Rajasthan State PCS

• 29 Jun 2023

'Dial Future'

Why in News?

On June 27, 2023, the School Education Department of Rajasthan started the 'Dial Future' program, taking a unique initiative to prepare the path for a golden future for the future generation with the beginning of the new academic session in the state.

Key Points:

• It is worth mentioning that under the Dial Future & Future Steps (Road to Future) initiative, one teacher each from all the higher secondary schools of the state has been selected as a guide, who will guide and counsel the children who have passed class X in the school in faculty selection.
• Also, 20 help desk numbers have been issued by dividing the entire state into 4 zones Jaipur Zone (Jaipur and Bharatpur Division), Kota Zone (Kota and Udaipur Division), Jodhpur Zone (Jodhpur and Pali Division), and Bikaner Zone (Bikaner, Churu and Ajmer Division).
• Apart from this, a detailed video related to career counselling has been prepared and released on YouTube.
• Education Minister Dr. B. D. Kalla released the logo, brochure, booklet and video of the program through video conferencing from Bikaner.
• More than 15,000 path-breaking teachers of higher secondary schools of the state and more than 500 officers of the department joined the program through video conferencing.
• On this occasion, the Education Minister said that with the new academic session starting from June 26 in the state, the School Chalo Campaign (Praveshotsav) is being run to connect the drop-out children with education and now the children who have passed class X from June 28 to April 5 will be guided in subject selection.
• He said that the guiding teachers will also give information about vocational education after class X along with the right faculty selection to the children so that they can become part of the working population.
• This program will make the path of career selection of students easier. Apart from arts, commerce and science, students will also be given information about fine arts, music, literature, vocational training, and technical training.
• In the 'Dial Future' program, along with guiding the faculty selection, information about the nearest school will also be given.
• Through this program, the Department of Education along with the Directorate of Secondary Education, Bikaner, Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research & Training (RSCERT), Udaipur has played an active role in brightening the career path of about 9 lakh students in this session.

Industries & Commerce Minister inaugurates Rajasthani Sangh Bhawan in Coimbatore

Why in News?

On June 28, 2023, Rajasthan Industries and Commerce Minister Shakuntala Rawat inaugurated the newly constructed Rajasthani Sangh Bhavan in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu state at a function organized under the aegis of Rajasthani Sangh.

Key Points:

• Speaking on the occasion, the Industries and Commerce Minister said that this building will prove useful for the common people living in the Coimbatore district. With the construction of the building, Rajasthani migrants living in the city and travelling Rajasthanis will get a home-like environment away from home.
• It is known that Rajasthan Foundation Commissioner Dhiraj Srivastava is continuously doing better work for overseas Rajasthanis in the country and abroad.
• With the construction of this building, various facilities will be available to the migrant Rajasthanis living in Coimbatore city. Along with this, programs, and exhibitions related to Rajasthani art and culture will also be organized, which will promote cultural exchange.

Youth Co:Lab, a Rajasthan Start-Up, wins the National Innovation Dialogue 2022

Why in News?

On June 27, 2023, Akashdiya Bansal's start-up from Jaipur, Rajasthan was declared the winner at the 5th edition of Youth Co: Lab National Innovation Dialogue India.

Key Points:

• Twelve top start-ups from 9 Indian states working in agriculture, ed-tech, women's livelihood, circular economy and biodiversity were declared winners in the 5th edition of Youth Co/Lab National Innovation Dialogue India.
• Under the theme 'Digital and Financial Literacy for Youth', Rajasthan's Akashdeep Bansal's start-up 'Edubuild - Experiments for Youth' was declared the winner.
• Winners from each thematic area received seed grants of $5,000; The runner-up received $3,000. This funding will help the winners to mold their ideas into tangible products or services.
• It is worth mentioning that Youth Co:Lab India 2022-23 has focused on 6 thematic areas - digital and financial literacy for youth, gender equality and economic empowerment of women, developing fintech solutions focused on biodiversity conservation, through technology solutions in finance. The focus was on promoting biodiversity-friendly lifestyles and accelerating the circular economy through upcycling innovation.
• Youth Co:Lab was launched in India in 2019 in partnership with NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). The 2022-23 edition received 378 applications from 28 states across the country.
• Out of the applications, 47 selected start-ups were given direct expert consultation and capacity-building sessions for 2 months through the Youth Co/Lab Springboard Programme, a start-up support platform for SDG innovators. These start-ups then presented their ideas before an eminent jury in May 2023, from which 12 winners were selected.
• About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):
  • AIM is the Government of India's endeavour to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, including self-employment and talent utilisation (SETU).
  • It aims to act as a platform to promote world-class innovation hubs, big challenges, start-up businesses and other self-employment activities, especially in technology-driven sectors.
• About UNDP India:
  • UNDP has worked in almost all areas of human development in India since 1951, ranging from system and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience.
  • UNDP's programmes fully integrate the global vision of catalytic transformation with India's national priorities. With over 30 projects in almost every state, UNDP India works to achieve Sustainable Development Goals by adapting traditional models to develop differently.
• About Citi Foundation:
  • The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve people's lives in low-income communities around the world. They invest in efforts that enhance financial inclusion, catalyze employment opportunities for youth and envision new approaches to building economically vibrant communities.
  • Citi Foundation's 'More than Philanthropy' approach leverages the abundant expertise of The City and its people to accomplish the mission and advance thought, leadership and innovation.
• About Youth Co:Lab
  • Co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation, the Youth Co-Lab aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and invest in youths to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Since 2017, Youth Co: The Lab has supported young aspiring and inspiring social entrepreneurs in 28 countries and regions across Asia and the Pacific.