JNCASR Scientist developing innovative strategies to make high-performance thermo-electrics materials wins Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
Professor Kanishka Biswas, currently working as an Associate Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, has received the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Chemical Science for Science and Technology (2021) for his discoveries in the field of solid-state inorganic chemistry and thermoelectric energy conversion. His research involves a fundamental understanding of the relationship between structure and property of inorganic solids to develop lead (Pb)-free high-performance thermoelectric materials, which can efficiently convert waste heat to energy and are being translated into cost-effective technologies.Using fundamental and insightful chemical principles, Kanishka Biswas has achieved an unprecedented thermoelectric performance through control of atomic ordering and consequent electronic state delocalization in a crystalline inorganic solid, simultaneously enhancing its electronic transport and reducing the thermal conductivity, which was published in Science journal this year.
JNCASR Scientist wins Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
Professor T Govindaraju from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, has received the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, 2021 for his ground-breaking concepts and discoveries, which have significant potential for diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer’s, lung cancer among other health problems. His innovative work on small molecules, peptides, and natural products offers both diagnostics as well as therapeutics, leading to personalised medicine.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2021
This year’s medicine prize is awarded to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian. Their discoveries have unlocked one of the secrets of nature by explaining the molecular basis for sensing heat, cold and mechanical force, which is fundamental for our ability to feel, interpret and interact with our internal and external environment.
Successful field trial of Drone spraying of Nano Urea undertaken
A practical field trial of Drone Spraying of Nano Liquid Urea was conducted in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. The trial was attended by a large number of farmers. This demonstration of spraying liquid nano urea by drone was undertaken by IFFCO, a company involved in developing nano urea. IFFCO in its study has found that spraying nano urea through drones is more effective on crops and will also have a positive effect on productivity. A large number of farmers participated in today's trial and eagerly inquired about nano urea and the technique of drone spraying. IFFCO experts answered the queries of the farmers.
Shri Rajiv Bansal takes charge as Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation
Shri Rajiv Bansal IAS (NL:88) has assumed the charge of Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, vice Shri Pradeep Singh Kharola, IAS (KN:85) consequent upon his superannuation on 30th September 2021. Shri Bansal is an Indian Administrative Services Officer of the 1988 batch, from the Nagaland cadre. He has held many important positions in the Union Government including Chairman and Managing Director, Air India Ltd., Ministry of Civil Aviation; Additional Secretary, M/o Petroleum & Natural Gas; Joint Secretary, M/o Electronics & Information Technology; Secretary, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC); and Joint Secretary, D/o Heavy Industry, M/o Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. He has also held several key positions in the Government of Nagaland including Commissioner & Secretary, D/o Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland; Commissioner & Secretary, School EducationDepartment, Nagaland; Commissioner & Secretary, Finance Department, Nagaland, etc.
Shri K. Rajaraman takes charge as Secretary, Department of Telecommunications
Shri K. Rajaraman has assumed the charge of Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, vice Shri Anshu Prakash, IAS (UT:86) consequent upon his superannuation on 30th September 2021. Prior to this, he was serving as Additional Secretary, Investments & Infrastructure, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. Shri K. Rajaraman is an Indian Administrative Services Officer of the 1989 batch, from the Tamil Nadu cadre. He has held many important positions in the Union Government which include Additional Secretary in Department of Economic Affairs, M/o Finance, Government of India and Joint Secretary in Department of Expenditure, M/o Finance, Government of India. He has also held several key positions in the Government of Tamil Nadu including Managing Director of Chennai Metro Railway Limited and Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Government of Tamil Nadu, etc.
Air Marshal Sandeep Singh AVSM VM assumes the Appointment of Vice Chief of the Air Staff
Air Marshal Sandeep Singh AVSM VM took over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) on 01 Oct 21. An alumnus of National Defence Academy, the Air Marshal was commissioned in the flying branch of IAF in Dec 1983 as a Fighter pilot. The Air Officer is an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor. He has rich and diverse experience in operational and experimental test flying on various types of fighter aircraft and has flown about 4400 hours. During his nearly thirty-eight years of service in the IAF, the Air Marshal has held numerous important command and staff appointments. He has commanded Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, a frontline air base, and an operational fighter squadron. He has held the appointments of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans), Senior Air Staff Officer at HQ Eastern Air Command, and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at Air Headquarters. Prior to assuming the current appointment, he held the appointment of AOC-in-C South Western Air Command. The Air Marshal is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.
Maj Gen Smita Devrani assumes charge as ADG, Military Nursing Service
Major General Smita Devrani assumed charge as Additional Director General of Military Nursing Service (MNS) on October 01, 2021. The day coincided with the occasion of 96th MNS Corps Day. An alumna of the School of Nursing, Military Hospital Secunderabad, the General Officer was commissioned into the Military Nursing Service on December 28, 1983. Later, she completed her Diploma in Midwifery from the Naval Hospital INHS Asvini, Mumbai. A graduate of Delhi University, her quest for academic excellence gained her not only Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital and Healthcare Management and MBA in Hospital Administration but also a Six Sigma Certificate and Quality Control Management & Infection Control and Prevention Management from the National Health Care Academy, Singapore.
Air Marshal BR Krishna assumes charge of CISC
Air Marshal BR Krishna assumed charge of Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) on October 01, 2021. The CISC paid homage to the brave hearts at the National War Memorial, in New Delhi followed by the Tri-Service Guard of Honour. Commissioned as a fighter pilot in 1983, Air Marshal Krishna has had a distinguished career spanning over 38 years. Qualified Flying Instructor and experimental test pilot, he has flown a wide variety of fighters, transport aircraft, and helicopters in the inventory of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He has over 5,000 hours of flying experience including operational, instructional and test flying. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College.
Vice Admiral Adhir Arora, NM has taken charge as the Chief Hydrographer to the Govt of India
Vice Admiral Adhir Arora, NM has taken charge as the Chief Hydrographer to the Govt of India from Vice Admiral Vinay Badhwar, AVSM, NM who superannuated on 30 Sep 21. Vice Admiral Adhir Arora was commissioned in the Executive branch of the Indian Navy in 1985. As a specialist Hydrographer, he has undertaken hydrographic surveys in and across India and Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Whilst in command of INS Sutlej, the ship was the first to arrive off Galle Port in Sri Lanka for Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief operations post Tsunami in 2004. He also has the rare distinction of undertaking foreign co-operation surveys in Mauritius, Seychelles, and Kenya whilst in command of INS Sarvekshak. These include highly sensitive marine ecological areas, continental shelves, and pioneer surveys. He was also the co-chair for the 3rd Indo – Mauritius hydrographic cooperation meeting in 2008
E. R. Sheikh assumes charge as first Director General of the Ordnance Directorate
E.R. Sheikh assumed charge as first Director-General of the Ordnance Directorate (Co-ordination and Services). It is the successor organization of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). An Indian Ordnance Factory Service (IOFS) officer of the 1984 batch, he has been a spearhead of modernization. In particular, he has contributed to the establishment of the modern production line system for the manufacture of small arms ammunition at the Ordnance Factory Varangaon. As Deputy Director General (DDG)-Propellants and Explosives, he oversaw several plant modernisation projects in explosive factories that led to enhancement in productivity, quality, and safety. He also led the successful indigenous development of the Bi-Modular Charge System (BMCS) for artillery ammunition. E. R. Sheik a graduate of IIT Kanpur, he has served in various Ordnance Factories. He was General Manager of the Ordnance Factory, Itarsi earlier. He has also served as a member of various Defence Delegations to foreign countries as a representative of the OFB and the Ministry of Defence. He is also the recipient of the Ayudh Ratna Award, 2020, conferred on him in recognition of his exemplary services to the organization.
NTPC REL Signs First Green Term Loan
NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (REL) a 100 percent subsidiary of NTPC Ltd, has signed its first Green Term Loan agreement of Rs. 500 crores at a very competitive rate with a tenor of 15 years with Bank of India on 29th September 2021 for its 470 MW Solar Projects in Rajasthan & 200 MW Solar Project in Gujarat. NTPC REL currently has a renewable project portfolio of 3,450 MW of which 820 MW projects are under construction and 2,630 MW projects have been won for which PPAs are pending to be executed.
Air Marshal V R Chaudhari takes over as the chief of the Air Staff
Government has decided to appoint Air Marshal V R Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM, presently Vice Chief of Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff after the retirement of Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC on 30th September 2021. Air Marshal V R Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM, was commissioned into the Fighter stream of Indian Air Force on 29th December 1982 and has held various Command, Staff and Instructional Appointments at various levels including the present one as Vice Chief of Air Staff.
Tunisia becomes first Country in the Arab World to have a woman Prime Minister
The Arab world seems to be experiencing some hardcore changes, particularly when it comes to giving more power to the women. Geologist Najla Bouden has become the Prime Minister of Tunisia, creating history.
Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh takes over as DG NCC
Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh took over as the 34th Director General of National Cadet Corps (NCC) on September 27, 2021. Lt Gen Singh was commissioned into The PARACHUTE REGIMENT in 1987. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun as well as NCC, he attended the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, the Higher Command Course in Mhow and the National Defence College Course in New Delhi.
Successful Maiden Flight Test of Akash Prime Missile
A new version of the Akash Missile – ‘Akash Prime’ has been successfully flight tested from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha on 27 September 2021. The missile intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial target mimicking enemy aircraft, in its maiden flight test after improvements. In comparison to the existing Akash System, Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy. Other improvements also ensure more reliable performance under low-temperature environments at higher altitudes. A modified ground system of the existing Akash weapon system has been used for the current flight test. The range stations of ITR comprising Radars, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS), and Telemetry stations monitored the missile trajectory and flight parameters.
PM launches Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission through a video conference. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will create a seamless online platform that will enable interoperability within the digital health ecosystem. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will now connect the digital health solutions of hospitals across the country with each other. Under the New Mission, every citizen will now get a digital health ID and their health record will be digitally protected.
Hamilton wins 100th Formula One race with victory in Russian GP
Lewis Hamilton has become the first Formula One driver to win 100 races with victory in the Russian Grand Prix to retake the championship lead from Max Verstappen.
NHPC’s 510 MW Teesta-V Power Station, Sikkim conferred with ‘Blue Planet Prize’
NHPC’s 510 MW Teesta-V Power Station located in the Himalayan State of Sikkim has been conferred with the prestigious Blue Planet Prize by International Hydropower Association (IHA), a London based non-profit membership association operating in 120 countries. The power station has been built, owned and being operated by NHPC. The award for Teesta-V Power Station was announced yesterday during the World Hydropower Congress, 2021. The award had been conferred to Teesta-V Power Station based on its sustainability assessment undertaken by a team of accredited lead assessors of IHA in 2019 using the Operation Stage tool of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) of IHA.
Sony India to buy Zee, country’s largest listed TV network
Sony Group Corp.’s Indian unit signed a non-binding deal to buy the country’s largest publicly-traded television network Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., pouncing on a beleaguered company whose shareholders have sought removal of key officials. Zee shares jumped 20% following the deal announcement, giving it a market value of $4 billion. About 53% of the merged entity would be owned by Sony India shareholders and the rest by Zee’s holders, the companies said. Sony shareholders will inject capital into its unit so that it will have about $1.58 billion of funds at closing, and a majority of the board would be nominated by Sony.
Charanjit Singh swearing-in as new CM of Punjab
Charanjit Singh Channi took charge as the Chief Minister of Punjab, following his oath-taking ceremony at the Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh. Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Amritsar central MLA Om Prakash Soni took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers along with Channi. Both the deputy CMs are from the Majha region of Punjab.
Ms. Alka Nangia Arora Assumes Charge as CMD, NSIC
Ms. Alka Nangia Arora has assumed the additional charge of the post of Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD), The National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC) on 14th September 2021. On this occasion, she interacted with senior officers of NSIC and encouraged all employees to continue giving their best performance during 2021-22. Ms. Alka Arora is an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience in diverse activities across the country.
PFC issues India’s first-ever Euro Green Bond
Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), the leading NBFC in the power sector, has successfully issued its maiden Euro 300 million 7-year Euro Bond issuance on 13.09.2021. The pricing of 1.841% achieved is the lowest yield locked in by an Indian issuer in the Euro markets. It is the first-ever Euro-denominated Green bond issuance from India. Moreover, it is the first-ever Euro issuance by an Indian NBFC and the first Euro bond issuance from India since 2017. The issuance saw strong participation from institutional investors across Asia and Europe with participation from across 82 accounts and was oversubscribed 2.65 times.
Medvedev wins first major, beats Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in final
Daniil Medvedev lifted his first Grand Slam trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and sixteen minutes in the US Open men’s singles final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The second seed ended his opponent’s bid for a calendar slam and a 21st major by dominating from start to finish.
Bhupendra Patel sworn-in as new Gujarat Chief Minister
The Patidar face who is a first-time MLA became the 17th CM of Gujarat as he succeeded Vijay Rupani as the next chief minister, two days after his sudden resignation from the post. Patel, 59, was unanimously elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislature party leader on September 12 and was sworn in as Gujarat’s new Chief Minister by Governor Acharya Devvrat at a low-key ceremony held in Gandhinagar.
Raducanu wins first Grand Slam, beats Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in final
Two unseeded players - Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez - faced each other in the US Open women’s singles final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York with the former prevailing 6-4, 6-3 in the end. Raducanu created history by becoming the first-ever qualifier and the first British woman since 1977 to win a Grand Slam. She didn’t drop a single set in the entire tournament, winning all 20 of them.
Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury beat Bruno Soares and Jamie Murray to win men’s doubles title
American Rajeev Ram and British Joe Salisbury overcame a slow start to beat Bruno Soares and Jamie Murray 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the US Open men’s doubles final. Ram and Salisbury struggled with their serve in the opening set, with a collective four double faults as they got in slightly more than half of their first serves, as Murray and Soares took advantage with only one unforced error.
Ex-M&M MD Pawan Goenka appointed chairperson of In-SPACe
Former managing director of Mahindra & Mahindra Pawan Kumar Goenka has been appointed as the chairperson of the Indian National Space Promotion Authorization Centre (In-SPACe). IN-SPACe functions as an independent nodal agency under the Department of Space, Government of India. Goenka's appointment at the helm of the space agency was reportedly cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet earlier this week.
Prime Minister chairs 13th BRICS Summit
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the 13th BRICS Summit virtually. The Summit saw the participation of all other BRICS Leaders - President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Xi Jinping of China, and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.
SJVN has been conferred with Dun & Bradstreet – Corporate Award 2021
SJVN has been conferred with the prestigious Dun & Bradstreet – Corporate Award 2021 in the category of Best Growth Performance-Power. The award has been presented at a virtual conference titled India’s Top 500 Companies 2021. The event was attended by Guest of Honour Dr Bibek Debroy, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), and Special Guest Dr Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. The event showcased the performances of front runners among Indian Corporates.
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