** India, France sign roadmap to enhance bilateral exchanges on blue economy and ocean governance

Agreement was signed during External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s three-day visit to France which began on February 20 with bilateral talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian

India and France have inked a roadmap to enhance their bilateral exchanges on the blue economy and forge a common vision of ocean governance based on the rule of law and cooperate on sustainable and resilient coastal and waterways infrastructure.

** Dinesh Prasad Saklani, history professor at HNB Garhwal University, is the new NCERT director

Saklani is currently a professor in the department of ancient India history, culture and archaeology and has authored three books, including one on the ancient communities of the central Himalaya region and one titled ‘Ramayana Tradition in Historical Perspective’. He has also published several papers on Ramayana tradition in performing arts and in the Garhwal region

** Hyderabad-based trade body to develop defence robots

The All India Robotics Association (AIRA), a Hyderabad-based trade body of the Robotics industry in India on Wednesday announced the commencement of making India’s indigenously built defence robots. DefenCe robots are professional service robots that are deployed by the military in combat scenarios. They are often intended to enhance a soldier’s existence. 

We will strive hard and will not leave any option which will make India the global leader in Robotics, said Srinivas Madhavam, Board of Director, AIRA and Founder, Exprs.

** Lt. Gen. Sengupta takes over as Leh-based 14 Corps commander

As India and China attempt to work out dates for the 14th round of Corps Commander level talks, the Army’s Leh-based 14 Corps saw a change of guard on Wednesday as Lt. Gen. Anindya Sengupta took over as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Fire and Fury Corps, replacing Lt. Gen. P.G.K. Menon, who led the last few rounds of talks from the Indian side.

Lt. Gen. Sengupta was part of the Indian delegation during the 13th round of talks which ended in a stalemate, with both sides exchanging sharp statements on the outcome.

** Reliance raises $4 billion in India’s largest-ever foreign currency bonds issue

This is the largest ever foreign currency bond transaction in India, eclipsing ONGC Videsh Ltd’s $2.2 billion USD bonds issue of 2014.

Reliance Industries Ltd, the nation’s most valuable company, on Thursday said it has raised USD 4 billion (around ₹30,000 crore) in debt through the largest ever foreign currency bond issuance by an Indian entity.

The oil-to-telecom conglomerate plans to use the proceeds of the three tranche issues to retire existing borrowings.

** IIT Madras tops in Atal innovation rankings

Seven IITs, IISc, figure among top 10

Seven Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, are among the top 10 central institutions in promotion and support of innovation and entrepreneurship development, according to Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) announced on Wednesday.

The top rank has been bagged by IIT Madras followed by IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur and IIT Roorkee.

** Tokyo Olympics: India Men’s Hockey team wins bronze after 41 years, Ravi Dahiya chasing Gold in wrestling

Indian men’s hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, defeated Germany 5-4 in men’s hockey match to win bronze at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.

Simranjeet Singh scored two goals for India at the Oi Hockey Stadium, along with Hardik Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh also adding their names on the scoresheet.

Aug 05, 2021