INTERNATIONAL
India Forex reserves touch all time high of 457.468 billion
India’s foreign exchange reserves got by 2.520 billion USD to touch a record high of 457.468 billion USD in the week on 27th December 2019. The foreign currency assets, a significant part of the overall reserves, rose by 2.203 billion USD to 424.936 billion USD. The reserves surged by 456 million USD to end at 454.948 billion USD. Gold reserves increased by 260 million USD to end at 27.392 billion USD. India’s exclusive drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund, however, dipped by 2 million USD to 1.441 billion USD, while the country’s reserve position increased by 58 million USD to 3.7 billion USD.
NATIONAL
WB Govt to provide holy water of Ganga Sagar through an app
West Bengal Government has decided to provide holy water of Ganga Sagar on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
The people who desire to have holy water may apply through the designated app of the Mela.
Only courier charges will be taken for this purpose.
The Ganga Sagar Mela will take place on the 14th of January this year in West Bengal.
Govt’s UJALA, SLNP complete five years of illuminating nation
UJALA and Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) of the central government completed five successful years of illuminating the country.
Over 36.13 crore LED bulbs have been distributed across the country through the UJALA initiative.
This has resulted in an estimated energy savings of 46.92 billion kilowatt-hour per year.
Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) project brought the market transformation in the energy efficiency sector.
More than 1.03 crore smart LED streetlights have been installed till date under the Street Lighting National Programme.
MHRD has taken steps to transform the education sector
The Government has initiated the process of formulating a New Education Policy. The policy aims to meet the changing dynamics of the requirements of the population with regard to quality education, innovation, and research.
In the year 2019, Dr. K Kasturirangan Committee submitted the Draft National Education Policy to the ministry. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) took a leap forward in transforming the education sector with the motto of Education for All and Quality Education.
MHRD has launched the Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Program, DHRUV, to identify and encourage talented children to enrich their skills and knowledge.
It also launched the National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) to improve learning outcomes at the elementary level through an Integrated Teacher Training Programme.
MHRD launched many other new schemes in the Higher Education Department to boost research and Innovation culture in the country.
Department of Higher Education of HRD Ministry has finalized and released a five-year vision plan named Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP). SWAYAM 2.0, Deeksharambh and PARAMARSH are other major schemes of the Department of Higher Education launched in 2019.
Also, under the Samagra Shiksha programme a total of 5930 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas have been sanctioned in the country out of which 4881 such schools are operational. An outlay of over Rs.800 crore has been approved under sports grants for over 10 lakh government schools of different categories.
Govt. announced first Antarrashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has announced its first Antarrashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman. The award will be conferred by the Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi on 7 January 2020.
The award aims to acknowledge the positive role and responsibility of media in disseminating the outreach of Yoga in India and abroad.
The award to be conferred on Media Houses would be given under the following categories: Thirty awards under three categories will be conferred.
8 Sammans to be conferred under the category Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Newspapers.
8 Sammans to be conferred under the category Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Television.
11 awards will be given under the category Best Media Coverage of Yoga in Radio.