National Education Policy 2020, MoU between India and Zimbabwe, First UDAN-RCS service launched in Uttarakhand, Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale aircraft arrived
1. National Education Policy 2020 for transformational reforms in school and higher education systems in the country
- The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the National Education Policy 2020, making way for large scale, transformational reforms in both school and higher education sectors.
- This is the first education policy of the 21st century and replaces the thirty-four year old National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986.
- Built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability, this policy is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, suited to 21st century needs and aimed at bringing out the unique capabilities of each student.
- New Policy aims for Universalization of Education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 % GER in school education by 2030.
- NEP 2020 will bring 2 crore out of school children back into the main stream.
- New 5+3+3+4 school curriculum with 12 years of schooling and 3 years of Anganwadi/ Pre-schooling.
- Emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, no rigid separation between academic streams, extracurricular, vocational streams in schools ; Vocational Education to start from Class 6 with Internships.
- Teaching upto at least Grade 5 to be in mother tongue/ regional language.
- Assessment reforms with 360 degree Holistic Progress Card, tracking Student Progress for achieving Learning Outcomes.
- GER in higher education to be raised to 50 % by 2035 ; 3.5 crore seats to be added in higher education.
- Higher Education curriculum to have Flexibility of Subjects.
- Multiple Entry / Exit to be allowed with appropriate certification
- Academic Bank of Credits to be established to facilitate Transfer of Credits
- National Research Foundation to be established to foster a strong research culture
- Light but Tight Regulation of Higher Education, single regulator with four separate verticals for different functions
- Affiliation System to be phased out in 15 years with graded autonomy to colleges
- NEP 2020 advocates increased use of technology with equity; National Educational Technology Forum to be created
- NEP 2020 emphasizes setting up of Gender Inclusion Fund, Special Education Zones for disadvantaged regions and groups
- New Policy promotes Multilingualism in both schools and HEs; National Institute for Pali, Persian and Prakrit , Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation to be set up
2. MoU between India and Zimbabwe on Medicine and Homeopathy
- The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Republic of India and the Republic of Zimbabwe on Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy.
- The MoU was signed on November 3rd, 2018.
- This will provide a frame work for the cooperation between the two countries for the promotion of traditional systems of medicine and homeopathy and will mutually benefit the two countries in the field of Traditional Medicine.
- The main objective of the MoU is to strengthen, promote and develop co-operation in the field of traditional systems of medicine between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
The MoU identifies following areas of cooperation:
- Promotion in the regulation of teaching, practice, drugs, and drugless therapies within the scope of the MoU
- Supply of all medicine materials and documents necessary for demonstration and reference in achieving the objectives specified within the framework of the MoU;
- Exchange of experts for the training of practitioners, paramedics, scientists, teaching professionals and students;
- Accommodation of interested scientists, practitioners, paramedics and students in Institutions for Research, Educational and Training Programmes;
- Mutual recognition of Pharmacopoeias and Formularies;
- Mutual recognition of systems of medicines which are officially recognized by the Parties;
- Mutual recognition of Educational Qualifications awarded Central/State recognized Universities of the Parties;
- Provision of Scholarships for education in recognized Institutions;
- Recognition of traditional preparations on a reciprocal basis by the qualified practitioners as per the existing laws of the respective Countries;
- Permission to practice on reciprocal basis by the qualified practitioners as per the existing laws of the respective Countries;
- Any other areas and/or forms of cooperation mutually agreed upon subsequently by the Parties.
3. First UDAN-RCS service launched in Uttarakhand
- 274 UDAN routes have been operationalized so far connecting 45 airports and 3 heliports since the launch of the first UDAN flight in April 2017.
- Flagging off the first helicopter service by Pawan Hans in Uttarakhand today under the UDAN-RCS scheme, Shri Puri said that launch of the heli service and opening of these new routes will bring people of the state closer and support tourism in the region.
- This service will enable connectivity between Dehradun, New Tehri, Srinagar and Gauchar.
- Commencement of the new heli services will enhance the aerial connectivity between hilly regions in Uttarakhand and bring down the average travel time to 20-25 minutes.
- This will also assist the Chaar Dhaam Yatra pilgrims.
- Pawan Hans Ltd. will operate thrice-weekly helicopter services on this route.
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is provided to both operators and passengers under the UDAN scheme to keep the fares affordable for the common people.
- Accordingly the fare for these routes is Rs. 2900 per seat.
- MoCA awarded the Dehradun- New Tehri – Srinagar – Gauchar route to Pawan Hans Ltd. under the UDAN 2 bidding process.
- Two more networks connecting Dehradun to Ramnagar, Pantnagar, Nainital, Almora, Pithoragarh, and Dehradun to Mussoorie will also be operationalised soon by Pawan Hans Ltd.
- Three rounds of UDAN have already been undertaken and so far close to 50 lakh passengers have travelled in UDAN flights covering airports in 19 States and 2 UTs.
- The fourth round of UDAN is under process.
- The Scheme has been able to fulfill the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister and keep up the motto of “Sab Uden, Sab Juden”.
4. Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale aircraft have arrived
- The first batch of five Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) five Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale aircraft have arrived at Air Force Station, Ambala.
- The aircraft got airborne from Dassault Aviation Facility, Merignac, France on the morning of 27 Jul 20 and reached India this afternoon with a planned stopover en-route at Al Dhafra airbase in the UAE.
- The ferry was planned in two stages and was undertaken by IAF pilots.
- The aircraft covered a distance of nearly 8500 km from France to India.
- First stage of the flight covered a distance of 5800 km in seven and a half hours.
- French Air Force (FAF) Tanker provided dedicated Air-to-Air Refuelling support during the flight.
- The second stage of the flight covering over 2700 km was carried out with Air-to-Air Refuelling by IAF Tanker.
- IAF deeply appreciates the proactive support provided by the French Government and Industry in France to ensure timely delivery.
- The tanker support extended by French Air Force during the ferry was crucial in ensuring that the long haul flight was accomplished successfully and in a time bound manner.
- The aircraft will be a part of 17 Squadron, the “Golden Arrows”, which was resurrected on 10 Sep 19.
- The Squadron was originally raised at Air Force Station, Ambala on 01 Oct 1951.
- 17 Squadron has many firsts to its credit in 1955 it was equipped with first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire.
- In Aug 1957, the Squadron became the first to convert on to a swept wing fighter, the Hawker Hunter.
- A formal induction ceremony of Rafale aircraft in 17 Squadron is scheduled to be held in the second half of Aug 2020.
- The touch down of Rafale combat aircraft in India marks the beginning of a new era in our Military History.
- These multirole aircraft will revolutionise the capabilities of the IAF.
- This aircraft has very good flying performance and its weapons, radar and other sensors and electronic warfare capabilities are amongst the best in the world.
- Its arrival in India will make the IAF much stronger to deter any threat that may be posed on our country.
- The Rafale jets were purchased when they fully met the operational requirements of the IAF.
- The baseless allegations against this procurement have already been answered and settled.
- If it is anyone who should be worried about or critical about this new capability of the Indian Air Force, it should be those who want to threaten our territorial integrity.
- Earlier, Captain of the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kolkata welcomed Rafale Arrow Leader in the Indian Ocean by saying, “May you touch the sky with glory.”
- The five Rafale aircraft escorted by two SU30 MKIs as they entered Indian airspace.
