A state-of-the-art Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE) was inaugurated in Idukki, Kerala. The SPACE, set up by the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory of DRDO, has been designed as a premier testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems destined for Indian Navy onboard various platforms including ships, submarines and helicopters.
The SPACE marks a milestone in naval technology advancement. It will consist of two distinct assemblages - a platform which floats on the water surface, and a submersible platform which can be lowered to any depth upto 100 m using winch systems. Upon completion of operations, the submersible platform can be winched up and docked with the floating platform.
On April 16th, 2024, the World Future Energy Summit and Exhibition (WFES) took center stage at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), drawing renewable energy leaders from across the MENA region. This prestigious event served as a hub for global PV companies to unveil the latest advancements in solar technology and products.
World Heritage Day, also monikered as the International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS), is observed on April 18 every year to honor and protect out cultural legacy. The International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) created World Heritage Day, also referred to as The International Day for Monuments and Sites, in 1982.
This year, the theme of World Heritage Day is ‘Discover and Experience Diversity’.
Indian economy is likely to carry forward the momentum in 2024, growing 6.5% compared with 6.7% in the previous year, United Nations Trade and Development noted in its latest report, revising India’s growth forecast by 0.3 percentage points. India's economy is buoyed by strong public investment and service sector growth, with a forecasted expansion of 6.5 per cent in 2024.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a move that's set to accelerate India's green initiatives. Foreign investors operating within the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) can now invest in Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs). India raised two tranches of sovereign green bonds amounting to Rs 16000 crore across two maturities in 2023.
Based on an announcement in the Union Budget for 2022-23, the government issued Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) in January 2023. Subsequently, SGrBs were issued as part of the government borrowing calendar in 2023-24. These bonds, known as sovereign green bonds, are issued by the central bank to finance green initiatives.
iPhone maker Apple has formed a joint venture with renewable energy firm Cleanmax to deploy solar solutions in India.
The JV has installed 14.4 megawatts of rooftop solar installations across six industrial sites in India which will help Apple in addressing the emissions associated with its corporate operations in India.
The partnership aims to bolster renewable energy projects across India, marking a significant step forward in the nation's green energy landscape. The collaboration is grounded in an innovative business model, where the environmental benefits accruing from the financed projects will assist Apple in addressing the emissions associated with its corporate operations in India.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras launched India's first medical devices calibration facility on wheels The initiative boosts the United National Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-3), which calls for health and well-being for all.
Calibration is key for life-saving medical devices as it will help check the accuracy of medical instruments for precise disease diagnosis, which will lead to improved treatments. The infrastructure in the mobile unit includes state-of-the-art equipment that will test the safety of medical devices as per international standards.
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) in association with Women’s World Banking (WWB) inked an MoU with Jeevika, Bihar State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) and UMED, Maharashtra-SRLM to extend Prayaas scheme to SHG individual women through cluster level federations (CLFs).
This partnership will help in unlocking the potential of CLFs and will establish a new and scalable credit distribution ecosystem. SIDBI in the pilot phase will partner 35-40 CLFs across Bihar and Maharashtra with a target of serving affordable credit of up to`Rs 2 lakh to 5,000 women entrepreneurs.
Eight individuals of Indian descent, including Alia Bhatt, Ajay Banga, and Sakshi Malik, have been honoured in Time magazine's prestigious list of the 100 most influential people of 2024. The list, released, features a diverse array of leaders from various sectors, including finance, entertainment, technology, activism, and academia.
Ajay Banga- President of the World Bank
Alia Bhatt- Actor
Sakshi Malik- Wrestler
Dev Patel- Actor
Priyamvada Natarajan- Professor in Astrophysics
Asma Khan-Indian-born British restaurateur and cookbook author
Jigar Shah-Director of the US Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office
Satya Nadella- Executive chairman and CEO of Microsoft