National
Launch of the 7th Stealth Frigate of Project 17A, Warship Mahendragiri (Y - 12654) in Mumbai
⇒ Mahendragiri, the seventh Stealth Frigate of Project 17A being built at MDL, was launched at the shipyard on 01 September 2023 by Dr (Smt.) Sudesh Dhankhar, wife of Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar. As Mahendragiri descended into the waters of Arabian Sea, a wave of euphoria swept across the gathering.
- It is the last of the seven warships of the Nilgiri-class stealth frigates built under Project 17A.
- Mahendragiri, named after a mountain peak in Eastern Ghats located in the state of Orissa.
Key Points:
- Under the Project 17A program, a total of four ships by M/s MDL and three ships by M/s GRSE are under construction. The first six ships of the project have been launched so far by MDL & GRSE, between 2019-2023.
- The Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited has played a pivotal role in contributing to our nation’s maritime capabilities.
- Project 17A Frigates are the follow-on class of the Project 17 (Shivalik Class) Frigates, with improved stealth features, advanced weapons & sensors and platform management systems.
- The design of Advanced Stealth Frigates also showcases the prowess of the Warship Design Bureau, in designing technologically advanced warships for the Indian Navy.
- Project 17A ships have been designed in-house by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, the pioneer organisation for all warship design activities.
- Aligning with the country’s resolute commitment to ‘Aatma Nirbharata’, a substantial 75% of the orders for equipment and systems of Project 17A ships have been ordered on indigenous firms, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
- The newly christened Mahendragiri is a technologically advanced warship and stands as a symbol of India’s determination to embrace its rich naval heritage, while propelling itself towards a future of indigenous defence capabilities.
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan announces NCERT as Deemed-to-be-University
⇒ Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan attended the 63rd Foundation Day Celebration of NCERT in New Delhi on 01 September 2023.
» The Minister also inaugurated a new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory of the CIET on the occasion.
» Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan informed that NCERT has been given the status of a Deemed-to-be-University.
- NCERT has established a formidable presence in research, actively shaped school education, teacher training, and adult literacy.
- NCERT on becoming a research university will offer opportunities for global collaborations and contributions to the global educational landscape.
About NCERT:
- The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organisation set up in 1961 by the Government of India.
- NCERT was set up to assist and advise the Central and State Governments on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education.
- As per the National Education Policy 2020, NCERT is the nodal agency to develop National Curriculum Frameworks (NCFs) for (a) Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), (b) School Education, and (c) Adult Education.
- The council headquarter is located at Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
Chairperson and CEO, Railway Board
⇒ Smt Jaya Varma Sinha took over the charge of new Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Railway Board (Ministry of Railways) in Rail Bhavan on 01 September 2023.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Smt Jaya Varma Sinha as Chairperson & CEO of Railway Board.
- She is the first woman to be appointed to this Apex post of Indian Railways.
About Smt Jaya Varma Sinha:
Prior to this, Smt Jaya Varma Sinha has worked as Member (Operations and Business Development), Railway Board. Smt Jaya Varma Sinha joined the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) in 1988.
International
9th President of Singapore
» Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam was sworn in as the 9th President of Singapore at the Istana on 14 September 2023.
Prior to being president-elect, he served as a senior minister and Deputy Prime Minister from May 2011 to May 2019. He joined politics in 2001. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum.
Singapore presidential election:
» Indian-origin Singapore-born economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam has won the Presidential election in the country.
- In the presidential elections, Tharman Shanmugaratnam secured 70.4 per cent votes. The other contenders of Chinese origin – Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian – who contested against Tharman Shanmugaratnam bagged 15.7 per cent and 13.88 per cent votes, respectively.
- He is the first non-Chinese presidential candidate to win in a contested presidential election in Singapore.
- This was the first contested presidential election since 2011.
Important Day
International Literacy Day 2023
⇒ International Literacy Day (ILD) was celebrated every year on 8 September.
This day is celebrated to promote literacy across the world and develop strategies that can make literacy accessible to all.
Theme:
International Literacy Day 2023 was observed under the theme ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies’.
History:
- The roots of International Literacy Day trace back to the World Conference of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy, held in Tehran, Iran, in 1965. This conference sparked the idea of a day dedicated to promoting literacy on a global scale.
- Subsequently, UNESCO officially declared September 8 as International Literacy Day during its 14th General Conference in 1966.
- This global day, established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), serves as a reminder of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.
- The world celebrated the first International Literacy Day on 8 September 1967.
Ministry of Education observes Literacy Week:
» Ministry of Education, Government of India organised a literacy week from 1st September to 8th September 2023 to celebrate International Literacy Day for generating awareness among all the stakeholders/ beneficiaries/ citizens about the ULLAS- Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.
- The week-long literacy campaign enabled mass participation to inculcate a sense of Kartavyabodh and Janbhagidari in each and every citizen of the nation.
ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society) of Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram:
A Centrally Sponsored Scheme ULLAS- Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram on Education for All (erstwhile termed as Adult Education), was approved by Government of India for implementation during FYs 2022-27 in alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The Scheme has five components, namely-
- Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
- Critical Life Skills
- Basic Education
- Vocational Skills
- Continuing Education