Published on: July 10, 2024
Snippets : 10 JULY 2024
Snippets : 10 JULY 2024
- World Cup-winning former opener Gautam Gambhir was named head coach of the Indian cricket team by the BCCI
- The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has directed its member schools in Karnataka to adhere to the state’s language teaching policies, mandating Kannada as the first or second language, in line with the Kannada Language Learning Act, 2015. Despite opposition from some schools, CISCE officials Joseph Emmanuel and G. Immanuel emphasized compliance during a meeting of school principals. Additionally, CISCE plans to assess schools based on six parameters, including teaching quality (40%) and infrastructure (60%), to foster healthy competition and allow for peer and board reassessments
- Soumya Swaminathan, former Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research and Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization, has been appointed Principal Adviser at the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)
- The RBI mandates routing all credit card bill payments through the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) to streamline processes, enhance security, and ensure regulatory oversight. This impacts users of banks not yet integrated with BBPS, including major banks like Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and YES Bank, which are still in the process of integration
- The XVI Finance Commission has formed an Advisory Council led by Dr. Poonam Gupta, comprising members including Dr. D.K. Srivastava, Mr. Neelkanth Mishra, Ms. Pranjul Bhandari, and Mr. Rahul Bajoria. The council’s role includes advising on Terms of Reference (ToR), conducting research, and enhancing the Commission’s recommendations on fiscal devolution and related subjects.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Russia’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, during his visit to Russia. The award, announced in 2019, recognizes his exceptional role in enhancing the strategic partnership between Russia and India, and fostering friendly relations between their peoples. The Order is bestowed upon prominent figures from various fields for exceptional service to Russia, including foreign heads of state for outstanding contributions to the Russian Federation.
- NABARD has launched its first integrated tribal development program in Kollam’s Kulathupuzha grama panchayat, partnering with Thanal to uplift 413 tribal families over five years through sustainable livelihoods, agricultural enhancement, and economic empowerment initiatives.
- The Indian government has encouraged automobile companies to participate in the unified Right to Repair Portal, launched on National Consumer Rights Day 2022 by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The portal aims to empower consumers by providing repair information, promoting a circular economy, and offering affordable repair options across various sectors including automobiles, electronics, and farming equipment.
- The Ministry of Culture launched Project PARI during the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee Meeting in New Delhi (21st-31st July 2024). This initiative, organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, involves over 150 visual artists from India. Project PARI aims to enhance Delhi’s cultural landscape by blending traditional and modern artistic styles through mediums like sculptures, murals, and installations. It promotes public accessibility to art, fosters social cohesion, and highlights themes such as Natyashastra, Gandhiji, Indian toys, and the significant participation of women artists
- The Reserve Bank’s Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) rose to 64.2 in March 2024, indicating growth across all parameters. Developed in 2021, it evaluates financial inclusion nationwide through 97 indicators, measuring access, usage, and service quality in banking, investments, insurance, postal, and pension sectors. The index ranges from 0 to 100, reflecting levels of financial inclusion, aiding policy-making, meeting G20 standards, and supporting research on its societal impact.
- Thazhakara has become the first grama panchayat in Alappuzha and one of the first in Kerala to publish a comprehensive People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) with local community involvement. The PBR documents biodiversity, including habitats, land races, animal breeds, and biological knowledge, as mandated by the Biological Diversity Act (2002). Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), created by local bodies, promote conservation, sustainable use, and documentation of biodiversity. PBRs play a vital role in conserving biodiversity, protecting traditional knowledge, and aiding local projects in agriculture, water, and waste management.
- A groundbreaking study by the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) has highlighted the negative impact of changing land use patterns and infrastructure development on the genetic connectivity of gaur and sambar populations in central India. Key findings reveal that infrastructure and land use changes fragment habitats, isolating populations and leading to genetic inbreeding and reduced diversity. The study employed genetic analysis from faecal samples, identifying distinct genetic clusters among herbivore populations. The disruption in connectivity threatens ecosystem health and biodiversity, necessitating targeted conservation strategies like wildlife corridors and improved protected area management.
- Recent studies indicate the Earth’s inner core, composed of solid iron and nickel and located about 5,150 kilometers beneath the surface, has slowed down significantly and may have reversed its rotation direction. The inner core, making up 20% of Earth’s mass, has a radius of approximately 759 miles and temperatures ranging from 7200–9000℉. Sustained by heat from radioactive decay and other sources, it generates Earth’s magnetic field and remains solid under immense pressure of about 3.6 million atmospheres. This slowdown raises new questions about the dynamics of Earth’s core and magnetic field generation.
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved India’s participation in the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, an international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) aimed at conserving marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The Ministry of Earth Sciences will lead its implementation, enhancing India’s strategic presence, marine conservation, and scientific collaboration. The agreement promotes sustainable use of marine resources through international cooperation, area-based management, and environmental impact assessments, supporting Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
- Due to the Ukraine conflict affecting Moscow’s ability to supply military spare parts to India, Russia will establish more joint production facilities in India to prevent supply chain delays. Both countries aim to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030 and develop a settlement system using national currencies. Russia will enhance cargo turnover with India via new routes, and nine agreements were signed, including those for joint manufacturing of military spare parts and nuclear power cooperation. The joint ventures will meet Indian military needs and support exports to friendly countries.
