VISION

Wednesday, August 05, 2020

Three-language Formula

VisionIAS 19:59

Why in news?

Tamil Nadu has rejected the three-language formula advocated in the National Education Policy (NEP 2020).

What does this rejection reiterate?

By rejecting, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has only reiterated the State’s unwavering position on an emotive and political issue.
Tamil Nadu has a two-language policy that remains non-negotiable for almost the entire political class.
This policy was implemented decades ago after a historic agitation against the imposition of Hindi.

Did the policy talk about any imposition?

The policy said that no language will be imposed on any State.
But, it has expectedly cut no ice with parties in Tamil Nadu, which have risen in near unison to oppose the proposal.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister appealed to the Prime Minister to allow States to follow their own language policy.
In a State that resisted multiple attempts to impose Hindi since 1937, political parties are wary of any mandate to impart an additional language in schools.
They fear this would eventually pave the way for Hindi to enter the State through the back door.
Since 1985, the State has even refused to allow Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas to be set up as they teach Hindi.

What is the effectiveness of the two-language policy?

The two-language policy of Tamil and English was piloted by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai in 1968.
It has thus far worked well in the State.
In a liberalised world, more windows to the world are being opened up for those proficient in English, a global link language.
The State’s significant human resources contribution to the IT sector is attributed to its recruits‘ English fluency as much as to their technical knowledge.
There is an argument that Tamil Nadu is depriving students of an opportunity to learn Hindi, touted as a national link language.

What is the reality?

The State’s voluntary learning has never been restricted.
The growth over the past decade in the number of CBSE schools, where the language is taught, would bear testimony to this.
The patronage for the 102-year-old Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, based in Chennai, also proves this.
In the Sabha’s centenary year, Tamil Nadu accounted for 73% of active Hindi pracharaks (teachers) in South India.
Out of necessity, many in the State have picked up conversational Hindi to engage with the migrant population.
Only compulsion is met with resistance.
India’s federal nature and diversity demand that no regional language is given supremacy over another.

Source: The Hindu

Daily Current Affairs, 05th August 2020

vision ias current affairs

VisionIAS 18:43

1) Education Minister laid the foundation stone of IIM-Dhaula Kuan

•In Himachal Pradesh, Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has laid the foundation stone of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Dhaula Kuan in Sirmour district. The first phase of this Institute would be completed by spending an amount of 392.51 crore rupees. In 2014, the Union Government had taken decision to establish seven new IIMs including IIM Sirmaur.

2) “Thenzawl Golf Resort” virtually inaugurated in Mizoram

•The “Thenzawl Golf Resort” Project has been virtually inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (I/C) Shri Prahlad Singh Patel. The project has been implemented under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The Thenzawl Golf Course will offer quality golfing experience and international facilities at a fair price to the Indian population.

•Canada based Golf Course architectural firm, Graham Cooke and Associates has designed the Golf Course at Thenzawl, Mizoram with total site area of 105 acres and the play area of 75 acres. It is a 18 Hole Golf Course with Sharing Fairway and automated sprinkler irrigation system by Rain Bird, USA, having all the facilities of international standards.

3) DNHDD launches E-Gyan Mitra mobile app

•E-Gyan Mitra mobile app has been launched by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The “E-Gyan Mitra” mobile app has been launched to provide online education.

•The Education Department of Daman Administration has rolled out the E-Gyan Mitra app, which is becoming popular among the students and parents.

4) Union Minister launches Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel

•The Sahakar Cooptube NCDC Channel has been launched by the Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar. The channel is a new initiative by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

•During the launch event, the minister also rolled out guidance videos made by NCDC on ‘Formation and Registration of A Cooperative’ for 18-different states in Hindi and regional languages. These videos have been released to strengthen and deepen the major measures taken by Government of India to promote and form 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

5) Mark Phillips sworn in as Prime Minister of Guyana

•Former Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier (retired) Mark Anthony Phillips has been sworn in as Prime Minister of Guyana. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force from 2013 to 2016. Meanwhile, former President Bharrat Jagdeo has been sworn in as Vice President.

6) Sashidhar Jagdishan to be the new CEO of HDFC Bank

•The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of Sashidhar Jagdishan as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HDFC Bank. He will replace Aditya Puri. He will take charge in October when Puri retires. Aditya Puri was the CEO of HDFC Bank since September 1994. He is the longest-serving head of any private bank in India.

7) A book titled “Vishesh: Code To Win” authored by Nirupama Yadav

•The book, titled “Vishesh: Code To Win”, has been written by sportswoman-turned-author Nirupama Yadav and published by the publishing house Bluerose. The book is set to be released on August 29, the National Sports Day.

8) MoD signs MoU with IIT Kanpur & Department of ARPG

•The Department of Defence (DoD) Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) and Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK). The MoU will support the MoD in identifying the cause and nature of grievances and to introduce systemic changes and policy interventions wherever required.

•According to the tripartite MoU, IIT Kanpur will develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques to successfully conduct exploratory and predictive examination of the Public Grievances received on Centralized Public Grievances Redress & Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) related to the MoD. To enhance the analysis performed by IIT Kanpur, the DARPG will offer the data dump on the Public Grievances related to the Ministry of Defence.

The HINDU Notes – 05th August 2020

the hindu notes

VisionIAS 18:30

📰 Language of unity

States must be allowed to followtheir own language policy

•By rejecting the three-language formula advocated in the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has only reiterated the State’s unwavering position on an emotive and political issue. Its two-language policy, implemented decades ago after a historic agitation against the imposition of Hindi, remains non-negotiable for almost the entire political class. Opposition from the State had last year forced the Centre to amend the draft NEP and withdraw a proposal to teach Hindi as a third language in schools in non-Hindi speaking States. Yet in the NEP, approved by the Union Cabinet last week, it chose to push for the three-language formula, packaging it as a means to promote multilingualism and “national unity”. Though the policy said that no language will be imposed on any State, it has expectedly cut no ice with parties in Tamil Nadu, which have risen in near unison to oppose the proposal. In fact, Mr. Palaniswami, citing “collective sentiments” of the people, noted that the proposal was “saddening and painful” and appealed to the Prime Minister to allow States to follow their own language policy. In a State that resisted multiple attempts to impose Hindi since 1937, political parties are understandably wary of any mandate to impart an additional language in schools. They fear this would eventually pave the way for Hindi to enter the State through the back door. Since 1985, the State has even refused to allow Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas to be set up as they teach Hindi.

•The two-language policy of Tamil and English, piloted by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai in 1968, has thus far worked well in the State. In a liberalised world, more windows to the world are being opened up for those proficient in English, a global link language. The State’s significant human resources contribution to the ever-expanding IT sector is also attributed to the English fluency of its recruits as much as to their technical knowledge. There is this counter-argument that Tamil Nadu is depriving students of an opportunity to learn Hindi, touted as a national link language. However, its voluntary learning has never been restricted and the growth over the past decade in the number of CBSE schools, where the language is taught, would bear testimony to this. The patronage for the 102-year-old Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, based in Chennai, also proves this. In the Sabha’s centenary year, Tamil Nadu accounted for 73% of active Hindi pracharaks (teachers) in South India. Out of necessity, many in the State have picked up conversational Hindi to engage with the migrant population that feeds the labour needs from factories to hair salons. Only compulsion is met with resistance. India’s federal nature and diversity demand that no regional language is given supremacy over another.

📰 Violating human rights in the Valley

THE HINDU NEWSPAPER IMPORTANT ARTICLES 05.08.2020

the hindu articles

VisionIAS 13:55

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Meet UPSC civil services exam 2019 topper Pradeep Singh from Haryana

upsc topper

VisionIAS 19:47

Pradeep had cleared the UPSC civil services exam last year and is presently under training as an Indian Revenue Service Officer in Faridabad, Haryana.

Pradeep Singh from Haryana’s Sonepat district has topped the UPSC Civil services exam 2019, results of which were declared on Tuesday. Pradeep had cleared the UPSC civil services exam last year and is presently under training as an Indian Revenue Service Officer in Faridabad, Haryana.

Singh’s father Sukhbir Singh is the former Sarpanch of Tewri village in Sonepat’s Ganaur block. His father served as village Sarpanch twice and grandfather once. Pradeep’s parents are currently staying at Omax city in Sonepat.

Pradeep said that his father, who is a farmer, inspired him to become an IAS officer and he wants to work for the welfare of the farming community.

“My focus was to cover targeted syllabus every day. UPSC demands consistency and sometime I felt that I was not consistent but my father encouraged me. My father is a farmer and mother is housewife”, he added.

“After completing my graduation I took coaching for Staff selection commission (SSC) and got first job as Income Tax officer in Delhi five years ago. I had appeared for UPSC exam four times. Last year, I got 260th rank and now I am posted as Indian Revenue Officer in Faridabad”, the UPSC topper further added.

Pradeep Singh said that it was very difficult for him to study and do job at the same time.

“My few friends also helped me in cracking this exam. I have achieved this feat by doing self study. At one time, I thought to stop preparing for IAS, but my father told me not to lose patience and do hard work. Self-motivation is the best key to achieve any goal. Do not listen to what others are saying, only an individual knows his/her potential”, he added.

The UPSC topper Pradeep Singh said that he had studied till class 7 in government school at his native Tewri village and later his family had shifted to Sonepat. He did his class 12 from Shambhu Dayal modern school, Sonepat in 2008 and graduation in Engineering from Murthal University, Sonepat in 2012. His elder brother Ajit is married and younger sister Manisha, is post-graduate in Mathematics.

Pradeep’s father Sukhbir Singh said that he had shifted his family to Sonepat in early 2000’s for his children’s education.

“I had told Pradeep to make constant efforts to become an IAS and do not think about from where I will bring money for his study. Today, he made every Haryana resident proud. He told me that UPSC has declared results and when I asked him about his result, he came close to me and said he had topped the exam by hugging me. I want to tell all farmers’ and labourers that their children have more appetite to become an IAS”, his father added.

Source: hindustantimes

Daily Current Affairs, 04th August 2020

vision ias current affairs

VisionIAS 17:26

1) National Programme ‘Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan 2020-21’ launched

•Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has launched ‘Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan, 2020-21’. It is a national programme which has been launched to popularize science among school students of Class 6th to 11th. The programme has been designed to identify the talent in the field of science and to promote the scientfic acumen among the students.

•Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM) is an initiative of Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) and Vigyan Prasar. The programme has been conceptualised to identify the bright minds with a scientific aptitude among the student community.

2) Andhra Pradesh government launches ‘E-Raksha Bandhan’

•Andhra Pradesh government has launched an innovative virtual cybercrime awareness programme named as ‘E-Raksha Bandhan’. The programme aims to create awareness among the public on Cyber crimes across the State. The month long online awareness programme would be organised by the Crime Investigation Department (CID), FM Radio, Cyber Crime Prevention Against Women and Children (CCPWC), Cyber Peace Foundation and other organisations.

•With this online awareness drive, state government aims to train as many as 1 lakh women, girls and the general public up to August 31. Hence, the ‘E-Raksha Bandhan’ will ensure the safety of women and children in cyberspace. State police and CID has also publicised a slogan “Let us make August a month of e-freedom and e-safety”.

3) MSME Minister launches Khadi’s Gift Box of Silk Mask

•Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Shri Nitin Gadkari has launched the Khadi’s Gift Box of Silk Mask. The Gift Box has been developed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

•The KVIC developed gift box comprises of four handcrafted silk masks in different colors and prints. These triple-layered silk masks are skin-friendly, washable, reusable as well as bio-degradable. The Khadi’s Gift Box has been launch to tap the foreign market and a large Indian population looking for reasonably priced gift items.

4) Mohamed Irfaan Ali named as President of Guyana

•Former Guyanese housing minister, Mohamed Irfaan Ali has been named as the President of the country. He is a member of the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP). He succeeds David Arthur(A.) Granger.

•David A. Granger is a member of A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (ANPU-AFC). The PPP won 33 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly with 233,336 votes, while the APNU-AFC earned 31 seats with 217,920 votes.

5) A book titled “Siyasat Mein Sadasyata” authored by Vijay Kumar Choudhary

•Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar has released a book titled “Siyasat Mein Sadasyata” authored by Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary. The book is a compilation of the author’s views, three dozen articles on different important issues and his life journey. The book was published by Bihar Assembly Secretariat.

6) Nitin Gadkari approves “Khadi Agarbatti Aatmanirbhar Mission”

•Unique employment generation program “Khadi Agarbatti Aatmanirbhar Mission” has been approved by the Union Minister for MSME, Shri Nitin Gadkari. The programme has been proposed by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) to make India Aatmanirbhar in Agarbatti production.

•Under the scheme, Automatic Agarbatti making machines and powder mixing machines would be offered by KVIC to the artisans via the successful private Agarbatti manufacturers. KVIC will procure only locally made machines by Indian manufacturers which also seeks to encourage local production.

•The “Khadi Agarbatti Aatmanirbhar Mission” seeks to generate employment for unemployed and migrant workers in different parts of the nation while increasing the domestic Agarbatti production substantially. It will be launched in PPP mode and requires very less investment. It will support private Agarbatti manufacturers to increase Agarbatti production without any capital investment by them. KVIC will offer 25% subsidy on the cost of the machines and will recover the remaining 75% of the cost from the artisans in the form of easy monthly installments.

7) India withdraws from women’s world team Squash championship

•India has withdrawn from the women’s world team Squash championship scheduled in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 15th to 20th December, due to lack of preparation, time and match-readiness of its players. Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) has decided to withdraw from the championship.

8) Govt of India gave nod to IPL 2020 in UAE

•The Indian Government has provisionally granted permission for the 13th edition of Indian Premier League’s (IPL’s) 2020 to be rescheduled in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 19 to November 10, 2020, due to COVID-19 outbreak. BCCI has also decided to host a Women’s T20 Challenge to be held from November 1 to 10 in UAE.

Grants for College Students: Complete Guide on How to Get into Any Program

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VisionIAS 15:22

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