NATIONAL – DAIRY OF EVENTS

11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog 

• Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog. 
• Theme –“Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047”

• Inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Team India’. 
• Aims to ensure the well-being and development of every Indian irrespective of: Age, Region, Gender, Socio-economic background.

Participants

The meeting will bring together:

• Chairperson: The Prime Minister of India

• Chief Ministers of States and Union Territories 

• Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of UTs 

• Union Ministers (Ex-officio Members and Special Invitees) 

• Vice Chairman, Members and CEO of NITI Aayog 

Four Pillars of the Inclusive Human Development Framework

1. Foundational Human Capital and Future-Ready Skills

• Strengthening education and skill development. 
• Preparing citizens for emerging opportunities. 

 

2. Productive Employment, Entrepreneurship and Decentralised Growth

• Promoting entrepreneurship. 
• Enhancing skilling initiatives. 
• Creating sustainable employment opportunities across the country. 

3. Health, Nutrition and Wellbeing

• Improving healthcare access and nutritional outcomes. 
• Enhancing overall quality of life. 

4. Equity and Dignity for All

• Ensuring inclusive and equitable growth. 
• Promoting social justice and dignity for every citizen. 

Alignment of State and National Visions

• Emphasis on aligning State Visions with the National Vision on Inclusive Human Development. 
• Reinforces a collaborative approach towards equitable and sustainable growth. 

About NITI Aayog 

• NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established on 1 January 2015 to replace the Planning Commission. 
• It serves as the Government of India’s premier policy think tank, promoting cooperative federalism and involving states in the policy-making process. 

Major Functions of NITI Aayog

• • Policy Formulation
  • Cooperative Federalism
  • Monitoring and Evaluation

• Think Tank Role

Objectives of NITI Aayog

• • Shared National Vision
  • Strengthening Cooperative Federalism
  • Focus on Vulnerable Sections

• Bottom-Up Planning

• Long-Term Strategy
• Innovation and Technology
• Knowledge and Resource Centre

 

RISA – Timeless Tribal

• Context: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, through the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), launched RISA – Timeless Tribal, a premium brand for tribal textiles, embroideries and handicrafts. 
• The initiative supports the vision of Viksit Bharat by promoting inclusive growth and preserving tribal heritage. 

Objectives of RISA

• Create a distinct identity for tribal products. 
• Strengthen market linkages for tribal artisans. 
• Promote design development and product diversification. 
• Enhance the presence of tribal products in premium domestic and international markets. 
• Generate sustainable livelihood opportunities for tribal communities. 

Role of RISA

• Develop a complete ecosystem for tribal crafts through: Design development, Skill upgradation, Product innovation, Improved packaging, Market promotion. 
• Preserve traditional crafts and indigenous knowledge. 

Implementing Agency

• The initiative is being implemented through the National Design Centre (NDC), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Textiles. 

Expected Benefits

• Economic empowerment of tribal communities. 
• Greater opportunities for women artisans. 
• Preservation of cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge. 
• Promotion of sustainable production practices. 
• Enhanced national and international visibility of tribal products.

 

12 Years of MSDE

• Context: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has completed 12 years of promoting Skills, Scale and Transformation. 
• The initiative contributes to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. 
• It has developed one of the world’s largest and most diverse skilling ecosystems. 

Integrated Skilling Ecosystem

• MSDE has created a comprehensive framework encompassing: Vocational education, Industry-led training, Apprenticeships, Entrepreneurship development, Digital public infrastructure, International workforce mobility. 

Other Institutions

• National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). 
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs). 
• Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs). 

Indian Institutes of Skills (IIS)

• Three Centres of Excellence have been established at:Gandhinagar, Mumbai, Kanpur 
• These institutes provide industry-oriented and future-ready training.

India’s Performance in WorldSkills Competitions

• India’s global ranking improved: 
  • 29th position in 2015 
  • 13th position in 2024 
• IndiaSkills and WorldSkills have become a movement promoting skill excellence among youth. 

MSDE’s Transformation of India’s Skilling Ecosystem

PMKVY 4.0

• Shifted towards demand-based skilling with focus on future and green jobs. 
• Integrated with major flagship schemes for a whole-of-government approach. 

ITI Reforms

• Expanded ITI enrolment and modernised training infrastructure. 
• PM-SETU and STRIVE linked training with industry and regional needs. 

Apprenticeships

• Over 49 lakh apprentices engaged since 2016. 
• Women’s participation increased significantly. 

Traditional Skills

• PM Vishwakarma formalised and upgraded traditional occupations. 
• More than 23 lakh artisans received training and support. 

Digital Platforms

• SIDH enabled integrated skilling and DBT-based governance. 
• Bharatskills Portal strengthened digital learning resources. 

Entrepreneurship

• Over 12.75 lakh individuals trained in entrepreneurship. 
• Credit reforms and Swavalambini promoted enterprise creation. 

Jan Shikshan Sansthans

• Expanded skilling among women, tribal and vulnerable groups. 
• Ensured wider access to certification and employment opportunities. 

Global Mobility

• Skill India International Centres supported overseas employment. 
• G2G agreements promoted skill-based international migration.

 

Sangeet Natak Akademi

• Context: The Ministry of Culture has announced the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships (Akademi Ratna), Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar), and the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the years 2024 and 2025.

About Sangeet Natak Akademi

• It is India’s national academy for music, dance, and drama.

• It was established in 1953 by the Ministry of Education; P.V. Rajamannar was its first Chairman.

• The Akademi was created to preserve and promote India’s rich cultural heritage in the performing arts.

• Today, it functions as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture and is fully funded by the government.
• Its Chairman is appointed by the President of India for a term of five years.

Objectives

• Coordinating the activities of state and regional academies
• Promoting research and establishing libraries and museums
• Collaborating with similar organizations to enrich Indian culture
• Encouraging the exchange of ideas and artistic techniques
• Supporting the development of theatre in regional languages

Awards

• The Academy confers the prestigious ‘Sangeet Natak Akademi Award’ upon artists.
• Additionally, it grants ‘Fellowships’ to eminent personalities and presents the ‘Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’ to young talents.