Wassenaar Arrangement – on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual Use Goods and Technologies
Australia Group (AG) for control of chemical and biological technology that could be weaponized
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) for the control of rockets and other aerial vehicles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), for the control of nuclear related technology

Discuss – India’s membership to these regimes

Discuss – Brahmos missile and MTCR relationship

founded in response to the Indian Nuclear Test in May 1974 <what was the name of that operation? What was the name of 1998 test operation?>
48 member body prevents civilian nuclear trade being used for military purposes
Though signing of NPT is not a strict requirement for joining NSG, it has opened it’s doors to only those who have signed NPT or CTBT <notably France joined without being a signatory to NPT>

Discuss- Difference b/w NPT and CTBT

Discuss- India’s stand on NPT and CTBT

KIRAN – Department of science and technology (DST) has restructured all the women specific programmes under one umbrella known as KIRAN (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing)
KIRAN is addressing issues related with women scientists (e.g. unemployment, relocation etc.) and provide opportunities in research, technology development/demonstration, and self-employment
CURIE – Under this name CURIE (Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities) KIRAN plans to develop state-of-the-art infrastructure in women universities in order to attract, train and retain promising girls students in S&T domain
Mobility Scheme – landmark programme under KIRAN will address relocation issue of women scientists working in regular position in Government Organizations

Discuss – Similar initiatives for girl education like Digital Gender Atlas

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) launched the UDAAN scheme
aimed at promoting girl education and addressing the lowering of girl enrollment rates in engineering colleges in the nation.
It will assist the girls to prepare for IIT-JEE examinations to crack through to the best technological institutes in the country from 11^th and 12^th standard
Udaan, the Special Industry Initiative (SII) for J&K is funded by Ministry of Home Affairs and implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
special initiative to address the needs of the educated unemployed in J&K.
Udaan program is focused on youth of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) who are graduate, post graduate and three year diploma engineer

Discuss – STAR scheme, scheme for youth in Maoist areas

Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT)
Launched by Ministry of Health and family welfare
aims to provide drugs for cardiovascular and cancer diseases at highly affordable prices
1st AMRIT outlet opened at AIIMS, New Delhi
AMRUT – Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation

Discuss -Compare and Contrast Smart City Mission and AMRUT

Discuss – Jan Aushadhi Store scheme and this year’s budget

IAS Prelims tit-bits- Current Affairs part 1

By Dr V