RAJASTHAN

Raj leads in learning outcomes: MHRD survey

Rajasthan scored the highest points in the category of ‘learning outcomes and quality’ of education in government schools among the states and the union territories.
The category is one of the five categories further divided into a total of 70 subcategories to form the performance grading index (PGI) report 2017-18 released by the MHRD on February 27. The desert state ranked among the top five states in the PGI.

The learning outcomes are defined by the students’ academic performance in reading, comprehension and mathematics. The state performed poorly in two categories — infrastructure & facilities and access. It scored 84 out of 140 and 56 out of 80, respectively. The poor performance in the access category means that the state has poor retention, transition rate and high dropout rate.

The total weightage under the PGI is 1,000 points with each of the 70 indicators assigned a weightage of either 10 or 20 points. The aim of the report is to inform the state government on areas of improvements. The percentage of average daily attendance of teachers recorded in electronic attendance system, too, is very good in the state.

INTERNATIONAL

India ranks 77th on sustainability, 131st in child flourishing index rankings: UN report

According to a United Nations backed report released India ranked 77th on a sustainability index that takes into account per capita carbon emissions.

It also ranks 131st on a flourishing ranking that measures the best chance at survival and well-being for children.

The Sustainability Index ranks countries on excess carbon emissions compared with the 2030 target.

The report was commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The Lancet medical journal.

Singapore firm wins bid to buy India’s longest road tunnel

Singapore-based infrastructure investment platform Cube Highways has won the bid to acquire India’s longest road tunnel – the 9.2-km Chenani-Nashri project in Jammu & Kashmir – for Rs 3,929 crore.

The IL&FS board has declared Cube as the highest bidder (H1), and invited lenders to vote for the sale through the e-voting process.

The tunnel project has a debt of around Rs 5,454 crore and a sale of the asset will help bring down the overall debt position of the company.

Cube Highways, a platform floated by I Squared Capital and backed by International Finance Corp and ADIA, operates 1,700 km of highways in India.

World Bank unveils USD 12 billion aid package to combat coronavirus

The World Bank unveiled a USD 12 billion aid package that will provide fast-track funds to help countries combat the coronavirus outbreak.

The funds, some of which are targeted to the world’s poorest nations, can be used for medical equipment or health services and will include expertise and policy advice.

NATIONAL

National Security Day is observed on 4 March

National Security Day or Rashtriya Suraksha Diwas is observed on 4 March every year in India. The day aims to appreciate the work of security forces as they play a major role in maintaining the peace and security of the people in the country. On this day, the leaders, officials, and people pay homage to the soldiers who died while saving the country.

The day promotes the security forces that continuously work for the nation. It aims to remind the people about the personal duties of the security forces towards the country.

NSC was established on 4 March 1966 by the Government of India. The council functions under the Ministry of Labour. It focuses on promoting SHE at the national level in order to develop and sustain the voluntary movement. The council was registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 and the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950. It conducts special training courses, seminars, workshops, conferences and provides consultancy studies like safety audits, hazard evaluation, and risk assessment, etc.

KVIC to provide employment to nearly 6L people this year

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) plans to provide employment opportunities to nearly 6 lakh persons in the current year.

The number of projects and the amount of subsidy disbursed by the KVIC has doubled in just four years from 44,340 in 2015-16 to 73,427 in 2018-19. While Rs 1,020 crore margin money was disbursed in 2015-16, it went up to Rs 2,070 crore in 2018-19. The employment generated also increased from 3,23,362 in 2015-16 to 5,87,416 persons in 2018-19.

South Central Railways (SCR) zone becomes 1st in India to have energy-neutral stations

The Indian Railways South Central Railways (SCR) zone has become the first zonal railway in the country to have functional “energy neutral” railway stations on the network.

The South Central Railways has converted a total of 13 railway stations into “energy neutral” stations, which is the highest amongst all the zones across the Indian Railways network.

Haryana govt announces Rs six crore to those winning gold medals at Olympics

The Haryana government has decided to give 6 crore rupees to players of the state that bag gold medals at the Olympic Games.

State Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, 3 crore rupees will be given to those winning gold medals at Asian Games and 1.5 crore rupees to the winners of yellow metal at Commonwealth Games.

An amount of 15 lakh rupees will be given to each player participating in the Olympic Games so that the players can make the state, as well as the country, proud.

Pyaar ka Paudha’ campaign launched by Bihar govt to encourage practice of planting trees

‘Pyaar ka Paudha’ (a plant of love) campaign has been launched by the Bihar government’s Department of Environment and Forest in Patna, to encourage the practice of planting trees in the state.

Department of Environment, humbly request you to gift one plant of love to your closed ones and provide good care.

The aim of this campaign is to promote the practice of planting trees in the state.