National
International Cooperation and Convention Centre – Rudraksh
⇒ Recently, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Cooperation and Convention Centre – Rudraksh in Varanasi, which has been constructed with Japanese assistance.
Foreign Assistance:
The JICA-assisted Varanasi International Cooperation and Convention Centre (VCC) named ‘Rudraksha’, is a well-equipped convention centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
JICA has assisted the construction of the convention centre by providing a Grant in Aid of 3,042 million Japanese yen (approximately INR 200 crore) under the Japanese ODA scheme.
About Rudraksh:
The Convention Centre has as many as 108 Rudraksha at the centre. Its’ roof is shaped like ‘Shiva Linga’. The centre includes a main hall with a full flying tower, a seating capacity of 1200, a gallery, meeting rooms and parking for 120 cars.
Nationwide Campaign “COVID Teeka Sang Surakshit Van, Dhan aur Uddyam”
⇒ Shri Arjun Munda, Minister of Tribal Affairs, on 15 July 2021, virtually launched the nationwide campaign “COVID Teeka Sang Surakshit Van, Dhan aur Uddyam” to accelerate the pace of COVID vaccination among tribals, in India.
Shri Munda launched the campaign through video conferencing link-up with field camps in Mandla in Madhya Pradesh and Bastar in Chhattisgarh.
The campaign has been launched in partnership with UNICEF and WHO.
The campaign highlights three key Js:
- Jeevan (Life)
- Jeevika (Livelihood)
- Jaagrookta (Awareness)
Under the campaign, TRIFED, UNICEF aims to leverage 45,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras to promote COVID vaccines among 50 lakh tribals.
School Innovation Ambassador Training Program
⇒ Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Arjun Munda jointly launched the ‘School Innovation Ambassador Training Program’ for 50,000 School Teachers on 16th July 2021.
The innovative and one of its kind training program for School Teachers, it aims at training 50,000 school teachers on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, IPR, Design Thinking, Product development, Idea generation etc.
The program has been designed by Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education and AICTE for School Teachers based on its “Innovation Ambassador Training Program for Higher Educational Institution’s faculty members”.
Artificial Intelligence Powered Grievance Management Application
⇒ Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered grievance management application in New Delhi on July 15, 2021, developed by Ministry of Defence with the help of IIT-Kanpur.
This is the first AI based system developed to improve grievance redressal in the Government. The AI tool developed as part of the initiative has capability to understand the content of the complaint based on the contents therein. As a result, it can identify repeat complaints or spam automatically.
International
7th BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting
⇒ The Union Minister for Labour & Employment Shri Bhupender Yadav chaired the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting under the Presidency of India on July 15, 2021.
Participants:
Ministers of the member countries viz. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa participated in the meeting.
Discussion:
India organized the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting to exchange views on the impact of Covid-19 on global labour market, enhance information sharing, discuss and agree upon specific areas of cooperation between BRICS Member countries.
During the meeting the member countries discussed four priority areas of cooperation:
- Promoting Social Security Agreements amongst BRICS Nations
- Formalisation of Labour Markets
- Participation of Women in the Labour Force
- Gig and Platform Workers: Role in the Labour Market
Important day
World Youth Skills Day
⇒ The World Youth Skills Day is celebrated on July 15 every year around the world.
Theme:
The theme of World Youth Skills Day 2021 is “Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic.”
Aim:
The World Youth Skills Day aims to achieve the Incheon Declaration: Education 2030.
Education 2030 devotes considerable attention to technical and vocational skills development, specifically regarding access to affordable quality TVET; the acquisition of technical and vocational skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship; the elimination of gender disparity and ensuring access for the vulnerable.
History:
The United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day in 2014.
The World Youth Skills day was declared to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.