• 11 Jan 2025

Chintan Shivir

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) is organizing a Chintan Shivir from 10^th to 12^th January, 2025, in Udaipur, Rajasthan. This three-day event will discuss challenges hindering the development and welfare of women and children across the nation and devise optimal solutions. 

 Key Points 

• Focused Sessions: 
  • Mission Vatsalya: Enhancing child welfare through improved childcare institutions, foster care, adoption, and aftercare. 
  • Mission Shakti: Addressing women’s safety, child marriage, and empowering women through technology, including the SHe-Box portal. 
  • Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: Strengthening Anganwadi Centres as hubs for nutrition, education, health, and awareness services. 
• Open Discussions and Collaborative Problem-Solving: 
  • The Shivir will facilitate dialogue with State/UT representatives to address challenges and share innovative solutions. 
  • Key topics include improving Anganwadi Centres, intensifying child welfare programs, and leveraging technology for women's empowerment. 

 SHe-Box portal 

• It was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to enhance the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013.   
  • The portal is designed to mask the details of the complainant, ensuring confidentiality, with only the Chairperson of the Internal Committee (IC) or Local Committee (LC) having access to this information.   
• Complaints can be filed by the aggrieved woman or a representative on her behalf. The process requires basic details such as work status, name, phone number, and email. 
  • If the workplace's IC or LC is registered on the portal, complaints are automatically forwarded for action.  
• The portal includes a monitoring dashboard for nodal officers at various administrative levels to track the number of complaints filed, resolved, and pending.   
  • Time prescribed under the Act for inquiry is 90 days. 

Mahaprasad Seva in Maha Kumbh

Why in News? 

• The Adani Group and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) have partnered to provide meals to devotees attending the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj. 

 Key Points 

• Duration and Offering: 
  • The Mahaprasad Seva will run throughout the Maha Kumbh Mela, from 13^th January to 26^th February 2025. 
  • Meals will be served to 50 lakh devotees during the event. 

• Collaboration and Acknowledgment: 
  • Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani met Guru Prasad Swami, Chairman of ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) to express gratitude for ISKCON's support in the initiative. 
• Meal Preparation and Distribution: 
  • Meals will be prepared in two kitchens located in and outside the mela area. 
  • The Mahaprasad will be distributed at 40 designated locations across the Maha Kumbh area. 
  • Around 2,500 volunteers will actively participate in the distribution of meals. 
• Additional Initiatives: 
  • Golf carts have been arranged to assist differently-abled individuals, elderly devotees, and mothers with children. 
  • Five lakh copies of Geeta Saar will be distributed among the attendees as part of the spiritual offerings. 

 The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) 

• The ISKCON, founded in 1966, is commonly known as the “Hare Krishna movement”. 
• ISKCON has translated the Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta and other Vedic literature in 89 languages, playing a stellar role in the dissemination of Vedic literature across the world. 
• Members of the ISKCON movement view Bhaktivedanta Swami as a representative and messenger of Krishna Chaitanya. 

PM to Inaugurate 38th National Games

Why in News? 

The Prime Minister is going to inaugurate the 38^th National Games scheduled to take place from 28^th January to 14^th February 2025 in Uttarakhand. 

 Key Points 

• About the Games: 
  • The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced Uttarakhand as the host for the 2025 National Games. 
  • Over 10,000 athletes, officials, and coaches will participate, competing in 38 sports across multiple cities in the state. 
• Landmark Event for Indian Sports: 
  • IOA President P.T. Usha described the 38th National Games as a significant event to promote traditional and modern sports in India. 
  • The inclusion of demonstration sports like kalarippayattu, yogasana, mallakhambh, and rafting as a tribute to India’s rich heritage and an opportunity for emerging athletes. 
• About the National Games: 
  • The National Games is an Olympic-style event where athletes from states and Union Territories compete for medals. 
  • The 2025 edition will feature 32 core sporting disciplines and four demonstration events. 
  • Previous Editions: 
    • The 2023 National Games were held in Goa and spanned across five cities- Mapusa, Margao, Panjim, Ponda, Vasco. 
    • Maharashtra topped the medal tally with 228 medals, including 80 gold. 
    • The 2022 edition in Gujarat marked a revival of the event after a seven-year gap since 2015. 

 Kalaripayattu 

• It is a martial art based on the ancient knowledge of the human body. 
• It originated in Kerala during the 3^rd century BC to the 2^nd century AD. It is now practised in Kerala and in some parts of Tamil Nadu. 
• The place where this martial art is practised is called a 'Kalari'. It is a Malayalam word that signifies a kind of gymnasium. Kalari literally means 'threshing floor' or 'battlefield'. The word Kalari first appears in the Tamil Sangam literature to describe both a battlefield and combat arena. 
• It is considered to be one of the oldest fighting systems in existence. 
• It is also considered as the father of modern Kung - Fu. 

  

Mallakhamb 

• Mallakhamb is a traditional sport, originating from the Indian subcontinent, in which a gymnast performs aerial yoga or gymnastic postures and wrestling grips with a vertical stationary or hanging wooden pole, cane, or rope 
• The name Mallakhamb derives from the terms malla, meaning wrestler, and khamb, which means a pole. Literally meaning "wrestling pole", the term refers to a traditional training implement used by wrestlers. 
• Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been the hotspots of this sport. 

‘5G Use Case Test Lab’ Inaugurated in Ranchi

Why in News? 

Recently, the Union Minister for Coal and Mines inaugurated the ‘5G Use Case Test Lab’ at the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) in Ranchi, Jharkhand.  

• The facility aims to advance the coal sector’s digital transformation and technological capabilities. 

 Key Points 

• Sustainable Art Showcase: 
  • The minister unveiled a ‘Replica of CMPDI services’ sculpture made from industrial scrap material, showcasing CMPDI’s services in geomatics, exploration, and environmental monitoring. 
  • The installation emphasizes recycling and sustainable practices in art. 
  • The Minister also launched CMPDI’s new corporate logo. 
• 5G Use Case Lab: 
  • Features: 
    • The lab serves as a scaled-down representation of an Industry 5G Private Network, tailored for the coal sector. 
  • Capabilities: 
    • Integrates 5G Radio, Core technologies, Edge/Cloud IT/OT applications, and 5G-enabled devices. 
    • Supports voice, video, and data communication applications. 
    • Includes IIoT sensors for vehicle management and other applications. 
  • Objectives: 
    • Develop 5G use cases such as predictive maintenance, smart mining, and real-time monitoring. 
    • Create a replicable model of a 5G private network for real-world applications. 
  • Future Applications: 
    • Implement advanced technologies like digital twins, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), and AR/VR for operational optimization. 
• Benefits to the Coal Industry: 
  • Reliable, high-speed, low-latency connectivity to support mission-critical operations. 
  • Real-time data exchange for better decision-making and streamlined processes. 
  • The private captive network ensures data generated during operations remains with Coal India Limited (CIL). 
  • Adoption of 5G will improve efficiency and safety in mining operations. 

 Coal India Limited  

• About:  
  • CIL is a state-owned coal mining corporation in India, responsible for producing and managing coal resources in the country.  
    • It was founded in 1975 and is the world's largest coal producer.  
• Organisational Structure:  
  • CIL is classified as a 'Maharatna' public sector enterprise and operates through 8 subsidiaries like Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).  
  • Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) is CIL’s largest coal-producing subsidiary.  
• Strategic Importance:  
  • Over half of India’s installed power capacity is coal-based, with CIL supplying around 78% of the country’s total coal production.   
  • Coal also accounts for 40% of India’s primary commercial energy needs.  
• Mining Capacity:  
  • Across eight Indian states, CIL operates in 84 mining areas, and manages a total of 313 active mines.