National
Director General of National Informatics Centre (NIC)
⇒ Shri Rajesh Gera has joined as the Director General, National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) on 31st May 2022.
In his association of more than 31 years with NIC, Shri Rajesh Gera headed several prominent divisions – Video Conferencing Division, Satellite Network Division, Aadhaar Authentication Division, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Ayush, etc.
Shri Rajesh Gera completed his B Tech (EE) with Honors in 1984 from IIT Varanasi, Banaras Hindu University.
Vritika Research Internship on “Grooming academic publishing skills"
⇒ The Research Journals Division of CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR), New Delhi, organized the Vritika Research Internship on “Grooming academic publishing skills via a short-term training course” during 1st June to 30th June 2022.
Sponsored by:
The internship was sponsored by the Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt of India, under Accelerate Vigyan Vritika scheme.
Key Points:
- The Research internship was attended by 5 participants from both PG and PhD streams from various universities and colleges in offline mode.
- The month-long intense internship program featured lectures, practical, lab visits, and regular interactive sessions with CSIR-NIScPR scientists, Editors, and science communicators.
- This internship provided necessary knowledge on converting research data into an indexed publication, exposure to processing of research manuscripts from preparation to publication, to know about the techniques behind copyediting, writing research paper and literature summary.
- It fostered a strong interest in scientific and engineering research as well as provided technical insight into the fields of science and engineering.
- CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), a premier science publishing institute in India, has also been playing a key role in training of young researchers by conducting several workshops, Internships, and training programs in diverse fields.
Ten Antiquities (sculptures) retrieved from Australia and USA
⇒ Ten antiquities (sculptures) retrieved from Australia and USA were handed -over to the Government of Tamil Nadu on 01 June 2022 in New Delhi.
The collection of antiquities handed over to the Tamil Nadu government included figurines named Dwarapala, Nataraja, Kankalamurti Kadayam, Nadikeswara Kadayam, Four-Armed Vishnu, Sri Devi, Siva & Parvati, Standing Child Sambandar, and Child Sambandar.
During the event, the Union Minister Shri, G Kishan Reddy lauded the efforts of the Central Government and highlighted the increase in the number of idols which have been repatriated since 2014.
- He said, “During the visit of our Prime Minister to the USA, 157 antiquities were returned to India which is being the largest single collection India got back so far.
- Only 13 antiquities were brought back to India between Independence and 2013.
- With the sustained effort of the Government of India, and 228 antiquities being brought back since 2014, the total number has now become 241”.
» The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972 (or the ‘1972 Act’) and the Indian Treasure Trove Act of 1878 regulate the antiquity trade/exchange in the country.
Read More About Ten Antiquities: Official Link
International
11th edition of India - Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting
⇒ 11th edition of India – Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was held from 31 May to 01 June, 2022 at Rome, Italy.
India – Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) is a forum established to boost defence cooperation between the both countries through regular talks at the strategic and operational levels between Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff and the Joint Staff HQ of Italian Armed Forces.
Discussion:
- The military cooperation group meeting was held in a friendly, warm and cordial atmosphere.
- Discussions focused on new initiatives under the ambit of existing bilateral defence cooperation mechanism and further strengthening ongoing defence engagements.
Third passenger Train Service between India and Bangladesh
⇒ To further strengthen people to people connectivity through Rail between India and Bangladesh, Government of India and Bangladesh, after several meetings, decided to start a new passenger train service Mitali Express via recently-restored Haldibari-Chilahati rail link.
Mitali Express was flagged-off virtually by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways of India and Md. Nurul Islam Sujan, Railway Minister of Bangladesh, from Rail Bhavan, New Delhi on 1st June, 2022.
- This is the third passenger train service between New Jalpaiguri, India and Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Mitali Express was virtually inaugurated by both the Prime Ministers on 27th March, 2021. Earlier, this train could not be started due to Covid Pandemic restrictions.
Key Points:
- The additional new passenger service, Mitali Express, will give a boost to tourism of both the countries since it connects Bangladesh with North Bengal as well as North Eastern region of India. This will also provide an access of Nepal to Bangladeshi citizens via India by rail.
- This new train is in addition to two existing passenger train services, namely Kolkata-Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express and Kolkata-Khulna-Kolkata Bandhan Express between India and Bangladesh.
Death
Noted Singer, Krishnakumar Kunnath (KK)
⇒ Noted singer, Krishnakumar Kunnath popularly known as KK passed away on 31 May 2022 in Kolkata. He was 53.
As a playback singer, he has recorded popular Bollywood numbers such as ‘Ankhon Mein Teri’ (Om Shanti Om), ‘Zara Sa’ (Jannat), ‘Khuda Jaane’ (Bachna Ae Hasino) etc. A versatile singer, KK has also recorded songs in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Bengali, among other languages.
In 2009, he won the Screen Awards, Best Playback Singer (Male) for his song “Khuda Jaane” of the film Bachna Ae Haseeno.