Social Issues
DEPwD'S Tableau on Indian Sign Language

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Indian Sign Language (ISL) + Mains ( GS II Social issue and Social Justice)
What's the NEWS

• The Tableau of Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at the this year's Republic Day Parade will showcase the theme ‘Bhartiya Sanketik Bhasha- Ek Rashtra, Ek Sanketik Bhasha'.
• It will highlight the unifying nature of Indian Sign Language (ISL) in a nation, where there is a great diversity in spoken languages.
• The aim of the Tableau is to raise awareness and highlight the commitment of the Government towards creating a barrier-free environment for persons with hearing disabilities by promoting ISL.

• Sign language is a visual language that uses hands, facial and body movements as a means of communication for persons with hearing disabilities.
• It is a unique and unifying language that connects all persons with hearing disabilities in the country.
• There are many spoken languages in the country, but there is only one Indian Sign Language.
• With a view to enhancing accessibility for the hearing impaired, a need was felt to set up an Institute focusing on the development and furtherance of Indian Sign Language.
• Accordingly, Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), New Delhi was set up on 28th September, 2015, as an autonomous body under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The main objective of the Centre is to develop manpower for using, teaching and conducting research in Indian Sign Language.
• ISLRTC conducts courses for developing Indian Sign Language (ISL) Interpreters and teachers and provides interpretation services to organizations for various programs & events.
• It has developed a dictionary of ISL containing 6000 Academic, Medical, Legal and Agricultural terms in addition to terms of everyday use.
• The Centre also provides Short Term Training Programmes on basic ISL communication skills.
• To make educational materials accessible for children with hearing disabilities, ISLRTC has signed an MoU with National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
• As part of this MoU, educational print materials such as school text books of Classes I to XII of all subjects (both Hindi and English medium) are being converted into ISL.

Science & Technology
Aqua Rejuvenation Plant
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Aqua Rejuvenation Plant (ARP)
What's the NEWS

• CSIR-CMERI inaugurated the ‘Aqua Rejuv'
• CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur unveiled the first-ever Waste Water Treatment Technology Model which purifies Waste Water for Irrigation/Farming purposes.

Aqua Rejuvenation Plant (ARP)

• It is an Integrated Waste Water Rejuvenation Model which has six-stage purification profile for comprehensive treatment of Waste Water, based upon diverse purification parameters.
• The approx. 24,000 litres of water that can be rejuvenated using ARP will be sufficient for almost 4 acres of Agricultural Land (barring seasonal variations in water requirements).
• The used filtration media have been specially developed to handle Indian Sewage Water Parameters and based upon Geographical Variations they may be modified.
• The filter media is also locally source-able, so as to ensure that there would not be any stress in the Supply Chain for scaled-up Manufacturing of ARP.
• The treated water which is now being used for irrigation can be used even for drinking purpose also when little more time is given for settling.
• The system has a dual benefit as while the treated water is being used for irrigation purpose, the filtered sludge generated is also utilized as manure/fertilizer.

Prelims Factoids
Bharat Parv 2021

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about about Bharat Parv)
What's the NEWS

• Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla inaugurated the ‘Bharat Parv 2021', a virtual national festival showcasing the country's diverse culture, cuisines and handicrafts.
• The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with other central Ministries is organizing this year a virtual ‘Bharat Parv' event from 26th to 31st January 2021, showcasing the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'.
• Through the 'Bharat Parv' programme, the Ministry has taken the commendable task of bringing together India's tourism, spiritual and other activities on a single platform.

Know! all about Bharat Parv

• The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is organizing the Bharat Parv every year since 2016 in the front ground of the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi on the occasion of Republic Day Celebrations from 26th to 31st January.
• The mega event envisages generating patriotic fervor and showcases the rich and varied cultural diversity of the country.
• The Bharat Parv celebrates the "Essence of India". However, due to the Covid related circumstances it has been organized on a virtual platform this year
• Various Central Ministries and other organizations display handicrafts, handlooms, music, dance, paintings , literary material and other features from all over India during the celebration.
• Glimpses of Republic Day Parade and recorded performances of armed forces music bands shall also be available on this virtual platform this year.
• Various Central Institutes of Hotel Management and Indian Culinary Institute will also display culinary delights from across India by showcasing videos and recipes of cuisines.
• This unique virtual Bharat Parv 2021 will showcase multiple videos/ films, images, brochures and other information of various organizations.
• People from across the globe can enjoy this Bharat Parv extravaganza and experience the true Spirit of India at their convenience on their mobile phones, laptops, computers & other devices by logging on to www.bharatparv2021.com

Dekho Apna Desh initiative

• The objective of ‘Dekho Apna Desh' initiative of Ministry of Tourism is to encourage citizens to travel widely within the country and enhancing tourist footfalls, leading to development of local economy and creation of jobs at the local level.
• This initiative is in line with the vision of the Prime Minister asking every citizen to visit at least 15 destinations by the year 2022 to promote domestic tourism.

Prelims Factoids
11^th National Voters' Day celebrations

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about National Voters' Day - highlights)
What's the NEWS

• The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, virtually graced and addressed the 11th National Voters' Day Celebrations, being organised by the Election Commission of India, today (January 25, 2021).
• The theme for NVD 2021 is ‘Making Our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed.'
• Tis is a reiteration of the commitment of Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct COVID-safe elections, as well as to make each voter informed, ethical and vigilant.
• During the event, the President conferred the National Awards for the year 2020-21 and also launched the Election Commission of India's Web Radio: ‘Hello Voters' - an online digital radio service.

11th National Voters' Day ( highlights)

Two unique digital initiatives were unveiled + 3 publications launched

• The Commission is rolling out digital voter identity cards or e-EPICs which will be downloadable on mobile phone or in a self-printable form on the computer, after logging in from Voter Helpline Mobile App, Voter Portal (www.voterportal.eci.gov.in) or National Voters' Service Portal (www.nvsp.in/).
• The President of India launched 'Radio Hello Voters' - a 24x7 online digital radio service that will stream voter awareness programmes accessible on the Election Commission of India website.
• Radio Hello Voters has been envisaged to provide information on electoral processes through songs, drama, discussions, podcasts, spots, parodies etc. in Hindi, English and different regional languages from all over the country.
• Three publications were launched by Union Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad. The first book, Conducting Elections during Pandemic- A Photo Journey encapsulates the challenging journey of conducting elections amidst a pandemic.
• The second, SVEEP Endeavours: Awareness Initiatives during Lok Sabha Election 2019 provides a detailed insight into voter awareness interventions, innovations and initiatives during the 17th General Election, conducted in 2019.
• Chalo Karen Matdaan- a comic book that aims at voter education in a fun and thought-provoking way targeting young, new and future voters was also launched at the event.

National Voters' Day

• The National Voters' Day has been celebrated on January 25 every year since 2011, all across the country to mark the foundation day of Election Commission of India, i.e. 25th January 1950.
• The main purpose of the National Voters' Day celebration is to encourage, facilitate and maximize enrolment, especially for the new voters.
• Dedicated to the voters of the country, the day is utilized to spread awareness among voters and for promoting informed participation in the electoral process

Miscellaneous
AYU SAMVAD Campaign

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about AYU SAMVAD awareness campaign)
What's the NEWS

• "AYU SAMVAD"(My Health My Responsibility) is one of the largest public awareness campaign program on AYURVEDA and COVID 19 PANDEMIC, organized by All India Institute of Ayurveda New Delhi, as envisioned & supported by Ministry of AYUSH.
• More than 5 lac lectures will be organized across the nation by Ayurveda Physicians for citizens of India.

Know! about this public awareness campaign program on AYURVEDA

• All India Institute of Ayurveda organized online Training of Trainers program on AYUSH Ministry AVCC platform from 18 to 21 Jan, 2021 to Directors, principals of Ayurveda Colleges, Medical Officers, PG & Ph.D scholars, Practitioners and other stake holders all over India.
• All India Institute of Ayurveda has drafted a power point presentation & booklet for reference.
• The trained personnel's will further organize lectures for Government Offices, Non-Government sector employees, schools, colleges, panchayati raj institutions, gram sabhas, industries, various housing societies, NGOs, Mahila udyogs, Asha workers and health staff etc across India.
• The PPT & training material will be uploaded on official website of ministry of AYUSH, AIIA, CCIM, CCRAS, RAV & others NIS, State AYUSH Directors for reference and will guide to organize lectures across India.
• Each trained person is expected to actively participate and deliver minimum 5 lectures each from 26^th Jan 2021 to 30^th March 2021 to people of India.

Objective of the Campaign:

• The main objective of the campaign is to create awareness through Lecture series to make common people aware about the theme "Ayurveda for COVID 19 Pandemic".
• This campaign ensures the uniformity of information through a structured PPT delivered to approximately 01 crore target audience across India through 05 Lakh lectures.
• This campaign will be immensely beneficial in understanding the importance of Ayurveda & in the fight against COVID 19 & also for Post Covid Management.
• This campaign will specifically focus on the Role of Preventive, Promotive, Curative and Rehabilitation in Management of COVID 19 through Ayurveda.
• Campaign will monitor through State AYUSH Directors & NAM team. The report of the Documentation part of lectures & various activities will be submitted by state AYUSH Director in first week of May 2021.

Defence
Successful Maiden Test Launch of Akash-NG Missile

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Akash-NG (New Generation) Missile)
What's the NEWS

• DRDO conducted the successful maiden launch of Akash-NG (New Generation) Missile from Integrated Test Range off the coast of Odisha on 25 January 2021.

Akash-NG (New Generation) Missile

• Akash-NG is a new generation Surface to Air Missile meant for use by Indian Air Force with an aim of intercepting high manoeuvring low RCS aerial threats.
• The missile intercepted the target with text book precision. The launch met all the test objectives by performing high manoeuvres during the trajectory.
• The performance of the Command and Control system, onboard avionics and aerodynamic configuration of the missile was successfully validated during the trial.
• During the test launch, entire flight path of the missile was monitored and the flight data was captured by various Range instruments such as Radar, EOTS and Telemetry systems deployed by ITR, Chandipur.
• The Multi Function Radar was tested for its capability of integration with the system.
• The Akash-NG system has been developed with better deploy ability compared to other similar systems with canisterized launcher and much smaller ground system footprint.
• The test launch was carried out by a combined team of DRDO, BDL & BEL in the presence of the representatives of Indian Airforce.

Defence
Indian Navy conducts Joint Exercise with Army and Air Force

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about AMPHEX - 21 and Ex KAVACH )
AMPHEX - 21

• A large-scale tri-service joint amphibious exercise AMPHEX - 21 was conducted in Andaman & Nicobar group of islands from 21 - 25 Jan 2021.
• The exercise involved participation of Naval ships, amphibious troops of the Army and different types of aircraft from the Air force.
• The exercise was aimed at validating India's capabilities to safeguard the territorial integrity of it's island territories.
• It also sought to enhance operational synergy and joint warfighting capabilities amongst the three Services.
• The exercise involved multi-faceted maritime operations by synergised employment of amphibious assault ships, surveillance platforms, execution of maritime air strikes and complex manoeuvres at sea.
• Airborne insertion of Marine Commandos of Navy and Special Forces of the Army, naval gunfire support, amphibious landing of forces and follow-on operations also formed part of the exercise.

Ex KAVACH

• Ex KAVACH for defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands formed a part of AMPHEX - 21.
• Towards enhancing joint operational readiness, Indian Armed Forces conducted a large-scale conjoint military training exercise "KAVACH" alongwith "AMPHEX-21" in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.
• The exercise was conducted under the aegis of Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) with participation of Eastern Naval Command (ENC) and Army Southern Command (SC) involving assets of Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
• The exercise involved participation and deployment of all forces of ANC, elements of Amphibious Brigade of Army's Southern Command along with corvettes, submarine and amphibious landing ships of Navy's Eastern Fleet and Marine Commandos. Jaguar Maritime Strike and transport aircraft from Indian Air Force and assets of Coast Guard also participated.
• The exercise validated joint capabilities of intelligence gathering from space, air, land and sea based assets, its synthesis, analysis and near real time sharing to achieve battle field transparency for quick decision making.
• The joint force executed multi-domain, high intensity offensive and defensive manoeuvres in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.
• The tri-services exercise fine-tuned joint war fighting capabilities and Standard Operating Procedures towards enhancing operational synergy.

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