CIVILS WEEKLY

  PA GRI SAMBHAAL MOVEMENT As part of the ongoing farmers’ protest, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) is celebrating February 23 as ‘Pagri Sambhal Diwas’, where it has asked supporters across the globe to wear a green pagri/dupatta and post their pictures on social media, with the hashtag ‘Go green for farmers’. About: The farmers are also honouring the memory of Ajit Singh, uncle of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and founder of the Pagri Sambhaal movement of 1907. Pagrhi Sambhaal Jatta was a successful farm agitation that forced the British government to repeal three laws related to agriculture back in 1907. Bhagat Singh’s uncle Ajit Singh was the force behind this agitation, and he wanted to channel people’s anger over the farm laws to topple the colonial government. The three farm-related acts at the centre of the storm in 1907 were the Punjab Land Alienation Act 1900, the Punjab Land Colonisation Act 1906 and the Doab Bari Act. These acts would reduce farmers from owners to contrac...

  IIT COUNCIL The IIT Council has set up committees to look at greater autonomy for the elite institutions, in line with the National Education Policy recommendations, as well as reform of the academic Senate, grooming faculty to head the IITs, and innovative funding mechanisms. About: The Council also recommended cutting IIT staff strength to lower levels. The IIT Council is headed by the Education Minister and includes the directors of all IITs, and the chairs of each IIT’s Board of Governors. It is meant to advise on admission standards, duration of courses, degrees and other academic distinctions, and also lays down policy regarding cadre, methods of recruitment and conditions of service of employees. GREATER TIPRALAND Tripura royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya has recently announced his new political demand of ‘Greater Tipraland’. About: He claims that this would serve the interest of tribals, non-tribals, Tripuri tribals staying outside Tripura, even those outside India in B...

  CARBON WATCH Chandigarh became the first state or Union Territory in India to launch Carbon Watch, a mobile application to assess the carbon footprint of an individual. About: Although the app can be accessed by everyone, it has specific options for the residents of Chandigarh to compile a detail study. The application can be downloaded through a QR code in Android supported smart cell phones. As a person downloads the application, they will need to fill details in four parts- Water, Energy, Waste Generation and Transport (Vehicular movement). With the mentioned information, the mobile application will automatically calculate the carbon footprint of the individual. The application will also provide information such as the national and world average of the emission, and the individual’s level of emission generation. The mobile application will suggest methods to reduce the carbon footprints. The application will suggest ways as per the information furnished by the individuals....

  GOVERNING COUNCIL The sixth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog was held today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing. About: It was attended by 26 Chief Ministers, 3 Lieutenant Governors and 2 Administrators, apart from Union Ministers, who are Ex-Officio Members, and Special Invitees. NITI Aayog Vice Chairman, Members and CEO, Principal Secretary to the PM & other senior officers from PMO; Cabinet Secretary; and Chief Secretaries of States/ Union Territories also attended the meeting. AYESHA AZIZ Ayesha Aziz is emerging as a role model for Kashmir women. About: Ayesha Aziz became the nation’s youngest pilot when she acquired her student flying licence at the age of 16. At 25 now, she flies GoAir planes. Aziz was given the First Ladies’ Award by the President of India in 2018. CENTRE FOR DNA FINGERPRINTING AND DIAGNOSTICS (CDFD) Vice President of India paid a visit to Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) in Hy...