Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA)

Why in news?
Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA) Launched by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam in July 2015.

About RAA:

• RAA is a unique concept developed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development that aims to inculcate a spirit of inquiry, creativity and love for Science and Mathematics in school children. 
  
• Under this, government schools will be mentored by Institutes like IITs/ IIMs/ IISERs and other Central Universities and reputed organisations through innovative programmes, student exchanges, demonstrations, student visits, etc to develop a natural sense of passion towards learning of Science and Maths. 
• Phase II of RAA will be launched in January, 2016 for higher education under which model science labs will be established in all districts of the North Eastern States. 

Related Info:

• Two students, Ms. Jaya and Mr. Arsh winners of Initiative for Research and Innovation (IRIS) Award, 2014 & 2015, shared their innovative projects and their journey through the wondrous world of science. 
• Dr. Abdul Kalam laid stress on four qualities of uniqueness: Great Aim, Quest of Knowledge, Hard Work, and Perseverance. Emphasising the value of learning he added “we learn to live, we learn to think and we learn to learn”.
• HRD Minister:  said it is an effort to take forward the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India, ‘Make in India’ and ‘Teach in India’. 
• She talked of efforts made by INTEL for nurturing scientific temper among girl students. 
• She also mentioned Google India’s initiative of Code to Learn Contest which will enable students to learn in the Google campus.

[Sources: PIB]