PM Modi addresses the Summit for Democracy hosted by the US President via video conferencing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for united efforts to shape global norms for emerging technologies like social media and cryptocurrencies in a virtual address at the Summit for Democracy hosted by US President Joe Biden.
I am proud to represent the world's largest democracy at this Summit. The democratic spirit is integral to our civilization ethos. Elected republican city-states such as Lichhavi and Shakya flourished in India as far as 2500 years back. The same democratic spirit is seen in the 10th Century "Uttaramerur" inscription that codified the principles of democratic participation. This very democratic spirit and ethos had made ancient India one of the most prosperous. Centuries of colonial rule could not suppress the democratic spirit of the Indian people. It again found full expression with India's independence, and led to an unparalleled story in democratic nation-building over the last 75 years.
NITI Aayog releases two comprehensive reports on emergency and injury care in India.
NITI Aayog today released two comprehensive reports on current status on country level-secondary and tertiary level and district level emergency and injury care in India. These reports bring out the prevailing gaps in ambulance services, health infrastructure, human resources, and equipment in the provision of optimal care.
These reports were launched in the presence of Member (Health) Dr V. K. Paul. In the foreword of the report, Dr. Paul highlighted the importance for India to embark on creating a world-class, efficient, professional, and integrated emergency-care system.
Indian Mathematician Neena Gupta wins 2021 DST-ICTP-IMU Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians from Developing Countries.
Neena Gupta, a mathematician at the Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata, has been awarded the '2021 DST-ICTP-IMU Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians from developing countries' for her outstanding work in affine algebraic geometry and commutative algebra, informed the Ministry of Science and Technology.
She has also won Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award (2019) in the category of mathematical sciences, the highest honour in India in the field of science and technology. Neena Gupta received the Indian National Science Academy Young Scientist award in 2014 for the solution she proposed to the Zariski Cancellation Problem in positive characteristic.
According to the report, Neena Gupta is the third woman to receive the Ramanujan Prize, which was first awarded in 2005. The Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians from developing countries is awarded to a researcher less than 45 years of age who has conducted outstanding research. The prize is supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters through the Abel Fund, with the cooperation of the International Mathematical Union.
Indian architect Balakrishna Doshi wins the Royal Gold Medal 2022 given by Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
The 94-year-old renowned Indian architect Balakrishna Doshi has won the Royal Gold Medal 2022, the highest honor for architecture in the United Kingdom.
On Thursday, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) made the announcement praising Doshi's influence on the architecture of India and its neighbouring regions.
Indian researcher Sonali Garg awarded Harvard University’s Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Postdoctoral Fellowship for discovering 50 frog species.
A Delhi University researcher has been awarded the Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Postdoctoral fellowship to work at Harvard University, the varsity said on Friday.
Sonali Garg was awarded.
Garg holds the distinction of discovering 50 new frog species, and is probably the first Indian woman to achieve this feat, according to a statement by the varsity's Department of Environmental Studies.
At Harvard, she will work at the Museum of Comparative Zoology in affiliation with the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, said the statement.
NITI Aayog and Bharti Foundation launch Convoke 2021-22 which aims at addressing challenges in imparting education.
What is Convoke?
CONVOKE is a National Research Symposium for Teachers and Heads of Schools.
Aim: To address challenges in imparting education and strengthening its quality with special focus on all teachers, educationists, heads of schools across India.
Through this platform, School Teachers/ Heads/Principals of Government Schools and teachers from Bharti Foundation network will be encouraged to use research-based solutions through scientific approach. It would showcase their efforts taken at the grass-root level in improving learning outcomes.
significance of this initiative
* the initiative will promote the suggestions of the National Education Policy 2020 on recognizing novel approaches to teaching that improve learning outcomes in their classrooms.
* it will help in creating a culture of using research-based pedagogy to improve learning outcomes in school education.
* Teachers over the years have been coming up with innovative solution to help support students and even more during lockdown. Through Convoke they’ll be able to share their micro research papers. The shortlisted Research Papers will be presented during ‘National Research Symposium’ scheduled in January, 2022.
RBI makes Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) mandatory for cross-border transactions of Rs 50 crore and above.
The Reserve Bank of India on Friday made the 'Legal Entity Identifier' mandatory for cross-border transactions for capital or current account transactions worth Rs 50 crore and above.
The LEI is a 20-digit number used to uniquely identify parties to financial transactions worldwide to improve the quality and accuracy of financial data systems.
The identifier norm has been introduced in a phased manner for participants in the over the counter (OTC) derivative, non-derivative markets, large corporate borrowers, and large value transactions in centralised payment systems.
Starting October 1, 2022, banks will have to obtain the `LEI` number from the resident entities (non-individuals) undertaking any capital or current account transactions.
For LEI holders, it would be mandatory to furnish the number in all transactions irrespective of the transaction size.
Govt to distribute LED bulbs at highly subsidised rate at Rs. 10 in 5 states on the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day (Dec 14).
State-owned CESL will distribute LED bulbs at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 10 per unit under the Gram UJALA scheme to mark National Energy Conservation Day on December 14.
"On the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day 2021, observed each year on 14th December, Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) will be expanding their flagship Gram UJALA programme," a power ministry statement said.
Under the initiative, LED bulbs will be distributed at a highly subsidised rate at Rs 10 across 2,579 villages in five states -- Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
ISRO signs a deal with smartphone maker OPPO for development of NavIC messaging service.
The Indian Space Research Organisation has signed an agreement with Chinese smart devices maker Oppo's Indian arm to strengthen the research and development of the NavIC messaging service. The NavIC system provides regional navigation services covering the Indian mainland and an area up to 1,500 km beyond the Indian mainland. In addition to its primary function of providing PNT (position, navigation, and timing) services, NavIC is also capable of broadcasting short messages.
Under the agreement, ISRO and Oppo India will exchange technical information of NavIC messaging services to build rapid, ready-to-use, end-to-end application-specific solutions by integrating NavIC messaging service with the mobile handset platform keeping in mind the need of Indian users.
Pharma company Lupin launches diagnostics arm Lupin Diagnostics
Homegrown pharma major Lupin Ltd on Friday announced the launch of its diagnostics arm as part of its strategy to provide integrated healthcare in India.
Lupin Diagnostics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, has formally commenced operations in the country, Lupin said in a regulatory filing.
The company said it has established a 45,000 sq ft National Reference Laboratory in Navi Mumbai. The core facilities of the laboratory include all major diagnostics services, preventive health checkups, and a comprehensive range of tests.
All the processing will be operated by Lupin Healthcare as a hub and will be connected to a nation-wide network of regional, satellite and collection centers. In addition, Lupin is identifying franchisee partners for the initiative, it added.
Industrial production grows 3.2% in October: Govt data
Index of Industrial Production (IIP Data), October 2021: Industrial production gauged by the industrial production index, slipped to 3.2 per cent in October, compared to 4,5 per cent in the year-ago period.
UN celebrates Human Rights Day on Dec 10; theme: ‘EQUALITY – Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights’
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly.
Human rights day is celebrated on December 10 every year. This day marks the importance of rights everybody is entitled for irrespective of caste,religion,sex and language.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly. The 2021 human rights day theme is said to be 'Equality - reducing inequalities, advancing human rights'.
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species updated; number of species at risk of extinction exceeds 40,000
The destruction of wetlands is driving the decline of dragonflies worldwide, according to the first global assessment of these species in today’s update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their decline is symptomatic of the widespread loss of the marshes, swamps and free-flowing rivers they breed in, mostly driven by the expansion of unsustainable agriculture and urbanisation around the world.
UNGA grants Observer Status to International Solar Alliance
Fourth General Assembly of ISA
The fourth general assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was held in October 2021. In the event, a total of 108 countries participated, including 74 member countries and 34 observer & prospective countries. Apart from that, 23 partner organisations and 33 special invitee organisations also participated.
About International Solar Alliance (ISA)
ISA is an alliance of 124 countries. This initiative was started by India. Most of these countries are sunshine countries.
These countries are located either completely or partly between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.
ISA was established with the objective of working for efficient consumption of solar energy in a bid to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
ISA was first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, in a speech at Wembley Stadium. During the speech, he referred to sunshine countries as Suryaputra , “Sons of the Sun”.
It is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization.
After the United Nations, ISA is the largest grouping of states world-wide.
New Zealand to ban cigarette sales for future generations.
Anyone born after 2008 will not be able to buy cigarettes or tobacco products in their lifetime, under a law expected to be enacted next year.
The move is part of a sweeping crackdown on smoking announced by New Zealand's health ministry.
New Zealand is determined to achieve a national goal of reducing its national smoking rate to 5% by 2025, with the aim of eventually eliminating it altogether.
At the moment, 13% of New Zealand's adults smoke, with the rate much higher among the indigenous Maori population, where it soars to almost a third. Maori also suffer a higher rate of disease and death.
Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent: India’s Jhilli Dalabehera wins gold in women’s 49kg category.
Indian weightlifter Jhilli Dalabehera won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2021 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday.
Jhilli Dalabehera, an Asian weightlifting champion in the 45kg category and a former world junior bronze winner, was competing in the women’s 49kg. Tokyo Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu, who opted to skip the Tashkent meet, competes in the same category.
The Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships is a qualifying event for the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. It is being held concurrently with the World Weightlifting Championships.
