Published on: October 20, 2024
Snippets : 19 OCTBER 2024
Snippets : 19 OCTBER 2024
- Karnataka has launched Shiksha Co-pilot, an AI-powered digital assistant aimed at enhancing teacher training, in partnership with Sikshana Foundation and Microsoft Research India. The initiative focuses on empowering teachers by enabling them to create comprehensive and personalized teaching resources tailored to the local curriculum, language, and context. It offers personalized teaching tools that include hands-on activities, assessments, real-world examples, short videos, and lesson plans, along with an integrated chatbot for self-learning and interactive content generation. In line with the Chief Minister’s directive to improve education in government schools through advanced technology, the AI-powered assistant seeks to boost teaching efficiency and student learning outcomes. The project will begin with initial training for 1,000 teachers across Karnataka, followed by a gradual roll-out to all teachers statewide.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the ‘Karmayogi Saptah,’ an initiative under Mission Karmayogi, which was launched in September 2020 to create a future-ready civil service rooted in Indian ethos and with a global perspective. This year’s National Learning Week (NLW) is the largest event aimed at capacity development for civil servants, promoting a renewed commitment to learning and development while fostering the “One Government” message and aligning participants with national goals. NLW encourages lifelong learning and focuses on both individual and organizational engagement, with each Karmayogi committing to four hours of competency-linked learning. Learning opportunities include role-based modules on the iGOT platform, webinars led by eminent speakers, and talks designed to enhance citizen-centric services.
- The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K), recently introduced the Solar Assisted Reefer Transportation with Hybrid Controls and Intelligence (SARTHI) system, an innovative solution aimed at reducing post-harvest losses in perishable food transportation. The SARTHI system features dual compartments designed to store fruits and vegetables at different temperatures, addressing the unique storage needs of various produce types. It integrates IoT technology for real-time monitoring, where data from sensors is sent to the cloud. Users can access real-time information on quality parameters through a mobile app, which monitors physiological changes during transportation. The system employs sensors to measure temperature, humidity, ethylene, and CO2 levels, sending data to the app for quality assessment. Additionally, a solar-powered air handling unit ensures temperature control during transport halts. This system extends the shelf life of produce by minimizing losses due to chilling injury or moisture loss, enabling informed decision-making for transporters who can reroute produce to closer markets if spoilage is detected, thereby cutting energy waste and reducing carbon footprints.
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) published its World Energy Outlook 2024 report, highlighting a significant shift in the global energy landscape characterized by ongoing geopolitical risks and an abundance of fuels and technologies. Projections indicate a surplus of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the latter half of the 2020s, along with a substantial increase in clean energy technology manufacturing. By 2030, low-emissions energy sources are expected to generate over half of the world’s electricity, while global electricity demand is projected to grow at a rate equivalent to Japan’s annual consumption each year. Focusing on India, the report anticipates the highest increase in energy demand over the next decade due to its large population and rising sectoral demands. India is projected to add over 12,000 cars daily by 2035, with built-up space expanding by over 1 billion square meters annually. Iron and steel production is expected to grow by 70% by 2035, while cement output is projected to rise by nearly 55%. The demand for air conditioning will see the stock grow more than 4.5 times, resulting in electricity demand surpassing Mexico’s total expected consumption by 2035. Overall, India’s total energy demand is anticipated to increase by nearly 35%, with electricity generation capacity expected to nearly triple to 1,400 GW. Coal will maintain a strong position in India’s energy mix, with approximately 60 gigawatts of new coal-fired power capacity projected by 2030, and coal-based electricity generation expected to rise by over 15%. In 2023, coal accounted for 40% of energy used in industries such as steel, cement, and manufacturing, with an anticipated growth of coal use in these sectors by 50% by 2035.
- The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), revealing that India has 234 million people living in poverty, ranking it among the top five countries globally. The nations with the largest poverty populations include India, Pakistan (93 million), Ethiopia (86 million), Nigeria (74 million), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (66 million), which together account for 48.1% of the world’s 1.1 billion people living in acute poverty. Notably, over half of these individuals are minors, and 40% reside in countries affected by war, conflict, and fragility. Furthermore, a staggering 455 million people in poverty live in areas exposed to violent conflict, where ongoing strife has caused mass casualties, displacement, and disruptions to livelihoods, significantly hindering poverty reduction efforts.
- Engine manufacturer General Electric announced that its LM2500 marine engines have been chosen to power Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. Six LM2500 marine gas turbine engine kits will be delivered by GE Aerospace for assembly and test by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Industrial and Marine Gas Turbine Division in Bengaluru, India. Additionally, GE Aerospace will be supplying its composite base and enclosure, and full complement of gas turbine auxiliary systems
- Farmers in Idukki, Kerala, are struggling with an infestation of the spotted locust (Aularches miliaris), a colorful grasshopper native to South and Southeast Asia. Characterized by its distinctive dark blue and yellow head and thorax, red and black abdomen, and green-brown wings with yellow spots, this herbivore feeds on leaves of host trees. Found in agricultural and forest areas, the spotted locust defends itself with toxic foam ejection and a sharp rasping voice. Its slow movement makes it easily catchable, and it jumps low without flying. Experts attribute the infestation to changes in climate patterns, posing a significant threat to local agriculture, following the recent snail infestation in the region.
- The Mera Hou Chongba festival, a symbol of unity among Manipur’s indigenous people, was recently celebrated to strengthen bonds between hill and valley communities. This annual festival, observed since the 1st century CE during the reign of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, brings together village chiefs (Khullakpas) and people from surrounding hill areas in September/October. Notably, royal palace officials share the dias with multiple village chiefs from communities like Mao, Kabui, Zeme, Kom, and Liangmei. The festival’s highlight is the exchange of gifts between the King and village Chiefs, accompanied by vibrant cultural performances and sports, fostering harmony and unity among Manipur’s diverse indigenous groups.
- Scientists have finally discovered a Trojan asteroid for Saturn, thereby establishing the presence of these celestial bodies alongside all giant planets in our solar system.
- The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has recently launched the third Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, a key initiative aimed at eradicating poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, while reducing inequalities. Launched in 2019, this flagship program targets countries with high poverty and hunger rates, limited national capacities, and significant operational challenges due to natural or man-made crises. The Hand-in-Hand Initiative employs geospatial, biophysical, and socio-economic data to identify areas for agricultural transformation, sustainable forest and fisheries management, and value chain development . Its goals align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 1, 2, and 10, focusing on poverty reduction, hunger eradication, and inequality reduction. The FAO, established in 1945, leads international efforts to combat hunger, improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity, and contribute to global economic growth, with 194 member states and the European Union as a member organization
- Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, has launched a series of sustainable initiatives under Special Campaign 4.0, focusing on renewable energy, health and hygiene, and eco-friendly waste management to contribute to a greener future. NCL has installed a 480 kW rooftop solar plant at its Jayant project and is expanding solar capacity with an additional 1.3 MW at various locations, aligning with India’s renewable energy targets. To enhance health and hygiene among young women in the Singrauli region, the company has installed sanitary napkin vending and disposal machines in four schools, benefiting around 1,850 female students. The “Waste to Wealth” initiative promotes organic waste recycling by creating vermicompost beds, producing nutrient-rich compost to support sustainable agriculture. NCL has identified 69 sites for cleanliness and beautification, successfully completing 23, while also making progress in scrap disposal, having disposed of 1,661 MT out of a targeted 2,180 MT. In office management, NCL has transferred 400 old files to record rooms and reviewed 3,729 e-files to optimize space and operations. The company has resolved 30 out of 37 public grievances received during the campaign, demonstrating its commitment to public service. Through these initiatives, NCL is actively contributing to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future in line with national development goals.
- Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar appointed as Chairperson of the National Commission for Women. Smt. Rahatkar has demonstrated leadership skills across various political and social responsibilities.During her tenure as Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (2016-2021), she spearheaded initiatives like “Sakshama” (support for acid attack survivors), “Prajwala” (linking self-help groups to central government schemes), and “Suhita” (24×7 helpline service for women). She also worked on legal reforms focusing on issues like POCSO, anti-triple talaq cells, and anti-human trafficking units. She introduced digital literacy programs and launched a publication named “Saad” dedicated to women’s issues.
- Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shantanu Thakur announced that historic lighthouses across the country are evolving into centers of tourism, culture, and learning. Inaugurating the second edition of the Ministry’s Lighthouse Tourism Conclave-2024 at Puri, he highlighted a transformative journey to revitalize these lighthouses. So far, 75 iconic lighthouses, including five in Odisha, have been developed at a cost of ₹60 crore, aiming to create vibrant spaces for recreation and community engagement. This initiative is part of the ‘Lighthouse Heritage Tourism’ campaign, designed to promote these historic sites as tourist destinations, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to showcase their cultural significance and economic potential. In parallel, NCL has addressed 30 out of 37 grievances during Special Campaign 4.0, demonstrating its commitment to public service and contributing to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.
