1. Cyber Security Exercise “Synergy”
Tags: National National News
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India in collaboration with the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) of Singapore successfully designed and conducted a cyber security exercise “Synergy” for 13 countries on 31 August.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- It is a part of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative- Resilience Working Group.
The group is led by India under the leadership of the National Security Council Secretariat.
Theme - “Building Network Resiliency to Counter Ransomware Attacks”.
Exercise 'Synergy' was hosted by CERT-In on its exercise simulation platform.
Each state participated as a National Crisis Management Team composed of different government agencies.
Aims of the Exercise :
To exchange best practices among member-states to make the network resilient against attacks such as ransomware and cyber extortion.
About CERT- In :
It is a government-mandated information technology (IT) security organisation.
Its purpose is to respond to computer security incidents, report on vulnerabilities and promote effective IT security practices throughout the country.
It was created by the Indian Department of Information Technology in 2004.
Functions of CERT-In :
Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber attacks.
Cyber Security Incident Forecasting and Alerts
Emergency measures to deal with cyber attacks
Coordinating cyber incident response activities
2. PM Modi to unveil new naval ensign
The Prime Minister will unveil the new naval ensign (flag) for the Indian Navy in Kochi on the sidelines of the commissioning of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at Cochin Shipyard Limited on 2 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The new Navy flag will be far from the colonial past and full of Indian heritage.
The new naval ensign will replace the present ensign that carries the Saint George Cross with the Tricolour in the canton (top left corner of flag).
This flag will essentially replace the pre-independence flag of the Indian Navy, which had a red George Cross on a white background with the Union Jack of the United Kingdom at the top left corner.
The design of the new flag has not been made public yet.
What is a Naval Ensign?
It is a maritime flag used by naval ships of different countries to denote their nationality.
It may be similar to the national flag of the country or it may be different from it.
In the case of India, the naval flag used by the Indian Navy is different from the national flag.
Indian Navy has changed its flag several times :
This was changed during the pre-colonial era and after independence.
The Indian Navy got its first flag during the colonial period under British rule.
In 1928, the white flag of the Royal Navy was used by the Royal Indian Navy (1934 to 1950) along with the St. George's Cross and the Union Jack flag.
After independence, on 26 January 1950, the Royal Indian Navy was renamed the Indian Navy, with the crest and flag "Indianised".
Accordingly, the Union Jack on the earlier flag was replaced by the tricolor or national flag of India in the canton (upper left corner of the flag).
In 2001, the flag of the Indian Navy was changed once again to distinguish it from the pre-colonial era.
A blue spire of the Indian Navy was installed on a white background.
The government decided to re-adopt St. George's Cross.
In 2014, another change was made to the flag with the inclusion of the Indian national motto: Satyameva Jayate below the national emblem in Devanagari script.
What is the Saint George’s Cross ?
The red cross on white background is known as the Saint George’s Cross.
It is named after a Christian Warrior Saint who is believed to have been a crusader during the third crusade.
This cross also serves as the flag of England which is a constituent of the United Kingdom.
The flag was adopted by England and the City of London in 1190 to identify English ships entering the Mediterranean Sea.
3. G20 Digital Innovation Network event organised at Bali, Indonesia
Tags: Summits International News
The G20 Digital Innovation Network event will be held from September 2-4 at the Bali International Convention Centre, Bali, Indonesia.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Startups based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) will participate in this program.
Telangana AI Mission (T-AIM) has announced that four startups from Telangana AI Mission have been selected by MeitY to represent India in the G20 Digital Innovation Network (DIN).
T-AIM is a state government initiative supported by NASSCOM.
The four startups representing India in the G20 Digital Innovation Network are Aarficus, EduBooks, Unimart and MayaMD.
All these are supported by the Revv Up program of Telangana Government.
Goal of the G20 Digital Innovation Network :
The forum aims to find 100 most promising startups in 5 priority areas (Healthcare, Renewable Energy, Smart Society, Financial Inclusion and Supply Chain).
Theme of G20 Digital Innovation Network 2022 :
The theme of this year's event is 'The Rise of Digital Economy: Post-Pandemic Recovery and Beyond'.
G20 Digital Innovation Network program launched :
This forum was started by Italy in the year 2021 by selecting the ten best startups in the name of G20 Digital Innovation League.
This year it has been renamed the G20 Digital Innovation Network.
About Telangana AI Mission (T-AIM) :
Telangana AI Mission (T-AIM) Mission is an AI mission run by the Government of Telangana, which is operated by NASSCOM.
Under T-AIM, a program called "Revv Up" is also run to enable AI startup. Which helps in providing a global platform to these startup groups for emerging technologies.
Revv Up is a free-of-equity-or-cost acceleration program by T-AIM specifically designed for early-stage AI startups.
4. Approval of MoU between India and Nepal in the field of Biodiversity Conservation
Tags: National National News
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Biodiversity Conservation with the Government of Nepal.
Objective of the MoU :
The objective of the MoU is to promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of forests, wildlife, environment, and climate change.
To increase and strengthen cooperation and coordination in the field of climate change.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- India is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world and is taking several steps to conserve wildlife population and biodiversity.
It will help in restoration of corridors and interlinking areas and sharing of knowledge and best practices.
The Government of India has adopted several laws, policy initiatives for the conservation of vast flora and fauna in the country and across the borders of neighboring countries.
Biodiversity Hotspots in India :
The Himalayas - entire Himalayan region covering India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Pakistan, Myanmar
Indo-Burma Region - entire North East Region (excluding Assam), it also covers the region of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, South of China.
The Western Ghats - entire region of Western Ghats
Sundaland - Nicobar group of islands in India and also covers the other Southeast Asian Countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines.
5. Approval of MoU between India and Nepal in the field of Biodiversity Conservation
Tags: National National News
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Biodiversity Conservation with the Government of Nepal.
Objective of the MoU :
The objective of the MoU is to promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of forests, wildlife, environment, and climate change.
To increase and strengthen cooperation and coordination in the field of climate change.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- India is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world and is taking several steps to conserve wildlife population and biodiversity.
It will help in restoration of corridors and interlinking areas and sharing of knowledge and best practices.
The Government of India has adopted several laws, policy initiatives for the conservation of vast flora and fauna in the country and across the borders of neighboring countries.
Biodiversity Hotspots in India :
The Himalayas - entire Himalayan region covering India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Pakistan, Myanmar
Indo-Burma Region - entire North East Region (excluding Assam), it also covers the region of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, South of China.
The Western Ghats - entire region of Western Ghats
Sundaland - Nicobar group of islands in India and also covers the other Southeast Asian Countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines.
6. 'PARAKH' - A new regulator to bring uniformity between the state and central boards in India
Tags: National National News
The Center is planning to create 'PARAKH', a benchmark framework for assessing students at secondary and higher secondary levels, to bring about "uniformity" across state and central boards.
What is PARAKH?
PARAKH full name is -Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development.
It will act as a constituent unit of the NCERT.
It will also be tasked with conducting periodic learning outcome tests like National Achievement Survey (NAS) and State Achievement Survey.
This framework will seek to curb the emphasis on rote learning as envisaged by the National Policy on Education (NEP) 2020.
It will be the proposed implementing agency and also will be part of the NEP proposal.
Its team will consist of leading assessment experts with a deep understanding of the education system in India and internationally.
Response of the States :
Most states supported the proposal to conduct board exams twice a year, including one test to help students improve their scores.
The states have also agreed to the proposal to introduce two types of papers on mathematics - a standard exam, and an exam of higher level aptitude.
This will help in reducing the fear of maths among the students and encourage learning.
7. 'PARAKH' - A new regulator to bring uniformity between the state and central boards in India
Tags: National National News
The Center is planning to create 'PARAKH', a benchmark framework for assessing students at secondary and higher secondary levels, to bring about "uniformity" across state and central boards.
What is PARAKH?
PARAKH full name is -Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development.
It will act as a constituent unit of the NCERT.
It will also be tasked with conducting periodic learning outcome tests like National Achievement Survey (NAS) and State Achievement Survey.
This framework will seek to curb the emphasis on rote learning as envisaged by the National Policy on Education (NEP) 2020.
It will be the proposed implementing agency and also will be part of the NEP proposal.
Its team will consist of leading assessment experts with a deep understanding of the education system in India and internationally.
Response of the States :
Most states supported the proposal to conduct board exams twice a year, including one test to help students improve their scores.
The states have also agreed to the proposal to introduce two types of papers on mathematics - a standard exam, and an exam of higher level aptitude.
This will help in reducing the fear of maths among the students and encourage learning.
8. Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev dies at the age of 91
Tags: Person in news International News
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev died on 30 August at the age of 91.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- In June, he was taken to the hospital after suffering from a serious kidney ailment.
He played an important role in ending the Cold War.
About Mikhail Gorbachev :
He was born in 1931 in southern Russia.
Gorbachev was the last leader of the former Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, he pushed for stronger Soviet-India ties.
During his tenure, he visited India twice in 1986 and 1988.
He became general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party in 1985.
He wanted to reform the communist regime on the lines of democratic principles by giving freedom to the citizens.
Gorbachev's policies helped to open up the Soviet economy and liberalize society in the late 1980s.
He played a major role in the withdrawal of Soviet troops from a nearly decade-long military operation in Afghanistan.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 "for his role in the radical change in East-West relations".
Cold War :
The Cold War was an ongoing political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and its allies that developed after World War II.
This enmity between the two superpowers was first named the Cold War by George Orwell in an article published in 1945.
Its period is considered to be between 1945 to 1991.
The term "cold" is used because there was no direct large-scale war between the two sides.
9. ICAT Signs MoU with the NorthCap University for Emerging Technologies
Tags: National National News
The International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Northcap University (NCU), Gurugram on August 30.
About the MoU :
This MoU has been signed to enhance industry-academic partnership to conduct short-term and medium-term courses and research in the field of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and related emerging technologies as per industry requirement.
The MoU was signed by ICAT Acting Director Pamela Tikku and NCU Vice Chancellor Prof Nupur Prakash.
The expertise of ICAT coupled with NCU's outstanding proficiency in developing content in the field of automotive technology will help aspiring candidates to take admission in flexible curricula.
The entrants will be able to prepare for the diverse segments of the automotive sector in India.
International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) :
It has been located at Manesar since 1996 as a division of NATRIP (NAB) Implication Society (NAITS) under the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
It undertakes the testing and certification of automotive and their critical safety components.
It is one of the independent investigative agencies under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) notified by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India.
NorthCap University (NCU) :
It was established in 1996 in Gurugram.
This NCU is an 'A' grade recognized university by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
It has been ranked among the top 100 in the engineering category under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
It has also been awarded as the top 30 universities of India in the Atal Ranking, 2021 and the best performing university in the Deemed Universities category.
10. ICAT Signs MoU with the NorthCap University for Emerging Technologies
Tags: National National News
The International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Northcap University (NCU), Gurugram on August 30.
About the MoU :
This MoU has been signed to enhance industry-academic partnership to conduct short-term and medium-term courses and research in the field of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and related emerging technologies as per industry requirement.
The MoU was signed by ICAT Acting Director Pamela Tikku and NCU Vice Chancellor Prof Nupur Prakash.
The expertise of ICAT coupled with NCU's outstanding proficiency in developing content in the field of automotive technology will help aspiring candidates to take admission in flexible curricula.
The entrants will be able to prepare for the diverse segments of the automotive sector in India.
International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) :
It has been located at Manesar since 1996 as a division of NATRIP (NAB) Implication Society (NAITS) under the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
It undertakes the testing and certification of automotive and their critical safety components.
It is one of the independent investigative agencies under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) notified by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India.
NorthCap University (NCU) :
It was established in 1996 in Gurugram.
This NCU is an 'A' grade recognized university by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
It has been ranked among the top 100 in the engineering category under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
It has also been awarded as the top 30 universities of India in the Atal Ranking, 2021 and the best performing university in the Deemed Universities category.
