- Padma Vibhushan for Padma Subrahmanyam, Venkaiah Naidu, Vyjayanthimala Bali, Konidela Chiranjeevi and Bindeshwar Pathak.
• The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day
• The Awards are given in three categories
- Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service)
- Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order)
- Padma Shri (distinguished service)
• The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved
• The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee
- It is constituted by the Prime Minister every year
- The nomination process is open to the public
- Even self-nomination can be made
• The award is normally not conferred posthumously
- However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously
2. President nod to gallantry awards for 80 military personnel ahead of Republic Day
Post-independence, first three gallantry awards were instituted by the Government of India on 26th January, 1950
- They were deemed to have effect from the 15th August, 1947
Ashoka Chakra Class-I – renamed as Ashoka Chakra
Ashoka Chakra Class-II – renamed as Kirti Chakra
Ashoka Chakra Class-III – renamed as Shaurya Chakra
• Thereafter, other three gallantry awards were instituted by the Government of India on 4th January, 1952
- They were deemed to have effect from the 15th August, 1947
- These awards were renamed respectively in January, 1967
• These gallantry awards are announced twice in a year
- First on the occasion of the Republic Day
- Second on the occasion of the Independence Day
• Order of precedence of these awards is –
- Param Vir Chakra
- Ashoka Chakra
- Mahavir Chakra
- Kirti Chakra
- Vir Chakra
- Shaurya Chakra
3. Higher Education enrolment rose by 19lakh in 2021-2022
All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) Report: The data comes from the AISHE report, which has been conducted annually since 2011 by the Ministry of Education
- Increase in Enrolment: Total enrolment in higher education increased to nearly 4.33 crore in 2021-22, up from 4.14 crore in the previous academic year
- Female Enrolment: Female enrolments, especially in the science stream, outnumbered male enrolments, reflecting a significant change in the gender dynamics of higher education
• Enrolment by Social Groups
- The report showed a 45% increase in OBC student enrolment
- A notable increase in enrolment from Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC) students
• Ph.D. Enrolment: There was a significant increase in Ph.D. enrolment from 0.48 lakh in 2014-15 to 0.99 lakh in 2021-22
• Field of Study: Enrolment in science streams at the undergraduate level is the highest, followed by arts, commerce, engineering, and technology
• Postgraduate Studies: At the postgraduate level, the majority of students are enrolled in social sciences, followed by science and commerce
• Regional Data: The female enrolment in northeastern states is higher than male enrolment
• Growth Over Time: The report highlights an overall increase in student numbers across various categories over several years, indicating a growth trend in higher education participation in India
4. Lack of Snowfall in Northern Region
The lack of snowfall in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh this winter is due to three main factors:
- A drastic fall in Western Disturbances (WDs) over northwest India
- Prevailing El-Nino conditions
- The absence of a strong jet stream
• Western Disturbances are storms that originate in the mid-latitude regions and bring rain and snow to northern India
- They typically occur in December and January, but there were none this winter
• El-Nino is a climate phenomenon that occurs when the ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean are warmer than normal
- El-Nino conditions can weaken the jet stream and reduce precipitation in northern India
• The jet stream is a band of strong winds that blow high in the atmosphere
- It can steer WDs and other weather systems
- The jet stream was weak this winter, which also contributed to the lack of snowfall
• The lack of snowfall has had a number of negative consequences, including water shortages, reduced tourism, and damage to crops
ONE LINER
Nationwide campaign launched by the Government of India to celebrate India’s 75th Republic Year with motive to focus on Legally Empowering Marginalized Communities and Ensuring their Access to Justice.
