UPSC Current Affairs – February 21, 2022
On August 17, 2020, the United Kingdom launched 3 million pounds of Innovation Challenge Fund in India. The funds were launched to support Indian scientists in industries and academia to tackle COVID-19 and climate change.
What Should I know for My UPSC Exams?
Highlights
The funds invite innovators to connect to the Artificial Intelligence Clusters in Karnataka and future mobility cluster in Maharashtra. The initiative will help to build on UK-India Tech partnership.
The UK-India Tech Partnership was launched in 2018 by the Indian and British Prime Ministers.
What is the initiative?
The interested technocrats are required to submit two-page concept. The British High Commission is to select the best of these projects and provide required funds.
Background
The aim of fund is to catalyse UK Industrial strategy, which is to address global challenges. The grants are to be used to develop Tech Clusters that will break down the barriers to growth.
Significance
India is trying to bring in as much funds into the country to indigenise the research processes. The Innovation Challenge Fund is one such step. The fund will be used to put knowledge resource of Indian scientists into action. It is to be noted that several talented Indians are doing their research projects in foreign soil due to lack of funding.
Similarly, Project Nirmanshree was launched by European Union to help in Women Empowerment.
Project Nirmanshree
On August 13, 2020, The European Union launched Project Nirmanshree for women empowerment. The project aims to skill women in housing sector. It is to be implemented in four districts of Odisha and Maharashtra.
Highlights
Under the project, the women are to be trained in different works in housing sector. The total cost of the project is 9,49,694 Euros. 90% of the funds are provided by EU and remaining 10% are to be issued by Habitat for Humanity India.
The project is first of its kind in India. Around 3,000 women are to be trained under entrepreneurial skills focusing on masonry, electrical fitting, plumbing.