26th September - AAJ KA QUALITY ENRICHMENT

KEYWORDS

• Meaning: It essentially expresses the hope for a future that is not only bright and promising but also one that embraces diversity, promotes fairness, and ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate and thrive in that future. 
• Usage: It can be used in questions related to - Women empowerment, Youth power and demographic dividend, India’s economic growth, Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, Inclusive and sustainable growth. International cooperation Etc.

• Meaning: It underscores the idea that a nation's progress and development are closely tied to the level of empowerment and inclusion of its female population. 
• Usage: It can be used in questions related to – Women empowerment and women participation in politics, labour force etc., Inclusive growth, Women’s reservation Bill, 2023 etc.

• Meaning: It conveys the idea of individuals or groups transitioning from a state of quiet or passive involvement in social, political, or cultural transformation to actively taking on the role of instigators and drivers of change. 
• Usage: It can be used in questions related to – women empowerment, women led development, Women’s reservation Bill, LGBTQ+ community and transgenders, Etc.

• Meaning: This keyword encapsulates a vision and a goal of converting areas facing difficulties, challenges, or turmoil into examples of advancement, well-being, and success.
• Usage: It can be used in questions related to - Aspirational districts, N-E States, Tribal hinterlands, Internal security (AFSPA, Naxalites), Internal poor and vulnerable areas (countries also) Etc.

CASE STUDIES/ EXAMPLES

• Case: New Delhi.
• Step taken: The national capital recently got its first tranche of two hydrogen buses on trial basis procured by the country’s largest oil refiner and fuel retailer IOCL. Hydrogen, especially green hydrogen, has been identified as ‘fuel of the future’ and is being seen as a major cog in the global decarbonisation wheel. This is because hydrogen emits water vapour when used in fuel cells.

• Step taken: National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), under Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, launched the Phase II of the ‘Amazon Future Engineer Programme’ in 54 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) spread across 6 states.
• Amazon Future Engineer Programme: It is a comprehensive childhood-to-career program aimed at increasing access to computer science education for students from underserved and underrepresented communities.

KEY FACTS

• Around 70% of loans under the PM MUDRA Yojana have been sanctioned to women. 
• Since 2014, female participation in technical education, especially in the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), has doubled. Remarkably, nearly 43% of STEM graduates in India are women.
• About 1.4 million, that is 46% of elected representatives in rural local bodies in India, are women. 

• More than 180 million people in the country are living with the condition of hypertension but less than 37% are aware of it. 
• Only 30% of those diagnosed with blood pressure start treatment and only 15% manage to keep it under control.

PM/VP/PRESIDENT SPEECHES

• On Women’s Reservation Bill: The Nari Shakti Vandan Act i.e., Women’s Reservation Bill will unleash a new era of inclusive governance undoing major hindrance in the participation of women in policy and law-making.

JUDGEMENTS/ COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

• Total universities: 70% are under the State Act and that 94% of students are in State or private institutions with just 6% of students in Central higher educational institutions, stressing the importance of States in providing higher education.
• Other recommendations:

• Take actions such as earmarking suitable funds for the education of Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), 
• Set clear targets for higher Gross Enrolment Ratio for SEDGs, 
• Enhance gender balance in admissions to HEIs,
• Provide more financial assistance and scholarships to SEDGs in both public and private HEIs,
• Make admission processes and curriculum more inclusive, 
• Increase employability potential of higher education programmes and for developing more degree courses taught in regional languages and bilingually.

DEFINITION

• Definition: The retreat of the monsoon, often referred to as the "withdrawal of the monsoon," is a meteorological phenomenon that marks the seasonal reversal of wind patterns and the retreat of the monsoon rains from the Indian subcontinent and South Asia region.

• Definition: The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 is a central law which provides certain special powers to armed forces in 'disturbed areas' declared by the Centre or the Governor of the respective states. Currently, it is applicable in J&K and 4 North-Eastern states.

QUOTES

• Meaning: The quote highlights the importance of scientific inquiry and environmental awareness in comprehending the complexities of our planet and making informed decisions to protect and sustain it. 

• In essence, it encourages us to recognize that there is much more to the natural world than meets the eye and that our ability to address environmental challenges relies on our ability to uncover and comprehend these hidden processes.