CONTENTS
- Aspirational District Programme
- Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN)
- NAMASTE scheme
- Udarashakti Exercise
Aspirational District Programme
Focus: GS II- Government policies and Interventions
Why in News?
The Prime Minister has expressed happiness after the success of Aspirational Districts program on parameters such as health, nutrition, education and exports.
About Aspirational Districts Programme
- It was launched in 2018 which aims to transform districts that have shown relatively lesser progress in key social areas.
- Aspirational Districts are those districts in India, that are affected by poor socio-economic indicators.
- These are aspirational in the context, that improvement in these districts can lead to the overall improvement in human development in India.
- At the Government of India level, the programme is anchored by NITI Aayog.
- In addition, individual Ministries have assumed responsibility to drive the progress of districts.
Click Here To Read More: Aspirational District Programme
Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN)
Focus: GS III- Indian Economy
Why in News?
Ministry of Civil Aviation’s flagship program Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (UdeDeshkaAamNagrik) has completed 5 years of success since the launch of it first flight by Prime Minister on 27th April 2017.
About Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN):
Nodal: Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)
- It is an innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market.
Objective:
- To create affordable yet economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes so that flying becomes affordable to the common man even in small towns.
- To stimulate regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable to the masses.
- The scheme envisages providing connectivity to un-served and underserved airports of the country through the revival of existing air-strips and airports. The scheme is operational for a period of 10 years.
- UDAN is a market driven ongoing scheme where bidding rounds are conducted periodically for covering more destinations/stations and routes under the scheme.
Click Here To Read More: Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN)
Udarashakti Exercise
Focus: GS III: Security Challenges
Why in News?
Recently, a contingent of the Indian Air Force left for Malaysia to participate in a bilateral exercise named ‘Udarashakti’. While Harimau Shakti is Joint military exercises which are held annually between the two countries.
Highlights of the Exercise
- The Indian Air Force is participating in the air exercise with Su-30 MKI and C-17 aircraft while Malaysian Air Force will be flying Su 30 MKM aircraft.
- The four days of exercise will witness the conduct of various aerial combat drills between the two Air Forces.
- The first bilateral Air Force exercise that staged frontline Sukhoi-30 combat aircraft was conducted in 2018.
- From 2008 to 2010, the Indian Air Force Training Team was deployed in Malaysia to give training to Malaysian pilots on the SU-30SKM aircraft.
Significance of the Exercise
- Exercises will strengthen long-standing friendships and enhance defence cooperation between both armies. As a result, regional security will be strengthened.
- IAF will have an opportunity to share and learn best practices with the Royal Malaysian Air Force through this exercise. It is also likely that they will discuss mutual combat capabilities.
