Wednesday, 28 August 2024

National Sports Day 2024: Theme, date, and significance in India

 Synopsis

National Sports Day is celebrated annually on August 29th in India, marking the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand. This day emphasizes the importance of sports and physical activities and serves to honor Major Dhyan Chand's legacy in Indian hockey. Various events and initiatives are launched to promote sports and fitness across the nation.

National Sports Day in India is celebrated annually on August 29th to honor Major Dhyan Chand, a legendary hockey player. This day marks his birth anniversary and underscores the importance of sports and physical activities. Established in 2012 by the Indian government, National Sports Day seeks to promote national unity, a healthy lifestyle, and inspire the younger generation to engage in sports. The day serves multiple purposes, including honoring Major Dhyan Chand's legacy, promoting sports,  raising awareness, encouraging participation, launching government initiatives, and building a sports culture.

Major Dhyan Chand, known as "The Wizard of Hockey," was born on August 29, 1905. His outstanding hockey skills made him one of the best-known Indian players globally. He was instrumental in India's three consecutive Olympic gold medal victories in 1928, 1932, and 1936. Starting his career in 1926, Major Dhyan Chand played until 1948, representing India in 185 games and scoring 400 goals.

In 2012, the Indian government declared Major Dhyan Chand's birthday as National Sports Day to recognize his contributions to Indian sports. His exceptional dedication, self-discipline, and passion are celebrated on this day, inspiring athletes across the nation.

"Star of the Indian hockey team that dominated the sport in the years before World War II, Dhyan Singh played an important role in helping India complete their first hat-trick of Olympic gold medals with wins at the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Summer Olympics," states the Olympics website.

National Sports Day promotes the significance of sports and physical activity. The day serves several key purposes, such as honoring Major Dhyan Chand's legacy and encouraging future generations to excel in sports. Known as the "Wizard of Hockey," Major Dhyan Chand's extraordinary skills were vital in India's early 20th-century hockey dominance, leading to three Olympic gold medals.

Promoting the importance of sports is another crucial aspect of National Sports Day. The celebration highlights the value of sports in improving overall well-being, mental health, and physical fitness. It underscores the importance of athletics in developing self-control, discipline, leadership, and teamwork. This day aims to promote physical activity and sports participation, especially among young people, advocating for a healthy lifestyle.

National Sports Day also aims to increase public awareness about health and sports. Various initiatives and events are organized to showcase the benefits of regular physical exercise and inspire more people to partake in sports. Schools, colleges, and sports organizations nationwide arrange sports activities, workshops, and fitness programs to engage the community and emphasize the importance of an active lifestyle.

Government initiatives often coincide with National Sports Day to promote sports and fitness. For instance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the "Fit India Movement" on National Sports Day in 2019. This movement encourages Indians to prioritize fitness and integrate it into their daily lives.

Building a sports culture is another significant goal of National Sports Day. The day serves as a reminder of sports' potential to unite people, foster national pride, and enhance the country's global standing in various sports disciplines. It emphasizes the need for better sports infrastructure, support for athletes, and the development of sports at the grassroots level.

In conclusion, National Sports Day 2024 celebrates the unbeatable spirit of sportsmanship and the enduring legacy of Major Dhyan Chand. It is a day to reflect on the importance of sports in our lives, promote physical fitness, and inspire the next generation of athletes.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/national-sports-day-2024-theme-date-and-significance-in-india/articleshow/112868355.cms?from=mdr





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Tuesday, 13 August 2024

78th Independence Day: History, significance, 2024 theme

 Synopsis

Independence Day serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by countless freedom fighters who fought tirelessly for the country's independence. The first official celebration of this day took place in 1948, signalling the dawn of a new era for India.

Independence Day 2024: India is set to celebrate its 78th Independence Day on Thursday, August 15, 2024, marking a significant milestone in the nation's history. This day commemorates India's liberation from British colonial rule on August 15, 1947, following a prolonged struggle for freedom.

Independence Day serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by countless freedom fighters who fought tirelessly for the country's independence. The first official celebration of this day took place in 1948, signalling the dawn of a new era for India.

Each year, the nation reflects on its journey since independence, celebrating not only its achievements but also the rich cultural diversity that defines India. The day is also an occasion to acknowledge the progress the country has made over the decades.

Independence Day 2024: Theme

The theme for this year's celebrations is "Viksit Bharat," or "Developed India," which aligns with the Indian government's vision to transform the nation into a developed country by 2047, coinciding with the centenary of independence.

As tradition dictates, the Independence Day celebrations will be held at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, where the Prime Minister will hoist the national flag and deliver a speech.

Independence Day 2024: Where to Watch PM Modi’s Speech

Symbolising national pride and unity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unfurl the national flag at 7:30 AM. Following the flag hoisting, PM Modi will address the nation, reflecting on past achievements and outlining future goals.

For those wishing to participate in the celebrations from home, PM Modi’s speech and the entire event will be broadcast live on:

Doordarshan (national broadcaster)

YouTube via the Press Information Bureau

Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) on the handles of @PIB_India and the PMO.

Independence Day 2024: Guest List

This year's 78th Independence Day celebrations will see a diverse group of over 4,000 special guests, chosen from various sectors of society. Prime Minister Modi has identified farmers, youth, women, and the poor as the "four pillars of a developed India," and they are prominently featured in the guest list. In total, around 18,000 e-invitation cards have been issued.

The event at Red Fort will host these special guests, each accompanied by a family member. The guests are categorised as follows:

1,000 from the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare category

600 from the Youth Affairs category

300 from the Women and Child Development category

300 from Panchayati Raj and Rural Development

300 from Tribal Affairs

200 from School Education and Literacy

200 from the Border Roads Organisation/Ministry of Defence

150 from Health and Family Welfare

150 from Sports

1,200 from the Niti Aayog category

In addition to the festivities, the government is encouraging public participation through initiatives like the Har Ghar Tiranga movement, urging citizens to proudly display the national flag at their homes and businesses.


Read more at:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/78th-independence-day-history-significance-2024-theme-where-to-watch-pm-modis-speech-and-more/articleshow/112500053.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst




Pictorial Online quiz for Upper Primary ( class 3 to 5) on Flags Quiz

 Pictorial Online quiz

Online Quiz on Indian Independence for Class III to V)

 Independence Day Special

Wednesday, 7 August 2024

Isro offers free 5-day AI, ML course for students, certificate on completion

 Isro is going to hold a free 5-day course covering AI and ML topics for students from August 19 to 24 to drive innovation in the space sector. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion.

ISRO is going to hold a free 5-day course covering AI and ML topics for students from August 19 to 24 to drive innovation in the space sector. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion.

In Short

ISRO announces free AI and ML course for students

Course includes AI/ML basics, deep learning, and applications

Certificate awarded on 70% attendance completion

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is going to hold a free 5-day online course to equip students with essential skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) from August 19 to 23.

This free 5-day course on 'Ais part of the IIRS outreach programme, which aims to drive innovation within the space sector and beyond. There is no fee for attending this programme.

Launched in 2007, the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) outreach programme has expanded to over 3,500 network institutes, benefiting universities, government departments, research institutes, and NGOs. It has been instrumental in promoting capacity building in geospatial technology and its applications.

COURSE ELIGIBILITY

The free Isro course is designed for professionals, students, and researchers in fields like civil engineering, computer science, and geoinformatics. 

Those interested in exploring AI, ML, and deep learning (DL) for geospatial applications are encouraged to apply.

COURSE CONTENT

The following broad topics will be covered in the Isro course:

Introduction to AI/ML and DL

Methods in Machine Learning: Supervised, Unsupervised and Reinforcement

Deep Learning concepts through CNN, RNN, R-CNN, Faster RCNN, SSD, YOLO etc. and their applications

Spaceborne Lidar Systems

Machine learning through Google Earth engine

Python for Machine/Deep Learning Models

The course, scheduled from August 19-23, 2024, will provide lecture slides, video-recorded lectures, open-source software, and demonstration handouts through the e-class platform.

The course will be conducted online via the e-class platform of IIRS-ISRO, requiring only a good internet connection and basic computer hardware.


COURSE SCHEDULE

Online lectures in this Isro course will be held every day from 4 pm to 5:30 pm.


Aug 19: Introduction to AI/ML and DL - Dr. Poonam Seth Tiwari

Aug 20: Methods in Machine Learning: Supervised, Unsupervised, and Reinforcement - Dr. Hina Pande

Aug 21: Deep Learning Concepts: CNN, RNN, R-CNN, Faster RCNN, SSD, YOLO, etc., and Their Applications - Dr. Poonam Seth Tiwari

Aug 22: Machine Learning Through Google Earth Engine - Dr. Kamal Pandey

Aug 23: Python for Machine/Deep Learning Models - Ravi Bhandari

Course updates and other details will be available on IIRS website.


HOW TO APPLY

Participants can register for this Isro course and check their application status through this link.

https://elearning.iirs.gov.in/edusatregistration/


Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.


For individual registrations, approval is automatic, and participants will receive login credentials for ISRO LMS.


Participants can register through nodal centres as well, with approval from the coordinator of the nodal centre. If the application is pending approval, participants should contact their respective nodal centre coordinator.


For institutional participation, organisations must identify a coordinator to register their institute as a nodal centre.


CERTIFICATE AWARD

Students will receive a 'Course Participation Certificate' upon completing the course with a minimum attendance of 70%.


This certificate will be available for download on the ISRO Learning Management System (LMS).


This initiative by ISRO offers an excellent opportunity for individuals to enhance their AI skills and contribute to India's growing space sector. Don't miss this chance to advance your knowledge and capabilities in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/isro-offers-free-5-day-ai-ml-course-for-students-certificate-on-completion-2577753-2024-08-06