Bihar Affairs
Edu min: NITI Aayog should take a balanced approach for SDG index
State Education minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary questioned the ranking of states in the Goals (SDG) India Index 2021 released by NITI Aayog on June 3. Bihar has been adjudged as the worst performer state in the ranking.
Choudhary alleged that the methodology of collection of data, its assessment and presentation is unbalanced for developing economies.
The condition of Bihar has improved on many parameters as compared to previous years.
As per the SDG India Index 2021, Bihar scored 52 out of 100 marks on different parameters and came under performer category (with scores in the range of 50-64). Bihar is in the frontrunner category on five parameters. It has scored 91 points in sanitation and clean water category, which is eight points higher than the national Average and two points above Kerala.
As per the SDG dashboard, Bihars performance has improved in hunger, Health and well-being, education, gender Equality, water and sanitation, cities and communities and Justice and institutions.
The state has made remarkable achievement in good health and well-being (SDG3). Entire country knows the works done in Bihar for Gender Equality (SGD5), including promotional schemes for girl students and parallel reservation for Women among others.
The categories in which states performance have been the lowest include POVERTY, hunger, gender equality, Industry, innovation and Infrastructure, reduction of inequalities and Climate action.
National and International Affairs
Modifications in FAME II Scheme
The FAME II scheme was modified by the Department of Heavy (DHI).
Highlights:
The goal of the modification is to encourage the use of electric vehicles.
The implementation of a demand incentive of Rs. 15,000 per kWh for electric two-wheelers, with a maximum cap of 40% of the vehicle’s cost.
Energy Efficiency Services Limited has launched an Aggregate Demand for 300,000 electric three-wheelers.
Innovations for Defence Excellence – iDEX
For the next five years, the DEFENCE Minister has approved a budget of Rs 498.8 crore for Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Defence Innovation Organization (DIO).
About Idex:
iDEX was founded in 2018 to achieve self-sufficiency and foster innovation and technology development in the fields of defence and aerospace by bringing together MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, and R&D institutions, academia, etc.
iDEX will also provide them with grants/funding and other assistance to conduct R&D that has a high potential for future adoption for Indian defence and aerospace needs.
It was issued by the Ministry of Defence’s Department of Defence Production.
ALH Mk-III Coast Guard
The Coast Guard received Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk III
Highlights:
The state-of-the-art helicopters are designed and manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (Hal), Bengaluru.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk III is an indigenously built multirole helicopter powered by a Shakti engine.
The ALH Mk III has an all-glass cockpit with HAL’s Integrated Architecture Display System (IADS) and will be used for special operations such as search and rescue and coastal surveillance.
The Shakti (Safran Ardiden 1H1) engines power the customised Mk-III.
New Atlantic Charter between USA and UK
The President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom signed a new version of the 80-year-old Atlantic Charter. The Atlantic Charter was a joint declaration issued by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Newfoundland on August 14, 1941, during World War II.
About New Atlantic Charter (2021):
The new charter is an effort toward a grand vision of global relationships based on Democracy and territorial Integrity;
It is a promise made by the United Kingdom and the United States to meet the challenges of today’s world.
It calls on both countries to adhere to the international order based on rules,
It also addresses <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change and Biodiversity.
It also emphasises emerging technologies, cyberspace, and long-term global development.
It calls on Western allies to oppose disinformation and other malicious influences, including in Elections.
It promises that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will remai
The report of the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2019-20 has been released by the Union Education Minister. The report contains key performance indicators on the current status of higher education in India. The Department of Higher Education publishes it every year.
Student enrollment has increased by 11.4 percent over the last five years, from 2015-16 to 2019-20.
Uttar Pradesh has the highest student enrolment rate in India (49.1% male and 59% female), followed by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
In 2019-20, the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) increased by a negligible 0.8 percent.
GER is the number of students registered at a given education level, regardless of age, Female enrolment has increased by more than 18% overall.
ESA to Launch EnVision Mission to Venus
European Space Agency (ESA) is now growing its own probe to learn about Venus, for a holistic view of the planet from its inner core to its higher .
Highlights:
The mission dubbed EnVision will possibly be launched to the planet in early 2030.
EnVision probe of ESA will decide how and why Venus and Earth developed so differently, even whilst being in the habitable zone to the Sun.
European Space Agency will undertake this mission with contributions from NASA.
EnVision spacecraft will elevate various units to find out about the planets surroundings and surface, screen hint gases in the ecosystem and analyse its floor composition. NASA would grant a radar to photograph and map the surface.