1. Entire country to be covered by doppler weather radar network by 2025
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh on 15 January informed that by 2025, the entire country will be covered by Doppler weather radar network so that extreme weather events can be predicted more accurately.
An overview of the news
The accuracy of the meteorological department's forecast regarding severe weather has improved by about 40 per cent in the last eight to nine years.
In this sequence, by 2025, there will be a Doppler radar network across the country. The number of Doppler radars in the country has increased from 15 in 2013 to 37 in 2023.
India will set up 25 more radars in the next two to three years, taking the number to 62.
Speaking on the occasion of the 148th Foundation Day of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minister said with the improvement in forecasting, the disaster-related death rate has come down to single digit.
IMD commissioned four Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir. This will strengthen the weather monitoring capabilities in the Western Himalayan region.
These were installed at Surkanda Devi in Uttarakhand, Jot and Murari Devi in Himachal and Banihal Top in Jammu and Kashmir.
What is Doppler Weather Radar?
It is a special type of radar that uses the Doppler effect to generate velocity data about objects at a distance.
It is designed to improve accuracy in long range weather forecasting and monitoring using a parabolic dish antenna and a foam sandwich spherical radome.
What is Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging)?
It is a device that uses electromagnetic waves in the microwave region to detect the location, height, intensity, and speed of moving and non-moving objects.
What is the Doppler effect?
It refers to the change in wave frequency during the relative motion between a wave source and its observer.
It was discovered by Johann Doppler, who described it as a process of increasing or decreasing the luminosity of stars depending on the relative motion of the star.
2. PM announces ‘Aarogya Maitri’ project to provide medical supplies to developing nations
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a new ‘Aarogya Maitri’ project on 13th January under which India will provide essential medical supplies to developing countries affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crises.
An overview of the news
Under this project, India will provide essential medical supplies to any of the developing countries affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crises.
PM announced at the Concluding Session of the two-day virtual ‘Voice of Global South Summit’.
India will launch the Global South Science and Technology Initiative to share its expertise in areas like space technology and nuclear energy.
India will also set up a ‘Global South Center of Excellence’ for research on development solutions which can be scaled up and implemented around the world.
PM Modi also suggested a Global South Young Diplomats Forum that would help connect young officials with foreign ministries.
During the Covid pandemic, India's 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative supplied vaccines made in India to over 100 countries.
3. PM Modi flags off Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express train
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Pongal on 15 January, virtually flagged off the Vande Bharata Express train connecting Secunderabad with Vishakhapatnam.
An overview of the news
This is the 8th Vande Bharata Express which will cover a distance of about eight hours between Secunderabad in Telangana and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
The intermediate stops envisaged for the train include Warangal, Khammam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry.
This will lead to ease of living, boost tourism and benefit the economy.
In the last few years, seven Vande Bharat trains have covered a distance of 23 lakh kms, carrying 40 lakh passengers to their destinations.
The state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express can accelerate to 100 kmph in just 52 seconds.
Name of all 8 Vande Bharat Express train
Varanasi-New Delhi,
Katra-New Delhi,
Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar,
Amb Andaura - New Delhi
Chennai - Mysuru
Nagpur - Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)
Howraha-New Jalpaiguri
Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam
About Vande Bharat Express Train
The first Vande Bharat Express was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 February 2019.
These trains have a self-propelled engine which can save diesel and reduce electricity usage by up to 30%.
The first Vande Bharat Express was manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
It was manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ programme, at a cost of about Rs 100 crore.
These trains can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
In the Union Budget for 2022-2023 the government has proposed the development and manufacture of 400 new Vande Bharat trains in the next three years.
4. Best Agripreneurs honoured on National Youth Day
Tags: Awards National News
On the occasion of National Youth Day, 82 best Agripreneurs trained under Agri-Clinic and Agri-Business (AC&ABC) scheme were hounered for their significant contribution through Agri-Clinic and Agri-business services to the farmers.
An overview of the news
The Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Scheme is a mega flagship scheme of the Government, which was launched by the Government of India in April 2002 in collaboration with NABARD.
It aims to transform unemployed youth into self-employed agri-entrepreneurs through 45 days free residential training in different parts of the country along with access to loans and subsidies from banks.
The scheme is being implemented by the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad through a network of 136 Nodal Training Institutes (NTIS) spread across all states.
5. Dr Jitendra Singh launches “Geospatial Hackathon”
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on 14th January launched “Geospatial Hackathon” to promote Innovation and Start-Ups in India’s Geospatial ecosystem.
An overview of the news
The hackathon will promote innovation and startups in the geospatial ecosystem of India.
The objective of this hackathon is not only to foster partnerships between the public and private geospatial sectors, but also to strengthen the geospatial start-up ecosystem of our country.
The "Geospatial Hackathon" will end on March 10, 2023 and will have two sets of challenges - Research Challenge and Startup Challenge.
There will be 4 winners to be found for the best solution to the geospatial select problem statements.
The minister invited the youth of the country to participate and contribute in building the country's geospatial economy.
Half of India's population is below 40 years of age and very ambitious.
The Indian start-up economy has crossed a major milestone as India's 100th start-up joins the unicorn club in 2022.
6. G20’s first Infrastructure Working Group meeting to be held in Pune on January 16-17
Tags: National News
The first ever Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) meeting of the G20 under India's G-20 presidency will be held in Pune on January 16-17.
An overview of the news
The Forum will bring together IWG member states and international organisations invited by India to discuss the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda under the Indian G20 Presidency.
The meeting is being hosted by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Australia and Brazil are joining as co-chairs.
The outcomes of the Infrastructure Working Group feed into the G20 Finance Track priorities and promote Infrastructure Development.
The theme of the Indian G-20 presidency 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' explains the purpose of the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda.
The theme emphasises the message of equitable development and is in sync with the central agenda of the discussion which talks about building resilient, inclusive and sustainable urban infrastructure.
Topics of discussion
Infrastructure investments
Developing infrastructure as an asset class
Promoting quality infrastructure investment
Identifying innovative instruments for mobilising financial resources for infrastructure investment
The most priority topic of discussion in this meeting has been kept on 'Financing Cities of the Future: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable'.
7. Italian man sets Guinness World Record by creating 'mirror typing' books in ancient languages
Tags: Person in news International News
According to a report by Guinness World Records (GWR), an Italian man, Michele Santaglia has created a world record by typing copies of 81 books backwards, which is called 'mirror writing'.
An overview of the news
Santaglia types books using four completely blank keyboards without looking backwards.
He types each book in its original language whether it be hieroglyphs, Old Hebrew, Traditional Chinese, Mayan, Etruscan, Cuneiform or Voynich glyphs.
He reverse-typed the Bible, the Code of Hammurabi, the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Book of the Dead from ancient Egypt, the writings of Leonardo da Vinci.
He is able to type using 16 computer keyboards simultaneously located at different heights.
He credits Leonardo da Vinci who inspired him to do mirror typing.
Santaglia has given several books to various world figures over the years, including former US Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and former Italian Presidents Carlo Ciampi and Giorgio Napolitano.
Also, he has compiled all the four Indian Vedas in a single book by reverse typing.
8. World's First Digital Party
Tags: National News
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has become the world's first fully digital party, with data on over three crore office-bearers from national president to booth level being made available through an app called Organisational Reporting and Analysis (SARAL).
Through this app prepared with the simple name, it will be an important medium of communication within the party along with making it easier for the general public to access the party's executive members from the president to the booth level.
Both phone and SMS options are available on the app to contact any level official from any state.
The biggest feature of this app is that with its help real time messages can be sent to any office bearer, which will facilitate the activation of the office bearers on any issue.
Everyone will have the facility to download this app and only party-affiliated office-bearers will have access to the main part of the organisation in the app.
9. Indian Railways to start 'Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train' between Ayodhya to Janakpur
Tags: International Relations Latest
Indian Railways is going to run Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC tourist train "Shri Ram-Janaki Yatra: Ayodhya to Janakpur", which will cover two most important pilgrimage sites of neighbouring India and Nepal, Ayodhya and Janakpur.
The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Nepal and promote cultural ties between the two countries.
This train will be operated by Railway's PSU - IRCTC.
The state-of-the-art Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train will depart from Delhi on 17th February, 2023 for a 7 days all inclusive tour.
The train will cover Ayodhya and Janakpur Dham (Nepal) as well as pilgrimage and heritage sites at Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Varanasi and Prayag.
This tourist train can carry 156 tourists and will have 4 first AC coaches, 2 second AC coaches, a well-equipped pantry car and two rail restaurants.
Indo-Nepal Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train
The first Indo-Nepal Bharat Gaurav tourism train was flagged off from Safdarjung Railway Station in Delhi in June 2022.
500 Indian tourists travelled in this train.
This unique idea was conceptualised by the Ministry of Railways.
This train returned to Delhi after covering a distance of about 8000 kms in a journey of 18 days.
The Bharat Gaurav train was run with the theme 'Dekho Apna Desh'.
10. Lok Sabha Speaker to lead Parliamentary delegation to Kenya, Tanzania
Tags: International News
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will lead a delegation to Kenya and Tanzania from January 16 to 21.
An overview of the news
The delegation includes Chirag Paswan, Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak and S Phangnon Konyak (all Members of Parliament) and Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary General, Lok Sabha.
During their visit to Tanzania, apart from meeting their host, the delegation will also call on the Vice President of Tanzania, Philip Mpango.
The delegation will also visit places of cultural and historical importance.
About Kenya
Kenya is a country in East Africa.
President: William Ruto
Capital: Nairobi
Currency :Kenyan shilling
About Tanzania
Tanzania, East African country situated just south of the Equator.
President: Samia Suluhu Hassan
Capital: Dodoma
Currency: Tanzanian shilling
