Today's Brief 2/10/2024

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1.Mt Everest: has grown an additional 15 to 50 meters over the past 89,000 years. The world's tallest mountain is getting taller. Mount Everest, also known as Chomolungma, has grown about 15 to 50 meters (50 to 164 feet) higher over the past 89,000 years than expected, according to a modeling study released

Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, stands at an official height of 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet) above sea level. It is part of the Himalayan range, located on the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. In Nepali, it's called "Sagarmatha," and in Tibetan, "Chomolungma."

Key facts about Mount Everest:

• First Ascent: Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa of Nepal, became the first climbers to reach the summit on May 29, 1953.

• Climbing Route: The most popular routes are the South Col Route (Nepal side) and the Northeast Ridge Route (Tibet side).

• Climbing Challenges: High altitude, severe weather conditions, and avalanches make Everest a dangerous climb, with many climbers facing issues like frostbite, altitude sickness, and oxygen deficiency.

• Sherpas: The local Sherpa people play a crucial role in assisting climbers, thanks to their endurance and expertise in high-altitude climbing.

• Environmental Concerns: The popularity of Everest has led to environmental concerns, such as littering and waste accumulation.

2.The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. It was created under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 to regulate food safety standards in India. FSSAI is responsible for ensuring that the food available to the public is safe, healthy, and of good quality.

Key Functions of FSSAI:

1. Setting Food Standards: FSSAI sets scientifically based food safety standards for various food products to ensure they are safe for consumption.

2. Licensing and Registration: Food businesses must obtain licenses from FSSAI, depending on their scale, and register with the authority. This applies to food manufacturers, traders, distributors, and retailers.

3. Inspection and Monitoring: FSSAI regularly inspects food businesses and monitors compliance with food safety regulations. It can take legal action against violators.

4. Food Recall and Enforcement: If any food product is found to be unsafe or non-compliant, FSSAI can order a product recall and enforce corrective measures.

5. Promoting Food Safety Awareness: FSSAI runs public campaigns and educational initiatives to promote food safety and hygiene among consumers and food businesses.

6. Research and Training: FSSAI promotes research in food safety and trains food inspectors and other stakeholders.

   
   

Structure:

• Chairperson: The chairperson of FSSAI is appointed by the Government of India.

• Scientific Panels and Committees: FSSAI has scientific panels and committees that advise on food safety standards and regulatory practices.

3.BharatGen: a pioneering initiative in generative AI designed to revolutionize public service delivery and boost citizen engagement, was inaugurated in the virtual presence of Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.

this initiative marks the world's first government-funded Multimodal Large Language Model project focused on creating efficient and inclusive AI in Indian languages.

Spearheaded by IIT Bombay under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the initiative will create generative AI systems that can generate high-quality text and multimodal content in various Indian languages.

BharatGen will deliver generative AI models and their applications as a public good by prioritizing India's socio-cultural and linguistic diversity. It strives to address India's broader needs such as social equity, cultural preservation, and linguistic diversity, while ensuring that generative AI reaches all segments of society.

"BharatGen is aligned with the goal of making AI accessible to all citizens, using AI not only for industrial and commercial purposes but also to address national priorities like cultural preservation and inclusive technology development," said DST Secretary Professor Abhay Karandikar.

The four key distinguishing features of BharatGen are the

1. multilingual and multimodal nature of foundation models;

2. Bharatiya dataset-based building and training;

3. open-source platform and development of an ecosystem of generative AI research in the country.

4. The project is expected to be completed in two years along with plans to benefit several government, private, educational, and research institutions.

BharatGen will cater to both text and speech, ensuring coverage across India's diverse linguistic landscape. By training on multilingual datasets, it will deeply capture the nuances of Indian languages, which are often underrepresented in global AI models. Unlike models that rely on global datasets, BharatGen focuses on developing processes for collecting and curating India-centric data, ensuring that the country's diverse languages, dialects, and cultural contexts are accurately represented.

This emphasis on data sovereignty strengthens India's control over its digital resources and narrative.

1. Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI)  World Cup and the International Kho Kho Federation have announced that the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup will take place in India in 2025

1. PM E-DRIVE Scheme: The PM E-DRIVE Scheme is a government initiative aimed at promoting the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India. It is part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), which aims to make India a global hub for electric vehicles.

   
   

   Key features and objectives of the PM E-DRIVE Scheme:

   
   

   • Financial incentives: The scheme offers various financial incentives to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles, including subsidies and tax benefits.

   • Infrastructure development: The government is investing in the development of charging infrastructure across the country to address the range anxiety associated with EVs.

   • Technology promotion: The scheme supports research and development in electric vehicle technology, including battery technology and charging infrastructure.

   • Job creation: The promotion of electric vehicles is expected to create new jobs in the manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance sectors.

   • Environmental benefits: Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, contributing to cleaner air and reduced pollution.

   
   

   Benefits of the PM E-DRIVE Scheme:

   • Reduced pollution: Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, contributing to cleaner air and reduced pollution levels in urban areas.

   • Energy efficiency: Electric vehicles are more energy-efficient than traditional vehicles, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

   • Reduced noise pollution: Electric vehicles produce less noise than traditional vehicles, improving the quality of life in urban areas.

   • Job creation: The promotion of electric vehicles is expected to create new jobs in the manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance sectors.

   • Technology advancement: The scheme supports research and development in electric vehicle technology, promoting technological innovation.

   
   

   Overall, the PM E-DRIVE Scheme is a significant step towards promoting electric mobility in India and addressing the challenges associated with climate change and air pollution.

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