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Country’s Largest Business Jet Terminal Commissioned at Cochin International Airport

National News

 

 

Country’s Largest Business Jet Terminal Commissioned at Cochin International Airport

Why In News

 

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the country’s first chartered gateway, and a business jet terminal at the Cochin International Airport.

Key Points


Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the country’s first chartered gateway, and a business jet terminal at the Cochin International Airport. With this, Cochin airport has become the fourth airport in the country to operate a private jet terminal. With two majestic domestic and international travel terminals, Cochin International Airport Limited(CIAL) is now home to the country’s biggest Business Jet Terminal.

The business jet terminal inaugurated was built at a cost of 40 crore rupees by renovating the old domestic terminal. It covers an area of 40,000 sq ft with comfortable lounges, customs and immigration counters, a business centre and other modern facilities.

Kerala achieved  114 per cent growth in the hospitality sector and 75 per cent growth in the aviation sector.

 Significance:

The new facility at the airport will boost tourism as well as the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) sector in the state. It will propel the airport to the forefront of the aviation industry in the country. The facility will also serve as a platform to integrate the hospitality and aviation sectors.

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL):

One of the major reasons for the excellence that Kerala has achieved in the field of aviation is because of CIAL. About 65 per cent of the state’s air passengers are handled by CIAL. Even in the midst of the COVID crisis, the company undertook and implemented many infrastructure development projects which helped in increasing efficiency. Through these ventures, including the newly launched Business Jet Terminal, the state aims at integrating hospitality and aviation sectors.


J&K Awarded 1st Prize in Category For Ayushman Bharat Health Account ID Generation

J&K Awarded 1st Prize in Category For Ayushman Bharat Health Account ID Generation

Why In News

 

Jammu and Kashmir has been awarded 1st prize in the category for Ayushman Bharat health account ID generation and 2nd prize in the category for Teleconsultation.

 

Key Points


Jammu and Kashmir has been awarded 1st prize in the category for Ayushman Bharat health account ID generation and 2nd prize in the category for Teleconsultation conducted during the celebration of Universal Health Coverage Day 2022.

About The Universal Health Coverage Day:
Universal Health Coverage Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the significance of Universal health coverage which aims to ensure quality healthcare closer to the people without any financial hardships.

Secretary, of Health & Medical Education, Bhupinder Kumar said that  J&K is set to achieve the best model of Health delivery in the country which is evident from the huge improvement in the Health indicators. He appreciated the role of the officers of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission J&K for such a robust implementation of the mission which was launched recently in J&K.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: New Approach of the Govt Of India:
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to develop the backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure of the country. It will bridge the existing gap amongst different stakeholders of Healthcare ecosystem through digital highways.


Hindustan Unilever Acquires D2C Brands OZiva And Wellbeing Nutrition

Hindustan Unilever Acquires D2C Brands OZiva And Wellbeing Nutrition

Why In News

 

Hindustan Unilever’s (HUL) acquisition of two digital first brands — OZiva and Wellbeing Nutrition.

Key Points


 Hindustan Unilever’s (HUL) acquisition of two digital first brands — OZiva and Wellbeing Nutrition — is in line with the premiumisation trend with an increasing number of FMCG players foraying in the high growth wellness and nutrition category, which has gained prominence amongst consumers in the post-pandemic world.

The move would be line with the trend of bigger FMCG players investing in direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands in India, as companies do not want to miss out the growing online shoppers market. Marico picked up 54% stake in True Elements, another healthy snacking and breakfast brand, while HUL itself has launched some of its own beauty and personal care brands like Dove Baby, Love Beauty and Planet, Simple and Dermalogica. Nestle India and tobacco-to-FMCG maker ITC’s are said to have interest in picking a stake in Sprout Life Foods, the parent company of Yoga Bar.

Significance


A fast growing category, H&W has a potential market size of Rs 30,000 crore over the next four to five years.

 

While there are several demand spaces within the category, HUL plans to focus on high growth areas such as sleep & stress, women’s health, gut health, beauty- from-within and plant-based products.


Padma Shri awardee & Veteran Lavani Singer Sulochana Chavan passes away at 92

Padma Shri awardee & Veteran Lavani Singer Sulochana Chavan passes away at 92

 

Why In News

 

Renowned Marathi Lavani singer Sulochana Chavan has passed away at the age of 92.

 

Key Points


Renowned Marathi Lavani singer Sulochana Chavan has passed away at the age of 92. Earlier this year, Chavan was awarded the Padma Shri and also conferred the title of ‘Lavani Samradnyi’ (Queen of Lavani) for her contribution to the traditional Maharashtrian musical genre of Lavani, associated with the folk theatre of Tamasha. Aunda Lagin Karachain, Kasan Kay Patil Baran Hi Ka’, ‘Kalidar Kapuri Paan’, ‘Khelatan Rang Bai Holicha’, ‘Padarawarti Zartarichi Mor Nachra Hawa’ and many more of Chavan’s songs are popular even today.

Awards and Honours:

She was honoured with the Lata Mangeshkar Award, instituted by the Government of Maharashtra, in 2010. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2012. Chavan was awarded the Lokshahir Patthe Bapurao Puraskar instituted by the Pune Municipal Corporation in 2007 and two years later, was bestowed with the Ram Kadam Puraskar.


India’s First Carbon Neutral Farm Inaugurated In Kerala

India’s First Carbon Neutral Farm Inaugurated In Kerala

Why In News

 

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared a seed farm, located in Aluva, as the first carbon neutral farm in the country.

 

Key Points


 Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared a seed farm, located in Aluva, as the first carbon neutral farm in the country. A significant reduction in carbon emission has helped the seed farm, achieve the carbon neutral status.

The total amount of carbon emission from the farm, located at Thuruthu in Aluva, in the last one year was 43 tons but its overall procurement was 213 ton. Compared to the emission rate, as many as 170 tons of more carbon have been procured at the farm, which helped it to be declared as the first carbon neutral seed farm in the country.

“Carbon neutral farms will be set up in all 140 Assembly constituencies. Efforts have already been launched to make 13 farms in Kerala carbon neutral,” Chief Minister said. Carbon neutral agricultural methods would be implemented through women’s groups and such interventions would be made in the tribal sector as well, Mr Vijayan added.

Even as the state moves towards the goal to achieve food self-sufficiency, plans to maintain ecological equilibrium are also equally important, the Chief Minister said. As many as 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture and this can be prevented and climate change can be regulated through carbon neutral agricultural practices, he added.

Carbon Neutrality:

According to the definition of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), carbon neutrality, or net zero CO2 emissions, refers only to carbon dioxide emissions and is a state of balance between the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere and the CO2 removed from the atmosphere.

In actual business practice, organizations often use the term “carbon neutrality” to include all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when they announce their ambitious emissions reduction targets. There are a number of ways of achieving the balance we are talking about. The healthiest way is not to emit more CO2 than can be absorbed naturally by the world’s forests and plants, which act as carbon sinks through the process of photosynthesis – they take in CO2 from the air and turn it into oxygen – helping to reduce emissions.