SHRESHTA (Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas)

The expenditure under the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA) from 2020-21 to 2023-24 was released recently.

About SHRESHTA (Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas):-

Launched: June 2022.

Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Objective: for the purpose of providing seats for the meritorious SC boys and girls in the best private residential schools in the country.

Salient Features:-

This scheme was launched for Scheduled Castes, as they have faced historical injustices in a hierarchical society and education is the most powerful tool to empower them as a community.

The scheme will provide a level playing field to the poor and meritorious SC students. (New National Education Policy)

It aims to enhance the reach of development Intervention of the Government and to fill the gap in service-deficient SCs dominant areas, in the sector of education through the efforts of grant-in-aid institutions (run by NGOs) and residential high schools offering high-quality education and provide the environment for socio-economic upliftment and overall development of the Scheduled Castes (SCs).

Modes of implementation:-

The scheme is being implemented in two Modes:-

SHRESHTA schools:-

Under this, each year a specified number of meritorious SC students in States/UTs will be selected through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS) to be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

These would be admitted to the best private residential schools affiliated by the CBSE/State Board in classes 9th and 11th for completion of education till 12th standard.

Selection of schools: Best performing CBSE-based private residential schools, having more than 75% pass percentage for classes 10 and 12 for the last three years are selected by a Committee for admission of selected students.

Eligibility/Selection of students

Approx 3000 (1500 for 9th class and 1500 for class 11th tentative) SC students, whose parent’s annual income is up to 2.5 lakh, are selected every year under the Scheme through a national-level test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The choices of schools shall be offered to the students in accordance with their merit. (Education & Nation Building)

NGO/VO-operated Schools/Hostels:

These include EXISTING COMPONENT, Guidelines hereinafter applicable only for Mode 2 of the Scheme, Schools/Hostels.

These are run by VOs/NGOs and other organizations having higher classes (up to class 12) and who have been receiving Grant-in-aid will be continued, subject to satisfactory performance.

Afghanistan Earthquake

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck about 40km from the western city of Herat, Afghanistan recently.

Background:-

In Afghanistan, the death toll from strong earthquakes has risen to over 2,400 as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may be trapped under collapsed buildings.

About Earthquake:-

An earthquake is the shaking or trembling of the earth’s surface.

It is caused by the seismic waves or earthquake waves that are generated due to a sudden movement (sudden release of energy) in the earth’s crust (shallow-focus earthquakes) or upper mantle (some shallow-focus and all intermediate and deep-focus earthquakes).

A seismograph, or seismometer, is an instrument used to detect and record earthquakes.

Hypocentre/Focus: The point where the energy is released.

Epicentre: The point on the surface directly above the focus.

Isoseismic line: A line connecting all points on the surface where the intensity is the same.

Causes of Earthquakes:-

Fault Zones

Plate tectonics

Volcanic activity

Human-Induced Earthquakes

Types of Earthquakes:-

Tectonic Earthquakes

The most common ones are tectonic earthquakes.

The Earth is made of four basic layers (generally three): a solid crust, a hot, nearly solid mantle, a liquid outer core, and a solid inner core.

Tectonic plates (Lithospheric plates) are constantly shifting as they drift around on the viscous, or slowly flowing, mantle layer below.

When tectonic plates move, it also causes movements at the (Anatolian Plate)

Thus, the slipping of land along the faultline along convergent, divergent and transform boundaries causes earthquakes.

Volcanic Earthquake

Earthquakes produced by stress changes in solid rock due to the injection or withdrawal of magma (molten rock) are called volcano earthquakes

Earthquakes produced by stress changes in solid rock due to the injection or withdrawal of magma (molten rock) are called volcano earthquakes. ( Volcano)

Human Induced Earthquakes

In areas of intense mining activity, sometimes the roofs of underground mines collapse causing minor tremors. These are called collapse earthquakes.

Ground shaking may also occur due to the explosion of chemical or nuclear devices. Such tremors are called explosion earthquakes.

National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation addressed the 89th General Council meeting of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) in New Delhi recently.

About National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC):-

Establishment: 1963.

Ministry: Ministry of Cooperation.

HQ: New Delhi.

The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) was established by an Act of Parliament in 1963 as a statutory Corporation.

Organization & Management:-

The Management vests in 51 members widely represented General Council to give shape to its policies and programmes and the Board of Management with 12 members to cater to day-to-day activities.

Functions:-

Planning, promoting, and financing programmes for the production, processing, marketing, storage, export, and import of agricultural produce, foodstuff, and certain other notified commodities e.g. fertilizers, insecticides, agricultural machinery, lac, soap, kerosene oil, textile, rubber, etc.

Supply of consumer goods and collection, processing, marketing, storage, and export of minor forest produce through cooperatives, besides income generating stream of activities such as poultry, dairy, fishery, sericulture, handloom, etc.

Assist different types of cooperatives and to expand its financial base. (India’s Cooperative Sector)

Finance projects in the rural industrial cooperative sectors and for certain notified services in rural areas like water conservation, irrigation, micro irrigation, agri-insurance, agro-credit, rural sanitation, animal health, etc.

Loans and grants are advanced to State Governments for financing primary and secondary level cooperative societies and direct to the national level and other societies having objects extending beyond one State.

Central Bureau of Communication (CBC)

The Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) advertisement rates for Private FM Radios have been revised after seven years recently.

Background:-

The base rate has been increased by 43 percent. City Wise Rate for Stations also to significantly increase depending on listenership.

About Central Bureau of Communication (CBC):-

Established: 2017.

Ministry: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

HQ: Soochana Bhawan, New Delhi.

It was set up by integration of three erstwhile media units of the Ministry of I&B, viz namely:-

Directorate of Advertising & Visual Publicity (DAVP)

Directorate of Field Publicity (DFP) and

Song & Drama Division(S&DD)

It is a unit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

It has the mandate of providing 360-degree communication solutions to Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and autonomous bodies.

It is headed by a Director General (DG).

Functions:-

It is engaged in the task of publicizing various programmes and policies of the Government of India through its network of 148 Field Units under the control and supervision of 23 Regional Offices.

The primary function of CBC is to publicize, inform, educate, and communicate in rural areas.

It undertakes campaigns to inform and educate rural and urban people about the Government’s policies and programmes through available vehicles of communication viz. Print, Audio Visual, Outdoor, Digital and New Media.

India-Israel Relation

Recently, Hamas, the militant group ruling the Gaza Strip, mounted one of the most audacious attacks on Israel known as “Operation ‘Al-Aqsa Storm”.

In retaliation, Israel has formally declared war on Hamas under “Operation Iron Sword”.

The Indian PM expressed outrage, referring to the event as a terrorist attack, and voiced solidarity with Israel.

History of India’s Position on the Israel-Palestine Conflict:

India’s Initial Rejection of the Two-Nation Solution and Support for the Palestinian Cause: In the wake of India’s independence in 1947, its early political stance on Israel was rooted in the rejection of the two-nation solution and unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.

India’s Votes Against Israel at the United Nations: India’s position regarding Palestine was also shaped by the broader consensus in the Arab world, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations.

when Israel applied for admission to the United Nations, India once again voted against its inclusion.

Recognition of Israel as a Nation: Despite its early stance against Israel, India eventually recognized Israel as a sovereign nation on September 17, 1950, following the footsteps of two Muslim-majority countries, Turkey and Iran.

Engagement with Palestinian Leadership Under Yasser Arafat: In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) emerged as the principal representative of the Palestinian people, under the leadership of Yasser Arafat.

During this period, India actively engaged with the largest political faction within the PLO, Al Fatah.

Recognition of PLO as the Legitimate Representation of Palestinian People: On January 10, 1975, India took a significant diplomatic step by officially recognizing the PLO as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

This recognition culminated in India permitting the PLO to establish an independent office in New Delhi.

Remarkably, India, despite being one of the last non-Muslim states to recognize Israel, became the first non-Arab state to formally acknowledge the legitimacy of the PLO.

Strong Solidarity for Palestine Struggle at NAM Summit in Delhi: The relationship between India and Palestine further strengthened when the NAM summit took place in India in 1983 with a strong statement of solidarity for Palestine.

Present India- Israel Relations

Economic and trade: Bilateral merchandise trade surged from USD 200 million in 1992 to USD 6.35 billion (excluding defense) by 2022.

India emerged as Israel’s third-largest trade partner in Asia and seventh globally, with trade diversifying into pharmaceuticals, agriculture, IT, telecom, and homeland security.

Israeli companies have facilitated technology transfer to India, particularly in renewable energy, telecom, and water technologies.

Defense Cooperation: India imports crucial defense technologies from Israel, with regular exchanges between armed forces.

Security cooperation includes a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.

India uses Israeli defense systems such as Phalcon AWACS, Heron drones, and Barak anti-missile defense systems.

Agricultural Cooperation: A three-year joint work program was signed in 2021 to enhance agricultural cooperation, focusing on Centers of Excellence, value chains, and private investment.

Israel’s expertise and technologies have benefitted India in horticulture, irrigation, and dairy farming.

Science and Technology: The Joint Committee on Science and Technology, established in 1993, fosters collaboration in research and development.

The India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F) supports joint industrial projects in specific sectors.

Energy cooperation includes India’s interest in exploring gas fields off Israel’s coast.

I2U2 Grouping: It stands for India, Israel, the UAE, and the US.

It was formerly known as the ‘International Forum for Economic Cooperation’ and is also referred to as the ‘West Asian Quad.’

It aims to strengthen economic partnerships, identify areas of cooperation, and encourage joint investments six key sectors: water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security.

India’s evolving stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, coupled with its growing relations with both Israel and Palestine, demonstrates its commitment to contributing to a peaceful resolution. As a nation with ties to multiple stakeholders in the region, India has a crucial role to play in promoting stability and cooperation in the Middle East.