Prelims Factoids
Srinagar joins UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)
 

What's the NEWS

• Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, was among 49 cities worldwide to join the UNESCO creative cities network (UCCN)
• Srinagar joins the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with a special mention for its craft and folk art.
• The 49 cities were added to the network of 246 cities following their designation by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, in recognition of "their commitment to placing culture and creativity at the heart of their development and to sharing knowledge and good practices".
• According to a release posted on the UNESCO site, the network now numbers 295 cities reaching 90 countries that invest in culture and creativity - crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music - to advance sustainable urban development.
• Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INCCU) had recommended Srinagar and Gwalior for inclusion in the coveted list, only Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital made it.
• Mumbai and Hyderabad are already in the network, having made it to the list in October 2019.

• The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a project of UNESCO launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities which recognized creativity as a major factor in their urban development.
• The network aims to foster mutual international cooperation with and between member cities committed to invest in creativity as a driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and cultural vibrancy.

1. Film
2. Literature
3. Music
4. Crafts and Folk Arts
5. Design
6. Gastronomy
7. Media Arts

What's the NEWS

• To safeguard interest of consumers, the Department of Consumer Affairs under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has omitted the Rule 5 of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities), Rules 2011 defining the Schedule II prescribing the pack sizes of various types of commodities.

• A new provision has been introduced to indicate the unit sale price on pre packed commodities, which will allow easier comparison of the prices of the commodities at the time of purchase.
• Earlier, the month and year in which the commodity is manufactured or pre-packed or imported was required to be mentioned in the package.
• For reducing compliance burden and removing the ambiguity of declaration of date on pre packed commodities for consumers, the declaration has now been required to the month and year in which the commodity is manufactured for the pre packed commodities.
• The provisions of declarations of MRP has been simplified by removing illustration and providing for making the mandatory declaration of MRP in Indian currency inclusive of all taxes.
• This has allowed the manufacturer/packer/importer to declare the MRP on the pre packed commodities in a simplified manner.
• Rules for declaring the commodities sold in pre packed commodities in numbers have been eased out for reducing the compliance burden for manufacturer /importer/packer.
• Earlier such declarations could be denoted as ‘N' or ‘U' only.
• Now the quantities can be expressed in terms of the number or unit or piece or pair or set or such other word which represents the quantity in the package.
• This will remove the ambiguity of declaration of quantity sold by number in pre packed commodities.

• The Indian Army in conjunction with FICCI organised a webinar on ‘Indian Army Make Projects' on 08 November 2021.
• This was the sixth such webinar since the inception of the Make process in 2016.

• The Make Projects have been instrumental in enhancing the role of MSMEs in the defence sector with over 40% of the Project Sanction Orders issued to MSMEs and projects amounting to over 1,000 crores reserved for MSMEs.
• During the webinar, the Indian Army unveiled Six new ‘Make-II Projects'.
• The new projects spanned technologies across unmanned systems, technologies to counter such systems as well as emerging solutions for augmenting air defence capabilities.
• The Army would now work with the industry to evolve the development dimensions of each project.
• A booklet on ‘Army Make Projects 2021'was released on the occasion giving out the current progress of ongoing projects, the new projects being launched along with allied information on the Make Process.

• The Department of Justice kicked-off the week- long "Tele-Law on Wheels" campaign from 8^th to 14^th November, 2021.
• As part of this campaign, a series of activities are being undertaken to empower people through pre-litigation advice for rightfully claiming their entitlements and for timely redressal of their difficulties.

• A special Login week is being organized throughout the country for encouraging those in need to seek legal advice and consultation through tele-and video conferencing facilities by urging them to visit their nearest Common Service Centers(CSCs) offering Tele-Law services.
• These CSCs have been branded as Kanooni Salah Sahahyak Kendra for this purpose.
• The Tele-Law on Wheels Campaign is being conducted with aid of CSC e Governance which has a network of 4lakth + digitally enabled CSCs across the country.
• Special Mobile vans displaying the message of the Campaign has also been rolled out
• These vans would travel a distance of 30-40 kilometres daily, distribute Information Leaflets on Tele-Law, broadcast films and Radio jingle about the Tele-Law Services etc.

• The key highlight of the week-long Campaign would be the launch of the Citizens' Tele-Law Mobile App by Minister of Law and Justice
• This App would connect the beneficiaries directly with Panel Lawyers offering legal advice and consultation.
• Post this launch this Mobile App (in Android version) would be available on Google Playstore for download.

What's the NEWS

• Seventeen scientists from scientific institutions across India have been awarded the Swarnajayanti Fellowships for their innovative research ideas and the potential of creating impact on R&D in different disciplines.
• Scientists selected for the award will be allowed to pursue unfettered research with a freedom and flexibility in terms of expenditure as approved in the research plan.
• The scientists with proven track record and selected through a rigorous three layered screening process will pursue basic research in frontier areas of science and technology.

• The Swanajayanti Fellowship scheme was instituted by Govt. of India to commemorate India's fiftieth year of Independence.
• Under the scheme the awardees are facilitated by the Department of Science & Technology, GOI with support for all the requirements for performing the research including a fellowship of Rs. 25,000/- per month for five years.
• In addition, DST supports the awardees by giving them a research grant of 5 lakh Rupees for 5 years.
• The fellowship is provided in addition to the salary they draw from their parent Institution. In addition to fellowship, grants for equipment, computational facilities, consumables, contingencies, national and international travel and other special requirements, are covered based on merit.

• The "Ganga Mashaal" has formally started its journey from Rishikesh and Haridwar in Uttarakhand.
• The Mashaal will travel to a total of 23 stations along river Ganga which will help in sensitization of the local people and Namami Gange volunteers.
• Along with the District Administration, field volunteers like Ganga Vichar Manch, Ganga Doot (NYKS), Ganga Praharis, Ganga Mitras shall also be supporting in the journey of the Mashaal, carried by the brave men of the Ganga Task Force (GTF) up to Ganga Sagar in West Bengal.
• The Ganga Mashaal was flagged off on the last day of the Ganga Utsav

• On the anniversary of the announcement of the River Ganga as the ‘National River' (i.e. 4th Nov), National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) celebrates Ganga Utsav every year.
• The objective of the Utsav (festival) is to promote stakeholder engagement and ensure public participation.
• The Utsav highlights the significance of "Jan Bhagidari" in the revival of Ganga, with a focus on encouraging stakeholder engagement and public participation towards the rejuvenation of river Ganga.
• Through Ganga Utsav NMCG targets strengthening of the public - river connect.
• Since the last four years this event has acted as an important platform to establish connect with people from all walks of life.
• The 5^th edition of ‘Ganga Utsav 2021- The River Festival' was held in New Delhi from 1st to 3rd November 2021
• The event was also marked by several important launches and releases such as the Continuous Activity and Learning Portal (CLAP), Ganga Knowledge Portal, etc.
• the aim was to celebrate not just River Ganga but all rivers in the country.
• Over 150 districts have already organized Nadi Utsavs, and many more will continue to do so in the coming months.
• The celebrations are also part of the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav campaign.

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