Published on: December 20, 2024
Snippets : 20 DECEMBER 2024
Snippets : 20 DECEMBER 2024
- Gujarati writer Himanshi Indulal Shelat has been selected for the prestigious 2024 Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar, which will be presented in January 2024. The announcement was made by the Rashtriya Kuvempu Prathistana, with the decision being made unanimously by a selection committee chaired by BL Shankar. The award recognizes Shelat’s significant contributions to Indian literature, particularly through her work in the Gujarati language. Born in Surat, Gujarat, in 1947, Shelat holds a PhD focusing on the novels of VS Naipaul and has authored nearly 20 books, including essays, novels, critiques, and translations. The award includes a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a silver medal, and a citation.
- The Supreme Court of India has directed the Union Government to develop a policy for managing sacred groves, which are small forest patches traditionally protected by local communities for religious and cultural purposes. These groves play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, primarily found in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The Court’s directives include formulating a comprehensive policy for their protection, conducting a nationwide survey to assess their extent, and integrating the management of sacred groves with existing conservation laws like the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and the National Forest Policy of 1988. The move highlights the ecological and cultural importance of sacred groves, emphasizing the involvement of local communities in their protection. However, challenges such as land-use changes and urbanization threaten these groves, and the policy seeks to address these issues through community participation and regular monitoring.
- Researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru have engineered flexible plasmonic devices using a cost-effective alternative, Scandium Nitride (ScN) films. Traditional plasmonic materials are often rigid, expensive, and primarily composed of costly metals like gold and silver, limiting their design possibilities. The innovations by the JNCASR team offer a scalable method for creating flexible plasmonic structures that retain performance even under bending and flexing, making them ideal for flexible device applications. Scandium Nitride supports near-infrared wavelength plasmonics, paving the way for advancements in biomedical applications and flexible electronics, particularly in wearable medical devices and high-performance adaptable gadgets.
- INS Nirdeshak, the second ship of the Survey Vessel (Large) project, was commissioned into the Indian Navy by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. Designed primarily for conducting hydrographic surveys, it plays a critical role in ensuring safe navigation and supporting maritime operations. With over 80% indigenous content, INS Nirdeshak enhances India’s defense manufacturing capabilities while promoting self-reliance. Equipped with advanced systems like Multi Beam Echo Sounders, Side Scan Sonars, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV), and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV), it ensures precision mapping and efficient deep-sea operations. Additionally, it contributes to regional security, scientific exploration, and environmental health. By strengthening the “Security and Growth for All in the Region” (SAGAR) initiative, it fosters international cooperation and supports maritime diplomacy.
- The Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 has been announced, recognizing literary excellence across various languages. Dr. K. V. Narayana, a noted Kannada literary critic and linguist, has been awarded for his work ‘Nudigala Alivu.’ The award presentation is scheduled for March 8, 2025, with a prize of ₹1,00,000 and a plaque. Other notable recipients include Gagan Gill for her poetry collection ‘Main Jab Tak Aai Bahar’ and Easterine Kire for her novel ‘Spirit Nights.’ The Sahitya Akademi, established in 1954, recognizes outstanding literary works in 22 Indian languages and English, with a focus on promoting excellence and new trends in Indian writing. This year’s awards include 21 recipients across categories such as poetry, novels, essays, short stories, literary criticism, and plays. The Sahitya Akademi’s award plaque, initially made of marble, was redesigned by filmmaker Satyajit Ray, and temporarily replaced by savings bonds during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
- Recently, Moldova has officially signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement, furthering its commitment to promoting renewable energy.
- About 95% of villages have declared themselves “open defecation free plus” till now, the Jal Shakti ministry. The “ODF Plus” status goes beyond the construction of toilets, focusing on overall sanitation and solid-liquid waste management. Among the states, Uttar Pradesh leads with 93,947 villages attaining ODF Plus status, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 50,580 and Maharashtra with 37,327 villages.
- The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) has designed an innovative sundial, displayed at its Space Museum in Thumba, Kerala, which accurately provides Indian Standard Time and the date, unlike conventional sundials that only show local solar time. This analemma-corrected polar sundial features a unique 3D-printed miniature of the RH200 sounding rocket as its style. The sundial’s plate is aligned with the Earth’s polar axis and true north-south direction, ensuring precise timekeeping. ISRO chairman S. Somanath suggested replicating the sundial in other locations, and VSSC is exploring the possibility of a software kit for educational institutions and museums.
- The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced that from June 2026, solar companies in India must use only domestically made photovoltaic cells in their panels for participation in government procurement programs, marking a step towards reducing foreign imports. This move, part of a broader strategy to boost local manufacturing, follows the introduction of lists such as the Approved List of Module Manufacturers, which mandates sourcing panels from approved domestic companies. However, while India is expanding its solar manufacturing capacity, the cost of domestically produced solar cells is significantly higher than imports, potentially raising the overall cost of solar power projects. This policy shift aims to support the growth of India’s solar industry, but the country will still depend on foreign sources for certain components like wafers and ingots.
- India and France signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday to develop a new National Museum, named Yuga Yugeen Bharat, inspired by the Louvre in Paris, at the historic North and South Blocks in New Delhi. Once completed, it will be the largest museum in the world. The MoU was signed by Herve Barbaret, Director General of France Museums, and B.R. Mani, Director General of the National Museum of India. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of the project as a symbol of international and cultural cooperation, strengthening the strategic partnership between India and France. The museum will be developed through adaptive reuse, leveraging France’s expertise in such projects.
- Karnataka and Haryana emerged the men’s and women’s team winners at the 2024 Senior National Badminton Championship
