First Time in India for an Institute to have Eponymous Insect Genus. New Genus of Parasitoid Wasp dedicated to Bengaluru’s ATREE

ATREE – Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment.

A new genus of Braconid wasp has been named ‘Atree’, after the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), a leading research institution and environmental think tank based in Bengaluru.

This is said to be the first time in India that an institute has an eponymous insect genus.

The development comes with the discovery of a new species of wasp, Atree rajathae and two other already known species.

The newly described species is a parasitoid wasp.

An ATREE statement explained that parasitoids are the most important natural enemies of other insects, and humans exploit this behaviour for the biological control of crop pests.

source/content: thehindu.com (edited)

Konkan Railway Accomplishes ‘Mission 100 percent Electrification’. Indian Railways Moving Towards Zero Carbon Emmission plan

Indian Railways is on a mission mode to electrify its entire broad gauge network to provide environment friendly, green & clean mode of transport to its people under the ‘Mission 100% Electrification – Moving towards net Zero Carbon Emission’ plan.

In view of the above, making an important step towards green transportation one of India’s biggest stretches of railway electrification, Konkan Railway has been accomplished under the able leadership of  PM and the guidance of the Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways Raosaheb Patil Danve & Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways Darshana Jardosh.

source/content: daijiworld.com (edited)

Karnataka’s Shashwat Rao Wins Snow Marathon in Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh. First Ever Snow Marathon Organised in India : March 2022

Shashwat Rao of Karnataka won the Snow Marathon with a timing of 4:41:07, here on Saturday.

In the women’s category, local girl Dolma Tenzin was the fastest and she completed her race in five hours and five minutes, thirty seconds.

Snow Marathon Lahaul, conceptualised by Event Founder Guarav Schimar and organised by Reach India and supported by the District Administration of Lahaul and Spiti district (Himachal Pradesh) saw the participation of over 100 sportsmen and women.

“This was the first time that a snow marathon was organised in the country.

Till now, snow marathons were conducted in countries of the cold icy regions such as the polar circles, Antarctica, Russia and northern Europe.

With Snow Marathon Lahaul, India organised at an elevation of above 10,000 feet, it now holds the distinction of organising a snow marathon at the highest altitude,” said Gaurav.

In the 21 kilometres – Half Marathon category, Rohan stood first in the men’s section with two hours 53 minutes while amongst the women, the title went to Diksha, who clocked two hours 59 minutes.

The ten-kilometre run was won by Daulat Ram who took one hour and four minutes while Hemlata placed first in her category who covered the distance in one hour and twenty minutes.

Navneet emerged as winner in the five-kilometer category while Shrishti grabbed the title in women’s category.

The brand ambassador of the marathon – Kieren D’Souza also graced the occasion and ran 10 kms along with the participants.

source: daijiworld.com (edited)

Karnataka: SLN Engineering College Student Bushra Mateen Wins 16 gold Medals, Breaks Previous VTU record. Notches Up 2 Firsts.

Bushra topped among all institutes of the VTU with an aggregate CGPA of 9.73. She is also the first-rank holder in the civil engineering branch as well as in the women’s category.

Bushra Mateen receives the gold medals during the 21st annual convocation ceremony of Visvesaraya Technological University in Belagavi on Thursday

Bushra Mateen, a civil engineering student of SLN College of Engineering, Raichur, won 16 gold medals at the 21st annual convocation ceremony of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Belagavi on Thursday. Bushra thus set a record for the most number of gold medals by a student in VTU’s history to date, overhauling the previous tally of 13.

Bushra topped among all institutes of the VTU with an aggregate cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 9.73. She is also the first-rank holder in the civil engineering branch as well as in the women’s category.

source/content: indianexpress.com (edited)

Bengaluru Tops in Financial Cover in Tier 1, 2 cities 

According to a survey released by Max Life Insurance and Kantar, Bengaluru has topped the charts as the most financially protected city in India.

The survey, titled ‘The India Protection Quotient 4.0’, had 5,729 respondents from 25 cities in India.

Bengaluru had a protection quotient of 56 per cent, the same as Delhi.

Compared to other metropolitan and Tier-1 cities, Bengaluru has the highest percentage of life insurance ownership, at 91 per cent.

However, the city ranked lowest in terms of financial security, with 53 per cent

source/content: thehindu.com

Prof CNR Rao Conferred Italian Govt’s Prestigious ‘Energy Frontiers 2020 Award’ by CM . First Recipient in Asia.

Eminent scientist and Bharat Ratna Awardee Prof CNR Rao was conferred the Energy Frontiers 2020 award by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

The Italy Government’s prestigious Energy Frontiers Award is considered the Nobel prize for the Energy Sector and Prof Rao is the first recipient of the award from entire Asia.

Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advance Scientific Research Chairman Prof GU Kulkarni, noted scientist Dr Indumati Rao and other dignitaries were present.

source/content: daijiworld.com

Bhavani Nanjunda Wins 2 Medals at National Winter Biathlon 2022. First South Indian Athlete to do so in a National Biathlon.

Bhavani Thekkada Nanjunda from Kodagu district has won two silver medals in 10-km and 5-km race in the National Winter Biathlon Championships-2022 being held at Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir.

For the first time in the history, an athlete from South India has won a national medal in winter biathlon competition.

Biathlon is a combination of shooting and cross country skiing.

source: starofmysore.com

Aster CMI hospital and IISc. to launch artificial intelligence lab  in Bengaluru

The lab has been set up to build cutting edge AI products in the healthcare domain, and bridge the gap between clinical medicine and technology by training healthcare professionals in AI.

To understand disease patterns and improve treatment outcomes using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, Aster CMI Hospital has joined hands with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) to launch an AI lab.

The lab was launched by Azad Moopen, founder Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare; Lokesh B., Consultant Neurology at the hospital; and Phaneendra K Yalavarthy, Professor of Medical Imaging, Department of Computational and Data Sciences, IISc.

source/content: thehindu.com

Vishwa Konkani Awards 2021 conferred on five eminent achievers

The Vishwa Konkani Awards 2021 were conferred on five eminent achievers of various fields in a grand ceremony held at the World Konkani Centre, Shaktinagar here on Sunday, March 20.

Massam, a collection of Konkani short stories by Antony Barkur (Antony Prakash D’Souza) was conferred with the Best Konkani Book of the Year (Prose) under Smt Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Sahitya Puraskar 2021.

Indradhonu Udeum, a collection of Konkani poems by Uday Narasimha Mhambro, reveived the Best Konkani Book of the Year (Poetry) under Smt. Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Kavita Kruti Puraskar 2021.

Suresh Jaywant Borkar bagged the Smt Vimala V Pai Vishwa Konkani Jeevan Siddhi Samman 2021 for his lifetime contribution to Konkani Language pedagogy, grammar and lexicography.

Corrine A Rasquinha, the founder president of White Doves Psychiatric Nursing and Destitute Home, Mangaluru and Dr Padmanabha Kamath, founder, CAD Foundation were bestowed with the Basti Vaman Shenoy Vishwa Konkani Seva Puraskar 2021.

source/contents: daijiworld.com

Rammanahalli becomes first Karnataka village to come under WiFi net – March 01st, 2022

Rammanahalli, on Mahadevapura Road, on the outskirts of Mysuru, has become the first village in Karnataka, to entirely come under WiFi internet coverage.

With the establishment of a Public Data Office (PDO), the entire village has become a cost-effective WiFi zone, with high-speed internet, provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), an Union government-owned telecommunications service provider.

Launching the services at MGR Enterprises in the village on March 1, Vivek Banzal, Director, Consumer Fixed Access, BSNL, said, “There are WiFi services at several places. But, this is the first time, the entire village has been provided the facility.The people of the village can get high-speed internet at a lesser price.”

source: deccanherald.com