India has nominated Indore, Bhopal and Udaipur for the Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) scheme under the Ramsar Convention, which helps cities gain international recognition for their efforts to protect their natural or human-made wetlands.

These are the first three Indian cities nominated for WCA based on the proposals received from state wetlands authorities in collaboration with municipal corporations.

The wetlands situated in and around these cities provide a plethora of benefits to their citizens in terms of flood regulation, livelihood opportunities, and recreational and cultural values.

Sirpur Wetland (Ramsar site in Indore), Yashwant Sagar (Ramsar site closer to Indore), Bhoj Wetland (Ramsar Site in Bhopal), and several wetlands in and around Udaipur are lifelines to these cities.

As a part of the National GI Drive Mission, West Bengal has acquired a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for some products which include Sundarban honey, Black Nunia rice from Jalpaiguri district and Tangail, Gorod and Kadiyal sarees. The Central Government has already uploaded the names of the products in the designated portal.

West Bengal Forest Development Corporation Limited (WBFDCL) applied for an exclusive GI tag for Sunderban honey. WBFDCL had to compete with a Pune-based entity to win the case. This honey was collected by the 'Mouli' community from the Sunderban forest. WBFDCL collects and processes the honey and sells it with the brand name Mouban. The Black Nunia rice is called Prince of Rice and is cultivated in the Jalpaiguri district of the State. It is an indigenous variety of rice. Kadiyal saree is produced only at Mirzapur of Murshidabad district of West Bengal. Tangail and Gorod saree are also famous in this field.

As a part of the National GI Drive Mission, West Bengal has acquired a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for some products which include Sundarban honey, Black Nunia rice from Jalpaiguri district and Tangail, Gorod and Kadiyal sarees. The Central Government has already uploaded the names of the products in the designated portal.

West Bengal Forest Development Corporation Limited (WBFDCL) applied for an exclusive GI tag for Sunderban honey. WBFDCL had to compete with a Pune-based entity to win the case. This honey was collected by the 'Mouli' community from the Sunderban forest. WBFDCL collects and processes the honey and sells it with the brand name Mouban. The Black Nunia rice is called Prince of Rice and is cultivated in the Jalpaiguri district of the State. It is an indigenous variety of rice. Kadiyal saree is produced only at Mirzapur of Murshidabad district of West Bengal. Tangail and Gorod saree are also famous in this field.

In a major initiative to promote inland water transport, the shipping ministry is readying a plan to focus on greater adoption of greener vessels. The transition of vessels to ply on green energy is likely to cost around Rs 15,000 crore over the next 10 years.

Sources said the guidelines for this programme will be unveiled at the Inland Waterway Development Council (IWDC) meeting on Monday.

They added that the scheme would be almost similar to the FAME scheme for promotion of electric vehicles. To begin with, port authorities and the government will provide support for around 1,000 vessels, ferries and tug boats.

The 'Navya Ayodhya' project, spearheaded by the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh, is making significant strides as the Paying Guest Scheme under the state tourism department proves to be a game-changer for visitors.

This initiative not only contributes to individual incomes but also opens up avenues for new employment opportunities. To date, 464 individuals have been issued certificates out of the 600 applicants under this scheme.

The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department's Paying Guest Scheme aims to introduce the rich culinary heritage of Awadh to saints and visitors from India and abroad, providing them with a unique gastronomic experience. The project places a special emphasis on serving millet-based dishes during the International Millets Year celebrations.

The new material harnesses renewable energy source for detoxifying harmful substances such as chemical warfare agents that are harmful for people.

Researchers of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal have developed an effective photocatalyst that absorbs a wide range of solar energy and light to quicken chemical processes in laboratories and industries.

A press release issued by the IISER stated that the new material harnesses renewable energy sources for detoxifying harmful substances such as chemical warfare agents comprising of mustard gas simulants like ‘2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide’ (CEES), and nerve agents, which are highly poisonous chemicals that affect a person’s nervous system.

On the occasion of the 265th birth anniversary of Veerapandiya Kattabomman bullock cart races were held in the village of Vaippar near Vlathikulam in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district today.

Like every year, the entire village celebrated the 265th birthday of freedom fighter Veerapandiya Kattabomman this time as well.

Winners of the bullock cart races were showered with prizes of Rs 1 lakh cash, lambs, and LED TV. The event gathered a crowd who watched the Bullock cart race with interest.

Spacetech startup Dhruva Space on Wednesday said it has successfully space qualified its P-30 satellite platform and is now gearing up for its first commercial mission – codenamed LEAP-1 -- in the first quarter of 2024.

The Hyderabad-based satellite maker said the qualification of its `Launching Expeditions for Aspiring Payloads-Technology Demonstrator’ (LEAP-TD) payload mission has paved the way for providing hosted payload solutions for space missions in the global market.

The LEAP-TD mission, which was launched on January 1 onboard Indian Space Research Organisation’s PSLV-C58 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, featured a derivative of its P-30 nanosatellite platform which was integrated to ISRO’s PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) mission to enable in-orbit scientific experiments using the spent PS4 stage as an orbital platform.

Business conglomerate Adani Group on Wednesday held discussions with the Telangana government to set up a data centre and aerospace park in the state, an official release said.

Adani Group representatives led by CEO of Adani Ports and SEZs Karan Adani and CEO of Defence and Aerospace Ashish Rajvanshi met Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad.

The chief minister assured the Adani delegation that the state government would provide the required amenities, infrastructure and subsidies to new industries to promote industrial growth and create more employment opportunities.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will prepare a Green Cover Index in the next three years. This is being done in collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), an arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

"Presently, the monitoring of plantations relies on site visits by field personnel," an official statement said while noting that the NRSC will undertake a comprehensive pan-India estimation of green cover for National Highways using high-resolution satellite imagery.

"It will also facilitate targeted interventions in regions that are reported to lack adequate green cover," the statement added.