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The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released the country’s first ‘Ethical Guidelines for Application of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Research and Healthcare’, aimed at creating “an ethics framework which can assist in the development, deployment, and adoption of AI-based solutions” in the fields specified. Through this, they hope to …

More than three years after the pandemic began, newer variants, an uptick in cases, hospitalisations, and even deaths are being reported from across the world, though a far cry from the earlier alarming levels. After Kappa, Delta, BA.2.75, and BA.2.76, the latest variant (first detected in India) is the Omicron …

When India’s Union Law Minister describes retired judges in a rather harsh manner, it is something that cannot be taken lightly. For the Minister to label retired judges who question “state policies” as being “anti-India” elements is not just a case of a flawed understanding of concepts but also a …

Tipu Sultan was feared and envied not just during his reign (1782-99) by his fiercest enemies, the British, when he became the stuff of folklore in England. In the Passage to England, news of his fearless opposition inflated his strengths and exaggerated his vices. He and his island abode, ‘Seringapatam’, …

Konkan 2023 exercise was held recently. It is an annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy (United Kingdom. It was held in the Arabian Sea. INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate participated in this edition. The exercises covered  all domains of maritime operations, air, surface and sub-surface. SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB

The Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs informed Lok Sabha about coal bed methane extraction in India. At present, Coal Bed Methane (CBM) is not produced from any working/ operational coal mines in the country. Government of India had formulated a policy in 1997 to extract Coal Bed Methane (CBM) from coal-bearing areas prior to the …

Vice President pays tribute to Sardar Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on Shaheed Diwas. ‘Shaheed Diwas’ is commemorated every year on March 23 to remember the sacrifice made by the revolutionary leaders Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Hari Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar who were hanged at the Lahore Central Jail in 1931. The trio was found guilty of the murder of deputy police superintendent JP Saunders in 1928, to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai. Contributions …

March 23 is a milestone in the history of India’s Independence struggle. It was on this day, in 1919, that Mahatma Gandhi was in Chennai on the invitation of Kasturi Ranga Iyengar. Gandhiji had hitherto been struggling to find a way to counter the draconian and recently enacted Rowlatt Act …

This week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the synthesis report of its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) cycle, drawing together key findings from its six most recent reports. The report gains added legitimacy as its summary for policymakers is approved line-by-line by governments of the world. The United …

The Union Finance Ministry’s reiteration in the Rajya Sabha recently, of the legal position, i.e., the absence of any provision to allow the accumulated corpus of members of the National Pension System (NPS) to be “refunded and deposited back” to States, should have a deterrent effect on those States contemplating …

A report released on March 20, that originates in the Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a U.N. expert body, states that not degrading existing ecosystems in the first place will do more to lower the impact of the climate crisis than restoring ecosystems that have been …

The Union Government has disbursed around ₹1,645 crore in performance-linked incentives (PLI) for electronics manufacturers so far, as part of its efforts to bring in more of the electronics supply chain to India. The push for semiconductors, or integrated circuits, is far more pressing now, as these chips are found …

Total weight of humans is 10 times that of all wild mammals put together according to a report. Key findings of the report: The population of wild mammals is shrinking despite conservation efforts. Total mass of humans is 10 times that of all the world’s wild mammals combined. Wild mammals comprise some of the heaviest animals of the planet: the elephants, bears, bisons and …

A state-backed Chinese company has won a contract to develop a key port in the Solomon Islands. Key details: Solomon Islands is an island country situated in the south-west Pacific Ocean, to the northeast of Australia. It comprises nine main island groups. Capital – Honiara, is located on Guadalcanal, the largest island. The population of Solomon Islands is predominantly Melanesian (about 95 …

The Abel Prize for mathematics was awarded to Argentine-American Luis Caffarelli. He is an expert in “partial differential equations” which can explain phenomena ranging from how water flows to population growth. This type of equation models how several variables change with respect to each other, and play a prominent role in engineering, physics, economics and biology. About the Abel Prize: The Abel …

Indian Railways completes 100% electrification of Odisha. Key details: On the lines of setting the target of achieving Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2030, the Indian Railways has 100% electrified existing Broad Gauge network of Odisha. Benefits: saving on account of reduced line haul cost, heavier haulage capacity, increased sectional capacity, reduced operating & maintenance cost of electric loco, energy efficient and eco-friendly mode of transportation …

Union Home Minister said the government would move forward to open a corridor to the Sharda Peeth in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) on the lines of the Kartarpur corridor. Key details: The Sharda Peeth, a revered site for the Hindu community. It is located in the Neelum Valley in PoK in the valley of Mount Harmukh. It is a ruined Hindu …

Prime Minister Narendra of India has unveiled a vision document for rollout of 6G communications technology in India by 2030. What is 6G? Technically, 6G does not exist today. It has been conceived as a far superior technology promising internet speeds up to 100 times faster than 5G. As opposed to 5G, which at its peak can …

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its Synthesis Report (SYR). Key findings: It summarises the findings of six reports released during its Sixth Assessment Cycle. Excess emissions: Excess emissions from human activities have raised global temperature by 1.1°C above 1850-1900. Human activities have unequivocally caused global warming with global net anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions clocking in at 59 gigatonnes of …

Indian navy to conduct the ‘sam no varunah’ coastal car rally. To awaken the maritime nation and encourage Sea Consciousness. Celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Conduct awareness drives along the route about various career opportunities that the Navy offers. Showcase ‘Naari Shakti’ by participation of serving women officers and naval wives. Instill a sense of adventure and motivate young generation to join the Indian …