NATIONAL NEWS
India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Challenge’ launched by Minister Hardeep Singh
Under the Ministry’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri launched the ‘India WaterPitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Challenge.’ This comes after the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s ceremonial launch of AMRUT 2.0 on October 1, 2021, stakeholder discussions in Lucknow (during MoHUA’s Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav festivities), and Cabinet approval of the Mission on October 12, 2021. At India Habitat Centre, MoHUA hosted the ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Conclave,’ a first-of-its-kind networking platform for entrepreneurs, young innovators, industry partners, incubators, and states/cities. During the conclave, Union Minister HUA announced a startup challenge on the MyGov platform.
ISRO organized Young Scientist Programme “YUVIKA” for students
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is organizing a special programme for school children called “Yuva Vigyani Karyakram” (YUVIKA) or “Young Scientist Programme”. Aimed at creating awareness about emerging trends in science and technology, this programme is expected to encourage more students to pursue research and a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
In Ahmedabad, PM inaugurates the 11th Khel Mahakumbh
The 11th edition of the Khel Mahakumbh was started on Saturday at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi claimed that he appointed Khel Mahakumbh as Gujarat’s Chief Minister in 2010. Khel Mahakumbh, which began in Gujarat in 2010 with 16 sports and 13 lakh participants, now includes 36 general sports and 26 para-sports. The 11th Khel Mahakumbh has received over 45 lakh registrations. Due to COVID-19, we were not able to organize Khel Mahakumbh. Started in 2010 with 16 sports & 13 lakh participants, Khel Mahakumbh increased to 36 general sports & 26 para-sports in 2019.”
Geetanjali Shree’s translation ‘Tomb of Sand’ nominated for International Booker Prize
Author Geetanjali Shree’s translated Hindi novel “Tomb of Sand” is among 13 books long-listed for the International Booker Prize. It is the first Hindi language work of fiction to make it to the long list of the prestigious literary prize. The book was originally published as ‘Ret Samadhi’ and translated into English by Daisy Rockwell. It will compete for the GBP 50,000 prize, which is split evenly between the author and translator.
India’s 1st ever GI-tagged Kashmir carpets flagged off to Germany
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has launched quick response (QR) code for its GI-tagged Kashmiri carpet, to preserve the authenticity and genuineness of the hand-knotted carpets. The main objective of this QR Code attached to the GI tag is to help in reviving the sheen and glory of the Kashmiri carpet industry. The QR code will contain relevant information of the artisans, manufacturer, weaver, district, raw material used etc. Since the QR code label cannot be copied or misused, it will discourage the counterfeit production of carpets. Meanwhile, the first-ever consignment of GI-tagged hand-knotted carpets were exported to Germany from New Delhi on March 11, 2022. It must be noted that the Kashmiri carpets were granted GI-tag in June 2016 by the Geographical Indication Registry of the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, but the registered carpets were certified from 2022.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
New Zealand restarts tourism
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern has announced that the country is ready to welcome the world back. Most tourists are allowed to return by May as the nation eases its covid-19 restrictions. The tourists from Australia, under the new timeline, will be able to visit from April 12 and the tourists from other visa-waiver countries can visit from May 1, 2022. Notably, the tourists from non-waiver countries including China and India will need to wait unless they already have valid visitor visas. The tourists visiting New Zealand must be vaccinated and must be tested negative for the virus before leaving their home country and again after arriving in New Zealand.
Indonesia-Philippines earthquake
Earthquake tremors were felt on Monday in western Indonesia and the capital region of the Philippines before Japan. No immediate tsunami warning was issued. The US Geological Survey said a 6.7-magnitude quake was felt in Indonesia, with its epicenter about 169 km west of Pariman at a depth of 16 km. Pariman is a district located in the West Sumatra Province. The Philippines’ Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a 6.4-magnitude quake was felt in the Philippines’ capital region and outskirts of the province.
