In a significant stride towards combating drug abuse, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in New Delhi between the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan on Thursday. The initiative aims to synergize efforts in curbing drug usage, especially among the youth which aligns with Prime Minister Modi's vision of a substance-free India. More on this from our correspondent:

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan was launched on 15th August 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It is presently being implemented in 372 identified most vulnerable districts. The aim of the Abhiyaan is to create awareness about the ill effects of substance abuse among the youth, with a special focus on higher education institutes, university campuses and schools.

In Ladakh, the Kargil Sentinel Brigade, in collaboration with the District Administration of Kargil, organized the Yom-e-Fateh Platinum Jubilee celebration at Khree Sultan Choo Sports Stadium in Kargil, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of Kargil by the Indian Army.

The event commenced with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Kargil War Memorial, located at Helipad Kargil. The Chief Guest, CEC LAHDC Kargil Dr. Jaffar Akhone, GOC 8 Mountain Division Maj. Gen. Sachin Malik, DC Kargil Shrikant Suse, EC LAHDC Kargil Er Punchok Tashi & Syed Mujtaba, Brigade 121 Infantry Brigade, and other officers paid tribute by laying wreaths at the memorial.

The Chief Guest presided over an impressive March Past featuring contingents from Ladakh, the Police, NCC, and school children.

Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar will inaugurate the Global Professional Accountants Convention at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar today. More than 4000 delegates from over 25 countries will take part in the three-day event and discuss various aspects to shape the future of the accountancy profession at the global level. Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal and ICAI President, Aniket Sunil Talati will also be present at the inaugural session.

The three-day event will have more than 30 insightful sessions which will be addressed by eminent speakers including the Gujarat State Minister of Education Praful Pansheriya, Chairman Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India Debashis Panda, among others.

The martyrdom Day of Guru Teg Bahadur is being observed today. The ninth Guru of the Sikhs stood up against the Mughals, and was executed on the orders of Aurangzeb in 1675. He taught his followers to protect the weak, even at the cost of their own lives. He taught that to overcome greed, one must set on the path of spirituality.

President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to Guru Teg Bahadur on his martyrdom day. In a message, the President said, Guru Teg Bahadur sacrificed his life for the protection of human values and rights. She said that his teachings inspire us to serve humanity and promote the unity of all. The President expressed hope that his teachings will instill the spirit of nationalism in all of us.

Telangana has unveiled the world’s first 3D-printed temple, a groundbreaking structure situated in Burugupally, Siddipet district. The innovative construction, achieved through a three-month 3D printing process, marks a significant technological milestone.

Spanning 4, 000 square feet and standing at a height of 35.5 feet, the temple comprises three distinct parts. Notably, the temple encompasses three sanctums, each dedicated to a different deity. These sanctums include a modak dedicated to Lord Ganesha, a square Shivalay devoted to Lord Shankar, and a lotus-shaped sanctuary for Goddess Parvati.

These sacred spaces were meticulously crafted using an in-house system, along with materials and software developed locally.
While the sanctums showcase the ingenuity of 3D printing technology, the remaining elements of the temple, such as pillars, slabs, and flooring, were constructed using traditional building techniques.

In a moment of immense pride and distinction, the esteemed Parmanu Defence Academy Dehradun, led by the visionary Dr. Rajesh Malhotra, has been awarded the prestigious Indo Global Business Award for "Best Defence Academy in North India". The honor was presented by the renowned Padma Shri awardee Madhuri Dixit the iconic Bollywood actress, who commended the academy's unwavering dedication to excellence in the field of defence education.

The Indo Global Business Awards, a platform initiated by rsg event and shakti films production dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievements across various sectors, singled out Parmanu Defence Academy for its remarkable contributions to shaping the future of India's defence forces. The academy's relentless commitment to producing highly skilled and motivated defence personnel has made it a true leader in the field.

A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar has detected the presence of tantalum, a rare metal used in manufacturing of electronic components, in the Sutlej river sand in Punjab.

The discovery was made by a team headed by Dr Resmi Sebastian, assistant professor at the institute’s Civil Engineering Department. The researchers were working on an unrelated project when they stumbled upon the metal in samples collected from the Sutlej basin, Dr Sebastian told The Indian Express.

“One of my research students found the presence of tantalum while conducting experiments on the characterization of the Sutlej river sand,” she said.

The expensive marine ‘Ghol’ fish was declared the state fish of Gujarat at the first Global Fisheries Conference India 2023 held in Ahmedabad Tuesday. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel made the announcement at the event in Gujarat Science City where Union Minister for Fisheries Parshottam Rupala was also present.

Also known as Black Spotted Croaker fish (Protonibea diacanthus) in many parts of the world, Ghol fish is not only considered a delicacy but is valued for its medicinal properties in many countries. Ghol fish bladder is among Gujarat’s high-value exports.

Addressing the media later, Union minister Rupala said, “The Gujarat government has declared Ghol as the state fish. This will help boost attempts to conserve and create awareness about the fish.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Tuesday, November 21, barred transgender cricketers from taking part in women’s cricket at the highest level. The apex board zeroed in on the new law after consulting the sport’s stakeholders over the last nine months.

As per the new rules, any cricketer who transformed from male to female won’t be able to play in women’s international cricket, regardless of any surgery or treatment that they may have undergone.

Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, inaugurated the 8th Edition of the India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) on November 22, 2023, at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The summit, organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Center for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga), spans three days from November 22 to 24, 2023.

The theme of IWIS 2023 is 'Development vis-à-vis Land, Water and Rivers,' aimed at uniting scientific experts, stakeholders, and government representatives to address dynamic challenges and opportunities in India's water sector.