Home » Current Affairs Date: 19 October 2021

Current Affairs Date: 19 October 2021

National

Shikshak Parv 2021

⇒ The Department of School Education & Literacy celebrated Shikshak Parv-2021 from 5th September to 17th September, 2021.

Theme:

The theme of ‘Shikshak Parv-2021’ was “Quality and Sustainable Schools: Learnings from Schools in India”.

PM addressed the Shikshak Parv-2021:

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the inaugural conclave of Shikshak Parv on September 7, 2021.

During this event, the Prime Minister also launched multiple key initiatives in the education sector.

Indian Sign Language Dictionary:

    • Audio and text embedded sign language video for the hearing impaired, in conformity with Universal Design of Learning

Talking Books:

    • Audio books for the visually impaired

NISHTHA teachers’ training programme for NIPUN Bharat:

    • Nishtha 3.0 will encourage competency-based teaching, art integration, and creative & critical thinking.

School Quality Assurance and Assessment Framework of CBSE:

    • The SQAAF would address the deficiency of the absence of a common scientific framework for dimensions like curricula, pedagogy, assessment, infrastructure, inclusive practices and governance process. SQAAF will help in bridging this inequality.

Vidyanjali portal:

    • For facilitating education volunteers/ donors/ CSR contributors for school development
    • ‘Vidyanjali 2.0’ is a platform for the country’s resolve of ‘Sabka Prayas’ with ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’.

Global ATD Best Award 2021

⇒ Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a Maharatna CPSU under Ministry of Power, Government of India has been awarded the coveted “Association for Talent Development (ATD) 2021 BEST Award”.

POWERGRID has secured 8th rank among the 71 organizations from around the globe.

Thus, it has become the only PSU to win the award and it is one of only two companies in India among the top 20 companies.

POWERGRID has won this international recognition for its diligent efforts in talent development practices and programmes. The talent development initiative in POWERGRID is driven by POWERGRID Academy of Leadership (PAL).

About PAL:

PAL is POWERGRID’s state-of-the-art Institute of Learning in Management and Technology catering to both domestic and international clients.

PAL organizes training and initiatives to enhancing employee performance, boosting employee productivity, improving and strengthening company culture.

About Association for Talent Development:

The Association for Talent Development (ATD, formerly ASTD) is the world’s largest association dedicated to those who develop talent in organizations.

ATD’s BEST Award is the talent development industry’s most rigorous and coveted recognition.

13th CII Global MedTech Summit

⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; Minister of State (I/C) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh addressed the 13th CII Global MedTech Summit on the “Sunrise Medical Devices Sector in India” on 02 September 2021.

During his address the Union Minister said:

» Government will collaborate with stakeholders in developing medical technology.

» Indigenous medical technologies will help reduce dependence on imports and for this the government, private sector, corporates and scientists, all will have to come together and pool their resources.

» India’s Medical Technology sector was worth $11 billion in 2020. A CII study estimates, this will grow up to $50 billion by 2025.

International

11th India-United Kingdom Economic and Financial Dialogue

⇒ The 11th India-United Kingdom Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) was held on 02 September 2021.

The UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue was chaired by Indian Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt Nirmala Sitharaman and the United Kingdom Treasury Chancellor Mr. Rishi Sunak.

Delegation:

The Indian delegation included the Governor of RBI, Chairman of SEBI, Chairman of IFSCA, Secretary of Economic Affairs and other representatives. The UK delegation included the Governor Bank of England, CEO Financial Conduct Authority, Economic Secretary and other representatives.

Important topics discussed in the Dialogue:
    • Economic cooperation on multilateral issues including G20 and COP26
    • Infrastructure development and promotion of sustainable finance and climate finance
    • Private sector initiatives under India-UK Financial Partnership (IUKFP) and India-UK Sustainable Finance Working Group including its progress
CFLI India partnership launched:

The Climate Finance Leadership Initiative (CFLI) India partnership was launched by both the sides.

Aim of CFLI India partnership:

The CFLI India partnership aims to work with financial institutions, corporates, and existing sustainable finance initiatives to accelerate efforts to mobilise capital into India.

» Both sides deliberated on furthering of Financial Services collaboration with special emphasis on Fin-Tech and GIFT City, annual India-UK Financial Market Dialogue and measures underway to reform financial markets.

» Both sides agreed to continue to work together to mobilise finances via multilateral and private means and sharing relevant experience, including of the UK’s upcoming sovereign green bond issuance.

Plenary session of the 6th Eastern Economic Forum

⇒ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed during the plenary session of the 6th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) held on 3 September 2021 in Vladivostok.

Highlights of the Prime Minister’s address:

» PM Modi applauded Russia’s vision for the development of the Russian Far East. He reiterated India’s commitment as part of its “Act East Policy’ of being a reliable partner of Russia in this regard.

» PM stressed on the importance of greater economic and commercial engagement between the two sides in line with the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’.

» He highlighted the importance of health and pharma sectors as important areas of cooperation that have emerged during the pandemic.

» He also referred to other potential areas of economic cooperation including diamond, coking coal, steel, timber etc.

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri at the 6th Eastern Economic Forum Summit:

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Housing and Urban Affairs, on the invitation by Mr. Nikolay Shulginov, Minister of Energy of Russia, led an official and business delegation to Russia from 1 September to 5 September, 2021.

He participated in the 6th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) Summit in Vladivostok.

During his visit, the Minister held a meeting with Mr Nikolay Shulginov, Minister of Energy of Russia, to review bilateral energy cooperation in the energy sector, and with Mr Alexei Chekunkov, Russian Minister for Development of Far East and Arctic, to discuss the collaboration between Indian and Russian companies in that region.

In addition, along with the Russian Minister of Energy, Shri Puri co-chaired the India-Russia Business Dialogue.

Source: PIB & Other News Reports

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