National
India’s first Virtual Science Lab for children
⇒ 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 launched India’s first Virtual Science Lab for children under CSIR Jigyasa programme, which will also connect students with scientists across the country, on 22 November 2021.
Describing the Virtual Lab as a huge new beginning, Dr Jitendra Singh said:
- The new facility will immensely benefit students from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and Government Schools, and will help in catching them young.
- CSIR has partnered with IIT Bombay to develop a Virtual Lab platform under CSIR Jigyasa programme, which facilitates classroom learning with laboratory research for school students.
- The target audience for the Virtual Lab platform is students of the standard VI to XII (11-18 years) who would like to explore science using different activities, experienced researchers and faculties on the subjects of Science, Mathematics, Biology and IT.
- The main aim of the Virtual Lab is to provide quality research exposure and innovative pedagogy for school students to drive their scientific curiosity based on an online interactive medium with simulated experiments, pedagogy-based content, videos, chat forums, animations, gaming, quiz etc.
- The content will be available in English initially, but has been planned to be made available in Hindi and other regional languages.
The key highlights of the virtual lab are:
Open-source platform; Access content in regional languages; Scientist/Researchers Support; Knowledge Upgradation for Teachers and Students; Project based support; Fun based Gaming; Need based Videos and Animation; Simulation Experiments; Promote scientific temperament; Science based webinars; Student Entrepreneurship; Student-Expert forums; Student to Student forums; Simplified content; Availability to technical assistance; Build confidence and motivation
Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum at Luangkao
⇒ Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for setting up of the Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum at Luangkao village in Manipur’s Tamenglong district on 22 November 2021.
- The museum is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 15 crore sanctioned by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
Addressing the occasion, the Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation said:
Maharaja Kulchandra Singh of Manipur and his companions were imprisoned for years on Mount Harriot in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after being sentenced. During the Freedom Movement, the Maharaja of Manipur, Shri Kulchandra Singh, with his courage and valour, began the fight against the British in the Northeast.
Union government renamed Mount Harriet as ‘Mount Manipur’ in his memory to pay tribute to Maharaja Kulchandra Singh and all the freedom fighters of Manipur.
Note:
As a tribute to the freedom fighters of Manipur, the Union government had decided to rename Mount Harriet, an island peak in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Now it is known as Mount Manipur.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah made this announcement while addressing a public function in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands on October 16, 2021.
First ever All All India Survey on Domestic workers
⇒ Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Shri Bhupender Yadav flagged off the first ever All All India Survey on Domestic workers being conducted by Labour Bureau, Chandigarh on 22 November 2021.
» Domestic workers (DWs) constitute a significant portion of total employment in the informal sector. However, there is a dearth of data on the magnitude and prevailing employment conditions of DW.
» Hence with the view to have time series data on domestic workers, Government of India has entrusted Labour Bureau to conduct an all-India survey on DWs.
- On the occasion, Shri Yadav also released instruction manual with questionnaire for All India Survey on Domestic workers.
Aim of All India Survey on Domestic Workers:
It is aimed to estimate the number and proportion of domestic workers at National and State level, percentage distribution of domestic workers with respect to Live in/Live out, formal/ Informal Employment, Migrant/Non-Migrant, their wages and other socio economic characteristics.
The main objectives of the survey are:
- Estimate the number/proportion of DWs at National and State level.
- Household Estimates of Live-in/ Live-out DWs.
- Average number of DWs engaged by different types of households.
The Domestic Worker Survey collects information on the following broad parameters:
- Household Characteristics such as HH size, Religion, Social Group etc.
- Demographic Characteristics such as Name, Age, Relation to Head etc.
- In addition to this, it also collects information on DWs such as their Age of entry, Social Group, Migrant status etc.
- Information on Employer HHs is also collected such as mode of payment of wages, number of days worked, medical support given to DWs etc.
Scope of the Survey:
- All India States/UTs of India covered are 37 and Districts covered are 742.
- Unit of Enumeration is Villages as per Census 2011 and Urban Blocks as per latest phase of UFS.
- At the all-India level, a total number of 12766 First Stage Units (FSUs) i.e., 6190 villages and 6576 UFS blocks will be covered in the survey.
- 1,50,000 Households i.e., the Ultimate Stage Units (USU) will be covered.
Result:
The result of the All-India Survey on Domestic Workers is expected within a time-span of 1 year.
International
Biennial Dubai Air Show 2021
⇒ The Indian Air Force (IAF) Contingent participated in the biennial Dubai Air Show held at the Al Maktoum International Airport from 14th to 18th November 2021.
- The IAF was invited by the Government of UAE to participate with the Sarang and Suryakiran Aerobatics Teams.
- These teams performed along with some of the best aerobatics and display teams in the world, including the Saudi Hawks, Russian Knights and the UAE’s Al Fursan.
- In addition, IAF’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas was part of the aerobatics and static display during the show.
- The induction of five Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Dhruvs of the Sarang Team, 10 BAE Hawk 132s of the Suryakiran Team and the three LCA Tejas was completed by 09th November 21.