Tag Archives: India World Record

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)

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)

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL: MANUFACTURING & AVIATION : MAKE IN INDIA : Airbus contracts Dynamatic to make doors for A220 aircraft

Will double sourcing from India from a value of $750 mn to $1.5 bn.

French aerospace manufacturer Airbus on Thursday announced the awarding of a contract for the manufacturing and assembly of its A220 aircraft doors to Bengaluru-based Dynamatic Technologies in what it called “one of the largest aerospace export contracts to India.”

Dynamatic will manufacture and assemble the cargo, passenger and service doors along with the over-wing emergency exit doors for the A220 family aircraft, which total to eight doors per aircraft.

The order signifies implementation of “complex assembling and integration of aerospace manufacturing, which will create downstream opportunities in the Indian aviation supply chain,” Airbus CEO Remi Maillard, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia said at a press event.

Thursday’s contract is also among the orders that will enable Airbus to double its sourcing from India, which is valued at about $750 million every year. This is expected to rise to $1.5 billion over the next few years.

To a question on when Airbus plans a final assembly line for commercial aircraft given large orders from IndiGo and Air India, Mr. Maillard said Airbus provided more jobs and more value for India today than any Final Assembly Line (FAL) will achieve.

According to Dynamatic’s Udayant Malhoutra only 15% of value generated from manufacturing an aircraft comes from a FAL.

Airbus recently announced a FAL for H125 helicopter for the private sector and in 2022 announced a FAL for C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL: EDUCTION / MATHEMATICS WORLD RECORDS: Two Mumbai Students Aadhya Shetty & Pratham Mehta Bag ‘Top in the World’ For Mathematics Award

Two students from Mumbai’s Kanakia International School were awarded the “Top In The World” title for Mathematics at the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards.

Aadhya Shetty and Pratham Mehta received the “Highest Mark In The World” for the Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (without coursework) category.

Cambridge Assessment International Education recognizes the achievements of exceptional Cambridge Learners worldwide through the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards. The title ‘Top in the World’ is given to students who have attained the highest global standard in a specific subject. Aadhya Shetty and Pratham Mehta have been acknowledged for achieving a perfect PUM score of 100 in mathematics in the June 2023 Cambridge Examination.

Ms. Shuchi Shukla, the principal of Kanakia International School, Chembur, emphasising the school’s dedication to holistic education said,”Aadhya and Pratham have etched their names in the institution’s history with this remarkable feat. Additionally, I would like to thank Ms. Priya Pathak and Mr. Prashant Kamble, our math teachers, for their contribution in guiding our students towards this exemplary achievement.”

source/content: freepressjournal.in (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL: EV : Yamaha Motor leads $40 million funding in e-scooter startup River

The company entered the domestic EV market with its first e-scooter, Indie, in October last year, and in January it opened its first River store in Bengaluru.

Electric scooter startup River on Tuesday announced it has raised USD 40 million (Rs 335 crore) in Series B funding led by Japan’s Yamaha Motor Co, Ltd. The funds will be utilised for scaling up the distribution and service network, among others.

“The investment is a significant boost for our plan to build a billion dollar global utility-lifestyle brand by 2030. We have built a great base in R&D and manufacturing over the last two years and now, it’s time to grow,” said Aravind Mani, Co-founder and CEO of River.

The company entered the domestic EV market with its first e-scooter, Indie, in October last year, and in January it opened its first River store in Bengaluru.

The Series B funding round also saw participation from existing investors Al-Futtaim Automotive, Lowercarbon Capital, Toyota Ventures and Maniv Mobility, River said.

With the latest capital infusion, the total funding secured by the company since its inception in March 2021 stands at USD 68-million (Rs 565 crores), according to River.

With this funding, the company plans to scale the distribution and service network across the country and invest further in R&D for future lineup of products.

“The collaboration with Yamaha will help us leverage the design and technology capability that we have built at River.”, said Vipin George, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, River.

The company said its maiden e-scooter, Indie, has been fully designed and developed at its R&D facility in Bengaluru and manufactured at its Hoskote manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Bengaluru. 

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: ARTS & CULTURE / MUSIC: Grammy Awards 2024: India takes centre-stage at the 66th Grammy Awards 2024 as Shankar Mahadevan, Zakir Hussain Win Laurels

In a post on X, Indian music composer Ricky Kej said that this is a great year for India at the Grammys.

The most coveted award ceremony of all time, the Grammys, is here. And currently, we see Indian talent shining on the prestigious platform. Our homeland took centre-stage at the 66th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles after Zakir Hussain was named the Best Global Music Performance for his work in Pashto alongside Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia.

Shankar Mahadevan also took home the award for Best Global Music Album at the Grammys for This Moment. Taking to X, Grammys shared the post and wrote: “Congrats Best Global Music Album winner – ‘This Moment’ Shakti. #GRAMMYs.”

In his acceptance speech, Mahadevan said, “Thank you boys. Thank you God, family, friends, and India. India, we are proud of you…Last but not the least, I would like to dedicate this award to my wife whom every note of my music is dedicated to.” 

In a post on X, Indian music composer Ricky Kej said that this is a great year for India at the Grammys. He wrote: “Ustad Zakhir Hussain, the living legend creates history by winning 3 Grammys in one night!!! Rakesh Chaurasia wins 2!! .. and I am blessed to witness it.”

Kej added, “SHAKTI wins a GRAMMY! Through this album 4 brilliant Indian musicians win Grammys!! Just amazing. India is shining in every direction. Shankar Mahadevan, Selvaganesh Vinayakram, Ganesh Rajagopalan, Ustad Zakhir Hussain. Ustad Zakhir Hussain won a second Grammy along with virtuoso flute player Rakesh Chaurasia. Brilliant!”

The artistes mentioned were nominated for the Grammy Awards alongside others such as Susana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy, and Davido.

source/content: indulgexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: HEALTH & MEDICINE: RESEARCH: British Indian Doctor Tony Dhillon to undertake ‘ground-breaking’ Cancer Vaccine trial

Dr Tony Dhillon, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, proposed the idea for the trial and has worked with Professor Tim Price in Australia for the last four years to develop the vaccine.

A British Indian doctor is the chief investigator of a “ground-breaking” trial of a vaccine to treat early bowel cancer for patients worldwide, following a UK-Australia collaboration between scientists and doctors.

Dr Tony Dhillon, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, proposed the idea for the trial and has worked with Professor Tim Price in Australia for the last four years to develop the vaccine.

The trial, announced recently, will be run by the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Southampton in collaboration with Royal Surrey and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide, Australia.

“This is the first treatment vaccine in any gastrointestinal cancer and we have high hopes that it will be very successful. We think that for a lot of patients, the cancer will have gone completely after this treatment,” said Dr Dhillon.

“This is ground-breaking. I feel as if we are on the edge of something really big here. The vaccine makes the immune system go after the cancer. It will be life-changing because it means that potentially, patients may not need to have surgery – they may just have the vaccine,” he said.

There will be 10 sites for patients to be enrolled – six in Australia and four in the UK, with 44 patients to be enrolled in the study over an 18-month period.

The vaccine will be used to treat patients before surgery, in the hope that it will cause the body to attack the cancer. It would mean any surgery would be less invasive. It is also hoped that the strength of the vaccine could support the immune system to respond if there is a relapse and the cancer returns later on.

“We are hugely proud to have been involved in the launch of this ground-breaking new vaccine. As the fourth-largest cancer centre in the UK, helping to fight cancer is a huge part of what we do and this will really provide an opportunity for bowel cancer patients and give them real hope of beating the disease,” said Louise Stead, Royal Surrey Foundation Trust Chief Executive.

Patients will have an endoscopy, and then a tissue sample will be tested to see if they are eligible for the trial. If they are, they will have three doses of the vaccine before having surgery to remove the cancer.

The trial will be available for just 44 patients around the world. After the trial finishes, the vaccine will either be licensed for use or if it’s successful, a bigger study will be carried out.

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the third most common cancer, with a worldwide annual incidence of over 1.2 million cases and a mortality rate of approximately 50 per cent. 

source/content: tribuneindia.com (headline edited)