India jumps 2 spots higher, and now ranks 8th as per Climate Change Performance Index

India has been ranked among the top 5 countries in the world, and the best among the G20 countries, based on its Climate Change performance. India jumps 2 spots higher, and is now ranked 8th as per Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI, 2023) published by German Watch, New Climate Institute, and Climate Action Network International based in Germany. The latest report of CCPI, released at COP 27 in November 2022, shows Denmark, Sweden, Chile, and Morocco as the only four small countries that were ranked above India as 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th respectively. The first, second, and third ranks were not awarded to any country. In effect, therefore, India’s rank is the best among all large economies.

The CCPI aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries. Published annually since 2005, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an independent monitoring tool for tracking the climate protection performance of 59 countries and the EU. Every year, the CCPI sets off important public and political debates within the countries assessed. The climate protection performance of these 59 countries, which together account for 92% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is assessed in four categories: GHG Emissions (40% of overall score),  Renewable Energy  (20% of overall score),  Energy Use  (20% of overall score) and  Climate Policy (20% of overall score).

India earned a high rating in the GHG Emissions  and Energy Use categories, while a medium for Climate Policy and Renewable Energy. The aggressive policies of India towards rapid deployment of renewables and robust framework for energy efficiency programs have shown considerable impact. As per the CCPI report, India is on track to meet its 2030 emissions targets (compatible with a well-below-2°C scenario).

The ranking given by CCPI places India as the only G-20 country in the top 10 ranks. It may be mentioned here that India will now be assuming G-20 Presidency and it will be an opportune time to show the World, its climate mitigation policies such as the deployment of renewable sources of energy and other energy transition programmes.

Film Personality of the Year Award goes to Megastar Chiranjeevi

The IFFI Indian Film Personality of the Year Award for 2022 goes to megastar and actor-producer Chiranjeevi Konidela. The announcement has been made by the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur, at the grand opening of the 53rd edition of IFFI, the International Film Festival of India, in Goa. In an illustrious film career spanning more than four decades, Chiranjeevi starred in more than 150 feature films in Telugu, as well as some films in Hindi, Tamil and Kannada. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential actors in Telugu cinema.

He captured the imagination of the masses with his performance in Initlo Ramayya Veedilo Krishnayya in 1982. He is admired for his zestful dance performances and fight sequences brimming with power. His influence has claimed him the title of a Megastar. In 2006, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, for his contributions to Indian cinema.

Spanish film Director Carlos Saura has been honoured with Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award

Celebrated Spanish film Director Carlos Saura has been honoured with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award at the gala opening ceremony of the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The Spanish Director is being honoured with the award as a befitting accolade for his immense contribution to international cinema. His daughter Anna Saura accepted the award on behalf of the eminent filmmaker at the opening ceremony of IFFI 53.

53rd International Film Festival of India held in Goa

 The world’s finest films and its stellar creators under one umbrella, the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India kicked off with a grand opening ceremony at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, in Panaji, Goa. Conducted jointly by the National Film Development Corporation and Entertainment Society of Goa, this edition of the film fiesta is showcasing a collection of 280 films from 79 countries. 25 features and 20 non-feature films will be showcased in the Indian Panorama section from a broad spectrum of entries.

India climbs up six slots and now placed at 61st rank as per Network Readiness Index 2022

India has improved its position by six slots and is now placed at 61st rank as per the Network Readiness Index 2022 (NRI 2022) report released recently. In its latest version of 2022, the NRI Report maps the network-based readiness landscape of 131 economies based on their performances in four different pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact covering a total of 58 variables. The report has been prepared by the Portulans Institute, an independent non-profit, nonpartisan research and educational institute based in Washington DC.

India has not only improved its ranking, but also improved its score from 49.74 in 2021 to 51.19 in 2022.  It is noteworthy that India leads in several indicators. The report states that India secured 1st rank in “AI talent concentration”, 2nd rank in “Mobile broadband internet traffic within the country” and “International Internet bandwidth”, 3rd rank in “Annual investment in telecommunication services” and “Domestic market size”, 4th rank in “ICT Services exports”, 5th rank in “FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions” and “AI scientific publications”.

NRI-2022 report states that India has a greater network readiness than would be expected given its income level.  India is ranked 3rd out of 36 in the group of lower-middle-income countries after Ukraine (50) and Indonesia (59).  India has a score higher than the income group average in all pillars and sub-pillars.

ISRO makes history by successfully launching India’s maiden private Vikram-suborbital (VKS) rocket

 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made history today by launching successfully India’s maiden private Vikram-suborbital (VKS) rocket. ISRO says, "Mission Prarambh is successfully accomplished", while Skyroot Aerospace said, "Vikram-S makes history as the first private rocket of India to grace the skies". Skyroot was the first StartUp to sign an MoU with ISRO for launching its rockets. It was the nation's first private launch, it is also the maiden mission of Skyroot Aerospace, named "Prarambh".

NTPC team wins GOLD award in 47th ICQCC-2022

 NTPC’s QC Team from Unchahar ABHYUDAYA has won the "GOLD" award in the 47th International Convention on Quality Control Circle (ICQCC-2022). The convention is being held from 15th-18th November in Jakarta. The theme for ICQCC-2022 was “Built Back Better through Quality Efforts”.

NTPC QC Team presented on "Frequent Choking of Collecting tanks of AHP-IV". The QC team members - Shri Reyaz Ahamad (Facilitator), Shri Mahesh Chandra, Shri Virendra Kumar Yadav and Shri Laxmi Kant worked relentlessly towards providing unique, pragmatic, and quality solutions to the problem at hand.

In March 2022, NTPC had been declared the “Dream Employer of the Year” at the 30th Session of the World HRD Congress. NTPC’s efforts to create a future-ready workforce were recognized when NTPC was selected as a 2022 ATD BEST award winner by The Association for Talent Development (ATD), USA. The awards and recognitions are a testimony that people practices at NTPC are at par with the best companies in the world.

Shri Gaurav Dwivedi appointed Prasar Bharati CEO

 The President of India has today appointed, after due recommendation by the Selection Committee, Shri Gaurav Dwivedi, as Executive Member (Chief Executive Officer) in Prasar Bharati for a period of five years from his assumption of charge. Shri Dwivedi is an Officer of the Indian Administrative Service, Batch of 1995, of the Chattisgarh cadre.  

Shri R.K Singh inaugurates the 5th Assembly of the International Solar Alliance

The Fifth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance was inaugurated today by Shri Raj Kumar Singh, Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy, India in his capacity as the President, the International Solar Alliance. The Republic of India holds the office of the President of the ISA Assembly, with the Government of France as Co-President. Ministers from 20 countries and delegates from across 110 Member and Signatory countries and 18 prospective countries joined the inaugural ceremony of the 5th ISA Assembly.

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Ms Bharati Das took charge as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA)

Ms Bharati Das took charge as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA). Ms Das is the 27th Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Ms Bharati Das, a 1988-batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer, is appointed by the Government of India as the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, with effect from October 18, 2021. Prior to that, Ms Das has served as Principal Chief Controller of Accounts (Pr. CCA) Central Board of Direct Taxes, Pr. CCA Ministry of External Affairs, Pr. CCA Ministry of Home Affairs and CCA, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Director, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Port, Shipping & Waterways. The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) is ‘the Principal Advisor’ on Accounting matters to the Union Government. CGA is responsible for establishing and managing a technically sound Management Accounting System and preparation & submission of the accounts of the Union Government. CGA is also responsible for exchequer control and internal audits for the central Government. 

Global Hunger Report 2022

A consistent effort is yet again visible to taint India’s image as a Nation that does not fulfill the food security and nutritional requirements of its population. Misinformation seems to be the hallmark of the annually released Global Hunger Index. The Global Hunger Report 2022 released by Concern Worldwide and Welt Hunger Hilfe, Non-Government Organisations from Ireland and Germany respectively, has ranked India at 107 among 121 countries. The index is an erroneous measure of hunger and suffers from serious methodological issues. Three out of the four indicators used for the calculation of the index are related to the health of Children and cannot be representative of the entire population. The fourth and most important indicator estimate of the Proportion of the Undernourished (PoU) population is based on an opinion poll conducted on a very small sample size of 3000.

90th INTERPOL General Assembly

90th INTERPOL General Assembly held in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated this assembly in presence of Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, Interpol President Shri Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, Interpol Secretary General Shri Jurgen Stock, Director of CBI Shri S.K. Jaiswal, Distinguished Delegates, and Participants.