Education
NIC and CBSE to launch CollabCAD Software
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about CollabCAD Software + CollabCAD 3D Design Challenge) + Mains ( GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.+ GS III awareness in the field of science and technology)
What's the NEWS

• National Informatics Centre (NIC), MeitY along with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Ministry of Education is jointly launching CollabCAD Software, a collaborative network, computer-enabled software system, providing a total engineering solution from 2D drafting & detailing to 3D product design for students and faculty of Engineering Graphics Curriculum.

Know! all about CollabCAD Software

• National Informatics Centre (NIC), CBSE, and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog will also jointly release a comprehensive e-book on CollabCAD 3D modeling.
• This e-book 1.0 is ready for public release through the CollabCAD portal and will guide CAD students, beginners, and professionals in understanding and using CollabCAD Software.
• It is designed and authored by the CollabCAD Group of NIC, New Delhi.
• This initiative aims to provide a great platform to students across the country to create and modify 3D digital designs with a free flow of creativity and imagination.
• This software would also enable students to collaborate over designs across the network and concurrently access the same design data for storage and visualization.
• CBSE will introduce CollabCAD Software for Engineering Graphics (Subject Code 046) at the Senior School Level for Class XI and XII.
• CollabCAD software will be used for Practical assignments as part of the subject curriculum for making different types of 3D designs and 2D Drawings.
• Students from around 140 plus schools across the country and the schools in the Middle East (affiliated with CBSE, New Delhi) will have access to this software which can be used for practical projects and understanding concepts of Engineering Graphics.
• NIC and CBSE will be signing an MOU for ‘CollabCAD Software Support and Training for Students and Faculty of Engineering Graphics in CBSE affiliated Schools' for a period of 10 years
• This MOU aims to develop human resources and skills around CollabCAD software and popularize CollabCAD among the students and faculty.

Tinker from Home campaign

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Niti Aayog jointly launched CollabCAD on 13th April 2020 concurring with Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) Community Day.
• It was launched in tune with the requirements of the ‘Tinker from Home' campaign for students of 5,000 plus schools across the country.
• CollabCAD 3D Design Challenge was announced by AIM two days after the launch for students to create 3D digital models using CollabCAD geometric modules.

Defence
Light Combat Aircrafts (LCA) ‘Tejas'

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Tejas ) + Mains ( GS III indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

What's the NEWS

• The Cabinet met under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister has approved procurement of 73 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircrafts and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 Trainer aircrafts

Know! more about it

• Light Combat Aircraft Mk-1A variant is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured state-of-the-art modern 4+ generation fighter aircraft.
• This aircraft is equipped with critical operational capabilities of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missile, Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite and Air to Air Refuelling (AAR) would be a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of Indian Air Force, IAF.
• It is the first "Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)" category procurement of combat aircrafts with an indigenous content of 50% which will progressively reach 60% by the end of the programme.
• The Cabinet has also approved infrastructure development by IAF under the project to enable them handle repairs or servicing at their base depot
• The manufacturing of Light Combat Aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, HAL will give a further push to Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and boost indigenisation of defence production and the defence industry in the country.
• About 500 Indian companies including MSMEs in the design and manufacturing sectors will be working with HAL in this procurement.
• The programme would act as a catalyst for transforming the Indian aerospace manufacturing ecosystem into a vibrant Atmanirbhar-self-sustaining ecosystem.

Information Technology
Grand Challenge for Development of "Smart Water Supply Measurement and Monitoring System

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) + ICT Grand Challenge) + Mains ( GS II government policies and interventions + GS III inclusive development - Role of ICT)
What's the NEWS

• National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM), Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti in partnership with Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology launched an ICT Grand Challenge, for development of a ‘Smart water supply measurement and monitoring system' on 15th September, 2020.
• Jal Jeevan Mission would be the user agency of the Grand Challenge and C-DAC, Bangalore is the implementing agency, providing technical support for the challenge.

ICT Grand Challenge (progress so far)

• Total 218 applications were received, from various sectors like LLP Companies, Indian Tech start-ups, Individuals etc.
• A Jury was constituted, with experts from academia, industry, Jal Jeevan Mission, C-DAC, STPI, COEs, MeitY, etc.
• Results of ICT Grand Challenge were announced on 20^th November 2020, based on the recommendations of the jury.
• 10 applicants have been selected for ideation to prototype stage and each are being supported with Rs. 7.50 Lakhs.
• Currenty the prototypes are being developed which are going to be evaluated during the last week of January, 2021 by the jury.
• A water test bed is set up in C-DAC Bangalore Electronics City Campus for these evaluations.
• Best four techno-economically viable prototypes shall be selected for product development and each team will receive Rs. 25 Lakh to build their solution as per the need of the user agency.
• Based on evaluation, one winner and two runner-ups will be selected and supported by 50 Lakh (winner) and 20 Lakh each (runner-ups).
• The grand challenge is being carried out with funding support from MeitY and National Jal JeevanMission.
• Jal Jeevan Mission is a flagship programme of Union Government which aims to provide tap water connection to every rural household by 2024.
• Announced by Prime Minister on 15^th August, 2019, the Mission so far has provided 3.13 crore household tap connections in rural areas.

Know! about ICT Grand Challenge

• National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM), Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti in partnership with Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology launched an ICT Grand Challenge, for development of a 'Smart water supply measurement and monitoring system' on 15th September 2020.
• Jal Jeevan Mission would be the user agent of the Grand Challenge and C-DAC, Bangalore is the implementing agency, providing technical support for the challenge. Enthusiastic participation was observed from all over India.

Agriculture
Virtual Buyer Seller Meet

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about APEDA + about the virtual meet + about millet +IFAD) + Mains ( GS III farmer's welfare - steps taken by the government)
What's the NEWS

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in association with Andhra Pradesh Drought Mitigation Project (APDMP), an externally aided project funded by IFAD, organized a Virtual Buyer Seller Meet with Millet Exporters and FPOs of Millet for establishing marketing linkages.
• Considering the potential of increasing exports of Millets and Millet products and the focus given by Government for development of Millet sector of Nurti Cereals, APEDA is closely interacting with Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR) and other stakeholders like National Institute Nutrition, CFTRI and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for perspective planning of five years for promotion of Millets and Millet products.
• This platform has provided an opportunity to the exporters and FPOs to interact with each other for supply and sourcing of products.

Know! about Millet

• Millet is a common term to categorize small-seeded grasses that are often termed nutri-cereals, and includes Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Ragi, Small Millet, Foxtail Millet, Proso Millet, Barnyard Millet, Kodo Millet and other millets. Millets are the cereal crops generally small-seeded and known for high nutritive value.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

• It is an Apex-Export Trade Promotion ,Active government body -set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
• Government of India under the Agriculture and Processed Food products Export Development Authority.
• The Act was passed by the parliament in December 1985. It was formed and came into effect from 13th February 1986(34years ago) by the notification issued in the Gazette of India
• APEDA is the premier body of export promotion of fresh vegetables and fruits.
• It provides the crucial interface between farmers, storehouses, packers, exporters, surface transport, ports, Railways, Airways ,all others engaged in export trade and finally to the international market.
• Directly and indirectly it serves the farmers, exporters from different states and many other services in the country.
• It works like a bridge in between agricultural and processed food producers to reach to the exporters in international markets.

Know! about IFAD

• The International Fund for Agricultural Development is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations that works to address poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries.
• It is the only multilateral development organization that focuses solely on rural economies and food security.
• Headquartered in Rome, Italy, IFAD is involved in over 200 projects across nearly 100 countries.
• It funds and sponsors initiatives that improve land and water management, develop rural infrastructure, train and educate farmers in more efficient technologies, build up resilience against climate change, enhancing market accessibility, and more.
• IFAD has 177 member states and works in partnership with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

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