Published on: July 20, 2024

Snippets : 20 JULY 2024

Snippets : 20 JULY 2024

  • The Indian Railways is set to launch regular train services through the world’s tallest railway bridge, the Chenab bridge, on August 15, covering 255 km of the USBRL project and enabling travel from Reasi in Jammu to Baramulla in Kashmir.
  • A translation of a collection of short stories written by Banu Mushtaq, a writer and advocate based in Hassan, has won an English PEN translation award for the year 2024. Deepa Basthi has translated short stories into English under the title “Haseen and Other Stories.” English PEN is one of the human rights organisations that fights for “freedom to write and freedom to read.” Every year, the organisation awards translation awards. This time, books from 11 regions and 10 languages won the translation awards. For the first time, a book translated from Kannada has been selected for the award.Thecollection has been published by And Other Stories.
  • Ivory Coast joins the UN Water Convention as the 10th African nation, enhancing cooperative management for eight shared river basins and becoming the 53rd Party to the 1992 convention, with Sierra Leone, Zambia, and Zimbabwe expected to follow. The convention aids in managing water resources amid high climate change vulnerability, sharing basins with Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Established in 1992 and globally expanded in 2016, the convention includes African members like Chad and Senegal, and recent global additions like Iraq and Namibia. It is crucial for economic growth, livelihoods, poverty alleviation, and climate change adaptation through cooperative transboundary water and groundwater management.
  • The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, is proposing new draft rules to standardize moisture meters used for measuring moisture levels in cereal grains and oilseeds. The rules will outline technical requirements, test methods, and permissible errors for these devices, aiming to enhance accuracy and transparency in agricultural trade. The draft rules, open for public feedback since May 30, 2024, received support from stakeholders during a recent meeting
  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 7th NCORD meeting and launched the National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS’- Madak Padarth Nishedh Asuchna Kendra in New Delhi. The helpline, with toll-free number 1933, a web portal, and mobile apps, will support citizens in drug-related issues and report trafficking anonymously. Shah emphasized the need for a unified fight against drug trafficking and the importance of dismantling drug networks. He outlined the Modi government’s approach, which includes structural, institutional, and informational reforms. The new NCB Zonal Office in Srinagar aims to tackle drug trafficking through the northwestern border.
  • Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru unveiled its official anthem, composed by Ricky Kej, featuring voices of Lonnie Park and Siddhartha Belmannu, highlighting passenger stories and airport amenities, with a focus on sustainability. It ends with words “WORLD IS WAITING FOR YOU”
  • ISRO chairman S Somanath has earned PhD from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M).
  • A UAE-based business conglomerate, Al Maya Group, has announced the acceptance of India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) across its outlets, marking the inaugural transaction at Al Maya Supermarket in the presence of Deputy Consul General of India in Dubai, Yatin Patel, and highlighting the convenience for Indian customers.
  • The distribution of sanitary pads under Suchi scheme for schoolchildren will be completed by September, while the government will look into the feasibility of distribution of menstrual cups across Karnataka
  • A recent study on Dorekere Lake in Bengaluru highlights its rich biodiversity, showcasing 73 species of herbs and shrubs, 57 tree species, 74 bird species (including 11 migratory and 4 near-threatened), and 26 butterfly species. The lake’s biodiversity aids ecosystem recovery and climate change mitigation. However, Bangalore’s tree count has declined due to urban development and improper waste disposal, endangering lakes. Conservation recommendations include developing the wetland as a buffer zone, balancing native and non-native tree species, and preventing dogs from entering the lake bed to protect birds.
  • A U.S.-based firm has opened a green hydrogen electrolyser gigafactory near Doddaballapur, Karnataka, focusing on clean energy production. The factory spans 14,000 sq m with an initial capacity of 500 megawatts, expandable to 2,000 megawatts. This initiative will create employment opportunities as capacity increases. Green hydrogen, produced by breaking water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy, will be used in fertilizer production, refinery processing, steel production, methanol blending for vehicles, fuel-cell-based transportation, and storage. Karnataka’s industry-friendly policies aim to attract industries, contribute to India’s 5 trillion-dollar economy goal by 2030, and prioritize sectors like EVs, renewable energy, and clean energy.
  • The government plans to boost the capital base of NaBFID to ₹1 trillion with bank support. Established in 2021 by the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Act, NaBFID is a specialized Development Finance Institution (DFI) in India. It aims to fill gaps in long-term non-recourse finance for infrastructure, support the development of bond and derivative markets, and enhance India’s economy. Regulated by the RBI as an All-India Financial Institution, NaBFID focuses on addressing long-term financing needs for infrastructure.
  • IN-SPACe, under the Department of Space, is offering opportunities for start-ups and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in the marine sector through a new seed fund scheme. This scheme aims to support innovative solutions using space technology for the blue economy. It seeks proposals for applications in fisheries, marine biology, border surveillance, and other domains. The technology aids in marine resource management, environmental conservation, and maritime safety. Grants of up to ₹1 crore will be awarded, with applications due by August 15.
  • The MV Sea Change, the world’s first commercial passenger ferry fully powered by hydrogen fuel, was launched on July 19, 2024, at San Francisco Ferry Building. This zero-emission vessel will operate on the Pier 41 to Downtown San Francisco Ferry Terminal route for a six-month demonstration. The project, supported by SWITCH Maritime and a CARB grant, involves partners like Chevron New Energies and United Airlines. It marks a significant step in maritime decarbonization and showcases hydrogen technology’s potential for public transport.
  • The Union Minister for Science & Technology inaugurated Asia’s first “Pre-clinical Network Facility” by CEPI in Faridabad. CEPI, founded in 2017 by Norway, India, the Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and the World Economic Forum, aims to accelerate vaccine development and ensure accessibility during epidemics. It has supported over 50 vaccine candidates and addresses future threats like Disease X. The 2022-2026 plan includes the ‘100 Days Mission’ for rapid vaccine development. In India, CEPI collaborates with the Department of Biotechnology and is managed by BIRAC’s PMU.
  • The Union government inaugurated the National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC) to mitigate landslide hazards in India, particularly for Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri districts. The NLFC will start live forecasting reports on July 20, 2024, and provide early warning bulletins. Alongside, the Bhusanket Web Portal and Bhooskhalan Mobile App were launched to aid disaster risk reduction and quick dissemination of landslide forecasts. The Geological Survey of India (GSI), established in 1851, will support these initiatives with its expertise in geological information and mineral resource assessment.
  • Netflix India and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) have launched “The Voicebox,” a program to upskill voice-over artists in multiple languages, with workshops in seven cities and support from Pearl Academy, aimed at enhancing voice-over skills and promoting diversity in media.
  • India aims to transform into a global electronics manufacturing hub by FY 2030 with a target manufacturing value of $500 billion, creating 6 million jobs, and boosting exports to $240 billion. The current market size is $155 billion, with a 4% global market share and a focus on assembly. Future projections under a business-as-usual scenario estimate manufacturing value at $278 billion with 3.4 million jobs. Strategic recommendations include expanding production into wearables and automotive electronics, providing fiscal support, developing infrastructure, enhancing workforce skills, and facilitating technology transfer.