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- Samos is a Greek island situated in the Eastern Aegean Sea. It is one of the largest and most easterly islands of Greece, located just a short distance from the coast of Turkey—approximately 1,700 meters from Asia Minor. The island spans an area of 478 square kilometers.
- Samos is known for its rugged mountain ranges, pristine sandy beaches, crystal-clear azure waters, lush olive groves, and verdant pine forests. The island's highest point is Mount Kerketeus, reaching 1,433 meters, and it marks the westernmost part of the island.
- The climate of Samos is Mediterranean, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, brief winters. The island is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos, which include the ancient Eupalinian Aqueduct, an impressive feat of ancient engineering.
- Samos is the birthplace of the renowned Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, famous for the Pythagorean theorem. It is also the birthplace of the ancient astronomer Aristarchus, who proposed the heliocentric theory of the solar system around 500 BC.
- On November 4, 1948, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar presented the Draft Constitution to the Constituent Assembly of India. Constitution Day, or Samvidhan Divas, is observed annually on November 26 to honor the day the Constitution of India was adopted in 1949.
- The Constituent Assembly held its final session on January 24, 1950, and the Constitution officially came into force on January 26, 1950, a date now celebrated as Republic Day.
- In 2015, the Indian government, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, declared November 26 as Constitution Day to promote the values enshrined in the Constitution and to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar. Prior to this, the day was celebrated as Law Day.
- The Union Cabinet recently approved the extension of its flagship Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under NITI Aayog, with a funding allocation of ₹2,750 crore until March 31, 2028.
- About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):
- Launched by NITI Aayog in 2016, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a key initiative aimed at fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across schools, educational institutions, research organizations, and industries, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
- AIM has two primary objectives:
- Encourage Entrepreneurship: By supporting innovators to transition into entrepreneurs through financial aid and mentorship.
- Promote Innovation: By creating platforms for idea generation among like-minded individuals.
- To support these goals, AIM has developed four core programs:
- Atal Tinkering Labs: Encouraging students to explore and experiment with innovative ideas.
- Atal Incubation Centres: Supporting startups and entrepreneurs with necessary resources and guidance.
- Atal New India Challenges and Atal Grand Challenges: Addressing national problems through innovation.
- Mentor India: Connecting mentors with innovators and startups for guidance and support.
- In addition to these programs, AIM actively collaborates with academia, industry, NGOs, and individuals to create an ecosystem conducive to innovation. All AIM initiatives are monitored and managed through real-time Management Information Systems (MIS) and dynamic dashboards for efficient oversight.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the PAN 2.0 Project.
- About PAN 2.0:
- PAN 2.0 is an e-Governance initiative aimed at re-engineering the business processes involved in taxpayer registration through the technological transformation of PAN/TAN services, thereby enhancing the digital experience for taxpayers.
- This project will upgrade the existing PAN/TAN 1.0 ecosystem by consolidating both core and non-core PAN/TAN activities, including the PAN validation service. It is being implemented by the Income Tax Department.
- The PAN 2.0 Project will drive significant improvements in taxpayer registration services, offering several key benefits:
- Improved Accessibility and Speed: Faster service delivery with higher quality.
- Data Consistency: Establishing a Single Source of Truth for better data management.
- Eco-friendly Processes and Cost Optimization: Streamlined operations that are more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.
- Enhanced Security and Agility: Optimizing infrastructure for greater security and operational flexibility.
- The PAN 2.0 Project aligns with the Government's Digital India vision by making PAN a universal identifier for all digital systems used by specified government agencies.