SPARK Program

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) recently developed the Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK) for Ayurveda students enrolled in accredited Ayurveda colleges in an innovative effort to assist the research endeavors of the nation's brightest young brains.

About SPARK Program

Initiative

• By Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS).

Aim

• SPARK aims to support the research ideas of young undergraduate students enrolled in Ayurveda Colleges across India.

Application process

• The application process for SPARK will be completely online.
• Interested candidates will be required to submit their research proposals through the SPARK Portal.
• The proposals will be evaluated by eminent experts and reviewers.
• The selected fellows will be offered financial support of  Rs.50, 000 under the fellowship.

Significance

• Scientific research: It will support the innovative ideas of young students and promote the culture of evidence-based scientific research in the field of Traditional Medicine.
• Research ideas: The SPARK program is primarily developed to help students develop acumen for research and to further support and incentivize their research ideas.

Central Council for Ayurvedic Sciences Research (CCRAS)

• It is an independent division of the Ministry of AYUSH.
• It is the nation's top body for formulating, coordinating, advancing, and promoting scientific research in Ayurveda and the Sowa-Rigpa school of medicine.
• To better serve the public, CCRAS has created and implemented a wide variety of plans and initiatives.
• The Council has sped up top-notch research in the fields of Ayurveda and related disciplines.
• The Council has created up to 18 formulations and technologies in addition to well-known ones like Ayush-64.
• The Council is collaborating with top scientific institutes in Romania, Germany, Israel, the USA, Canada, and the World Health Organization on research and development projects at the moment (WHO).

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana Scheme

Recently, the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) scheme trained over 3 lakh women, according to information provided to Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Education.

Image Source - Affairscloud

About PMKVY

• The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), the government's flagship program, is operated under the Skill India Mission, which was introduced by the government in 2015.
• By 2022, it hopes to have trained more than 40 crore individuals in India in various disciplines. It strives to provide Indian youngsters with vocational training and certification for a better standard of living and social respect.
• Under the direction of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) implements PMKVY (MSDE).
• Training and assessment costs are entirely covered by the government under PMKVY. Payments are made to Training Providers (TPs) in accordance with accepted standards.
• Funding: A 50:50 split of funds and targets are used to implement the program at the state and federal levels, with District Skill Committees playing a more active role (DSC).
• Goal: To make it possible for Indian youngsters to enrol in skill training that is relevant to their sector and will improve their prospects for employment.
• Recognition of Past Learning also evaluates and certifies people with prior experience (RPL).

Key Elements:                            

• Short-Term Training (STT): Candidates of Indian nationality who have either dropped out of school or college or are unemployed are anticipated to benefit from the STT component taught at PMKVY Training Centers (TC).
• Prior Learning Recognition (RPL): It is a skill certification component designed to help Indian adolescents pursue industry-relevant skill certifications that will improve their prospects for employment. Under the RPL component of PMKVY, anyone having prior learning experience or skills can register, get evaluated, and receive a certificate.
• It largely focuses on people working in unregulated industries.
• Special Projects: It entails the development of a platform that will enable training in specialized locations and/or offices of governmental, corporate, or professional organizations, as well as training for specialized job roles that are not covered by the National Occupational Standards or the Qualification Packs (QPs) currently in use (NOS).

PMKVY 1.0:

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), India's largest skill certification program, was introduced on July 15th, 2015. (World Youth Skills Day).
• Goal: To stimulate and promote skill development in the nation by offering kids free, brief skill training and giving financial incentives for skill certification.
• Key elements include Kaushal & Rozgar Mela, short-term training, special projects, and recognition of prior learning.
• Result: 19.85 lakh candidates received training in 2015–16.

PMKVY 2.0:

• Coverage: PMKVY 2016–20 (PMKVY 2.0) was introduced with increased sector and geographic scalability and stronger alignment with other Government of India initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, Swachh Bharat, and others.
• 12 billion rupees were allocated.
• Utilizing Two Elements for Implementation:
• Centrally Sponsored Centrally Managed (CSCM): National Skill Development Corporation adopted this component. The CSCM has distributed 75% of the PMKVY 2016–20 money and corresponding physical targets.
• State Skill Development Missions (SSMs), which are centrally sponsored and state-managed, were used to implement this component in the states (SSDMs). 25% of the PMKVY 2016–20 funding has been allocated under CSSM, along with the accompanying physical targets.

PMKVY 3.0:

• Protection: PMKVY 3.0 was introduced in 717 districts and 28 States/eight UTs as a step toward "AtmaNirbhar Bharat."
• Implementation: It will be carried out in a more decentralized manner, with the assistance and cooperation of the States/UTs and the Districts, and with increasing responsibilities.
• Under the direction of State Talent Development Missions (SSDM), District Skill Committees (DSCs) will play a crucial part in bridging the skill gap and determining demand at the district level.

Features:

• It calls for spending Rs. 948.90 crores to train eight lakh candidates throughout the 2020–2021 scheme period.
• It will be more student- and trainee-focused. The emphasis is on encouraging skill development in areas relevant to new-age and Industry 4.0 job roles in order to close the demand-supply imbalance.
• It will promote vocational education at a young age so that youth can take advantage of opportunities connected to the business.
• Vocational training is emphasized in the National Educational Policy 2020 for overall growth and improved employability.
• By approaching training from the ground up, it will identify employment roles that are in demand locally and equip kids, connecting them to these opportunities (Vocal for Local).
• Increasing allocation to states that perform better, will promote healthy competition between them.

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