The Ocean Decade Conference took place in Barcelona (Spain) from April 8–12, 2024. India argued in favor of setting up an ocean observation center with a focus on its own region.
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and the Spanish government organized the conference.
It had the dual purposes of promoting stakeholder engagement and evaluating progress made toward the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–30).
"Delivering the science we need for the ocean we want" was the conference theme. India promoted early warning systems for various threats that are focused on the needs of people.
In order to improve ocean literacy and related programs, India also emphasized the importance of incorporating local communities, NGOs, and businesses.
It also emphasized the necessity of creating regional projects, like ocean forecasting, that are specific to the needs of user communities.
Science and Technology
CSIR’s New in House ‘Accounts Manager Software’
The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) successfully deployed its internally designed "Accounts Manager Software" for financial management on April 22, 2024.
With an intuitive interface, software users may easily input, track, and manage financial data.
It creates detailed financial reports, balance sheets, income and expense statements, and other related analytics, providing the CSIR with actionable insights for informed decision-making.
The software secures data through role-based access. One of the most important characteristics of the CSIR program is its real-time monitoring capacity, which allows users to track financial transactions in real time.
This allows for timely intervention and better decision-making. The program serves to automate and manage financial activities, accounting, and reporting within the CSIR.
Sports Panorama
D. Gukesh
The FIDE Candidates tournament 2024 was won By Indian chess prodigy Dommaraju Gukesh on April 22, 2024, making him the youngest challenger in the World Chess Championship's history.
D. Gukesh finished in first place at the Candidates competition with an outstanding score of 9/14.
He joined the esteemed Viswanathan Anand as the only other Indian to win the prestigious competition, guaranteeing his spot as a challenger for the World Chess Championship later this year.
The next world chess champion will be decided in an epic match between D Gukesh and the strong Ding Liren.
Person in News
Gita Sabharwal
UN Secretary-General António Guterres named Indian Gita Sabharwal as the new UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia on April 22, 2024.
She served as the UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand and the UN Peacebuilding and Development Adviser in Sri Lanka.
She held posts as the Poverty and Policy Adviser for the UK's Department for International Development in India and Vietnam before to joining the UN.
She also served as The Asia Foundation's Deputy Country Representative for the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
The UN Development System's highest-ranking representative at the national level is the UN Resident Coordinator.
Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata was honoured for his worldwide humanitarian activities on April 22, 2024, when he is presented with the coveted KISS Humanitarian Award 2021 at a private ceremony in Mumbai.
Achyuta Samanta founded the award in 2008 to honor people and groups who best represent humanitarian activities around the world.
The KISS Humanitarian Award, which is the highest accolade bestowed by KIIT and KISS, is committed to recognizing individuals and institutions that exemplify the global humanitarian movement.
Awards and Honours
Aryabhatta Award for Astronautics Contribution
Pavuluri Subba Rao, Ananth Technologies' Founder, CEO, and Chairman, received the renowned 'Aryabhatta Award' from the Aeronautical Society of India (ASI) on April 22, 2024.
This award honours Rao's "tremendous lifetime contribution to the promotion of astronautics in India."
In addition to the Aryabhatta Award, Rao was named a 'Distinguished Fellow' by the ASI, which recognizes his outstanding contributions to aerospace and aviation.
Under his guidance, Ananth Technologies has played a critical role in India's space program.
The company has provided crucial components and technologies to an incredible 98 satellites and 78 launch vehicles, establishing itself as a dependable partner in the country's space efforts.
Miscellaneous
International Mother Earth Day 2024
The 54th International Mother Earth Day was observed on April 22, 2024.
Earth Day originated in 1970, when Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin proposed a countrywide teach-in to raise awareness about environmental degradation.
This year's theme, "Planet vs. Plastics," seeks to highlight the negative consequences of plastic waste on both human and environmental health.
The rise of single-use plastics has resulted in an enormous amount of waste, choking waterways, harming marine life, and contributing to the global climate problem.
Earth Day is an effective forum for educating and engaging people in important environmental concerns, promoting a better knowledge of our collective impact on the earth.
Earth Day urges individuals and communities to take practical efforts toward sustainability.
