Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri today launched City Investments to Innovate, Integrate, and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0) challenge in New Delhi. CITIIS 2.0 aims to advance climate action through the promotion of a circular economy with a focus on integrated waste management.
 
Addressing the event, Mr. Puri said this program has a demonstrative effect which will lay the basis for the commercialization of the technology. He further called on support for innovative, technology-based interventions like CITIIS 2.0.
 
Highlighting the achievements of CITIIS 1.0 program, the Minister said, first phase of the program was able to introduce one thousand new electric vehicles, hundred km of non-motorized transport corridors, seven hundred fifty acres of green open spaces, fourteen hundred affordable housing units and three fifty education facilities.

Thirty Indian companies associated with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) made its presence at the 'WETEX and Dubai Solar Show' in Dubai from November 15th to 17th, 2023. Engaging in sectors such as power, energy, water, solar, and engineering, these companies explored bilateral trade opportunities with the UAE.

The India Pavilion was inaugurated by Mr. Sunil Kumar, Consul at the Consulate General of India in Dubai. The event is drawing a large number of visitors, indicating interest and potential for future collaborations.

WETEX (Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition) is a leading international exhibition and conference dedicated to water, energy, sustainability, and green technologies. It is held annually in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is organized by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

Troops of Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army with assistance from BRO completed the Bailey bridge over the Teesta River at Chungthang in north Sikkim.

This has finally connected the flood-affected areas of North Sikkim with the mainland that was cut off since the night of 03 Oct 23. The bridge will now pave the way for seamless movement of vehicles and provision of relief material to these flood-affected areas.

In a press release, Defance PRO said, the 200 feet Bailey bridge is an engineering marvel in itself as it is the longest and heaviest single span Bailey bridge that can be launched. Working round the clock, the BRO initially constructed the concrete abutments followed by the bridge construction by Trishakti Sappers that took around five days. The bridge was inaugurated by Mr Samdup Lepcha, Honourable Minister of Roads and Bridges, Government of Sikkim in the presence of officials of Indian Army, BRO and Civil Administration.

India will host the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit Friday in a virtual format, in what will be the second time since January this year. The second summit will start with an Inaugural Leaders’ Session chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning.

The Ministry of External Affairs said that India had hosted the inaugural Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) on 12-13 January 2023 virtually. This unique initiative brought together 125 countries of the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform.

Throughout its G20 Presidency, the MEA said India has “worked to ensure that the concerns of the Global South receive due cognisance and that the priorities of the Global South were duly factored in finding solutions to the most pressing global challenges”.

India is in the process of procuring a batch of Igla-S hand-held anti-aircraft missiles from Russia to bolster the combat capability of the Army units deployed in various sensitive forward locations, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

India is also looking at production of the Russian missile systems in the country under the Make-in-India initiative, they said.

The Army, Navy and the Indian Air Force already have Igla man-portable missiles in their inventories. The Igla is a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) that can be used to bring down enemy aircraft and helicopters.

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is set to be launched in the first quarter of 2024 after a few tests, particularly those related to vibration, NASA officials have said. "ISRO is projecting the first quarter of next year. So, I mean, that's ready," NASA NISAR Project Manager Phil Barela said during a media interaction here on Wednesday.

He is expecting the launch of NISAR (spelt as 'Naisar') "not earlier than January" from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota aboard the ISRO Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark-II.

The mission, which has three-year duration, aims to survey all of Earth's land and ice-covered surfaces every 12 days. This will start after a 90-day satellite commissioning period.

Ashok Leyland said it had commenced delivery of India’s first batch of 12 LNG-powered haulage trucks – AVTR 1922 – to Mahanagar Gas in Hosur.

With this, Ashok Leyland becomes the first Indian original equipment manufacturer to unveil an in-house LNG engine compliant with BS-VI Stage II emission standard, the commercial vehicle manufacturer said in a statement.

The truck is built on the AVTR platform and shares a high degree of commonality with Ashok Leyland’s existing diesel truck range. “This ensures that our customers benefit from streamlined service and maintenance processes,” the company said.

Holding the state as “primarily responsible” for paying compensation to people in incidents where stray animals are involved, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that in cases relating to dog bite, the financial assistance shall be at a minimum of Rs 10,000 per tooth mark and where the flesh has been pulled off the skin, it shall be a minimum of Rs 20,000 per 0.2 cm of wound.

The high court, while disposing of a bunch of 193 pleas, also ordered the states of Punjab and Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to constitute committees chaired by the deputy commissioners of respective districts to determine such compensation.

“The award shall be passed by the committees within a period of four months of the claims being filed before it along with requisite documents…The State shall be primarily responsible to pay compensation with a right to recover the same from the defaulting agencies/ instrumentalities of the State or the private person, if any,” a bench of Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj said.

Indian skydiver Shital Mahajan jumped off a helicopter from the height of 21,500 ft in front of the world's highest peak, Mt Everest. She became the first woman to do so. Mahajan landed at Kalapatthar peak at an altitude 17,444ft. 

Mahajan is a well-known Indian skydiver who holds several skydiving records and is the recipient of the fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri in 2001.

The 9th edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2023 will be held at Faridabad, Haryana from January 17th-20th, 2024.

India’s mega Science Fair will be held at the Campus of Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) and Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) of Department of Biotechnology in Faridabad.

The theme of the present edition is 'Science and Technology Public Outreach in Amrit Kaal'. IISF 2023 aims to provide a platform for inspiring public at large and individuals with diverse levels of interests like students, educators, scientists, researchers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs and science communicators.

IISF 2023 will have a total of 17 themes to showcase scientific achievements offering diverse benefits to participants and the general public.

The event holds interface among all stakeholders through various activities such as seminars by national and international experts, interactions with speakers, exhibitions, competitions, workshops, knowledge-sharing activities, technology shows, etc.