GOVERNANCE
Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV)
Context
- In order to deliver effective care and support to our Veterans and NoKs, a conference and training programme was organised at DIAV, Delhi Cantt.
- The aim of this programme was to discuss existing and future initiatives associated with veterans & Next of Kins (NoK) and obtain feedback from officials who are directly handling the veteran affairs.
What is DIAV?
- The Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV) was raised in April, 2013 as a single window for the redressal of veterans’ issues and aspirations at Army HQ level.
- Since then, its role and charter has expanded considerably, to include matters beyond the usual pension and welfare related issues.
- It does not only interact with the line directorates and welfare societies at the AG Branch, but also with other directorates, state governments, skilling agencies and placement partners across the country.
PM-KISAN Scheme
Context
- Prime Minister of India addressed at the launch of PM-KISAN scheme in Uttar Pradesh under the welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population initiative.
What is PM-KISAN Scheme?
- The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) was announced in the interim Budget 2019-20.
- PM KISAN is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India.
- Under this programme, vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land upto 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year.
- This income support will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal installments of Rs. 2,000 each.
- The Scheme was introduced to augment the income of the Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs).
Significance
- Around 12 crore small and marginal farmer families are expected to benefit from this.
- It would not only provide assured supplemental income to the most vulnerable farmer families, but would also meet their emergent needs especially before the harvest season.
- This would also protect them from falling in the clutches of moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensure their continuance in the farming activities.
Atal Tinkering Laboratories
Context
- NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Adobe today signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) to collectively drive the charter of developing creative skills and spreading digital literacy across all Atal Tinkering Labs in India.
- What is Atal Tinkering Laboratories?
- Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) are the laboratories establishing in the schools across the India under the Atal Innovation Mission with a vision to ‘Cultivate one Million children in India as Neoteric Innovators’.
- The objective of this scheme is to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing etc.
Key Features of ATL
- ATL is a work space where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands on do-it-yourself mode; and learn innovation skills.
- Young children will get a chance to work with tools and equipment to understand the concepts of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
- ATL would contain educational and learning ‘do it yourself’ kits and equipment on – science, electronics, robotics, open source microcontroller boards, sensors and 3D printers and computers.
- Other desirable facilities include meeting rooms and video conferencing facility.
- AIM will provide grant-in-aid that includes a one-time establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh and operational expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a maximum period of 5 years to each ATL.
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
About AIM
- AIM is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) including Self-Employment and Talent Utilization (SETU) is Government of India’s endeavour to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Its objective is to serve as a platform for promotion of world-class Innovation Hubs, Grand Challenges, Start-up businesses and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology driven areas.
Key function of AIM
- Entrepreneurship promotion through Self-Employment and Talent Utilization, wherein innovators would be supported and mentored to become successful entrepreneurs.
- Innovation promotion: to provide a platform where innovative ideas are generated.
Highlights
- As a part of AIM, ATLs are being established in more than 5,000 schools in India.
- Students of class 6th to class 12th acquire problem solving and innovation skills, developing innovative solutions leveraging Tinkering technologies like 3D printers, robotics, miniaturised electronics, IOT and programming, do it yourself kits with support from teachers.
- The Atal Tinkering Lab is based on the philosophy to identify and nurture innovation in young students across the country.
