National
Dare to Dream 2.0
⇒ Dare to Dream 2.0:
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh felicitated the winners of ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’ Contest of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) in New Delhi on October 04, 2021.
The Raksha Mantri gave away awards to 40 winners – 22 in Individual category and 18 in Startup category.
Winners of Dare to Dream 2.0
Dare to Dream 3.0:
He also launched ‘Dare to Dream 3.0’ to promote innovators & startups and provide a platform for the young ignited minds in the country.
DRDO Young Scientists awards:
Shri Rajnath Singh also gave away DRDO Young Scientists awards for the year 2019. Sixteen DRDO scientists, under the age of 35 years, were awarded for their outstanding contribution in areas of their expertise.
On this occasion, three products/systems indigenously developed by DRDO were also handed over to the Armed Forces.
These are:
- ARINC818 Video Processing and Switching Module
- Sonar Performance Modelling System
- Bund Blasting Device Mk-II
Policy Documents:
Shri Rajnath Singh also released two policy documents of DRDO – Directed Research Policy and Records Management Policy 2021.
- Directed Research Policy provides framework for establishment of Advanced Technology Centres and Research Cells in academic institutes for focussed research on identified subjects such as futuristic surveillance and defensive and offensive capabilities.
- The Records Management Policy aims to further strengthen the records management activities of DRDO.
About Dare to Dream:
- Dare to Dream is DRDO’s pan-India contest to promote Indian academicians, individuals and startups to develop emerging defence and aerospace technologies/systems.
- DRDO provides technical and financial support to the winners for realisation of their ideas under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme.
Azadi@75 – New Urban India: Transforming Urban Landscape’ Conference-cum-Expo
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Azadi@75 – New Urban India: Transforming Urban Landscape’ Conference-cum-Expo in Lucknow on 05 October 2021.
The theme of this three-day event was New Urban India. The exhibition lasted until 7 October.
The exhibition highlighted the achievements and the flagship urban development missions undertaken in the past 7 years of the Modi government.
Indian Housing Technology Mela:
The Indian Housing Technology Mela (IHTM) with 100 participants was the biggest attraction of the Conference-cum-Expo.
IHTM participants are from across the country, from private and government sectors; Representatives of technology providers of proven and potential technologies; Manufacturers, building centres, innovators from IITs, R&D institutes; State/Local bodies, implementing agencies of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) and agencies involved in six Light house Projects (LHPs) initiated in six different States as a part of Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC-India).
Key Points:
» On the occasion, the Prime Minister digitally handed over keys of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) houses to 75,000 beneficiaries in 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
» He inaugurated/laid the foundation stone of 75 Urban Development Projects of Uttar Pradesh under Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT.
» He flagged off 75 buses under FAME-II for seven cities including Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Jhansi and Ghaziabad.
» The Prime Minister also announced the setting up of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Chair in Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow.
International
International Conference to commemorate 30th anniversary of the signing of the Madrid Protocol
⇒ Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh addressed the International Conference to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Protocol on Environmental Protection (Madrid protocol) of the Antarctic Treaty.
Participants:
The Conference was attended virtually by Prime Minister of the host country Spain Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison, Ministers and delegates representing the different countries signatory to the Protocol.
Addressing the International Conference, Dr Jitendra Singh said:
- India is committed to curtail carbon emissions in the Antarctic atmosphere.
- India is looking forward to contributing to the evolving Climate Change Response Work Programme of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP).
- India is committed to the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems, and the designation of Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science.
Background:
» India signed the Antarctic Treaty on 19th August 1983 and soon thereafter received consultative status on 12th September 1983.
» The Madrid Protocol was signed by India which came into force on 14th January, 1998.
» India is one of the 29 Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty.
» India is also a member of Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programme (COMNAP) and Scientific Committee of Antarctica Research (SCAR).
» India has two active research stations:
- Maitri (commissioned in 1989) at Schirmacher Hills
- Bharati (commissioned in 2012) at Larsemann Hills in Antarctica
» The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed in Madrid on October 4, 1991 and entered into force in 1998. It designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve, devoted to peace and science”.
2021 International Emmy Awards
⇒ The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the winners of the 2021 International Emmy Awards on 22 November 2021 at an in-person Black-Tie Gala event in New York City. This was the 49th edition of the International Emmy Awards.
1 Special Award and 11 Emmy statues were presented by the International Academy.
2021 International Emmy Awards Winners
Important Day
World Mental Health Day 2021
⇒ World Mental Health Day is observed globally on 10 October every year to raise awareness on mental health issues and mobilize efforts to support mental health.
Theme:
The theme for World Mental Health Day 2021, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is ‘Mental health in an unequal world’.
History:
World Mental Health Day was first observed on October 10, 1992 as an annual activity of World Federation for Mental Health.
Celebrations in India:
Mental Health Awareness Campaign Week:
The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare observed Mental Health Awareness Campaign Week, which began on 05 October and culminated on the World Mental health Day.
The Mental Health Awareness Campaign week was observed under the guidance of the Union Health Minister, aimed at encouraging people’s participation to break the stigma surrounding mental disorders.
UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children Report:
As part of the activities envisaged for the Mental Health Awareness Campaign Week, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemical & Fertilizers released the UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children Report on 05 October 2021.
The report takes a comprehensive look at the mental health of children, adolescents and caregivers in the 21st century.