Haryana State PCS

• 19 Mar 2024

Environmental Awareness Event at Kurukshetra University

Why in News?

Recently, the Vice Chancellor of Kurukshetra University (KU) inaugurated the marathon, awareness cum exhibition and extension lecture under the Mission LiFE campaign in KU.

Key Points

• On this occasion the Vice Chancellor also formally inaugurated the activities of the Eco Club and administered the oath of Mission LiFE to everyone.
• Mission LiFE is proving to be a people's movement to make India self-reliant and closer to nature.
  • In 2021, India gave the mantra of environmental lifestyle to the world from the platform of the United Nation.
• The program was organised under the joint aegis of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) India and KU in collaboration with the EIACP (Environment Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Further students will also participate in the Earth Hour program and will be a part of the world campaign.
  • Earth Hour is the WWF’s annual initiative that began in 2007.
  • It encourages people from more than 180 countries to switch off the lights from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm as per their local time.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

• It is the world’s leading conservation organisation and works in more than 100 countries.
• It was established in 1961 and is headquartered at Gland, Switzerland.
• Its mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.

EIACP (Environment Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme)

• EIACP Programme Centre Resource Partner “Wildlife & Protected Areas”, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun formerly known as ENVIS was established as the 23rd Environmental Information System (ENVIS) Centre in India in September 1997.
• The Programme Centre is a repository of all information, publications and other value added products on its assigned subject area; maintaining a database; conducting various events and activities across the year including mass awareness campaigns and events as directed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Kurukshetra University Announces Rajib Goyal Prizes

Why in News?

Recently, Kurukshetra University’s Goyal Award Committee announced the Rajib Goyal prize for young scientists.

Key Points

• The award consists of a medal, citation and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh for which four scientists of the country below the age of 45 have been selected in the young scientists category.
• The recipients are:
  • Dr Saptarshi Basu, department of mechanical engineering, Bengaluru, (applied sciences).
  • Dr Sebastian C Peter, JNCASR, Bengaluru, (chemical sciences).
  • Dr Bushra Ateeq, department of biological sciences and bioengineering, IIT Kanpur (Life Sciences).
  • Dr Sanjeev Kumar Aggarwal, Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, (physical sciences).
• Through these awards Kurukshetra University honours the best scientists of the country every year, recognising their significant contributions in the field of science and technology.