Published on: November 20, 2024
Snippets : 20 NOVEMBER 2024
Snippets : 20 NOVEMBER 2024
- The Karnataka government launched the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 with key announcements, including India’s first dedicated Global Capability Centres (GCC) policy aimed at establishing 500 new GCCs by 2029, creating 3.5 lakh jobs, and generating $50 billion in economic output. The state also introduced skill development initiatives under the NIPUNA Karnataka program, targeting the training of 1 lakh candidates by 2025. In manufacturing and innovation, initiatives such as the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Mysuru and the Bengaluru Global Innovation District were introduced. The state also unveiled several infrastructure projects like the Bengaluru Business Corridor and announced international collaborations with countries like Austria, Germany, and UAE to foster technology and innovation. Additionally, the establishment of the Centre of Excellence on AI in Bengaluru aims to accelerate AI research and development for start-ups, while the Bengaluru Data Report and a wide array of international participation highlighted the tech summit.
- Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, located in Chhattisgarh, has been notified as the 56th Tiger Reserve in India. Spanning an area of 2829.38 sq km across the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Korea, Surajpur, and Balrampur districts, it includes a core habitat of 2049.2 sq km, which encompasses the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary. This reserve is the third-largest in India, following Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam and Manas Tiger Reserves. It forms part of a larger conservation landscape connected to other reserves in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, totaling nearly 4500 sq km. With rich biodiversity, the reserve houses 753 species, including 230 bird species and 55 mammal species. The addition of this reserve bolsters the conservation efforts in Chhattisgarh, now home to four tiger reserves under Project Tiger.
- SpaceX successfully launched ISRO’s GSAT-20 communication satellite on November 19, 2024, at 12:01 am from Cape Canaveral, Florida, using its Falcon 9 rocket. This launch marks the first collaboration between ISRO and SpaceX, with GSAT-20 weighing 4,700 kg, surpassing ISRO’s GSLV-III capacity of 4,000 kg for Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) payloads. The satellite, also known as GSAT-N2, is a high-throughput satellite (HTS) with a Ka-band capacity of up to 48 Gbps, designed to enhance broadband and communication services across India, especially in remote and underserved areas. The satellite will provide extensive coverage through 32 beams, including in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep. Post-launch operations will be managed by ISRO’s Master Control Facility in Karnataka, and early data suggests the satellite is in good health, contributing to India’s growing communication infrastructure.
- India and Italy have unveiled a five-year strategic action plan for the period 2025-2029, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties in key sectors like defense, trade, clean energy, and connectivity. The collaboration will cover areas such as economic cooperation, energy transition through joint initiatives in renewable and clean energy, space exploration, defense and security, migration and mobility, people-to-people exchanges, and global cooperation on multilateral platforms. The plan aims to build on past meetings between Indian Prime Minister Modi and Italian Prime Minister Meloni, advancing shared goals and promoting sustainable development, while enhancing India-Italy collaboration across these critical sectors.
- Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has been awarded the AAA rating (Stable Outlook) by ICRA Ltd, India Ratings and Research Pvt Ltd, and Crisil Ratings Ltd. This rating, the highest in the credit rating scale, reflects a strong degree of safety in the timely servicing of financial obligations and minimal credit risk
- Patients in Karnataka can now get a free second opinion for complex elective joint surgeries from government experts that will help them make informed decisions. The department has set up a dedicated second opinion helpline — 18004258330 — that will be functional round-the-clock under the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), the nodal agency implementing the State’s health scheme — Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Chief Minister’s Arogya Karnataka (AB-PMJAY-CM’s ArK).
- India has made remarkable progress in promoting women’s representation in local governance, with nearly 46% of councillors being women, surpassing 60% in 19 out of 21 capital cities, including Patna, Shimla, Ranchi, and Bhubaneswar. Tamil Nadu takes the lead with the highest number of women councillors, followed closely by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. Notably, 17 states have legislated for a 50% women’s quota, exceeding the constitutional minimum of 33%. To further accelerate urban transformation, the “Road map for India’s city systems reforms” report by Janaagraha outlines three key pathways: Place-Based Governance, Decentralized Participatory Governance, and Building State Capacities. The report recommends Implementing Rural-Urban Transition Policy to facilitate planned urbanization of fast-urbanizing villages, with approximately 1,000 villages already transitioning to cities since Census 2011. Additionally, it suggests Reimagining Urban Governance by transforming the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and State Urban departments to focus on regional economies and local governments. Lastly, Strengthening Local Governments through the amendment and implementation of the 74th constitutional amendment is crucial to ensure citizen participation and empower local self-government institutions. These initiatives aim to create more livable, climate-resilient, and inclusive cities, driving India’s economic growth and development
- The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development for 2023 was presented to classical pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim and Palestinian peace activist Ali Abu Awwad. The Indira Gandhi Prize, or the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize, also known as Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, is the prestigious award accorded annually by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. The prize carries a cash award of 2.5 million Indian rupees and a citation. A written work, in order to be eligible for consideration, should have been published. First awarded in 1986
- Coal India Limited (CIL) under the aegis of the Ministry of Coal, has been conferred with the esteemed Green World Environment Award in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) category along with the distinguished tile of Green World Ambassador. Ministry of Coal has overall responsibility of determining policies and strategies in respect of mining of coal and other minerals in large interest of the country.
- The Indian Army successfully conducted the Multilateral Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise, ‘Sanyukt Vimochan 2024’ at Ahmedabad and Porbandar on 18-19 November 2024. The exercise conducted by the Konark Corps of Southern Command of Indian Army, was conducted over two days from 18 to 19th November 2024 at Ahmedabad and Porbandar, Gujarat.
- A team of researchers have discovered Koima, a new genus of freshwater fish endemic to the Western Ghats.
- India’s Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has announced the operationalization of the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor, facilitating the transportation of oil, food, and machinery between Russia’s east coast and South India. The EMC significantly reduces cargo transit time by up to 16 days and distance by 40%, connecting Chennai to Vladivostok through a 10,458 km route, compared to the existing 16,066 km route via Europe. This shorter route, passing through the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, South China Sea, Malacca Straits, Andaman Sea, and Bay of Bengal, offers logistical cost savings and enhanced efficiency, with optional ports of call including Dalian, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Colombo, cutting travel time from 40 days to approximately 24 days.
- The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) have launched the “One Day One Genome” initiative to unlock India’s vast microbial potential. This groundbreaking project will highlight the unique bacterial species found in India, emphasizing their crucial roles in environment, agriculture, and human health. Coordinated by BRIC-NIBMG, an institute under DBT, the initiative aims to release fully annotated bacteriological genomes isolated in India, making them freely available to the public. Each genome release will be accompanied by detailed graphical summaries, infographics, and genome assembly/annotation details, providing insights into the scientific and industrial applications of these microbes. By making microbial genomics data more accessible, this initiative will stimulate discussions, drive innovation, and benefit the entire community and ecosystem.
- The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology recently launched the Grievance Redressal Assessment and Index (GRAI) 2023, conceptualized and designed by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) based on recommendations from the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions. The objective of GRAI is to provide a comparative picture of grievance redressal mechanisms across organizations, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. The first edition, GRAI 2022, was released on June 21, 2023, assessing and ranking 89 Central Ministries and Departments on dimensions such as efficiency, feedback, domain, and organizational commitment, using data from the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Management System (CPGRAMS). Key top-ranked departments include the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India, and the Department of Investment & Public Asset Management. The report includes a two-dimensional analysis of the root causes of effective grievance redressal, offering color-coded insights and technical support for optimizing CPGRAMS usage. It outlines a roadmap for improvement, recommending the integration of AI and ML for data analysis, enhancing accountability through audits, and extending CPGRAMS integration to the third tier of government, along with capacity building for Grievance Redressal Officers (GROs).
- November 19 is celebrated as International Men’s Day (IMD), a day dedicated to recognizing the positive contributions of men to society and highlighting issues such as their well-being, mental health, and role models. IMD was established in 1999 by Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh of Trinidad and Tobago, who chose the date in honor of his father’s birthday and a moment of national unity. The day was further popularized in India by Uma Challa, a men’s rights activist, who began advocating for it in 2007. Although IMD is less prominent than International Women’s Day, it draws attention to male-related issues like suicide, loneliness, and societal pressures. The theme for 2024 is ‘Positive Male Role Models’, emphasizing the importance of men teaching younger generations values and responsibilities. Despite some criticism regarding its need, IMD seeks to address men’s struggles while promoting a balanced view without undermining women’s rights.
