NATIONAL: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / RESEARCH: Indian Institute for Science (IISc.) Researchers have ‘Nano Solution for Wastewater Treatment’

They have developed a metal organic framework (MoF) nanocomposite by intercalating the properties of graphene oxide and UiO-66-NDC.

Researchers in the Indian Institute of Science’s (IISc.) have developed a novel nanocomposite material for improved wastewater treatment.

A team of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research (ICWaR) in the IISc., led by Praveen C. Ramamurthy, has developed a metal organic framework (MoF) nanocomposite by intercalating the properties of graphene oxide and UiO-66-NDC.

Heavy metals

According to IISc., industrial effluents containing heavy metals have polluted our water sources for decades. Lead, a heavy metal commonly found in discharge from paint and battery manufacturing plants, is a major water pollutant whose presence severely affects human and animal health.

In recent years, scientists have turned to nanotechnology to develop absorbent materials that can remove heavy metals for improved wastewater treatment.

However, existing adsorption materials and technologies are expensive, and their applications are limited by where they can be implemented and how efficiently they can adsorb lead. This demands the development of novel, low-cost and structurally stable composite materials for wastewater treatment. To this end, ICWaR researchers have developed a novel nanocomposite material.

The researchers have demonstrated that the new nanocomposite can adsorb lead (Pb) from simulated wastewater systems.

Four-fold capacity to absorb lead ions from wastewater

The team demonstrated that the newly developed MOF nanocomposite adsorbent has approximately four-fold enhanced capability in removing lead ions from wastewater compared to previously reported studies of graphene oxide. The material exhibits a stable crystalline structure. Modelling and simulation results also support enhanced efficiency in lead adsorption due to the adsorbent molecular architecture.

The new nanocomposite has improved adsorption and high regeneration and reusability capacities, making it an effective tool in the wastewater treatment of lead ions.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: LEADERS: Former Minister RV Deshpande Conferred with the ‘Best Legislator Award 2022’ during Belagavi Legislature

Senior Congress leader and former minister R V Deshpande was felicitated and conferred the Best Legislator for the Year 2022 award during the Belagavi legislature session on Wednesday.

Assembly Speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy, Congress opposition leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah and other leaders cutting across party lines felicitated Deshpande.

The Chief Minister later inaugurated the Belagavi City Police Commissioner’s Building and said the State Government has taken steps to establish over 100 police stations in the State in a single year.

Bommai lauded the work of the State Police Housing Corporation throughout the State and mentioned that 2,500 police quarters were being build work on construction of 16 buildings for police stations were under completion.

He said the State Government has taken steps to enable the police to buy 300 jeeps and Scorpio vehicles at a cost of Rs 80 crore.

The police department must concentrate on solving the problems of the people rather than merely displaying its might. The department must maintain close rapport and contacts with the people, he said.

Home Minister Araga Jnanedra, Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol, MP Mangala Benake, MLA Anil Benake, Director General of Police Praveen Sood and Home Department’s Additional Chief Secretary Rajneesh Goel were present.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the new building of the Belagavi Zilla Panchayat.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE / METAVERSE: Kannada film ‘Made in Bengaluru’ released in Metaverse

Made in Bengaluru is written and directed by Pradeep Sastry. The cast includes Madhusudan Govind in the lead role, and Anant Nag, Saikumar and Prakash Belawadi in pivotal roles.

Interality, an engine for mixed reality (AR & VR) worlds, has announced the release of ‘Made in Bengaluru’, a Kannada film on metaverse.

Made in Bengaluru is written and directed by Pradeep Sastry. The cast includes Madhusudan Govind in the lead role, and Anant Nag, Saikumar and Prakash Belawadi in pivotal roles. The story follows the journey of three dreamy-eyed middle class boys who venture into setting up their start-up.

Movie enthusiasts can meet the cast on the metaverse take selfies with a drone camera. They can also participate in a movie quiz, win tickets to the exclusive film premiere on December 29 in Bengaluru.

“We’re thrilled to power the launch of the film Made in Bengaluru in Metaverse.

Metaverse has massive opportunities for the cinema and entertainment industry as the future of content distribution,” said Farheen Ahmad, CEO, interality. 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: NATURAL PRODUCTS EXPORTS: Modi mentions Karnataka Palm Leather startup ‘Bhoomi Agri Ventures’ in ‘Mann Ki Baat’

The PM said the couple is sending many unique products made from betelnut fiber to the international market.

A Shivamogga-based couple’s out-of-the-box idea on the use of betelnut fibre has earned the praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Suresh and his wife Maithili, who are residents of Vinoba Nagar, are exporting their palm leather products internationally.

Modi praised the couple in his Mann Ki Baat episode on Sunday and said the countrymen should use such indigenous products and gift them to others as well. Suresh and Maithili, through their startup Bhoomi Agri Ventures, are making and exporting areca palm products. Their palm leather project was instigated as a cheap plant-based replacement for animal leather, plastic and rubber.

The PM said the couple is sending many unique products made from betelnut fibre to the international market. “These people are making decorative things ranging from trays, plates and handbags from betelnut fibre. Chappals made of this fibre are also being liked a lot today. Today, their products are being sold in London and other markets in Europe.

This is the very quality of our natural resources and traditional skills, which is being liked by everyone. With the traditional knowledge of India, the world is looking at ways of a sustainable future. We ourselves also need to be more and more aware of this. We should use such indigenous and local products and gift them to others as well. This will also strengthen our identity, the local economy, and, in large numbers, brighten the future of the people,” he said.

Expressing happiness over Modi mentioning them in this radio programme, Suresh told TNIE that their project was possible thanks to the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR).

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: EDUCATION: Rashtriya Military School, Belgaum, celebrates platinum jubilee

A commemorative special cover was released by India Post.

Rashtriya Military School, Belgaum, celebrated its platinum jubilee here on December 23 and 24.

It was presided over by Deputy Chief of the Army Staff Lt. Gen. Ravin Khosla. Several senior Army officers and eminent Old Boys of the school, including Lt. Gen. K.H. Gawas, Commandant, MCTE, Brig. Joydip Mukherjee, Commandant, MLIRC, and Chairman of the School’s Local Board of Administration, and others were present.

A commemorative special cover by India Post was released by the Chief Guest and other dignitaries. They also released a coffee table book that tells the inspiring saga of the school right from its inception to the present time and presents a roadmap for future.

The platinum jubilee trophy instituted by the Old Boys Association, was received by Lt. Col. Satveer Singh, Principal, and Arun Kumar Dharwal, MIE. Shahid Capt Sajjan Singh Malik Memorial Trophy was given away to cadet Abhay Singh for being the academic topper of Class IX, cadet Roshan for exhibiting best leadership qualities, and the Champion House Trophy to Pratap House.

Lt. Gen. Khosla expressed satisfaction that the school had remained steadfast to sound military ethos and secular and progressive values on which it was founded and committed to pursue the goal of all-round excellence with professionalism. He admired the contribution the Old Boys of the School had made to nation building and national security.

Lt. Gen. Khosla unveiled the newly erected bust of late Captain Sajjan Singh Malik, school’s former student who was martyred while neutralising terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Mrs Ravin Khosla inaugurated the Science and Philately exhibition.

Lt. Gen. Kulbhushan Gawas, Commandant, MCTE, Mhow, and an alumnus of the school inaugurated the festivities on the second day. A march past was led by the School Captain and members of the Old Boys Association. Activities like aerobics, karate display, pyramid formation and hula hoops gymnastics were performed. Old boys and their families participated in sports activities, according to a release.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE / SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARDs: Writer Moodnakudu Chinnaswamy and Journalist Padmaraj Dandavati get Sahitya Akademi Award 2022 in Kannada Category

Writer Moodnakudu Chinnaswamy and  journalist Padmaraj Dandavati have won the Sahitya Akademi award in the Kannada category for the year 2022. The awards were announced by the Central Sahitya Akademi on Thursday.

While Chinnaswamy won the award for his work ‘Bahutvada  Bharata Mattu Bouddha Tatvikate’, Dandavati bagged the award in the translation category for ‘Seetha Ramayanada Sachitra Maru kathana.’ Dandavati has translated Devadatta Pattanaik’s ‘Seetha’ from English to Kannada.

While the main book award carries cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a citation, the translation award carries a prize amount of Rs 50,000 and a citation. The awards will be presented at a function in New Delhi in March 2023.

The selection of awards was carried out under the supervision of Dr Sarjoo Katkar, convenor of Kannada advisory board of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi. Dr C Naganna, Chandrasekhar Vastrad and Padmaraj Dandavati were the judges for the main book award, while Dr Jagadish Koppa, Dr Mohan Kuntar and Dr Kamalakar Bhat were the judges for the translation award. Central Sahitya Akademi President Dr Chandrashekhar Kambar has congratulated the award winners.

The awards will be presented at a function in New Delhi in March 2023.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: SPORTS / ROLLER SKATING: Karnataka State Shines in the ’60th National Roller Skating Championships 2022′ Winning 11 Medals – 6 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze.

The 60th National Roller Skating Championships 2022-23 was held at Bengaluru from December 11 to 22.

10 skaters from Hi-Flyers Skating Club had qualified for the Nationals.

4 skaters won 6 Golds, 2 silvers and 3 bronze.

In Individual Events :

Arpita Nishanth Shet gets 1 Gold and 1 Silver in Rink 500+D and Road 1 lap.


Muhammad Shamil Arshad gets 1 Gold and 1 Silver in Rink 500+D and Road 1 lap.


Dashiel Amanda Concessao gets 2 Bronzes in Dual TT and 500+D.


Moksha A Suvarna gets a Bronze in Road 1 lap.

In Group Events :

Shamil and Arpita grab the Gold in junior Mixed Relay.

Arpita and Dashiel also grab the Gold in the junior Girls Relay

These skaters were trained by coaches Mohandas K, Jayaraj and Ramanand of Hi-Flyers Skating Club.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: Parameshwar Hegde, DySP Mangaluru Central sub division Awarded Prestigious President’s Medal

Parameshwar Hegde, DySP Mangaluru Central sub division, received the prestigious President’s Medal Parameshwar Hegde for his meritorious service, in a ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru recently.

Governor Tawarchand Gehlot conferred on him the President’s Medal in the presence of state home minister Araga Jnanendra.

Parameshwar Hegde had joined the police force as PSI in 1994 and took effective actions to maintain law and order. He served in Mangaluru north police station from 2004 to 2006, took charge of the rowdy squad and cracked several cases. He arrested Balakrishna Shetty alias Vikki belonging to Chota Rajan gang and confiscated a car worth Rs 3.05 lacs, pistol and bullets.

He had arrested notorious rowdy sheeter Asgar Ali, Bodda Lathif and Nazeer and seized foreign made revolver, bullets, Maruti car and two mobile phones from them.

When he was deployed in CCB in 2015, he joined the team to nab Jane Snatcher, collecting information about the Bavariya gang by visiting Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

He also joined the team to nab Irani thieves and recovered gold chains weighing 2.4 kg. He was promoted as DySP in 2015 and was assigned at CID, Bengaluru, where he investigated 14 cases registered against misuse of chief minister’s funds and submitted the charge sheet in 8 cases.

When he was assigned the duty ACP of Vijayanagar sub division he cracked 389 theft cases, robbery and looting cases, recovered 9,700 grams gold ornaments, 192 two wheelers, four four wheelers and 157 mobile phones and handed them over to the owners.

The president of India has presented him with a medal during the Independence Day celebrations in 2020 as well considering his professional dedication and service.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE / MAGIC: Magician Kudroli Ganesh was Presented with the US-based ‘Int’l Society of Magic’s -‘ Merlin Award’ at the Int’l Magic Extravaganza 2022, Bangkok, Thailand

Mangaluru magician Kudroli Ganesh received the Merlin award during the International Magic Extravaganza 2022 held at Bangkok in Thailand recently.

The award, which was instituted by the International Society of Magic from the U.S., was presented to him by U.S.-based magician Tony Hassini. He was considered for the award for his magic show ‘Tulunadu Tudar Chendu’. He presented the traditional cups and balls trick of the world in a creative form, using the Tulu Paadana (sung narratives of Tulu).

The Thailand International Academy of Magic, the organisers of the event, praised the presentation and adjudged it as the “most original act” and presented the award, Mr. Ganesh said in a communique.

The event was held for five days.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: HONOURS AWARD / SERVICE TO SOCIETY: Akkamahadevi Women’s University- Vijayapura to Present Honorary Doctorate to Three Eminent Women Contributors – S G Susheelamma, Indumati Katadare & Reshma Kaur.

Vijayapura-based Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women’s University will present honorary doctorate to three eminent women who have contributed to society in the fields of education and women’s welfare.

S.G. Susheelamma of Sumangali Sevashrama of Bengaluru, Indumati Katadare of Gujarat Punaruthan Vidyapeetha and Reshma Kaur, director of Guru Nanak Group of Education Institutions in Bidar will be given honorary doctorate, Vice-Chancellor of the university B.K. Tulasimala told journalists in Vijayapura on Sunday.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will present honouris causa degrees at the university’s 13th and 14th convocation being jointly held in Vijayapura on Monday. The event will be held in the sports complex of the Jnyanashakti campus in Vijayapura.

Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University Santishree Dhoolipudi Pandit will deliver the convocation address. Higher Education Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan and Dr. Tulasimala will be present.

A total of 202 gold medals will be awarded to 167 students. A total of 23,911 students will be awarded degrees. The university offers several courses including BA, BSW, B.Ed, BP.Ed, B.Com, BBA, B.Sc, B.Fed, BCA and BFT.

And, 2,169 students will get post-graduate degrees. The Master’s courses include MA, M.Com, MBA, M.Sc, M.Ed, MPEd, MLISc, MSW, MCA, among others. As many as 55 will get doctorate degrees.

The event can be viewed live on the university’s social media accounts and YouTube channel, Dr. Tulasimala said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)