Current Affairs CEE Kerala Engineering

  The US tech giant Microsoft has announced that it would become “carbon negative” by year 2030. The announcement has been made in the form of its increased efforts to combat the climate change. The company announced that it vows to eliminate all the carbon emissions created by the company since its inception in 1975. Microsoft has also announced its investment of $1 billion in a “climate innovation fund” for technology for carbon capture and removal.

  A senior scientist Sakya Singha Sen from National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) Pune, has been awarded “Merck Young Scientist Award 2019” for doing remarkable research in chemical science. Sen and his research team specializes in main group chemistry and involves in the synthesis of compounds with main group element and their catalytic application. All the catalysts currently used mostly belong to precious metals platinum, palladium, iridium etc. These are very expensive and their abundance in the earth is very less. This award is instituted by Merck, a science and technology company operating worldwide. Merck Young Scientist Award is given to researchers with less than ten years of experience with expertise in solving some of the toughest problems in chemical sciences.

  Union Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel launched an exhibition titled “Indian Heritage in Digital Space” at National Museum, New Delhi. This exhibition is first of its kind in the country. The exhibition will stay online until February 15, 2020.  
  • What technologies used in this exhibition?
The technologies are used to create the models of Heritages were developed by the IHDS programme. IHDS is an initiative of Department of Science and Technology. Its aims to create 3D LASER scan data, holographic projections, AR and 3D fabrication to showcase the glory of heritages. It has so far created a reconstruction of Hampi and other five Indian monuments namely Taj Mahal, Sun Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Ramachandra Temple and RaniKiVav Patan. The exhibition also consists of a special installation called “VIRAASAT”. Viraasat in Hindi means heritage. It provides mixed reality experience to visitors through 3D printing.
  • History of National Museum, New Delhi
The National Museum blueprint for establishing was prepared by the Maurice Gwyer Committee in May 1946. The Exhibition of Indian Art consisting of selected artefacts from various museums of India was organized by the Royal Academy, London with the cooperation of Government of India and Britain. On August 15, 1949, National Museum, New Delhi was inaugurated in the Rashtrapati Bhawan by Shri C. Rajagopalachari, the Governor-General of India. The foundation of the present building was laid by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, on May 12, 1955. The 1st phase of the National Museum building was formally inaugurated by Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the Vice President of India, on December 18, 1960. The second phase of the building was completed in 1989.

  The 7th Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region will start in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate the Conference. The main theme of the conference is the ROLE OF LEGISLATORS. In the Conference, delegates will discuss the Capacity Building of Legislators for Scrutinizing Budgetary Proposals and Enhancing Focus of Legislators on Legislative Business.

  Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan will be inaugurated “Saksham” campaign. “Saksham” is a fuel conservation mega campaign of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA). This campaign aims to spread the message of fuel conservation and greener environment across India. Petroleum Conservation Research Association has been creating awareness in the public about the need for fuel conservation and adopting tips for saving fuel. This campaign carries out various activities like ‘Saksham’ cycle Day, cyclotrons, seminars for housewives on adopting the simple fuel-saving measure.

  Labour Party candidate Robert Abela elected as 14th prime minister of Malta with 57.9% of the vote. He defeated his closest rival Chris Fearne. He will replace Joseph Muscat, who resigned over the murder of a journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia.

  Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has resigned. They submit their resignation to President Vladimir Putin. Medvedev would take on a new job as deputy head of Russia’s Security Council. The changes would include giving parliament the power to choose the prime minister and senior cabinet members, instead of the president as in the current system.

 Indian Lawyer Harish Salve was appointed into Queen Elizabeth II’s counsel of Senior Advocate. He has been appointed as Queen’s Counsel (QC) for the courts of England and Wales. His name featured in the list of silk appointments released by the UK Ministry of Justice on January 13. Salve and other appointees will be formally appointed as Queen’s Counsel on March 16 2020. The title of Queen’s Counsel is awarded to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy. Harish Salve did his LL.B. from Nagpur University and began his career with JB Dadachandji & Co. in 1980. He was designated as Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court in 1992. Salve was called to Blackstone Chambers in 2013. He had represented India before the International Court of Justice in Kulbhushan Jadhav extradition case.

  A noted chemist Bipul Behari Saha has been elected as a bureau member of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) for the period 2020-23. He is the second Indian after CNR Rao to be elected for this position in a century. IUPAC is the largest global organization of Chemistry professionals. It was founded 100 years ago. IUPAC has the responsibility of naming all new elements and compounds, declare atomic weights and physical constants, update Periodic table and carry out research projects. It is comprised of 12 Committees and 8 Divisions.

  The 5th edition of Science Film Festival of India (SCI-FFI 2020) was started in Goa’s capital city Panaji. The aims of the festival are instilling the knowledge of science among the youth with the help of exhibitions, masterclasses, workshops, and other activities. Films that have been selected to be screened at the event are ‘Mission Mangal’, ‘Antariksham 9000 KMPH’, ‘Everest’, ‘Aamorie’, ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’, ‘Geostorm’ and, ‘Virus’ among others. A special workshop titled ‘Million SoUL’ will also be conducted by IIT Bombay on training about making solar lamps. The workshop is aimed at empowering people from backward communities. The workshop will also aim at teaching participants about the health, educational and environmental benefits of solar energy.


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