- IIT professor bags prestigious award
Pranita P Sarangi, a professor of Biotechnology at IIT, Roorkee, has bagged this year’s Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award.
Sarangi was chosen for the award by the department of biotechnology, ministry of science and technology, government of India, for her scientific achievements and proposed work in the field of cancer immunology.
- Rupani takes oath as Gujarat CM for 2nd consecutive term
Vijay Rupani was sworn in as the chief minister of Gujarat for the second consecutive term after the BJP won the recently-held Assembly elections in the state.
Rupani, 61, and his deputy Nitin Patel were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor O P Kohli at a grand ceremony in Gandhinagar.
- ‘Heritage Cabinet’ to be set up in Odisha
The Odisha government has decided to set up a unique ‘Heritage Cabinet’ and an Odia Language Commission as part of its move to preserve the relics and monuments in the state and enrich its rich culture and language.
Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda said the ‘Heritage Cabinet’ would be headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. It would aim to protect ancient monuments, temples and archaeological sites in Odisha, and take steps to preserve the state’s culture, language and literature.
- SDMC launches Atal Jan Aahar Yojana to provide meal at Rs 10
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has launched a new scheme for the poor that will allow them to buy meal for Rs 10 from the civic body’s kiosks during the day.
Te Atal Jan Aahar Yojana has been started to make a nutritious full meal accessible to the needy, in a phased manner. The scheme was started at kiosks in five different locations of south Delhi. The government might have come up with this initiative as a way to reach out to the working poor class in order to provide them with healthy food options. People working in corporate jobs may have their meal plans arranged already. There might be some people who would have taken meal subscription bangalore or from places near them that could provide them with healthy meals during lunch times. As for this government initiative, it can be considered a meal plan for the working poor.
- President Kovind to inaugurate AP Fibre Grid
President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate on 27 December 2017, the Andhra Pradesh Fibre Grid project, aimed at providing high-speed internet service to every household in the state at a nominal rate.
The project also aims to ensure every household in the state has access to cable television and telephone connections.
Through the fibre grid, the AP government would provide state-wide surveillance, using more than 20,000 closed-circuit cameras and 16 integrated district command control and data centres.
- SLCM ties up with HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank for collateral mgmt
Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM) has tied up with HDFC Bank and IndusInd Bank to provide collateral management services.
This tie-up will help improve the farmers’ access to post-harvest credits at affordable interest rates and also provide easy access to scientific storage facilities leading to a fair price discovery of their produce in the market.
- World Bank signs USD 318 mn loan agreement to support climate resilient agriculture
The Government of India, along with the Government of Tamil Nadu signed a USD 318 million loan agreement with the World Bank, for the Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project to promote climate resilient agriculture technologies, improve water management practices, and increase market opportunities for small and marginal farmers.
With the signing of the agreement, it is likely that about 500,000 farmers, of which a majority are small and marginal, are expected to benefit from improved and modernized tank irrigation systems.
- China successfully launches remote sensing satellites
China has successfully launched remote sensing satellites to conduct electromagnetic environmental probes.
The satellites were launched on a Long March-2C carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite launch center in the southwest Sichuan province.
As the third batch of the Yaogan-30 project, the satellites will conduct electromagnetic environmental probes and other experiments.
- Bugs Bunny animator Bob Givens passes away at the age of 99
The animator who helped design Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd has died. Bob Givens was 99 years old.
Daughter Mariana Givens says her father died Dec. 14 in Burbank, California from acute respiratory failure.
