Published on: May 28, 2024

Snippets : 28 MAY 2024

Snippets : 28 MAY 2024

  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet extended the tenure of Samir V. Kamat as the Secretary of Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) for one year
  • The Indianapolis 500, also formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, or simply the Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indianapolis. Josef Newgarden of Team Penske warded off a late challenge from Mexican Pato O’Ward to win Indianapolis 500  becoming the first back-to-back winner in 22 years
  • DD Kisan deploys two AI anchors. The anchors have been named as ‘AI Krish’ and ‘AI Bhoomi’, and can speak in 50 Indian and foreign languages.
  • The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India hosted “Pharma Research in AyurGyan And Techno Innovation (PRAGATI-2024)” at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. This interactive meeting focuses on exploring research opportunities and fostering collaboration between CCRAS and the Ayurveda drug industry
  • ‘Bengaluru Darshini’, a hop-on-hop-off bus service by BMTC, launched in 2015, provides day-long tours of Bengaluru’s major attractions. Initially attracting 685 passengers in 2021 with a revenue of ₹26.27 lakh, the service saw a tenfold increase in 2022 with over 6,400 passengers and ₹32.97 lakh revenue. By April 2024, it served 2,578 passengers, earning ₹10.42 lakh. Strategies like post-pandemic marketing and multilingual driver-guides have boosted its popularity. While it faces challenges in reaching more tourists, effective marketing could maximize its potential, making it a key tourist attraction in Bengaluru.
  • GAIL commissions its first green hydrogen plant in Madhya Pradesh, producing 4.3 tonnes/day with a 10 MW electrolyzer from Canada, supporting India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission for 5MMT production by 2030. Hydrogen initially used at Vijaipur, later for retail; IOCL, Reliance, Adani have similar initiatives. The Mission aims for 5 MMT/yr capacity, Rs. 8L cr investment, 6L jobs, Rs. 1L cr fossil fuel import reduction, and 50 MMT GHG abatement by 2030, emphasizing green hydrogen’s clean energy potential.
  • The Zero Debris Charter, signed by twelve nations and the ESA, aligns with ESA’s Zero Debris approach, aiming for debris neutrality in space by 2030. Signatory countries include Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, showcasing Europe’s leadership in space sustainability efforts. The Charter’s objectives focus on mitigating and remediating space debris to ensure long-term sustainability, with over 100 organizations worldwide planning to join.
  • The Indian Army has partnered with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus technology trials, emphasizing a commitment to sustainable transport solutions. This collaboration underscores the Army’s efforts to adopt green technology.