1 UGC launches SheRNI to help connect women scientists and faculty
The Center for Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) unveiled a groundbreaking initiative known as ‘ She Research Network in India ‘ ( SheRNI ). The initiative aims to address gender inequality in the field of science by ensuring equal representation of women scientists. The primary goal of SheRNI is to establish a national level expert platform for women faculty members. This platform facilitates the exchange of expertise, insights and experiences in various fields, promoting collaboration and networking opportunities among women in academia.
2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches ‘Pradhan Mantri Social Upliftment and Employment Based Public Welfare’ – PM-Suraj National Portal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘ Pradhan Mantri Social Upliftment and Employment-Based Public Welfare ‘ – PM-Suraj National Portal and approved loan assistance for one lakh entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities . The Prime Minister also interacted with beneficiaries of various government schemes from deprived sections, including Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and sanitation workers, through video conference. The PM-Suraj National Portal symbolizes the Prime Minister’s commitment to give priority to the underprivileged. This transformative initiative aims to uplift the most vulnerable sections of the society. Nearly three lakh beneficiaries of various government schemes from disadvantaged groups from more than 470 districts across the country participated in the programme.
3 White paper titled “Decisive Leadership in an Increasingly Complex Media Landscape” released in Nairobi, Kenya
The white paper titled “ Decisive Leadership in an Increasingly Complex Media Landscape ” was released at the Global Media Congress event in Nairobi , Kenya . Launched by Emirates News Agency, the official news agency of the UAE, the white paper provides information on the key challenges facing the region. On this occasion W. A. Mohammed Jalal Alraisi, MD, Director General, underlined the urgency of strong leadership, saying, “The media industry is in a period of transformation, and this white paper highlights the important decisions that media leaders must make to drive this change. Should be taken.” The white paper explores a number of important topics, including the potential and pitfalls of artificial intelligence in the newsroom. The Global Media Congress serves as an important platform for media professionals from around the world to discuss and address the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry.
4 Prime Ministers attend ‘India’s Teched: Chips for Developed India’ program
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the event ‘ India’s Teched: Chips for Developed India ‘ through video conferencing and laid the foundation stone of three semiconductor projects worth about Rs 1.25 lakh crore . The projects inaugurated include Semiconductor Manufacturing Center in Special Investment Region (DSIR) at Dholera, Gujarat , Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) Center at Morigaon, Assam and Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) Center at Sanand , Gujarat. Are included. Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL) will set up a semiconductor manufacturing hub in Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) in Gujarat under the revised scheme for setting up semiconductor fabs in India. This will be the country’s first commercial semiconductor fab with a total investment of over Rs 91,000 crore. Under the revised scheme for Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP), Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL) will set up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) center at Morigaon, Assam. The total investment on this will be around Rs 27,000 crore. CG Power and Industrial Solutions Limited will set up Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) center at Sanand, Gujarat under the revised scheme for Semiconductor Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP). The total investment on this will be around Rs 7,500 crore.
5 Delhi Airport named ACI-ASQ’s Best Airport in Asia-Pacific region for the sixth consecutive year
IGI Airport has been selected as the best airport in the Asia Pacific region . This is not the first time that IGI Airport has received the Best Airport Service Quality Award in Asia Pacific, it has received this award five times before by the Airports Council International . Airports Council International (ACI) in its survey found that the passenger services provided at IGI Airport have been the best in Asia Pacific in the category of airports with a capacity of 40 million per annum in 2023.
6 Maharashtra Cabinet approves changing the name of Ahmednagar district to Ahilya Nagar
Maharashtra Cabinet approved changing the name of Ahmednagar district to Ahilya Nagar . The state cabinet also decided to rename eight suburban railway stations in Mumbai with colonial names. Among these , Curry Road station will be named as Lalbagh, Sandhurst Road station as Dongri, Marine Lines as Mumbadevi, Charni Road as Girgaon, Cotton Green as Kalachowki, Dockyard as Mazgaon, Kings Circle as Tirthankar Parshvanath and Mumbai Central as Nana Jagannath Shankarsheth . The state cabinet also approved the construction of a sea link between Uttan-Bhayander and Virar-Palghar. The Maharashtra Cabinet approved a new Marathi language policy to establish it as the language of knowledge acquisition and employment over the next 25 years. The Cabinet decided to purchase two and a half acres of land in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir for the construction of Maharashtra Bhawan.
7 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Bhutan
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bhutan on enhancing cooperation in the field of energy efficiency and energy conservation measures . As part of this MoU, India aims to assist Bhutan in enhancing energy efficiency in the domestic sector by promoting the Star Labeling Program developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved an Agreement on Cooperation in the areas of Food Safety between Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) , Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Approved for signing. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India and the Royal Government of Bhutan on Normal Supply of Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants (POL) and related products from India to Bhutan. It aims to benefit India and its citizens through improved economic and commercial relations with Bhutan, especially in the hydrocarbon sector, without any gender, class or income bias.
8 Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Thakur launches Prasar Bharati – Shared Audio-Visual for Broadcasting and Dissemination (PB-‘Shabd’)
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Singh Thakur launched the latest News on Air mobile app along with news sharing service PB-SHABD of Prasar Bharati and websites of Doordarshan News and All India Radio at an event organized at the National Media Centre, New Delhi . . The PB-SHABD (word) platform is designed to provide subscribers from across the media landscape a daily news feed in video, audio, reading material, photos and other formats. Powered by Prasar Bharati’s vast network of reporters, correspondents and freelance journalists, the service will bring you the latest news from different parts of the country. Shared feeds can be used to provide customized news across different platforms. As an initial offer, the services will be available free of cost and will greatly assist small newspapers, TV channels and digital portals.
9 Revised Drug Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme
The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has announced the Revamped Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (RPTUAS) . It aims to upgrade the technological capabilities of the pharmaceutical industry at par with global standards. Additionally, DoP released the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), 2024. The purpose of the code is to ensure responsible marketing practices and curb misleading promotional activities.
10 Jammu and Kashmir Police launches “Operation Kamdhenu” to combat cattle smuggling
In Jammu and Kashmir , police have launched “ Operation Kamdhenu ” to curb the rampant problem of animal smuggling in Jammu, Samba and Kathua (JSK) police ranges. The crackdown is aimed not only at tackling the immediate smuggling activities but also at targeting the masterminds behind these illegal operations.
11 IndusInd Bank launches the first all-in-one payment wearable
IndusInd Bank announced the launch of its contactless payment wearables, ‘Indus Paywear’ , India’s first all-in-one tokenizable wearable for both debit and credit cards exclusively on MasterCard, which will be launched soon. Will be extended to other card networks. Indus PayWear is set to revolutionize the payment experience by allowing users to easily tokenize their IndusInd Bank credit or debit card on a chip-enabled wearable device. It will facilitate fast and secure tap-and-pay transactions at any contactless point-of-sale (PoS) terminal across the globe, eliminating the need for physical cards or payment apps for purchases.
