National
Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022
⇒ Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India published the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 on 24th August, 2022 to ensure environmentally sound management of waste batteries.
- New rules will replace Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001.
About New Rules:
- The rules cover all types of batteries, viz. Electric Vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries and industrial batteries.
- The rules function based on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) where the producers (including importers) of batteries are responsible for collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries and use of recovered materials from wastes into new batteries.
- EPR mandates that all waste batteries to be collected and sent for recycling/refurbishment, and its prohibits disposal in landfills and incineration. To meet the EPR obligations, producers may engage themselves or authorise any other entity for collection, recycling or refurbishment of waste batteries.
- The rules will enable setting up a mechanism and centralized online portal for exchange of EPR certificates between producers and recyclers/refurbishers to fulfil the obligations of producers.
- The rules promote setting up of new industries and entrepreneurship in collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries.
- Mandating the minimum percentage of recovery of materials from waste batteries under the rules will bring new technologies and investment in recycling and refurbishment industry and create new business opportunities.
- Prescribing the use of certain amount of recycled materials in making of new batteries will reduce the dependency on new raw materials and save natural resources.
- Online registration & reporting, auditing, and committee for monitoring the implementation of rules and to take measures required for removal of difficulties are salient features of rules for ensuring effective implementation and compliance.
- On the principle of Polluter Pays Principle, environmental compensation will be imposed for non-fulfilment of Extended Producer Responsibility targets, responsibilities and obligations set out in the rules. The funds collected under environmental compensation shall be utilised in collection and refurbishing or recycling of uncollected and non-recycled waste batteries.
‘Azadi Quest’, a series of online educational mobile games
⇒ As part of the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and to bring to forth the story of Indian freedom struggle, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur launched ‘Azadi Quest’, a series of online educational mobile games on 24 August 2022. ‘Azadi Quest’ has been developed in collaboration with Zynga India.
About Azadi Quest:
- The Publications Division signed an MoU with Zynga India to develop a series of games under the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on 24 August 2022.
- The Azadi Quest games are available in English and Hindi for the people of India. It is available worldwide from September 2022.
- The online gaming company Zynga India was established in 2010 in Bengaluru and has developed some of the most popular game franchises across mobile and web.
About Game:
- The unique game series, based on the concept of ‘Gamification of Education’ will revolutionize the education sector in the country.
- Game-based learning provides an equitable and lifelong education by expanding the learning process beyond the classroom and age.
- Azadi Quest series will impart the knowledge of India’s freedom struggle and the legends of country’s great freedom fighters, thereby inducing upon the players, a feeling of pride and a sense of duty and will be instrumental in removing the sense of colonial mindset.
- First game in the series is Azadi Quest: Match 3 Puzzle, a simple and easy to play casual game presenting the players with the colorful journey of India’s independence from 1857 to 1947.
- On the other hand, Azadi Quest: Heroes of Bharat is designed as a quiz game to test the knowledge of the players about the heroes of India’s independence through 750 questions spread across 75 levels.
International
Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan visits Australia
⇒ Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan was on a four-day visit to Australia to strengthen Indo-Austalian ties and to explore the connect, collaborate and cooperate aspect in education and skill development.
» During his 4-day visit, on 21st August, the Minister interacted with the Indian diaspora.
» Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan held a bilateral meeting and co-chaired the 6th meeting of Australia India Education Council (AIEC) with Australian Counterpart His Excellency Jason Clare at Western Sydney University (WSU) on 22 August 2022.
- During the Bilateral meeting, the Ministers had fruitful discussions on further strengthening cooperation in education, skill development, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
- Ministers also agreed to expand the cooperation in learning, skilling and research with a view to make education a key pillar under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- Shri Pradhan invited Australian team to hold the 7th meeting of the AIEC in India next year.
- Union Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan also visited various schools, higher education and skilling institutions in Sydney on 22 August. He visited TAFE NSF and The University of New South Wales (UNSW) based in Sydney.
- Shri Pradhan interacted with the Vice-Chancellors and senior representatives of the Australian Government, Department of Education at an event organised by Universities Australia on Transforming our Future through institutional collaboration at UNSW, Sydney.
» On 23rd August, 2022, the Minister visited the Kangan Institute and Deakin University in Melbourne. He met academicians and leaders of the Australian education and skilling ecosystem and vibrant Indian diaspora residing in Melbourne. Shri Pradhan also held a virtual bilateral meeting with HE Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Skills and Training.
» Union Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan held discussions with academic leaders of the top Group of Eight (G08) Australian Universities on building successful Australia-India research collaborations 24 August 2022.
- The Minister also interacted with the representatives of Australian Government academicians of Monash University and members of Australia Indian Chamber of Commerce at the dialogue on ‘Emerging Opportunities for Collaboration in Education, Research and Skill Sectors’.
Sports
1st Khelo India Women's Hockey League (U-16)
⇒ The 1st Khelo India Women’s Hockey League (U-16) for girls began on August 16, 2022 at the Major Dhyanchand Stadium in New Delhi.
» The Phase 1 of the 1st Khelo India Women’s Hockey League (U-16) was held from August 16 to 23, 2022. A total of 56 matches were played across seven days in the Phase 1, with a total of 16 teams participating.
- The Sports Authority of India has allocated a total of Rs 53.72 lakhs for 3 phases of the competition, which includes Prize money of Rs 15.5 lakh.
» Phase 1 of the Khelo India Women’s Hockey League (U-16) was in round-robin format.
» Phase 2 of the Khelo India Women’s Hockey League (U-16) is also in round-robin format. The final ranking of teams will be determined after the completion of first 2 phases. Phase 3 will consist of classification matches where each team will play a minimum of 3 matches.
Result:
» Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy, Sonepat have topped the Phase 1 of Khelo India Women’s Hockey League (U-16), which concluded at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium on 23 August 2022.
- The academy girls, coached by Kuldeep Siwach, won all of their 7 pool games with an incredible goal difference of +134; the team conceded just three times en-route to earning 21 points.
» HAR Hockey Academy, Haryana took the second position, while Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy stood third. They both finished on 19 points but HAR Academy recorded a better goal difference.