NEP will turn India into a global knowledge superpower-Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday said that National Education Policy-NEP 2020 will turn India into a global knowledge superpower while addressing 61st Foundation Day of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) via video conferencing. Pradhan congratulated NCERT on this occasion and appreciated it’s efforts in improving the quality of education. He said, NCERT should gear up for bringing in massive transformation in education as envisaged in the NEP 2020. Minister of State for Education, Subhash Sarkar said that 42 lakh teachers had been trained under the NISHTHA initiative. He stressed the role of integration of vocational and academic education for achieving the roles of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Skill India. He recalled that the Prime Minister had said that the NEP will contribute to a new India and the role of NCERT is indispensable in this regard. The publication of NCERT titled ‘Dictionary of Sociology’ in three languages: English, Hindi and Urdu, explaining the terms in Sociology was also released on the occasion.

-In J&K,Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met with the representatives of District Development Councils (DDCs), Block Development Councils (BDCs) and Panchayats at Gulmarg on Wednesday. During his interaction with Panchayat Raj representatives Om Birla, emphasized on the role of democratic institutions at the grass-root level in making the executive accountable. He said that the DDCs, BDCs and Panchayats should meet regularly, address the issues of the public and ensure accountability of government. He maintained that these institutions should also devise their rules and procedures. He added that local representatives should have a say in legislative process as they are the link between the people and administration and are, in a better position to reflect people’s hopes and aspirations. Om Birla said that adequate training of local representatives about legislative process and Rules and Procedures would strengthen these institutions to channelize the fruits of development to the last person.

-Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday reviewed the supply and availability of COVID-19 related essential medicines and their buffer stocks in the country. During the review meeting, it was noted that sufficient stocks of all the essential medicines are available. Raw materials for these drugs are also available in enough quantities. The government has created a strategic buffer stock for 8 drugs and all of these are available in the country. These drugs are Tocilizumab, Methyl Prednisolone, Enaxopirin, Dexamethasone,  Remdesivir, Amphotericin B Deoxycholate, Posaconazole and Intravenous Immunoglobulin.

-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur launched the India's biggest quiz event, the Fit India Quiz at a function in New Delhi. It is the first of its kind nationwide Quiz on Fitness and Sports. The nation-wide quiz is aimed at creating awareness about fitness and sports among school-going children, while giving them a chance to compete on a national platform and an opportunity to win cash prize for their schools. This Fit India Quiz is part of the central government’s 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' initiative to celebrate 75 years of India’s Independence. It  is designed to not just bring students from all states on  one platform, but also to involve them in a competition of mental skill and physical fitness. Speaking on the occasion, Anurag  Thakur said that this initiative will provide a platform to the students of the schools to showcase their knowledge and fitness. He said, the the move will help the students to keep themselves physically and mentally fit.Thakur said that registration process  for the Fit India Quiz has begun form today which will continue till 30th of this month. He informed that there will be cash prize amounting to 3 crore 25 lakh rupees in total. He said, it is the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to popularise sports in the country so that more youth can come up to participate in sports activities.

-As a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations to commemorate 75th Year of Independence, Union Minister of Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal, along with Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Jitendra Singh, Meenakshi Lekhi and Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai launched the Yoga Break (Y-Break) mobile application in New Delhi on Wednesday. The 5-minute Yoga Break Protocol consists of a very useful Yoga practices devised to de-stress, refresh and re-focus on work to increase the productivity of individuals at workplace. The concept of Yoga Break is relevant to working professionals across the world. It has been carefully developed by eminent experts under a tested protocol. About 600 participants including eminent Yoga Practitioners, Scholars, Policy Makers, Bureaucrats, Yoga Enthusiasts and Experts of Allied Sciences participated in the launch of the App.

-The government has said that the total enrolments under Atal Pension Yojana, APY has crossed 3.30 crore mark till August,25, 2021. Ministry of Finance in a statement said that more than 28 lakh subscribers were enrolled in APY in first five months of current fiscal. The Ministry said that out of the total enrolments under APY, nearly 78 per cent subscribers have opted for one thousand pension plan while around 14 per cent for five thousand rupees pension plan. Besides, around 44 per cent are female subscribers and also around 44 per cent subscribers getting enrolled are very young and belong to the age-group of 18-25 years. Encouraged by the increasing number of enrolments under the scheme since its inception, Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority, PFRDA will continue its endeavour to popularize the scheme through organization of various APY Campaigns at national and State level.