1. National Education Policy (NEP)
- Context: The National Education Policy (NEP-2020) exemplifies the Indian Constitution’s commitment to equity and inclusivity: Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Key Highlights:
- It provides students from disadvantaged groups better access to high-quality education
- It aligns with Article 41.
Article 41:
- To secure the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disability.
National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020:
- National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: It will be set up on priority for:
- Attaining universal foundational literacy and numeracy in all primary schools
- Identifying state-wise targets and goals to be achieved by 2025
- Closely tracking and monitoring progress of the same
Prelims special:
Q. Which of the following provisions of the Constitution does India have a bearing on Education? (UPSC 2012)
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Rural and Urban Local Bodies
- Fifth Schedule
- Sixth Schedule
- Seventh Schedule
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- 1 and 2 only
- 3, 4 and 5 only
- 1, 2 and 5 only
- 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Ans- (d)
2. Elephant
- Context: Kumki Narasimhan elephant guards devotee at the temple.
- He was bought from Anamalai Tiger Reserve.
Elephant:
Anamalai Tiger Reserve:
Prelims Special:
Q. With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: (2020)
- The leader of an elephant group is a female.
- The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
- An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
- Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 4 only
- 3 only
- 1, 3 and 4 only
Ans: (a)
3. India-Angola relations
- Context: Angolan President invited Indian businesses to explore opportunities that place the African nation at the centre of their export strategies.
Areas of cooperation:
- Agriculture
- Pharmaceuticals
- Renewable energy.
Existing bilateral agreements in sectors:
- Health
- energy
- financial services
- diplomatic mobility
Angola
- Angola is located on the southwestern coast of Africa, with a strategic Atlantic Ocean coastline to the west.
- Capital: Luanda, a key maritime and oil-exporting hub.
- Neighbouring countries:
- Northwest: Republic of the Congo
- North & Northeast: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Southeast: Zambia
- South: Namibia
- Major rivers: Cuango River and Cuanza River, vital for hydropower and inland water transport.
- Highest peak: Mount Moco, the tallest mountain in Angola, located in the Huambo province.
Prelims special:
Q. Consider the following countries: (UPSC 2018)
- Australia
- Canada
- China
- India
- Japan
- deer
Which of the above are among the ‘free-trade partners’ of ASEAN?
- 1, 2, 4 and 5
- 3, 4, 5 and 6
- 1, 3, 4 and 5
- 2, 3, 4 and 6
Ans: (c)
4. United Nations Security Council(UNSC)
- Context: Pakistan has decided to brief the U.N. Security Council on the latest regional developments in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.
United Nations Security Council(UNSC):
- The Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945.
- It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
- Its primary responsibility is to work to maintain international peace and security.
- The council is headquartered at NewYork.
- The council has 15 members:
- Five(5) permanent members
- Ten(10) non-permanent members elected for two-year terms
- Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members (out of ten in total) for a two-year term.
- The ten non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis.
- The council’s presidency is a capacity that rotates every month among its 15 members.
- Permanent members: United States, the Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom
Prelims special:
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the World Toilet Organization:(UPSC 2024)
- It is one of the agencies of the United Nations.
- World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are the initiatives of this organization, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.
- The main focus of its function is to grant funds to the least developed countries and developing countries to achieve the end of open defecation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 2 only
- 3 only
- 1 and 2
- 2 and 3
Ans: (a)