Published on: October 17, 2024

Snippets : 17 OCTBER 2024

Snippets : 17 OCTBER 2024

  • The Karnataka government has doubled the lock-up contingency fund for detainees in police stations from ₹75 to ₹150 per detainee, aiming to address rising costs of essentials like food and reduce the financial burden on station house officers, although some police officials feel the revised amount remains insufficient to provide two square meals.
  • The Union Cabinet has approved construction of a rail-cum-road bridge across the Ganga in Varanasi at an estimated cost of ₹2,642 crore. The proposed multi-tracking project will ease operations, reduce congestion and provide infrastructure development on the busiest sections across Indian Railways, said an official release by the Union Railways. Apart from relief in congestion on the stretch, freight amounting to 27.83 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) is anticipated on the proposed stretch. The project traverses through Varanasi and Chandauli districts of Uttar Pradesh. The construction is estimated to be completed in four years.
  • India to procure 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles from the US, boosting its military capabilities. The Hellfire missile, developed in 1972, is a short-range air-to-ground laser-guided tactical missile targeting armored vehicles, tanks, bunkers, and soft targets, with a range of 7-11 km, maximum velocity of 950 mph, and weighing 45.4-49 kg including an 8-9 kg multipurpose warhead, making it a versatile asset for India’s combat operations.
  • The e-Migrate Portal is an online platform launched by the Government of India to facilitate and manage the migration of Indian workers seeking employment abroad. It aims to provide a safe and transparent framework for migrant workers by offering various services, including access to information, documentation, helpline support, and awareness campaigns, promoting safe and legal mobility channels for Indian migrants. The enhanced portal aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 10, which advocates for orderly and responsible migration. Key features include 24/7 multilingual helpline support, a feedback mechanism for timely issue resolution, and integration with Digilocker for secure, paperless document submission. Additionally, partnerships with Common Service Centres (CSCs) will extend immigration services to rural areas in local languages, enhancing accessibility. The platform also serves as a one-stop marketplace for overseas employment opportunities, supporting job-seekers in their migration efforts.
  • In a significant step towards providing affordable and accessible healthcare, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), Chhattisgarh-based subsidiary of Coal India, inaugurated the country’s 216th AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) Pharmacy. Located at the Health Centre in SECL’s Indira Vihar Colony, Bilaspur, this new facility makes SECL the first coal company to operate four AMRIT pharmacies. The AMRIT pharmacies, part of a flagship initiative launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2015, provide a wide range of generic and life-saving branded drugs, implants, and surgical consumables at highly subsidized rates.
  • The Karnataka government has officially designated 1,495 acres of reserve forest in Mamadapur, Vijayapura district, as the “Shri Siddeshwara Swami Biodiversity Heritage Site,” honoring a spiritual leader renowned for his conservation efforts. This site, characterized by dry deciduous and scrub forests, is ecologically significant as it provides habitats for diverse flora and fauna while contributing to water conservation and soil stabilization, thereby supporting local livelihoods. The designation was based on four key criteria: unique ecological features, the vulnerability of the ecosystem, cultural significance to local communities, and community support for conservation efforts. Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) are defined as areas of high ecological and cultural importance that showcase species richness and often include sacred groves and community-conserved areas. The legal framework under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 empowers state governments to declare such sites in consultation with local bodies and allows for the development of management plans that engage communities in the preservation process. The designation aims to enhance residents’ quality of life through conservation initiatives while ensuring that local practices are respected. Notably, India’s first BHS, the Nallur Tamarind Grove in Bengaluru, was established in 2007
  • The IndiaAI Mission has announced the selection of eight Responsible AI Projects under its Expression of Interest (EoI), emphasizing the development of ethical, transparent, and trustworthy AI technologies with proper guardrails for responsible deployment. With over 2000 proposals submitted from academic institutions, startups, research organizations, and civil society, these projects aim to tackle unique challenges using Indian datasets. A multi-stakeholder committee provided technical expertise for evaluating the proposals. The selected projects include initiatives from IIT Jodhpur on machine unlearning, IIT Roorkee on synthetic data generation, and IIIT Delhi on AI ethical certification, among others. This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s vision for inclusive growth and aims to enhance India’s global leadership in AI, foster technological self-reliance, and ensure the ethical use of AI through the IndiaAI mission, operating under the Digital India Corporation (DIC).
  • The Government has extended the “Samarth” Scheme for Capacity Building in the Textiles Sector until March 2026, which is implemented by the Ministry of Textiles. This initiative aims to provide demand-driven, placement-oriented National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) compliant skilling programs, targeting the training of 10 lakh individuals—9 lakh in the organized sector and 1 lakh in the traditional sector, excluding spinning and weaving. Key features of the scheme include Training of Trainers (ToT), an Aadhar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS), CCTV recording of training programs, and a dedicated call center with a helpline number. The scheme will be executed by various agencies, including the textile industry, state governments, and reputable training institutions and NGOs that have established placement ties with the textile sector.
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has announced an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for rabi crops for the 2025-26 marketing season, with wheat’s MSP rising by ₹150 per quintal. MSP, established based on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), serves as a guaranteed price to farmers, ensuring remunerative prices and encouraging crop diversification. CACP, part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare since 1965, evaluates factors like production cost and market trends before recommending MSP for 22 crops, including 14 kharif crops and 6 rabi crops. The MSP is determined using various cost classifications, primarily A2+FL and C2, to ensure it adequately covers the production costs in major producing states. The need for MSP has become increasingly vital due to economic challenges faced by farmers, including declining commodity prices, rising input costs, and rural distress exacerbated by past events like demonetization and the GST rollout.
  • SpaceX has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully landing its Starship rocket using an innovative structure called “Mechazilla.” Located at SpaceX’s Starbase in South Texas, Mechazilla is a 400-ft tall tower equipped with massive mechanical arms, designed to catch the Super Heavy booster midair during its return. This advancement significantly reduces wear and tear, turnaround time, and costs, making space missions more efficient. Described by Elon Musk as capable of catching the heaviest flying object, this leap in reusable rocket technology could revolutionize aerospace engineering and increase the frequency of space exploration missions.
  • The Indian Army is commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the Battle of Walong from the 1962 Sino-Indian War with a series of events, including the inauguration of the renovated Walong War Memorial and Shaurya Sthal. The Battle of Walong saw Indian troops, including the 11 Infantry Brigade with regiments like Kumaon, Sikh, and Gorkha Rifles, successfully halt the advance of 4,000 Chinese soldiers for 27 days, forcing the Chinese to commit more troops. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Indian forces showcased extraordinary bravery, a feat recognized internationally, including by Time magazine in 1963.
  • The ICC inducted Alastair Cook, Neetu David, and AB de Villiers into the Hall of Fame. Neetu David, India’s second-highest wicket-taker in women’s ODIs with 141 wickets, is the first Indian woman to take 100 ODI wickets. Alastair Cook amassed 12,472 Test runs and played key roles in England’s Ashes and India series victories. AB de Villiers, known for his innovative batting, holds the record for the fastest ODI century and has over 20,000 international runs. The ICC Hall of Fame, established in 2009, honors cricket legends.