GyroCopter Safari will start soon in Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand | 11 Dec 2023

Why in News?

On December 10, 2023, Manish Saini, CEO of Rajas Aero Sports and Adventure Limited (RAAAPL) said that GyroCopter Safari will be launched in Uttarakhand soon.

Key Points:

• Manish Saini said that RAAAPL had started Air Safari in Rishikesh in 2013-14. This was India's first air safari.
• He informed that Gyrocopter service is also being started in the state this month, which will be the first Gyrocopter safari in India and South Asia.
• It is worth mentioning that Rajas Aerosports and Adventure Limited (RAAAPL) is a private limited Indian non-government company, which was incorporated in India on May 30, 2013 & its registered office is in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand.
• It is engaged in the business of providing corporate arts entertainment and entertainment services. Presently Rajas Aerosports is operating Himalayan Darshan helicopter service from George Everest, Mussoorie.

10 private universities, 3 new medical colleges will open in the State | Uttarakhand | 11 Dec 2023

Why in News?

On December 9, 2023, Uttarakhand Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, while addressing investors at the Global Investors Conference, said that 10 new private universities and 3 new medical colleges will be opened in Uttarakhand.

Key Points:

• The Education Minister said that the government will provide all basic facilities for new schools and universities. Investors in the state have to select land for schools and universities themselves. The government will provide facilities of electricity, water and roads. A 25 percent subsidy will also be given.
• He asked investors to invest in the hill districts like Pithoragarh, Almora, Pauri etc.
• He said that the target of the state government is that by 2024, five lakh children from other states should come to study in Uttarakhand, while one lakh foreign children should come and study here.
• It may be noted that in the Global Investors Conference, an agreement was signed for investment of Rs 9000 crore in education and secondary education. This included about 17 private higher educational institutions and 4 secondary schools.
• The MoU was signed between Apollo Group, Sabarmati Institute Gujarat, Saloni University, Doon Modern Education Society, New Foundation, Shivalik Hill Foundation, DIT University, Gondwana Research Foundation, Right Park Foundation, Green Field School, Jan Kalyan Education, Guru Nanak Trust Roorkee, Uttarakhand Uthan Samiti etc.

IMA Passing Out Parade 2023: 343 Cadets from India & 29 from Overseas passed out | Uttarakhand | 11 Dec 2023

Why in News?

343 Indian cadets and 29 foreign cadets from 12 from overseas passed out in the passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun on December 9, 2023. Sri Lanka's Chief of Defense Staff General Shavendra Silva took the salute at the parade.

Key Points:

• In the passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), 372 cadets from India and abroad joined the main stream of their armies by becoming officers. Of these, the Indian Army got 343 officers.
• Since the establishment of IMA, 65,234 local and foreign cadets have passed out from here & become military officers in the army of their respective countries. These also include 2,914 military officers from the armies of 34 overseas.
• It is worth mentioning that a large number of young officers from Uttarakhand come out in the passing out parade (POP) held in IMM. Despite being much smaller in population than other states, Uttarakhand ranks 1st in the country in producing officers.
• This time Uttar Pradesh has become the state giving the maximum number of cadets in POP. 68 cadets from Uttar Pradesh will pass out and become officers. At the same time, Uttarakhand is in 2nd place this time. 42 cadets from Uttarakhand passed out.
• Last time cadets from 20 states participated in POP, but this time cadets from 27 states participated in POP.
• The following cadets received various awards/medals in the passing out parade-
  • Sword of Honor and Gold Medal- Gaurav Yadav (Avalar, Rajasthan)
  • Silver Medal- Saurabh Badhani (Gwaldam Chamoli, Uttarakhand)
  • Bronze Medal- Alok Singh (Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh)
  • Silver Medal (TGC)- Ajay Pant (Ranikhet Almora, Uttarakhand)
  • Best Foreign Cadet- Shailesh Bhatta (Nepal) Chief of Army Staff Banner, Kohima Company
• Other countries including India got officers - India-343, Bhutan-9, Maldives-4, Sri Lanka-4, Mauritius-3, Nepal-2, Myanmar-1, Bangladesh-1, Tajikistan-1, Uzbekistan-1, Sudan- 1, Turkmenistan-1, Kyrgyzstan-1.