• 07 May 2024

Poor Infrastructure of Government Schools in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to have implemented the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. However, there is poor infrastructure and the absence of teachers in the classrooms.

Key Points

• The NEP 2020 seeks to tackle the evolving development needs of India.
  • It calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the education system, including its regulations and management, to establish a modern system that aligns with 21st-century educational goals, including Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), while respecting India's cultural heritage and values.
  • It replaces the thirty-four year old National Policy on Education, 1986, modified in 1992 (NPE 1986/92).
• The high school results in Madhya Pradesh have been consistently poor for six years, with a significant number of students failing in Mathematics and English in 2023.
• While a lot has been done to improve the schools on the supply side with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and subsequent efforts, there is a need for rejuvenating and re-imagining learning in schools.
  • Samagra Shiksha subsumes the three Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).

Swiss Military to Invest in Haryana

Why in News?

Global lifestyle brand Swiss Military announced that it will set up its first fully owned manufacturing unit in Haryana with an initial investment of Rs 56.5 crore.

Key Points

• The company plans to set up its first fully owned manufacturing unit for luggage and travel gear in Faridabad, Haryana.
  • Spread over 1.21 acres and a built-up area of about 85,000 sq ft, the proposed plant will have a production capacity of 10 lakh pieces per year.
• The targeted completion for the manufacturing unit will be within 8 months by 31st Dec, 2024.
  • With domestic and international leisure and business travel bouncing back aggressively, the company has seen very vigorous growth in the luggage and travel gear segment.
• This new venture by Swiss Military is aligned to the future vision of expansion in India and abroad while being part of 'Make in India' movement.

'Make in India' Movement

• Launched in 2014, Make in India aims to transform the country into a leading global manufacturing and investment destination.
• It is being led by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
• The initiative is an open invitation to potential investors and partners across the globe to participate in the growth story of ‘New India’.
• Make in India has substantial accomplishments across 27 sectors under Make in India 2.0 which include strategic sectors of manufacturing and services as well.

Bihar Environment Secretary Addresses Jakarta Futures Forum

Why in News?

Recently, Secretary of the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bihar, spoke at Jakarta Futures Forum in Indonesia to raise global awareness about the initiatives taken in both India and Bihar for promoting renewable sources of energy.

Key Points

• The panel discussion titled ‘International Cooperation for Facilitating a Just and Inclusive Energy Transition’ included Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), and Professor Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia.
  • The secretary emphasized significant milestones, such as India reaching 40% of its electric-generation capacity from non-fossil fuels by November 2021, and Bihar pioneering the development of a ‘Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Development Pathway’ for the State.
  • India has exceeded its commitment made at the United Nations’ Conference of Parties (COP) 21 - Paris Summit by achieving 40% of its power capacity from non-fossil fuels several years ahead of schedule (originally targeted by 2023).
  • The country ranks fourth globally in renewable energy installed capacity (including large hydro), fourth in wind power capacity, and fifth in solar power capacity (according to REN21 Renewables 2023 Global Status Report).
• India’s proactive steps towards clean energy transition, including commitments to achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030, energy independence by 2047, and net-zero emissions by 2070 were emphasized during the forum.
  • Bihar has successfully implemented various programs and schemes to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with national objectives.
    • Flagship programmes such as Jal Jeevan Hariyali Mission which aims to rejuvenate water bodies, promote biodiversity conservation, and enhance green cover is being implemented in the state.
    • Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (BREDA) is developing an updated Renewable Energy Policy-2024.
  • Bihar is the first state in the country to develop a Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Development Pathway for the state.
    • The state is also on the edge of finalizing the Bihar State Action Plan on Climate Change. The policies also advocate energy transition in the state.
• The secretary urged the nations to strengthen international collaboration frameworks, increase support for developing countries, and ensure that the energy transition addresses the needs of affected workers and communities.

Jakarta Futures Forum: Blue Horizons, Green Growth 2024

• The Embassy of India in Jakarta, in partnership with Observer Research Foundation (ORF), and the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia hosted the inaugural Jakarta Futures Forum (JFF) on 2nd and 3rd May 2024.
• JFF is a realization of a long-standing vision and a commitment from both countries to build a meaningful and inclusive future together.
• The success of this pilot project stands as a testimony to the fact that collective effort and innovative solutions can indeed bring the world not only together, but closer as well.
  • India and Indonesia have the ability and credentials to redefine what inclusion means across various sectors and issues, thereby, ensuring a fairer and more equitable world.
  • Inclusion must be at the forefront of the agenda, as reflected in the Indonesian and Indian G20 communiques.

Solar Energy to Meet Power Demand

Why in News?

The Rajasthan government is looking to increase dependence on solar energy from the current 12-14% to over 40% of consumption by 2030 to bridge the power gap.

Key Points

• With urbanisation and industrial growth, electricity demand in the state may increase by 8 to 10% every year.
  • In the next five years, the scheme for promoting solar production centres among the government and private sector and the rooftop solar plants scheme will be promoted.
  • These efforts will also reduce dependence on coal-based plants.
• According to the plan, subsidised rooftop systems are to be installed at 500,000 houses in the first phase of PM Suryaghar Yojana in the state.
  • In 2023-24, Rajasthan’s commissioned solar capacity was over 1,296 megawatt (Mw), according to the state’s renewable energy website, with the best year being 2021-2022 when the commissioned solar energy was over 5,398 Mw. The state had over 15,195 Mw of aggregate solar capacity till December 2023.
• Rajasthan’s solar energy generation potential has been assessed at 142 Gw.
  • The state has vast untapped potential in terms of intense solar radiation with one of the highest number of sunny days in a year and availability of vast unutilised government and private land.
  • This has the potential to make Rajasthan a highly preferred destination for solar energy production.

PM Surya Ghar Yojana

• It is a pioneering government initiative aimed at installing rooftop solar power systems in one crore households across the nation.
• Rooftop solar panels are photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of a building that is connected to the main power supply unit.
• It reduces the consumption of grid-connected electricity and saves electricity costs for the consumer.
  • Surplus solar power units generated from the rooftop solar plant can be exported to the grid as per the metering provisions.
  • The consumer can receive monetary benefits for the surplus exported power as per the prevailing regulations.

Rajasthan CM Felicitates Candidates Selected in Central Civil Services

Why in News?

Recently, Rajasthan Chief Minister felicitated candidates from the State selected in the Central Civil Services after passing out the 2023 Union Public Service Commission’s examination.

• He greeted the young officers at a function in Jaipur by dressing them in turbans and shawls, and presenting mementos to them.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister called upon the youths to work with honesty and dedication in all positions where they are appointed.
• The young officers who attended the function at the Chief Minister’s official residence shared their views on issues such as women’s empowerment, improving the education system, promoting tourism in Rajasthan, and improving the State’s ranking in the Centre’s Swachh Survekshan or cleanliness survey.

Swachh Survekshan (SS) 2023

• It was introduced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in 2016 as a competitive framework to encourage cities to improve the status of urban sanitation while encouraging large scale citizen participation.
  • Over the years, Swachh Survekshan has emerged as the largest Urban sanitation survey in the world.
• In SS 2023, additional weightage has been given to source segregation of waste, enhancement of waste processing capacity of cities to match the waste generation and reduction of waste going to the dumpsites.
  • Indicators have been introduced with additional weightage on emphasizing the need for phased reduction of plastic, plastic waste processing, encourage waste to wonder parks and zero waste events.
• Ranking of Wards within the cities is also being promoted through SS 2023.
• The cities would also be assessed on dedicated indicators on the issues of ‘Open Urination’ (Yellow Spots) and ‘Open Spitting’ (Red Spots), being faced by the cities.
• MoHUA will be promoting cleaning of back lanes of the residential and commercial areas.

Nepal to Introduce New Currency Note Featuring Indian Territories

Why in News?

Nepal recently announced the printing of a new Rs 100 currency note featuring a map that includes the Indian territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani.

• The Nepal government has authorized the Nepal Rastra Bank to replace the current map with the updated version on the currency note.

Key Points

• Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, which India earlier had included in its November 2019 map.
  • Tensions between New Delhi and Kathmandu emerged after Nepal issued a political map in May 2020, which included the same territories.
  • Diplomatic relations came under further strain when Nepal handed over a diplomatic note to India objecting to the inauguration of a road linking Kailash Mansarovar via Lipulekh in 2020.
  • India's Ministry of External Affairs had responded to Nepal's objection, stating that the road, passing through Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district, fell entirely within the Indian territory.
• Nepal has asserted its claim based on the Sugauli Treaty of 1816. According to the treaty all territories east of the Kali (Mahakali) river, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Lipulekh, belong to Nepal.
  • The Sugauli Treaty, signed on 4th March 1816, between the East India Company and Guru Gajraj Mishra, delineated the boundary line of Nepal following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814–16.
  • India, however, has stated that the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between India and Nepal annulled the Sugauli Treaty.
  • Nepal argues that treaties such as the 1923 Nepal–Britain Treaty of Friendship reaffirmed its sovereignty during the era of British rule.

Border Dispute Between India and Nepal

• India and Nepal have border disputes over Kalapani - Limpiyadhura - Lipulekh trijunction between India-Nepal and China and Susta area (West Champaran district, Bihar).
• Kalapani Region:
  • Kalapani is a valley that is administered by India as a part of the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. It is situated on the Kailash Mansarovar route.
    • Kalapani is advantageously located at a height of over 20,000 ft and serves as an observation post for that area.
  • The Kali River in the Kalapani region demarcates the border between India and Nepal.
  • The Treaty of Sugauli signed by the Kingdom of Nepal and British India (after Anglo-Nepalese War) in 1816 located the Kali River as Nepal's western boundary with India.
  • The discrepancy in locating the source of the Kali river led to boundary disputes between India and Nepal, with each country producing maps supporting their own claims.