PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, Held from January 17 to January 22, 2025.
National
In January 2025, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, India's largest mobility expo, held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi. It has also become the world's 2nd largest automotive expo.
- The expo took place from January 17 to January 22, 2025, across three different venues: Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi India International Convention and Expo Centre (IIC), Dwarka, New Delhi (Delhi), and India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
- Theme: "Beyond Boundaries: Co-creating Future Automotive Value Chain".
Main Point :-
(i) During the event, more than 239 launches took place across all concurrent events. Additionally, 90 vehicles were launched at the Auto Expo Motor Show 2025.
(ii) Pune (Maharashtra)-based Vayve Mobility Private Limited (VMPL) launched India's 1st solar-powered Electric Vehicle (EV), named "Vayve EVA".
(iii) Pune-based EKA Mobility, a leading electric vehicle manufacturing company in India, launched "EKA COACH", India's 1st fully stainless-steel luxury electric bus for long-distance travel.
About Engineering Export Promotion Council India (EEPC India)
Chairman- Arun Kumar Garodia
Established-1955
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CZA Approves Proposal for Establishing India's White Tiger Breeding Centre in Madhya Pradesh.
National
In January 2025, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), based in New Delhi (Delhi) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), approved the proposal to establish India's 1st white tiger breeding centre in the Govindgarh area of Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh (MP).
- This approval came after recommendations from the expert committee of CZA during its 114th meeting in December 2024, followed by the technical committee's approval during its 112th meeting in December 2024.
- The new white tiger breeding facility will be developed as part of the revised Master (Layout) Plan for the Maharaja Martand Singh Judeo White Tiger Safari and Zoo, located in Mukundpur, Satna (MP).
- In 2011, the Government of India (GOI) had given its in-principle approval for establishing a white tiger breeding centre in MP as part of conservation efforts.
Main Point :-
(i) The first white tiger was spotted in the Vindhya region of Madhya Pradesh (MP) in 1915 but sadly died in 1920. In 1951, Maharaja Martand Singh, the former ruler of Rewa, discovered a white tiger in the Govindgarh jungle and named it 'Mohan.' This discovery led to the initiation of conservation efforts, which resulted in the protection and breeding of white tigers in the area.
(ii) The white tiger is not a separate subspecies but a color variant of the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), or a hybrid of the two. It is characterized by white fur, dark brown or black stripes, and blue eyes, with the white coloration resulting from a genetic mutation known as 'leucism.'
(iii) As per the 2022 tiger census, Madhya Pradesh (MP) has the highest number of tigers, followed by Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra. Additionally, MP is home to the world’s first white tiger safari, established in 2016 at Mukundpur in Satna district.
About Central Zoo Authority (CZA)
Chairman : Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, MoEFCC
Headquarters : New Delhi
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Maharashtra to Establish India's First AI University.
National
Maharashtra is set to establish India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) University, aimed at becoming a Center of Excellence (CoE) for AI education and innovation. The university will focus on AI research, innovation, and skill development.
- The Maharashtra government has formed a task force, chaired by Parrag Jaiin Nainutia, the Principal Secretary (Information Technology, IT), Government of Maharashtra, to oversee planning and implementation.
- The establishment of the AI University aims to promote research and development in AI and related fields, making Maharashtra a leading hub for technology and AI-driven innovation. It will also drive technological advancements and formulate policies in AI and emerging technologies.
Main Point :-
(i) The task force is a collaborative effort, bringing together expertise from academia, industry, and government to create an institution focused on AI education, research, and innovation.
(ii) The task force members include the Directors of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Mumbai, and the Indian Institutes of Management-Mumbai (IIM-M), Mumbai. It also includes representatives from Google India Private Limited (GIPL), Mahindra Group, and Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), along with officials from the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
(iii) Additionally, experts from the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission (RGSTC) of the Government of Maharashtra and the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) are part of the task force.
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