The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu graced Sahitya Aaj Tak and presented Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman in New Delhi today (November 23, 2024).

Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated the winners of ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman’. She specially congratulated Gulzar Saheb on getting the ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Life Time Achievement Award’. She appreciated him for his dedication to the world of literature and art.

The President was happy to note that the award-winning works of today’s awardees reflect the diversity of India from the past to the present and introduce several generations of writers together. She said that the pan-India consciousness was always present in our country's regional works of literature. This consciousness has been visible throughout our journey, from the times of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, to our freedom struggle, and can be seen in today's literature as well.

India is among the top ten countries in Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness, and the country holds immense potential for public sector transformation through AI, according to a report.

“Readiness” for AI refers to an economy’s ability to effectively implement and integrate AI. The report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) based on data from 73 economies showed that India ranks second globally in AI specialists, and third in research publications, with a strong base in AI-related patents.

On the other hand, over 70 per cent of the economies studied score below average in critical areas such as ecosystem participation, skills, and research and development.

“India’s journey to becoming an AI contender underscores the nation’s emphasis on integrating technology into high-priority sectors like agriculture, education, and healthcare. As one of the top 10 countries in AI readiness, India holds immense potential for public sector transformation through AI,” said Saibal Chakraborty, India Leader, Technology and Digital Advantage Practice, BCG.

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to do away with the collection of garbage collection tax. To this effect, Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana tabled an Amendment Bill to Repeal Garbage Tax in the State Legislative Assembly on November 21 (Thursday). The Assembly approved the same.

Mr. Narayana informed the House that the government would launch an inquiry into how the previous YSRCP government had benefited contractors by imposing the garbage collection tax.

The YRSCP government imposed a garbage tax for waste collection. It used service providers to arrange for vehicles and collected taxes in 40 municipalities, and paid somewhere between ₹51,641 to ₹62,964 per month for garbage collection. A total of ₹13.9 crore per month was given to 40 municipalities for garbage collection, which began in November 2021.

Rishabh Pant has been signed by LSG for a jaw-dropping Rs 27 crore at the IPL mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Delhi Capitals had earlier used the RTM card for Pant at Rs 20.75 crore. However, LSG elevated the bid to Rs 27 crore, at which point DC pulled out.

Pant was released by Delhi Capitals ahead of this year’s auction. He had been part of the Capitals’ set-up since 2016 and was made captain ahead of the 2021 season in place of an injured Shreyas Iyer. Pant was retained as captain for IPL 2022.

Ministry of Coal has executed the agreements for 3 coal blocks with successful bidders on November 22, 2024. The event marked the successful auctions of 104 coal blocks till date since the launch of commercial coal mining in the country by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. All these three coal blocks are fully explored coal blocks.

Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, along with Additional Secretary & Nominated Authority Ms. Rupinder Brar, handed over the agreements to the successful bidders of three coal blocks. During the occasion both officials assured full support & cooperation from the Ministry to ensure the smooth operationalization of the blocks. Shri Dutt emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to facilitating the successful implementation of coal mining projects, which are expected to contribute significantly to India’s energy security and economic growth.

The blocks for which these Coal Block Production and Development Agreements have been executed are Meenakshi and Rampia & Dip Side of Rampia coal blocks. The Successful Bidders include Hindalco Industries Limited and Jhar Mineral Resources Private Limited respectively.

The Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday launched India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) data bank that is aimed at propelling innovation and boosting the country’s national security.

The initiative will provide researchers, startups, and developers access to high-quality, diverse datasets essential for creating scalable and inclusive AI solutions.

It was launched by Minister of Science and Technology Minister (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh at the 7th Edition of the ASSOCHAM AI Leadership Meet 2024.

The event, themed “AI for India: Advancing India’s AI Development – Innovation, Ethics, and Governance”, showcased India’s strategic roadmap for harnessing the transformative potential of AI.

The AI Data Bank will enhance “national security through real-time analytics of satellite, drone, and IoT data”, the Minister said.

After successfully conducting the women’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament at Rajgir, Bihar will host the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025 in April next year.

For the first time, the Khelo India Para Games (KIPG), which was organized for the first time in Delhi last year, will also be held in the same state. There will be a gap of 10 to 15 days between KIYG and KIPG.

“Bihar has recently showcased its capability to host major sporting events,” said Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

The Ministry said Bihar is an “integral part of plans to develop infrastructure and provide support to athletes from the grassroots level”.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) formalised an important step towards enhancing bilateral financial cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai on November 21, 2024.

The agreement outlines a framework to encourage the use of local currencies—the Indian Rupee (INR) and the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)—for a wide range of cross-border transactions.

Under this framework, exporters and importers from both nations will have the option to invoice and settle trade in their respective domestic currencies. The scope of transactions includes current account dealings, such as trade in goods and services, as well as permissible capital account transactions.

Pankaj Tripathi has been bestowed with a special honour. The actor has been appointed as the Festival Ambassador for the Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024 (ARM '24). ICYDK: the Arunachal Rang Mahotsav is the largest international theatre festival in Northeast India. The event celebrates Arunachal Pradesh's creative talent and rich cultural heritage. Scheduled to be held from November 22 to December 5, the 15-day ceremony will welcome Pankaj Tripathi and his wife Mridula as honorary attendees.

Sharing his joy on being appointed as the Festival Ambassador, Pankaj Tripathi said, “It is a great honour for me to be associated with the Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024 as its Festival Ambassador. Theatre holds a very special place in my heart, as it was my first teacher and my first love of the performing arts. I owe everything I am today to the lessons I learned on the stage and the passion I developed for storytelling during my early days in Gopalganj, performing street plays and rangmanch."

Karnataka Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday said 100 engineering colleges are set to be “adopted” by an equal number of corporates by next year, as the government makes efforts to rope in industries to boost the employment prospects of students.

Citing an example, he quoted a big automobile company as saying that it is ready to provide jobs but students are not employable as they lack training.

“So, we suggested that they give training. We will create an environment for it. Taking a practical approach, they have asked us to provide a framework. So, 100 colleges will be adopted by 100 corporates or GCCs (Global Capability Centres) working in Karnataka as a start probably by next academic year. They have committed,” he said.