KARNATAKA

BMTC launches new app with trip planner live bus tracking

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation BMTC run bus service for Bengaluru and its periphery launched its new official mobile app titled My BMTC. The app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

The app made by Nihar previously relied on public information put out by the BMTC Nihar’s app shut down in July 2019 after being operational for two years. The app was shut down after the BMTC stopped sharing its data publicly over concerns misuse of data by taxi aggregators. The new app provides the estimated time of arrival of buses at a specific bus stop and shows the nearby bus stops along with route-based search options.

The app also has a trip planner option, which allows commuters to plan their journey from and to locations they choose to set in the app, similar to Google Maps. Buses can also be live-tracked through the app. The daily ridership of BMTC steadily fallen over the years, from 51.3 lakh in 2014-15 to 36 lakh in 2018-19. The The length of canceled routes increased almost 200% over four years from 241.6 lakh km in 2013-14 to 717.9 lakh km in 2017-18.

INTERNATIONAL

International Astronomical Union names new star as ‘Sharjah’

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) announced the names of the newly discovered stars and planets, where the name “Sharjah” was chosen for a star with “Barjeel” being the name of one of its planets.

The announcement was made during a press conference of the IAU in the French capital, Paris, celebrating the centennial of the union.

During the announcement, the organisers lauded the efforts and contributions of the Emirate of Sharjah to the global scientific community.

Afghanistan recognizes Indian Pharmacopoeia

The National Department of Regulation of Medicines and Health Products of the Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan organized the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP). Afghanistan became the first country to recognize IP pursuant to the efforts of the Department of Commerce, and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. It will also be used based on the requirement as reputable pharmacopoeia in the laboratory of medicines and health products quality.

IP is an officially recognized book of standards as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules 1945 thereunder

It specifies the standards of drugs manufactured and marketed in India in terms of their purity, identity, and strength

It ensures the quality of medicinal products, the legal and scientific standards that are provided by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)

NATIONAL

Upgraded version of Pinaka guided rocket system, QR-SAM successfully test fired

India had successfully test-fired two missiles from Chandipur in Odisha.

The upgraded version of Pinaka guided rocket system was test-fired from the DRDO’s Proof and Experimental Establishment firing test range while the all-weather tracked-chassis Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QR-SAM) tested from a mobile launcher at a launch complex of the Integrated Test Range.

The indigenously developed Pinaka and QR-SAM weapon system test achieved the desired accuracy by hitting the intended target with a high degree of precision and met all mission objectives.

Pinaka system has a maximum range of 75 km for Mark-II variant and can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in less than 45 seconds.

NITI Aayog to draft roadmap to achieve the population stabilization

NITI Aayog, the policy think tank of the Indian Government, organized a national consultation titled “Realising the vision of population stabilization: leaving no one behind” on 20 December 2019 at NITI Bhavan, New Delhi. It plans to draft a roadmap to achieve population stabilization.

The consultative meeting is organized by NITI Aayog in partnership with Population Foundation of India (PFI).

The recommendations from the meeting will contribute to a NITI Aayog working paper. It will help in achieving India’s vision of attaining population stabilization.

It suggested ideas to address existing socio-cultural barriers towards contraception by investing extensively in innovative behaviour-change communication strategies.

It recommended strengthening the quality of care, including counselling services, managing side effects, and family planning support.

Railway Ministry signed MoU with Birmingham University to establish Centre of Excellence

The National Rail Transport Institute (NRTI) signed an MoU with the University of Birmingham in New Delhi. The aim is to set up the first Centre of Excellence for Next-Generation Transportation Systems in Railways.

As per the MoU, it will provide proprietary data, spare equipment, professional expertise, and other available resources directly or through the Centralised Training Institutes and research organizations.
The centre will invite partnerships from other industry and academic organizations in the future.

It is India’s first and only transportation university. It functions under the Ministry of Railways.

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