NATIONAL NEWS
1.India, Bangladesh, Japan to hold connectivity meet in Tripura
Bangladesh, India and Japan are going to hold an event in Tripura of India on April 11-12 on connectivity initiatives to harness the commercial potential of the region.
Asian Confluence, a think tank from North East India, is organising the meeting in collaboration with India’s Ministry of External Affairs, according to India -based news outlets.
Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam is expected to join the event to represent Bangladesh. India’s deputy foreign minister and Japanese ambassador to India will also join the programme.
A recently conducted study suggested that both Northeast India and Bangladesh need to scale up their multi-modal connectivity, which would not only help the region to raise its competitiveness but also narrow the development gaps in the region.
2.Women Officers in Regiment of Artillery
In a historic move, the Indian Army is set to commission its first lot of women officers in the artillery regiments later this month. The Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai will see these women officers pass out after receiving training to handle howitzers and rocket systems. This development comes after women officers have been serving in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy for several years.
Women in Combat Arms
The Indian Army still does not allow women officers to join the main combat arms. However, artillery is designated as a ‘combat-support arm’, and it is deployed along the unresolved volatile borders with both China and Pakistan. The Regiment of Artillery has over 280 units that handle a variety of howitzers, guns, and multiple-launch rocket systems. The induction of women officers in this unit is a significant step towards gender equality in the Indian Army.
STATE NEWS
1.Food Conclave 2023
On April 28 and 29, the Telangana government will host the Food Conclave-2023. The event is an annual brainstorming session that brings together 100 thought leaders from the agri-food industry. The conclave’s objective is to identify the main challenges and opportunities for the growth of the Indian agri-food sector in the present decade.
Collaborations with Organizations
The Telangana government is collaborating with several organizations to conduct the sessions. These include the World Economic Forum-India, Indian Vegetable Oil Producers Association (IVPA), Indian Dairy Association, Heifer International, and Society of Aquaculture Professionals. Through these collaborations, the government hopes to bring in different perspectives on how to tackle the challenges facing the agri-food sector.
2.Chief Minister M K Stalin launched Thiranari Thervu Thittam
Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday launched Thiranari Thervu Thittam (Aptitude scheme) during the inauguration of Indian Institute of Technology’s (IIT–Madras) outreach programme to motivate government school students to take up a career in electronic sciences.
He said, “Through this event. We announce the new scheme called ‘Thiranari Thervu Thittam’. As many as 1,000 students (500 boys and 500 girls) studying in class X will be chosen for this scheme. Guidance will be provided to the students by connecting them to higher education institutions.”
“And, a stipend of Rs 1,000 will be provided every month until they finish Class 12. Students selected under this scheme will also get Rs 12,000 as stipend annually during their under-graduation and post-graduation, ” he added.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1.Indian Space Policy 2023
The Indian Space Policy 2023 was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security. The policy seeks to institutionalise private sector participation in the space sector, with ISRO focusing on research and development of advanced space technologies
What are the Major Provisions of Indian Space Policy 2023?
- The policy will pave the way forward with much-required clarity in space reforms and augment private industry participation to drive the space economy opportunity for the country.
- The private sector can use ISRO facilities for a small charge and is encouraged to invest in creating new infrastructure for the sector.
- The policy will allow the private sector to take part in end-to-end space activities that include building satellites, rockets, and launch vehicles, data collection and dissemination.
- Impact
- The policy will help India increase its share in the global space economy substantially from less than 2% to 10% in the future.
2.KSINC launches India’s first solar-powered tourist boat
Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) has launched a solar-powered tourist boat called Sooryamshu that can produce 27 KW of energy.
The solar panels will provide about 75% of the vessel’s energy needs, while the rest will be met by the generators.
The boat was built in Sri Lanka for Rs. 3.95 crores.
AWARD NEWS
Bharat Biotech wins award at World Vaccine Congress 2023
At the World Vaccine Congress 2023 held in Washington, USA from April 3-6, Bharat Biotech was awarded the Best Production/Process Development award as a part of the Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) awards.
Bharat Biotech, headquartered in Hyderabad, was the sole Indian company among the nominees for the VIE awards in multiple categories such as the best clinical trial company, best clinical trial network, best central/specialty laboratory, best contract research organisation, and best production/process development, among others. Bharat Biotech is known for developing the world’s first intranasal Covid-19 vaccine, iNcovacc, and its intramuscular vaccine, Covaxin, which is used in India’s public vaccination programme and has also been exported.
ENVIRONMENT
Caltoris bromus sadasiva
A group of lepidopterists discovered a butterfly subspecies from the peripheries of Akkulam and Vembanad lakes in Kerala. The newly-discovered taxon is named Caltoris bromus sadasiva, and it is the first record of the species Bromus swift from the Western Ghats and Peninsular India.
Significance of the Discovery
With the discovery of Caltoris bromus sadasiva, the count of skipper butterflies in the Western Ghats has grown to 83 species. It also increased number of butterfly species in the Western Ghats to 336. The finding of the new subspecies happened nearly 75 years after the last skipper butterfly was spotted by lepidopterist and British Army officer W.H. Evans.
The discovery of Caltoris bromus sadasiva is not only exciting for lepidopterists, but it also highlights the importance of protecting the biodiversity of the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to a high diversity of flora and fauna, including many endemic species. Such discoveries also underscore the need for continued research and conservation efforts to preserve these valuable ecosystems.
Previous current affairs :https://www.pmias.in/tnpsc-important-current-affairs-april-7/
Source:https://www.dinamalar.com/
