Category: India, Records

IISc. researchers have nano solution for wastewater treatment

They developed a metal organic framework (MoF) nanocomposite by intercalating the properties of graphene oxide and UiO-66-NDC.

Researchers in the Indian Institute of Science’s (IISc.) have developed a novel nanocomposite material for improved wastewater treatment.

A team of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research (ICWaR) in the IISc., led by Praveen C. Ramamurthy, has developed a metal organic framework (MoF) nanocomposite by intercalating the properties of graphene oxide and UiO-66-NDC.

Heavy metals

According to IISc., industrial effluents containing heavy metals have polluted our water sources for decades. Lead, a heavy metal commonly found in discharge from paint and battery manufacturing plants, is a major water pollutant whose presence severely affects human and animal health.

In recent years, scientists have turned to nanotechnology to develop absorbent materials that can remove heavy metals for improved wastewater treatment.

However, existing adsorption materials and technologies are expensive, and their applications are limited by where they can be implemented and how efficiently they can adsorb lead. This demands the development of novel, low-cost and structurally stable composite materials for wastewater treatment. To this end, ICWaR researchers have developed a novel nanocomposite material.

The researchers have demonstrated that the new nanocomposite can adsorb lead (Pb) from simulated wastewater systems.

Four-fold capacity to absorb lead ions from wastewater

The team demonstrated that the newly developed MOF nanocomposite adsorbent has approximately four-fold enhanced capability in removing lead ions from wastewater compared to previously reported studies of graphene oxide. The material exhibits a stable crystalline structure. Modelling and simulation results also support enhanced efficiency in lead adsorption due to the adsorbent molecular architecture.

The new nanocomposite has improved adsorption and high regeneration and reusability capacities, making it an effective tool in the wastewater treatment of lead ions.

thehindu.com

Bengaluru: State shines in 60th National Roller Skating Championships

The 60th National Roller Skating Championships 2022-23 was held at Bengaluru from December 11 to 22.

10 skaters from Hi-Flyers Skating Club had qualified for the Nationals. 4 skaters won 6 Golds, 2 silvers and 3 bronze.

In individual events :

Arpita Nishanth Shet gets 1 Gold and 1 Silver in Rink 500+D and Road 1 lap
Muhammad Shamil Arshad gets 1 Gold and 1 Silver in Rink 500+D and Road 1 lap
Dashiel Amanda Concessao gets 2 Bronzes in Dual TT and 500+D
Moksha A Suvarna gets a Bronze in Road 1 lap.

In group events :

Shamil and Arpita grab the Gold in junior Mixed Relay. Arpita and Dashiel also grab the Gold in the junior Girls Relay

These skaters were trained by coaches Mohandas K, Jayaraj and Ramanand of Hi-Flyers Skating Club.

daijiworld.com

KIA T-2 one of the first in the world that can be experienced on the metaverse

The Kempegowda International Airport’s Terminal-2 has become one of the first terminals in the world that can be experienced on the metaverse, after Bangalore International Airport Limited, operator of the KIA, on Tuesday announced the first phase launch of the BLR Metaport.

The Kempegowda International Airport’s (KIA) Terminal-2 has become one of the first terminals in the world that can be experienced on the metaverse, after Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), operator of the KIA, on Tuesday announced the first phase launch of the BLR Metaport.

Built in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Polygon, the BLR Metaport offers an immersive, three-dimensional (3D) virtual experience of the newly launched terminal.

Interested travellers and members of the public can log on to www.blrmetaport.com and virtually tour and navigate the new terminal using their smart devices.

The BLR Metaport is an outcome of the Joint Innovation Centre (JIC), announced in April 2022 by BIAL, AWS, and Intel. The JIC focuses on driving the development and adoption of digital solutions in aviation.

“For BIAL, the mission of the JIC is to leverage emerging technologies to build new business models and passenger experiences and be at the forefront of technology innovation in India’s commercial aviation,” BIAL added.

Developed in line with this mission, the BLR Metaport is one of the first airport metaverse experiences, designed to deliver an enhanced digital experience.

A 3D interface will offer customers new ways to interact with the airport, such as checking into flights, navigating terminals, shopping, and social aspects like connecting with other travellers.

BLR Metaport brings the virtual and physical worlds together to provide consistent engagement, and aims to excite travellers with new, unique, and immersive experiences.

BIAL’s Chief Strategy and Development Officer, Satyaki Raghunath said, “We are very excited that BIAL is entering into the new world of metaverse through the BLR Metaport. This is our first foray into the world of Web3 and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and we aim to delight travellers with a unique, immersive, and virtual experience. We believe that it is important to connect with a new generation of our global audience through the metaverse. We also have several initiatives planned around the BLR Metaport, which promise to increase ways in which we can engage with our global audience and enhance business impact over the next few years.”

thehindu.com

Ace City Golfer Wins Northern India Amateur Golf Championship

Reigning all-India champion Aryan Roopa Anand shot a closing two-under 68 to win the IGU Northern India Amateur Golf Championship at the Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur on Friday. He beat a strong field of 74 players from all over the country.

The Mysuru-based golfer finished with an impressive four-day aggregate of 10- under 270 to end his stroke play jinx on the amateur circuit. 20-year-old Aryan’s last victory came in 2019 in Ahmedabad.

Aryan played 4 under on Day 1, again 4 under on Day 2, level par on Day 3 and 2 under par on the 4th and final round to finish at a 10 under par score. Yuvraj Singh of Punjab was the runner-up and Harimohan Singh of Uttar Pradesh was the 2nd runner. Tournament Director Paramjit Singh, also from Mysuru, was present at the event.

Speaking to reporters, Aryan said, “It feels good to win a stroke play title again after a long time.” He is a member of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club, Mysuru and is now being trained at the Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy in Kolar.

Aryan came into the event on the back of a brilliant charge on the final day during the previous week in the Western India event in Mumbai where he shot a sizzling nine-under 61 to lose by a stroke.

He carried the same form into the Jaipur event as well. Aryan, who turns 21 in two weeks’ time, is in Mumbai now to win the season-ending all-India event, beginning next week, for the third straight time. Last December, Aryan retained his IGU All-India Amateur Golf Championship title defeating Yuvraj Singh, at the Poona Golf Course in Pune.

Aryan is the son of Anand Kumar and Roopa. The family lives at Dattagalli in Mysuru city.

starofmysore.com

 

Made in India MALE UAV completes flight test of 18 hours

TAPAS 201 has been designed and developed by the Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).

The TAPAS 201 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV has achieved a significant milestone after undertaking a flight test lasting 18 hours at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

TAPAS 201 has been designed and developed by the Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE). HAL and BEL will be the production partners for the MALE UAV.

Announcing the milestone, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tweeted: India’s TAPAS UAV, #designed & #developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru for tri-services has successfully achieved #milestone flight test of 18 hours at Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga.

TAPAS 201 is a multi-mission UAV being developed to carry out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance roles for the three wings of the armed forces with endurance in the range of 24 to 30 hours.

Described as the Indian version of the US’s Predator drones, TAPAS 201 is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads, like Medium Range Electro Optic, Long Range Electro Optic, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Electronic Intelligence, Communication Intelligence and Situational Awareness Payloads, to perform missions during day and night.

The MALE UAV, which was earlier referred to as RUSTOM II, undertook its first flight in November 2016. Since then, it has undertaken many test flights.

In 2019, the TAPAS 201 programme suffered a setback when the UAV crashed during an experimental flight near the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga.

Apart from the Indian army, air force and navy, internal security agencies like State Police Forces, BSF, CRPF, and the Coast Guard are also prospective users of the MALE UAV.

thehindu.com

Kundapur: Commonwealth powerlifting gold medal winner Satish Kharvi felicitated

Satish Kharvi, who won gold medal in the commonwealth powerlifting championship that was held at Auckland, capital of New Zealand, was given rousing welcome as he returned back to native place on Wednesday.

Satish Kharvi, who went to Dharmasthala and took darshan of Lord Manjunatha and sought blessings of Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra D Heggade, was welcomed in a grand manner as he arrived to Kundapur Shastri Circle. Taluk administration, various organizations, members of Konkani-Kharvi community, public and fans were present in large numbers.

A grand procession was held from Shastri Circle in decorated vehicle through the main streets of the town. Chende drums and trumpets accompanied the procession.

Speaking on the occasion, prof Kothadi Umesh Shetty, Principal of Dr B B Hegde first grade college, said, “Congratulations to Satish Kharvi for winning gold medal at the international level and flying the flag of India high and making the people of Kundapur proud. Let many more achievements be done by you. We are all proud to felicitate the achiever who has increased the respect and pride of India.”

Entrepreneurs Ravi T Naik and Shreeshan also spoke during the programme. Members of town municipality Shekhara Poojary, V Prabhakara, Taluk Youth services and sports officers Kusumakar Shetty and retired bank employee Subhash Kharvi were present.

Former vice president of town municipality Rajesh Cauvery did the introductory speech. City JCI founder president Hussain Haikadi welcomed the gathering. The programme was compered by Harshavardhan Kharvi.

Receiving the felicitation, Satish Kharvi said, “I am grateful to the felicitation offered and the regards that the people of my native place have shown on me. I have created national record in deadlift category and was eager to achieve personal record in commonwealth. I had made all preparations in that respect. But I could not lift the proposed weight due to extreme cold conditions of Auckland. Even then I am happy for getting one gold each in Bench Press, silver and four gold medals in powerlifting.”

daijiworld.com

Mishal Queenie D’Costa, IRS bags bravery award for chasing, nabbing Nigerian drug peddlers

DRI Mishal Queenie D’Costa, IRS, deputy director of indirect taxes at Mumbai Customs was honoured with a bravery award by finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman for displaying extraordinary bravery without even fearing for her life while chasing Nigerian drug peddlers in Mumbai.

During the last financial year, Nigerian drug peddlers were caught in a daring operation with 1.9kg of drug tablets, when they jumped from a building roof. Mishal who hails from Neerude, Dakshina Kannada, chased the culprits and physically stopped the culprits from escaping until the full force arrived at the scene. The young officer received the bravery award on DRI Foundation Day for her extraordinary achievement.

Mishal, who secured the 387th rank in the UPSC civil service examination in 2015, is second among the three children of Lazarus and Nancy D’Costa of Neerude.

daijiworld.com

Mangaluru: Daijiworld’s Dayanand Kukkaje wins top title at Photography Contest 2022

Renowned photojournalist Dayanand Kukkaje won the Top Appreciable Photographer’s title at season 3 of Global Photography Contest 2022.

The contest was organised by Innovize Arts and Culture, a global talent search firm.

Dayanand Kukkaje bagged a medal of appreciation.

The Season 3 of The Global Photography Contest 2022 was held among the photographers from India and NRIs from several other countries.

Earlier, Dayanand Kukkaje had bagged the Best Action Photography Award and Best Candid Photography award. His photographs have been exhibited in 12 photo exhibitions organised by him. He has visited more than six countries to showcase his photography skills.

daijiworld.com

Bengaluru leads country in digital payment transactions

Between January and October this year, Bengaluru saw 14.82 million such transactions valued at ₹3,620 crore.

Netizens in the tech capital of India have made 14.82 million digital payment transactions in the January to October 2022 period, the highest in the country, amounting to ₹3,620 crore, according to a study put out by Worldline India, a payment technology player.

Hyderabad accounted for 10.36 million digital payment transactions amounting to over ₹3,050 crore and Chennai 9.76 million at ₹2,250 crore. The country’s financial capital, Mumbai saw 9.4 million people carrying out digital payment transactions amounting to ₹2,740 crore and Pune with 7.88 million transactions clocked ₹1,730 crore.

The 10-month period under consideration, saw frequently visited physical merchant categories like grocery stores, restaurants, clothing and apparel, pharmacy, hotels, jewellery retail, speciality retail, household appliances, and departmental stores while in the online-space category wise, e-commerce (shopping for goods and services), gaming, utility and financial services together accounted for over 86% in terms of volume, according to the survey.

Festive season sales, and a rise in consumption after the pandemic have helped the city to take the top spot in digital payments transactions, stated the study.

Ramesh Narasimhan, Chief Executive Officer – India, Worldline, said: “Today, both customers and sellers are more receptive towards digital payments. Digital payments are gradually becoming like a commodity, and forming a subtle yet an integral part of our lives. The swift adoption of digital payments can be witnessed with each passing quarter.’‘

Payment instruments like UPI, cards, PPIs were already clocking over 23 billion transactions in the country in a quarter, he added.

thehindu.com

Military display teams put up scintillating performance

This was a part of the 11th ASC Reunion and the 262nd Corps Day which is being celebrated at the ASC Centre and College, Bengaluru, on December 8 and 9.

A military display of Army equestrian sports, paramotor flying, free fall from paratroopers, and flying demonstration by the Indian Air Force’s Sarang team was organised here on Wednesday.

It was done as a part of the 11th ASC Reunion and the 262nd Corps Day which is being celebrated at the ASC Centre and College, Bengaluru, on December 8 and 9.

“To showcase the capability of our armed forces and to offer a glimpse into the military might of the nation to the young aspiring minds and to motivate them to join the defence forces, a military display was organised,” said the Ministry of Defence.

The display was attended by personnel and families of armed forces, paramilitary forces, police, other defence establishments and schoolchildren.

During the display a paratrooper fell on a treetop, however, no injuries were reported.

Microlight flying expedition

As part of the 11th Army Service Corps Reunion and to commemorate the 75th year of independence, the Army Adventure Nodal Centre (Microlight) Gaya has undertaken a Microlight Flying Expedition from Gaya to Bengaluru under the aegis of Army Service Corps and Army Adventure Wing, Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army).

The Indian Army Microlight Expedition was flagged off from Gaya (Bihar) on November 30.

The expedition involved a cross-country flight by a fleet of four microlight aircraft over an aerial distance of more than 5,000 km in about 17 days including airshow/ maintenance halt. The expedition route was over plains of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, hilly terrain and plains of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. The inclement weather and gusty winds make this an extremely challenging expedition, the ministry said.

The microlight aircraft will perform an airshow at the 11th Army Service Corps Reunion and 262nd Corps Day.

thehindu.com