All about ozone - including Current issues

https://www.facebook.com/Aovious1

1. The ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of
2. Earth 's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun 's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It contains high concentrations of ozone (O 3 
3. Venus also has a thin ozone layer at an altitude of 100 kilometers from the planet's surface
4. The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere, from approximately 20 to 30 kilometres (12 to 19 mi) above Earth, although its thickness varies seasonally and geographically.
5. The ozone layer was discovered in 1913 by the French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson 
6. Its properties were explored in detail by the British meteorologist G. M. B. Dobson, who developed a simple spectrophotometer (the Dobsonmeter) that could be used to measure stratospheric ozone from the ground. 
7. The " Dobson unit ", a convenient measure of the amount of ozone overhead, is named in his honor.
8. In 1976 atmospheric research revealed that the ozone layer was being depleted by chemicals released by industry, mainly chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

1. The United Nations General Assembly has designated September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer .

1. About 90 percent of the ozone in the atmosphere is contained in the stratosphere. Ozone concentrations are greatest between about 20 and 40 kilometres (66,000 and 131,000 ft), where they range from about 2 to 8 parts per million. If all of the ozone were compressed to the pressure of the air at sea level, it would be only 3 millimetres ( 1 ⁄ 8 inch) thick.
2. Although the concentration of the ozone in the ozone layer is very small, it is vitally important to life because it absorbs biologically harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation coming from the sun. Extremely short or vacuum UV (10–100 nm) is screened out by nitrogen. UV radiation capable of penetrating nitrogen is divided into three categories, based on its wavelength; these are referred to as UV-A (400–315 nm), UV-B (315–280 nm), and UV-C (280–100 nm).
3. Ozone is transparent to most UV-A, so most of this longer-wavelength UV radiation reaches the surface, and it constitutes most of the UV reaching the Earth. This type of UV radiation is significantly less harmful to DNA, although it may still potentially cause physical damage, premature aging of the skin, indirect genetic damage, and skin cancer
4. UV-B radiation can be harmful to the skin and is the main cause of sunburn; excessive exposure can also cause cataracts, immune system suppression, and genetic damage, resulting in problems such as skin cancer .
5. Nevertheless, some UV-B, particularly at its longest wavelengths, reaches the surface, and is important for the skin's production of vitamin D .
6. UV-C, which is very harmful to all living things, is entirely screened out by a combination of dioxygen (< 200 nm) and ozone (> about 200 nm) by around 35 kilometres (115,000 ft) altitude
7. 😊scientists have discovered that certain chemicals react with UV radiation in the stratosphere, which causes them to break apart and release chlorine or bromine atoms. These atoms, in turn, destroy ozone molecules.
8. Ozone-depleting substances (ODS ), which include (CFCs) and (HCFCs), were once used widely in refrigerants, insulating foams, solvents, and other applications. These substances all release chlorine atoms into the stratosphere. A single chlorine atom can break apart more than 100,000 ozone molecules.
9. Other chemicals that damage the ozone layer include  methyl bromide (used as a pesticide) halons (used in fire extinguishers), andmethyl chloroform (used as a solvent in industrial processes). As methyl bromide and halons are broken apart, they release bromine atoms, which are 60 times more destructive to ozone molecules than chlorine atoms.
10. 16 September  The date was chosen because the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed on September 16, 1987.
11. Ozone is a pungent smelling blue gas. A molecule of ozone consists of three oxygen atoms.
12. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the
13. Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer ) is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. It was agreed on 16 September 1987, and entered into force on  1 January 1989, followed by a first meeting in Helsinki, May 1989. Since then, it has undergone eight revisions, in 1990 ( London), 1991 ( Nairobi ), 1992 ( Copenhagen), 1993 ( Bangkok ), 1995 ( Vienna), 1997 ( Montreal), 1998 ( Australia ), 1999 ( Beijing ) and 2016 ( Kigali , adopted, but not in force)
14. Ratifiers countries are 197 
15.  In the 28 meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, negotiators from 197 nations have signed a historic agreement to amend the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, a capital city of a tiny African country, Rwanda on 15 October 2016.
16. As per the agreement, these countries are expected to reduce the manufacture and use of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by roughly 80-85% from their respective baselines, till 2045.
17. This phase down is expected to arrest the global average temperature rise up to 0.5 C by 2100.

Kigali agreement is an amendment to Montreal Protocol

1. Kigali Agreement: Important Points
2. It is a legally binding agreement between the signatory parties with non-compliance measures.
3. It will come into effect from 1st January 2019 provided it is ratified by at least 20 member parties by then.
4. It has shown a considerable flexibility in approach while setting phase-down targets for different economies accommodating their developmental aspirations, different socio-economic compulsions, and scientific & technological capabilities.
5. It has divided the signatory parties into three groups-

1. 1. The first group consists of rich and developed economies like USA, UK and EU countries who will start to phase down HFCs by 2019 and reduce it to 15% of 2012 levels by 2036.

•  2. The second group consists of emerging economies like China, Brazil as well as some African countries who will start phase down by 2024 and reduce it to 20% of 2021 levels by 2045.

• 3. The third group consists of developing economies and some of the hottest climatic countries like India, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia who will start phasing down HFCs by 2028 and reduce it to 15% of 2024-2026 levels till 2047.

1. It also has a provision for a multilateral fund for developing countries for adaptation and mitigation.
2. The Technology and Energy Assessment Panel (TEAP) will take a periodic review of the alternative technologies and products for their energy efficiency and safety standards.
3. Why is Kigali Agreement significant?
4. It strengthens the Paris Agreement which sets an ambitious target of restricting the rise in global temperature below 2 Celsius, as compared to pre-industrial level.
5. Unlike Paris agreement, it gives clear, concrete and mandatory targets with fixed timelines to the signatory parties to achieve their targets.
6. It would prevent the emission of HFCs equivalent to 70 billion tons of CO2.

Kigali Amendment and India

India played a very flexible and cooperative role in the whole negotiating process.

It has agreed on a lenient schedule as it consumes only 3% of HFCs as compared to the other nations like the USA (37%) and China (25%).

It would be tough for Indian to adhere to this agreement along with Paris Pact especially when it has embarked on an ambitious ” Make in India ” Programme to increase its industrial production.

It should also take into consideration the hot climatic conditions and growing demand for air conditioners, refrigerators, and cars with growing middle-class incomes while implementing the program.

Still, as a responsible nation with a global perspective, the Indian government has voluntarily passed the order to stop the production of HFC-23 which is a byproduct of commonly used refrigerant. This will reduce the emission by 100 million tons equivalent of Carbon dioxide in next 15 years.

Implications of Kigali Agreement on India

Indian industries using HFCs like Air-Conditioning industry, Automobiles, and refrigeration industry have some serious implications on financial and technical fronts:

1. Financial implications – Industries have to either invest in R & D to find out the substitutes for HFCs or they have to buy patented substances and technologies from other MNCs. Consequently, the cost of production will increase which may ultimately shrink the buyer base for their products.

 2. Technological implications – Some of the developed nations have already started using substitutes of HFCs in their products and have a sound technological knowledge about their use. Without technology transfer or research, it would be difficult for domestic industries to compete with them in global as well as domestic market.

On a positive side, this will incentivise business and scientific fraternity to invest their financial and intellectual resources in finding out more economic and environment- friendly technological alternatives.

References

1. Aljazeera .

 2. TheWire .

 3. FinancialExpress .

 4. Scroll . 

5. IndianExpress .

 6. UNEP. 

7. TheGuardian .. 

8. Nature . 

9. Wikipedia .

1.  ​

International Solar Alliance - ISA

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• First international treaty-based organisation that enables co-operation among sun-rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, as this is the region worldwide with a surplus of bright sunlight for most of the year, who are seeking to ramp up solar energy, thereby helping to bend the global greenhouse emissions curve whilst providing clean and cheap energy.
• Jointly announced by PM of India and President of France following the Paris Declaration at the UN Climate Change Conference on November 30, 2015.

Vision: Promotion of solar energy for making solar energy a valuable source of affordable and reliable green and clean energy in member countries

ISA Headquarter and interim Secretariat:Gurugram, India

https://www.facebook.com/Aovious1

Goals and Focus Areas:

The ISA has set a target of 1 TW of solar energy by 2030, which would require $1 trillion to achieve. India has set an ambitious target of 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022, which includes 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind energy.

The key focus areas of the alliance are

• Promoting solar technologies, new business models and investment in the solar sector,
• Formulate projects and programmes to promote solar applications
• Develop innovative financial mechanisms to reduce cost of capital build
• A common knowledge e-Portal to facilitate capacity building for promotion and absorption of solar technologies
• R&D among member countries

Significance of the First ISA summit – Delhi Summit

India can lead in the global environmental diplomacy: First time, the HQ is in India.

• What makes ISA a true game-changer is that it is a partnership of mostly developing countries, which despite being endowed with excellent solar insolation, are among the most energy-poor.
• Welcome departure from the times when deliberations over the transfer of climate-friendly technologies were hostage to the entrenched positions of the US, EU and developing countries.

A clear call for Technology Transfer:

• Poor technological capabilities could come in the way of countries that get about 300 days of sunshine in a year will bring down their chances of leveraging the platform.
• India is focusing on decentralizing energy resources for their level of development by working on basic projects like electrification, green pumps, and green buildings.
• Need to focus on ‘Make in India’ and come up with green technology. As the economies of scale increase, the cost of production will come down.

Need for concessional and less-risky finances for raising the share of solar electricity available for such projects to achieve the ISA target of over 1000 GW of solar generation capacity and mobilisation of investment of over $1 trillion by 2030.

• Financing the solar projects in many developing countries has high cost. Initiatives have to be taken by ISA to increase the attractiveness of solar potential.
• Multilateral banks and agencies need to support the developing countries to develop solar technology. Need for long term finance at less interest to increase the solar footprint.

Conclusion:

Climate change is one of the most serious problems that we face at the moment. India is driving the climate dialogue and there is a fundamental shift – through the ISA, India has signaled the world that it has the capacity to reach and potential to become a major power. If it succeeds, India will have presented the world with an alternative model of development, one that is collaborative, equitable, practical, transformative and sustainable. And in ensuring the deployment of solar applications, ISA can essay transformational change — a shift to more sustainable systems of production and consumption, while bringing millions of those unserved by modern energy and economic systems into the fold.

​

S&T February important topics - 2nd week

India successfully test-fires nuclear capable Prithvi-II

 Context:
• India test-fires nuclear capable Prithvi-I
Introduction:
• India recently successfully test-fired it’s indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile as part of a user trial by the Army from a test range in Odisha.
• The trial of the surface-to-surface missile, with a strike range of 350 km, was carried out from a mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur.
About Prithvi-I:
• The Prithvi-I is a short-range, road-mobile, liquid propellant ballistic missile.
• India developed the missile with European assistance, and its motor and guidance system were originally based on the Russian S-75 Guideline surface-to-air missile.
• It uses a single-stage, liquid propellant engine, which is essentially two liquid propellant motors side-by-side that provide aerodynamic control as well as thrust vectoring. 

Agni 1 test-fired off the Odisha coast

Context: • India successfully test-fired its short-range nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-1 with a strike range of over 700 km from a test range off the Odisha coast. Introduction:  • The indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile was launched as a part of a periodic training activity by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Army to consolidate operational readiness. • The sophisticated Agni-I missile is propelled by a solid rocket propellant system and is equipped with a specialised navigation system that ensures it reaches the target with a high degree of precision. About Agni-I: • Agni-I is a short-range ballistic missile developed by DRDO of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.  • It is a single-stage missile developed after the Kargil War to fill the gap between 250 km range of Prithvi-II and 2,500 km range of Agni-II.  • It was first launched on 25 January 2002 from a road mobile launcher at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Wheeler Island • Less than 75 launchers are deployed.

NASA to test deep space atomic clock

Context:
• NASA is planning to send its new deep space atomic clock on a flight aboard a spacecraft, to test the system’s ability to provide accurate on-board timekeeping for future missions.
Introduction:
• In deep space, accurate timekeeping is vital to navigation, but not all spacecraft have precise timepieces aboard.
• NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the U.S. has been perfecting the Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC), an instrument being built for deep space exploration.
Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC):
• The Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) is a miniaturized, ultra-precise mercury-ion atomic clock for precise radio navigation in deep space.
• It is orders of magnitude more stable than existing navigation clocks, and has been refined to limit drift of no more than 1 nanosecond in 10 days.
• It is expected to improve the precision of deep space navigation, and enable more efficient use of tracking networks. 
• The project is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory .
• The project will be deployed as part of the U.S. Air Force's Space Test Program 2 (STP-2) mission aboard a Space X Falcon Heavy rocket in April 2018.

 https://www.facebook.com/Aovious1

• Russian authorities have demanded over $20 million for rectifying the damage suffered by nuclear submarine INS Chakra.
Introduction:
• Russia has quoted $20 million portion, which was damaged while the submarine was entering the harbour in Visakhapatnam. 
• The developments around INS Chakra come even as the indigenously built nuclear ballistic missile submarine INS Arihant, which had suffered extensive damage because of human error over a year ago.
INS Arihant:
• INS Arihant Earlier in August 2016, India had quietly inducted its first indigenously built nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Arihant into into service completing its nuclear triad.
• INS Arihant is the lead ship of India’s Arihant class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.
• The 6,000 tonne vessel was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in the port city of Visakhapatnam.
INS Chakra:
• INS Chakra is a nuclear-powered submarine which was taken by India on lease from Russia in 2012 for a period of 10 years.
• INS Chakra is propelled by a 190 MW nuclear reactor.​

MCQS on Aids

• Important Facts
• The full form of HIV is Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
• When a person contracts HIV, then he acquires AIDS.
• HIV attacks & weakens the Immune System.
• Thus, the full form of AIDS is –Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome.
• 35 Million people are currently living with HIV/AIDS. Out of that, 3.2 Million are children.

How much do you know about HIV and AIDS? Let’s check out. Attempt the Quiz below & don’t forget to share your score!

1 When was the World AIDS Day celebrated for the first time?
1. 1988
2. 1980
3. 1990

4. 1999

2 AIDS is caused due to
1. Protozoa
2. Bacteria
3. Virus

4. Fungus

3 AIDS is not transmitted by which of the following:
1. Transfusions of contaminated blood
2. Sharing of contaminated blood, syringes or other sharp instruments
3. The transmission between a mother and her baby during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding

4. Touching Infected Individuals.

4 Which of these are ways to prevent HIV transmission:

1. practice safe sexual behaviours such as using condoms;
2. get tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV
3. avoid injecting drugs, or if you do, always use new and disposable needles and syringes
4. ensure that any blood or blood products that you might need are tested for HIV

5. All of the above

5 People wear ribbons of which colour to spread awareness about HIV AIDS

1. Black
2. Yellow
3. Red

4. Pink

6 Name the therapy used to control the spread of the HIV Virus
1. Chemotherapy
2. Antiretroviral therapy
3. Stem cell transplant

4. Photodynamic Therapy

7 Which of these is not a symptom of HIV AIDS?

1. Swollen Glands in throat, armpit or groin.
2. Fever
3. Fatigue

4. High Blood Pressure

8 HIV AIDS affects
1. Immune System
2. Digestive System
3. Endocrine System

4. Respiratory System

9 When should you get tested for HIV?
1. Atleast once between the age of 13 to 64 years.
2. As a part of regular medical checkups.
3. Pregnant womens

4. All of the above

10 How can HIV AIDS be prevented?
1. Use a clean needle in syringes.
2. Use condoms during sex.
3. Medical Tests at the beginning and during pregnancy.

4. all of the Above

Show me the answers!

 ​

Passive Euthanasia: Death with Dignity 😊

In News: The Supreme Court has given legal sanction to passive euthanasia in a landmark verdict, permitting ‘living will’ by patients on withdrawing medical support, if they slip into irreversible coma.

• The directions and guidelines laid down by it and its directive shall remain in force till a legislation is brought on the issue.
• Though there were four separate opinions of the bench but all the judges were unanimous that the ‘living will’ should be permitted since a person cannot be allowed to continue suffering in a comatose state when he or she doesn’t wish to live.

Mar 7, 2011: SC, on a separate plea on behalf of Aruna Shanbaug, allowed passive euthanasia for the nurse lying in vegetative state at Mumbai’s KEM hospital. Shanbaug had spent 42 years in a vegetative state after she was raped by a wardboy on November 27, 1973.

The Petition

Filed by: NGO ‘Common Cause’

• Approached the court seeking a direction for recognition of ‘living will’ and contended that when a medical expert said that a person afflicted with terminal disease had reached a point of no return, then she should be given the right to refuse being put on life support.
• Right to life includes right to die with dignity. A person cannot be forced to live on support of ventilator. Keeping a patient alive by artificial means against his/her wishes is an assault on his/her body

Passive euthanasia

• Passive euthanasia is a condition where there is withdrawal of medical treatment with the deliberate intention to hasten the death of a terminally-ill patient.
• Active euthanasia, which involves administering a lethal injection to the patient, is still illegal.

Living Will:

Written document by way of which a patient can give his explicit instructions in advance about the medical treatment to be administered when he or she is terminally ill or no longer able to express informed consent.

When: When the patient is in complete command of himself/herself, with right cognitive abilities and not under any coercion

When to be executed: Person who is the subject of treatment should spell out the specifics and circumstances in which the living will should be executed

Decision, if patient is not in a position: Can be taken by an identified guardian or the next friend

Rules in place to make sure that it is not misused:Subsequently, the hospital needs to constitute a medical board with Head of Department and 3 experts from the respective field of care with 20+ years of experience. Doctors would be bound only by the choice of self-determination made by the patient who is terminally ill and undergoing a prolonged medical treatment or is surviving on life support, subject to being satisfied that the illness of the patient is incurable and there is no hope of his being cured. Opinion of the hospital goes to the Collector, who then constitutes a separate medical board.

Significance:

Reduction in Emotional, Financial and Care-giving Investment: Favourable to patients who will now be able to avoid needless medical interventions, saving a lot of money and agony for patients and their families, and prevent unnecessary treatments for the terminally ill.

Encourage Organ Donation: This practice can see a rise wherein one person will be capable of saving lives of 10 others – gifting ‘Right to Life’ to others.

Issue of public good: In the case of Aruna Shanbag, one hospital bed was reserved for her for 42 years, which could have been used by thousands of patients, all legitimately claiming the right to live. A hospital bed is meant for patients who have a reasonable chance for recovery. For the rest, there are palliative care homes, hospices and residences. No person should be allowed to use taxpayers’ funds on the one hand, and on the other deny hospital beds to more deserving patients

Implications:

Fault line named palliative care services: A substantial number of patients die of illnesses in this country either because they don’t get care in time or can’t afford treatment. Those with terminal illnesses suffer needlessly because of poor palliative care services, including lack of access to painkillers. Against this background, “terminal illness” and “withdrawal of care” acquire a different context. Since the state can’t assure a right to dignified life, it cannot curb the right to die.

Legislation & Judicial Activism or Overreach: Whenever there is a need of law, the State needs to become proactive. SC will come into the picture if the fundamental rights of the citizens get affected. This directs the State that it needs to keep up with time and respond to the urgency of situations.

​

Steps taken for Educational Reforms _Updated 2018

Steps taken for Educational Reforms

The Government is committed to –

• Improve the quality of education
• Realize India’s human resource potential to its fullest in the education sector with equity and inclusion
• To provide equitable access to quality education to all sections of the society

All reform initiatives are also through consensus evolved between the Centre and the States through the Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE), which is a composite body and is also the highest advisory body on education.

Elementary education

Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009: Free and compulsory education of children in the 6 to 14 age group in India became a fundamental right when, in 2002, Article 21-A was inserted in the 86th Amendment to the Constitution. The three provisions are:

• Ensuring retention
• Pupil-to-Teacher ratio
• Decentralisation of academic schedules

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme: Aims for improvements in school infrastructure and in teaching and learning

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA):To enhance access to secondary education and to improve its quality

• Additional physical facilities to be provided: (i) Additional class rooms, (ii) Laboratories, (iii) Libraries, (iv) Art and crafts room, (v) Toilet blocks, (vi) Drinking water provisions and (vii) Residential Hostels for Teachers in remote areas.
• Important quality interventions provided: (i) appointment of additional teachers to reduce PTR to 30:1, (ii) focus on Science, Math and English education, (iii) In-service training of teachers, (iv) science laboratories, (v) ICT enabled education, (vi) curriculum reforms; and (vii) teaching learning reforms.

Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Teacher Education (CSSTE): To create a sound institutional infrastructure for pre-service and in-service training of elementary & secondary school teachers and for provision of academic resource support to elementary and secondary schools.

Shaala Siddhi: The National Programme on School Standards and Evaluation (NPSSE), known as Shaala Sidhdhi is a comprehensive instrument for school evaluation leading to school improvement.

Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan: To inculcate a spirit of inquiry, creativity and love for Science and Mathematics in school children.

Higher education

Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA):Aims at providing strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions

• Improve the overall quality of state institutions by ensuring conformity to prescribed norms and standards and adopt accreditation as a mandatory quality assurance framework.
• Usher transformative reforms in the state higher education system by creating a facilitating institutional structure for planning and monitoring at the state level, promoting autonomy in State Universities and improving governance in institutions.
• Ensure reforms in the affiliation, academic and examination systems.
• Ensure adequate availability of quality faculty in all higher educational institutions and ensure capacity building at all levels of employment.
• Create an enabling atmosphere in the higher educational institutions to devote themselves to research and innovations.
• Expand the institutional base by creating additional capacity in existing institutions and establishing new institutions, in order to achieve enrolment targets.
• Correct regional imbalances in access to higher education by setting up institutions in unserved & underserved areas.
• Improve equity in higher education by providing adequate opportunities of higher education to SC/STs and socially and educationally backward classes; promote inclusion of women, minorities, and differently abled persons.

Global Initiative for Academics Network (GIAN): Brings talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs, internationally must be engaged with the institutes of Higher Education in India so as to augment the country’s existing academic resources, accelerate the pace of quality reform, and elevate India’s scientific and technological capacity to global excellence.

Impacting Research, Innovation & Technology (IMPRINT): To address the major science and engineering challenges that India must address and champion to enable, empower and embolden the nation for inclusive growth and self-reliance. This novel initiative with twofold mandate is aimed at:

• Developing new engineering education policy
• Creating a road map to pursue engineering challenges

Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP): Aims to upscale and support ongoing efforts in improving quality of technical education and enhancing existing capacities of the institutions to become dynamic, demand-driven, quality conscious, efficient and forward looking, responsive to rapid economic and technological developments occurring both at national and international levels.

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT): To address comprehensively all issues related to teachers, teaching, teacher preparation and professional development.

• The Mission would address, on the one hand, current and urgent issues such as supply of qualified teachers, attracting talent into teaching profession and raising the quality of teaching in schools and colleges.
• On the other, it is also envisaged that the Teacher Mission would pursue long term goal of building a strong professional cadre of teachers by setting performance standards and creating top class institutional facilities for innovative teaching and professional development of teachers

Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM): To achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy viz., access, equity and quality. The objective of this effort is to take the best teaching learning resources to all, including the most disadvantaged. SWAYAM seeks to bridge the digital divide for students who have hitherto remained untouched by the digital revolution and have not been able to join the mainstream of the knowledge economy.

National Digital Library: To integrate several national and international digital libraries in one single web-portal. The NDL provides free access to many books in English and the Indian languages.

Uchhatar Avishkar Abhiyan: For making the bridge between the academics and the practical working field – industrial exposure for skill building

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan: To connect institutions of higher education, including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISERs) etc. with local communities to address the development challenges through appropriate technologies. The objectives are broadly two-fold:

• Building institutional capacity in Institutes of higher education in research & training relevant to the needs of rural India
• Provide rural India with professional resource support from institutes of higher education, especially those which have acquired academic excellence in the field of Science, Engineering  & Technology and Management

Policy Reforms

New Education Policy (NEP) (under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan) is being framed for meeting the  changing dynamics of the population’s requirement with regard to quality education, innovation and research, aiming to make India a knowledge superpower by equipping  its students with the necessary skills and knowledge and to eliminate the shortage of manpower in science, technology, academics and industry, for which wide ranging consultations were undertaken at multiple levels of online, expert/thematic and grassroots from village to State, Zonal levels as well as at the National level.

Change in NCERT curriculum:

National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been advised to undertake an exercise to review its syllabus with a view to reducing the curriculum load on the students.

Why: The purpose of education is to bring out a good human being out of the system. For real development along with knowledge, Life Skill education, value education, physical education, experiential learning is essential. Creative skills need to be nurtured. And because of heavy curriculum, there is no time left for all these aspects.

Plan of action for reducing the Curriculum burden:

Analysis of NCERT’s syllabi and textbooks across subject areas and classes focusing on the following:

• Learning outcomes
• Curriculum linkages across classes and subjects
• Overlapping in the content (science and geography; physics and chemistry, etc.)
• Comprehensibility of language
• Age-appropriateness of the content
• Diverse contexts

Inviting suggestions from teachers, students, parents and other stake holders through web portal on the reduction of curriculum load

Developing framework for Experiential Learning through mapping of curricular concepts, life skills and values for holistic development of children

https://www.facebook.com/Aovious1

​

World Sustainable Development Summit 2018

Theme of the Summit: ‘Partnerships for a Resilient Planet – Attaining Energy, Water, Food Security for All’

India and Sustainability

Trusteeship philosophy of India

There exists a tradition of harmonious co-existence between man and nature in India. Respect for nature is an integral part of our value system. Our goal is to be able to live up to our ancient texts which says, “Keep pure For the Earth is our Mother and we are her children”. We believe that all resources and all wealth belong to Nature and the Almighty and are just the trustees or managers of this wealth.

Journey towards a Sustainable Future

• As part of the Nationally Determined Contributions, India committed to reducing 33 to 35 percent of emission intensity of its GDP during 2005 to 2030.
• Goal of creating a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 – According to the UNEP Gap Report, India is on track to meet its Copenhagen Pledge of reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 20 to 25 percent over 2005 levels by 2020.

India’s Philosophy of ‘Convenient Action’

• • While the world was discussing’ Inconvenient Truth’, India translated it into ‘Convenient Action’ through her different initiatives and policies. India believes in growth but is also committed to protecting the environment.

• The UN Sustainable Development Goals put us on the path of equality, equity and climate justice. Every country should fulfil their commitments based on Common but Differentiated Responsibility and equity.

• India is focused on Ease of living –through Good Governance, Sustainable Livelihood and through Cleaner Environment.

India’s Development needs – Need to be fulfilled but in a cleaner and greener way

• India is one sixth of the global community, and our development needs are enormous. Our poverty or prosperity will have direct impact on the global poverty or prosperity. The fact that people in India have waited too long for access to modern amenities and means of development, needs no more reiterations.
• As the world’s fastest growing major economy, India’s energy needs are immense.
  • Plans to draw One 175 Giga-Watts of energy from renewable sources by 2022 – this includes 100 Giga-Watts from Solar Energy and another 75Giga-Watts from Wind and other sources.
  • Added more than 14 Giga-Watts to solar energy generation which was just about three Giga-Watts three years back.
  • Currently, we are already the fifth largest producer of solar energy in the world and the sixth largest producer of renewable energy.
• With growing urbanization, as our transportation needs are growing, we are focusing on mass transportation systems especially metro rail systems. Even for cargo movement to long distances, national water-way systems are established. Each of our states is preparing an action plan against climate change.

The ‘Collaboration’ Approach – The Key

Key players between which collaboration should take place –

• Between governments
• Between industries
• Between people

This collaboration needs to play out for the following actions –

• Policy correction to modify our growth pattern
• Instruments for sustainability needs to a mixture of technology, taxation, PPP, and budgetary considerations (Sizable change in the budget allocated for cities)
• Need to develop a right set of ecosystem for small mid-sized industry to be able to adopt green norms and adhere to environmental regulations
• Making shifts and habits that complement the objective of preserving environment
• Mechanism for Central to push certain policies in a federal state

Role of the developed world – For a successful climate action to be put in place, collaboration with the developed world is one of the most important aspect we look forward to. Incentives and innovations to make development truly sustainable is the urgent need of the hour.

• Access to financial resources: For effective implementation of policies, and to take efforts in bringing about a behavioural change as well.
• Ease of access to technology: Technology can help countries like India develop sustainably and enable the poor to benefit from it.

 https://www.facebook.com/Aovious1
 ​