jurisprudence.
Sardar Patel, who played a key role in drafting the Constitution, wanted a strong centre and a robust, homogenous administration to maintain the unity and integrity of India. He had presented reports on rights of minorities, tribals and Directive principles, among others, to the Constituent Assembly.
The architect of the Indian Constitution Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in his address to the constituent assembly described how magnificently the framers of the constitution accomplished the formidable task in less than three years. Dr. Ambedkar pointed out that constitutions of America, Canada, South Africa and Australia were much smaller than our constitution.
However good a constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad. However bad a constitution may be, if those implementing it are good, it will prove to be good. – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
On Teachers
Teachers are the key Architects of National Development.
It is because of teachers like you that our system of education is moving steadily towards greater heights of excellence.
It has been said that “values are caught and that they can rarely be taught” which means the teachers must ensure through their behaviour, through their communication with students and in the way the classes are organised that values of equality, democracy, peace and working together become an integral part of the school ethos.
It has been found that an important contributory factor for creating high performing systems, like in countries like Finland for instance, is the respect that the society accords to its teachers.
Swami Vivekananda said, “We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one’s own feet.”
Teachers must make their instruction learner-friendly and this essentially implies that if we have to universalise quality education the teachers must individualise learning. They must know each child well and respond to the learning needs of each and every child in the classroom.
Experiential learning or learning by doing is one the most effective methods. As Confucius had said, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand”.
Teachers should make students learn through activities and this is the basic principle which has been detailed by educationists like Gurudev Tagore, Shri Aurobindo and Mahatma Gandhiji. Gandhiji had evolved a comprehensive, integrated vision of education called ‘Nayee Taaleem’ which relied on learning by doing, he added.
