Home » Current Affairs Date: 14 August 2022

Current Affairs Date: 14 August 2022

National

Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor Project

⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the main tunnel and five underpasses of Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor Project in New Delhi on 19 June 2022.

About Project:
    • The Integrated Transit Corridor project is an integral part of Pragati Maidan Redevelopment Project.
    • The Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor project has been built at a cost of more than Rs.920 crore, entirely funded by the Central Government.
Aim:

It is aimed to provide hassle free and smooth access to the new world class exhibition and convention centre being developed at Pragati Maidan, thereby facilitating easy participation of exhibitors and visitors in the programmes being held at Pragati Maidan.

Key Points:
    • The main Tunnel connects Ring Road with India Gate via Purana Qila Road passing through Pragati Maidan. The six-lane divided Tunnel has multiple purposes, including access to the huge basement parking of Pragati Maidan.
    • Along with the tunnel, there will be six underpasses – four on Mathura Road, one on Bhairon Marg and one on the intersection of Ring Road and Bhairon Marg.
    • The impact of the project, however, will be much beyond Pragati Maidan as it will ensure hassle-free vehicular movement, helping save time and cost of commuters in a big way. It is part of the overarching vision of the government to ensure ease of living for people through transforming urban infrastructure.

New Chief Justice of High Courts

⇒ In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Articles 217 and 222 of the Constitution of India, the President of India, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, appointed/ transferred Chief Justices to the following High Courts:

    • Justice Sri Vipin Sanghi, Judge of Delhi High Court has been appointed as Chief Justice of High Court of Uttarakhand.
    • Sri Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Judge of Telangana High Court has been appointed as Chief Justice of High Court of Telangana.
    • Justice Amjad Ahtesham Sayed, Judge of the Bombay High Court has been appointed Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
    • Justice Shinde Sambhaji Shiwaji, Judge of Bombay High Court has been appointed Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
    • Justice Rashmin Manharbhai Chhaya, Judge of Gujarat High Court has been appointed Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
    • Shri Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, Chief Justice of Telangana High Court has been transferred as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.

» The Department of Justice (Appointments Division), Ministry of Law & Justice notified this on 19 June 2022.

Book ‘Bhartiya Samvidhan: Ankahi Kahani’

⇒ The Prime Minister Narendra Modi released Ram Bahadur Rai’s book ‘Bhartiya Samvidhan: Ankahi Kahani’ and addressed the event through a video message on 18 June 2022.

    • The Prime Minister noted Mr Ram Bahadur Rai’s life-long quest for searching for new ideas and desire to bring something new before the society. He expressed the hope that the book would present the Constitution in a comprehensive manner.
    • He hoped that the book will be in the tradition of New India’s effort to remember the forgotten thoughts to ensure that in the India of the future, consciousness of the past remains strong.
    • He also said that the book, along with the history of independence and the untold chapters of our constitution will give a new thinking to the youth of the country, broaden their discourse.

International

UNESCO’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the year 2021

⇒ Use of ICT under a comprehensive initiative called PM eVIDYA by the Department of School education, Ministry of Education, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic wins UNESCO’s recognition.

    • Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), a constituent unit of NCERT has been awarded with the UNESCO’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of ICT in Education for the year 2021.
About Award:
    • This award recognizes innovative approaches in leveraging new technologies to expand educational and lifelong learning opportunities for all, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goal 4 on Education.
    • Established in 2005 with the support of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Prize rewards individuals and organizations that are implementing outstanding projects and promoting the creative use of technologies to enhance learning, teaching and overall educational performance in the digital age.
    • An international Jury selects two best projects annually.
    • Each prizewinner receives US$ 25,000, a medal and a diploma during a ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
2nd Awardee:

» “Digital Educational Programme” implemented by Ubongo from the United Republic of Tanzania

    • The digital educational programme of Ubongo has been launched in Tanzania in 2014.
    • The programme has released more than 300 TV and radio files in 8 local languages across 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with an aim to bring effective and localized learning to school-age children and their parents by leveraging the power of entertainment, technologies.
Key Points:
    • Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) is a constituent unit of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) under Department of School Education and Literacy (DOSEL), Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India.
    • The PM eVIDYA has been initiated as part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaanby the Ministry of Education on 17th May, 2020.
    • The PM eVIDYA unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access for imparting education by using technology to minimise learning losses.

Important Day

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

⇒ World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed on 17 June every year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification.

    • The day is a unique moment to remind everyone that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and co-operation at all levels.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, GoI organized Desertification and Drought Day with an aim to generate large scale awareness for understanding the key role of land in all environmental and economic concerns facing India and the world.

Theme:

The theme of the International Day Against Desertification, and Drought 2022 is “Rising up from drought together”.

    • It emphasises the need of an early action to avoid disastrous consequences for humanity and the planetary ecosystems.
The objectives of Desertification and Drought Day are:
    1. To promote public awareness of the issue
    2. To let people know that desertification and drought can be effectively tackled, that solutions are possible, and that key tools to this aim lay in strengthened community participation and cooperation at all levels.
    3. To strengthen implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa.
Background:
    • The United Nations General Assembly declared 17 June to be “World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought” by its resolution A/RES/49/115 adopted in December 1994.

Source: PIB & Other News Reports

Also Read: