PIB 24th January

Contents:

1. Government of India and the World Bank deal
2. Targeting Construction of National Highways at the Rate of 40 Km Per Day
3. NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement)
4. International Summit on Women in STEM–“Visualizing the Future: New Skylines”

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AND THE WORLD BANK DEAL

Why in news?

The Government of India, the Government of Maharashtra and the World Bank, on 25th January signed a loan agreement of USD 210 million.

The deal was signed to:

• Support small holder farmers participate in competitive agriculture value chains
• Facilitate agri-business investments, increase market access and productivity in focus commodities
• Build resilience of crops to recurrent floods or droughts in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

The USD210 million Maharashtra Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project, will help to:

• Build capacity of the nodal departments and institutions
• Increase private sector investments in agricultural value chains
• Remove constraints for producers and entrepreneurs in accessing emerging domestic and export markets

TARGETING CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AT THE RATE OF 40 KM PER DAY

Why in news?

Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Rood Transport & Highways and MSME along with General (Retd.) V. K. Singh, Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways  reviewed projects of all National Highway development, on 23 and 24 January 2020 at Manesar near Gurugram, Haryana

The Minister informed  22 Greenfield Corridors  of length 7500 kms is being developed with a total capital cost of Rs. 3.00 lakh crore.

NISHTHA (NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR SCHOOL HEADS’ AND TEACHERS’ HOLISTIC ADVANCEMENT)

Why in news?

• Union MHRD minister inaugurated a two day orientation workshop for the teachers of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir at SKICC, Srinagar
• It is a benchmark programme that will raise the standards of education throughout the country.
• It will prove to be helpful in inculcating creativity among children and stimulate their imagination as well as physical and mental wellbeing.
• The programme devised in Urdu language for J&K will bring in a positive change in the region
• NISHTHA has already been launched in 20 states of the country and around 21000 e-resource persons have been trained so far. 
• The main objective of the initiative is to help overall development of students as better citizens.
• The art modules included in the programme instill cooperation and spirit of unity with responsibility

INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT ON WOMEN IN STEM–“VISUALIZING THE FUTURE: NEW SKYLINES”

Why in news?

• The Department of Biotechnology organized an International Summit on Women in STEM–“Visualizing the Future: New Skylines” on 23rd  and 24thJanuary, 2020 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
• The Summit was organized with the overall aim to boost the participation of women in STEM field for development of scientific career.
• The summit provided a good platform for young students and researchers to interact and network with leaders in the field, to develop ideas and generate a future action plan for making career in STEM fields