NEWS HEADLINES 17 to 22 March 2023 | Assam Current Affairs | Pushpak RLV Mission | Siksha Setu Assam

 NEWS HEADLINES

17 to 22 March 2023

 

17^th March 23, 2024

 

1) India's first oil palm processing unit commences operations in Arunachal

In a milestone for India's agricultural sector, the country's first integrated Oil Palm Processing Unit by 3F Oil Palm, one of India's largest oil palm development companies, started its commercial operations today. The factory situated at Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, carries forward Mission Palm Oil, representing a pivotal step in India's journey towards self-reliance in edible oils, catalysed by the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).

2) 14^th Moghai Ojah Award presented to Dhaneswar Saikia

Dhaneswar Saikia of Bokakhat, an accomplished dhol player of the State, was conferred the 14th Moghai Ojah Award. The award carrying a cash prize, a seleng chadar, gamosa, japi, xorai, a citation, and a memento, is annually presented on March 15, the death anniversary of Ojah.

 

3) Indian team uses repurposed drug to treat oral cancer subtype

A study by Mumbai-based researchers has successfully identified a novel fusion transcript in head and neck cancer patients. An FDA-approved deworming drug called pyrvinium pamoate can be a potential drug to treat such cancer. The results were published in the journal NPJ Precision Oncology. Fusion transcript arises when small segments of two chromosomes exchange their positions leading to structural rearrangement of the chromosomes.

 

4) Toy-inspired engine creates power from evaporated water

Inspired by the classic drinking bird toy, scientists in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China have developed an engine that converts energy from water evaporation into electricity to power small electronics. The device produces energy outputs exceeding 100 volts and can operate for several days using only 100 milliliters of water as fuel.

 

5) With Agni V test, India makes the MIRV leap

The flight test of an Agni V ballistic missile with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under 'Mission Divyastra' was successful. It placed India in a small group of countries with this technology, by which a single missile can deliver multiple nuclear warheads.

 

18^th March 2024

 

1) EU and Egypt agree to a €7.4-billion deal on energy, migration

The EU announced a €7.4 billion financial package focussed on boosting energy trade and stemming irregular migrant flows to the 27-member bloc. The deal will include billions in credit over coming years for highly indebted Egypt, and stepping up energy sales that could help Europe "move further away from Russian gas.

 

2) Padmanath Vidyabinod, Bhuparjatak Ramnath Biswas awards presented

 

The Padmanath Vidyabinod Literary Award and the Bhuparjatak (Globe-trotter) Ramnath Biswas Literary Award, given by the Ramanath Bhattacharya Foundation, Mumbai were presented to Assamese poet Dilip Phookan and Bengali poet Joy Goswami respectively. Both the awards carry a cash prize of Rs 75,000, a citation and a memento, besides a specially designed muga scarf.

 

3) Sahitya Akademi translation prize

Chhatraman Subba, a multilingual writer and an assistant teacher from the Gorpal area on the southern part of Sootea, has been chosen for the prestigious Sahitya Akademi award for his translation work Kayakalpa. Subba translated the original Assamese novel, authored by Lakshmi Nandan Bora, into the Nepali language in 2020.

 

4) Sangita Kalanidhi award for vocalist T.M. Krishna

Carnatic vocalist and Magsaysay Award winner T.M. Krishna has been selected for the Sangita Kalanidhi award of the Music Academy for 2024.

 

5) Marwari Hospitals awarded

The city-based Marwari Hospitals bagged the award 'the best hospital with a patient friendly environment' in the city.

 

19^th March 2024

 

1) VSSC, ISRO develop multi-purpose app SAKHI to assist Gaganyaan crew

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the Space Research Or (ISRO) facility at in Thiruvananthapuram, has developed a multi-purpose app that will help astronauts on the Gaganyaan space flight mission carry out a range of tasks such as looking up vital technical information or communicating with one another. The Space-borne Assistant and Knowledge Hub for Crew Interaction (SAKHI) will, among other things, monitor the health of the astronauts, help them stay connected with Earth and even alert them about their dietary schedules.

 

2) Women hiring from campus grew 5 pc in FY23: Report

There has been a 5 percentage points increase in campus hiring of women in 2022-23, compared to the previous year as companies in India are keen on inclusivity and diversity in the workplace, a report said. In FY23, 40 per cent of the fresh talent hired from college campuses were women, up from 35 per cent in the previous year, Al-powered recruitment automation firm HirePro.

 

3) Utsav Vidyarambha-24

Following a notification from the State education department, 'Utsav Vidyarambha-24' began in all educational institutions from March 15. Utsav Vidyarambha, an enrolment drive programme is conducted every year with the help of local community, SMCs, MGs, Student Government etc during first week of academic session with a view to enhance enrolment in schools and to ensure regular classes from the very first day of the session.

 

4) Nvidia unveils flagship Al chip, the B200, aiming to extend dominance

Artificial-intelligence semiconductor powerhouse Nvidia unveiled a flagship Al chip, the Blackwell B200, saying it is up to 30 times speedier than its previous chip. The new chip has 208 billion transistors, more than double the 80 billion on the company's previous chip. All of those transistors can access the memory attached to the chip at nearly the same time, improving productivity.

 

March 20, 2024

 

1) Guwahati second most polluted city in world

Guwahati was the second most polluted city in the world out of 7,812 locations in 2023, according to a report of the IQAir. Begusarai in India was the most polluted metropolitan area of 2023, while India was home to the four most polluted cities in the world, the Swiss organisation said in the 'World Air Quality Report 2023. Guwahati's annual PM2.5 (particulate matter) average more than doubled from 51 in 2022 to 105.4 in 2023.

 

2) ASSOCHAM lauds UNNATI-2024 scheme

UNNATI-2024 is a 10-year initiative (till 2034), bolstered by an outlay of Rs 10,037 crore, with an additional eight years allotted for committed liabilities aimed at boosting economic growth and employment opportunities in the Northeast. "The scheme would certainly revolutionize the industrial landscape of Northeast, ushering in a new era of progress and opportunity, by focusing on fostering conducive environment for manufacturing, innovation, services, and entrepreneurship.

 

3) Parbati Baruah receives USTM award

On the occasion of the World Social Work Day on 19 March, the Department of Social Work of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) conferred the Social Work Excellence Award on noted animal activist, politician and India's first female mahout Parbati Baruah. Baruah started taming the wild tuskers at the age of 14 and received the Padma Shri in the field of Social Work (Animal Welfare) in 2024.

 

4) India's per capita fish consumption jumps 81% during 2005-21;

Tripura top fish-consuming State

India's annual per capita fish consumption increased to 8.89 kg in 2021 from 4.9 kg in 2005, indicating changes in dietary mix driven by higher income and rising prosperity. Tripura had the highest proportion of fish consumers (99.35 per cent) among various Indian States, while Haryana had the lowest (20.55 per cent).

 

5) Climate finance requirement to cross $10 tn by 2050: CAG

The annual climate finance requirements are estimated to cross USD 10 trillion by 2050, and failure to meet the funding demands will intensify socioeconomic consequences related to climate-linked disasters, Comptroller and Auditor General of India Girish Chandra Murmu.

 

March 21, 2024

 

1) CAG signs MoU with IIT Delhi on Artificial Intelligence

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology Delhi on artificial intelligence. The MoU marked a significant milestone in the journey towards leveraging Al for the advancement of audit practices. As part of the MoU, the CAG will get access to cutting-edge Al expertise.

 

2) Ban in the use of certain colouring agents

Karnataka became the third State in South India to ban the use of certain colouring agents in cotton candy and gobi manchurian that are found to be harmful. The Food Safety and Standards Act stipulate a fine of not less than 10 lakh and a jail term of a minimum of seven years, extending to life imprisonment, against those using banned chemical substances in food products.

 

3) Centre notifies fact check unit to screen online content

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology notified the Press Information Bureau's Fact Check Unit as the designated body to flag misinformation about Central government departments to social media platforms.

Under the IT Rules, 2021, social media platforms could lose the legal liability protections they enjoy for content posted by users, if they choose to keep notified misinformation available online.

 

4) BEML conducts test-firing of indigenous 1,500 HP engine for main battle tanks.

The maiden test-firing of India's first indigenously made 1,500 horsepower (HP) engine for Main Battle Tanks was successfully conducted at Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) engine division. The 1,500 HP engine represents a paradigm shift in military propulsion systems, possessing cutting-edge features such as high power-to-weight ratio, operability in extreme conditions including high altitudes, sub-zero temperatures, and desert environments.

 

March 22, 2024

 

1) Award to Uttam Teron

Uttam Teron, founder of Parijat Academy has been chosen for the 6th Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma Award 2024 for his contribution towards the society. Instituted by non-profit organisation Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma Trust (GKBT), the award carries a cash award of Rs 50,000, a citation and a memento.

 

2) Siksha Setu

Attendance of teachers, students through app mandatory from April 1 To ensure punctuality in schools and maintain proper records, the State government has made it mandatory to track the daily attendance of teachers and students through the Siksha Setu app from April 1, 2024. The initiative is aimed at streamlining the attendance process for both teachers and students.

 

3) Paris Olympics:

Mary Kom named chef de mission The Indian Olympic Association named Olympic medallist and multiple-times World champion boxer M.C. Mary Kom as the chef de mission for the Paris Olympics. Veteran table tennis star A. Sharath Kamal will be the country's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the Games

 

4) Assam 3rd with 80 medals in NE Games in day 3rd

In Nagaland, the 3rd edition of the North East Games 2024 kick-started. At the end of day three, team Nagaland is leading the tally with 84 medals including 39 gold, Manipur in second with 72 medals including 27 gold while Assam is in third with 80 medals including 22 gold.

 

5) Mahindra inks pact with Adani Total Energies

Leading SUV maker Mahindra & Mahindra announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Adani Total Energies E-Mobility Limited (ATEL) for expanding the EV charging infrastructure in the country. The MoU between Mahindra and ATEL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Total Gas Limited, sets a roadmap for the creation of an expansive EV charging infrastructure across the country.

 

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 ISRO's Pushpak RLV Mission

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 Event Overview:

 

- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out the landing mission of its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) named 'Pushpak' from the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Karnataka’s Challakere on Friday.

 

 Launch Details:

 

- The launch vehicle, named 'Pushpak,' was carried to an altitude of about 4.5 km by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter and released after attaining the predetermined pillbox parameters.

 

 Pushpak RLV Features:

 

- Designed as an all-rocket, fully reusable single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle.

- Incorporates elements from the X-33 advanced technology demonstrator, the X-34 testbed technology demonstrator, and the upgraded DC-XA flight demonstrator.

- Consists of a fuselage (body), a nose cap, double delta wings, and twin vertical tails.

- Features symmetrically placed active control surfaces called Elevons and Rudder.

 

Mission Goals:

 

- Part of ISRO's efforts at developing essential technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle.

- Aims to enable low-cost access to space.

 

 ISRO Chairperson’s Statement:

- "The Pushpak launch vehicle is India's bold attempt to make access to space most affordable," said ISRO chairperson S Somanath.