Current Affairs

International Day of Women & Girls in Science: Community Innovator Fellowship launched

To mark the occasion of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog in collaboration with UNDP, India launched Community Innovator Fellowship (CIF).  

While launching the Fellowship, NITI Aayog CEO, Amitabh Kant said, “Creating a pre-incubation space for young and energetic innovators is a very important step in building vibrant, inspiring solutions for community problems.”

In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly declared February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science to achieve equal access and participation of women and girls in science. It also aims at achieving gender equality and women empowerment.



Char Dham panel chief resigns, says his belief shattered

Veteran environmentalist Ravi Chopra has resigned as chairman of the Supreme Court’s High Powered Committee (HPC) on the Char Dham project, saying that his “belief that the HPC could protect this fragile (Himalayan) ecology has been shattered”.

In his resignation letter to the secretary general of the Supreme Court on January 27, Chopra referred to the apex court’s December 2021 order that accepted the wider road configuration to meet defence needs, instead of what the HPC had recommended and the SC accepted in its earlier order in September 2020.



Liquidity window for emergency health services extended till June 30

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday proposed to extend the Rs 50,000 crore on-tap liquidity window for emergency healthcare services till June 30.

The central bank had introduced the liquidity window at the repo rate with tenors of up to three years on May 5 last year to provide immediate capital for ramping up Covid-19 related healthcare infrastructure and services.



What Is e-RUPI Voucher And How Will The Expansion in Limit Help Welfare Scheme Beneficiaries?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has enhanced the cap under e-RUPI prepaid digital vouchers. The present cap of Rs10,000 will be increased to Rs1 lakh per voucher and can be used more than once.

“To facilitate digital delivery of various government schemes to the beneficiaries, it is proposed to increase the cap on the amount for e-RUPI vouchers issued by the government to Rs 1,00,000 per voucher and allow the use of the e-RUPI voucher multiple times (until the amount of the voucher is completely redeemed),” said RBI governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday.



MoS Education Dr Subhas Sarkar presents 5th National Award for Innovations, Good Practices in Educational Administration

Minister for State for Education Dr Subhas Sarkar presented the 5th National Award for Innovations and Good Practices in Educational Administration virtually today.

The Ministry said that the National Award or Certificate of Appreciation were presented to the selected District and Block level education officers from 29 states and Union Territories of the country. It said, more than hundred officers received Award or Certificate of Appreciation this year.
 
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Sarkar said that District Education Officers are the key link between the system level administration and the field level educational administration. He added, their role is important in ensuring effective implementation of policies and programmes and efficient delivery of educational services.



Vice President, PM Modi pay tributes to BJP ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his death anniversary

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today remembered Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his death anniversary. In a tweet, Mr Naidu said, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was a devout nationalist, insightful thinker and an epitome of selfless service. The Vice President said, his philosophies of Integral Humanism and Antyodaya have inspired many to serve the nation and the downtrodden and will continue to remain a guiding force for all.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to BJP ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his death anniversary. In a tweet, Mr Modi said, the entire life of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay was based on the principle of Sarvajan Hitay - Sarvajan Sukhay Everybody's Wellbeing and Everybody's Happiness.



Brussels launches first post-Brexit court case against UK

The European Commission has launched the first post-Brexit court case against the UK in a move that could exacerbate tensions between Brussels and London.

The commission on Wednesday referred the British government to the European Court of Justice, claiming a February 2020 UK Supreme Court judgment ordering the Romanian government to pay compensation to investors who lost out on state subsidies “breached the principle of sincere co-operation” and violated EU law.



India rejects references to J&K, CPEC in China and Pakistan joint statement

India has rejected the references to Jammu and Kashmir and the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the joint statement between China and Pakistan issued on 6th of this month. In response to media queries in this regard, External Affairs Ministry's spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India has always rejected such references and its position is well known to China and Pakistan. He said, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are, and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India. He said, India expects the parties concerned not to interfere in matters that are its internal affairs.



Atal Tunnel certified by World Book of Records as World's Longest Highway Tunnel

Atal Tunnel has officially been certified by the World Book of Records as the World's Longest Highway Tunnel above 10 thousand Feet.
 
Director General of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhry received the award for the stupendous achievement of the organization in constructing this engineering marvel connecting Manali to the Lahaul - Spiti Valley. World Book of Records in the United Kingdom, is an organisation that catalogues and verifies extraordinary records across the world with authentic certification.

 
Atal Tunnel was dedicated to the Nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3rd October 2020. The 9.02 kilometers long strategically significant Atal Tunnel, that runs under the Rohtang Pass was constructed on the Manali - Leh Highway under the challenging conditions of freezing temperatures in extremely difficult terrain. 



Haryana: Cabinet nod for draft anti-conversion Bill, puts burden of proof on accused

The Haryana Cabinet Tuesday approved the draft of The Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religious Bill, 2022, aimed at prohibiting religious conversions “effected through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement” or by any fraudulent means or by marriage or for marriage by making it an offense.

The draft, approved in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, will now be tabled in the Vidhan Sabha during the Budget Session beginning March 2.