GUJARAT
Two Gujarat villages first in India to get LiFi
In the first step towards creating smart villages in Gujarat, an Ahmedabad startup has
powered up two villages with high-speed internet using LiFi-based technology. Akrund and
Navanagar villages in Aravalli district of Gujarat have become India’s first smart villages with
LiFi-based internet connectivity.
With this facility from the startup, Nav Wireless Technology, schools, hospitals, post offices,
and government offices in these two villages will get faster and safer internet connection
through existing electricity lines.
LiFi technology involves transmitting data with a light beam spectrum through open space in
outdoor and indoor environments. LiFi systems provide ultra-fast data connections, and are
especially useful in urban areas where radio spectra are congested, and are also handy in
rural areas where fibre-optic cables or networks are not reachable.
INTERNATIONAL
Space X Announced First All-Civilian Mission to Space
The SpaceX of Elon Musk has recently announced to launch its first all civilian mission to
space.
SpaceX is planning to launch Inspiration4 on Falcon 9.
This will be the world's first fully commercial astronaut mission.
The spacecraft will begin orbiting in the fourth quarter of this year.
The mission will be launched from the 39A Launch Complex at NASA's Kennedy Space
Center in Florida.
NATIONAL
Sandes – An Instant Messaging Platform
An instant messaging platform called Sandes was recently launched on WhatsApp.
Launched by: National Informatics Centre
Anyone with a mobile number or email ID can use Sandes for all kinds of communications.
Its interface is similar to other applications currently available.
Species in news – Leatherback Sea Turtle
Some conservationists worry about the fate of Giant Leatherback turtles. NITI Aayog made
recommendations for tourism and port development in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
NITI Aayog’s tourism vision includes a proposal to establish a mega-shipment port in
Galathea Bay on Greater Nicobar Island.
In addition, the Little Andaman Plan also proposes to develop tourism in stages on this
undeveloped island, which may lead to the cancellation of protection of more than 200
square kilometers of rainforest and approximately 140 square kilometers of Onge Tribal
Reserve.
Pey Jal Survekshan – Jal Jeevan Mission
The Government conducted drinking water surveys in 10 cities under Jal Jeevan Mission
(Urban).
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry initiated a survey to collect drinking water
data in 10 cities under the Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban).
As part of "Pey Jal Survekshan" survey, data on wastewater management and the condition
of urban water bodies will also be collected.
The mission will be monitored through a technology-based platform where beneficiary’s
response will be monitored.
Initially, the survey was conducted as a pilot in ten cities, namely Agra, Badlapur,
Bhubaneswar, Churu, Kochi, Madurai, Patiala, Rohtak, and Surat and Tumkur.
SWAMIH Fund – Recent Development in Housing Projects
All SWAMIH Funds will deliver the first batch of finished apartments in 2021. This is a 2500
crore fund established by the Indian government. The fund was established to complete
stalled housing projects. The fund provides a solution that hinders the savings of home
buyers and bankrupt developers.
In the 2021-2022 financial year, the fund will hand over 16 projects, including more than
4,000 houses.
The SWAMIH Fund was announced in November 2019.
The SWAMIH stands for "Special Window for Completion of Construction of Affordable and
Mid-Income Housing Projects".
Dalai Lama pens new book ‘The Little Book of Encouragement’
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has come out with his new book titled ‘The Little
Book of Encouragement’, in which he has shared quotes and words of wisdom to promote
human happiness.
The Little Book of Encouragement contains 130 quotes related to how to deal with the new
realities of the panic-stricken world, combat rising extremism, polarity and climate change
besides Dalai Lama’s views on Tibet.
The book has been edited by Renuka Singh and published by Penguin Random House.
