SAMEER Transfers Microwave Sugar Measurement Tech to Private Firms ... The Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER), an R&D institute under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has signed a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with Toshniwal Hyvac Pvt. Ltd. and Sir Automation Industries. This agreement will facilitate the large-scale manufacturing of a state-of-the-art Microwave-Based Brix Measurement System, designed to measure sugar concentration (Brix) in real-time during sugar production.

India Advances Nuclear Submarine Capabilities... India is on the brink of commissioning its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arighat, and has received approval to construct six additional nuclear submarines to enhance its maritime defence. The Indian Navy is preparing to commission INS Arighat, its second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), which is nearing the completion of its trials and upgrades.

Government Restores Diamond Imprest Licence for Gems and Jewellery Sector...... Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has announced the restoration of the Diamond Imprest Licence, a move aimed at revitalizing India’s gems and jewellery sector. The decision was made during the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) 2024, organized by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). This policy shift is expected to address issues related to diamond imports and enhance India’s export competitiveness.

India-New Zealand Sign Bilateral Customs Cooperation Agreement...India and New Zealand have signed a Bilateral Customs Cooperation Arrangement to facilitate easier trade between the two nations. The agreement was formalized in Wellington on 8 August 2024 during President Droupadi Murmu’s official visit to New Zealand.

T.V. Somanathan Appointed as New Cabinet Secretary... Senior IAS Officer T.V. Somanathan has been appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary of India, succeeding Rajiv Gauba, whose term ends this month. Somanathan will begin his two-year tenure on August 30, 2024. He will also serve as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Cabinet Secretariat until he formally assumes the role of Cabinet Secretary.

T.V. Somanathan Appointed as New Cabinet Secretary... Senior IAS Officer T.V. Somanathan has been appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary of India, succeeding Rajiv Gauba, whose term ends this month. Somanathan will begin his two-year tenure on August 30, 2024. He will also serve as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Cabinet Secretariat until he formally assumes the role of Cabinet Secretary.

“King Khan” Receives Lifetime Award At Locarno Film Festival... Bollywood’s charismatic ‘King Khan’, graced the 77th Locarno Film Festival with his presence on August 10, receiving a career achievement award that further gilds his storied career. Shah Rukh delivered his acceptance speech to a rapt audience of 8,000 at Locarno’s famed Piazza Grande.

Book Launch Spotlight: ’75 Great Revolutionaries of India’... Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh attended the launch of ’75 Great Revolutionaries of India,’ a book by MP Bhim Singh. Singh praised the work for highlighting lesser-known freedom fighters. The book aims to inspire a developed India by recognizing historical sacrifices.

MEA and NSIL Sign MoU for Launch of Nepalese Munal Satellite... The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the launch of Nepal’s Munal satellite. The MoU was formalized on Saturday, with Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North) from MEA, and Arunachalam A, Director from NSIL, representing their respective organizations.

Exercise Udara Shakti 2024: Strengthening Indo-Malaysian Air Force Cooperation. The bilateral air exercise “Udara Shakti 2024” between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) concluded successfully on August 9, 2024. This exercise, hosted by the RMAF at its base in Kuantan, Malaysia, marked a significant milestone in military cooperation between the two nations.

Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki Passes Away After Battle With Cancer... Susan Wojcicki, a pioneering figure in the tech industry and former CEO of YouTube, has passed away at the age of 56 following a two-year battle with cancer. The news of her death was confirmed by her husband, Dennis Troper, on August 9. Susan Diane Wojcicki was an American business executive who was the chief executive officer of YouTube from 2014 to 2023. Her net worth was estimated at $765 million in 2022.

Former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh Passes Away... Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh passed away at 95, due to a prolonged illness on August 10. He took his last breath at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram near Delhi, where he was admitted for the past couple of weeks.

Neelakurinji: The Endangered Purple Bloom of the Western Ghats... The Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), a remarkable flowering shrub native to the montane grasslands of southwest India, has recently been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This iconic plant, known for its mass blooming once every 12 years, has been classified as Vulnerable according to the IUCN criteria.