Published on: January 6, 2025
Snippets : 6 JANUARY 2025
Snippets : 6 JANUARY 2025
- Na D’Souza (1937–2025), an acclaimed Kannada writer, was known for his literary and social contributions. Born on June 6, 1937, in Sagar, his family originated from Murudeshwar and moved to Sagar for stone-carving work. After completing his education at Sahyadri College, Shivamogga, he worked in various administrative roles before retiring. D’Souza authored 46 novels, short stories, plays, and children’s stories, with notable works like Mulugadeya Oorige Bandavaru, which won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award. He presided over the 80th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in 2014 and highlighted themes like regional transformation and social struggles of the Malnad people in his works. He actively protested against unscientific projects, including the Sharavathi water diversion, and opposed quarrying in Malnad. His novels, Dweepa and Kadina Benki, were adapted into films, reflecting his impact on literature and cinema.
- The draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, released under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, aim to safeguard citizens’ rights while balancing regulation and innovation. Key features include the establishment of a “born digital” Data Protection Board for online complaints and adjudication, a transition period for stakeholders to adapt systems, and consent-based data processing until compliance is achieved. Citizens can provide feedback on the MyGov portal until February 18, 2025, with structured interactions organized for stakeholder input. The rules emphasize minimal compliance burden through digital platforms and awareness initiatives to educate citizens about their data rights. Final rules, incorporating feedback, will be presented to Parliament.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has launched the Open Data Kit (ODK) to improve transparency and accountability in government schemes. Integrated with the CAG’s operating system (OIOS), ODK enables secure data collection and management, with multilingual capabilities for surveys. It was recently used for patient satisfaction surveys at AIIMS Mangalagiri and Bibinagar during a performance audit of government healthcare, as well as beneficiary surveys to support audit planning and evidence gathering. By improving data accuracy and directly engaging beneficiaries, ODK enhances transparency in public spending and ensures schemes deliver their intended outcomes. However, it has also faced political criticism for alleged misinformation.
- Groundwater exploitation in Karnataka increased by 2.22% in 2024 compared to 2023, with annual extraction rising from 11.32 billion cubic meters (bcm) to 11.55 bcm, and usage as a percentage of available resources increasing from 66.26% to 68.44%. Over-exploited districts include Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chitradurga, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, and Davangere. Groundwater recharge decreased from 18.93 bcm in 2023 to 18.74 bcm in 2024, and extractable resources fell from 17.08 bcm to 16.88 bcm. Of Karnataka’s 237 taluks, 18.99% are over-exploited, 6.33% critical, 13.92% semi-critical, and 60.76% safe, with none classified as saline. Nationally, groundwater extraction averages 60.47%, with 11.13% of units over-exploited and 3.05% critical. Concerns include fluoride and nitrate contamination, with excessive nitrate levels attributed to nitrogen-based fertilizers and animal waste.
- A comparative study by the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department found that 60% of signs and 90% of graffiti marks in Tamil Nadu’s excavation sites have parallels with those found in the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), suggesting literacy and exchanges between settlements, with majority of graffiti-inscribed potsherds unearthed in South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, and pushing the introduction of iron in South India to mid-third-millennium BCE.
- Singapore authorities are concerned over the increase in “sham marriages or marriages of convenience” between Singaporean men and foreign women, which most of the time involves a syndicate and could lead to social problems.
- Union Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari hailed the completion of the Banihal bypass in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district as a significant milestone for strengthening “national security logistics” and boosting the “tourism prospects of the region.” Announcing the completion of the 2.35-km, four-lane stretch to Banihal town, built at a cost of ₹224.44 crore, he highlighted its strategic importance on the Ramban–Banihal section of National Highway 44, alleviating persistent traffic bottlenecks caused by roadside markets and shops. Initially, two-lane traffic will be allowed, with four-lane traffic to follow after “junction development” in 15 days. This critical infrastructure ensures uninterrupted traffic flow, reducing travel time and congestion for both tourists and defense vehicles traveling to the Kashmir Valley. The ongoing upgrade of the 32-km stretch between Ramban and Banihal will further reduce travel time, making the Kashmir Valley more accessible.
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to inaugurate “Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0” which seeks to give insight into the Constitution and parliamentary procedures to over 500 women representatives from Panchayati Raj institutions from across the country. Organised to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda, the programme will have workshops and sessions, a guided tour of the new Parliament House, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, and Rashtrapati Bhavan for the participants, offering them a deeper understanding of India’s legislative process and the functioning of democratic institutions. PTI
- ISRO recently said the cowpea seeds it had sent to space onboard the PSLV-C60 POEM-4 platform have germinated under microgravity conditions within four days of the launch of the mission.
- In a remarkable discovery, a member of the Team of Research on Culture and Heritage (TORCH) recently uncovered a three-foot idol of the 13th-century saint Narahari Tīrtha. Narahari Tīrtha, a prominent Dvaita Vedanta philosopher and scholar, was a disciple of Madhvacharya, the founder of the Dvaita philosophy, and played a crucial role in spreading the doctrine, especially in the Kalinga region (modern Odisha and Andhra Pradesh). Hailing from Chikakolu (present-day Srikakulam), he was instrumental in supporting the kings of the Eastern Ganga dynasty and helped oversee temple administration, ensuring the protection of Sanatana Dharma. Narahari Tīrtha’s influence on the region, particularly in strengthening the Madhva tradition, is evident through epigraphical records from Simhachalam and Srikurmam temples. He was known for composing works like the Gita Bhasya and Bhavaprakasika, along with pioneering Devaranamas in Kannada. His legacy extends to art forms like Yakṣagana Bayalaṭa and Kuchipudi dance, and he contributed significantly to the temple traditions of Puri Jagannath.
- Researchers at the Centre for Peninsular Aquatic Genetic Resources in Kochi, part of the National Bureau for Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), have developed a captive breeding protocol for the black-collared yellow catfish, an endangered species endemic to the Chalakudy river in Kerala. This species, characterized by its greenish-brown mottled coloration, shorter barbels, and distinct genetic traits, coexists with the endangered Horabagrus Nigricollaris. Listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, the black-collared yellow catfish’s breeding program began in 2020, and the first generation was successfully bred. The development of this breeding technique is crucial for the species’ conservation.
- The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare on Project VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources), a digital platform integrating data on over 12,000 start-ups in agriculture and allied sectors. The initiative aims to enhance the agricultural extension system’s efficiency through digitalisation, enabling farmers and stakeholders to easily access technological solutions and services offered by start-ups. By expanding outreach, the platform provides high-quality advisory services on crop production, marketing, value addition, and supply chain management, while also delivering information on government schemes in agriculture and rural development. This digitalisation ensures timely, accurate support, empowering farmers and improving agricultural productivity.
- The State Bank of India has introduced two innovative deposit schemes, Har Ghar Lakhpati and SBI Patrons, aimed at providing enhanced financial value and flexibility to customers. The Har Ghar Lakhpati Scheme is a pre-calculated recurring deposit plan enabling customers, including minors, to accumulate Rs 1 lakh or multiples thereof, with tenures ranging from 12 to 120 months, promoting early financial planning and disciplined savings. Meanwhile, the SBI Patrons Scheme, designed exclusively for senior citizens aged 80 and above, offers an additional 10 basis points interest over standard senior citizen rates, rewarding their loyalty and catering to their financial needs.
- The US Presidential Medal of Freedom is the country’s highest civilian honor, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to national security, world peace, or cultural endeavors. Established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 and renamed by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the medal is awarded by the President, who has the discretion to select recipients. The medal’s design features a white star on a red pentagon, surrounded by five gold eagles, with a blue circle and 13 gold stars at its center. Notable recipients include Steven Spielberg, Bill Clinton, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen
