1 Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the National Conference of Chief Secretaries in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the National Conference of Chief Secretaries in New Delhi . This was a three-day conference. This is the third conference of its kind. The first conference was held in Dharamshala in June 2022 and the second in January this year . Inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision of following the principle of cooperative federalism, this conference has been organized to encourage partnership between the Central and State Governments. More than two hundred delegates are participating in it, which includes representatives of the Central Government, Chief Secretaries and senior officials of all the States and Union Territories. The objective of this conference is to create a basis for collaborative action to improve the quality of life of the rural and urban population by strengthening the delivery system of government efforts.
2 Neena Singh becomes the first woman Chief of CISF
IPS officer Neena Singh has been made the chief of CISF i.e. Central Industrial Security Force . Neena Singh has become the first woman chief of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) . IPS officer Neena Singh is currently the Special Director General of CISF. CISF is responsible for the security of airports, Delhi Metro, government buildings and strategic installations across the country.
3 An area of one kilometer from the boundaries of Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary declared as eco-sensitive zone
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has recently issued a draft notification declaring an area of one kilometer from the boundaries of Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh as an eco-sensitive zone . Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary is located around the Pong Dam Lake ( also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar ), a man-made reservoir caused by the construction of the Pong Dam on the Beas River . Pong Dam is the highest earth-fill dam in India and was constructed in the year 1975 . In the year 1983, the entire reservoir was declared a wildlife sanctuary by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. In 1994, the Government of India declared it a “wetland of national importance”. Pong Dam Lake was declared a Ramsar site in the year 2002. The sanctuary area is covered with tropical and sub-tropical forests.
4 Organization of National Program on Anganwadi-cum-Crache (Crib)
The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development plans to set up 17,000 crèches within Anganwadi centers across India under the ‘ Palna ‘ scheme . The initiative aims to provide safe day-care facilities while enhancing the cognitive, nutritional and health development of children. With the increasing participation rate of women in the workforce, reaching 37% by 2022, this expansion of the crèche marks a concerted effort to support women while nurturing the development of future generations. In July 2022, the Ministry of Women and Child Development converted the National Crèche Scheme into Palana Scheme under ‘Mission Shakti’. This change led to the introduction of Anganwadi cum crèche and existing crèches were reclassified as stand alone crèches from the old scheme.
5 Researchers at Visva-Bharati University discovered bacteria named after Rabindranath Tagore.
Researchers at Visva-Bharati University have discovered a new species of bacteria that can change agricultural practices. He named it ‘ Pantoea tagori ‘ after the famous Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore . Pantoea tagori belongs to the bacterial genus Pantoea , which is part of the Enterobacteriaceae family . Pantoea bacteria can be isolated from a variety of environments including water, soil, humans, animals, and plants. Also described as a plant growth promoting bacteria , Pantoea tagori has demonstrated remarkable abilities in promoting the cultivation of crops such as paddy, peas and chillies.
6 KSRTC unveils ‘Namma Cargo’ logistics in Karnataka
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) achieved a significant milestone in its journey by entering the logistics business . Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy inaugurated the initiative by introducing cargo services on KSRTC route buses under the brand name “ Namma Cargo ”. The launch event saw the deployment of 20 cargo trucks to launch ‘Namma Cargo’ services in various districts across the state. KSRTC has entered into an agreement with S M Kannappa Automobiles Pvt Ltd to diversify its fleet resources for cargo transportation. This partnership will last for a month, showcasing KSRTC’s agility in establishing collaborative relationships to enhance its logistics capabilities.
7 Jammu and Kashmir: ‘Gol Mela’ festival organized at Jagannath temple in Udhampur
The popular festival of Jammu and Kashmir known as ‘ Gol Mela ‘ was organized at Jagannath Temple in Udhampur . A large number of devotees gathered here and visited the Jagannath temple. Various stalls were set up at the festival site. Devotees from Udhampur district as well as outside Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed the festival with their families. Gol Mela is organized twice every year. Devotees believe that from today the night time starts decreasing and the day time starts increasing.
8 Cabinet approves construction of a 4.56 km long, 6-lane new bridge over river Ganga in Bihar connecting Digha and Sonpur
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved construction of a 4556 meter long, 6-lane high level/extra cable-stayed new bridge over river Ganga ( parallel to the western bank of the existing Digha-Sonpur rail-and-road bridge ) and EPC. Approved the construction of its approach road on both sides in Patna and Saran districts (NH-139W) in the state of Bihar on the mode . This bridge will make traffic faster and easier resulting in overall development of the state, especially North Bihar.
9 Government issues notices to nine offshore cryptocurrency platforms for not complying with provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act
Financial Intelligence Unit of India – The Financial Intelligence Unit has issued show cause notices to nine offshore virtual digital asset service providers for non-compliance with the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 . These digital service providers were brought under the ambit of action under the Prevention of Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act in March 2023.
10 ISRO chief S. Somnath said- the country aims to send 50 satellites in the next five years to gather spatial intelligence.
Indian Space Research Organisation- ISRO will launch fifty satellites in the next five years to collect important spatial intelligence information . ISRO chief S. at the annual tech-fest organized by the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay. Somnath said that multiple layers of satellites will be deployed in different orbits, which will be able to detect various activities from a radius of thousands of kilometers.
11 Indian space station
India aims to establish its own permanent space station called ‘ Indian Space Station ‘ in the next 25 years . The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has targeted to launch the first module of this station by 2028 . It is part of India’s ambitious future space plans, which also include crewed missions, deep space exploration and more advanced launch capabilities. ISRO Chairman Dr. S. According to recent statements by Somnath, ISRO is planning to launch the first module of the Indian space station by 2028. It is likely to be an 8 tonne module, it will be launched by an LVM3 rocket. This will be followed by additional modules being launched over the next 7 years. By 2035, ISRO aims to have a fully operational space station with more launch capacity, facilities for docking crews and cargo transporters, zero gravity research laboratories, etc.
12 XPoSat: India’s X-ray Polarimetry Mission – ISRO
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is preparing to start the new year with the anticipated launch of its pioneering polarimetry mission, XPoSat, scheduled for January 1 . The mission marks an important milestone as the country’s third space-based observatory . The primary objective of the XPoSat mission is to study the “polarization” of astronomical X-rays . This unique approach provides valuable insights into the processes that cause X-ray emissions from celestial bodies. Polarimetry, as a method of studying astronomical phenomena, complements traditional imaging methods and involves analyzing fluctuations in light and energy emitted by celestial bodies. The goal of this observatory is to increase our understanding of the emission mechanisms from interesting sources such as black holes and neutron stars—the collapsed cores of massive stars. By studying polarization, XPoSat is set to contribute to unraveling the mysteries of these cosmic phenomena.
13 Jio is working on Bharat GPT with IIT Bombay
Reliance Jio Infocomm , led by Chairman Akash Ambani , is set to launch the ‘ Bharat GPT ‘ program in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay . Ambani revealed the company’s broader plans, including the development of an operating system (OS) for smart TVs , signaling the evolution of Jio’s “ Jio 2.0 ” vision. Reliance Jio India is actively working with IIT Bombay on the GPT programme.
14 New formaldehyde sensor can detect adulterated fish at room temperature without causing harm
A team of researchers from Guwahati University , Assam , has developed a new sensor made of metallic oxide-cum-graphene oxide (Metallic Oxide-rGO) mixture that can non-invasively detect formalin adulteration in fish at room temperature. Can apply. Food adulteration is the practice of adding illegal or harmful substances to food to make it appear more attractive or to extend its shelf life. Formaldehyde is a colourless, pungent gas used in various industrial processes, including as a preservative in some foods, commonly used in fish in developing countries. However, the use of formaldehyde in food is illegal in many countries, as it is a known carcinogen.
15 Field Pansy Growth
Scientists have recently uncovered evidence of rapid evolution in a flowering plant found in Paris, France . This plant, known as field pansy (Viola arvensis), is capable of self-pollination as opposed to the traditional dependence on external pollinators. Field pansy (Viola arvensis), is a common wildflower that can be found in many parts of Europe, Asia and North America. It belongs to a group of plants called angiosperms , which produce seeds within a protective structure called a fruit. Angiosperm plants depend on insects and other organisms for help in pollination and reproduction.
