National Achievement Survey
The National Achievement Survey (NAS) is the largest ever national assessment survey in the country and is amongst the largest in the world.
NAS is a representative sample of schools from all districts in India aimed at understanding the health of the education system in government and government-aided schools.
National Achievement Survey is conducted by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and supported by Ministry of Human Resource and Development.
It assesses the learning levels of the students in Classes 3, 5, 8 and 10.
The survey tool uses multiple test booklets in Mathematics, Modern Indian Language, English, Sciences and Social Sciences.
In order to increase focus on the quality of elementary education, The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) Act, 2009 has been amended to include the reference on class-wise, subject-wise Learning Outcomes.
The design and implementation of the survey included in its ambit the school leaders, teachers and the whole network of officials at the Cluster, Block, District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and the Directorates of Education in the different States/ UTs.
Topic-GS-2- Welfare schemes
Source-PIB
India-UK Science & Innovation Council
The 6th India-UK Science & Innovation Council (SIC) meeting held in New Delhi discussed a range of issues on S&T cooperation between the two countries.
Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences & Environment, Forests and Climate Change, India and Mr Sam Gyimah, Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, UK led the Indian and UK delegations respectively.
The objective is to address challenges, such as water pollution, life-threatening diseases and climate change.
India also pitched for collaboration between the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, CSIR, and its UK equivalent to expand cooperation.
India and UK are jointly delivering cutting-edge science and Technology solutions to societal challenges through Newton Bhabha partnership.
Topic-GS- 2- Important International institutions
Source-PIB
New Ebola species is reported for the first time in a decade.
The government of Sierra Leone has announced that a new species of Ebola, the sixth, has been discovered there in bats. It has been called, provisionally, the Bombali virus, after a district in the north of the country where it was found.
Researchers working in joint US-West African study funded by US Aid have discovered the new strain of Ebola virus in bats in northern Bombali region of Sierra Leone.
It’s not known whether the new strain can develop into the deadly Ebola disease if transmitted to humans.
There’s no evidence the new virus has infected people, although EcoHealth Alliance, an environmental nonprofit group involved in the discovery, said that it has the potential to infect human cells.
Related Information
The worst-ever Ebola outbreak started in December 2013 in southern Guinea before spreading to Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The West African outbreak was caused by the Zaire species, which has historically been the most deadly in humans since it was first identified in 1976.
Sierra Leone is one of three in West Africa that was engulfed in a devastating Ebola outbreak in 2014 and 2015. The outbreak was caused by the ebolavirus known as Zaire ebolavirus.
There are five known species of Ebola: the Zaire virus, sometimes simply called Ebola; Sudan ebolavirus; Bundibugyo; Täi Forest; and Reston.
Bats are believed to be the natural reservoir of all Ebola species, but to date, no one has managed to isolate live Ebola viruses from bats.
Ebola Virus
Ebola virus is a highly fatal haemorrhagic fever that is spread through contact with bodily fluids from infected persons and animals which include non-human primates, bats and forest antelope. Zaire strain of Ebola virus is the most deadly strain known.
Topic- GS- 3- Health
Source- The Hindu
Justice Srikrishna committee submits the report on data protection
The draft personal data protection Bill 2018, submitted by the Justice B.N. Srikrishna-headed expert panel, has proposed that critical personal data of Indian citizens be processed in centres located within the country.
The Justice BN Srikrishna committee has stated that regulations suggested in the draft data protection bill will require the government to make changes to the Aadhaar Act.
Key recommendation:
It has left it to the Central government to notify categories of personal data that will be considered as critical.
Other personal data may be transferred outside the territory of India with some riders.
The committee has recommended two changes to the Aadhaar Act:
Better safeguarding of Aadhaar data.
Autonomy of the UIDAI.
At least one copy of the data will need to be stored in India.
The draft also provides for penalties for data processor as well as compensation to data principal to be imposed for violations of the data protection law.
It has suggested a penalty of ₹15 crore or 4% of the total worldwide turnover of any data collection/processing entity, for violating provisions.
Failure to take prompt action on a data security breach can attract up to ₹5 crore or 2% of turnover as a penalty.
The draft Bill, which has recommended that a Data Protection Authority be set up to prevent misuse of personal information, also provides for setting up an Appellate Tribunal.
Related Information
UIDAI(Unique Identification Authority of India)
UIDAI is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (“Aadhaar Act 2016”) on 12 July 2016 by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The UIDAI or is the nodal agency that manages the Aadhaar biometric identification system.
The first UID number was issued on 29 September 2010 to a resident of Nandurbar, Maharashtra.
Source- The Indian Express
NCPCR mediation cell for women fleeing with kids from abroad to escape domestic violence.
A mediation cell has been opened on the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR) website to register complaints of Indians who have fled with their children from abroad to escape domestic violence or some other issue.
The cell consisting of members of the Ministry of External Affairs and the NCPCR, would contact the embassies of the respective countries and try to reach a solution after consultations with them.
Maneka Gandhi recommended members of the women commissions to follow three things — release a book on the performance every year, identify single cases and try to solve them and hire lawyers for women who cannot afford it.
Related Information
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is a statutory body under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.
The objective of this commission is to protect, promote and defend the child rights in India including the rights adopted in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children, 1989, ratified by India in 1992.
This convention defines the child as a human being below 18 years of age.
This commission has a chairperson and six members of which at least two should be women.
All of them are appointed by the Central Government for three years.
The maximum age to serve in commission is 65 years for Chairman and 60 years for members.
The Hague Convention
The Hague Convention is a multi-national treaty that seeks to protect children wrongfully removed by one of the parents from the custody of the other parent.
Located in The Netherlands.
Effective from 1st December 1983.
There are 98 member countries.
India is not a member of the Hague Convention.
Topic-GS- 2- Important International institutions
Source- The Money Control
Inter-State Bridge on Ban Ganga in Madhya Pradesh.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has accorded in principle approval for the inter-state high-level bridge on the Banganga river.
Related Information
Banganga River
Banganga River originates from the Aravalli hills and drains into the Yamuna.
The main tributaries are Gumti Nalla and Suri River, joining the river on its right bank, and Sanwan and Palasan Rivers, meeting the river on its left bank.
Its basin extends over parts of Alwar, Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur and Bharatpur Districts.
Its eastern edge borders the Yamuna River Basin in Uttar Pradesh.
Topic-GS-1- Physical Geography
Source-PIB
Mukhyamantri Agriculture-cum-Solar Scheme
By Delhi Government
The scheme which attempts to increase solar installations while consequently providing relief to Delhi’s agricultural sector, offers very little for any of the stakeholders involved other than well-off, large landowning farmers.
The scheme aims to hit two birds with one stone by attempting to increase solar installations while providing relief to Delhi’s agricultural sector at the same time.
It aims is to entice solar developers to build power generating plants on agricultural holdings. The farmers are to be paid Rs 1lakh/acre by the developers for leasing the land, with a 6 per cent annual escalation.
The premise of the scheme is to supplement farmers’ income, currently estimated at Rs 20,000– 30,000/acre. Additionally, they are allowed 1000kWh/acre of free electricity generated by the system.
Topic-GS-2- Welfare schemes
Source- Down to earth
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