- Shubhangi Swaroop becomes first female pilot in Indian Navy
In a first, a woman has been inducted as a pilot in the Indian Navy. Shubhangi Swaroop, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, will soon be flying Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft.
Three other women cadets, Astha Segal from New Delhi, Roopa A from Puducherry and Sakthi Maya S from Kerala, also created history by becoming the country’s first women officers at the Naval Armament Inspectorate (NAI) branch of the Navy.
- 3 IITs, IISc among top 20 BRICS universities in QS Rankings
Three IITs and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore have made the cut among top 20 varsities in BRICS countries, according to the latest QS Rankings.
Over 300 universities from India, China, Russia, South Africa and Brazil have been observed and graded for the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking, one of the global prestigious rankings.
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has secured ninth rank followed by IISc, Bangalore (10), IIT Delhi (15) and IIT Madras (18).
- SpiceDigital develops e- Governance app UMANG
Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance (UMANG) app has been developed by SpiceDigital, the technology partner on the UMANG project to design, develop and deliver the app.
Reinforcing the vision of Digital India initiative, the app will enable an increase in the penetration of e-governance in the country.
- Union Cabinet approves hike in salary for SC, HC judges
The Union cabinet has approved increases in the salaries, gratuity payments, allowances and pensions payable to judges of the Supreme Court and the high courts.
The increases in salary and allowances will benefit 31 judges of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice, and 1,079 high court judges. Around 2,500 retired judges will also benefit on account of higher pensions and gratuity payments.
- India asks UN to declare 2018 as international year of millets
India has asked the United Nations to declare 2018 as the ‘International Year of Millets’ and promote it as nutrition-rich smart food across the world.
A letter in this regard has been written to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres by Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh.
Sorghum, Bajra and Ragi are some popular millets in India.
- IKEA opens first ‘Hej HOME’ in India at Hyderabad
Swedish home furnishing major IKEA has launched its first experiential centre ‘IKEA Hej HOME’ in Hyderabad, ahead of opening its first store in the country at the same state in spring 2018.
Hej HOME is an exhibition of IKEA products and solutions where future potential customers can experience IKEA products before they can actually buy it from its store (in Hyderabad) in spring 2018.
- India static at 105th in FIFA rankings
The Indian football team remained static at 105th in the latest FIFA rankings. India drew with Myanmar 2-2 at home in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers during this ranking period.
Among the Asian Football Confederation countries, the Indian team occupies 15th, ahead of the likes of Jordan, North Korea and Bahrain.
- SBI to launch first comprehensive digital service platform, YONO
State Bank of India (SBI) is all set to launch India’s first comprehensive digital service platform, YONO, which stands for ‘You Only Need One’.
An integrated omni-channel digital platform that offers just about everything related to financial services and lifestyle products, YONO will be launched by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on November 24.
- ISRO aims to launch first privately-produced rocket by 2021
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is planning a joint venture with a consortium of companies where a space rocket will be completely built by the private industry. The target for such a (fully privately built) launch vehicle is 2020-21.
Till now, Isro was the only manufacturer of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). In the two decades since PSLV’s debut launch, Isro has launched 39 consecutive successful missions.
- Switzerland, India to further boost research collaboration
Switzerland will join hands with India for the next phase of bilateral cooperation in the field of science and technology.
The Swiss government also described India as one of the “emerging global players in research and innovation”.
- Latin America is world’s most violent region for women: UN
Latin America and the Caribbean is the most violent region in the world for women, the United Nations highlighting Central America and Mexico as particularly dangerous.
In a report presented in Panama, UN Women and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) found assaults on women persisted in the region despite severe laws aimed at curbing the phenomenon.
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