The Parliament on Thursday (December 5, 2024) passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill, 2024, which is expected to provide some relief to aviation personnel in their licensing processes.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on Thursday. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 31, and was passed by the Lower House on August 9.

The most significant change in the Bill is that the Radio Telephone Operator Restricted certificate and licence testing process, which was hitherto conducted by the Department of Telecom (DoT) for aviation personnel, including aircraft maintenance engineers, flight despatchers and pilots, has been moved to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This will ensure a single-window clearance process as aviation personnel can now secure all their certificates from one authority. Personnel taking exams, including trainee pilots, have alleged that there was rampant corruption in the conduct of the RTR exam under the DoT, with candidates requiring to cough up several lakhs in bribes.

The meeting where the International Cricket Council (ICC) was to decide the future of the 2025 Champions Trophy has been postponed to 7 December. The Pakistan Cricket Board, the designated host for the tournament, will soon respond to the ICC with its final decision regarding the upcoming 50-over event.

As reported by India Today, the meeting, initially scheduled for 5 December, will now take place on Saturday. It has been learned that the global cricket body, during a brief discussion, has once again urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to agree to the hybrid model for the tournament.

The 30th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) was inaugurated on Wednesday, with France as the theme country, showcasing several films that highlight the European nation's rich cultural and cinematic heritage.

The grand event will continue till December 11, featuring an exciting mix of films from across the globe, celebrating cinematic brilliance.

The opening ceremony was a star-studded affair, with several prominent personalities from the world of cinema and politics in attendance.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with other dignitaries, inaugurated the event, marking the beginning of the festival that has become a significant cultural event for the metropolis.

India has been awarded the prestigious International Social Security Association (ISSA) Good Practice Award for Asia and the Pacific 2024. The award, presented by ISSA President Dr. Mohammed Azman, was conferred during the Regional Social Security Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Union Ministry for Labour and Employment announced on Thursday.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) received five Certificates of Merit for initiatives including Communication Channels, E-Proceedings, the Nidhi Aapke Nikat district outreach programme, Multilingual Call Centres, and the Prayaas initiative. Ashok Kumar Singh, Director General of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), accepted the awards on behalf of EPFO.

EPFO has aligned with ISSA’s guidelines on communication by preparing a Communication Framework Document (CFD) to enhance engagement with stakeholders. The organisation uses both digital and non-digital strategies, such as webinars, SMS and email alerts, social media outreach, IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) videos, and district outreach camps under Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0. These initiatives aim to educate and communicate effectively with stakeholders.

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday unveiled 'Anna Chakra', a groundbreaking supply chain optimization tool for the Public Distribution System (PDS).

Developed in partnership with the World Food Programme and IIT-Delhi, the system leverages advanced algorithms to optimize foodgrain movement across the country's logistics network, an official statement said.

The initiative covers 4.37 lakh Fair Price Shops and 6,700 warehouses, targeting the country's food security programme serving 81 crore beneficiaries.

Preliminary assessments across 30 states project annual cost savings of Rs 250 crore with a Rs 58-crore reduction in quantity-kilometer metrics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ‘Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav 2024’, a three-day festival beginning December 6 at the Bharat Mandapam here to showcase the cultural, social, and economic fabric of the eight northeastern States.

The Union Minister for the Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia said the ‘Mahotsav’ would provide an unprecedented platform for the region’s vibrant textile industry, artisanal crafts, and unique Geographical Indication (GI) products.

Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim are also referred to as the ‘Ashtalakshmi’ or eight forms of prosperity. “They contribute significantly to India’s cultural, social, and economic fabric. The event will foster long-term business relationships between the northeast’s artisans and buyers, and is expected to generate a large volume of on-spot sales and many bulk orders,” the Minister said.

The Uttarakhand Housing Development Council (UHDC) and the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) are constructing approximately 16,000 affordable houses for low-income families in Uttarakhand.

An official statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) highlighted that this initiative is being implemented "under the efforts of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

Quoting Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the statement said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has implemented the PM Housing Scheme, focusing on the goal of Antyodaya. Under this, pucca houses are being built and handed over to homeless families. The Housing Development Authority in Uttarakhand has played a crucial role in achieving this goal."

Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM) is organising its 63rd annual conference at Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), Bengaluru, from 05 to 07 December 2024. The Institute deals with military and civil aerospace medicine including the human aspects of space flight programme of the country. Established in the year 1952, it is the only registered society dedicated to promote the knowledge and practice of aerospace medicine in India.

With an aim to advance research, foster knowledge exchange and seek solution to aeromedical challenges, ISAM has been conducting an annual scientific conference since the year 1954. The current conference is themed 'Collaborate for Research' which highlights a forward-thinking approach to foster partnerships and innovations within the fields of aviation and space medicine. The collaboration emphasises the vital need for interdisciplinary co-operation and collective problem solving, to drive meaningful research and development in the field of aerospace medicine.

The conference will be inaugurated by Air Marshal SP Dharkar, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, on 05 December 2024. The conference will host a mix of in-person and virtual delegates, drawing approximately 300 attendees from across the country and around the globe. This inclusive hybrid format will feature distinguished professionals in aerospace medicine from military and civil aviation. Participants also include researchers from associated institutions, including prominent members from DRDO labs and notable scientists from ISRO.

The 16th GRIHA Summit, the annual flagship event organized by GRIHA Council, commenced today in New Delhi, with a focus on the theme "Accelerating Climate Action in the Built Environment". The Summit brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts to explore innovative approaches for sustainable urban development and climate resilience in the construction and infrastructure sectors, addressing the challenges of climate change.

This year's theme underscores the critical role of transitioning the built environment towards sustainability as a cornerstone of effective climate action. As the 2030 deadline for global climate commitments nears and the 2050 target for decarbonizing the building and construction sector looms large, the summit provides a platform to explore opportunities for climate-resilient development, breaking the cycle of rising heat, energy demand, and carbon emissions.

The GRIHA Summit also aligns with India's aspirational vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, a comprehensive roadmap that integrates sustainable urban development with the nation's goals of economic growth, social progress, environmental sustainability, and good governance.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently said that UNESCO has declared the state as a top destination for heritage tourism. She further asserted on how the sector generated employment for a large section of youth.

"UNESCO has declared Bengal as a top destination for heritage tourism. We have taken great initiatives in developing heritage spots. We are also giving emphasis on religious tourism by developing some of the iconic places of worship like the Dakshineshwar temple and the Kalighat temple,” she said.

Further, the CM added, "The tourism sector has generated jobs for lakhs of youths. We have mountains, forests and the Sunderbans. We are highlighting the unique characteristic of each place. Thousands of hotels have also come up in the tourist spots."