Author: Team Admin

New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has chosen the youngest of its astronaut-designates as the prime astronaut to fly on the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The prime astronaut will be Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla who recently got promoted. A ‘prime astronaut’ is one who is chosen to fly, but a backup astronaut is always kept, in case at the last minute due to any mishap a swap needs to be undertaken. He was born in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow on October 10, 1985. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was…

NEW DELHI: More than 2.16 lakh Indians renounced their citizenship in 2023, the government informed the Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this in a written response to queries on Indian citizens who have renounced their citizenship in the last five years. In his response, he also shared the corresponding data for 2011-2018. In 2023, the number of Indians who renounced their citizenship stood at 2,16,219 (2.16 lakh). The corresponding figure for 2022 was 2,25,620 (2.25 lakh); 1,63,370 (1.63 lakh) in 2021; 85,256 in 2020; and 1,44,017 (1.44 lakh) in 2019, according to the…

Goemkarponn Desk PANAJI: The iconic Atal Setu bridge in Goa is illuminated in bright green today, to celebrate India’s National Organ Donation Day celebrated on 3/8/24 and to raise awareness about the cause of organ donation. The green light symbolises hope for those awaiting a second chance at life through transplantation. It serves as a poignant reminder of the men, women, and children who have died waiting for a life-saving organ and expresses gratitude to organ donors and their families for giving the supreme gift of life. This initiative has been undertaken by the MOHAN Foundation and IMA (Indian Medical…

Goemkarponn Desk PANAJI: It has been made clear in an update given by Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane that from April 1, 2020, until the present, the Town and Country Planning Board has not received any direct petitions under Section 16B. The Minister attested to the fact that during this time, the Board did not receive any requests for modifications to the zoning laws. It was mentioned in relation to applications that the Board had authorized that no permissions for zone adjustments had been given by the Board. Rather, the Board suggested just informing the public about proposed…

Goemkarponn Desk PANAJI: TThe GI Registry in Chennai expressed reservations regarding the generic nature of the term, leading the State government to withdraw its Geographical Indication (GI) registration for “coconut vinegar.” In response to an unstarred question from MLA Aleixo Lourenco, the Minister of Science and Technology, Atanasio Monserrate, stated that the application, which was submitted on May 1, 2019, was withdrawn on the advice of the GI Registry because of the generic nature of the name. Monserrate pointed out that the widespread usage of “coconut vinegar” in certain Indian States makes it more difficult to qualify for GI status.…

Goemkarponn Desk PANAJI: The government intends to change the Goa Regularization of Unauthorized Construction Act to expedite the regularization of homes built under the 20-Point Program, according to announcement made by Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate (Babush). He clarified that while private properties are covered by the current Goa Regularization of Unauthorized Construction Act, 2016, structures covered by the 20-Point Program are not. For private properties, there is the Goa Regularization of Unauthorized Construction Act, 2016.In the same vein, the 20-Point Program’s structures will only be taken into consideration upon their revision. Only if these are formally allocated will we regularize,”…

Goemkarponn Desk PANAJI: The District Collectors in each jurisdiction should designate nodal personnel to deal with the problem of hazardous trees, including their prompt removal, according to a directive issued by Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate. Legislators voiced worry about the rise in tree-falling accidents during the monsoon, some of which had resulted in fatalities this time, prompting the statement to be made on the House floor. Babush declared, “I will ask the district collectors to review the situation in March.” The private members’ resolution, submitted by MLA Digambar Kamat, urged the government to inspect trees that pose a threat to…