What is the News ?

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed by the Management & Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council (MEPSC) and Magic Bus India Foundation, a prominent non-profit in the education and skilling sector.

Facts About:

MEPSC is a horizontal Sector Skill Council (SSC) that was established using a unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in 2013 and registered as a Section-8 (Not for Profit Company) under the Companies Act.

The Ministry of Skill Development has been providing guidance to the Council during its operations.

The only organization promoting it is the All India Management Association (AIMA), which is the highest authority for the management profession in India.

MEPSC receives support from the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and is acknowledged as an awarding body by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), the skills regulator.

Over the next ten years, MEPSC aims to train and certify about 4.75 lakh trainees, create and develop 50 Qualifications Packs (QPs)/National Occupational Standards (NOS), and train over 550 trainers.

It will take the lead on skill development programs in five major areas, including:

• Assessment and training
• Professional skills (including Security)
• Non-Teaching job roles in the education sector
• Entrepreneurship

The MEPSC Board of Directors is made up of several well-known and experienced business leaders, academics, NSDC, AIMA, and Ministry officials.

Facts About:

• The Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) is India’s first dark sky region, and is centered at Hanle in Eastern Ladakh, around the Indian Astronomical Observatory.
• HDSR preserves the dark skies by reducing light pollution in the surrounding areas, and uses these dark skies to promote astrotourism as a means to further enhance socio-economic development in the area.

What is the Indian Astronomical Observatory?

• The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) is one of the highest observatories in the world.
• It is situated in Hanle, Ladakh, at an elevation of 14.8 kilometers.
• Within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, it will surface.
• Ladakh's vast arid region, high elevation, and sparse population make it an excellent choice for long-term observatories and dark-sky locations.
• The facility is supported by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru and the Department of Science and Technology.

What is the News ?

The Forest Department officials are concerned about the sudden deaths of multiple birds at the Gudavi Bird Sanctuary in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka.

Facts About:

• Gudavi Bird Sanctuary is located in the state of Karnataka.

                  It is situated on the banks of Gudavi Lake.

• It covers an area of about 0.74 square kilometers, making it a small but important sanctuary.
• Travelers from all over the world come here because of its rich biodiversity and surrounding natural beauty.
• During the winter months, the sanctuary attracts a large number of migratory birds, such as the beautiful Demoiselle Cranes.
• Fauna: The Bird Sanctuary is proud to be home to over 217 different bird species, including migratory and resident birds such as White-Headed Crane, Grey Heron, Little Cormorant, and Little Grebe.
• Flora: There are patches of grass mixed in with moist deciduous forest.
• The microphyte biota and marshy plants make up this type of wetland vegetation.

What is the News ?

Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, launched 124 PM-Shri schools in the state.

Facts About:

• PM SHRI School is a scheme sponsored by the Government of India.
• Objective: The initiative aims to establish over 14,500 PM SHRI Schools, managed by various government bodies, to provide a welcoming and caring environment for students.

These schools will offer a wide range of learning experiences, have good infrastructure, and ensure that all students have access to appropriate resources.

• National Education Policy 2020: The goal is to nurture students to become engaged, productive, and contributing citizens, in alignment with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020.
• Beneficiaries: More than 20 lakh students are expected to benefit directly from this scheme.
• Quality of School Education: The scheme will promote an understanding of various dimensions of the quality of school education and will inform policy, practice, and implementation in the education sector.
• Scaling Up: The lessons and best practices from these schools will be scaled up and implemented in other schools across the country.
• Implementation Period: The scheme is planned to be executed over a 5-year period from 2022-23 to 2026-27.
• Exemplar Schools: PM SHRI Schools are expected to showcase the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and become exemplary schools over time.
• This initiative aims to enhance the quality of education in India and create an inclusive and equitable society as envisioned in the National Education Policy.

What is the News ?

Recently, Indian Oil's "Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels" was introduced for the first time in India by the Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas.

Facts About:

• Reference fuels (Gasoline and Diesel) are premium, high-value products used for calibration and testing of vehicles by auto Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and organisations involved in testing and certification in the automotive field.
• These fuels are used for calibration and testing of vehicles by automobile manufacturers and testing agencies like ICAT (International Centre for Automotive Technology) and ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India).
• These indigenously developed products will lead to import substitution at better prices and a shorter lead time for the vehicle manufacturers.
• Reference Gasoline fuels will be available in E0, E5, E10, E20, E85, and E100 from Flagship Paradip Refinery.

                  Reference diesel fuel shall be available in B7 grade from Panipat Refinery.

• The indigenously developed product by Indian Oil meets Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) specifications, substitutes imports, and is available at better prices with reduced lead time.
• Indian Oil Corporation Limited has established facilities for the production of Reference Gasoline Fuels (E-5, E-10, and E-20) at its Paradip Refinery and Reference Diesel Fuel (B-7) at its Panipat refinery.
• The demand for Reference Fuels in India is currently met by imports from other countries.
• Indian Oil has successfully commenced the production of Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels for the first time in India.