National
Fourth Edition of State Health Index
⇒ NITI Aayog released the fourth edition of the State Health Index for Financial Year 2019–20 on 27 December 2021.
- The report, titled “Healthy States, Progressive India”, ranks states and Union Territories on their year-on-year incremental performance in health outcomes as well as their overall status.
Developed by:
The report has been developed by NITI Aayog, with technical assistance from the World Bank, and in close consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Indicators:
- Health Index is a weighted composite score incorporating 24 indicators covering key aspects of health performance.
- The domains covered in the report are ‘Health Outcomes’, ‘Governance and Information’, and ‘Key Inputs and Processes’.
Key Highlights:
To ensure comparison among similar entities, the ranking is categorized as ‘Larger States’, ‘Smaller States’ and ‘Union Territories’.
- Among the ‘Larger States’, in terms of annual incremental performance, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Telangana are the top three ranking states.
- Among ‘Smaller States’, Mizoram and Meghalaya registered the maximum annual incremental progress.
- Among the Smaller States, Mizoram and Meghalaya secured first and second ranks respectively in terms of Incremental Performance.
- Among the UTs, Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir secured first and second ranks respectively in terms of Incremental Performance.
Overall Ranking based on the composite index score in 2019–20:
Larger States:
- Rank 1- Kerala
- Rank 2- Tamil Nadu
Smaller States:
- Rank 1- Mizoram
- Rank 2- Tripura
UTs:
- Rank 1- DH & DD (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)
- Rank 2- Chandigarh
About Health Index:
» In 2017 the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Bank initiated an annual Health Index for tracking Overall Performance and Incremental Performance on health across all states and Union Territories.
» The objective of the Annual Health Index is to track progress on health outcomes and health systems performance, develop a healthy competition and encourage cross-learning among states and UTs.
Sankalp Smarak
⇒ In order to preserve this important event in history, a Sankalp Smarak was dedicated to the nation by Lt Gen Ajai Singh, Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), exactly 78 years after Netaji’s arrival on 29 December 2021.
The Smarak is a tribute not only to the resolve of the soldiers of the Indian National Army and their innumerable sacrifices but also reminds us of the values enshrined by Netaji himself.
Background:
- In the saga of India’s freedom struggle, 30 December 1943 holds a special place etched in time.
- It was on this day that a national flag was hoisted for the first time on Indian soil, at Port Blair.
- It is also significant is that Netaji escaped British surveillance from Kolkata on 16 Jan 1941 and stepped back on Indian soil after nearly three years, at Port Blair Aerodrome on 29 Dec 1943 and unfurled a national flag the next day.
- Netaji’s visit to the islands as the Head of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind and Supreme Commander of Indian National Army marked a symbolic fulfilment of his promise that the Indian National Army would stand on Indian soil by the end of 1943.
- This historic visit also marked a declaration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the “first liberated territory of India”.
Indian Army Establishes Quantum Laboratory
⇒ The Indian Army, with support from the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) has recently established the Quantum Lab at Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow (MP) MCTE to spearhead research and training in this key developing field.
Indian Army has also established an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre at the same institution with over 140 deployments in forward areas and active support of industry and academia.
Research undertaken by Indian Army in the field of Quantum Technology will help leapfrog into next generation communication and transform the current system of cryptography in the Indian Armed Forces to Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC).
Key thrust areas are Quantum Key Distribution, Quantum Communication, Quantum Computing and Post Quantum Cryptography.
23 Projects in Uttarakhand
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Haldwani, Uttarakhand on 30th December, 2021.
During his visit, the PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 23 projects worth over Rs 17500 crore in Uttarakhand. Among the 23 projects, the foundation stone was laid for 17 projects worth over Rs 14100 crore.
Important Projects:
- He laid the foundation stone of the Lakhwar Multipurpose Project to be built at the cost of about Rs 5750 crore. This project was first conceived in 1976 and was lying pending for many years.
- This project of national importance, will enable irrigation of about 34,000-hectare additional land, produce 300 MW hydro power and supply drinking water to the six states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.
- He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of Rs 8700 crore road sector projects. These road projects would realise PM’s vision to improve connectivity in remote, rural and border areas. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will also get improved connectivity.
- He also laid the foundation stone of AIIMS Rishikesh satellite centre at Udham Singh Nagar and Jagjivan Ram Government Medical College at Pithoragarh.
- He laid the foundation stone of Aroma Park at Kashipur and Plastic Industrial Park at Sitarganj and multiple other initiatives in housing, sanitation and drinking water supply across the state.
- Prime Minister also inaugurated the 5-Megawatt capacity Suringad-II run of the river hydroelectric project built by Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam (UJVN) Limited at Munsyari in Pithoragarh district built at a cost of about Rs 50 crore.