General Awareness

GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION - December 2018

Dec 2018

Dec 02, 2022

BIS Signs MoU with top six Engineering Institutes of India

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the top six engineering institutes of India for introducing Indian standards as an integral part of the curriculum. This initiative is towards institutionalizing engagement of BIS with eminent institutes to secure active participation of academia.
The MoU was signed with the Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and National Institute of Technology Trichy.
The establishment will promote excellence and leadership in teaching and research & development in the field of science and various disciplines in the respective institutes.

Dec 01, 2022

UGC's Approval must for Universities to Offer Open, Distance Learning Courses

Prior approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) is now mandatory for Universities to offer Open and Distance Learning courses.
Universities may offer courses in the Open and Distance Learning mode, with approval of the Commission, provided it satisfies all the conditions laid down under the regulations, by whatever name they are called, pertaining to open and distance learning mode notified by the UGC from time to time.
At the 562th meeting of the commission, amendments to the existing regulations were approved and these were published.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year is 'Gaslighting'

Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "gaslighting."
The online dictionary chose "gaslighting," which it defines as "the act or practice of grossly misleading someone especially for one's own advantage," as its top word of 2022 because it became the "favoured word for the perception of deception."
Gaslighting is usually more complex than an off-the-cuff lie and more nefarious, too: Gaslighting someone into believing they're wrong is often part of a "larger plan," said Merriam-Webster.
The term "gaslighting" encapsulates some of the other common terms we associate with misinformation – "deepfakes" and "fake news" among them, per Merriam-Webster.

IIM Raipur, to Introduce an Executive Certificate Programme for Strategic Chief Marketing Officers

A new training programme, jointly developed by IIM Raipur and Imarticus Learning, has been launched and will come into effect from February 18, 2023.
The Executive Certificate Programme for Strategic Chief Marketing Officers is a 10-month course that is designed specifically for professionals at senior levels.
It aims to familiarise them with the contemporary challenges in the field of marketing and engage meaningfully with CXOs within and outside the organisation.
Curriculum goals include understanding customer needs, crafting marketing strategies, implementing business decisions, and implementing master's plans to help the organisation succeed.
A bachelor's degree and five years of professional experience are the minimum requirements for the course. IIM Raipur will award learners a certificate at the end of the programme.

Nov 30, 2022

WHO Renames Monkeypox as mpox, Citing Racism, Discrimination Concerns

The World Health Organisation renamed monkeypox as mpox, citing concerns the original name of the decades-old animal disease could be construed as discriminatory and racist.
As per the UN health agency, mpox was its new preferred name for monkeypox, and that both monkeypox and mpox would be used for the next year while the old name is phased out.
WHO was concerned by the racist and stigmatising language that arose after monkeypox spread to more than 100 countries. It said numerous individuals and countries asked the organisation to propose a way forward to change the name.
In August, WHO began consulting experts about renaming the disease, shortly after the UN agency declared monkeypox's spread to be a global emergency.
Mpox was first named monkeypox in 1958 when research monkeys in Denmark were observed to have a pox-like disease, although they are not thought to be the disease's animal reservoir.

Only Students of Classes 9, 10 will be Covered under Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme

Stating that the Right to Education covers compulsory education up to class 8th for all students, the government has now limited its pre-matric scholarship scheme meant for backward and minority communities to students of class 9 and Class 10.
Earlier, the pre-matric scholarship used to cover education for class 1 to 8 also belonging to SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities.
The government, in a notice, justified its decision by underlining that the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 makes it obligatory for the government to provide free and compulsory elementary education (Classes 1 to 8) to each and every child.

Ministry of Rural Development Launches 'Nai Chetna' Gender Campaign

'Nai Chetna', is a month-long campaign envisioned as a 'Jan Andolan' or people's movement. The 'Nai Chetna' campaign is launched by the Ministry of Rural Development and involves sensitizing women, especially in rural areas. It seeks to enable women to acknowledge, prepare, and take support in situations of comprise.
The Union Minister described that the 'Nai Chetna' campaign focuses on women.
Women in rural areas are unaware of the various mechanisms available to raise their concerns.
The campaign has an idea to bring the issue of gender-based violence into focus and make women aware of their rights and the mechanism available to help redress their grievances.
The campaign aims to raise awareness about the institutional mechanisms available for women to fight gender-based violence.

Former Health Secretary Preeti Sudan Takes Oath as UPSC Member

Former Health Secretary Preeti Sudan was appointed as a member of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The UPSC conducts civil services examination annually in three stages, preliminary, main and interview, to select officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others.
She superannuated as the health secretary in July 2020. Sudan also served in Women and Child Development and Defence Ministries.
In her cadre state Andhra Pradesh, she handled finance and planning, disaster management, tourism and agriculture.
Amongst her notable contribution have been initiating two major flagship programmes of the country, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Ayushman Bharat, apart from legislation on National Medical Commission, Allied Health Professional Commission and ban on e-cigarettes.
Sudan was also consultant with the World Bank. The UPSC is headed by a chairperson and can have a maximum of 10 members. With her appointment, there is still a vacancy of four members in the Commission.

Nov 29, 2022

Tamil Nadu CM Flags off 100 Mobile Laboratories to Promote Scientific Temperament

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin launched an initiative to foster scientific interest among school students. The initiative is called Vanavil Mandram (Rainbow forum).
It is aimed at promoting interest among the students of standard 6 to 8 to learn Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The event, attended by others Ministers K. N. Nehru, Thangam Thennarasu, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and Tiruchirappalli Mayor M. Anpahagan, was inaugurated at the Pappakurichi Government Girls Higher Secondary school, Kattur.
Also, the Chief Minister flagged off 100 mobile science and mathematics laboratories on behalf school Education department to stimulate the scientific temper among students.

Nov 28, 2022

IGNOU Launches Online MA Course in Sustainability Science

A new MA programme in Sustainability Science was introduced by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Multiple entry and departure points are available for the online MA in Sustainability Science (MASS) programme.
The new online MA programme's goal is to give students the chance to learn more deeply about sustainable development and the guiding principles of sustainability science.
Professor Nageswar Rao, Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU, stated during the MASS programme's launch ceremony that by making the programme available online, IGNOU was following the right path in sustainable development education and supporting India's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Kerala: Over 200 Govt. Schools to Install Weather Stations to Train Students on Climate Change

As many as 240 government schools in Kerala will soon install weather stations, recording daily changes in weather conditions in the state, considered to be a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country.
The project is part of efforts to train younger generation to understand climatic changes and take necessary precautions in this regard in the wake of recurring natural disasters including floods in the southern state.
General Education Minister V. Sivankutty conducted the district-level inauguration of the innovative initiative in Kozhikode at the Kayanna Government Higher Secondary School.
Through such centres, students would have first-hand knowledge and understanding of what they have learned from textbooks on the weather.

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