National
‘Jadui Pitara’ -a play-based learning-teaching material tailored for children
⇒ As envisaged under National Education Policy 2020, Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched Learning – Teaching Material for Foundational Stage in presence of Minister of Education, Smt Annapurna Devi and Dr. K Kasturirangan, Chairman, National Steering Committee on National Curriculum Framework in New Delhi on 20 February 2023.
In line with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, ‘Jadui Pitara’ -a play-based learning-teaching material tailored for children between the age group of 3-8 years has been launched.
- ‘Jadui Pitara’ comprising of playbooks, toys, puzzles, posters, flash cards, story books, worksheets as well as reflecting the local culture, social context and languages is designed to pique curiosity and accommodate the diverse needs of learners in the foundational stage.
- ‘Jadui Pitara’ developed under the National Curriculum Framework is available in 13 Indian languages.
- It is a giant leap towards enriching the learning-teaching environment and making it more child-centric, lively and joyful for the Amrit Generation as envisioned in the NEP 2020.
- Accordingly, “Learning Teaching Material” for foundational stage was launched using the concept of “Jaadui Pitara”. It is expected to bring NEP and NCF-FS to practice, in the hands of teachers and students.
Salient points of “Jaadui Pitara”:
» CORE transformative aspect of NCF-FS – ‘learn through Play’
- Foundational Stage – ages 3-8- learn best and effectively through Play
- Research from fields as diverse as Neurosciences to Education
- Applies to Class 1 & 2 also (age 6-8) – huge shift – children will learn through play, have fun, and FLN will be addressed.
» Learning and Development in 5 domains
Physical Development, Socio-emotional and Ethical Development, Cognitive Development, Language and Literacy Development, Aesthetic and Cultural Development, Positive Learning Habits has been included as another domain of development at this stage.
» To enable play
- A wide range of resources to be used for learning and teaching NOT only books
» Toys, Puzzles, Puppets
» Posters, Flash cards
» Worksheets and attractive books
» Local environment, context, and community
- Rooted in life, local context and India
» Jaadui Pitara brings all this to life:
- Range of resources
- Flexibility to accommodate variety and local resources
- Fun
International
Launch of cross-border connectivity between the UPI of India and PayNow of Singapore
⇒ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong participated in the virtual launch of real time payment linkage between the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and PayNow of Singapore on 21 February 2023.
Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor of Reserve Bank of India and Mr. Ravi Menon, Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore made live cross-border transactions to each other using their respective mobile phones.
» Singapore is the first country with which cross border Person to Person (P2P) payment facility has been launched.
Benefit:
This will help the Indian diaspora in Singapore, especially migrant workers/students and bring the benefits of digitalisation and FINTECH to the common man through instantaneous and low-cost transfer of money from Singapore to India and vice-versa.
» Acceptance of UPI payments through QR codes is already available in selected merchant outlets in Singapore.
INS Sumedha Participated in IDEX And NAVDEX 23
⇒ Indian Naval Ship Sumedha arrived at Abu Dhabi, UAE on 20 February 2023 and participated in NAVDEX 23 (Naval Defence Exhibition) and IDEX 23 (International Defence Exhibition), held from 20 to 24 February 2023.
The ship’s participation in two leading regional naval and defence exhibitions showcased the strengths of India’s indigenous ship building and underscore the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’.
» INS Sumedha is the third ship of the indigenously built Saryu class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPV) and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 07 Mar 2014. Built indigenously at Goa Shipyard Limited, she is fitted with an impressive array of weapons and sensors, can carry an integral helicopter and boasts of long endurance.
About IDEX And NAVDEX 23:
Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, ADNEC Group hosted the 16th edition of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2023) and the 7th edition of the Naval Defence Exhibition and Conference (NAVDEX 2023), on 20-24 February 2023.
Organised by:
Organised by ADNEC Group at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, in association with the UAE Ministry of Defense, the events showcased a wide range of new features and attract leading participants and exhibitors from the international defence industry.
» IDEX and NAVDEX provide a globally leading platform, showcasing the latest international defence innovations and technologies, along with the most advanced technology and equipment developed by defence industries across the world.
3rd G20 Culture Working Group Meeting
⇒ The 3rd G20 Culture Working Group Meeting under India’s G20 presidency was organized in Hampi, Karnataka from 9th -12th July 2023.
- The third meeting in Hampi was attended by about 50 participants from G20 member countries, invited countries and seven multilateral organizations.
- The 3rd CWG meeting tried to achieve a consensus on the recommendations and best practices shared pertaining to the 4 priorities of the CWG.
The Culture Working Group’s meetings center around 4 main priority areas that have been outlined as part of the Culture Track during India’s G20 Presidency.
The 4 priority areas are:
- Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property;
- Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future;
- Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy; and
- Leveraging Digital Technologies for the Protection and Promotion of Culture
Inaugural session:
The inaugural session of the third G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting was organised on 10 July in Hampi, Karnataka. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Coal and Mines, Shri Pralhad Joshi addressed the session.
Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Display of Lambani Items’:
As part of the 3rd Culture Working Group Meeting of G20 in Hampi, under its ‘Culture Unites All’ campaign, the Culture Working Group, Ministry of Culture has set a Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Display of Lambani Items’.
- The unique exhibition on Lambani embroidery patches was inaugurated at the Yeduru Basavanna complex, Hampi by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Coal and Mines, Shri Prahlad Joshi.
- The theme for the exhibit was ‘Culture Unites All’. This display was titled ‘Threads of Unity’ and celebrated the aesthetic expressions and design vocabulary of Lambani embroidery.
- This attempt involved over 450 Lambani women artisans and cultural practitioners associated with Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra Kendra (SKKK), who came together to create these items using GI-tagged Sandur Lambani embroidery having 1755 patchworks.
- This Guinness World Record endeavour is aligned with the PM’s campaign of Mission ‘LiFe’ (Lifestyle for environment) and the CWG’s initiative for ‘Culture for LiFe’, an environmentally conscious lifestyle and a concerted action towards sustainability.
Lambani embroidery:
Lambani embroidery is a vibrant and intricate form of textile embellishment characterized by colourful threads, mirror work, and a rich array of stitch patterns. It is practised in several villages of Karnataka such as Sandur, Keri Tanda, Mariyammanahalli, Kadirampur, Sitaram Tanda, Bijapur, and Kamalapur. This rich embroidery tradition, predominantly upheld by the skilled women of the Lambani community, serves as a vital source of livelihood and sustenance, intertwining living practices with economic empowerment.
About Sandur Kushal Kala Kendra (SKKK):
- Sandur Kushal Kala Kendra (SKKK), registered as a Society in 1988, aims to revive traditional crafts and enhance the livelihoods of craftswomen by nurturing their skills, promoting their products, and thus ensuring a steady income. Presently, SKKK works with approximately 600 artisans and has nurtured twenty self-help groups.
- Over the years, SKKK has gained national and international recognition for the Lambani craft, earning the prestigious UNESCO Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts in South Asia in 2004 and 2012.
- SKKK obtained the GI (Geographical Indication) tag for the craft ‘Sandur Lambani hand embroidery’ in the year 2008.
Day 2:
- As part of the cultural immersion experience, a tree plantation activity took place at the historic Queens’ Bath in Hampi on 11 July.
- The delegates were also given a guided tour of the Royal Enclosure, enabling them to appreciate the rich heritage and architectural marvels of the region. Following the tour, delegates proceeded to the Yeduru Basavanna complex, situated opposite the Virupaksha Temple. At this picturesque location, a captivating cultural performance by troupes of Gurus Radha and Raja Reddy choreographed by Smt Kausalya Reddy was organised.
Final session:
» The final session of the 3rd CWG concluded with updates and development towards the upcoming G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Varanasi, scheduled to be organised on August 26, 2023.
- The CWG, under India’s G20 presidency, strives to position culture at the heart of policymaking.
The 3rd CWG focused on attaining a consensus on the recommendations deliberated in the previous two CWG meetings, which were organised at Khajuraho & Bhubaneswar respectively.