National
Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2023
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan in Delhi on 29th July 2023.
» The Samagam coincides with the 3rd anniversary of National Education Policy 2020.
Guided by the vision of the Prime Minister, NEP 2020 was launched with a view to groom the youth and prepare them for leading the country in Amrit Kaal. It aims to prepare them for meeting the challenges of the future while keeping them grounded in basic human values. During the three years of its implementation the policy has brought radical transformation in the realms of school, higher and skill education.
» During the programme, the Prime Minister also released the first installment of funds under the PM SHRI Scheme. 6207 schools received the first installment with a total amounting to 630 crore Rupees.
- The Cabinet has been approved a newly central sponsored scheme called PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) on 7 September, 2022.
- These schools will nurture students in a way that they become engaged, productive, and contributing citizens for building an equitable, inclusive, and plural society as envisaged by National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
» The Prime Minister also released education and skill curriculum books translated into 12 Indian languages.
Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2023:
» The two-day Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2023 was held from 29th to 30th July 2023 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan in Delhi.
Organized by:
The Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam 2023 was jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
Thematic sessions:
The 2-day event also saw the participation of academicians in the 16 thematic sessions on various themes of School Education, Higher Education and Skill Education.
- They were led by eminent and distinguished panelist from amongst the academicians, researchers, policy makers, regulators, industry experts / representatives, Officers of Government of India/ State & UT Governments etc.
- The objective was to brainstorm and identify various approaches and methodologies to implement NEP 2020; effectively articulate the roadmap and implementation strategies, fostering knowledge exchange, discuss challenges; to provide a common platform for all stakeholders to come together and network for effective, smooth, and timely implementation of the NEP 2020; and to deliberate, and share best practices for the implementation of NEP, 2020.
- The two-day programme provided a platform for academics, sector experts, policymakers, industry representatives, teachers and students from schools, higher education and skilling institutions, among others, to share their insights, success stories and best practices in implementing the NEP 2020 and work out strategies for taking it further ahead.
The extensive deliberations ranged from themes like-
- Access to Quality Education and Governance (Higher Education)
- Research and Development
- Internationalization of Education
- Knowledge Systems
- Access to Quality Education and Governance (DoSEL)
- NCrF and APAAR (Academic Account Registry)
- Equitable and Inclusive Education: Issues of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs)
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Empowering the Institutions and strengthening academic linkages through the SCERTs and DIETs (DoSEL)
- Creating Synergy between education and Skilling Future of Work (MSDE)
- Understanding Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (DoSEL)
- National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF)
- Digital Empowerment and Capacity Building
- Capacity Building in Logistics Sector through PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
- Holistic Education through Integration of skilling
- Industry Connect and Employability, A Roadmap to Competency Based Assessment: PARAKH (DoSEL)
Key Points:
MoUs:
- During the two-day Samagam, 106 MoUs encompassing various sectors such as higher education, school education, and skilling were signed.
ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) Initiative:
» The Prime Minister inaugurated Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2023 on 3rd anniversary of NEP 2020.
» On the sidelines, the Union Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the logo, slogan-Jan Jan Sakshar and mobile application of ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram at Bharat Mandapam.
The ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) initiative is poised to revolutionise education and literacy across the nation, by fostering a learning ecosystem that reaches every individual, bridging the gaps in basic literacy and critical lifeskills.
- It imparts basic education, digital and financial literacy and critical life skills to citizens aged 15 and above who lost on the opportunity to go to school. It is being implemented through volunteerism.
ULLAS app:
The ULLAS mobile application marks a significant milestone in harnessing the potential of technology to facilitate widespread access to basic literacy.
- This user-friendly and interactive app will serve as a digital gateway for learners to engage in diverse learning resources through the DIKSHA portal of NCERT.
- The ULLAS app can be used for registration of learners and volunteers either through self-registration or by surveyors.
The new logo and slogan, “ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram,” reflect the enthusiasm and vigour of the campaign.
- It symbolises the light of knowledge spreading across every corner of the country, empowering citizens with the power of education, and igniting the flame of curiosity and learning in every individual making Jan Jan Sakshar.
The scheme will motivate volunteers to take part in the scheme as DUTY or Kartavya Bodh towards the nation building and will incentivize the student volunteers through credits in school/ university and appreciation through other means like certificates, appreciation letters, felicitation, etc.
Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Portal
⇒ The Union Minister of State for Culture, Law & Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, launched the virtual portal of Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar at Qutub Minar premises in New Delhi.
- Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar, a virtual museum that culturally maps over 6.5 lakh villages of India went live for the public amid a grand launch celebration at the Qutub Minar on 27th July 2023.
On this occasion Shri Meghwal said that the launch of this virtual platform to integrate the information regarding villages is very positive way for expressing India’s cultural heritage and village life.
Key Points:
The Mera Gaon, Meri Dharohar (MGMD) seeks to compile comprehensive information detailing the life, history, and ethos of Indian villages and to make the same available to virtual and real-time visitors.
Under the MGMD, information is collected under seven broad categories as given below-
- Arts and Crafts Village
- Ecologically Oriented Village
- Scholastic Village linked with Textual and Scriptural Traditions of India
- Epic Village linked with Ramayana, Mahabharata and/or Puranic legends and oral epics
- Historical Village linked with Local and National History
- Architectural Heritage Village
- Any other characteristic that may need highlighting such as fishing village, horticulture village, shepherding village etc.
Background:
The Government of India has decided to map and document all villages under Mera Gaon, Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Programme. This National Mission on Cultural Mapping is conducted in coordination with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture.
Important Day
World Nature Conservation Day 2023
⇒ World Nature Conservation Day is celebrated every year on 28 July to create awareness about the importance of protecting the environment.
- It’s an important occasion to educate people about the challenges of climate change and the necessity of conservation of natural resources.
National Zoological Park, New Delhi (Delhi Zoo) celebrated World Nature Conservation Day.
Theme:
The theme for World Nature Conservation Day 2023 was “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet”.
History:
The history of World Nature Conservation Day is still unknown. It appears that the observance of this day emerged as a part of the broader global environmental conservation movement, which gained significant momentum during the latter half of the 20th century and continues to be a critical issue in the 21st century.