CIVIL SERVICE DIGEST(CSD-Daily) October 06, 2018 India International Science Festival (IISF-2018) IISF is conceivably the biggest platform in India that brings together students, researchers, artists and general public to celebrate our nation s achievements in science and technology.
It is a medium to encourage the young minds towards the field of science and to promote the networking of stakeholders working towards the propagation of science. Through this festival, the largest of its kind in the country and in this region, it is expected that the message of excitement of Science and scientific temper will be spread to the students and will be inspiring for the youth. All stakeholders collectively work towards Vigyan se Vikas - contributing to the Making of a New India. Swachh Survekshan Grameen Awards 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently conferred Swachh Survekshan Grameen Awards 2018 to top ranked states and districts. The rankings were based on the National Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 of the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Haryana was ranked as best State. Satara District of Maharashtra was ranked as best district. Uttar Pradesh was rewarded for maximum citizens participation. Overall Ranking: Top 3 States-1) Haryana, 2) Gujarat 3) Maharashtra Top 3 Districts 1) Satara, Maharashtra 2) Rewari, Haryana 3) Pedapalli, Telangana States with maximum citizen participation 1) Uttar Pradesh 2) Gujarat 3) Maharashtra Districts with maximum citizens participation 1) Nashik, Maharashtra 2) Solapur, Maharashtra 3) Chittorgarh, Rajasthan About Swachh Survekshan Grameen: SSG is a rural cleanliness survey to rank all states and districts on basis of qualitative and quantitative evaluation. The objective of SSG 2018 is to undertake ranking of states and districts on basis of their performance attained on key quantitative and qualitative Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) parameters. The rankings will
be based on taking into account set of comprehensive cleanliness parameters. The criteria of SSG-2018 include survey of public places, citizens perspective of cleanliness, their recommendations and data from SBM-G. As part of it, more than 6000 villages in 698 districts across India were covered. It covered nearly 30,000 public places namely schools, anganwadis, public health centres, haat/bazaars/religious places in these villages. Weightage: The SSG 2018 will assign 65% weightage to findings and outcome and 35% to service level parameters to be obtained from Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the MDWS. The weights to different elements of SSG are direct observation of sanitation in public places (30%), citizen s feedback on sanitation parameters (35%), service level progress on sanitation progress in the country as per SBMG-MIS (35%). Survey: The SSG 2018 was conducted by independent survey agency in all districts from 1st to 31st August 2018. It will also take feedback from over 50 lakh citizens on SBM related issues through direct interaction as well as online feedback.
Atal Innovation Mission & SIRIUS sign MoU for promotion of innovative cooperation between students of India & Russia Aim: To promote innovative cooperation between students of India and Russia, a Memorandum of Understanding was exchanged between India s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and the Russian Federation s SIRIUS Educational Foundation. Promotion of educational, scientific, innovative achievements, promote innovative cooperation, and search and develop the talented youth of both countries fostering a knowledge-driven innovation ecosystem in both the countries. About AIM-SIRIUS Innovation Festival 2018 To promote a spirit of collaborative innovation, young innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs and SIRIUS Educational Foundation came together at a fourday Indo-Russian ATL innovation boot-camp and the innovations developed across space technology, healthcare, smart mobility, clean energy and agricultural technology were showcased. About Atal Innovation Mission Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is NITI Aayog s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in India. AIM has been established to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship in a holistic manner through various initiatives at school, university and industry levels.
AIM also serves as a platform for promotion of world-class Innovation Hubs, Grand Challenges, Start-up businesses and other self-employment activities in India, leveraging state of the art, advanced and affordable emerging technologies. The Atal Innovation Mission has thus two core functions: 1. Innovation promotion: to provide a platform where innovative ideas are generated. 2. Entrepreneurship promotion: Wherein innovators would be supported and mentored to become successful entrepreneurs at Incubation Centres. About SIRIUS Educational Foundation Talent and success is a unitary, non-profit, non-standard educational organization. The activities of the Foundation are aimed to identify and support children and young people who have shown outstanding abilities. Providing assistance in obtaining general and additional education for such personalities, including education in the fields of arts, natural sciences, physical culture and sports. Progress: Swachh Bharat Mission: Report The Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) has launched the 150th birth year celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, as the Mission enters its fifth and final year of implementation. The program focuses on behaviour change to generate demand for sanitation services by the rural population which is then followed by supply.
The rural sanitation coverage of India has increased significantly, from 39% in October 2014 to 95% today. The Swachh Bharat Mission is the world s largest public funded sanitation program. Communication strategy: Behaviour Change Communication is undertaken under the SBM at the ground level and is complemented with mass media at the national level as well. For example- Water for ODF: ODF-Quality: Impact of SBM: Mass media campaigns such as Darwaza Band, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar and Anushka Sharma, communicates the messages of women empowerment, promotion of twin pit toilets and usage of toilets, The SBM foot soldiers, Swachhagrahis participate in the triggering of communities for behaviour change and sustaining improved behaviours through Inter-Personal Communication. A policy decision has been taken under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) to prioritize the provision of piped water supply (PWS) for villages that become ODF. Verification of all ODF declared villages is very unique to Swachh Bharat Mission. Within 90 days of declaration, verification is done for each household in the village. Another round of sustainability verification is done 180 days after the first round.
A recent WHO study reports that Swachh Bharat would have led to saving of 300,000 lives by 2019 and around 150,000 lives would be saved annually thereafter. UNICEF estimated that a household in an ODF village in rural India saves Rs. 50,000 every year. BMGF has released a study that shows significant improvements in diarrhoea prevalence and stunting among children in ODF villages, compared to nearby non-odf villages. The Swachh Bharat model of sanitation has led India into a sanitation revolution, and the country is on track for an ODF India by October 2019. CAATSA -Countering America s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act
India and Russia have concluded the contract for five S-400 Triumf missile systems, one of the biggest defence deals in recent times. However, the U.S. has warned the deal would invoke sanctions under the Countering America s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) law. About - CAATSA? CAATSA is a US federal law that imposed sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia. It includes sanctions against countries that engage in significant transactions with Russia s defence and intelligence sectors. However, any imposition of sanctions on India, which is now a major defence partner, could be disastrous for the bilateral relationship. What is S-400? It is an air defence missile system that can take down enemies aircraft in the sky from the surface itself.
The S-400 is known as Russia s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system, capable of destroying destroying hostile strategic bombers, jets, missiles and drones at a range of 380-km. The S-400 is an upgraded version of the S-300 systems. The missile system, manufactured by Almaz-Antey, has been in service in Russia since 2007. Why does India want S-400? S-400 would be like a booster shot in the Indian Air Force s (IAF) arm. India needs to be well-equipped against neighboring threats. Pakistan has over 20 fighter squadrons, with upgraded F-16s, and inducting J-17 from China in large numbers. China has 1,700 fighters, including 800 4-Gen fighters.