March 2019

MAHARASHTRA Hyper local connectivity app Bhonga initiated in Mumbai A hyper-local connectivity app called “Bhonga” developed by Mumbai-based Company Linkus Infratech, to connect users to their neighborhood people in the city even without an Internet connection. “Bhonga” is a Marathi word which means megaphone or loudspeaker. This app automatically provides the lists the user living within … Read more

RAJASTHAN Health dept seeks life imprisonment for adulteration of food   The Rajasthan health department has sought amendments to Indian Penal Code (IPC) provisions for stringent action against those manufacturing, selling and distributing substandard and misbranded food items.   It has sent a proposal to the home department seeking amendments to sections 272 and 273 … Read more

MAHARASHTRA Centre to purchase 50,000 tonne onions The Centre has instructed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (Nafed) to buy 50,000 metric tonne (MT) of summer onion, its highest-ever procurement, to help the government tide over any price hike later in the year. The central agency will start onion procurement from mid-April. Over … Read more

RAJASTHAN Rajasthan University set to receive Rs 50 crore education fund   Rajasthan University (RU) has become eligible for receiving fund from the Ministry of Human Resource Development under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) scheme phase II. The university will receive Rs 50 crore in total out of which Rs 35 crore is for research … Read more

MAHARASHTRA Maharashtra to set up special force to deal with wildlife crime, trade In a bid to curb wildlife crime, the state-level steering committee headed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has given a nod to set up a special task force (STF) in Maharashtra. The STF in Maharashtra will be on the lines of Madhya … Read more

RAJASTHAN Government institute for poor in Alwar marred by delay   India’s first world-class national institute for poor, backwards and minorities (government funded), to be set up in Alwar, is marred by delay. Union ministry for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had laid the foundation stone on October 1, 2018 is yet to complete its onsite studies … Read more

MAHARASHTRA Mumbai social worker Gauri Sawant becomes first transgender election ambassador The Election Commission of India has appointed transgender social activist Gauri Sawant, as one of the 12 election ambassadors from Maharashtra. During 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections there was no record of transgender voters. Following the Supreme Court order, transgenders got the right … Read more

RAJASTHAN First national seminar on e-learning held in Ajmer college   The first national seminar on e-learning and MOOCs (massive open online courses) was organized in Sophia Girls’ College.   This will change the face of higher education in Rajasthan and break barriers of distance education in higher studies. This new technology will also enhance the teachers’ … Read more

RAJASTHAN India’s first seed bank of native trees species for Thar desert to be set up in Jodhpur   India’s first seed bank of native tree species for Thar desert is going to be set up in the Jodhpur city of Rajasthan under project Maruvan (dessert forest).   The project will first focus on Marwar belt including Jodhpur, Bikaner, Barmer … Read more

MAHARASHTRA ·         Pune-based firm developing software to operate the world’s largest ground telescope in Hawaii   ð  A Pune-based IT firm is developing software for the world’s largest ground-based telescope. ð  The telescope is named as Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT), which is likely to come up on Mauna Kea in Hawaii. ð  The telescope is being … Read more