Published on: July 3, 2024
Snippets : 3 JULY 2024
Snippets : 3 JULY 2024
- Jyothi Yarraji is set to become the first Indian 100m hurdler to compete in the Olympics while shot putter Abha Khatua made a surprise cut through world rankings for Paris Games.
- NASA has recently captured an epic view of the largest volcano in our solar system named Olympus Mons using the Mars Odyssey orbiter.
- Scientists have identified a species of desert moss called ‘Syntrichia caninervis’ that could be a game-changer for future space exploration and colonisation efforts.
- Astronomers recently discovered a new radio galaxy using the LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR). It is a highly innovative, pan-European distributed radio interferometer and the first of its kind. It observes the Universe at low radio frequencies, close to the FM radio band, from 90 to 200 MHz. It was developed by the Dutch Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) with the goal of exploring the early, distant universe, solar activity, and the terrestrial atmosphere.
- Nouka baich boat races will soon begin in several rural pockets of West Bengal.
- A UK-based teenager, Oran Knowlson who has become the first person in the world to be fitted with a brain implant to help bring his epileptic seizures under control by using deep brain stimulation (DBS) device
- The Karnataka government is considering the establishment of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to manage Bengaluru’s expanding needs. This new governance body will have planning and financial powers, overseeing multiple corporations and parastatal agencies. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will shift its focus to large infrastructure projects, losing its current power to approve land use and development plans. A draft bill, created by a four-member committee, proposes the GBA structure, which includes an apex body headed by the Chief Minister, various city officials, and domain experts. The GBA will manage planning, fund utilization, and coordinate major infrastructure projects, with the jurisdiction expanded by about 250 sq km to cover Bengaluru’s periphery.
- The Union government launched the NIRMAN Portal, a CSR initiative by Coal India Limited (CIL) under “Mission Karmayogi,” to provide Rs 1,00,000 support to eligible UPSC aspirants from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, female, or third gender categories, with annual family income less than Rs 8 lakhs, who are permanent residents of CIL’s operational districts, ensuring transparency through a dedicated digital application process.
- India has developed and certified SEBEX 2, a new high-performance explosive, under the Make in India initiative by Economic Explosives Limited, and certified by the Indian Navy. SEBEX 2, which uses a high-melting explosive composition, significantly increases the lethality of various munitions and has a TNT equivalence of 2.01, surpassing that of the BrahMos warhead. Future developments include a variant with a TNT equivalence of 2.3. Additional certified explosives include SITBEX 1, a thermobaric explosive for fortified positions, and SIMEX 4, an insensitive munition ideal for torpedo warheads in submarines.
- A new study by the World Resources Institute (WRI) emphasizes the importance of incentivizing MSMEs to facilitate India’s transition to clean energy. MSMEs, which account for 25% of India’s energy consumption, face challenges such as limited financial access and reliance on outdated technologies. The study underscores the need for improved governance, institutional frameworks, and awareness to support MSMEs in reducing CO2 emissions and achieving India’s carbon reduction goals. Tailored government interventions and sector-specific skills are essential for a successful clean energy transition.
