A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and an American tech organization called Microsoft on Thursday (05/01/2023).
The MoU also seeks to fuel the growth of these start-ups with technology tools and platforms, go-to-market support, and mentoring which will further help them scale and become enterprise-ready, and also to support and empower space technology (space-tech) start-ups in India.
International news
First multicultural mental health hotline started in Australia
The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) Started that the country’s first multicultural mental health phone line.
This new phone line will support people to get the help they need, with a specialist team of healthcare professionals ready to provide care and connect people with the appropriate services.
According to the state government, the service is staffed by registered bilingual mental health professionals, covering which will provide services in 30 different languages such as Arabic, Chinese and Greek.
State news
First infrastructure working group meeting of G-20 series
The first infrastructure working group meeting of the G-20 series is going to be held in Kolkata from the 9th to 11th January 2023.
The three-day meeting will focus on financial inclusion and the theme of the meeting is “global partnership for financial inclusion”. The meeting aims at bringing the marginal people including small traders under the purview of the modern banking system.
BSES launches Braille model electricity bill for visually impaired
Delhi DISCOM BSES has launched electricity bills in Braille for visually impaired persons, General Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind S K Rungta also launched the voice-enabled accessible mobile app and door-step services for the visually impaired.
The visually impaired can register for the Braille Bill and the Door Step Service through the BSES Mobile App, BSES Call Centre, Voice Bot, Email, and Customer Care Centers.
Longest automatic block signaling section of Indian Railways
Indian Railways has been rolling out Automatic Block signaling on a mission mode, so that the commissioning of Automatic signaling system in Sath Naraini- Rundhi- Faizullapur Station section of Prayagraj Division, 762 KM long Ghaziabad-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay section has been fully automated and has also become the longest automatic block signaling section of Indian Railways.
In order to increase line capacity to run more trains on existing High Density Routes of Indian Railways, Automatic Block Signaling (ABS) is a cost effective solution.
Ninth version of Operation Smile to be started in Cyberabad
Cyberabad women and children safety wing DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) Kavitha announced that the ninth version of Operation Smile will commence in January 2023.
Operation Smile is a nonprofit medical service organization founded in 1982. With more than 6,000 active medical volunteers from all around the world, Operation Smile is one of the world’s largest volunteer-based nonprofit organizations.
Varanasi Cantt Railway Station awarded ‘Eat Right Station’
Indian Railways’ Varanasi Cantt Railway Station has been awarded a 5- star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers by FSSAI
The certification is part of the ‘Eat Right India’ movement- a large-scale effort by FSSAI to transform the country’s food system to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians.
The other railway stations with Star certification include
Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station (Delhi);
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai);
Mumbai Central Railway Station, (Mumbai);
Vadodara Railway Station,
Chandigarh Railway Station
Bhopal Railway Station.
Appointments
16th Speaker of Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly was elected
Kuldeep Singh Pathania, has been unanimously elected as Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly by voice vote on 05 January 2023.
A five-term legislator, he was elected an MLA for the first time on the Congress ticket in 1985, The Congress leader was elected to Vidhan Sabha in 1985, 1993, 2003, 2007 and 2022.
Chairman and MD of NLC India Ltd was appointed
Prasanna Kumar Motupalli was appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the state-run NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) on 05/01/2023.
Motupalli, Executive Director of NTPC Ltd, is presently working as Managing Director in Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited on deputation basis. And he served as Chairman and MD till June 30, 2026.
Archaeological studies
17th century Naikkar period meridian with an inscription of hero stone has been discovered.
A memorial temple of Savaru Chinnavad Nayakar, the head of Valluvapadi, was found during the archeological survey conducted by researchers at Auvva-Datta Koil (Grandfather-Grandmother Temple) in Thaluthala area of Veppanthattai circle, Perambalur district.
An inscription has been found on the panel sculpture here that says Savaru Chinnavad Nayak Temple of Valluvapadi Nadu.
Composition of Inscription: The slab sculpture block in which the inscription is placed has the Maharaja sitting in lilasana (resting position) in Sivikai.
Awards
Assam Government announced the State’s highest civilian award
The Assam government has decided to confer the State’s highest civilian award, ‘Assam Baibhav,’ to Dr. Tapan Saikia, an internationally acclaimed doctor for his contributions to the field of cancer care in the State.
Five people will receive the ‘Assam Saurav’ the second highest civilian award
Assam Saurav’ Award
Krishna Roy
footballer Gilbertson Sangma
Nayanmoni Saikia
Jorhat, Dr. Binoi Kumar Saikia
Dr. Shashidhar Phukan
The third highest civilian award ‘Asom Gaurav’ for 15 members for their exceptional contribution to society.
Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi Porkizhi Award
Every year, Muthamizharinagar Dr. Karunanidhi Porkizhi Award is announced to honor the writers who have given the best works in the categories of novel, short story, poetry, drama and translation.
Award recipients will be given a certificate of appreciation and a prize money of Rs. 1 lakh. In this situation, the list of recipients of the Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi Porkizhi Award for the year 2022 has been published.
List of award recipients are
Novel category
Writer Devi Bharti
short story category
Chandra Thangaraj
poetry section
Writer Devadevan
translation department
C. Mohan
drama category
Playwright Pralayan
World Habitat Awards – 2023
World Habitat Awards are given by World Habitat, a United Kingdom -based organization, in partnership with United Nation (UN)-Habitat, every year, in order to give the recognition of innovative, outstanding, and revolutionary ideas, projects, and programmes from across the world.
In 2023 there are two Gold winners, two Silver Awards and six Bronze Awards winners in the list.
They are
Gold Award
Silver Award
Bronze Award
Homes For Good, based in Glasgow, Scotland
Sostre Civic, Spain
Jaga Mission, India
UrbaSEN and the Senegalese Federation of Inhabitants, based in Senegal, West Africa
MicroBuild Fund, Worldwide
Mas Coop, France
Housing Action Group, Namibia
Renta tu Casa, Mexico
SIPHO, Spain
ULACAV, Latin America
National Neonatology Forum confers the Lifetime Achievement Award
41st Annual Convention of the National Neonatology Forum recently organized in Kolkata, in that event eminent pediatrician and neonatologist at KEM Hospital, Pune, and Dr Sudha Chaudhuri was conferred with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
NNF National Neonatology Forum is the apex body of neonatologists and related professionals and is actively involved in advocacy, policy making, research and improving the quality of neonatal health care practices.
Book Publications
Kaki Madhava Rao authorized a new book Breaking Barriers: the Story of a Dalit Chief Secretary
Former IAS officer Kaki Madhava Rao has released a new book, “Breaking Barriers: The Story of a Dalit Chief Secretary,” which explores the inner workings of the civil service at the ground level and sheds light on micro policies and governance.
The book, published by Emesco Books Private Limited, is written by Rao, a 1962 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who retired as Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh.
Important day
World Day for War Orphans
The world will come together to recognize World Day for War Orphans—a day dedicated to honoring and supporting war orphans around the globe On January 6.
This year’s theme is “Standing Up for War-Affected Children” and is meant to focus global attention on the challenges these children face and how to best meet their needs.
A war orphan is defined as a child who has lost one or both parents due to conflict or war.
