Union Government launched School Nursery Yojana to bring students closer to nature
i. The Yojana seeks to engage class VI to IX in raising of
saplings in nurseries created in schools. The Yojana was launched by
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi.
ii. Theme of the Yojana is to plant a tree for sustainable future and to make the nation clean and green.
About School Nursery Yojana
- The Yojana in its first phase would cover 1000 schools and would be extended to 5000 schools in 2016 and 10000 schools the following year.
- Under the Yojana, students will grow saplings as part of practical exercise for biology classes and extra-curriculum activities.
- Each school will initially receive first time financial grant of 25,000 rupees for creation of the nursery with essential facilities.
Global satellite to be named after Abdul Kalam
i. A global satellite for earth observation and disaster risk
reduction — GlobalSat for DRR — proposed under the UN framework is to be
dedicated to A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as a tribute to the vision of the
celebrated rocket scientist and former Indian president who died July
27.
ii. This has been stated by Milind Pimprikar, Chairman of CANEUS
(CANada-Europe-US-ASia) Organization on Space Technologies for Societal
Applications headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
iii. Founded in 1999, CANEUS serves to develop a common platform
for space technology solutions for natural and man-made disaster
management. The ‘GlobalSat for DRR’ is a UN-driven global initiative on
sharing space technology for disaster risk reduction, Mr. Pimprikar told
IANS.
Param Tyag Chakra Initiative launched to honour families of martyrs
i. The
Param Tyag Chakra was launched by the Alumni Association of Rajagiri
School of Engineering and Technology to honour family members of brave
military men, who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
ii. For this initiative, the Alumni Association of Rajagiri
School of Engineering and Technology in association with the management
and students launched a web platform aimed at collecting the details of
these family members.
iii. Everyone including the general public, the government,
corporates, the media can join this initiative in multiple ways like by
identifying and referring such families or by channeling the support
required for them etc.
Suraksha Bandhan drive launched to facilitate enrolment under Social Security Schemes
i. Union Government launched Suraksha Bandhan drive in a Mission
Mode through participating banks and insurance companies to facilitate
enrolment under social security schemes.
ii. The drive launched in the back drop of Raksha Bandhan aims at
taking forward the Government’s objective of creating a universal
social security system in the country, targeted especially at the poor
and the under-privileged.
iii. The drive will be supported through the Jeevan Suraksha Gift
Cheques, which will be available for purchase for 351 rupees in Bank
branches by persons wishing to gift them to facilitate one year payment
of premium for Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan
Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana by the recipient.
Raghavendra Gadagkar awarded with Germany's Cross of Order of the Merit
i. Indian sociobiologist Raghavendra Gadagkar was awarded with
the Germany's highest civilian honour Cross of Order of the Merit at the
German Consulate in Bengaluru.
ii. He was bestowed with the honour for his contribution in the
field of behavioural ecology and sociobiology and for strengthening
research corporation between India and Germany.
iii. His first book, Survival Strategies, has been translated
into Chinese and Korean. He was also the founding Chair person of the
Centre for Contemporary Studies, established at IISc in 2004.
About Cross of Order of the Merit
- Established in 1951 by the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany Theodor Heuss.
- It is highest civilian award of Germany awarded to Germans as well as to foreigners.
- It recognizes person for their outstanding achievements in the fields of political, cultural, economy, intellectual and volunteering.
Goa Tourism Minister Parulekar conferred with PATWA 2015 Award
i. Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar received the Pacific Area
Travel Writers Association (PATWA) - Safari India South Asia Travel
Award 2015.
ii. Parulekar is the first tourism minister of Goa to receive this prestigious award.
iii. Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) found in
1998 at the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) Conference in
Colombo, Sri Lank, is a professional organization of travel writers.
10th August: World Bio-Fuel Day
i. Every year 10th August is observed as World Bio-Fuel Day in a bid to create awareness about non fossil-fuels (Green Fuels).
ii. On this day in 1893, Sir Rudalph Diesel (inventor of the
diesel engine) for the first time successfully ran mechanical engine
with Peanut Oil. His research experiment had predicted that vegetable
oil is going to replace the fossil fuels in the next century to fuel
different mechanical engines. Thus to mark this extraordinary
achievement, World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th August.
Xiaomi ties up with Foxconn to set up facility in Andhra Pradesh through " Make in India" Initiative
i. China-based Smartphone maker Xiaomi Inc has tied up with
Taiwan-based Foxconn to set first Assembly line in Andhra Pradesh under
‘Make in India’ initiative.
ii. These two Smartphone manufacturer giants has forayed together
into Indian electronics market to roll out Xiaomi’s first locally made
Smartphone, the Redmi2 Prime as it seeks to expand its market share in
India.
iii. The size of the investment made in setting up the assembly line was not disclosed.
Telecom Minister launches mobile app "Disha" to aid digital literacy in Bihar
i. Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched a new mobile
app ‘Disha’ to aid digital literacy in Bihar. The app was launched in
Bihar that aims to help people learn about computers and Internet
through self learning modules.
ii. The app envisages offering digital literacy to tribal and
Dalit women in the State which is free and available on Google app
store. This initiative was taken by Ministry to spread out digital
literacy in women from tribal and Dalit background in Bihar.
iii. To promote digital literacy government has initiated training program under “Digital Saksharta Abhiyan” in all states.
Poet, freedom fighter Kayyara Kinhanna Rai passes away
i. Eminent Kannada poet and freedom fighter Kayyara Kinhanna Rai
passed away at Badiyadkka in Kasaragod district of Karnataka. He was
101.
ii. He was an author, poet, journalist and Indian independence
activist. About Kayyar Kinhanna Rai He was born on 8 June 1915 in
Kasaragod in then Madras Presidency of British India.
iii. He had started his career as a secondary school teacher and
later delved into journalism and contributed his writings to various
newspapers.
