National
Amrit Grand Challenge- जनCARE, Reimagining the Healthcare Delivery-Touching a billion lives
⇒ 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 launched the “Amrit Grand Challenge Program” titled “जनCARE” on 28 September 2021.
- Amrit Challenge will end by 31st December, 2021.
“जनCARE 2.0”- a Grand Innovation Challenge by DBT/BIRAC, MEITY, NASSCOM in collaboration with GCI, IKP, and a network of several partners from industry, investors, hospitals, incubator network, is a nationwide program.
Aim:
The Grand Challenge aims to identify 75 Start-Up Innovations in Telemedicine, Digital Health, mHealth with BIG Data, AI, Block Chain and other technologies.
Addressing the 10th Biotech Innovators Meet of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) in New Delhi with a theme ‘Vigyan se Vikash’, the Union Minister said:
» The launch of Grand Challenge coincides with the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, it is all the more imperative for Young Startups and entrepreneurs to come out with Innovative Ideas and Solutions for India’s healthcare challenges.
» India’s Bio-Economy is on way to achieve 150 billion dollar target to contribute effectively to Prime Minister’s vision of a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024-25.
» The Sunshine Biotech Sector will more than double from 70 billion dollar at present to 150 billion dollar by 2025.
India’s first Pan-India helpline for senior citizens
⇒ India is expected to have nearly 20% elderly population i.e. over 300 million senior citizens by 2050. This age group faces various mental, emotional, financial, legal and physical challenges, and the pandemic has further exacerbated it.
Helpline:
Taking cognisance of the growing need to support the elderlies in the country, the Government of India has taken a monumental step towards addressing the challenges and problems they face, through country’s first Pan-India toll-free helpline – 14567 – called ‘Elder Line’.
Launched by:
India’s first Pan-India helpline for senior citizens, ‘Elder Line’ has been launched by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
Aim:
‘Elder Line’ provides free information and guidance on pension issues, legal issues, extends emotional support, and even intervenes on field in cases of abuse, and rescues homeless elderly.
Technical Partners:
Tata Trusts and NSE Foundation, as technical partners, are jointly supporting the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in operationalizing Elder Line.
Inauguration of 'CIPET: Institute of Petrochemicals Technology, Jaipur'
⇒ The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the CIPET: Institute of Petrochemicals Technology, Jaipur and also laid the foundation stone of four new medical colleges in Banswara, Sirohi, Hanumangarh & Dausa districts of Rajasthan on 30th September 2021.
These Medical Colleges have been sanctioned under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for “Establishment of new medical colleges attached with district/ referral hospitals”. Under three phases of the Scheme, 157 new medical colleges have been approved across the nation.
About CIPET:
Together with the Government of Rajasthan, the Government of India has established CIPET: Institute of Petrochemicals Technology, Jaipur.
It is self-sustainable and dedicatedly serves the needs of the petrochemical and allied industries.
Continuation of ‘National Scheme for PM POSHAN in Schools’
⇒ The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the continuation of ‘National Scheme for PM POSHAN in Schools’ for the five year period 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Continuation of PM POSHAN has been approved with the financial outlay of ₹ 54061.73 crores from the Central Government and ₹ 31,733.17 crore from State Governments & UT administrations.
Central Government will also bear additional cost of about ₹ 45,000 crore on foodgrains. Therefore, the total scheme budget will amount to ₹ 1,30,794.90 crore.
This is a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme which covers all school children studying in Classes I-VIII of Government, Government-Aided Schools. The scheme covers about 11.80 crore children studying in 11.20 lakh schools across the country.
International
76th session of the UN General Assembly
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the High-Level segment of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 25 September 2021 in New York. This was Prime Minister’s fourth address at the High-Level Week of the UNGA.
- The 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 76) opened on 14 September 2021 and ended on 27 September 2021.
President of the 76th session of the General Assembly:
Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives was sworn in as the President of the 76th session of the General Assembly on 14 September.
Theme:
The theme for 76th UNGA debate was “Building resilience through hope to recover from Covid-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people and revitalize the United Nations”.
Highlights of the Prime Minister’s Address:
» The impact of India’s development on global progress is evident – when India grows, the world grows; when India reforms, the world transforms.
» India’s importance as a responder to natural disasters and a net contributor to the security in the region and beyond.
» India will soon resume vaccine supplies to the world.
» India has been pioneer in transformational role of technology in daily lives of crores of its people, while ensuring its democratic values.
» India has a strong record on climate action and has an ambitious vision, including for renewables and green hydrogen.
» India, during its Presidency of the UN Security Council, shaped an important outcome document on Maritime Security.
» Oceans and their resources must be used, not abused.
» On Afghanistan, Prime Minister called for Afghan soil not to be used by terrorists. Nor should Afghanistan’s predicament be taken advantage of by other states.
Prime Minister’s address at the High-Level Segment of the 76th UNGA provided an opportunity to project India’s views on a range of issues from Covid-19 and vaccine equity, international terrorism, Afghanistan, international peace and security, reformed multilateralism and sustainable development.
Important Day
World Maritime Day 2021
⇒ World Maritime Day is observed globally during last week of September every year. Individual governments determine the precise day, although it is normally observed during the final week of September, usually on the last Thursday of the month.
- World Maritime Day 2021 was observed on 30 September.
- India’s Paradip Port observed the 44th World Maritime Day on 28 September 2021.
Theme:
The World Maritime Theme for 2021 was “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future”.
The theme seeks to increase the visibility of seafarers by drawing attention to the invaluable role they play now and will continue to play in the future.
Significance:
The significance of this day is to emphasize the importance of International Maritime Organization for the maritime sector and to highlight its contribution towards Maritime Safety, Maritime Security and Marine Environment.
World Maritime Day is celebrated for carrying out commercial sea transport in a safe, secured and environmental friendly manner for the economic growth of the world.
History:
World Maritime Day was first celebrated on 17th March, 1978 to mark the occasion of enforcing first convention of International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1958.
5th Annual Day of IBBI
⇒ The Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) celebrated its 5th Annual Day on 1st October, 2021.
To mark the occasion, an annual publication, “Quinquennial of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016”, My Stamp on IBC, 2016, and an e-Book capturing 5 years of an eventful Journey of IBC, were released.
The Gold Prize winner of the 2nd National Online Quiz on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 was also felicitated on the occasion.