3 Agriculture Centres of Excellence inaugurated in Karnataka

Development of North Eastern Region, DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has said that his Ministry will identify 10 districts in North East states lagging behind the most in governance and developmental parameters. He chaired a high-level meeting with the officials of the Ministry and North Eastern Council on Wednesday. The Minister said the aim of this exercise is to focus on these districts and bring these at par with other developed districts in terms of saturation level. He said the main focus will be to accelerate "Ease of Living" in these districts through smooth delivery of Goods and Services. Dr Jitendra Singh clarified that these 10 districts will be different from the 14 aspirational districts of Northeast.

-Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has launched TV Channel Selector Portal. This portal will facilitate those subscribers who do not own a mobile phone but want to use a web browser for selection of TV channels. This portal will help the subscriber to check their own subion and view all the channels provided by the DTH and Cable operators. With the help of this portal subscribers can choose their channel of interest and remove the unwarranted channels. The portal also allows the subscriber to modify existing subions. The users can also provide the feedback through the portal.

-An MoU has been signed between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ministry of Culture and Tourism for Cooperation in Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat. Speaking on this occasion, Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that this complex would be dedicated to the legacy of maritime heritage to showcase India’s rich and diverse maritime glory. He said, MoU would help in exhibiting the robust maritime history as well as the vibrant coastal tradition of our country. He said, this would uplift the image of India’s Maritime Heritage in the international forum. Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has said that MoU and the museum will play a big role in highlighting the cultural heritage of the country.National Maritime Heritage Complex, a world-class facility is to be developed in the vicinity of the Archaeological Survey of India site of Lothal. It is located about 80 kms away from Ahmedabad in Gujarat. This complex would be developed as an international tourist destination.

-Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar and Chief Minister of Karnataka B S Yediyurappa jointly inaugurated three Centers of Excellence established in Karnataka under the Indo-Israel Agricultural Project. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, State Horticulture minister R Shankar and Ambassador of Israel in India Dr. Ron Malka graced the occasion. Under Government to Government cooperation 29 Centers of Excellence are to be set up in 12 states in India. Out of these, three Centers were launched virtually in Karnataka on Wednesday. The Centres of Excellence in Kolar, Bagalkote and Dharwad in Karnataka will implement advanced Israeli Agro-Technology tailored to local conditions. Kolar will work on Mango, Bagalkote on Pomegranate and Dharwad center on vegetables. The work will be towards demonstrating best practices and training farmers in Precision Agriculture through satellite imaging, advanced fertigation and beneficial demonstration of super Bhagwa canopy management techniques. 
-In Manipur, the State government decided to cancel the class X examination, 2021 to be conducted by Board of Secondary Examination Manipur and class XII examination, 2021 to be conducted by Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur. State Education Minister S. Rajen Singh announced the cancellation of examinations in a media briefing on Wednesday and orders have also been issued in this regard this evening.  Rajen said that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the education sector and the State government, after thorough discussion and consultation with the stakeholders, local educationists and experts have decided to cancel this years’ class X, XI and XII examinations, 2021.The Education Minister said, a 14 member committee has been constituted to develop an alternative assessment/evaluation mechanism for assessment of students in class X and XII. Modus operandi of the award of marks, certificates to the students shall be done by this committee with due approval of the government.