PIB Summary- 11th August, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Initiatives Under NEP 2020

Context
Recently, the Minister of State for Education provided valuable insights into the initiatives taken up under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for the transformation of Education Sector in India during a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

National Education Policy 2020

• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions India as a global knowledge hub, marking the third major education policy overhaul since independence.
• The earlier policies were introduced in 1968 and 1986, setting the stage for this comprehensive transformation.

Salient Features of NEP 2020

• Universal Access: Ensuring access to education at all levels, from pre-primary to Grade 12.
• Early Childhood Care: Focusing on quality early childhood care and education for children aged 3-6.
• Curricular Structure: Adopting a new 5+3+3+4 curricular structure that aligns with age groups.
• Four Schooling Stages: Dividing education into Foundational, Preparatory, Middle, and Secondary stages.
• Integrated Learning: Breaking barriers between arts and sciences, curricular and extra-curricular activities, and vocational and academic streams.
• Multilingualism: Emphasizing multilingualism and promoting Indian languages.
• Performance Assessment: Introducing PARAKH, the National Assessment Centre for holistic development evaluation.
• Gender Inclusion and Special Education: Establishing a Gender Inclusion fund and Special Education Zones.

Key Initiatives under NEP 2020

• Objective: Provide high-quality, equitable, and inclusive education in a joyful school environment.
• Launch: September 2022.
• Scope: Upgrading over 14,500 schools across India.
• Allocation: Rs. 630 crore for school enhancement.

NIPUN Bharat

• Vision: Achieve universal foundational literacy and numeracy by Grade 3 (2026-27).
• Focus: Develop enabling environment for essential reading, writing, and numeracy skills.

PM e-VIDYA

• Aim: Promote online education and digital learning.
• Platforms: Utilizes DIKSHA and provides e-books and e-content nationwide.

NCF FS and Jadui Pitara

• Launch: National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage and Jadui Pitara for play-based learning.
• Audience: Tailored teaching materials for children aged 3 to 8.

NISHTHA

• Focus: Capacity-building program for teachers and school principals.
• Enhancement: Aims to foster holistic advancement in school heads and teachers.

NDEAR

• Blueprint: National Digital Education Architecture for technology-based education applications.
• Guiding Principles: Lays foundations for digital technology integration in education.

Academic Frameworks

• NcrF: National Credit Framework for enhanced credit transfer.
• NHEQF: National Higher Education Qualification Framework for academic flexibility.

Increased Investment in Education

• Advocacy: Recommends 6% of combined GDP allocation by Central and State Governments.
• Budget Allocation: Ministry of Education budget increased to Rs. 1,12,899 crore in 2023-24, a 13.68% rise from 2020-21.

International Campuses and Partnerships

• Support: NEP 2020 encourages Indian universities to establish campuses abroad and invites foreign institutions to operate in India.
• MoUs: Agreements signed for IIT campuses in Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi, fostering global educational connections.

Educational Innovation in GIFT City

• GIFT City Hub: Foreign universities authorized to offer specialized courses in Gujarat’s GIFT City.
• Objective: Cultivate high-end human resources for financial services and technology sectors.

Government e-Marketplace

Context
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) marks its 7th Foundation Day as a landmark in India’s procurement landscape.

About Government e-Marketplace (GeM)

• The Government e Marketplace (GeM) was launched on August 9, 2016.
• To create an open and transparent procurement platform for Government buyers.
• A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) by the name of Government e- Marketplace (GeM SPV) was set up as the National Public Procurement Portal
• It has been developed by Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) with technical support of National e-governance Division (Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology).
• It is a completely paperless, cashless and system driven e-market place that enables procurement of common use goods and services with minimal human interface.
•  At present, the platform is open for procurement by all government buyers: central and state ministries, departments, public sector enterprises, autonomous institutions, local bodies, etc.
• As per existing mandate, GeM is not available for use by private sector buyers.
• Suppliers (sellers) can be from across all segments: government or private.

The following are the objectives of the online platform

• Easier availability of various goods and services for the government buyers.
• Create transparency in public procurement.
• Cost saving on government expenditure.
• Achieve and promote cashless transactions.

Exercise Zayed Talwar

Context
Indian Navy and United Arab Emirates to conduct bilateral exercise ‘Zayed Talwar from 8th to 11 August 2023.

Exercise Zayed Talwar

• The Indian Navy’s exercise Zayed Talwar features the involvement of two prominent ships: INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand.

Professional Engagement:

• The exercise entails robust professional interactions between the visiting Indian ships and the UAE Naval Force.
• These interactions span diverse facets of maritime operations, facilitating knowledge exchange and expertise sharing.

Mutual Learning:

• As part of the exercise, the Indian and UAE naval entities will engage in the exchange of best practices.
• The goal is to bolster cooperation and fortify the bond between the two naval forces.

Enhanced Partnership:

• Exercise Zayed Talwar plays a pivotal role in elevating the maritime partnership between the Indian and UAE navies.
• It fosters a shared comprehension of security challenges within the region.