HARYANA

Haryana jumps five places to rank 3rd in education quality rankings
Haryana secured third spot in the School Education Quality Index-2019 rankings complied by Niti Aayog, jumping five places up in the list of 20 large states. The state’s score has gone up to 69.5% in 2016-17 in comparison to 51% recorded in the base year of 2015-16.
The neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh has dropped from fourth to the fifth spot, despite overall score going up from 58.1% in the base year to 62.8% in reference year 2016-17. Despite scoring 9% more than base year, Punjab with 59.1% showed no improvement as it finished ninth.

Each state has been evaluated based on two broad categories — outcomes that consisted of learning, access, infrastructure and facilities, and equity outcomes; and governance processes aiding outcomes.

Haryana improved the outcomes score by 10.6% while Himachal Pradesh showed improvement of just 1.6%. Punjab, on the other hand, showed a decline of 1.9%.
Haryana put up a better show largely due to its performance in important indicators such as infrastructure, transition rate from primary to upper-primary level, transition rate from upper-primary to secondary level and percentage of identified out-of-school children. Haryana improved its score by 14% in infrastructure and facilities, highest among 20 states, while Himachal Pradesh showed improvement by 7.1% and Punjab by just 1.7%.

Haryana also did well in the transition rate from primary to upper-primary level by registering a rise from 92.4% in the base year to 99.5% in 2016-17. Punjab and Himachal recorded minor increase from 95.3% to 95.7% and 98.1% to 98.6%, respectively.

Haryana also outperformed the two neighbouring states in the percentage of identified out-of-school children mainstreamed parameter. From 75.1% in the base year, Haryana went up to 83.5% while Punjab went done from 100% to 81.2%. Himachal also recorded decline from 59.5% to 56.4%.

For the reference year 2016-17, 100% schools in Himachal had toilets for girls while 99.8% schools in Punjab had the facility. In Haryana 99.5% schools equipped with the facility.

INTERNATIONAL

ADB sharply cuts India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.5% for FY20
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on sharply cut India’s growth forecast to 6.5 per cent for the current fiscal, weighed down by the GDP growth rate dipping to a six-year low in the first quarter.

In its supplement to the ADO in July, the Manila-headquartered multi-lateral funding agency cut the country’s GDP growth estimate to 7 per cent for 2019-20 on the back of fiscal shortfall concerns.

Abrupt declines in manufacturing and investment reflect uncertainty ahead of general elections, subdued lending by banks and other financial institutions, the stress in the rural economy, and a weakening external outlook.

Japan launches ‘World’s Biggest Transport SpaceShip’ for Space Station

Japan launched an unmanned spacecraft towards the International Space Station after a fire early this month delayed the mission.

The H-2B rocket lifted off at 1:05 am local time (1605 GMT) with cargo vessel Kounotori8.

The launch took place from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan.

Kounotori8, meaning “white stork” in Japanese, intends to deliver about 5.3 tonnes of supplies to astronauts at the ISS, including fresh food and water as well as batteries and devices needed for experiments.

NATIONAL

Centre institutes national unity award named after Sardar Patel
The Centre has instituted the highest civilian award for contribution to the unity and integrity of India, in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The award seeks to recognize notable and inspiring contributions to promote the cause of national unity and integrity and to reinforce the value of a strong and united India.

The award will be announced on the occasion of the National Unity Day on the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel on 31st of October.

The award will be conferred by the President by a Sanad under his hand and seal and presented by him in a presentation ceremony along with the Padma award presentation ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The award would consist of a medal and a citation.

No monetary grant or cash award would be attached to this Award.

Prime Minister Modi receives ‘Global Goalkeeper’ award for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the “Global Goalkeeper” award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by his government.

Mr Modi dedicated the award to those Indians who transformed the Swachh Bharat campaign into a ‘people’s movement’ and accorded topmost priority to cleanliness in their day-to-day lives.

The campaign has not only improved the lives of crores of Indians, but it has also played a significant role in achieving the goals set by the UN.

The cleanliness campaign was launched by the Modi government during its first term on October 2, 2014.

J&K becomes the first state to issue the highest number of golden cards under Ayushman Bharat scheme

Jammu and Kashmir have become the first state in the country to issue the highest number of golden cards under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
Over 11 lakh golden cards have been generated within the first 90 days of the launch of the scheme with 60% of families having at least one golden card which is highest in the country.

The CEO informed that claims amounting to around 14 crore rupees have been settled till date and state is registering phenomenal progress under the scheme.

Adam Harper won bags SASTRA-Ramanujan Prize

The 2019 Sastra-Ramanujan Prize will be awarded to number theorist Adam Harper of the University of Warwick, England.

This annual prize is given to honour outstanding contributions by individuals not exceeding age of 32 in areas of mathematics, influenced by Indian mathematician Ramanujan.

The prize, which includes a cash award of USD 10,000 and a citation, will be awarded at the international conference on number theory scheduled for December 22 (Ramanujan’s birthday).

· IAAF honoured the Indian legend PT Usha

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) honoured the former Indian athlete and OlympianPT Ushawith the prestigious IAAF Veteran Pin Award. Usha received the award from the IAAF president Sebastian Coe at the 52nd IAAF conference in Doha. IAAF Veteran Pin Award recognizes the efforts of the players who have made matchless contributions to athletics.

She is nicknamed as Payyoli Expres. In 1985, She won five gold medals at the Asian Games in Jakarta. She was awarded the prestigiousArjuna Awardin 1983. In 1985, she received the Padma Shri Award.

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