CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
World day against trafficking in persons
- The world day against trafficking in persons is marked on July 30 every year to raise awareness about the menace of human trafficking and to protect the human rights of the victims.
- It was the first time in 2013 when the United Nations General Assembly designated 30 July as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. And the same year, the UN General Assembly held a high-level meeting to form a global plan of action to tackle Trafficking in persons.
- The theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking focuses on first responders to human trafficking.“Committed To The Cause -Working On The Frontline To End Human Trafficking”.
International Day of Friendship
- International Day of Friendshipis observed annually on July 30 to cherish the bond of friendship which will ultimately help to develop love and peace among human beings.
- Friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL
HRD Ministry renamed as Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Human Resource Development has been renamed as Ministry of Education.
- The Union Cabinet has approved the change in the name of the ministry. The HRD Ministry is currently headed by Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
- The Union Cabinet has approved the draft New Education Policy (NEP 2020), which aims to revamp of all aspects of Indian education structure.
- The education policy was released in the year 1986, as for 34 years there were no changes in the education policy.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reviewed the NEP- 2020, for which draft was prepared by a panel of experts led by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K Kasturirangan.
- Under the new system, flexibility will be given to students both in choosing the subjects for education as well as in the entry and exit in college degree
- Any student can exit a degree programme from the first year onwards if he/she wants only a certificate. Once two years are completed, a diploma will be awarded and post the completion of the three-year or four-year curriculum, the degree will be awarded.
- The National Education Policy will put a thrust on use of mother tongue as medium of instruction till the fifth grade. Further, subjects wouldn’t be restricted to students purely based on their educational background.
- Further, Phil programme will be discontinued. Students can also do a four-year degree programme, one-year Masters and then directly go to the doctoral programme.
- School students will also get an opportunity to do vocational education programmes under the new policy from the sixth grade.
- Instead of having different regulatory bodies like All India Council for Technical Education, University Grants Commission and other local niche entities, there will be one single higher education regulator.
- Use of schools/ school complexes beyond school hours and public library spaces for adult education courses which will be ICT-equipped when possible and for other community engagement and enrichment activities.
- NIOS will develop high-quality modules to teach Indian Sign Language, and to teach other basic subjects using Indian Sign Language.
- Pre-school sections covering at least one year of early childhood care and education will be added to Kendriya Vidyalayas and other primary schools around the nation, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
- NCC wings in secondary and higher secondary schools under Ministry of Defence
- Free boarding facilities will be built – matching the standard of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas particularly for students who from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds
- National Scholarship portal for SC, ST, OBC, SEDGs students to be expanded.
- By 2030, the minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a 4-year integrated B.Ed. degree.
- Education sector to get 6% of GDP, earlier it was 1.7%
- Bagless days will be encouraged throughout the year for various types of enrichment activities involving arts, quizzes, sports, and vocational crafts.
- The three-language learned by children will be the choices of States, regions, and of the students, so long as at least two of the three languages are native to India.
- Nutrition and health cards, regular health check-ups for school students.
- National Mission on Foundation Literacy and Numeracy to be set up by MHRD.
- Tech- based option for adult learning through apps, TV channels etc.
- The National Testing Agency (NTA) will offer a high-quality common aptitude test, as well as specialized common subject exams in the sciences, humanities, languages, arts, and vocational subjects, at least twice every year for university entrance exams.
- Students will get 360 degree holistic report card, which will not only inform about the marks obtained by them in subjects, but also their skills and other important points.
- Coding to be taught from class 6 onwards.
- National Curricular and pedagogical framework to be developed by NCERT.
- Financial Autonomy to be given to 45K affiliated colleges
- An Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) shall be established which would digitally store the academic credits earned.
- NEP aims at setting up at least one large multidisciplinary institution in or near every district by the year 2030.
- IITs to become multidisciplinary institution, opening doors for humanities students.
- International Students Office at each institution hosting foreign students
- National Research Foundation (NRF) to be established.
- The new academic session will begin in September-October – the delay is due to the unprecedented coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak – and the government aims to introduce the policy before the new session begins.
- This includes legal education and medical education as well. There will be an independent board of governors and a graded autonomy system will be launched.
About Ministry of Education (MoE)
- Union Minister– Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’
- Constituency: Haridwar, Uttarakhand
Ayush Minister launches dedicated Web-Portal for National AYUSH Mission
- Ayush Minister Shripad Yesso Naik reviewed the centrally- sponsored scheme of National Ayush Mission and operationalization of AYUSH Health and Wellness Centers during a webinar of Health and Ayush Ministers of all states.
- Mr Naik requested Health and Ayush Ministers to give due focus to the early establishment and operationalization of AYUSH Health and Wellness Centers to strengthen the primary Healthcare delivery system in real-terms and to extend the AYUSH health care to the needy. He emphasized the need to speed up the pace of work sanctioned under National AYUSH Mission and AYUSH Health and Wellness Centers, so that the benefit may reach to the common people.
- On this occasion, Mr Naik launched a dedicated Web-Portal for National AYUSH Mission for submission of State Annual Action Plans, Utilization Certificates, Physical and Financial Progress report, and other informations related to the Ministry. The Minister also released 4 publications including Operational Guidelines for establishment of AYUSH Health and Wellness Centers.
About Ayush Ministry:
- Shripad Naik, Minister of State (Independent charge)
- Constituency: North Goa
