Category Archives: World Opinion

GLOBAL: FIRST / TIME : PM unveils World’s 1st Vedic Clock in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Opens Rs 17K cr projects in MP

Virtually inaugurating the first-of-its-kind Vedic clock, the PM said, “This proves that our government works on vikas (development) and virasat (heritage) simultaneously.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated the world’s first Vedic clock installed on an 85-ft high tower at the Jantar Mantar in Madhya Pradesh’s religious city Ujjain.

The clock will display time according to ancient Vedic Hindu panchang (almanac). Besides planetary positions, muhurat, astrological calculations, and predictions, the clock will also display the Indian Standard Time (IST) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and operate on the time system based on one sunrise to another.

Virtually inaugurating the first-of-its-kind Vedic clock, the PM said, “This proves that our government works on vikas (development) and virasat (heritage) simultaneously. The city of Baba Mahakal (Ujjain) was once the centre of time calculation, but its importance was forgotten. Now we’ve established the world’s first Vikramaditya Vedic clock. It will not just render an opportunity to remember our rich heritage, but will also be witness to that Kalchakra (time cycle) which will turn India into a developed nation.”

PM Modi also launched the Cyber Tehsil system for all 55 districts to help in land related issues.

As part of unveiling and laying foundation of development projects across the country ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the PM virtually unveiled and laid foundation stone of 37 development projects worth Rs 17,500 crore in MP at the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Madhya Pradesh’ which was attended by 15 lakh people across 200 locations in the state.

The projects pertained to variegated sectors, including irrigation, power, rail, road, water supply, coal, industry, among others. Addressing virtually the mega event which was attended by MP Governor Mangubhai C Patel, CM Mohan Yadav, his cabinet colleagues and state BJP chief VD Sharma at Bhopal’s Lal Parade Ground, the PM said, “Currently there is just one slogan ‘Abki Baar 400 Paar’ all around.

This isn’t BJP’s slogan, but actually a slogan given by the people of the country. For the first time, the people of the country are popularizing a slogan for the return of their loved and trusted government again.” “We’re not contesting polls just to form our government for the third time, but to form the government the third time to make India the world’s third largest economy.” Reaching out to the youth and first time voters, Modi said, “I assure the youth, that the BJP government will leave no stone unturned for creating opportunities for them.”

‘Vedic Hindu almanac’

The clock will display time according to ancient Vedic Hindu panchang (almanac). Besides planetary positions, muhurat, astrological calculations, and predictions, the clock will also display the Indian Standard Time (IST) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and operate on the time system based on one sunrise to another.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited0

NATIONAL: SEMI-CONDUCTORS: Cabinet approves 03 Semiconductor proposals in Gujarat, Assam

One of the facilities is a fabrication unit — as opposed to a packaging or assembly unit — and will make 50,000 ‘wafer starts’ a day.

The Union Cabinet on February 29 approved three semiconductor proposals amounting to ₹1,25,600 crore in value in Dholera and Sanand in Gujarat, and in Morigaon in Assam. The Dholera and Morigaon facilities will be built by Tata Electronics Pvt. Ltd. and Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt. Ltd. The former will be a full-fledged fabrication unit producing 50,000 ‘wafer starts,’ the initial form of silicon chips, per month.

Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation of Taiwan will be the technology partner for the fab unit, while the assembly and testing unit in Morigaon’s technology partners have been kept confidential at their request, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters.

The Dholera units will be used to make “high performance compute chips with 28 nanometre technology,” and also to make chips for power management, which Mr. Vaishnaw said accounted for a large part of semiconductor demand. Both facilities’ output will cater to domestic demand as well as export their produced chips, Mr. Vaishnaw said.

Construction will start within 100 days, he added, hoping that the work is done well before the standard 5 year timeline for such facilities. The chip assembly facility by Micron, announced last year, is on track to have its first chip produced by December 2024, Mr. Vaishnaw said. The facilities announced on Thursday will create 20,000 direct jobs and 60,000 indirect jobs, the IT Ministry estimated in a note.

The facility in Sanand will also be a packaging unit, set up by CG Power with technology from the Renesas Electronics Corporation of Japan and Stars Microelectronics of Thailand.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited0

India-born Economist Geeta Batra Named As First Woman Director of World Bank’s GEF

Geeta Batra, a distinguished India-born economist, has been appointed as the Director of the Independent Evaluation Office of the World Bank’s Global Environment Facility (GEF). This historic appointment makes her the first woman from a developing country to hold this prestigious position. 

Currently serving as the Chief Evaluator & Deputy Director for Evaluation at the GEF’s Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), affiliated with the World Bank, Batra’s nomination for the role received unanimous approval during the 66th GEF Council Meeting in Washington on February 9.

Geeta Batra, aged 57, outlined her top priorities, emphasizing the delivery of sound evaluative evidence on GEF’s results and performance, leadership to keep the GEF IEO at the forefront of environmental evaluation, and the strengthening of IEO teams through skill development. 

Her role will also involve building partnerships with multilateral and bilateral agencies, foundations, and networks, sharing knowledge on effective environmental strategies.

Born in New Delhi, Batra pursued her education in Mumbai and Chennai, completing her Economics degree and an MBA in Finance.

Inspired by her professor, Harkant Mankad, she pursued a Ph.D. in Economics in the United States. After working in various roles, including Senior Manager, Risk, at American Express and serving at the World Bank’s Private Sector Development Department, she joined the GEF’s IEO in 2015.

The GEF has been a significant player in the environmental sector since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, providing substantial grants and co-financing for projects addressing global environmental concerns. Geeta Batra’s appointment signifies a major milestone, reflecting her extensive experience and commitment to environmental evaluation.

With IANS Inputs

source/content: indiatimes.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: LEADERS IN USA: Ashwin Ramaswami? The First Gen Z Indian-American In US Senate Race

The most recent Indian American to enter US politics is a 24-year-old software engineer, who is the first Gen Z candidate of Indian descent to run for state senate in the nation.

Ashwin Ramaswami is a second-generation immigrant who has the distinction of being the first Indian American senator from Georgia and the only one with a law degree in addition to a computer science degree. If elected.

He is a Democratic candidate facing off against Republican Shawn Still, who was charged with the same crimes as former US President Donald Trump for the US Capitol uprising on January 6.

Ashwin Ramaswami: Who Is He?

Ramaswami is a tech startup entrepreneur who has worked in cybersecurity for the US government and currently runs a technology law and policy consulting firm.

His parents, both IT professionals, immigrated from Tamil Nadu to US in 1990 and Ramaswami graduated from Stanford University in 2021. “I was born and grew up in Georgia. I’m a second-generation immigrant, an Indian American, a twin brother, and an engineer,” his campaign website reads.

“I’m running for (Georgia) State Senate in order to give back to my community. I want to make sure that everyone has the same opportunities that I had growing up,” the 24-year-old told news agency PTI.

Ramaswami says he is keen to make sure the young people have who come from “unconventional backgrounds in politics” have “a new voice”.

“I’m a Hindu”

Even as a young techie, Ramaswami says he is grounded in Indian culture. “I’m a Hindu. I’ve been very interested in Indian culture philosophy my whole life,” he said.

The 24-year-old, who was raised on epics like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita, also taught Hindu philosophy and culture to schoolchildren at the Hindu spiritual movement’s Chinmaya Mission Balavihar.

“When I was in college, I learned Sanskrit and ended up reading a lot of ancient texts and got very interested in reading Upanishads, ..and my whole life I’ve been very involved in yoga and meditation and now also teaching Baal Vihara to younger students,” he told news agency PTI.

Apart from this, he founded the Dharmic Law Student Organization, a group that conducts programs for Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Jain students.

Gen Z And Political Goals

As a civil servant involved in election security, Ramaswami claimed to have contributed to the security of the 2020 and 2022 elections. In response to scepticism regarding his youth in his State Senate campaign, the twenty-four-year-old claimed that his generation is “very aware politically.”

“We very much see the news, we see all these things happening, and we want to ensure a good future for ourselves. But I think one problem we face is we don’t have the resources or ability to go and make a difference in the sense that it’s really hard for people my age to get elected because the election process skews towards people who are wealthier and older,” he said.

With his eyes set on the state senate, Ramaswami says he aims to increase wages for state employees and introduce better technology to secure elections. He also plans to Introduce “common-sense gun laws” and antitrust laws to hold big tech companies accountable for online harms.

The young techie wants to create a sustainable tech hub in the south of US and make Georgia a leader in green energy investments.

source/content: zeenews.india.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: DEFENCE & AVIATION: Mid-air Refuellers, Maritime Planes in India’s ₹84,560 cr Defence push

The DAC accorded its acceptance of necessity (AoN) to the capital acquisition projects, paving the way for inducting a range of capabilities.

Lending further momentum to the ongoing self-reliance drive in the defence manufacturing sector, India on Friday approved several key proposals worth Rs.84,560 crore to strengthen the military’s operational readiness, including the purchase of more mid-air refuellers, medium-range maritime reconnaissance and multi-mission aircraft, heavy weight-torpedoes and new generation anti-tank mines.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Union defence minister Rajnath Singh, accorded its acceptance of necessity (AoN) to the capital acquisition projects, paving the way for inducting a range of capabilities that will help the three services and the coast guard address challenges in their vast domains.

“In the true spirit of ‘Aatmanirbharta’, the approvals accorded today lay special emphasis on the procurement of various equipment from Indian vendors,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

The clearance for the purchase of six mid-air refuellers to extend the reach of the Indian Air Force’s fighter jets is by far the most notable development considering it comes against the backdrop of previous failed attempts to buy new tankers, officials aware of the matter said, asking not to be named.

The refuellers were cleared under the ‘Buy (Global)’ acquisition category which refers to the outright purchase of equipment from foreign or Indian vendors.

IAF operates a fleet of six Russian-origin Ilyushin-78 tankers that are plagued by maintenance problems and the force urgently needs at least six more refuellers.

The go-ahead for 15 new C-295 aircraft in a maritime configuration for the navy and coast guard is equally critical, the officials said.

IAF received the delivery of its first C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space in September 2023. The aircraft was the first of the 56 such planes ordered by IAF under a Rs.21,935 crore project to modernise its transport fleet. The European plane maker will deliver 16 planes in flyaway condition, while the rest will be assembled in India at a Tata facility in Gujarat’s Vadodara.

DAC has accorded AoN, under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, for new generation anti-tank mines “with seismic sensor and provision of remote deactivation with additional safety features,” the statement said. IDDM stands for indigenously designed, developed and manufactured.

Under India’s defence procurement rules, the council’s AoN is the first step towards buying military hardware. The Indian-IDDM category is the most important category of acquisition for indigenisation under the defence procurement policy.

“To enhance the operational efficiency and domination in the tactical battle area for engaging targets that are beyond visual line of sight by the mechanised forces, AoN under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category has also been accorded for procurement of canister launched anti-armour loiter munition system,” the statement said.

The military hardware cleared by the council includes air defence tactical control radars to detect slow, small and low-flying targets as well as surveillance, detection and tracking of other targets; active towed array sonar with capabilities to operate at low frequencies and various depths for long range detection of enemy submarines; and heavy-weight torpedoes for enhancing the capabilities of Kalvari class submarines.

India has sharpened its focus on the defence manufacturing sector during the last five to six years and has taken several measures to achieve self-reliance. These include banning the import of a range of weapons, systems and parts, creating a separate budget for buying locally made military hardware, increasing foreign direct investment from 49% to 74% and improving ease of doing business.

Setting aside a budget for India-made weapons and systems is one of the key measures to boost self-reliance. Around Rs.1 lakh crore was earmarked for domestic procurement in the defence budget for 2023-24, compared to Rs.84,598 crore, Rs.70,221 crore and Rs.51,000 crore in the three previous years.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL RECORDS: AMAZING CHILD: Andhra’s four-month-old baby Kaivalya is now ‘World First 4-month Baby to Identify 100+ Flash Cards ‘

The baby’s family recorded a video showcasing Kaivalya’s abilities and sent it to Noble World Records.

A four-month-old child in Andhra Pradesh’s Nadigama has got her name registered in Noble Book of World Records. The baby named Kaivalya is able to identify 120 different things, from birds and vegetables to animals and also photographs, highlighting her early cognitive abilities, reported India Today.

Kaivalya has been recognised as the ” World’s first four months baby to identify 100+ flashcards”. In a viral video, she was able to recognise and identify 120 flashcards which consisted of 12 flowers, 27 fruits, 27 vegetables, 27 animals and 27 birds. The world record was set on February 3, 2024.

Kaivalya’s ability was noticed by her mother, Hema. The baby’s family recorded a video showcasing her abilities and sent it to Noble World Records.

The team at Noble World Records, reviewed the video and tested Kaivalya’s special talent. They have given her a special certificate, making her a world record holder at the tender age of just four months.

A video of Kaivalya with her family, posing with a recognition medal around her neck, has been shared on social media.

The baby’s parents have expressed tremendous joy for her achievement. They thanked everyone for the support and expressed hope that Kaivalya’s story would inspire other parents to discover and cherish the surreal talent their children may possess.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headlines edited)

Hyderabad makes history as U.S. smashes visa records in India

The demand for visas across all categories witnessed an exceptional surge, recording a remarkable 60% increase in applications compared with 2022.

Hyderabad emerged as one of the top four student visa processing posts in the world, along with Mumbai, New Delhi, and Chennai, while the U.S. Consular Team in India has set unprecedented visa records in 2023.

The demand for visas across all categories witnessed an exceptional surge, recording a remarkable 60% increase in applications compared with 2022. Hyderabad played a pivotal role in this surge, contributing significantly to India’s representation, with one in every 10 U.S. visa applicants originating from the country.

The U.S. consular team in India issued over 140,000 student visas in 2023, setting a record for the third consecutive year. Consequently, Indian students now constitute the largest group of international graduate students in the United States, representing over a quarter of the one million foreign students studying in the country.

Maintaining a focus on employment visas, Consular Team India streamlined processes by consolidating most petition-based visa processing in Chennai and Hyderabad. This strategic move resulted in the efficient processing of over 380,000 employment visas for Indians and their family members in 2023, with minimal appointment wait times. Looking ahead to 2024, a pilot programme will enable eligible H1B holders to renew their visas in the United States, further simplifying the process for this group.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL : LEGAL – INVITATION: ICJ judge Hilary Charlesworth joins CJI Chandrachud on Supreme Court Bench

Ms. Charlesworth, an Australian international lawyer who has been a judge of the ICJ since 5 November 2021, is in India at present.

Judge of the International Court of Justice Hilary Charlesworth on Monday, February 12, 2024, sat on the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and witnessed judicial proceedings.

“I have great pleasure in welcoming ICJ judge Hilary Chalesworth among us. She has taught earlier at the Mayo College here. She is a distinguished jurist,” the CJI said, calling Ms. Charlesworth a friend of India.

“We all welcome her Ladyship to the court,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said.

Ms. Charlesworth, an Australian international lawyer who has been a judge of the ICJ since 5 November 2021, is in India at present. On Saturday, she delivered the second annual lecture on ‘The International Court of Justice: A legal forum in a political environment’ on the Supreme Court premises.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: Indian-American 9-year old Preesha Chakraborty listed in world’s brightest students list

Preesha Chakraborty, a nine-year-old Indian-American schoolgirl, was named in the “world’s brightest” students list by the prestigious Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth.

Preesha Chakraborty, a nine-year-old Indian-American schoolgirl, was named in the “world’s brightest” students list by the prestigious Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth, based on the results of above-grade-level tests of over 16,000 students across 90 countries.

Preesha is a Warm Spring Elementary school student in Fremont, California, and took the US-based Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth (JH-CTY) test in Summer 2023 as a Grade 3 student, a media release said on Monday.

Preesha figured in the list after the results of above-grade-level tests of over 16,000 students from more than 90 countries around the world were assessed, it said.

She was honoured for her exceptional performance on the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test), ACT (American College Testing), School and College Ability Test, or similar assessments as part of the CTY Talent Search.

Less than 30 per cent of students qualify each year for either High Honors or Grand Honors/SET based on their test scores.

She aced in the test’s verbal and quantitative sections – on par with the 99th percentile of advanced Grade 5 performances – and bagged the Grand Honors, according to the press release.

The achievement qualifies Preesha for more than 250 Johns Hopkins CTY’s Online and On-Campus Programmes for advanced students in grades 2-12 in mathematics, computer programming, chemistry, physics, reading, and writing.

Preesha is a lifetime member of the universally renowned Mensa Foundation, the oldest high-IQ society in the world, where membership is open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test.

She achieved this accomplishment at age six by securing 99 percentiles in the national level NNAT (Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test), which assesses K-12 students for gifted and talented programmes. Preesha loves travelling, hiking, and mixed martial arts outside of studies.

According to her parents, Preesha has always been passionate about learning and has consistently displayed exceptional academic abilities.

“This is not just recognition of students’ performance on one test, but a testament to their curiosity and capacity for learning,” Amy Shelton, Executive Director of the CTY, said.

“These students have demonstrated enormous potential, and now we encourage them to seek out experiences and communities that help them challenge and stretch their knowledge, connect with other young scholars, understand diverse perspectives, think critically, and pursue their goals confidently,” Shelton said.

Founded in 1979, CTY is a centre for innovation dedicated to advancing the field of gifted education through research on testing, programmes, and other support for advanced learners. 

source/content: indiatodayne.in (headline edited)

REGIONAL / COMMONWEALTH: LEADERSHIP: Darasing Khurana Appointed As ‘Commonwealth Year Of Youth Champion’ Along With UK’s Prince Edward

India’s Darasing Khurana is the second person in the world to be appointed as ‘Commonwealth Year of Youth Champion’.

Darasing Khurana, ever since he entered showbiz, has represented India globally on various platforms. In fact, he has been a guiding force for the youth by empowering them in more ways than one. Now adding to it, he has now been appointed as the Commonwealth Year Of Youth Champion 2024. With the latest feat, he has become the first Asian and the second person in the world to hold the title along with Prince Edward of the UK. 

He was officially appointed for the post by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC. Talking about him, the dignitary said, “With your exceptional commitment to youth development and empowerment the Commonwealth is confident that your voice will resonate with young people across borders and inspire positive change. Your dedication to this cause aligns perfectly with the values of the Commonwealth and we believe that your influential voice and advocacy will greatly contribute to the success of our endeavours during the Year of Youth.”

With undertaking the title, Darasing Khurana will be required to provide informed and targeted messaging to governments, youth organisations, the private sector and the general public. He would be the high-profile spokesperson, who would be instrumental in guiding and promoting youth development and empowerment across the Commonwealth. Throughout his tenure, he would collaborate closely with key stakeholders, participate in significant events, thereby aiding in shaping the future of youth in the Commonwealth member countries.

For those caught unaware, Darasing bagged the Mister India International title in 2017. Since then, he has been working for the betterment of the youth. He is also the brand ambassador of DATRI, world’s second largest blood stem cell donors’ registry, and the founder of Pause.Breathe.Talk Foundation to provide affordable mental health care to people. He is also known to work with UNICEF India as a youth advocate.

source/content: outlookindia.com (headline edited)