DPIIT and MoRD launched ODOP Wall at SARAS Ajeevika StoreOne District One Product (ODOP) program, an initiative under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, collaborated with Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society (SARAS) Aajeevika, an initiative by Deendayal Antyodaya (DAY-NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development(MoRD) in New Delhi, Delhi.

 

• ODOP Wall was inaugurated at SARAS Aajeevika Store in New Delhi as part of the collaboration.
• In addition to directing consumers and enthusiasts to emporiums, the collaborative effort seeks to incorporate innovative features  like product tagging and story cards.

Note: The ‘ODOP Wall’ signifies India’s remarkable heritage of craftsmanship, ready to enchant international spectators and function as a dynamic platform that exhibits the nation’s unparalleled artistic legacy on a global scale.
Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society (SARAS) Aajeevika
i.SARAS Aajeevika demonstrates a commitment to women’s empowerment.
ii.The initiative places particular emphasis on elevating women artisans and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), acting as a dedicated platform for their meticulously crafted goods.
iii.Through this marketplace, SARAS Aajeevika enhances the capabilities and proficiencies of these women, enabling them to establish themselves as self-reliant entrepreneurs.
One District One Product (ODOP) program
i.ODOP initiative seeks to actualize national self-reliance by nurturing equitable regional progress across every district in the nation.
ii.This endeavor involves singling out, labeling, and advocating a distinctive product from each district, spotlighting the extensive array of products spanning diverse sectors such as handlooms and handicrafts.
iii.As a component of its broader expansion strategy, ODOP persists in establishing significant partnerships with governmental and private organizations, in accordance with its overarching objective of elevating India into a self-sustaining epicenter of unique artistry and entrepreneurial spirit.
About Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Union Minister – Piyush Goyal (Rajya Sabha Maharashtra)
Ministers of State – Shri Som Prakash and Anupriya Singh Patel
About Ministry of Rural Development
Union Minister – Giriraj Singh (Begusarai Constituency in Bihar)
Ministers of State – Faggansingh Kulaste

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches DBT in NAPS to strengthen apprenticeship ecosystemOn 12th August 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Ministry of Education(MoE), and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), launched Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) to encourage the participation of both corporates and young individuals towards apprenticeship training in India, at an event in New Delhi, Delhi.

• As part of the DBT launch, an amount of approximately Rs. 15 crores was disbursed to 1 lakh apprentices.
• Under the NAPS, the GoI reimburses 25% of the prescribed stipend, up to a maximum of Rs.1500/- per month per apprentice, engaged by employers.
• With the implementation of DBT, it is anticipated that the number of apprentices will further increase, expanding the coverage beyond the initial 30% target set under NAPS 2.0.

Analysis:
i.More than 25 Lakh apprentices have been engaged since the inception of NAPS in 2016 till 31st July 2023, whereas around 2.6 lakh Apprentices have completed training in the financial year (FY) 2023-2024.
ii.As a result of proactive initiatives by the government, to promote quality training across various sectors, the number of active establishments offering apprenticeships saw an increase to 40,655 in 2023-24 from 6,755 in 2018-19.
Key Highlights:
i.The Union Minister emphasized this initiative as perfectly aligning with the Government of India’s (GoI) vision of promoting aspirational skilling and encouraging the concept of “earning while learning,” as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP).
ii.The introduction of DBT in NAPS marks a move towards transparency and efficiency.
iii.The robust strategy, involving the evolution of policies, and collaboration with industries, underscores the importance of a skilled workforce in the growth of India.
iv.Notably, there has been an exceptional 488% increase in the number of establishments offering apprenticeship training since the inception of NAPS.

• Some of them were the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Agriculture (MCCIA) in Pune, Maharashtra, the Baddi Cluster from Himachal Pradesh, and the North Malabar Consortium Industry Cluster in Kannur, Kerala.

Chintan Shivir:
i.The MSDE also organized a “Chintan Shivir” on “Enhancing Apprenticeship Engagement” to elevate the uptake of apprenticeship programs across all stakeholders.
ii.The core objective of Chintan Shivir was to foster collaboration among central and state governments, industry bodies, and the private sector.
iii.The Chintan Shivir was divided into 3 breakout sessions themed on: Stakeholder Convergences to Make Apprenticeship Aspirational; Strategies and Practices to Promote Quality Apprenticeship and Create a Diverse and Inclusive Apprenticeship Ecosystem, respectively.
iv.The deliberations revolved around, fostering dialogue; increasing apprenticeship uptake; enhancing quality; and ensuring equal opportunities for marginalized and underserved communities.
Few Key achievements of NAPS:
i.In FY 2023-24, approximately 2.6 lakh apprentices successfully completed their training.
ii.Women apprentices have also increased from 22,427 in 2018-19 to 1.48 lakh in FY 2022-23, registering a nearly 7-fold increase in the last 5 years.
iii.The number of active establishments has subsequently increased from 6,755 in 2018-19 to 40,655 in 2023-24.
iv.States like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana have emerged as leaders in the apprenticeship engagement chart.
v.This inclusive approach extends to regions like the North Eastern Region, aspirational districts, and tribal districts.

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NHPC Signed MoU With Universal Health Foundation For Basic Infrastructure Facilities
NHPC Ltd. (formerly known as National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd.) the largest hydropower development organization in India, signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universal Health Foundation under its Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) initiative.

• The MoU aims to provide basic infrastructure facilities to Universal Health Foundation for setting up of Gramin Gyan Jyoti Kendras by NHPC Ltd in government schools located in nine villages of Jodhpur (Rajasthan) & one village of Nagore (Rajasthan).

Additionally, The Reading Room cum Online Coaching Center  facility for poor students from  educationally backward villages of Rajasthan will be made available to access modern learning tools as well as to provide coaching for higher studies and competitive examinations.

 

MeitY inaugurates Renewable Energy Microgrid Power Plant for rural communities
Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) launched the innovative Technology of a Hybrid Green Energy Microgrid, developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, as part of the National Mission on Power Electronics Technology (NaMPET) Program for rural communities’ electrical energy requirements.

• The ceremony took place at the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre (ERC), Kottoor, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala). The reliable green energy-based microgrids have emerged as a dependable power source for critical systems within Veterinary hospital setups in the ERC.
• A renewable energy microgrid is an autonomous, localised, and self-contained energy system that incorporates renewable energy sources as its primary generation inputs.
• In the microgrid scheme implemented in ERC, a unique 25 kilo Watt Power Conditioning Unit (PCU) technology, using Silicon Carbide and a Wide Band Gap (WBG) Semiconductor device operating at 50 kilo Hertz and avoiding bulky 50Hz transformer that makes the system very compact and a container-based deployment in a remote location is realised.
• The initiative and support are provided by the Forest Department of the Government of Kerala for Green technology evaluation, which is effectively being used in the rehabilitation of wild animals too.

Zayed Talwar 2023, a Bilateral Naval Exercise Between India & UAE held in Dubai “Zayed Talwar 2023”, a bilateral naval maritime partnership exercise was held between the Indian Navy (IN), India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navy from 8th to 11th August 2023 in Dubai, UAE.

• From India, INS (Indian Navy Ship) Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand participated. The delegation of IN was commanded by Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF).
• INS Visakhapatnam is an indigenously developed destroyer, and is commanded by Captain Ashok Rao, whereas INS Trikand, an advanced stealth frigate, is commanded by Captain Pramod G Thomas.

Aim:
To enhance the interoperability and synergy between the IN and UAE Navy by cross-training on tactics, techniques and procedures while also developing stronger professional bonds
Key Points:
i.Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty and UAE’s Brigadier Abdullah Farj Al Mehairbi met at Abu Dhabi Naval Command to enhance naval cooperation.
ii.They agreed to boost interactions between their navies and tackle challenges like piracy and maritime security.
iii.Discussions also included joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
iv.Rear Admiral McCarty also paid a visit to the Indian Ambassador to UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, and informed him about the exercise and naval partnership roadmap under the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE):
Capital– Abu Dhabi
Currency– UAE Dirham
Crown Prince– Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

 

Chakr Innovation Secures Rs 18 Crore Funding from EXIM Bank’s USP for Sustainable Environment
Chakr Innovation Pvt Ltd, a Gurugram (Haryana)- based technology start-up focused on environmental sustainability and pollution reduction solutions, secured substantial funding of Rs.18 crores from the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) under its Ubharte Sitare Programme (USP), for developing the environmental sustainability and technology sector in India.

• The funds were sanctioned under EXIM Bank’s USP, reflecting the institution’s commitment to promoting domestic growth and addressing international demands.

Note:

• Chakr Innovation has developed the world’s first retrofit emission control device for diesel generators, and their technology can reduce ~70% of particulate matter emissions from the exhaust of diesel generators.
• EXIM bank is the premier export finance institution, established by the Government of India, under the Export-Import Bank of India Act, 1981. It commenced its operations in March 1982 and is operating under the Ministry of Finance.

 

PNB & Amul Signs MoU To provide Finance Through MUDRA
Punjab National Bank (PNB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMFL) also known as Amul, to finance Amul’s retailers, wholesale dealers/area milk distributors and exclusive Amul preferred outlets-milk parlours.

• The financing is made through small ticket financing under Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency (MUDRA).
• By the association, both the partners extend assistance to over 11 lakh retailers, wholesale dealers, and numerous other stakeholders.

Other Services:
Additional offerings encompass the seamless incorporation of diverse digital mediums such as QR codes, point of sale (POS) systems, Unified Payment Interface (UPI), along with digital supply chain finance and electronic collection of Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) and facilitation of working capital limits.

Myra Grover honoured with ‘Empowered Women Icon Award’ by House of Lords, UK ParliamentMyra Grover, a distinguished author and Secretary of the New Delhi Social Workers Association (NDSWA) has been awarded the Prestigious ‘Women Icon Award‘, an international recognition and award from the House of Lords, the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament, for her contributions to the society in the domain of Mental Wellness.

• Dr. Gaurav Grover, Chairman of NDSWA, a Delhi based Non-Profit Organisation(NGO) has been honored with the Bharat Gaurav Samman by the House of Lords, UK Parliament.
• The ‘Women Icon Award’ by the House of Lords, UK’s upper house, honors exceptional women for impactful contributions in their fields, inspiring communities globally.

About Myra Grover:
i.She is one of the youngest members of NDSWA, as well as the India Luxury Foundation.
ii.She has actively campaigned for the growth of sustainable practices in fashion and the environment as well as for the elimination of single-use plastic.
iii.In 2022, she launched the cover of her book, ‘The Evolving Mindset – A Psychological Lens into 21st-Century Youth Culture’ at the biggest wellness event in New Delhi, Delhi.
Award Ceremony:
i.The award ceremony took place at an event, Bharat Mahotsav – Festival of One India in the UK at the House of Lords, the second chamber of the UK Parliament.
ii.Confluence NGO has been organising the event, which is renowned for its efforts in promoting Indian Craft & Culture and facilitating Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings to felicitate people with excellence in their respective fields.

• The event was supported by Mrs. Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India (GoI), as the Chief Guest.

iii.Confluence NGO, celebrated the theme of ‘Amrit Kaal’ – Transforming India to New India. Through various events, the organisation commemorated 75 years of Indian Independence.
Note: The Confluence NGO was established on August 21, 2017 as a ‘Make In India’ Entrepreneur is in-line with the GoI’s vision of promoting Khadi and the Handloom Industry to Empower Women from rural villages.
About United Kingdom:
Capital– London
Prime Minister– Rishi Sunak
Currency– Pound sterling (GBP)

 

“Champaran Mutton” India’s Only Movie In Oscar’s Semi Final List
The film “Champaran Mutton,” directed by Ranjan Umakrishnan, a student from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune(Maharashtra), has successfully advanced to the semifinals of the Student Academy Awards category of the Oscar award.

 

• The movie stands along with a competition among 17 films, a remarkable feat considering the rigorous selection process from an initial pool of 2400 films.
• The award is given by Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

About Champaran Mutton:
i.‘Bajjika dialect,’ primarily spoken in regions encompassing Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, and Begusarai, serves as the linguistic foundation for ‘Champaran Mutton’
ii.This achievement marks the first time in 40 years that an Indian film has secured a spot in this award category; previously, Vidhu Binod Chopra had achieved this distinction

 

Asian Champions Trophy 2023 : Indian won Men’s Hockey Team by Defeating Malaysia

The Indian Men’s hockey team won the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2023 Title by defeating Malaysia(4-3) in the finals in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

• This victory marks India’s 4th win in the tournament including 2011,2016,2018,2023  and becomes the Successful team in the tournament surpassing Pakistan(2012,2013,2018).
• Japan’s men’s hockey team defeated South Korea to secure the Bronze Medal(3rd place).
• The 7th edition of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 held from 3rd to 12th August 2023 in the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

About Asian Hockey Federation(AHF):
President – Dato Fumio Ogura
Headquarters -Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
Established -1958

 

Padma Shri Recipient and Former President of JNCASR MRS Rao Passed AwayFormer President of  Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR)(Bengaluru, Karnataka) and Padma Shri award recipient Professor Manchanahalli Rangaswamy Satyanarayana Rao, popularly known as MRS Rao passed away. He was born in 1948 in Mysuru, Karnataka.

• He served as JNCASR president from 2003 to 2013. Before 2003, he was the Chairman in Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science(IISC),Bengaluru.

Awards & Recognitions:
i.He received Padma Shri Award in 2010 for Science and Engineering.
ii.Goyal Prize by Kurukshetra University to honour eminent scientist in 2012-13.
iii.Year of Science(YoS) Chair Professor award for 2019-24 by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a premier funding agency to support basic research in frontier areas of Science and Engineering.
iv.Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry(FICCI) Award 2004-05 for the significant work in the category of Research & Development in Life Sciences.
Professional Activities:
i.MRS Rao was the Chairman of Research Council, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology(CCMB), Hyderabad from 2001 to 2003.
ii.He was also Chairman of  Task Force on Human Genetics and Genome Analysis, Dept of Biotechnology from 2003 to 2009.
iii.He also served as Chairman of Ramalingaswamy Fellowship selection committee,Dept of Biotechnology from 2017 to 2020.

International Youth Day 2023 – August 12 United Nations (UN’s) International Youth Day is annually observed on 12th August across the globe to celebrate the potential and contributions of young individuals to society and to create awareness about the problems faced by them globally. The day also aimed to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth.

• The 2023 Theme of International Youth Day is “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World“.

Background:
i.The idea for International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 by young people who gathered in Vienna, Austria, for the first session of the UN’s World Youth Forum.

 

• The Forum in partnership with youth organizations, recommended declaring International Youth Day, especially for fund-raising, to support the UN’s Youth Fund.

ii.In 1998, a resolution proclaiming 12 August as International Youth Day was adopted by the first session of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, hosted by the Government of Portugal in cooperation with the UN in Lisbon.
iii.On 17th December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), endorsed the proclamation in its resolution A/RES/54/120 entitled “Policies and programmes involving youth”.
iv.The first International Youth Day was observed on 12th August 2000.

World Elephant Day 2023 – August 12 World Elephant Day is annually celebrated on 12th August across the globe to increase public awareness of the preservation and protection of elephants, the ‘Gentle Giants‘ worldwide.

• This day also highlights the challenges encountered by the elephants, including habitat loss, poaching for ivory, human-elephant conflicts, and the need for better conservation efforts.

The 2023 theme of World Elephant Day is “Ending the Illegal Wildlife Trade“, which emphasises the significance of stopping the illegal trade in elephants and other animal products.
Background:
i.The idea of observing World Elephant Day was given by Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and Michael Clark of Canazwest Pictures and Sivaporn Dardarananda, Secretary–General of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation in Thailand.
ii.The first World Elephant Day was officially founded, supported, and launched by Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation on 12 August 2012.

• Since 2012, Patricia Sims continues to lead, support, and direct World Elephant Day, which is now recognised and celebrated by over 100 wildlife organisations in countries across the globe.

World Organ Donation Day 2023 – August 13 World Organ Donation Day is annually observed on the 13th August across the globe to spread awareness about the importance of organ donation to save more lives and to make people aware of the misconceptions about organ donation.

• This day also aims to spread awareness and increase the number of people volunteering to donate their organs after death and to thank organ donors for their life-saving contributions.

The 2023 theme of World Organ Donation Day is “Step up to volunteer; we need more organ donors to fill the lacunae”.
Note: The theme focuses on demanding urgent attention from the local public to emphasises the significance of pledging for organ donation, with the aim of alleviating the ever-growing demand for organs.
Background:
i.The world’s first-ever successful living donor organ (Kidney) transplant was performed in 1954 in the United States of America (USA).

 

• A man named, Ronald Lee Herrick donated his kidney to his twin brother, Richard Lee Herrick.

ii.The doctor who performed this surgery was named Dr. Joseph Murray. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1990 for bringing advances in organ and cell transplantation in the treatment of human disease.
iii.Dr. Joseph Murray shared with E. Donnall Thomas, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for his development of bone marrow transplantation, which could cure patients with advanced leukemia.

Telangana launched India’s 1st Agricultural Data Exchange platform and ADMFK Taraka Rama Rao, Cabinet Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (IT, E&C), Telangana, launched India’s first Agricultural Data Exchange (ADeX) and Agriculture Data Management Framework (ADMF) in Hyderabad, Telangana. The ADeX has been developed as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the agriculture sector.

• ADeX is a collaboration between the Telangana Government, the World Economic Forum (WEF), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Banglore(Bengaluru, Karnataka).
• Both ADeX and ADMF provide the right platform to ensure fair and efficient usage of agricultural data by the industry and start-ups and provide a big growth to the data economy specifically in the agriculture sector.
• These initiatives will create a comprehensive data economy for the future of agriculture and will enable large-scale innovation that will drive impact to the farmer community.

 

ADeX Platform:
i.It is an open-source, open-standard, and interoperable public good platform.
ii.Its primary goal is to democratise data access and equip both public and private sectors to develop applications and deliver services to benefit society.
iii.ADeX software platform facilitates the secure, standards-based exchange of data between agricultural data users like agri application developers and agricultural data providers like government agencies, private companies, etc.
iv.In Phase-I of the project, the ADeX Platform is currently deployed in Khammam city of Telangana and will be expanded to the entire Telangana state subsequently.
Agriculture Data Management Framework (ADMF):
i.ADF has been developed after extensive public and industry consultations on data protection, management, and innovation.
ii.Informed by domestic laws and regulations and converging global best practices, it is a forward-looking framework, with the objective of facilitating consent-based responsible data sharing.
iii.ADMF is applicable to all government departments dealing with agricultural activities as well as all agriculture information users and providers. The framework provides for a robust grievance redressal mechanism.
iv.The framework envisages an Inter-Departmental Committee, which will issue standard operating procedures and guidance on key aspects such as access controls, data quality, data service providers, etc.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister– K. Chandrashekar Rao
Governor– Tamilisai Soundararajan
Zoological Park– Nehru Zoological Park, Vana Vigyan Kendra Mini Zoo (Kakatiya Zoological Park)

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Multi-Level Flyover in Pune & launches One Pune CardThe Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) inaugurated Rs 865 crore multi-level flyover built at Chandni Chowk in Pune, Maharashtra.

 

• This bridge with a total length of 16.98 km will address traffic congestion in the city.
• The internal and external service roads have been aligned with Mumbai-Bengaluru National Highway

TODAY’S DAILY NEWS DIGEST (DND)