Through various activities and campaigns, DFS seeks to inspire individuals and organizations to contribute to the Swachh Bharat mission, initiated in 2014. To give wide impact to the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, all branches have been requested to organise plantation drive and to set up outreach programmes for enrollment of Safai Mitras to government schemes.

This initiative aims to raise awareness and encourage community participation in maintaining a clean environment to promote cleanliness and environmental awareness, the DFS has requested all organizations to set up exhibitions across more than 86,000 branches. These exhibitions will focus on themes like waste segregation at source, recycling techniques, and composting.

NABARD and RRBs will organize Nukkad Natak (street plays) nationwide to highlight swachhata and financial literacy. Together, these initiatives aim to educate and engage communities in sustainable practices.

District Managers are tasked with identifying and mapping black spots (unattended garbage dump areas) in their districts for transformation during the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign. The goal is to successfully transform at least five black spots in each district, engaging bankers, volunteers, and community members in the effort. This collaborative approach aims to enhance cleanliness and create a positive impact in local areas.

Between September 17 and October 2, 2024, financial institutions will host various events nationwide as part of the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign. Activities include:

• Transformation of black spots (unattended garbage dump areas)
• Plantation drive (Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam)
• Identification and cleanliness of Community Toilets (CTUs)
• Nukkad Natak (street plays)
• Outreach programs for enrolling Safai Mitras in government schemes
• Exhibitions on cleanliness themes at each office/branch

These events will be geographically mapped on a dedicated Swachhta Hi Seva portal, allowing citizens to participate in nearby programs. Join us in making a positive impact on our communities!

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The Prime Minister of India inaugurated the 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST) at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar in Gujarat 16 August 2024. It is 3-day summit honours the important contributors to India’s remarkable achievement of over 200 GW of installed non-fossil fuel capacity.

There will be an exhibition which will showcase cutting-edge innovations from public and private sector companies, start-ups, and major industry players. This exhibition will underscore India’s commitment to a sustainable future.

It will feature a conference attracting delegates from around the world. Attendees will engage in a comprehensive program including specialized discussions on innovative financing, green hydrogen, and future energy solutions.

Germany, Australia, Denmark and Norway are taking part in the event as partner countries. Gujarat is the host state and Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh are participating as Partner States.

“Gujarat was the first state in India to have its own Solar Policy, National policies on solar followed after this. Gujarat was one of the front runners across the world in setting up a ministry pertaining to matters of climate.

 India is the first G20 nation to achieve the climate commitments set in Paris, that too 9 years before the deadline.

Indian Govt.’s “PM Suyra Ghar scheme” is becoming a medium to full India’s solar energy aim, “Every 3 kilowatts of solar electricity generated will prevent emission of 50-60 tonnes of carbon dioxide”.

The Government had identified 17 such cities in India to be developed as solar cities in a similar manner like Ayodhya- a model Solar City, many facilities and houses of Ayodhya were energized by solar energy, while many solar street lights, solar intersections, solar boats, solar water ATMs and solar buildings.

Indian Govt. has also a plans to make the agricultural fields, farms a medium of solar power generation. 

Source : PIB

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Union Minister for Education interacts with students, teachers, parents of PM SHRI Schools and alumni of Prerana Programmes on the 78th Independence Day Celebration.

Students, teachers, and parents of PM SHRI Schools and alumni of Prerana Programmes were specially invited to attend the 78^th Independence Day Celebrations in New Delhi today, showing priority of the government is to empower, encourage, and provide a vast range of valuable exposure to the Amrit Peedhi of the country.

PM SHRI is a central sponsored scheme will showcase the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and emerge as exemplar schools over a period of time, and also offer leadership to other schools in the neighbourhood.

The duration of scheme is proposed to be from 2022-23 to 2026-27; after which it shall be the responsibility of the States/UTs to continue to maintain the benchmarks achieved by these schools. More than 20 lakh students are expected to be direct beneficiaries of the scheme. The total cost of the project will be Rs 27360 crore spread over a period of 5 years which includes central share of Rs 18128 crore.

Under the scheme there is provision of setting up of More than 14500 PM SHRI Schools (PM Schools for Rising India) by strengthening the existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central government/State/UT Government/local bodies.

‘Prerana: An Experiential Learning program’ launched by

Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, aiming to offer a meaningful, unique, and inspiring experience to all participants, thereby empowering them with leadership qualities.

Prerana is driven by a strong commitment to integrate principles of Indian education system and the philosophy of value-based education which is a corner stone of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This program is a week-long residential program for selected students of class IX to XII. It is an experiential and inspirational learning program for students with the best-in-class technology where heritage meets innovation.

Prerana program is running from a Vernacular School, established in 1888, in one of the oldest living cities of India, Vadnagar, Mehsana District, Gujarat.

A batch of 20 selected students (10 boys and 10 girls) will attend the program, every week from various parts of the country.

The program’s framework aims to:

• Inspire young people
• Foster respect for India’s diversity and unity
• Foster leadership qualities
• Integrate principles of the Indian education system
• Empower students with leadership qualities

Experiential learning is a philosophy and methodology that involves educators engaging with students in direct experience and focused reflection. This process helps students connect classroom knowledge and theories to real-world situations.

Source :– PIB, Ministry of Education

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The GAURAV winged version glide bomb, developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad, represents a significant achievement in India’s defence capabilities. Its ability to steer accurately towards targets using a hybrid navigation system combining INS (Inertial Navigation System) and GPS data makes it a formidable weapon for long-distance precision strikes with pinpoint accuracy, minimizing collateral damage. 

During the flight test, the glide bomb hit the target erected at Long Wheeler’s Island with pinpoint accuracy. Complete flight data during the test launch was captured by Telemetry and Electro Optical tracking systems deployed by Integrated Test Range along the coastline. 

The indigenous development of such advanced technology underscores India’s growing self-reliance in defence.

India has developed and deployed glide bombs as part of its advanced military arsenal. Glide bombs are precision-guided munitions designed to hit targets with high accuracy over long distances. They are typically released from aircraft and use aerodynamic lift to “glide” towards their targets, extending their range beyond that of traditional bombs.

Notable Glide Bombs in India:

1.Garuthmaa and Garuda Glide Bomb

• Garuthmaa is the winged version with a range of 100 km while Garuda is the non-winged version with a range 30 km.

2. Gaurav and Gautam Glide Bombs:

• Gaurav is winged version. It has a range of up to 100 km and weighs 1,000 kg. It can carry either pre-fragmented or penetration-blast warheads.
• Gautam is non-winged version. It has a range of 30 km, enhanced to 100 km in the future, and weighs 550 kg. It can also carry either pre-fragmented or penetration-blast warheads.

SAAW (Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon):

• Although not a glide bomb in the traditional sense, the SAAW is a precision-guided weapon designed to destroy enemy airfield assets like runways, bunkers, and aircraft. It has a range of around 100 km and is launched from combat aircraft.

Strategic Importance:

• Increased Range: Glide bombs allow the Indian Air Force to engage targets from a standoff distance, reducing the risk to aircraft and pilots.
• Precision Strikes: These weapons are equipped with advanced guidance systems, such as GPS and inertial navigation, ensuring high accuracy in hitting targets.
• Cost-Effective: Compared to long-range missiles, glide bombs are more cost-effective while still providing the capability to destroy strategic targets.

These developments reflect India’s growing capabilities in precision-guided munitions, enhancing the effectiveness and reach of its air force in modern warfare scenarios.

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The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India, has created a new department for standardization on issues related to environment and ecology named as Environment and Ecology Department (EED).

To set a strong foundation for the future activities of this newly formed department, the Bureau organized a workshop titled ‘Standardization for Environment and Ecology’ on August 12, 2024. This workshop aimed to bring together experts, stakeholders, and policymakers to discuss and lay down the groundwork for developing and implementing environmental standards that will guide sustainable practices across various sectors in India.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) aims to create standards that not only serve India but also set benchmarks for the world. In line with this vision, BIS plans to host a series of seminars over the next two months, focusing on establishing itself as a leader in environmental standardization and contributing to global sustainability efforts. These seminars will bring together international experts and stakeholders to collaborate on setting high standards that promote sustainable practices worldwide.

An environmental standard represents as a benchmark for determining acceptable levels of various environmental factors, such as emissions, pollutants, or resource usage. These standards are designed to guide policies, regulations, and practices towards sustainable development. They help ensure that economic activities do not exceed the carrying capacity of natural ecosystems, thereby safeguarding environmental health. By aligning with these standards, industries can enhance their international competitiveness while adhering to global sustainability goals.

Source-PIB

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These crop varieties are developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The released 109 varieties of 61 crops including 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops.  Among the field crops, seeds of various cereals, including millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, fiber, and other potential crops were released. Among the horticultural crops, different varieties of fruits, vegetable crops, plantation crops, tuber crops, spices, flowers, and medicinal crops were released,”.

On this occasion PM emphasized the need to promote the nutritional benefits of millet, among the public, especially women. traders, hotel chefs, and startups to explore innovative avenues for enhancing millet production and consumption. Organic farming, natural farming and trend on believing nutritious food in public were the main discussion points.

During the event, PM visited a field showcasing ‘Pusa 2002,’ a millet variety that matures in just 70 days, compared to the 110 days required by most other varieties. Among the millet varieties presented, “Pooja 1801” is exceptional iron and zinc content and received notable praise. there is a of hope that this variety could play a key role in combating child malnutrition, in partnership with the Ministry of AYUSH.

Importance and impact of these new crop varieties on Indian sectors:

High-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties are having good scope of global food security, nutrition, and agricultural sustainability. Their economic impact is multifaceted, affecting farmers, economies, and global trade.

1. Increased Agricultural Productivity and Income

• Higher Yields: These crops are directly increasing agricultural output. This boosts the income of farmers, especially smallholders, by allowing them to grow more food on the same land.
• Reduced Input Costs: Climate-resilient crops often require fewer inputs like water, fertilizers, and pesticides, lowering production costs and increasing profit margins for farmers.

2. Resilience Against Climate Change

• Stable Production: Climate-resilient varieties are better equipped to withstand extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves. This reduces the risk of crop failure, ensuring a more stable food supply and income for farmers.
• Mitigation of Economic Losses: By reducing the likelihood of crop losses due to climate events, these varieties help mitigate economic losses at both the micro (farmer) and macro (national) levels.

3. Improved Nutrition and Public Health

• Biofortification: Biofortified crops, enriched with essential vitamins and minerals (like Vitamin A, iron, and zinc), contribute to better health outcomes, particularly in regions prone to malnutrition. This can reduce healthcare costs and improve labour productivity over time.
• Long-term Economic Benefits: A healthier population is more productive, which can lead to long-term economic growth. Better nutrition also reduces the burden on healthcare systems.

4. Market Opportunities and Export Potential

• Export Growth: Countries that adopt these crops can enhance their agricultural exports, especially to markets that value sustainably produced and nutrient-rich food. This can lead to improved trade balances and foreign exchange earnings.
• Market Stability: The adoption of climate-resilient varieties can stabilize food supply, reducing price volatility in agricultural markets, which benefits both producers and consumers.

5. Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): These crop varieties directly contribute to eradicating hunger and achieving food security by improving the availability and accessibility of nutritious food.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Climate-resilient crops help in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change, contributing to global climate goals.

Challenges and Considerations

• Adoption Costs: While the long-term benefits are significant, the initial costs for farmers to adopt these new varieties, including purchasing seeds and acquiring knowledge, can be a barrier. KVKs should proactively inform farmers about the benefits of the new varieties being developed every month to enhance awareness about their benefits.
• Research and Development: Continued investment in agricultural R&D is crucial to develop and improve these varieties, ensuring they remain effective in the face of evolving climate and nutritional challenges.

High yield crops are crops which have high quantity of production per unit area for crop production. “Yields” mean “harvested production” per unit of harvested area for crop products.

Climate resilient crops– Climate change is one of the challenges facing modern agriculture, compounded by the global population growth and soil quality deterioration.

A climate-resilient crop is resistant to multiple stress factors, which can be abiotic, including both human-made and climate-driven factors, as well as soil-associated or biotic stress factors. Human activity generates greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, that accelerate global warming, leading to climate change. This, in turn, could impact the frequency of extreme weather events and shifts in plant phenology. Human activity also influences the soil and exacerbates soil-associated stresses.

Bio-fortification of crops- Bio-fortification is the process by which the nutrient density of food crops is increased through conventional plant breeding, and/or improved agronomic practices and/or modern biotechnology/genetic engineering without sacrificing any characteristic of that crop.

Bio fortification is seen as an upcoming strategy for dealing with deficiencies of micronutrients in low and middle-income countries. Golden Rice, an example of biofortification using genetic engineering. The golden colour of the grains comes from the increased amounts of beta-carotene.

In summary, high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified crop varieties have the potential to significantly impact economies by enhancing productivity, ensuring food security, improving public health, and contributing to sustainable agricultural practices. However, their success depends on widespread adoption, continued innovation, and supportive policies.

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28^th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (CoCSSO) to be held on 12th-13th August 2024 in New Delhi.

This Conference provides a platform for discussion and improved coordination between the Central and State Statistical agencies for enhancing the efficiency of the Indian Statistical System.

 “Use of Data for Decision Making- Strengthening State Statistical System” is the theme of 28^th CoCSSO.

Objectives

The objectives of the conference are:

• To provide a platform for discussion on the statistical issues of common interest to the Central and the State Statistical Organisations; 
• To provide an overall perspective to the development of statistical system and to make recommendations/suggestions on issues having bearing on the development of the statistical system; 
• To solve the technical issues relating to statistics; 
• To set up Working Groups on specific issues/tasks relating to official statistics; 
• To provide guidelines in the collection of statistics and maintenance of statistical standards and quality, besides uniformity in statistical standards; 
• To consider the Action Taken Report of the follow up action on the recommendations of the previous meetings(s) of CoCSSO;
• To review the role of the Statistical Advisers in the Central and States/UT Governments.

The publication, ‘Women and Men in India, 2023’ will be released by this Ministry during the conference.

The Conference of Central and State Statistical Organisations (CoCSSO) organized every year since 1971 when first CoCSSO was organised. Earlier it was supposed to be organized once in every two years. keeping in view the usefulness of the Conference, it has now been decided to have it every year.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation came into existence as an Independent Ministry on 15.10.1999 after the merger of the Department of Statistics and the Department of Programme Implementation. Central Statistical Organisation is the statistical arm of MoSPI.

This ministry is the nodal agency for the planned and organized development of the statistical system in the country and coordination of statistical activities among different stakeholders in Government of India, State Governments as well as meeting requirements of the International Agencies. 

The publication “Women and Men in India” is prepared with the objective to provide variety of available gender statistics at one place to serve as a single platform for accessing gender statistics. The publication provides critical information through gender-equality indicators to help fast track progress in the country for a more gender-equitable society including those indicators in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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The Ministry of Culture has started Project PARI (Public Art of India) on the occasion of 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from 21st -31st July 2024..

Project PARI (Public Art of India) aims to stimulate a dialogue, reflection, and inspiration, contributing to the dynamic cultural fabric of the nation. This initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is being executed by Lalit Kala Akademi and National Gallery of Modern Art, which intends to bring forth public art that draws inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of India while incorporating modern themes and techniques.

Art is a vital medium to propagate and spread messages through creativity, hence the outreach of Public Art is immense and thought-provoking. It acts as a significant factor in giving visual recognition to a specific place. The public art augments and induces meaning to a public space making it an integral part of the culture and society.

In this first big inaugural event of “Project PARI” more than 200 visual artists came together to create the various traditional artforms, wall paintings, murals, sculptures and installation such as Phad paintings, Thangka paintings, Warli art, Gond Art, Alpona art, Cheriyal painting, Tanjore paintings, Kalamkari, Pithora Art, Kerela Murals, etc on different themes.

“Project PARI” not only highlights the aesthetic and cultural diversity of India but also aims to enhance Delhi’s visual and cultural landscape, contributing to a sense of pride and belonging within the community.

46th Session of the World Heritage Committee

The 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee, hosted by India for the first time, was Organized  from 21st to 31st July 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

The tagline of the logo is सह नौ यशः which means in English as ‘May our Glory Grow’. “The tagline has been derived from the ancient Sanskrit scripture ‘Taitiriya Upanishad’ ,

45^th Session of the World Heritage Committee was held in Riyadh 10 September–25 September 2023. (Originally scheduled for 19 June–30 June 2022 in Kazan, Russia.  But Postponed to an extended 2023 session due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine )

47^th Session of the World Heritage Committee is scheduled to hold in SOFIA capital city of Bulgaria.

The World Heritage Convention 1972 and World Heritage Committee

The World Heritage Committee stablished under the Convention of General Conference of UNESCO at its seventeenth session on 16 November 1972.

Committee meets once a year It comprises representatives from 21 state parties that are elected by the General Assembly of States Parties for a four-year term. These parties vote on decisions and proposals related to the World Heritage Convention and World Heritage List.

Note- According to the World Heritage Convention, a committee member’s term of office is six years. However many States Parties choose to voluntarily limit their term to four years, in order to give other States Parties an opportunity to serve.

The World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, selects the sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties. It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List.

It examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed. It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

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Context– The Ministry of Rural Development has implemented a range of strategies aimed at enhancing the economic well-being of rural populations.

About Special Employment Guarantee Scheme (SEGS)

• The Special Employment Guarantee Scheme (SEGS) is a program designed to provide employment opportunities and income support to individuals who need work, especially in areas with high unemployment:
• Focus on increasing livelihood opportunities, empowering rural women, providing social safety nets, developing skills among rural youth, and improving infrastructure through various programs.

Need of this Special Employment Guarantee Scheme

Special Employment Guarantee Schemes (SEGS) are created to tackle specific employment issues experienced by different groups in society. These issues may include high unemployment rates, underemployment, or obstacles faced by marginalized communities in accessing job opportunities.

• Addressing Unemployment:  SEGS provides a safety net for those who are unemployed or underemployed, helping to create job opportunities and stabilize income for individuals who might otherwise struggle to find work.
• Supporting Vulnerable Groups: These schemes often target vulnerable or marginalized groups, such as women, disabled individuals, or minorities, helping them overcome barriers to employment and achieve greater economic stability.
• Promoting Economic Stability: By boosting employment, SEGS can help stimulate economic activity and growth. When more people have jobs, they have more disposable income to spend, which can drive demand for goods and services.
• Reducing Poverty: By ensuring that people have access to employment opportunities, SEGS can help reduce poverty levels and improve living standards.
• Enhancing Skills and Training: Many employment guarantee schemes include provisions for training and skill development, which can enhance workers’ employability and productivity in the long term.

Government Schemes/ Programme

Indian Govt. and It’s all ministries implementing a number of targeted programmes/ schemes aiming to enhance the standard of living in rural areas by creating employment and livelihood opportunities.

MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.)

• It is a significant piece of legislation in India, enacted in 2005, aimed at providing employment security and improving rural livelihoods.
• MNREGA was designed to enhance the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
• The wages are paid at the minimum wage rate set by the state government, and the payment is made directly to workers’ bank accounts, promoting transparency and reducing corruption.
• This scheme also particularly benefits marginalized groups, including women, scheduled castes, and scheduled tribes, by providing employment opportunities and reducing rural poverty.
• Under MNREGA, Scheduled Tribe households living in forest areas are entitled to an additional 50 days of wage employment beyond the standard guarantee. Additionally, in rural areas affected by drought or natural calamities, the scheme provides an extra 50 days of wage employment.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kausal Yojna (DDU-GKY) and Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI), which focus on improving employability through wage or self-employment, particularly for SCs/STs/OBCs/Minority communities. These initiatives contribute to the economic and social development of rural youth.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampan Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana, aims to enhance skills among marginalized youth, including SCs, OBCs, De-notified Tribes, and Economically Backward Classes. The program offers both long-term and short-term training to boost skill levels and facilitate wage or self-employment, promoting empowerment and economic development.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship’s PMKVY offers skill training to youth, including SC/ST and economically weaker sections, through Short Term Training (STT) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises’ PMEGP provides credit-linked subsidies to foster self-employment by supporting micro-enterprises and aiding traditional artisans and unemployed youth.

Conclusion–

• Special Employment Guarantee Schemes (SEGS) are crucial for fostering inclusive economic development by addressing employment challenges in targeted populations. They provide essential support to marginalized and vulnerable groups, create job opportunities, and promote skill development.
• By guaranteeing employment and offering targeted interventions, SEGS contributed to poverty reduction, economic stability, and social empowerment. Overall, these schemes are vital tools for ensuring equitable growth and improving the standard of living for disadvantaged communities.  

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Focus points of Global MedTech Summit-2024

The Global MedTech Summit 2024 is a prominent international conference focused on the medical technology (MedTech) industry.

1. The summit aims to explore and discuss the latest trends, innovations, and advancements in medical technology, including emerging technologies, digital health, and new medical devices.
2. It provides a platform for professionals from the MedTech industry, including manufacturers, researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers, to network and collaborate.
3. Discussions often cover global regulatory standards, compliance issues, and how different regions adapt to new MedTech developments.
4. The summit may also highlight investment opportunities in the MedTech sector, showcasing new startups and innovations seeking funding.

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