Published on: December 6, 2024

Snippets : 6 DECEMBER 2024

Snippets : 6 DECEMBER 2024

  • Karnataka will introduce its pioneering Circular Economy Policy in the upcoming budget. Key aspects include mandating 20% sustainable construction materials for government projects, with potential tax incentives and concessional power for private adoption. Solar panel incentives for commercial realty are already in place. The policy focuses on infrastructure and road projects, collaborating with RDPR and the Forest Department to utilize recycled materials and plastics in roads and other uses. Waste management efforts aim to remove plastic from water bodies through partnerships with fisheries, tourism, and transport departments. Additional sustainability measures include refurbished laptops for rural libraries and mandating glass bottles for government events.
  • The UNCCD’s Drought Atlas projects that by 2050, 75% of the global population will face drought risks, driven by human activities like unsustainable water use, poor land management, and urbanization. This challenge highlights vulnerabilities, such as India’s agricultural sector, where over 25 million workers risk yield losses, particularly in soybeans. Case studies like Chennai’s 2019 “Day Zero” and water riots in India (2020–2023) demonstrate mismanagement’s societal impacts. Global and local policies, international cooperation, and data-driven early warning systems are crucial to mitigate these effects. Adaptation guidelines from the Drought Atlas recommend governance measures (microinsurance, water pricing), land-use strategies (restoration, agroforestry), and water management practices (reuse, groundwater recharge). The International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), established in 2022, collaborates on innovations and best practices to combat drought’s cascading effects on energy, trade, and agriculture. A systemic, whole-of-society approach, as emphasized in the Atlas, is essential to address interconnected risks and promote forward-thinking resilience strategies.
  • The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C59) successfully launched the PROBA-3 satellite, marking ISRO’s 61st commercial mission in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). PROBA-3, a part of ESA’s Project for Onboard Autonomy, is a solar research mission designed to study the Sun’s corona with unprecedented precision. The mission utilizes advanced formation flying technology, comprising two spacecraft—the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC)—which maintain a precise separation of 150 meters in a highly elliptical orbit. This alignment creates a virtual solar coronagraph, enabling autonomous observations of the Sun’s corona in the visible, UV, IR, and polarized light spectrums, extending to 1.1 solar radii. In addition to studying the corona’s structure and dynamics, PROBA-3 acts as a “space laboratory” for testing navigation and control algorithms, with potential applications in future space missions and orbital debris management.
  • Gharcholas, traditional sarees worn during weddings in Gujarat’s Hindu and Jain communities, have been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognizing their cultural and handicraft value. Announced at the “GI and Beyond – Virasat Se Vikas Tak” program in New Delhi, this marks Gujarat’s 27th GI tag, underscoring its rich textile heritage. These sarees are known for their auspicious colors like red, maroon, green, and yellow, symbolizing sacredness in Hindu customs, and intricate craftsmanship with symbolic patterns. Under the Hastakala Setu Yojana, Gujarat’s traditional arts like Surat’s ‘Saadeli’ art, Banaskantha’s ‘Soof’ embroidery, Bharuch’s ‘Sujni’ craft, Ahmedabad’s ‘Saudagiri Print,’ and ‘Maata Ni Pacchedi’ have also been recognized for their contribution to India’s handicraft legacy.
  • The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Bengaluru hosted its second ‘Agriculture Future Forward: Startup Conclave’, bringing together farmers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to promote innovative “agripreneur” ideas. The event featured 45 stalls, including startups, agri-innovation clusters, and incubation centers, and drew over 600 participants. Key attractions included genome-editing and AI-enabled beekeeping innovations, while panel discussions focused on driving innovation through industry-academia collaboration and entrepreneurship opportunities in agriculture.
  • The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has announced Ananth Technologies Limited (ATL) as the beneficiary of the Announcement of Opportunity (AO), enabling access to Indian orbital resources for non-government entities. ATL will undertake the development, launch, and operation of a multi-beam high-throughput Ka band communication satellite, making it the first private Indian satellite operator to provide state-of-the-art geosynchronous orbit (GSO) communication satellite services to the country. This move is seen as a transformative step for the Indian space sector, establishing a new benchmark for private sector participation in generating SATCOM capacity through indigenous satellites.
  • On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) and the Association of People with Disability (APD) launched a nationwide accessibility audit campaign, powered by APD’s AI-powered YesToAccess app. This innovative app enables anyone to assess public spaces’ accessibility by analyzing features like ramps and accessible toilets through a simple photograph, generating real-time accessibility scores available on an interactive map.
  • The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed 95% reservation in government jobs for locals in Ladakh, one-third reservation for women in hill councils and has agreed to address concerns regarding land-related matters, according to leaders from the region who attended a high-powered committee (HPC) meeting
  • Brig Raj Manchanda(‘Old Fox’ of Indian squash), a six-time National squash champion and Arjuna Awardee, passed away in Delhi at 80. Known for his resilience and coaching, Manchanda had an illustrious career, including a fourth-place finish at the 1984 Asian Championships, and will be remembered for his kindness, singing talent, and dedication to mentoring young squash players.
  • The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has reclassified packaged drinking water and mineral water as a “High Risk Food Category”, subjecting them to stricter safety measures and inspections. This move aims to enhance consumer protection and ensure better quality control in the bottled water industry, following concerns over contamination and poor handling. As a result, manufacturers of packaged drinking water and mineral water will undergo risk-based inspections annually and third-party audits, with all centrally licensed manufacturers required to get their businesses audited annually. Food products that come under the “High Risk” category are subjected to mandatory risk-based inspections.
  • The 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference (AOMSUC-14) is being held from December 4-6, 2024, in New Delhi, India, hosted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Since its inception in 2010, AOMSUC has become a prominent event for meteorologists, earth scientists, satellite operators, and students worldwide. This year’s conference includes oral and poster presentations, panel discussions, and a training workshop focused on the application of satellite data for meteorological and climatological purposes. The conference aims to promote satellite observations, advance remote sensing science, foster collaboration between satellite operators and users, update participants on international space programs, encourage the development of new technologies, and engage young scientists in the field.
  • The 4th edition of Exercise HARIMAU SHAKTI commenced at Bentong camp, Pahang district, Malaysia.
  • Karnataka is making significant strides toward enhancing its public transportation system in Bengaluru by focusing on electric buses. Under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, launched on September 29, 2024, the central government has allocated Rs 10,900 crore to support electric vehicle infrastructure, including Rs 4,391 crore for the procurement of 14,028 electric buses in major cities. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is seeking 5,000 electric buses to address the city’s demand for 10,000-12,000 buses, aiming to replace older buses and improve the efficiency of its public transportation network. BMTC’s existing fleet includes 1,231 non-AC electric vehicles, with plans to add 320 AC e-buses, midibuses, and even double-decker buses.
  • The Supreme Court of India has mandated the uniform implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH Act) across all states and Union Territories. The court identified significant enforcement gaps even a decade after the Act’s enactment. Key directives include the appointment of district officers by December 31, 2024, and the establishment of Local Complaints Committees (LCCs) by January 31, 2025. Additionally, the court emphasized the integration of the SheBox portal for centralized complaints and updates on committees, with a deadline for compliance by March 31, 2025.
  • Indian team won the junior Asia Cup in Muscat
  • The Bengaluru City railway station recorded the highest nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in the city for over 80% of 2023, followed by BTM Layout and Silk Board, as revealed in Greenpeace India’s report “Beyond North India: NO₂ Pollution and Health Risks in Seven Major Indian Cities.” The NO2 levels at the station far exceeded the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended annual limit of 10 µg/m³, posing severe health risks such as asthma, respiratory inflammation, and increased susceptibility to lung and circulatory diseases. Greenpeace India highlighted the transportation sector as the largest contributor to NO2 pollution, emphasizing the need for cleaner, sustainable public transport to mitigate the health crisis. The report advocates region-specific strategies, including enhanced public transit systems and fare-free schemes for women, to combat worsening air quality in major Indian cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
  • The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has launched an Air Quality Dashboard, a public platform providing real-time and forecasted air pollution data using ground sensors and satellite imagery. The dashboard covers local, sub-regional, and regional scales, featuring tools like a dynamic timelapse powered by the WRF-Chem model to track PM2.5 plumes across hotspots such as Lahore, New Delhi, and Kolkata. It offers insights into the interaction between weather and pollution, integrating emissions data to show cross-border pollution dynamics and providing two-day forecasts for communities, researchers, and policymakers. ICIMOD, an intergovernmental knowledge hub established in 1983 and headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal, serves Hindu Kush Himalaya countries through knowledge sharing, policy engagement, and sustainable mountain development initiatives.
  • Bengaluru’s nitrogen dioxide levels are a major concern, with the city’s annual average concentration in 2023 being nearly double the World Health Organisation’s prescribed standards. According to a Greenpeace India report, Bengaluru ranks fourth among seven densely populated Indian cities, with Chennai, Pune, and Hyderabad taking the top three spots. The City Railway Station emerged as the most polluted area, exceeding WHO standards for 295 days in 2023. The report attributes the high NO2 levels to the transportation sector, particularly the rise in private vehicles, and emphasizes the need for a sustainable and efficient public transportation system to tackle this issue
  • Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced that four historical places in Karnataka have been included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These sites include the Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate, Monuments of Srirangapatna Island Town, Evolution of Temple Architecture: Aihole-Badami Pattadakal and Hire Benkal, and the Megalithic Site. Karnataka already boasts several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Hampi, Pattadakal, and the Western Ghats. The Ministry of Tourism has also sanctioned several projects in Karnataka, worth Rs 200 crore, to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.
  • Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and the Office of Science & Innovation, Embassy of Sweden, have successfully concluded SheSTEM 2024, an annual event celebrating women’s contributions to STEM and inspiring the next generation of innovators. The SheSTEM 2024 challenge, part of the India-Nordic BEST project, invited students from grades 6-12 to submit innovative ideas on Battery Technology and Energy Storage (BEST) systems, receiving over 1000 submissions showcasing India’s youth’s creativity and problem-solving skills.
  • In a historic moment, the Tikhir tribe of Nagaland conducted its first-ever Log Drum Pulling Ceremony during the 25th Hornbill Festival 2024. The Tikhirs are an indigenous Naga tribe residing in Nagaland, parts of neighboring states, and Myanmar. They speak Naga Yimchungru, a Tibeto-Burman language, and traditionally rely on agriculture and hunting for sustenance. Once headhunters, the practice was outlawed in the 1960s. With the advent of Christian missionaries, most Tikhirs adopted Christianity while retaining elements of their folk religion. Their main festival, “Tsonglaknyi,” held annually from October 9-12, celebrates the sanctification of the shield.