PM applauds infrastructure upgradation in BSF.

Topic: GS3.

Context:

• • • Recently, Union Home Minister announced the inauguration of four joint outposts, two residential complexes, and one officer’s mess in BSF, along with other projects worth Rs. 108.3 crores.
    • These infrastructure upgrades are expected to strengthen the security of India’s borders and improve the living conditions of BSF personnel.

Infrastructure upgradation in BSF:

• • • Smart Border Fence: In 2020, BSF launched a pilot project for a smart border fence along the India-Pakistan border. The fence is equipped with several sensors and alarm systems to detect any infiltration attempts.
    • Upgraded Border Outposts: The BSF has been upgrading its border outposts to make them more secure and comfortable for the troops stationed there. This includes providing better amenities such as water supply, power backup, and communication systems.
    • Border Road Construction: The BSF has been involved in constructing border roads to improve connectivity in border areas. This includes the construction of a 61-km-long road in Jammu and Kashmir that connects the border villages with the national highway.
    • Upgraded Surveillance Systems: The BSF has been upgrading its border surveillance systems to monitor suspicious activities better. This includes the installation of high-tech surveillance cameras, night-vision devices, and drones.
    • Modernized Training Infrastructure: The BSF has been modernizing its training infrastructure to provide better training facilities for its personnel. This includes the construction of a new training academy in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, which is equipped with state-of-the-art training facilities.
      

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PM pays tributes to Gurudev Tagore on his Jayanti

Topic: GS1.

Issue:

About Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore:

• • • Rabindranath Tagore was born on May 7, 1861, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India.
    • He was a poet, writer, philosopher, and polymath who played a key role in the Indian Independence movement.
    • Tagore was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1913, for his collection of poems “Gitanjali” (Song Offerings).
    • He was a prolific writer and produced works in Bengali and English, including poems, novels, short stories, essays, and plays.
    • Tagore was a social reformer and advocate for Indian independence, and he used his writing to raise awareness about issues such as poverty, caste discrimination, and gender inequality.
    • He founded Santiniketan, which later became Visva-Bharati University, to provide a more holistic and culturally rich education for Indian students.
    • Tagore was also a talented artist and musician, and he composed more than 2,000 songs, which are still popular in India and Bangladesh today.
    • Some of his most famous works include “The Home and the World,” “Gora,” and “Kabuliwala.”
    • He passed away on August 7, 1941, in Calcutta, but his legacy continues to inspire and influence people around the world.
      

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PM pays homage to Gopal Krishna Gokhale on his birth anniversary.

Topic: GS1.

About Gopal Krishna Gokhale:

• • • Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915) was a prominent Indian nationalist leader, social reformer and scholar.
    • He was born on May 9, 1866, in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.
    • He was a founding member of the Indian National Congress and played a crucial role in shaping its early ideology.
    • Gokhale was a strong advocate for constitutional reform and worked towards increasing the participation of Indians in the government.
    • He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and served as his political mentor.
    • Gokhale believed in the principles of non-violent resistance and advocated for peaceful protest to achieve political goals.
    • He was instrumental in forming the Servants of India Society, a group dedicated to social service and nation-building.
    • Gokhale was also a prominent educationalist and established the Fergusson College in Pune.
    • He died on February 19, 1915, in Mumbai, at 48.
      

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PM pays tributes to Maharana Pratap on his Jayanti.

Topic: GS1.

About Maharana Pratap:

• • • Maharana Pratap, also known as Rana Pratap, was a legendary Rajput king of Mewar.
    • He was born on May 9, 1540, in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan.
    • He belonged to the Sisodiya Rajput clan and was the eldest son of Maharana Udai Singh II.
    • He is known for his bravery and determination to fight against the Mughal emperor Akbar.
    • In 1568, Akbar attacked Mewar and captured Chittorgarh, which led to the formation of alliances between Akbar and other Rajput chiefs. However, Maharana Pratap refused to surrender to Akbar and continued to fight him.
    • He is most famous for the Battle of Haldighati in 1576, where he fought against a much larger Mughal army led by Man Singh I, a Rajput general of Akbar. Although Maharana Pratap’s forces were significantly outnumbered, he fought bravely and escaped with his life. However, battle remained indecisive as neither side gained any territory.
    • His horse Chetak died during this battle.
    • Maharana Pratap continued to fight against the Mughals and never accepted Akbar’s offer of a truce. Instead, he built a new capital at Chavand and resisted Mughal rule until his death on January 29, 1597.
    • He is remembered as a symbol of Rajput pride, and his courage and sacrifice are celebrated in Rajasthan and across India. His life has inspired numerous works of literature, art, and film, including the popular TV series Maharana Pratap.
      

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Multi-pronged measures to stop Diversion and Black Marketing of Fertilizers in the country.

Topic: GS3.

Issue:

• • • The Department of Fertilizers, Government of India, is taking measures to prevent malpractices and ensure quality fertilizers for farmers.
    • Fertilizer Flying Squads (FFS) has been formed to check diversion, black marketing, hoarding, and supply of sub-standard quality fertilizers.
    • FFS conducted over 370 surprise inspections across 15 states/UTs, resulting in 30 FIRs registered for the diversion of urea and 70,000 bags seized.
    • 112 mixture manufacturers have been deauthorized due to discrepancies found in documentation and procedures.
    • 268 samples have been tested, with 89 declared sub-standard and 120 found with neem oil content.
    • 11 people have been jailed under the Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies (PBM) Act for diversion and black marketing of urea in the last year.
    • New mixture modules have been developed in Integrated Fertilize Management System (iFMS) to spread awareness about fertilizer quality.
    • Due to fewer licenses for mixture manufacturing, existing units have shifted to selling bio and organic fertilizers, promoting natural farming to reduce chemical fertilizer consumption.
    • Proactive measures have led to increased demand for Technical Grade Urea and neighbouring countries requesting India for urea imports.
      

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‘POSHAN BHI PADHAI BHI’

Topic: GS3.

Context:

• • • The Ministry of Women and Child Development is organizing a national event on key initiatives for strengthening Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
    • The main objective is to highlight the criticality of focusing on early childhood care and education.
    • The Ministry is launching “Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi,” a pathbreaking ECCE program to ensure that India has the world’s largest, universal, high-quality preschool network, as suggested by the National Education Policy.
    • Government will target children’s development in every domain mentioned in the National Curriculum Framework, viz., physical and motor development, cognitive development, socio-emotional-ethical development, cultural/artistic development, and the development of communication and early language, literacy, and numeracy.
    • All States will follow the national ECCE taskforce recommendations for a play-based, activity-based learning pedagogy, targeted specifically at developmental milestones of 0-3-year olds as well as 3-6-year olds, including special support for Divyang children.
    • Through the changes introduced by the “Poshan bhi, Padhai bhi” ECCE policy, every child would be provided with at least two hours of high-quality pre-school instruction on a daily basis.
    • Anganwadi Centres will be strengthened with high-quality infrastructure, play equipment, and well-trained Anganwadi workers/teachers.
    • Poshan bhi Padhai bhi will focus on promoting holistic and quality early stimulation and pre-primary education for children, ensuring the use of developmentally appropriate pedagogies and emphasizing the links with primary education as well as early childhood health and nutrition services.
      

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MyGov, in collaboration with Ministry of Culture, launches ‘YUVA PRATIBHA – Singing Talent Hunt

Topic: GS3.

Issue:

• • • MyGov and Ministry of Culture are launching a YUVA PRATIBHA – Singing Talent Hunt on May 10, 2023.
    • The aim of the competition is to promote Indian music at the grassroots level and identify and recognize new and young talent in various singing genres.
    • The competition will be open for initial submissions for a period of one and a half months.
    • The Singing Talent Hunt is a unique opportunity for citizens across India to display their singing talent and skills and gain national recognition.
    • The competition will feature various genres, including Folk Songs, Patriotic Songs, and Contemporary Songs.