National
PM lays foundation stones of road projects worth over Rs 18,100 crore in Dausa and dedicates to the nation
⇒ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Rajasthan on 12 February 2023. PM laid the foundation stone, and dedicated to the nation road projects worth more than Rs 18,100 crore in Dausa Rajasthan.
Projects Details:
» Prime Minister’s emphasis on the building of excellent road infrastructure as an engine of growth, development and connectivity in New India, is being realised by the construction of a number of ongoing world class Expressways across the country. One such important project is Delhi Mumbai Expressway, whose first completed section, Delhi – Dausa – Lalsot, will be dedicated to the Nation by the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation, the 246 km Delhi – Dausa – Lalsot section of the Delhi Mumbai Expressway.
- The 246 km Delhi – Dausa – Lalsot section of the Delhi Mumbai Expressway has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 12,150 crore.
- This operationalization of this section will reduce the travel time from Delhi to Jaipur from 5 hours to around 3.5 hours and provide a major boost to the economic development of the entire region.
About Delhi Mumbai Expressway:
- Delhi Mumbai Expressway will be India’s longest expressway with a length of 1,386 km.
- It will reduce the travel distance between Delhi and Mumbai by 12% from 1,424 km to 1,242 Km and travel time will be reduced by 50% from 24 hrs to 12 hrs.
- It will pass through six states – Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra and connect major cities like Kota, Indore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Vadodara and Surat.
- The Expressway will also serve 93 PM Gati Shakti Economic Nodes, 13 Ports, 8 Major Airports and 8 multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) along with spurs to new upcoming greenfield airports such as Jewar Airport, Navi Mumbai Airport and JNPT port.
» During the programme, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of 247 kilometres of National Highway projects to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 5940 crore.
- This includes a 67-km long four-lane spur road from Bandikui to Jaipur to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 2000 crore, a six-lane spur road from Kotputli to Baraodaneo, to be developed at a cost of about Rs 3775 crore and two-lane paved shoulder of Lalsot – Karoli section, being developed at a cost of about Rs 150 crore.
Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2023, showcasing the ethos of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’
⇒ The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2023 was inaugurated by Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, at Azad Maidan on 11 February 2023.
The nine-day cultural celebration, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2023, was held at Azad Maidan, Churchgate, Mumbai, from 11th to 19th February 2023.
Organized by:
The Mahotsav was organised by the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India to promote National Unity and integrity through cultural exchange.
- The event was conducted in co-operation with Ministry of Culture, Govt of Maharashtra.
Participation:
- All the seven zonal Cultural Centres and academies under Ministry of Culture, Govt of India, participated in this event.
- About 350 folk and tribal artists from all over India along with about 300 local folk artists, some transgender and differently abled artists, renowned classical artists as well as famous star artists participated in this 9-day event.
- The Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) also organized an exhibition on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at the venue.
- About 150 craftsmen from all the states of India and from all the seven zonal cultural centers were invited for their art and craft sale-cum-exhibition under Angan, for which about 70 stalls were made available.
- Also, 25 stalls were set up for the Maharashtra State Handloom department and startups.
Key Points:
- The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is a celebration of our rich cultural heritage and an opportunity for people to come together and experience the best of India’s cultural traditions. It aims to promote National Unity and integrity through cultural exchange.
- The Mahotsav featured a kaleidoscope of art, music, food, and more, providing a perfect opportunity for visitors to experience the richness of India’s cultural heritage.
- The Mahotsav provides a platform for visitors to explore the various cultural expressions of India and gain a deeper appreciation for the country’s rich cultural heritage.
- The Mahotsav is organized by the Ministry every year in different states of India. It was held in Madhya Pradesh in 2019, in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2022, and now in Maharashtra.
International
First G-20 Education Working Group (EdWG) Meeting
⇒ The first G-20 Education Working Group (EdWG) meeting under India’s presidency was held from January 31 – February 2, 2023 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- The meeting focussed on developing a collaborative approach for new generation of skills & lifelong learning ecosystem in the context of Future of Work.
- The Education Working Group (EdWG) was established in 2018 during Argentina’s Presidency. EdWG focuses on strengthening learning outcomes and equitable access through technological tools, digitalization, universal quality education, financing, partnerships for education and international cooperation.
DAY 1
» IIT Madras hosted a seminar on ‘Role of Digital Technology in Education’. Delegates from 19 countries participated in the day-long event.
The daylong seminar had three sessions including:
- Inaugural Session: Use of digital technologies by G20 members to provide accessible, inclusive, and equitable education
- Session 1: Providing accessible and equitable education for K-12 learners
- Session 2: Enabling high quality higher education learning opportunities at scale
- Session 3: Emerging technologies to provide skill education and training
DAY 2
The Plenary session of the first G20 Education Working Group meeting was held on February 01, 2023, with Secretary Higher Education K. Sanjay Murthy, India Chair, setting the tone for the deliberations.
- 80 delegates from 30 countries and international organisations deliberated on areas of inclusive, equitable, relevant and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Two sessions were held:
- Session 1: Ensuring Foundational Literacy and Numeracy especially in the context of blended learning
- Session 2: Making Tech-enabled Learning more Inclusive, Qualitative and Collaborative at every level
Day 3
Discussion on following topics were held:
- Session 3: Building Capacities, promoting life-long learning in context of Future of Work
- Session 4: Strengthening Research and Promoting Innovation through Richer Collaboration
» During the two-day meet detailed discussions were held on themes which will help the global community find long term sustainable solution to the similar educational challenges being faced by member countries placed in different geographies.
Important Day
World Unani Day 2023
⇒ World Unani Day is observed on February 11 every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of social reformer and renowned Unani scholar Hakim Ajmal Khan, widely regarded as the pioneer of Unani medicine in India.
World Unani Day commemorates Hakim Ajmal Khan’s contribution to the growth of Unani medicine in India and throughout the world.
Hakim Ajmal Khan, who was born on February 11, 1868, was an educator, a Unani physician, and the founder of scientific study in the Unani system of medicine.
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ayush was participated as Chief Guest in the event organized on the occasion of Unani Day 2023 and formal inauguration of International Conference held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 11 February 2023.
- Union Minister reiterated how India has taken the lead in the field of Traditional Medicine in the world and emphasized on the need for bolstering evidence based scientific research in Ayush sector.
- Recently, the largest institute in Unani medicine, National Institute of Unani Medicine in Ghaziabad was inaugurated by our PM.
Key Points:
- On this occasion various publications of Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), international conference souvenir, online journal was released.
- Also, NABH certificate was given to two CCRUM institutes.
- A mobile app on common remedies in Unani Medicine developed by CCRUM was also launched.
Background:
- The Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, in 2017 announced the celebration of Hakim Ajmal Khan’s birthday as World Unani Day in recognition of his efforts.
- In 2017, Hyderabad’s Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine celebrated the first World Unani Day (CRIUM).
- The celebration featured a CCRUM (Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine) Awards ceremony and a two-day National Seminar on Skin Diseases and Cosmetology in Unani Medicine.
» The establishment of the Unani medical system in India was significantly shaped by Hakim Ajmal Khan.
- He had a keen interest in the growth and advancement of the Unani system of medicine and established three significant institutions, including the Central College in Delhi, the Hindustani Dawakhana, and the Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College, also known as Tibbia College, located in Karol Bagh, Delhi.
- These institutions promoted the study and practice in the area and prevented the extinction of the Unani System of Medicine in India.