Digital literacy programme for women: Fb in partnership with NCW

Social issues, Women empowerment Important fact: Facebook has entered into a partnership with National Commission for Women (NCW) to launch a digital literacy programme aimed at training 60,000 women in universities across India on safe use of the Internet, social media and email in a year. Launched in collaboration with Cyber Peace Foundation, the pilot...

Special Category Status for Bihar

Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.     In news: CM Nitish Kumar has appealed for Special Category Status for Bihar. He has highlighted various issues impeding Bihar’s development and implored the central government for granting the Special Category Status (SCS)...

‘Andhra Pradesh’ gets new state bird, state flower and State symbol of ‘Telangana’

  Four years after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the government of the residual state has announced its state symbols. State bird: Rama Chiluka (psittacula krameri) or rose ringed parakeet. State animal: Blackbuck (antilope cervicapra) or Krishna Jinka. State tree: Neem (azadirachta indica) or Vepa Chettu. State flower:   State symbols of Telangana: State bird:...

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

  In news: The Government of India and the World Bank has signed a $500 million loan agreement to provide additional financing for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Rural Roads Project, implemented by Ministry of Rural Development.   About PMGSY: PMGSY was launched on 25th December 2000 as a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme...

Mission Raftaar’: Indian Railways

    In news: The Indian Railways conducted a one-day workshop ‘Mission Raftaar’ in which officials discussed ways to increase the average speed of freight and passenger trains. Issues such as “punctuality, rolling stock, removing bottlenecks in terms of traffic, elimination of unmanned level crossings were discussed” at the workshop.   About Mission Raftaar: ‘Mission...

INDOPACOM: US military command in pacific has renamed

  In news: The US military has renamed its Pacific Command to US-Indo Pacific Command, underlining the growing connectivity between India and Pacific Oceans. The symbolic move came in recognition of the growing importance of the Indian Ocean in US strategic thinking.   What necessitated this move? The renaming reflects the existing geographic coverage of the...