Google announces new AI research lab in India

NATIONAL NEWS

Amit Shah chairs Northern Zonal Council meet

• Union home minister Amit Shah chaired the Northern Zonal Council meeting in Chandigarh. The Northern Zonal Council comprises Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and New Delhi.
• Host Manohar Lal Khattar, chief minister Haryana, served as the vice-chairman of the Council.
• The zonal council discussed issues pertaining to boundary disputes, security, infrastructure issues such as roads, transport, industries, water and power, forests and environment, housing, education, food security, tourism and transport.
• The meeting of the zonal council was last held in Chandigarh on May 12, 2017.

International Workshop for National Water Museum

• The Jal Shakti Ministry is planning to develop a National Water Museum to increase awareness among people on the conservation of the natural resource.
• The Jal Shakti Ministry is also organising an International Workshop which will be attended by experts from India and abroad.
• The outcome of the workshop will be a blueprint for establishing the proposed National Water Museum under the aegis of Jal Shakti Ministry.
• During the workshop, possible broad composition, the content of the museum including highlighting importance of water and its current state in different regions of the country, possible solutions, traditional and modern water management practices and localised success stories are proposed to be discussed.

Rajnath Singh becomes first Defence Minister to fly in Tejas fighter aircraft

• Union minister Rajnath Singh became the first defence minister to fly in the indigenously-built light combat aircraft —Tejas— from the HAL airport in Bengaluru.
• He was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal N Tiwari, who is also the Project Director, National Flight Test Centre, ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) in Bengaluru.

GoI inaugurates 15 power projects in Jammu & Kashmir

• Union Minister of State for Power RK Singh and Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik have jointly inaugurated 15 power projects. They also laid the foundation stone for 20 other different Centrally-sponsored schemes in Srinagar.
• Under a scheme, 1 lakh LED (light-emitting diode) street lights will be installed in Srinagar city, saving ₹29 crores annually to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
• The government is working to ensure 24 hours electricity supply to all the citizens of the country, including in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh region.

Google announces new AI research lab in India

• Google announced Google Research India, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based research lab out of Bengaluru.
• To engage with everything from academic institutions, to government to the industry and startup ecosystem in the country in the field of AI.

Skill India, IBM join hands for nationwide Train-the-Trainer programme in AI

• The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the skill development and entrepreneurship ministry, has signed an agreement with IT major IBM to carry out a nationwide Train-the-Trainer programme in basic artificial intelligence.
• As part of the programme, ITI trainers will be trained on basic artificial intelligence (AI) skills towards using the technology in their day-to-day training activities.
• These digital skills will provide an edge to the trainers responsible for imparting academic curriculum to students and help them enter the workforce as they are aligned to industry 4.0
• The participants will take online courses with technical support from the trainers enabling continuous learning.

Union Minister Gehlot launches MIS portal under Accessible India Campaign

• Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot launched the Management Information System (MIS) portal for stakeholders of the Accessible India Campaign (AIC).
• Fully accessible for 'divyangjans', the MIS has been developed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

AWARDS

Super 30 founder Anand Kumar honoured with Education Excellence Award 2019 in the US

• Super 30 Founder Anand Kumar has been felicitated for his visionary leadership and contribution to the field of education in India.
• He has been awarded the Education Excellence Award 2019 conferred by the Foundation for Excellence (FFE).
• Noted Mathematician Anand Kumar is the man behind the successful ‘Super 30’ initiative through which Kumar tutors’ students with merit and talent for admission to India’s premier technology institutes i.e. IITs.

APPOINTMENT

Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria is new IAF Chief

• The Government has appointed Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria as the next Chief of Air Staff (CAS).
• He will take over on September 30 and will have a two-year tenure. He had played a key role in the negotiations for the deal with France for 36 Rafale jets.

RESIGNS

ADB president Takehiko Nakao resigns

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) president Takehiko Nakao has announced his resignation which will be effective from January 16 next year. He became the president of ADB on April 28, 2013.
• The new president will be elected in accordance with an open, transparent and merit-based procedure.

FACTS

Headquarters-Manila, Philippines

DEFENCE

Indian army conducts massive exercise near China border in Eastern Ladakh

• The Indian Army conducted a massive rare exercise involving all its arms and services including tanks, artillery and helicopters, in Eastern Ladakh bordering China, for testing and improving its war-fighting capabilities.
• The integrated exercise named ‘Chang Thang’ was conducted at a high-altitude area in the region. It involved the use of infantry, mechanised forces, T-72 tanks, with force multipliers such as artillery guns and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The army’s aviation assets were used. Para jumping of troops also took place. The air force was also roped in the exercise.

SPORTS

India Slip to 104th Spot in Latest FIFA Ranking, Belgium Maintain Top Spot

• The Indian football team slipped a place to 104th position in the latest FIFA rankings. The Indian team, coached by Igor Stimac, has been regularly playing since the 2019 Intercontinental Cup in July.
• Earlier this month, India had held Asian champions Qatar to a goalless draw in Doha to gain their first point in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
• The match was also a preliminary qualifier for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.