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Daily Current Capsules - 10th October 2019

Government Schemes
Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship Programme

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship Programme) + Mains ( GS II Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
What's the NEWS
  • Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship launches Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship Programme with IIM Bangalore
  • Fellows in the two-year blended programme with academic module at IIM-B & district emersion program will train with district administration officials
Know! more about the programme
  • Programme aims to provide academic inputs and field experience to understand and contribute to the creation of a district level skill development ecosystem
  • Programme launched in 75 districts across Gujarat, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand
  • To boost skill development at the district level, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed a contract with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore for introducing a two-year fellowship programme Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship (MGNF) programme.
  • Designed under Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) the fellowship aims to address the challenge of non-availability of personnel for implementation of various programmes at national, state and district levels.
  • The MGNF programme has an in-built component of on-ground practical experience with the district administration.
  • Launched on a pilot basis in 75 districts across Gujarat, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, eligible fellows for the programme have to be in 21-30 years age-group, have a graduation degree from a recognized university and be citizens of India. Proficiency in official language of state of fieldwork will be mandatory.
  • Individuals who can implement and manage skill development programmes at the grass roots level are needed and MGNF seeks to create a cadre of young individuals
Know! the course of the training
  • In the course of their training, fellows will work under the close supervision of state skill development missions (SSDM) and will spend time and effort in understanding skilling challenges and gaps in the district.
  • They are expected to enrich skilling programmes by bringing in fresh thinking to local planning, execution, community interaction and outcome management.
  • Fellows will receive a stipend of Rs. 50,000 in the first year and Rs. 60,000 in the second year.
  • On completion of their engagement, they will be awarded a Certificate in Public Policy and Management from IIM Bangalore.
Know! about SANKALP
  • Launched by the Government in January 2018, SANKALP is a World Bank loan assisted project that aims to strengthen institutional mechanisms for skill development and increase access to quality and market-relevant training for youth across the country.
  • Four key result areas have been identified under SANKALP viz: (i) Institutional Strengthening; (ii) Quality Assurance; (iii) Inclusion; and (iv) Expanding Skills through PPPs.
Disaster Management
Gagan Enabled Mariner's Instrument for Navigation and Information (GEMINI)
Low cost device for ocean states forecast and mapping potential fishing zones launched

Relevance IN - Prelims (about GEMINI + OSF and about PFZ) + Mains (GS III disaster management)
What's the NEWS
  • For seamless and effective dissemination of emergency information and communication on disaster warnings, Potential Fishing Zones (PFZ) and Ocean States Forecasts (OSF) to fishermen, the Government launched the Gagan Enabled Mariner's Instrument for Navigation and Information (GEMINI) device.
  • The satellite based communication is the only suitable solution for the dissemination of such emergency information and affordable satellite based communication system should be made part of the dissemination chain to deal with cyclones, high waves and tsunamis.
Know! more about Ocean State Forecasts (OSF)
  • While PFZ Advisories provide information on the probable locations on fish aggregation in the seas, OSF provide the accurate state of the ocean.
  • Ocean State Forecasts include the forecasts on winds, waves, ocean currents, water temperature, etc. at every 6 hrs on daily basis for next 5 days helping fishermen in maximizing their earnings, ensuring safety and in planning of fishing activities.
Know! what were the limitations
  • Though the advisories and forecasts are disseminated through multiple communication modes, none of them could provide such information, including the disaster warnings when the fishermen move away from the coast beyond 10-12 km (typical ranges of mobile phones and VHF).
  • That remained as a major limitation in disseminating the information to fishermen who go in the sea beyond 50 nautical miles; sometimes up to 300 nautical miles and beyond to conduct multiday fishing.
  • This lacuna was severely felt during the Ockhi cyclone in 2017, when fishermen went out, for deep sea fishing before the onset of the cyclone and could not be informed about the developing cyclone.
  • This communication gap resulted in loss of life, serious injuries to those rescued and severe damages to fishing boats and fishing gear.
To overcome the limitations
  • To overcome this difficulty, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) joined hands with Airports Authority of India (AAI) to utilize the GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation) satellite system to transmit the PFZ, OSF and disaster warnings to fishermen with GAGAN system consisting of three geosynchronous satellites (GSAT-8, GSAT-10 and GSAT-15).
  • GAGAN foot-print covers the entire Indian Ocean round the clock. To receive the messages transmitted through the GAGAN satellites, INCOIS together with AAI developed a low-cost GAGAN system-enabled GEMINI (GAGAN Enabled Mariner's Instrument for Navigation and Information) device
  • The GEMINI device receives and transfers the data received from GAGAN satellite/s to a mobile through Bluetooth communication. A mobile application developed by INCOIS decodes and displays the information in nine regional languages.
PFZ forecasts
  • Dr. Harsh Vardhan also inaugurated the PFZ forecasts, newly developed by INCOIS which will provide advisories on PFZ to fishermen 3 days in advance.
  • PFZ advisories have become part of the value chain of the fishing community, over 6 lakh fishermen are regularly accessing advisories directly through their mobiles to avoid the wastage of time for searching shoals of fish
  • The PFZ forecasts are generated using numerical models operationalized by INCOIS and helps overcome the operational difficulties in providing the PFZ advisories during overcast skies based on satellite data.
Health Sector
WHO IndiaCountry Cooperation Strategy 2019-2023 launched

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) + Mains (GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
What's the NEWS
  • Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan launched ‘The WHO India Country Cooperation Strategy 2019-2023: A Time of Transition
Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS)
  • The Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) provides a strategic roadmap for WHO to work with the Government of India towards achieving its health sector goals, in improving the health of its population and bringing in transformative changes in the health sector.
Four areas identified for strategic cooperation of WHO with the country encompass:
  • to accelerate progress on UHC;
  • to promote health and wellness by addressing determinants of health;
  • to protect the population better against health emergencies; and
  • to enhance India's global leadership in health.
Know! more about Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS)
  • The CCS builds upon the work that WHO has been carrying out in the last several years. "In addition, it identifies current and emerging health needs and challenges such as non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance and air pollution.
  • The India CCS is one of the first that fully aligns itself with the newly adopted WHO 13th General Programme of Work and its 'triple billion' targets, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and WHO South-East Asia Region's eight Flagship Priorities.
  • It captures the work of the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework for 2018-2022.
  • The CCS outlines how WHO can support the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and other allied Ministries to drive impact at the country level.
  • The strategy document builds on other key strategic policy documents including India's National Health Policy 2017, the many pathbreaking initiatives India has introduced - from Ayushman Bharat to its National Viral Hepatitis programme and promotion of digital health amongst others.
Human Resource Development
Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme (PMILP)- ‘DHRUV'
Relevance IN - Prelims (about PMILP-DHRUV) + Mains (GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
What's the NEWS
  • Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank' launched the Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme- ‘DHRUV' from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Know! about PMILP
  • The objective of the Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme program would be to allow talented students to realize their full potential and contribute to society.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme is being started to identify and encourage talented children to enrich their skills and knowledge.
  • In centres of excellence across the country, gifted children will be mentored and nurtured by renowned experts in different areas, so that they can reach their full potential.
  • It is expected that many of the students selected will reach the highest levels in their chosen fields and bring laurels to their community, State and Nation
Know! about the DHRUV programme details
  • The programme will be called DHRUV (after the Pole Star) and every student to be called ‘DHRUV TARA'. The students will thus both shine through their achievements and light a path for others to follow.
  • It will cover two areas i.e. Science and Performing Arts. There will be 60 students in all, 30 from each area. The 60 students come from across the country
  • The students will be broadly from classes 9 to 12, from all schools including government and private.

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