- One Nation, One Student ID –
- Recently, several state governments requested schools to seek parental consent for the creation of a new student identity card known as the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR).
- This is part of the ‘One nation, One Student ID’ initiative of the Union government, stemming from the new National Education Policy of 2020.
- Under the initiative, each student would get a lifelong APAAR ID, making it easy for the learners, schools, and governments to track academic progress from pre-primary education to higher education.
- APAAR would also serve as a gateway to Digilocker, a digital system where students can store their important documents and achievements, such as exam results and report cards.
- The goal behind introducing APAAR is to make education hassle-free and reduce the need for students to carry physical documents.
- The vision is to create a positive change, allowing state governments to track literacy rates, dropout rates, and more, helping them make improvements.
- APAAR also aims to reduce fraud and duplicate educational certificates by providing a single, trusted reference for educational institutions.
- 7 Indian States & 2 UTs Celebrated Their Formation Day on November 1st –
- 1st November is recognized as the formation day of seven Indian states and 2 Union Territories. This special day marks the historical moment when Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, along with the Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry, came into existence.
- In 1966, Punjab was officially formed as a state on November 1. The division of the former East Former was based on linguistic identity, creating two separate states: Punjab and Haryana.
- People in Punjab celebrate this day to honor their rich agricultural heritage and vibrant culture, taking pride in the establishment of the present boundaries of the state.
- Haryana, too observes Formation Day on 1st November 1966. It was created by reorganizing the former state of Punjab, primarily to address the specific regional, linguistic and cultural needs of the people in the region. Since its formation, Haryana has thrived in agriculture, industry and cultural diversity.
- On 1st November 1956, the state of Mysore was renamed as Karnataka. This change aimed to unite Kannada-speaking regions under one state, acknowledging the cultural significance of the Kannada language. Karnataka Formation Day celebrates this linguistic and cultural diversity, reflecting the state’s dynastic rule, culture and heritage.
- On 1st November 2000, the state of Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh. It is the 10th largest state in India. The creation of Chhattisgarh aimed to simplify administration and curb naxalism in this region, making it an important milestone for the state and the nation.
- Madhya Pradesh came into existence on 1st November 1956, making it the second largest state in India in terms of area. It is often referred to as the “Heart of India” due to its central location and its cultural and historical significance.
- On 1st November 1956, Andhra Pradesh was formed. Its creation was a result of the States Reorganization Act, which aimed to reorganize India’s states along linguistic lines. Andhra Pradesh has a rich cultural heritage and has played a vital role in the nation’s development.
- Kerala Formation Day, celebrated on 1st November, marks the establishment of the state of Kerala in India in 1956. It commemorates the unification of Malayalam-speaking regions and the birth of the vibrant and culturally rich state.
- Lakshadweep: The Union Territory of Lakshadweep was formed on 1st November 1956, marking its distinct geographical and cultural significance as an archipelago.
- Puducherry: Puducherry, also known as Pondicherry, was created by merging the French colonial territories with Indian regions in 1956, highlighting its unique colonial history and culture.
- More than 97% of ₹2,000 notes returned: RBI –
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has provided an update on the withdrawal of ₹2,000 denomination banknotes as of October 31, 2023. The central bank’s initial goal for introducing these banknotes was to meet the currency needs of the economy after the withdrawal of ₹500 and ₹1,000 banknotes in November-December 2016.
- More than 97% of the ₹2,000 banknotes in circulation as of May 19, 2023, have been returned by October 31, 2023.
- The total value of ₹2,000 banknotes in circulation was ₹56 lakh crore as of May 19, 2023.
- This value has significantly reduced to ₹10,000 crore as of October 31, 2023.
- The facility for deposit and exchange of ₹2,000 banknotes at bank branches ended on October 7, 2023.
- The window for deposit and exchange of ₹2,000 banknotes is still open at the 19 Issue Offices of RBI.The RBI encourages the public to use the India Post service to send these banknotes for deposit or exchange, eliminating the need to travel to RBI Offices.
- The introduction of ₹2,000 banknotes was originally intended to meet the currency requirements after the withdrawal of ₹500 and ₹1,000 banknotes in 2016.
- Approximately 89% of the ₹2,000 banknotes were issued before March 2017 and are nearing the end of their estimated life span of 4-5 years.