National news
1.PM Modi inaugurates new ITU Area Office and Innovation Center in New Delhi
On March 22, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, inaugurated the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area Office and Innovation Centre in the country. At an event held in New Delhi, he also launched the Bharat 6G Vision Document, as well as the 6G Research and Development Test Bed and the Call Before U dig App.
India and International Telecommunication Union (ITU):
India signed a Host Country Agreement with ITU in March 2022 for establishing an area office, which is located on the second floor of the Centre for Development of Telematics building in Mehrauli, New Delhi.
Significance of this Development:
The fully funded office will cater to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Iran, with the goal of improving coordination between nations and promoting mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.
2. Govt approves installation of ‘Statue of Knowledge’ dedicated to Ambedkar
On April 13, a 70-feet tall statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar will be unveiled in Latur city, Maharashtra. The unveiling ceremony will take place in the presence of Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Ramdas Athawale, along with other dignitaries such as former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and state minister Sanjay Bansode.
The statue has been erected in Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Park and the ceremony will be held a day before his 131st birth anniversary. The statue will be showered with flower petals from a helicopter on April 14 to commemorate the occasion.
Using fiber as the primary material, a team of 35 artists has been tirelessly working to construct the statue of Dr. Ambedkar. The lead artist, Akshay Halke, has announced that this is the first statue in the world of Dr. Ambedkar to be created in just 20 days, and it is also the first of its kind in the state.
3.India aims at becoming ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030
India is aiming to become a leader in the global shipbuilding industry by launching the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) and setting a goal of becoming a ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030. The GTTP will start with the production of Green Hybrid Tugs, which will run on Green Hybrid Propulsion systems, and eventually switch to alternative fuel sources like Methanol, Ammonia, and Hydrogen. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda SonowaI has inauguarted the National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) set-up in Gurugram, Haryana, and the Green Tugs will begin operating in major ports by 2025. By 2030, it is expected that 50% of all Tugs will be converted into Green Tugs, resulting in a significant reduction in emissions and contributing to the country’s sustainable development goals.
State news
1.Himanta Biswa Sarma launches Mission Lifestyle for Environment(LiFE) in Assam
Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, inaugurated the ‘Mission Lifestyle for Environment’ (LiFE) in the state, which is a global mass movement led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sarma stated that the initiative aims to encourage an environmentally conscious lifestyle, with a focus on utilizing resources rather than engaging in wasteful consumption. As part of the Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative, various week-long activities will be conducted across all districts in Assam. These activities will target seven identified categories, including energy and water conservation, reducing plastic and e-waste, and promoting healthy lifestyles, according to Sarma.
Ranks & Reports
1.QS Rankings: IIT-Delhi enters list of top 50 institutions for engineering
The Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi has been ranked among the top 50 engineering institutions in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. Additionally, this year, a total of 44 programmes offered by Indian higher education institutions in various disciplines have been ranked in the top 100 globally. This represents an increase from last year’s report, which saw 35 Indian programmes listed in the top 100.
2.Hurun Global Rich List: India ranks third in terms of self-made billionaires
According to the 2023 M3M Hurun Global Rich List, India is ranked third in terms of the number of billionaires. However, China has almost five times more billionaires than India. The list shows that India has 105 self-made billionaires, ranking third in this category. The combined wealth of these billionaires is $381 billion, according to the Hurun list. India’s proportion of the world’s billionaires has been consistently rising over the past five years, and it now accounts for 8% of the total global billionaire population, compared to 4.9% five years ago. Among these billionaires, 57% are self-made.
Sports news
1.Paralympic Committee of India signs MoU with Makers Hive and Vilay Sports
Makers Hive and Vilay Sports have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), which was witnessed by Dr Deepa Malik, the current president of PCI, para-athlete Shri Devendra Jhajharia, and others. The MOU signing marks a significant collaboration between the three organizations.
Vilay Sports is a sports management company that aims to establish and maintain partnerships across various sports domains. The company provides comprehensive services and advanced solutions to its clients to facilitate their achievements. Vilay Sports is excited to collaborate with Makers Hive, an inventive assistive technology firm in India, and the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), which is the country’s official governing body for parasports, to establish a sustainable lifestyle for individuals with disabilities.
2.Sergio Pérez wins Saudi Arabia Grand Prix 2023
At the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix of the 2023 Formula One season, Sergio Perez displayed a dominant performance and earned his first win. His teammate at Red Bull, Max Verstappen, secured the second position after starting from the 15th spot. Although Verstappen retained his lead in the championship standings with his fastest lap, Fernando Alonso was the focus of the battle for the final podium spot, finishing in third place.
Important days
1.World Meteorological Day 2023 observed on 23rd March
Every year on March 23, World Meteorological Day is celebrated to mark the official formation of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in 1950. The day recognizes the crucial role of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) in ensuring the safety and welfare of society. The theme for World Meteorological Day 2023 is “What is the theme of World Meteorological Day 2023?”. The theme emphasizes the need to address the challenges posed by climate change and to develop strategies to ensure sustainable water and weather-related practices for future generations.
