National
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Report submitted to EAC-PM by IFC
⇒ The Foundational Literacy and Numeracy report was released by Dr Bibek Debroy, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM).
- The report was released at #TheIndiaDialog organised by Institute for Competitiveness and US-Asia Technology Management Center, Stanford University, on February 23 & 24, 2023.
- The report has been authored by Amit Kapoor, Chair, Institute for Competitiveness, Natalia Chakma, Researcher, Institute for Competitiveness, and Sheen Zutshi, Research Manager, Institute for Competitiveness.
Highlights:
- The second edition of the State of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy highlights the focus on language as a critical foundational skill and its importance in acquiring early literacy.
- A special section in the report covers insights into states/UTs to assess children’s learning outcomes on the National Achievement Survey (NAS) and Foundational Learning Study (FLS) 2022.
- State profiles and their performance on Distance from the Frontier are covered, enabling states/Union Territories to track progress on foundational learning.
- The report continues to be a benchmark for states and union territories to track their performance relative to their peers in achieving universal foundational learning by 2026-27.
- The report’s findings cover the role of nutrition, access to digital technology and language-focused instructional approach.
- It is further recommended to undertake various assessments pertaining to the linguistic system (includes phonology, vocabulary/lexicon, and syntax), the orthographic system (includes symbols and mapping principles), and the writing mechanisms and move the focus to improving the periodicity of NAS and the sample size of FLS for assessing the learning outcomes effectively.
- And finally, the need for data monitoring at a disaggregated level for FLN outcomes is also required to be integrated into the system, along with clearly defined outcome-based indicators on pedagogical framework and education in India.
About IFC:
- Institute for Competitiveness, India is the Indian knot in the global network of the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School.
- Institute for Competitiveness, India is an international initiative centered in India, dedicated to enlarging and purposeful disseminating of the body of research and knowledge on competition and strategy.
- Institute for Competitiveness, India conducts & supports indigenous research; offers academic & executive courses; provides advisory services to the Corporate & the Governments and organises events.
- The institute studies competition and its implications for company strategy; the competitiveness of nations, regions & cities and thus generate guidelines for businesses and those in governance; and suggests & provides solutions for socio-economic problems.
International
RIIG Conference on Scientific Challenges and Opportunities for a Sustainable Blue Economy
⇒ The G20 Research Innovation and Initiative Gathering (RIIG) Conference on Scientific Challenges and Opportunities for a Sustainable Blue Economy, was held at Diu on May 18, 2023.
- A total of 35 foreign delegates and 40 Indian experts and invitees from various scientific departments/ organisations of Govt of India, participated in the conference.
- The meeting was chaired by Dr. Srivari Chandrasekhar, Secretary DST who is also G20 RIIG-Chair.
Dr Chandrasekhar in his opening remarks said India has a multi-pronged plan for coastal area development comprising transforming the blue economy, improvement of coastal infrastructure, and protecting the marine ecosystem.
The discussions of the conference were primarily focused on topics –
- Understanding the Blue Economy Science & Services;
- Blue Economy Sectors and Opportunities;
- Observation Data and Information Services;
- Marine Ecosystems & Pollution;
- Blue Economy Management and Perspectives;
- Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning;
- Marine Living Resources and Biodiversity;
- Deep Sea Ocean Technology; and
- Blue Economy Policy Perspectives.
» India also presented the first draft of the Research Ministers’ Declaration for discussion during the meeting. The Ministerial Declaration was adopted at the Research Ministers meeting held in Mumbai on July 5, 2023.
RIIG Summit on Research & Innovation for an Equitable Society
⇒ The RIIG Summit on Research & Innovation for an Equitable Society was held on July 04 – 06, 2023 in Mumbai.
» The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Dr. Srivari Chandrasekhar welcomed delegates at the G20 Research and Innovation Initiative (RIIG) Summit which started off in Mumbai on July 4, 2023.
- Recognising the significant role of research, development, and innovation in growth and development, Dr. Chandrasekhar highlighted the constructive participation of all G-20 member countries in the drafting of the Ministerial Declaration of the G20 science engagements.
» India has taken forward the Research and Innovation Initiative (RIIG) during its Presidency in 2023 under the theme “Research and Innovation for Equitable Society”.
- A total of 5 RIIG meetings/conferences have been hosted by India during 2023 under this theme.
» The meeting discussed and negotiated the draft Outcome Document at the RIIG Summit. It marked the culmination of the G20 science engagements that took place through a series of meetings in different parts of India during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023.
Research Ministers’ Meeting
» The G20 Research and Innovation Ministerial Meeting, chaired by Union Minister of State (I/C) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh was held in Mumbai from July 5 – 6, 2023.
- The Research Ministers of the G20 members and invitee countries, while endorsing and supporting the four priority discussion areas identified by India’s Presidency for Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG), re-affirmed the critical role of research and innovation for enabling inclusive and sustainable development and resolved to support all efforts for transforming research and innovation systems to respond to the changing world of the 21st century and address the challenges of tomorrow.
- The RIIG Meetings during India’s G20 Presidency provided a platform for stakeholders from the Research and Innovation sector to share ideas and create new partnerships for achieving socio-economic equity.
- All G20 Research Ministers unanimously agreed to recommend the elevation of the Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) to the status of a formal Working Group, i.e., G20 Research and Innovation Working Group (RIWG) under the Sherpa Track.
» Based on the engagements and discussions on the priority areas– Materials for Sustainable Energy; Circular Bio-Economy; Eco-Innovations for Energy Transition; and Sustainable Blue Economy, which took place through a series of meetings under the broad theme of ‘Research and Innovation for an Equitable Society’, an “Outcome Document and Chair’s Summary” was issued after the meeting.
» On the last day of the meeting i.e., July 6, 2023, G20 delegates attending the RIIG Summit and Research Ministers’ Meeting visited IIT Bombay to see the research and innovation facilities at IIT Bombay.
Sports
All-India Inter SAI Takewondo Championship 2023
⇒ The All-India Inter SAI Takewondo Championship 2023 was held on February 24-26, 2023 in New Delhi.
All-India Inter SAI Takewondo Championship 2023 was organized in commemoration of the 50th year of India-Korea Diplomatic Relations.
Host:
Korean Cultural Centre, India co-hosted the All India Inter SAI Taekwondo Championship with Sports Authority of India under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India and Korea National Sport University.
About Competition:
» A total of 265 male and female Taekwondo athletes participated in competition which started off with a gala event on 24 February at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex.
- The athletes were part of 4 Sports Authority of India National Centres of Excellence in Lucknow, Bangalore, Guwahati and Trivandrum as well as 17 SAI Training Centres.
- The three-day Taekwondo Championship competition was held in Cadet (U-14), Junior (U-17) and Senior age groups.
» The competition was divided in two parts: Poomsae and Sparring called Kyorugi.
- The sparring, Kyorugi division was divided according to the competition rules of the World Taekwondo Federation in players` age and weight and Poomsae division was divided into men’s and women’s divisions only.
Prize:
The 10 Kyorugi and 2 Poomsae winners, who win gold medals in each category, will visit Korea National Sport University with the support of Korean government and receive an education and training program for about 3 weeks from the best professors as prize.
This event played an important role in development of Taekwondo in India as well as cultural exchange of Korea and India.