Published on: December 4, 2024
Snippets : 4 DECEMBER 2024
Snippets : 4 DECEMBER 2024
- Karnataka is making significant strides toward enhancing its public transportation system in Bengaluru by focusing on electric buses. Under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, launched on September 29, 2024, the central government has allocated Rs 10,900 crore to support electric vehicle infrastructure, including Rs 4,391 crore for the procurement of 14,028 electric buses in major cities. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is seeking 5,000 electric buses to address the city’s demand for 10,000-12,000 buses, aiming to replace older buses and improve the efficiency of its public transportation network. BMTC’s existing fleet includes 1,231 non-AC electric vehicles, with plans to add 320 AC e-buses, midibuses, and even double-decker buses.
- The Supreme Court of India has mandated the uniform implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH Act) across all states and Union Territories. The court identified significant enforcement gaps even a decade after the Act’s enactment. Key directives include the appointment of district officers by December 31, 2024, and the establishment of Local Complaints Committees (LCCs) by January 31, 2025. Additionally, the court emphasized the integration of the SheBox portal for centralized complaints and updates on committees, with a deadline for compliance by March 31, 2025.
- South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, accusing the opposition of being “anti-state forces” and saying he was acting to protect the country from “threats” posed by the North.
- The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Bengaluru hosted its second ‘Agriculture Future Forward: Startup Conclave’, bringing together farmers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to promote innovative “agripreneur” ideas. The event featured 45 stalls, including startups, agri-innovation clusters, and incubation centers, and drew over 600 participants. Key attractions included genome-editing and AI-enabled beekeeping innovations, while panel discussions focused on driving innovation through industry-academia collaboration and entrepreneurship opportunities in agriculture.
- The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has announced Ananth Technologies Limited (ATL) as the beneficiary of the Announcement of Opportunity (AO), enabling access to Indian orbital resources for non-government entities. ATL will undertake the development, launch, and operation of a multi-beam high-throughput Ka band communication satellite, making it the first private Indian satellite operator to provide state-of-the-art geosynchronous orbit (GSO) communication satellite services to the country. This move is seen as a transformative step for the Indian space sector, establishing a new benchmark for private sector participation in generating SATCOM capacity through indigenous satellites.
- On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) and the Association of People with Disability (APD) launched a nationwide accessibility audit campaign, powered by APD’s AI-powered YesToAccess app. This innovative app enables anyone to assess public spaces’ accessibility by analyzing features like ramps and accessible toilets through a simple photograph, generating real-time accessibility scores available on an interactive map.
- The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed 95% reservation in government jobs for locals in Ladakh, one-third reservation for women in hill councils and has agreed to address concerns regarding land-related matters, according to leaders from the region who attended a high-powered committee (HPC) meeting
- Brig Raj Manchanda(‘Old Fox’ of Indian squash), a six-time National squash champion and Arjuna Awardee, passed away in Delhi at 80. Known for his resilience and coaching, Manchanda had an illustrious career, including a fourth-place finish at the 1984 Asian Championships, and will be remembered for his kindness, singing talent, and dedication to mentoring young squash players.
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has reclassified packaged drinking water and mineral water as a “High Risk Food Category”, subjecting them to stricter safety measures and inspections. This move aims to enhance consumer protection and ensure better quality control in the bottled water industry, following concerns over contamination and poor handling. As a result, manufacturers of packaged drinking water and mineral water will undergo risk-based inspections annually and third-party audits, with all centrally licensed manufacturers required to get their businesses audited annually. Food products that come under the “High Risk” category are subjected to mandatory risk-based inspections.
- The 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference (AOMSUC-14) is being held from December 4-6, 2024, in New Delhi, India, hosted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Since its inception in 2010, AOMSUC has become a prominent event for meteorologists, earth scientists, satellite operators, and students worldwide. This year’s conference includes oral and poster presentations, panel discussions, and a training workshop focused on the application of satellite data for meteorological and climatological purposes. The conference aims to promote satellite observations, advance remote sensing science, foster collaboration between satellite operators and users, update participants on international space programs, encourage the development of new technologies, and engage young scientists in the field.
- The 4th edition of Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI commenced at Bentong camp, Pahang district, Malaysia.
