Category: India, Records

** PAI 2021: State bags overall rank of 7

It is down 3 spots from last year

Karnataka dropped to the seventh rank in the Public Affairs Index 2021 with a score of 0.121. It was in the fourth position last year.

The sixth edition of PAI was released on Friday. Apart from looking at governance performance in the context of sustainable development defined by equity, growth and sustainability pillars, PAI 2021 also features analysis of five Centre-sponsored schemes that aid in key development parameters of health, education and livelihoods (Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, National Health Mission, Integrated Child Development Services, Samagra Siksha Abhiyan, and Midday Meal Scheme)

** Magnum founder Sudhir Ghate passes away

The company was a nationally renowned institution in public relations and advertisement

Sudhir P. Ghate, founder, chairman and managing director of Magnum Intergrafiks Pvt. Ltd., passed away in Mangaluru on October 22. He was 64. He leaves behind his wife, a son and a daughter.

He was active in politics and had served as general secretary of BJP Yuva Morcha in 1995. He was closely associated with senior BJP leaders, including A.B. Vajpayee, Sushma Swaraj, and Murli Manohar Joshi.

** JNCASR-Bengaluru scientists devise way to convert carbon dioxide to methane without toxicity

Bengaluru scientists have devised a toxic-free method that converts the most common greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide (CO2) to methane (CH4) – known to be the cleanest fossil fuel – a process that can effectively help in reducing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels which is a major climate change concern.

The scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, achieved this using non-metal catalysts, unlike procedures that are in use, which are found to release toxic gases in the process.

In doing so, the scientists, led by Professor Tapas Kumar Maji from the Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit of JNCASR, have designed a cost-effective metal-free catalyst to achieve the conversion by absorption of visible light.

** IISc test can now detect adulteration in milk

Virkeshwar Kumar, a postdoctoral researcher, and Susmita Dash, an assistant professor at IISc, developed the method, and believe it can be revolutionary in its cost effectiveness, and the lack of equipment needed to conduct the test.

The method is able to detect when milk has been contaminated with water and urea, two of the most common contaminants in the dairy product. The team had found differences in the structure of evaporated, undiluted, diluted, and urea contaminated milk that led to the breakthrough.

** Mangaluru: Karnataka Bank bags top award at 19th edition of Asia Pacific HRM Congress

Karnataka Bank is conferred with the prestigious ‘Top Organizations with Innovative HR Practices’ award at the 19th edition of Asia Pacific HRM Congress held on October 26 in Bengaluru.

Mahalingeshwara K, general manager, HR & IR and Chief Learning Officer (CLO), representing the bank received the award at the event. The award is presented to the bank for effectively implementing innovative HR practices for Human Resource Development and Talent Management.

** Professor Sharada Srinivasan gets Woman Engineer of the Year award

Padma Shri awardee Professor Sharada Srinivasan has added yet another accolade to her expansive list of accomplishments by being one of three women to be chosen for the Indian National Academy of Engineering’s Woman Engineer of the Year award in 2021.

The title is awarded by the academy to women who have made breakthrough contributions to the fields of technology and engineering in India. She is a professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

** No Hems or Haws

Meet Bengaluru make-up artist Durga Venkatesh, who can drape a saree in 155 styles in two hours .

In a time where inspiration and endurance is wearing thin, Durga Venkatesh, a make-up artist and bespoke fashion designer, has chosen to take life by the hems. Venkatesh, who has lived in Bengaluru since her childhood, currently holds the world record for the fastest number of saree styles draped, having been attested by the Limca Book of Records, India Book of Records, Asia Book of Records, Asian World Records, British World Records, and, most recently, the Kalam’s World Records in August.

In addition to this, she also won the Divalicious Mrs South India Universe title for 2019, and manages her own make-up salon and academy, Durga Makeup Studio & Academy in JP Nagar.