UPSC PIB Summary Analysis Nov21

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Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) Program

Context:

• Union HRD Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar through video conferencing launched the ‘Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC)’ program under Innovation cell of MHRD in New Delhi.
• Ministry of Human Resource Development has established an “Innovation cell” at AICTE with a purpose to systematically foster the culture of Innovation in all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country.

Details

• It is a significant step in institutionalizing innovation and developing a scientific temperament in the country.
• The purpose of formation of network of Institution’s Innovation Councils (IICs) is to encourage, inspire and nurture young students by exposing them to new ideas and processes resulting in innovative activities in their formative years.
• More than 1000 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have already formed IICs in their campuses and enrolled for the IIC network managed by MHRD’s Innovation cell to promote innovation through multitudinous modes leading to an innovation promotion eco-system in their campuses.

What was the need of the Program?

• Universities are the main research centers of developed countries and because of their research they are at the top in global innovation ranking
• So setting up of research centers through ‘Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) program, India is expecting to improve its ranking on the Global scale.
• So in order to give boost to it the educational advancement in higher education can only be achieved by encouraging best practices in innovation and advance research and Innovation Cell has undertaken many initiatives in this direction such as implementing programs like Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievement (ARIIA), Smart India Hackathon (SIH)- 2019, etc.

NASI- Scopus Young Scientist Awards 2018

Context:

• Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu presented the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) and Elsevier awards 2018 aimed at promoting scientific excellence among youngsters, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

 About:

• The Scopus Young Scientist Awards, first launched by Elsevier in 2006, is part of an Elsevier’s global initiative to support early career researchers in their quest to advance the frontiers of science across a broad range of disciplines. In 2009, India officially adopted the program within its scientific community through Elsevier’s collaboration with The National Academy of Sciences, India
• The program honours outstanding young researchers in India who are building their careers in academic research, helping them gain recognition for their work. As of 2017, 101 winners across nine scientific disciplines have been announced.
• This year NASI Scopus Awards has introduced 5 multi-disciplinary categories that are aligned with national missions of Make in India, Digital India, Healthy India and Clean India.
• These awards are given in five categories – Women in Science, agriculture, Plant Sciences and Rural Development, Environmentally Sound Sustainable Development, Biomedical Research and Healthcare and Innovation in Engineering and Physical Sciences.

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