Published on: January 22, 2025
Snippets : 22 JANUARY 2025
Snippets : 22 JANUARY 2025
- The Indian Institute of Architects’ Karnataka Chapter will host Latitude 2025, an international architecture and design event, on January 24-25 in Bengaluru, featuring renowned architects and designers from around the world to discuss contemporary challenges, emerging trends, and innovative solutions, alongside the IIA-KC Latitude Design Awards and the launch of the Compendium of Impressions publication.
- GAIL India is planning to set up a compressed natural gas (CNG) plant at the Kudlu wet waste unit in Bengaluru, with an estimated project cost of Rs 65 crore. The plant, which will be built on an 18-acre site, aims to process around 300 tonnes of wet waste daily, producing 10.7 tonnes of CNG and 31.39 tonnes of organic manure. Initially, the plan was to establish the plant at the defunct landfill site in Mandur, but due to opposition from local residents, the state government provided an alternative site at Kudlu
- The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is set to establish small animal rescue centres in three city zones—Dasarahalli, East, and South—to rescue and treat stray and abandoned dogs and cats, marking a first for a civic body in Karnataka. These centres, integrated with existing Animal Birth Control (ABC) facilities, will include dedicated spaces to house at least 20 animals and deploy staff for treatment. BBMP, which currently relies on NGOs for such rescues, plans to independently manage the process, including coordinating with NGOs for pet adoption. The initiative, long overdue as per Section 59(11) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, is part of BBMP’s broader animal welfare programme and aims to address a decades-old gap in urban animal care.
- Taiwan recently announced that its newly acquired National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) will be deployed in North Taiwan to safeguard Taipei, the nation’s capital. NASAMS, a medium-range, ground-based air defense system, was jointly developed by Raytheon (US) and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Norway) and became operational in 1994, initially deployed by Norway’s Royal Air Force. Currently in service in 13 countries, including the US, Spain, and Australia, NASAMS is designed to identify, engage, and destroy a range of threats like aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and UAVs, protecting critical assets and population centers. It integrates a 360-degree phased-array X-Band radar with a 75-kilometer range, three launchers (each carrying six AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles), and can simultaneously engage up to 72 targets. The system, operational in the US National Capital Region since 2005, offers enhanced survivability with network-centric, open architecture and electronic countermeasure resistance.
- India’s first indigenous surgical tele-robotic system, SSI Mantra, successfully performed two complex heart surgeries with the patient in Jaipur and the surgeon in Gurgaon. Developed by SSI Ltd., SSI Mantra is the first-of-its-kind system in India, approved by the CDSCO under Class B and Class C surgical devices, ensuring safety, efficacy, and compliance for hospital use nationwide. It enables advanced procedures like Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB) with benefits such as reduced operation time, enhanced precision, minimal trauma, quicker recovery, and lower infection risks. However, challenges include latency, connectivity, preparedness for medical and technical issues, and high capital and operating costs, with availability primarily in metro and tier-1 cities.
- India has emerged as a major exporter of French Fries, which owes much contract farming through which companies procuring potato directly from growers and deepening farmer engagement.
- Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have identified 23 species of blood-sucking flies (Midges), 13 of them recorded for the first time in the country, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- The Karnataka Health Department launched the “Maatrutva Suraksha Abhiyaan” (Maternal Safety Campaign), a state-wide antenatal care initiative addressing maternal deaths through free monthly health check-up camps held on the 9th and 24th of each month at state-run facilities. Launched by Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao in Raichur, the campaign focuses on promoting maternal safety and well-being for all pregnant women in Karnataka. Key measures include quality healthcare for high-risk pregnancies, regular screenings, awareness of nutrition and supplements, mandatory tests like OGTT for gestational diabetes, and systematic follow-ups. The initiative also emphasizes family education on recognizing danger signs and ensuring access to emergency care, with provisions for immunizations, folic acid, calcium supplements, and infection control.
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched the Entity Locker platform to revolutionize business document management in India. This platform offers secure 10GB cloud storage, real-time document access and verification through government databases, digital signature authentication, Aadhaar-based role access, and consent-based sharing. It streamlines compliance, reduces administrative tasks, enhances efficiency, and integrates with organizations like MCA, GSTN, and DGFT. With applications in vendor verification, loan processing, FSSAI compliance, and corporate filings, Entity Locker is a strategic initiative under the Digital India Programme to create a digitally empowered business environment, foster productivity, and unlock economic opportunities.
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a major breakthrough in hypersonic missile technology with the successful ground testing of a scramjet engine by DRDL in Hyderabad for 120 seconds, a significant step in next-generation hypersonic missions as highlighted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Scramjet engines, essential for hypersonic missiles exceeding speeds of Mach 5, enable supersonic combustion without moving parts, offering rapid, high-impact strikes while bypassing air defense systems. The test showcased successful ignition, stable combustion, and innovative flame stabilization at airspeeds over 1.5 km/second, achieved through years of research. The scramjet fuel, jointly developed by DRDL and industry, enhances cooling and ignition efficiency, while a thermal barrier coating developed with the Department of Science and Technology ensures durability under extreme temperatures during hypersonic flight, paving the way for advanced operational capabilities.
