1. Ministry of Education releases National Achievement Survey 2021 report
Tags: National News
The Department of School Education and Literacy has released the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021 report on May 25.
The report would enable analysis of results and remedial action at the appropriate level.
Approximately 34 lakh students from 1.18 lakh schools in 720 districts of rural and urban areas have participated in NAS 2021.
It assesses the health of the school education system in the country by conducting a comprehensive assessment survey of the learning ability of children in classes III, V, VIII and X with a cycle duration of three years.
It reflects the overall assessment of the school education system.
The last edition of the National Achievement Survey was conducted in 2017.
NAS 2021 was conducted on all India level on 12th November, 2021 and included all government schools, government aided schools and private unaided schools.
This nationwide survey was administered by CBSE.
The survey was managed through a technology platform designed and developed by the National Informatics Center (NIC).
Objective of NAS 2021
To assess the progress and learning ability of children as an indicator of the efficiency of the education system, so that appropriate remedial action can be taken at various levels.
2. Global Travel and Tourism Development Index
Tags: International News
India has slipped to the 54th position this year in the Global Travel and Tourism Development Index as compared to the 46th position in the year 2019.
India topped the list of South Asian countries.
Japan tops the global list. It was followed by the USA, Spain, France, Switzerland, Australia, UK, Singapore and Italy respectively.
117 economies have been included in the Travel and Tourism Development Index.
This index is released every two years by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
According to the data between January 2021 and January 2022, the number of international tourists has increased in 2022 instead of 2021.
About World Economic Forum (WEF)
The World Economic Forum is a non-profit organisation based in Switzerland.
It aims to set a global, regional and industrial direction by bringing together leaders in the world's business, political, educational and other fields.
Establishment- 1971
Headquarters- Cologny, Switzerland
CEO- Klaus M. Schwab
3. Gautam Adani in the list of 100 Most Influential People in Titans category
Tags: Person in news International News
Gautam Adani has been included in the list of 100 Most Influential People in Titans category along with personalities like Apple CEO Tim Cook and American host Oprah Winfrey.
On behalf of India, Supreme Court advocate Karuna Nandi and eminent Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez have also been included in this list.
Karuna Nandi and Khurram Parvez have been ranked in the Leaders category along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
In this list of Time magazine, US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, tennis star Rafael Nadal, current Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Omar Ata Bandiyal have also been included in different categories. .
This list is divided into six categories. These categories are Icons, Pioneers, Titans, Artists, Leaders and Innovators.
Key persons nominated in different categories
Titans- Gautam Adani, Tim Cook, Oprah Winfrey, Kristyl Lagarde, Kris Jenner, Andy Jessie, Sally Rooney, Elizabeth Alexander, David Jaslav and Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sorbrunn and Alex Morgan.
Leaders- Karuna Nandi, Khurram Parvez, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Joe Rogan, Xi Jinping, Ursula von der Leyen, Joe Biden, Yoon Suk-yeol, Vladimir Putin, Olaf Scholz, Samia Suluhu Hassan, Abiy Ahmed, Kirsten Cinema, Gabrielle Boric, Valerie Jaluzhni, Lynn Fitch, Omar Ata Bandial and Sun Chunlan.
Innovators - Taika Waititi, Miranda Lambert, Derrick Palmer and Chris Smalls, Josh Wardle, Michen Genre, Demna, Mike Cannon-Brooks, Bella Bajaria, Sevgil Musayeva, Francis Keir, David Velez, Michael Schatz, Karen Meiga, Evan Eichler and Adam Philippi .
Artists - Simu Liu, Andrew Garfield, Joe Kravitz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Amanda Seyfried, Quinta Branson, Pete Davidson, Channing Tatum, Nathan Chen, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Strong, Faith Ringgold, Ariana DiBose, Jasmine Sullivan and Michael R. Jackson.
Icons- Mary J Blige, Dmitry Muratov, Isa Ray, Keanu Reeves, Adele, Rafael Nadal, Maya Lin, John Batista, Nadine Smith, Peng Shuai, Hoda Silent.
Pioneers- Candace Parker, Frances Hogan, Ahmir 'Questalv' Thompson, Sonia Guzzara, Stephanie Bansell, Emily Oster, Eileen Gu, Nan Goldin, Meijen Darvish and Anwar Lal Bunny, Emmet Schelling, Christina Villarreal Velasquez and Ana Christina Gonzalez Velez and Gregory L. Robinson.
4. A new venomous green snake species spotted at Umroi Military Station in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya
Tags: National
Recently a new venomous green snake species named 'Trimesurus mayai' or Maya pit viper has been spotted at Umroi Military Station in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.
This snake-species is named in honour of the late mother of Colonel Yashpal Singh Rathi – 'Maya'.
This new species is also relatively common in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Guwahati (Assam).
Key Features of the Maya Pit Viper
The length of this snake is about 750 mm.
It is very similar to the Pope's pit viper in appearance, but its eye colour is different.
Pit viper
Pit vipers are found from deserts to rainforests.
These can be terrestrial, arboreal or aquatic. Some of these species lay eggs and other species give birth to live young.
Venomous pit viper species include the hump-nosed pit viper, mangrove pit viper and Malabar pit viper.
Russell's Viper and Saw-scaled Viper are two of the most venomous viper species found in India, which is one of the four most venomous and deadliest snakes in India.
5. Qutub Minar not a place of worship: ASI
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on 24 May opposed a plea before a Delhi court seeking restoration of Hindu and Jain deities inside the Qutub Minar complex, saying it is not a place of worship and the existing status of the monument cannot be altered.
The ASI pointed out that when Qutub Minar was first notified as a protected monument in 1914, the complex was not a place of worship.
The ASI explained that the form or nature of a monument is decided on the date when it comes under protection.
What is the case?
The original suit claimed that 27 temples were demolished for the construction of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in the Qutub Minar complex.
The petition was dismissed last year under the provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
The Additional District Judge (ADJ) has now reserved the order.
The petitioner submitted that it was wrong to dismiss the original suit based on the 1991 Act.
The Qutub Minar complex comes under the purview of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act of 1958.
About Qutub Minar
It is a soaring, 73 metre high victory tower, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mehrauli region of South Delhi.
It is a five-storied tower made of red sandstone.
Its Surrounding there is the Alai-Darwaja Gate, a masterpiece of Indo-Muslim art (built in 1311).
Its construction was started by Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1193 and finished by Iltutmish.
Qutub Minar and its monuments were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993.
6. Indian Navy – Bangladesh Navy Bilateral EX Bongosagar Commences
Tags: International Relations Defence
The third edition of the Indian Navy (IN) - Bangladesh Navy (BN) bilateral exercise 'Bongosagar' began on 24 May 22 at Port Mongla, Bangladesh.
The harbor phase of the exercise is scheduled from 24-25 May followed by a sea phase in the North Bay of Bengal from 26-27 May.
Indian Navy ships Kora, an indigenously built Guided Missile Corvette and Sumedha, an indigenously built offshore patrol vessel, are participating in the exercise.
The Bangladesh Navy is represented by BNS Abu Ubaidah and Ali Haider, both guided missile frigates.
The harbour phase of the exercise
This includes professional and social interactions and friendly sportings, besides strategic level planning discussions on the conduct of exercises at sea.
The sea phase of the exercise
It would facilitate ships from both the navies to participate in intensive surface warfare drills, weapon firing drills, seamanship evolutions and coordinated air operations in a tactical scenario.
About Bongosagar bilateral exercise
Its first edition was held in 2019.
Its aim is to develop interoperability and joint operational skills through the conduct of a wide spectrum of maritime exercises and operations.
7. Centre launches Swachh Survekshan 2023 under Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0
The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the 8th edition of Swachh Survekshan – SS-2023 under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0.
It was launched by Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in a virtual program in New Delhi on 24 May.
The theme of the survey for this year is "Waste to Wealth", which is aligned to the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 and focuses on the central government's vision of 'waste free' cities.
The survey will give priority to the principle of 3Rs – Reduce, Recycle and Reuse,”.
The 2022 edition of the survey had been completed and its results were being prepared.
About Swachh Survekshan
Launched as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Its aim was to make India clean and free from open defecation.
The first survey was conducted in 2016 and covered 73 cities.
By 2020, this survey increased to 4242 cities and was said to be the world's largest cleanliness survey.
Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
About the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Launched - on 2nd October 2014
Launched by - Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Aims - to achieve the vision of a ‘Clean India’ by 2nd October 2019.
Slogan - One step towards cleanliness
It is a restructured version of the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan launched in 2009.
The first phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission lasted till October 2019.
Phase 2 is being implemented between 2020-21 and 2024-25.
8. QUAD leaders launch Quad fellowship programme for graduate STEM degrees in the US
Tags: International News
A new Quad fellowship program has been launched by the leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the US at the Quad Summit in Tokyo on 24 May.
Under the program, 100 students from member countries will be sponsored to study in the US for undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
This fellowship will act as a bridge connecting the four countries and will empower these countries to provide leadership to address the many challenges faced by them in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.
The Quad Fellowship application is live and will be open till June 30.
The first classes of Quad Fellows will arrive on campus in the autumn of 2023.
Each Fellow will receive a one-time award of $50,000 that can be used for tuition, research, fees, books and related educational expenses (eg, registration fees, research-related travel).
About Quad
This is known as the 'Quadrilateral Security Dialogue' (QSD).
It is an informal strategic forum comprising four nations - United States of America (USA), India, Australia and Japan.
It aims to work for a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
The first meeting of the Quad was held in 2007 on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Quad Summit provides an opportunity for leaders to exchange views on the development of the Indo-Pacific region and current global issues of mutual interest.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first to consider the formation of the Quad in 2007.
9. New Development Bank opens regional office in GIFT City, Gujarat
Tags: Popular National News
New Development Bank (NDB) has announced the launch of its Indian Regional Office (IRO) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
The objective of launching the Bank's regional office is to meet the infrastructure and sustainable development needs in India and Bangladesh, contributing to economic growth and sustainable development in South Asia in line with the mandate of the NDB.
The Indian Regional Office will work in close coordination with the NDB Headquarters, focusing on technical support including initial project preparation, pipeline development, project implementation and monitoring as well as regional portfolio management.
The NDB officially opened its Africa Regional Centre (ARC) in Johannesburg in 2017 followed by the establishment of a sub-office in Brasilia with the Americas Regional Office (ARO) in So Paulo by the NDB in 2019.
In 2020, the NDB established the Eurasian Regional Centre (ERC) in Moscow. The Indian Regional Office (IRO) complements the NDB's global network of offices.
About New Development Bank
New Development Bank formerly known as BRICS Bank informally.
It was established on 15 July 2014 by the countries of the BRICS grouping.
The idea of setting up the bank was proposed by India at the 4th BRICS Summit held in Delhi in 2012.
This was agreed upon by the BRICS leaders at the 5th BRICS Summit held in Durban, South Africa on 27 March 2013.
Headquarters- Shanghai, China
General Secretary- KV Kamat
President- Markosh Trayoja
10. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Army Training Command and National Defence University (RRU), Gandhinagar
Tags: National News
%20between%20Army%20Training%20Command%20and%20National%20Defence%20University%20(RRU)%2C%20Gandhinagar%20copy.jpg)
Army Training Command and Gandhinagar-based National Defence University (RRU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a Wargame Research and Development Centre in New Delhi.
The 'Wargame Research and Development Centre' to be developed in New Delhi has been given a prototype name WARDEC.
It will be the first of its kind simulation-based training centre in India to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to design virtual reality wargames.
It will be developed by the Army Training Command and the Gandhinagar-based National Defence University (RRU).
It will be used by the Army to train its soldiers and test their strategies through "Metaverse-enabled gameplay".
It will be designed to prepare for wars as well as counter-terrorism and counter-terrorism operations.
How many countries use such wargaming drills?
Since the 9/11 attacks, use of information technology-enabled wargaming is preferred by several countries like the US, Israel, the UK to prepare for possibilities in case of terror attacks or war.
