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)

12 KV Students from Karnataka for Pariksha Pe Charcha with PM Narendra Modi

Twelve students of classes 9 to 12 from Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV) in Karnataka are among the students selected for interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Pariksha Pe Charcha at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, on April 1.

An online creative writing competition was held between December 2021 and January 2022 to select the students.

Three students selected from Bengaluru Urban educational district are class 10 student Aayushi Jha from KV 1, Jalahalli West; class 11 student Ayush Mani Tripathi from KV ASC (S) Centre Bengaluru; both participated in the ‘Clean India Green India’ competition; and class 12 student Shiwangi Mishra from KV ASC Centre, who participated in the ‘Environmental Conservation and Climate Change Resilience’ competition.

Two students selected from Belagavi district are class 10 student Shreyas Marganakop from KV No. 3 and class 11 student Janhavi Dwibedi from KV No. 1, Air Force Station, Sambra, who had participated in ‘Environmental Conservation and Climate Change Resilience’ competition.

Two students selected from Bengaluru Rural district are class 10 student Rishi Kumar Polepally from KV AFS Yelahanka, who participated in ‘Digital Collaboration in Classroom’ competition; and class 10 student Janhavi Dev from KV No. 1 Jalahalli West, who participated in ‘Exam Stress Management Strategies During COVID-19’.

The other students are class 10 student G.U. Akshaya from KV Shivamogga; class 10 student Anusha M.C. from KV Tumakuru; and class 9 student Shreya N. from KV Chamarajanagar, who all participated in ‘Digital Collaboration in Classroom’ competition; class 9 student S. Padmapriya from KV Kodagu, who participated in ‘Exam Stress Management Strategies During COVID-19’; and class 12 student M. Sahana from KV Donimalai, Ballari, who participated in ‘Clean India Green India’ competition.

source/content : thehindu.com

Mysuru’s Deia Urs Wins Bronze at All India Inter-University Karate Championships, Kurukshetra, Haryana

Mysuru City’s Deia S Urs, State No.1 ranked karate kata champ, who took part in the All India Inter-University Karate Championships (2021-2022) hosted by Kurukshethra University, Kurukshethra, Haryana, between Mar. 14 and 17 at the campus indoor stadium, has bagged Bronze Medal for University of Mysore (UoM) in the Women’s Individual Kata Category.

She faced a very stiff competition from 87 opponents in two pools and entered the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals, Deia topped her pool by securing 26.60 points as against her opponent Divya Gupta’s (Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh) 25.90 points. But, in the semifinals, she lost to P. Farshana of the University of Calicut by a narrow margin of 0.2 points. While Farshana secured 26.20 points, Deia managed to score 26.00 points.

In the reverse bronze medal bout, Deia secured 28.82 points and defeated R. Mahalakshmi of Avinashlingam University, Coimbatore, who secured 27.24 points, to win Bronze.

source/content: starofmysore.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)

Bengaluru Airport (KIA) Bags 2 Awards – ‘Best Airport’ & ‘Aviation Innovation’ at Wings India Awards 2022

The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), based on its customer-centric approach, smart innovations and adoption of cutting-edge technology, has won two major accolades at the Wings India Awards 2022.

It has been adjudged the “Best Airport” under the general category, and has won the “Aviation Innovation” award. 

This recognition is one of the industry’s most recognised accolades, and are awarded following an assessment of customer service, facilities and innovations.

The awards were conferred by Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia, in the presence of senior officials from the MoCA, industry leaders, and stakeholders in Hyderabad.

source/content : newindianexpress.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)

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

Tanmay Kottari bags two Silver Medals in 59th National Roller Skating Championship

Tanmay M Kottari, who represented Karnataka in the 59th national level roller skating championship organized by Roller Skating Federation of India in New Delhi, has bagged two silver medals.

Tanmay is the son of Mohan Kottari and Sunita Mohan, residents of Prashant Nagar in Derebail here. He is studying in the eighth grade at Canara CBSE school in the city.

source/content: daijiworld.com