GS PAPER II NEWS
Eklavya Model Residential School
Why in News
- The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has constructed 50 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) in 27 districts of 7 states and 1 union territory virtually from Bhopal laid the foundations.
Key point
- Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) is an important scheme launched by the Government of India to open Model Residential Schools for Indian Tribals (Scheduled Tribes) all over India.
- It is one of the major initiatives of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India and was initiated in the year 1997-98 to provide quality education to the tribal students living in remote tribal areas.
- In the Union Budget for the financial year 2018-19, it was announced that Eklavya Model Residential Schools would be opened in every block having more than 50 percent ST population and at least 20,000 tribal people. The government has decided to open 452 new schools across the country.
Eklavya Model Residential School
- Eklavya Model Residential Schools are being opened with the objective of providing quality or quality education to the tribal students with special emphasis on not only academic education but all round development of the tribal students.
- Students from class VI to XII get education in these schools. Each school has the capacity to provide education to 480 students.
- Presently education is being imparted in 367 such schools across the country which are similar to Navodaya Vidyalayas and where the focus is on special state-of-the-art facilities for the preservation of local art and culture besides imparting training in sports and skill development. is done.
- In addition, EMRSs are equipped with facilities to meet the on-campus needs of the students for holistic development and free education is provided in these schools along with free food and accommodation.
GS PAPER II
“Nationwide AHDF KCC Campaign”
Why in News
- The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying today officially launched the “Nationwide AHDF KCC Campaign” through virtual medium.
Key point
- Nationwide AHDF KCC campaign from 15 November 2021 to 15 February 2022 in collaboration with Department of Fisheries (DoF) and Department of Financial Services (DFS) to provide the benefit of Kisan Credit Card to all eligible animal husbandry, dairy and fish farmers in the country “Organizing.
- Detailed guidelines were issued to the States on 10-11-2021 for organizing this campaign. Necessary instructions have been issued by the Department of Financial Services to the banks as well as the State Governments.
Livestock sector
- Livestock sector is critical to the Indian economy today, with agriculture and allied sectors accounting for one-third of the GVA and having a CAGR of more than 8 per cent.
- Simultaneously, animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries activities play an important role in income generation for farmers, especially among landless, small and marginal farmers and women, apart from providing cheap and nutritious food to lakhs of people.
- It is the need of the hour to respectfully recognize the landless, small and marginal farmers and women involved in animal husbandry activities in the country and meet their institutional credit needs for working capital through KCC, thereby making the sector To harness its potential and generate employment and increase income.
- Last year from 1st June 2020 to 31st December 2020, a special drive was launched by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services to provide AHDF KCC to eligible dairy farmers of milk cooperative societies and milk producer companies, as a result of which Over 14 lakh new AHDF KCCs have been approved.
- However, there are about 10 crore AHD farmers across the country, so there is ample scope for expansion beyond dairy cooperatives, so as to cover other eligible dairy farmers as well as others involved in animal husbandry activities.
GS PAPER III
41st Scientific Expedition begins
Why in News
- India has successfully commenced the 41st Scientific Expedition to Antarctica with the arrival of the first batch of its crew in the southern white continent.
Key point
- The first batch of 23 scientists and support staff reached the Indian Antarctic Station Maitri last week.
- Four more batches will land in Antarctica by mid-January 2022 by air using the Dromlan facility and the chartered ice-class vessel MV Vasily-Golovanin.
About Scientific Expeditions
- There are two major events of this 41st Expedition. The first program involves geological exploration of the Ameri Ice Shelf at Bharati station. This will help trace the link between India and Antarctica in the past.
- The second program includes reconnaissance surveys and preparatory work for drilling a 500-metre ice core near Maitree.
- It will help improve the understanding of Antarctic climate, westerly winds, sea-ice and greenhouse gases from a single climate collection for the past 10,000 years.
- This core drilling will be done in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey and the Norwegian Polar Institute. Apart from carrying out scientific programmes, it will replenish the annual supply of food, fuel, provisions and spares for operation and maintenance of life support systems at Maitri and Bharati.
Indian Antarctic Program
- The Indian Antarctic Program, which began in 1981, has completed 40 scientific expeditions, and created three permanent research base stations in Antarctica namely Dakshin Gangotri (1983), Maitri (1988) and Bharati (2012).
- Presently Maitree and Bharti are fully operational.
- The National Center for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), located in Goa, is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences that manages the entire Indian Antarctic Programme.
- As India is committed to make the continent of Antarctica free from the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain the highest standards of safety, the Indian team has reached Antarctica after a rigorous medical examination at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
- In addition, the team has received training for snow adaptation and survival at the Mountaineering and Skiing Institute, ITBP Auli, Uttarakhand and followed a stringent hygiene protocol including a 14-day quarantine at Cape Town, South Africa.
- The team is expected to return to Cape Town in late March or early April, leaving the 48-member team in winter. It will also bring back the Over Winter team of the last 40th campaign.
GS PAPER III
‘Sitmax’
-
Why in News
- Indian Naval Ship (INS) Karmuk, an indigenously built missile corvette, is participating in the third edition of India, Singapore and Thailand trilateral maritime exercise SITMEX-21 in the Andaman Sea from 15-16 November 2021.
-
Key point
- The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSS) is being represented by RSS Tinashius, a formidable class frigate, and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) His Majesty Thailand Ship (HTMS) Thynchon, a Khamrosin class anti-submarine patrol craft.
- SITMEX is being conducted annually since 2019 with an aim to enhance the inter-operability and assimilation of best practices among Indian Navy, RSNs and RTNs.
- The first edition of SITMEX was hosted by the Indian Navy at Port Blair in September 2019.
- The RSS hosted the second edition of the exercise in November 2020. The 2021 edition of the exercise is being hosted by RTN in the Andaman Sea.
- The exercise is being conducted as a ‘non-contact, only at sea’ exercise in view of the COVID-19 restrictions and highlights the growing synergy, coordination and cooperation in the maritime domain between the three friendly navies.
- During the two-day maritime exercise, the three navies will engage in a variety of maneuvers and various tactical exercises including surface warfare.
- SITMEX-21 will strengthen the long-standing relationship of friendship and further enhance cooperation among the participating navies towards enhancing overall maritime security in the region.