Prof. T. Pradeep of IIT Madras has been honoured with the Nikkei Asia Prizes(NAP) 2020 in the science and technology category. NAP are awarded annually in three areas- Economic and Business Innovation, Science and Technology and Culture and Community.
The prize includes three million yen and a certificate.
Google Pay, the digital payments arm of tech giant Google, has roped in former Axis Bank CEO Shikha Sharma as an advisor. Google offers UPI based payments in India in partnership with 4 major banks- HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and State Bank of India.
Google CEO- Sundar Pichai.
Moody’s Investors Service slashed India growth forecast for calendar year 2020 to 0.2 per cent, from 2.5% projected in March. For 2021, the rating agency expects India’s growth to rebound to 6.2%. China is projected to grow 1% in 2020 and 7.1% in 2021.
India lost tag of the fastest-growing economy to China in 2019.
A joint programme was organised by All India Institute of Ayurveda and Delhi Police, with a title AYURAKSHA ‘Corona Se Jung: Delhi Police Ke Sang’. It was organised to fight against COVID-19 by undertaking time tested Ayurveda immunity boosting measures.
AIIA is under the Ministry of AYUSH.
Tennis star Sania Mirza became the first Indian to be nominated for the Fed Cup Heart Award. Sania is the nominee for the award from the Asia/Oceania Zone alongwith Indonesia's Priska Madelyn Nugroho. The winner will be declared on May 11.
The Fed Cup Heart Award was 1st presented at the Final in 2009.
As per the data released by the National Payments Corporation of India,UPI has registered 0.99 billion transactions amounting to Rs 1,51,140 crore(Rs 1.51 trillion).This is the 1st time in the past 7 months that UPI volume went below the one billion mark.
In April, IMPS processed 122.47 million payments.
Joseph J Landsberg,Richard H Waring& Nicholas C Coops share the 2020 MW Prize for a model to predict forest growth in a changing climate.Satellite imagery offers the possibility to scale up the model to show how environmental conditions affect the forests.
Marcus "Husky" Wallenberg is a Swedish banker and industrialist.
National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science & Technology (DST) has launched a programme on health and risk communication ‘Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH)’ with focus on COVID-19.
The programme is aimed at minimizing risks at all levels.
Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., India’s leading integrated travel services company, was selected as winner of the prestigious silver award for Asia's Best Integrated Report (First Time) at the 5th Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (ASRA).
Mr. Madhavan Menon, Chairman and Managing Director, Thomas Cook.
Short video app VMate has joined hands with the Government’s citizen engagement platform MyGov to aid the Centre’s efforts in combating the menace of the COVID-19 pandemic. An official profile of the entity, named MyGovIndia, has been launched on VMate.
First video posted on the profile talks about Aarogya Setu.
Ross Taylor was honoured with Sir Richard Hadlee Medal for the third time for excelling across formats. Tim Southee bagged the top Test prize.Taylor went past Stephen Fleming's tally to become the leading run-scorer for New Zealand in Tests.
Kim Cotton was named the Umpire of the Year.
The Defence Ministry has proposed the use of ATULYA- a microwave steriliser - that can disintegrate Covid-19 virus within 30 seconds. It was developed by the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune, a deemed university supported by the DRDO.
Virus gets disintegrated by differential heating.
Black rice of Manipur, also called the Chak-Hao, Gorakhpur Terracotta and Kadalai Mittai of Kovilpatti bagged Geographical Indication tag. Chak-Hao, a scented glutinous rice cultivated in Manipur over centuries, is characterised by its special aroma.
Potters make many animal figures in Gorakhpur terracotta work.
MoC launched a PMU for facilitation of early operationalisation of coal mines allocated by the Government. This is an important step forward to promote Ease of Doing Business as it will support in obtaining timely approval to operationalise the mines.
Pralhad Joshi- Minister of Coal, Mines & Parliamentary Affairs.
Digital IR thermometer is one of the important innovations recently announced by CSIR and National Chemical Laboratory in Pune. The CSIR - NCLs Venture Centres incubate BMek headed by Prateek Kulkarni has developed this handheld digital IR thermometer.
CSIR- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Assam born freedom fighter and social activist and Padma Hema Bharali passed away at her residence in Guwahati. She was 102 years old. She is known for her initiative to establish the Kasturba Ashram Pub Sarania.
She was also known for her contributions for women empowerment.
World Tuna Day is observed on 2 May. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of tuna. The day will promote more sustainable fishing practices. The day also spreads information about the possible impact of drastically declining tuna stocks.
It is observed for the first time in 2017.
International Astronomy Day is celebrated twice a year- one in autumn and another in spring. The Astronomy Day 2020 is celebrated on May 2. Enthusiasts and professionals celebrate the day to share their knowledge and love of outer space with the public.
Next Astronomy Day will be celebrated on 2020 September 26.
Veteran South African anti-apartheid activist Denis Goldberg, who was tried alongside Nelson Mandela, has died at the age of 87. He was convicted of armed resistance to white-minority rule and sentenced to four life terms in 1964.
He was a member of the ANC's military wing.
Tripura has launched an ‘Agro-Entrepreneur Facilitation Desk’ to help the entrepreneurs of the state to get subsidies and incentives from Central government funding agencies. It will be set up at the Directorate of Horticulture and Soil Conservation.
Tripura Chief Minister- Biplab Kumar Deb.