Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment Calls on Retired Sportspersons to Apply for RESET programme

• RESET Programme is an important step towards recognising and empowering our retired athletes who have made the nation proud with their achievements: Union Minister

RESET Programme:

• The Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training Programme is aimed at empowering our retired sportspersons who have played for the country and brought immense laurels to the nation.
• It will support retired athletes on their career development journey by empowering them with the necessary knowledge and skills and making them more employable.
• It represents a significant step towards recognizing and utilizing the invaluable experience and expertise of our retired athletes.

Eligibility and Structure

• The programme targets athletes aged between 20 and 50 years who have competed at international or national levels.
• This includes those who have won international medals or participated in events recognized by national sports federations or the Indian Olympic Association.

Educational Qualification Levels:

• Class 12th and above Advanced training modules.
• Class 11th and below Basic training modules.
• The RESET Programme will be conducted in a hybrid format:
• Self-Paced Learning: Available through a dedicated online portal.
• On-Ground Training: Includes hands-on experience through internships and practical training.

Internship Opportunities:

• Participants will have the chance to work with sports organisations, training camps, and leagues.
• This real-world experience is designed to enhance their skills and improve their employment prospects.

Objectives:

• To support these athletes in their career development by equipping them with new knowledge and skills to enhance their employability.
• To connect experienced retired athletes with younger, aspiring sports people. 
• By leveraging the vast experience of former athletes, the programme will help mentor the next generation, contributing to the growth of sports in India and supporting national development.

Implementation and Support

• The Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) will lead the pilot phase of the RESET Programme.
• Additional Support: Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive:
• Placement Assistance: Help in finding suitable job opportunities.
• Guidance for Entrepreneurial Ventures: Support for those interested in starting their businesses.

Govt to Issue New AB PMJAY Cards for All Senior Citizens Aged 70+

• This initiative will cover approximately 4.5 crore families in the country and include about 6 crore senior citizens.
• Anyone aged 70 or above, as per their Aadhaar card, will be eligible to apply for the scheme

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)

About:

• PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance scheme fully financed by the government.
• Launched in 2018, it offers a sum insured of 5 lakh per family for secondary care and tertiary care.
• Health Benefit Packages covers surgery, medical and day care treatments, cost of medicines and diagnostics.

Eligibility

• The scheme is targeted to cover 10.74 crore poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban worker’s families.
• The beneficiaries as identified by latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.

Components 

• Health and wellness Centres (HWC)– It cover primary care hospitalisation by providing comprehensive health care, including for non-communicable diseases and maternal and child health services.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)– To provide a health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

Benefits

• With a huge scope, the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY is considered to be the largest health assurance/insurance scheme in the world.
• The scheme is funded completely by the Government and it provides financial protection to several secondary and tertiary care hospitalisations.
• Nearly 10.74 crore families (40% of the bottom population of the country) are covered under this health care scheme. Out of that, around 8 crore families are from the rural areas and the remaining from the urban areas.
• The beneficiaries of this scheme are entitled to receive cashless access to the health care services across the various public as well as private hospitals in India which are empanelled under the scheme. The benefits can be availed across the country.
• Primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare services are provided to the beneficiaries of the scheme.
• The scheme covers the medical expenses up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days of post-hospitalization. The pre-existing health conditions are also covered under the insurance scheme.
• Around 1,393 procedures are included under the scheme. The beneficiaries can avail these treatments including medicines, physician’s fees, room and ICU charges, etc free of cost.

Challenges 

• Ensuring that all eligible beneficiaries are aware of the scheme and can avail its benefits remains a challenge. Many eligible individuals in remote areas may lack knowledge about the scheme.
• The scheme''s success relies on the availability and capacity of healthcare infrastructure. In certain regions, the shortage of healthcare facilities and skilled healthcare professionals poses a challenge to service delivery.
• Ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare services across a vast network of empanelled hospitals is crucial. Quality control mechanisms are necessary to prevent fraud and ensure that beneficiaries receive effective treatment.

Way Forward

• Strengthening awareness campaigns and utilizing multiple communication channels to reach remote areas. This will help ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are aware of the scheme.
• Continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas, will improve access to quality healthcare services.
• Strengthening quality assurance mechanisms will enhance the overall quality of healthcare services and ensure beneficiary satisfaction. This includes robust monitoring, evaluation, and accreditation processes.
• Collaborating closely with state governments and healthcare providers will foster effective implementation and address local challenges. It will also promote ownership and accountability at the regional level.
• Using digital platforms to streamline processes will optimize the delivery of services and facilitate seamless implementation of the scheme.

DRDO successfully conducts first phase of Developmental Field Firing Trials of Indian Light Tank ‘Zorawar’

• During the field trials conducted in the desert terrain, the Light Tank demonstrated exceptional performance, efficiently meeting all the intended objectives.
• In the initial phase, the tank’s firing performance was rigorously evaluated and it achieved the required accuracy on designated targets. 

Indian Light Tank ‘Zorawar’

• It is an indigenously designed and developed Light Tank.
• It was jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as the lead integrator. 
• It was named after a military general, Zorawar Singh Kahluria, who had served under Jammu’s Raja Gulab Singh in the 19th Century.

Key Features of Zorawar Light Tank

• The most important feature of the Zorawar is its weight. It is designed to be light and air-transportable as it weighs no more than 25 tonnes. It is significantly lighter as compared to traditional main battle tanks.
• Despite its lightweight and compact size, the Zorawar comprises an efficient main gun that has the capability of handling numerous targets. It also has advanced fire control systems for specific targeting.
• The tank is built with a priority on offering protection against a wide range of threats, including anti-tank-guided missiles and advanced explosive devices.
• The Zorawar is equipped with superior mobility, allowing it to handle challenging situations in complex terrain seamlessly. It ensures high operational flexibility due to low ground pressure.
• The tank has modern technology, including advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, communication systems, drone integration and night-fighting capabilities.
• The Zorawar is built to execute various roles and responsibilities, including power, mobility and fire support. This combination is optimised in a manner for weight maintenance.

Operational Capabilities:

• Designed to operate effectively in extreme weather conditionsand at high altitudes (above 15,000 feet) with minimal logistic support.
• Intended for use in challenging terrains where heavier tankslike T-72 and T-90 face limitations.
• Includes thermal sights, night-fighting capabilities, and features to reduce visual, sound, heat, and electromagnetic signatures.

Third edition of INDUS-X Summit concludes in California

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defence Innovation Unit (DIU).
• The MoU aims to enhance cooperation in defence innovation. It focuses on deepening collaboration among industry, research, and investment stakeholders.

  Key Announcements:

• New Challenge: Launch of a new challenge under the INDUS-X initiative.
• INDUS-X Impact Report: Release of the report detailing the impact of the initiative.
• Official Webpage: Launch of the INDUS-X webpage on the iDEX and DIU websites.

Summit Focus Areas:

• Technology Showcase: Presentation of next-generation technologies by start-ups and MSMEs.
• Advisory Forums: Discussions through Senior Advisory Group and Senior Leaders Forum.
• Discussion Topics: Future technology trends, capacity building for start-ups, funding for defence innovations, and strengthening defence supply chains.

U.S.-India Defense Accelerator Ecosystem (INDUS-X)

• It was launched in June 2023 during the state visit of the Prime Minister of India to the US.
• INDUS X will be a defence innovation bridge, which will inter-alia, include Joint Challenges, Joint Innovation Fund, Academia engagement, Industry-startup connect, investment by private entities in defence projects, mentoring by experts and niche technology projects etc.
• It will focus on advancing high-tech cooperation and fostering joint research, development, and production opportunities in the defence sector. 
• The initiative aims to explore possibilities for co-producing jet engines, long-range artillery, and infantry vehicles.
• India’s Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX)and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), US, are leading INDUS-X activities.

Focus Areas:

• Fostering greater horizontal cooperation between governments, academia, and laboratories, as well as vertical partnershipsbetween established defense primes and startups or Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
• Supporting India’s goal of achieving $5 billionin defense exports by 2025.
• Contributing to a more stable and secure Indo-Pacific region.

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX):

• Launched in 2018, iDEX is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Defence.It is funded and managed by the Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), established as a ''not-for-profit'' company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.
• iDEX, aims to foster innovation and technology development in the Defence and Aerospace sector.
• It provides grants, funding, and other support to carry out research and development projects with potential for future adoption in Indian defence and aerospace needs.
• It is currently engaged with around 400+ Startups and MSMEs. Recognized as a game-changer in the defence ecosystem, iDEX has received the PM Award for Innovation in the defence sector.

Government has decided to rename the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Port Blair as "Sri Vijaya Puram”

• The Minister said, it is also the place that hosted the first unfurling of the Tiranga by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. 

Name Change and Current Developments

• New Name: Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is now officially named ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’ as announced by Union Minister Amit Shah on September 13, 2024.
• Reason for Change: The renaming is intended to reflect a departure from colonial legacy and to honor the victory achieved in the Indian freedom struggle. It aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi''s vision of erasing colonial imprints.

Historical Background of Port Blair

• Origin of Name: Port Blair was named after Archibald Blair, a British naval surveyor and lieutenant in the Bombay Marine, who conducted a thorough survey of the Andaman Islands in the late 18th century.
• Initial Naming: Blair initially named the natural harbor Port Cornwallis, after Commodore William Cornwallis. It was later renamed Port Blair in his honor.
• Early Colonization: The East India Company (EIC) used the islands as a strategic outpost to monitor Malay pirates and as a refuge for shipwrecked people.
• Penal Colony: By 1857, following the Revolt of 1857, the area was re-established as a penal colony where many freedom fighters were imprisoned, including Veer Damodar Savarkar. The infamous Cellular Jail, also known as Kaala Paani, was built during this period.

Historical Connections with Imperial Cholas and Srivijaya

• Chola Empire: Historical records suggest that the Andaman Islands were used as a naval base by Chola emperor Rajendra I in the 11th century.
• Strategic Role: The Cholas used the islands to launch an attack on Srivijaya, a powerful maritime empire located in present-day Indonesia.
• Historical Records: An inscription from Thanjavur dated to 1050 CE refers to the islands as Ma-Nakkavaram land, which may have influenced the name Nicobar.
• Chola Expeditions: Scholars debate the motives behind the Chola invasion of Srivijaya. Reasons include potential obstacles to Chola trade or a desire to expand the empire’s influence.

Key Facts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

• TheTen Degree Channel is a narrow strait that separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands. It is located approximately at the 10-degree latitude mark.
• Indira Point is the southernmost tip of the Nicobar Islands. It is situated on Great Nicobar Island and marks the southernmost point of India.
• The ANI is home to 5 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups: Great Andamanese, Jarwas, Onges, Shompens and North Sentinelese.