• 16 Aug 2025

Third President’s Gallantry Medal to Ajay Sahni

Why in News? 

Senior IPS officer Ajay Kumar Sahni, known for leading 52 encounters, has been awarded the President's Medal for Gallantry for the third time in his career.  

• Sahni, a 2009-batch officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, was honored with the President's Medal for his exceptional courage during a high-risk operation in Meerut on Republic Day (26th January 2020), praised for his gallantry, leadership, and dedication under life-threatening circumstances. 

Gallantry Awards  

• About: They are given to the personnel for displaying raw courage, unparalleled bravery and total disregard to personal safety in the line of duty.  
  • These gallantry awards are announced twice in a year, first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day.  
• Types:  
  • Gallantry Awards in the Face of the Enemy: 
    • Param Vir Chakra (PVC) for most conspicuous bravery 
    • Mahavir Chakra (MVC) for acts of gallantry 
    • Vir Chakra for acts of bravery 
  • Gallantry Awards Other than in the Face of the Enemy: 
    • Includes Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra. 
• Order of precedence of the Awards: 
  • Param Vir Chakra  
  • Ashoka Chakra  
  • Mahavir Chakra  
  • Kirti Chakra  
  • Vir Chakra  
  • Shaurya Chakra 

World Organ Donation Day

Why in News? 

World Organ Donation Day is observed annually on 13th August to raise awareness about the life-saving impact of organ donation.  

Key Points 

• About: World Organ Donation Day honors the selfless contributions of organ donors and their families, highlighting the urgent need for more public participation. 
• Purpose: World Organ Donation Day aims to raise awareness about organ donation, highlight the critical shortage of organs for transplantation, encourage pledging as organ donors, and pay tribute to donors and their families for enabling life-saving transplants. 
• Theme for 2025: This year, the theme is "Answering The Call," as set by the Organ Donation and Transplant Alliance.  
  • It recognizes the significant work of healthcare professionals in the field while encouraging greater public involvement in organ donation. 
• Current Statistics: Over 103,993 people are waiting for organ transplants worldwide, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). 
• History of Organ Donation: The world’s first successful organ transplant took place in 1954 when Ronald Lee Herrick donated a kidney to his twin brother.  
  • The pioneering surgeon, Dr. Joseph Murray, received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1990 for his groundbreaking work in organ transplantation. 
• National Organ Day in India: Initially observed on 27th November since 2010, National Organ Day in India was moved to 3rd August in 2023 to commemorate the first successful deceased-donor heart transplant in India, which occurred in 1994.

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) 

• The NOTTO, under the Ministry of Health, was set up as per the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act, 2011. 
  • Its National Network division serves as the apex centre for coordination, procurement, distribution, and maintenance of the registry of organ and tissue donation and transplantation in India. 
  • 5 Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs) and 14 State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) were established to strengthen the network at the regional and state levels. 

PM Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) Scheme

Why in News? 

A team from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) visited various schools in Jaisalmer to review the implementation of the  Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) Scheme.  

• The team aimed to assess the ground-level implementation of the PM SHRI scheme, engage with stakeholders and beneficiaries, identify good practices, address regional challenges, and collect inputs for evidence-based documentation to enhance the scheme’s effectiveness. 

Key Facts About PM SHRI Scheme 

• Launch: 7th September 2022 (Centrally Sponsored Scheme). 
• Duration of Scheme: From 2022-23 to 2026-27  
• Coverage: Development of over 14,500 existing schools managed by Central, State, UT governments, and local bodies. 
• Objective: Showcase National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 implementation and act as model schools mentoring nearby institutions. 
• Funding Pattern: 
  • 60:40 between the Centre and States/UTs with legislature (except J&K). 
  • 90:10 for Northeastern and Himalayan States and J&K. 
  • 100% for UTs without legislature. 
• Key Features of PM SHRI Schools: 
  • Focus on holistic student development, including communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. 
  • Experiential, inquiry-driven, and learner-centred teaching methods. 
  • Modern facilities like labs, libraries, art rooms, and "green" initiatives (water conservation, waste recycling). 
  • Best-in-class facilities such as Smart Classrooms, Computer Labs, Integrated Science Labs, and Atal Tinkering Labs. 
  • Competency-based assessments prioritizing real-life learning outcomes.