ANDHRA PRADESH

To cultivate a love of reading among students, State-run schools will create ‘Book Hundis’. Many school libraries have a good collection of books gathering dust. One reason why the library is a deserted zone is because students are denied permission to take the books home for fear of damage or their failure to return them.

Children are asked to donate new and old books to the ‘hundi’ that will be added to the library collection. The idea is to teach them to value them and understand the concept of sharing them better. Once the students start giving the books, they will also start to return the borrowed books.

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) mandates allotment of at least three ‘reading’ periods in a week.

INTERNATIONAL

Exercise INDRA-2017, the first ever Tri Services Joint Exercise between Indian and Russian Armed Forces will be conducted in the Eastern Military District of Russia from 19 to 29 Oct 2017.

Exercise INDRA in its pre6vious nine avatars has been conducted as a single service exercise alternately between the two countries.

The year 2017 marks a major milestone as this Exercise has been upgraded to involve all the three Services of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy & Air Force), which further accentuates the importance of Joint Services in the present world environment.

Exercise INDRA-2017 will be conducted at the 249th Combined Army Range Sergeevisky and in the Sea of Japan near Vladivostok.

NATIONAL

· Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the All India Institute of Ayurveda at Sarita Vihar in New Delhi.
The First ever All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)has been set up along the lines of AIIMS.
Within the short duration of its establishment, AIIA has gained a wide national and International recognition.
It has started working to facilitate quality patient care, research and bridging the gaps in the scientific information about quality, safety, and efficacy of Ayurveda products and developing benchmarks of Ayurvedic education, research and healthcare.

· Punjab police launches foot patrolling in all districts

Punjab police launched foot patrolling an initiative whereby police personnel will patrol designated areas on foot to keep a watch on anti-social elements.
The main Objective of foot patrolling is to reduce incidence of crime by increasing the presence of police in vulnerable locations.
All foot patrol officers will be wearing jungle boots, specially designed arm-band and will carry weapons, baton, handcuffs, and wireless sets.

Auto manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra celebrated ‘Mahila Kisan Diwas’ and launched a programme, ‘Prerna’ to empower women working in the agriculture sector.
Prerna’ project is aimed at promoting the use of efficient and ergonomic farm tools and equipment by women who work long hours in the fields.
It is first launched in Odisha, with an aim to positively impact the lives of over 1,500 families across 30-plus villages.

Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) declared an ‘Institute of National Importance’ under Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. The FDDI bill was passed by the Parliament in July 2017.
The Provisions of FDDI Act 2017 have come into force.
Presently FDDI is imparting skill based graduate and postgraduate courses in the fields of footwear, leather goods, retail, and management to around 2,500 students across eight campuses spread over India.

This year’s2nd Ayurveda Dayis celebrated on 17 October in New Delhi by the Ministry of AYUSH.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the Chief Guest and will also inaugurate the country’s first All India Institute of Ayurveda, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi.
The All India Institute of Ayurveda, set up on a total area of 10.015 acres on a budget of Rs 157 crore, is the first medical institute under the AYUSH ministry to hold the coveted National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation.