Published on: December 21, 2024
Snippets : 21 DECEMBER 2024
Snippets : 21 DECEMBER 2024
- The excavation of Pan Supari Bazaar at Hampi is uncovering significant insights into the trade activities during the Vijayanagar period, highlighting the economic prosperity of the era. The site, located between the Hazara Rama Temple and Shrungarada Hebbagilu, is believed to have been a bustling marketplace for gold and precious metals. Artifacts such as potsherds, a terracotta bead, and a 15th-century coin have been unearthed. The excavation, which began in 1985 and resumed with fresh funding in 2024, is a collaborative effort between the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and academic institutions. This collaboration promises to deepen our understanding of the Vijayanagar Empire’s trade networks, daily life, and cultural richness.
- BBMP has released a feasibility report on Bengaluru’s traffic management plan aimed at addressing the city’s traffic congestion through comprehensive infrastructure development. The total cost of the plan is estimated at ₹54,964 crore, with key components including twin-tube tunnel roads, elevated corridors, road widening, and flyovers. The twin-tube tunnels will cover 46 km at a cost of ₹40,000 crore, reducing travel time significantly, particularly for the North-South corridor. Specific projects include a 27 km road widening from K.R. Puram to Yeshwantpur and an integrated elevation project between Hudson and Minerva Circles. The plan also proposes funding through loans, including ₹19,000 crore for the twin-tunnel project, and will align with existing and planned metro routes for better connectivity.
- Two new undersea cable systems, India Asia Xpress (IAX) and India Europe Xpress (IEX), will enhance India’s digital connectivity by providing additional Internet links to Asia and Europe. The cables, owned by Reliance Jio with investment from China Mobile, span over 15,000 kilometers and connect key locations such as Chennai, Mumbai, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, France, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Djibouti. This expansion strengthens India’s role in regional and international digital infrastructure, improving bandwidth and network resilience, especially in the face of geopolitical concerns. Notably, the cables aim to improve India’s defense strategy against disruptions like cyberattacks, following the March 2024 disruptions in cables to West Asia and Europe. Additionally, government initiatives are focused on ensuring stability, with India playing a more active role in submarine cable resilience and security.
- The Ministry of Commerce released the foreign trade data for November 2024, showcasing key trends and challenges. Services exports for the first time surpassed goods exports, marking a shift in India’s trade dynamics. However, monthly imports hit a record $69.95 billion, contributing to a merchandise trade deficit of $37.84 billion. Gold imports surged significantly, reaching $14.86 billion. The current account deficit (CAD) is projected to rise to 2.8% of GDP, exerting pressure on the rupee, which fell below 85 against the US dollar. Additionally, sectors like petroleum and gems and jewellery faced declining earnings. US tariff threats and the growing imports from China pose challenges to India’s trade relations, requiring policy interventions. Recommendations to boost export competitiveness include expanding the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, implementing customs reforms, and developing industrial clusters to enhance production and reduce costs.
- Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani informed Rajya Sabha that Karnataka has 3.60 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs) with 42,07,374 members, including 5,51,115 from Scheduled Caste and 2,63,856 from Scheduled Tribes. The Centre has released Rs 1,266.26 crore to Karnataka under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) since 2019, with the state spending Rs 2,172 crore. Additionally, 231 medical devices manufacturing sites have been approved in Karnataka under the Medical Device Rules 2017
- Recently, the National Institute of Siddha (NIS) achieved a Guinness World Record by providing Varmam therapy to 567 individuals simultaneously. Varmam therapy, a core aspect of the Siddha system of medicine, is a unique, non-invasive healing practice renowned for its effectiveness in pain management and treating various health conditions. It involves stimulating 108 vital life energy points identified by Siddhars to provide rapid relief from musculoskeletal pain, injuries, and neurological disorders. This scientifically grounded therapy also addresses acute and chronic diseases such as stroke, arthritis, and trauma-related injuries. The achievement underscores the global recognition of Siddha medicine, a traditional healing system originating in South India around 10,000 BC, rooted in the knowledge of Tamil Siddhars and celebrated for its holistic and therapeutic potential.
- United States has announced its emission reduction target for 2035, promising to reduce its emissions to 61-66 per cent below 2005 levels by that time.
