NATIONAL – DAIRY OF EVENTS

Pilot Programme to Connect Out-of-School Children with NIOS

• Context: The Union Government is launching a pilot programme to connect out-of-school children aged 14–18 years with the National Institute of Open Schooling through distance learning.
• The initiative moves beyond the earlier voluntary enrolment framework and aims for proactive identification and inclusion.

Objective of the Initiative

• To identify and reconnect children who have dropped out of school.
• To provide flexible distance education opportunities through NIOS.
• To improve educational access for vulnerable adolescents.

Coverage of Pilot Programme

• The pilot will be implemented in 10 districts across nine States: Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi

Key Features

• App-based mapping of out-of-school children aged 14–18

• Monitoring and tracking systems
• Incentive mechanisms for enrolment and participation
• District-level convergence strategies among departments

Important Data

• According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): More than two crore children in the 14–18 age group are currently out of school in India.

AI-Based Helpbot “Abhay” Launched by CBI

• Context: The Central Bureau of Investigation has introduced an AI-driven helpbot named “Abhay” to verify the authenticity of notices issued by the agency. 

Need for the Initiative

• Cyber-related frauds are emerging as a serious challenge to India’s criminal justice system. 
• Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and deepfake tools are making it increasingly difficult for people to distinguish genuine information from fake or manipulated content. 

About “Abhay”

• “Abhay” is an AI-enabled chatbot system created to help citizens confirm whether CBI notices are genuine. 
• It has been developed to counter: Cyber fraud, Digital arrest scams, Fake notices circulated in the name of the CBI.

Key Features

• Provides a secure and user-friendly verification mechanism. 
• Designed with strong safeguards for data privacy and confidentiality. 
• Offers a publicly accessible authentication system to enhance trust and transparency.

Project Saksham

• Context: National Highways Authority of India, in collaboration with Vertis Foundation, is implementing ‘Project Saksham’ to promote inclusive development and empower rural women through skill development. 

Objective

• The initiative aims to: 

• Provide structured vocational training 
• Create sustainable livelihood opportunities 
• Promote financial independence and social empowerment among rural women 

Key Features

• Project Saksham functions through: 

• 12 training centres located across India 

• It focuses on underserved communities residing near National Highways.

Kalam & Kavach 3.0

• Context: The third edition of Kalam & Kavach will be inaugurated on May 14, 2026. 

Purpose of the Conference

• The conference serves as a major strategic platform for discussions on: 

• India’s defence transformation 
• Indigenous defence capabilities 
• Future warfighting preparedness 

• It brings together policymakers, military leaders, diplomats, industry representatives, start-ups, innovators, and academic experts. 

Central Theme

• The event is based on the vision of: Jointness, Aatmanirbharta, Innovation (JAI) 
• It also emphasises: Indigenisation, International Collaboration (I²) 

Objectives

• Promote integrated military capability development. 
• Encourage technological innovation in defence. 
• Strengthen strategic partnerships aligned with: National security goals, Vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat
  Current Facts

  Operation Ragepill

  • Under ‘Operation RAGEPILL’, the NCB dismantled a major international drug trafficking network; notably, it seized ‘Captagon‘ a mind-altering substance widely used in the Middle East region in India for the first time.
  • Captagon is a highly addictive synthetic stimulant belonging to the amphetamine class.
  • Captagon pills contain amphetamine, caffeine, and other chemical substances.
  • ‘Operation Ragepill’ refers to a major drug eradication operation conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India, which successfully exposed an international drug syndicate.