Month: July 2021

** Records of freedom fighters to be digitised to mark 75 years of Independence: Minister

Precaution will be taken to save records during demolition for Central Vista project, says Kishan Reddy.

Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Monday said the National Archives’ records related to freedom fighters would be digitised within a year as a part of the commemoration of 75 years of Independence next year.

Mr. Reddy, who took over the Culture and Tourism Ministries after the Cabinet reshuffle last week, visited the National Archives on Monday morning. After his visit, he told media that the National Archives of India, which houses over 18 crore pages, 64,000 volumes and 1.2 lakh maps, had started the digitisation process, but it would take a long time to complete.

“The records of the freedom movement and freedom fighters would be digitised in the coming year as a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav,” he said, referring to the year-long series of activities leading up to Independence Day 2022.

** Sikkim blossoms: smallest State home to 27% of India’s flowering plants

Botanical Survey of India publication lists 4,912 naturally occurring flowering plants in the tiny Himalayan State

Sikkim, the smallest State with less than 1% of India’s landmass, is home to 27% of all flowering plants found in the country, reveals a recent publication by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). Flora of Sikkim – A Pictorial Guide, released earlier this week, lists 4,912 naturally occurring flowering plants in the tiny Himalayan State.

“The total number of naturally occurring flowering plants in the country is about 18,004 species, and with 4,912 species, the diversity of flowering plants in Sikkim, spread over an area of 7,096 sq. km. is very unique,” Rajib Gogoi, Scientist and Regional Head, BSI, Gangtok, and the lead author of the publication, said.

** Nitin Gadkari inaugurates 16 projects in Manipur

he projects include a ₹45-crore RCC bridge over the Makru river in Tamenglong district.

Mr. Gadkari read out some of the projects and said funds had been sanctioned.

Mr. Biren said the bridge over the Barak river would be completed by September and the third bridge over the Irung river was likely to be completed by December this year.

** Wimbledon: Indian-American Banerjee wins boys’ singles title

Samir Banerjee became the first India-American player to win a Grand Slam boys’ singles title, beating compatriot Viktor Lilov 7-5, 6-3 in one hour and 21 minutes in the final at the Wimbledon championships on Sunday.

Though Indian-American players like Prakash Amritraj and his cousin Stephen Amritraj have played on the circuit and won some titles too, Samir is the first to win the boys singles title at a Grand Slam.

Four Indians — Ramanathan Krishnan, Ramesh Krishnan, Leander Paes and Yuki Bhambri — have won the boys’ singles title at Grand Slam events.

** Indian-origin aeronautical engineer to fly into space

She will be part of Virgin Galactic flight

Sirisha Bandla, a 34-year-old aeronautical engineer, is set to become the third Indian-origin woman to head to space when she flies as part of Virgin Galactic’s first fully crewed flight test on Sunday.

Ms. Bandla, who was born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, and brought up in Houston, Texas, will join Sir Richard Branson, the company’s billionaire founder, and five others on board Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity to make a journey to the edge of space from New Mexico.

** Indian youngster creates 3D printer for just Dh1,000

But Melvin George, 24, from Kannur in north Kerala, the southernmost Indian state, has come up with an innovative and inexpensive way of developing a 3D printer amid the raging Covid-19 pandemic that is evoking widespread enthusiasm in the UAE.

** Man climbs Mount Everest within 7 weeks of recovering from Covid-19

Neeraj Chaudhary tested positive for Covid-19 on the day he was to start from Kathmandu for Mount Everest.

But that did not deter the IIT Delhi alumnus who returned to the base camp within weeks of his recovery and ultimately managed to hoist the institution’s flag, besides the tricolour, atop the summit.

** Cloud Physician: The smart ICU designed by a Malayali doctor

Meet Dileep Raman, a young doctor who passed out from Trissur Medical college with a gold medal and and went to America for his higher studies.

Cloud Physician is the startup he created in partnership with friends Dhruv Joshi and Dhruv Sood, who is an engineer.