India ranks 5th in countries with most AI investment

Why In News

·         Stanford University's AI Index report states that India is ranked fifth in terms of investments received by startups offering AI-based products and services in 2022.

Key Points

·         Stanford University’s AI Index report states that India is ranked fifth in terms of investments received by startups offering AI-based products and services in 2022. AI startups in India received a total investment of $3.24 billion, surpassing countries such as South Korea, Germany, Canada, and Australia. However, India is still behind the US, China, the UK, and Israel in terms of AI investments received.

·         According to the same report, AI startups in India received a cumulative funding of $7.73 billion from 2013 to 2022, which places it sixth among the countries with the highest AI investments during that period. However, nearly 40% of this funding was received in the year 2022 alone.

·         The AI Index report by Stanford University revealed that 54% of the researchers working on Large Language Models (LLMs) are from American institutions. Nonetheless, for the first time, researchers from Canada, Germany, and India contributed to the development of LLMs last year.

About the Stanford University’s AI Index report

·         The AI Index is an independent initiative at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), led by the AI Index Steering Committee, an interdisciplinary group of experts from across academia and industry.

·         The annual report tracks, collates, distills, and visualizes data relating to artificial intelligence, enabling decision-makers to take meaningful action to advance AI responsibly and ethically with humans in mind.

·         The AI Index collaborates with many different organizations to track progress in artificial intelligence. These organizations include: the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University, LinkedIn, NetBase Quid, Lightcast, and McKinsey.

·         The 2023 report also features more self-collected data and original analysis than ever before. This year’s report included new analysis on foundation models, including their geopolitics and training costs, the environmental impact of AI systems, K-12 AI education, and public opinion trends in AI. The AI Index also broadened its tracking of global AI legislation from 25 countries in 2022 to 127 in 2023.

India’s First Semi-High Speed Regional Rail Service Named ‘RAPIDX’

Why In News

·         The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has named India's first semi-high-speed regional rail services as 'RAPIDX'.

Key Points

·         The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has named India’s first semi-high-speed regional rail services as ‘RAPIDX’.

·         These trains will operate on the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors, which are being constructed to link important urban nodes across the National Capital Region (NCR). The name ‘RAPIDX’ has been selected because it is simple to read and pronounce in different languages.

·         The brand’s logo features a green leaf symbol that represents the brand’s objective of decarbonization. The brand intends to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, thereby decongesting the National Capital Region (NCR).

·         Furthermore, the brand aims to incorporate green energy into its operations by installing solar panels at stations and depots and gradually increasing the use of blended power in traction.

·         The NCRTC is a joint venture company between the Union government and the states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

·         According to the NCRTC, ‘RAPIDX’ will connect the people who choose to live in their hometowns in NCR, with the national capital through a modern, sustainable, convenient, fast, safe, and comfortable means of travel.

·         The RAPIDX services on the first Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor will bring down the travel time between Delhi to Meerut significantly.

·         The NCRTC is targeting to commission the entire Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor for the public by 2025. Before that, it will operationalise a 17-km long priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai in 2023, before its scheduled time.

Solar Energy Corporation of India gets ‘Miniratna Category-I’ status

Why In News

·         The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has granted Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) status to the state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI).

Key Points

·         The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has granted Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) status to the state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI), according to a statement.

·         SECI, which was established in 2011, is the primary implementing agency for renewable energy schemes/projects of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aimed at fulfilling India’s international commitments.

·         SECI has played a Central role in the rapid increase of RE generation capacity in the country and has contributed towards the nation’s climate commitments, carbon emission reduction strategies and sustainable energy transition.

·         SECI has awarded more than 56 GW of Renewable Energy (RE) project capacities to date. It also plays an active role in establishing projects through its own investments and as a Project Management Consultant (PMC) for other public sector entities. SECI has received a top credit rating of AAA from the domestic rating agency ICRA.

UP’s Suhelwa sanctuary records first photographic proof of tigers

Why In News

·         According to a recent census report on tigers in the country, Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary has been identified as a new area where photographic evidence of tigers has been captured for the first time.

Key Points

·         According to a recent census report on tigers in the country, Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary has been identified as a new area where photographic evidence of tigers has been captured for the first time. The sanctuary was established in 1988 and is located in Shravasti, Balrampur, and Gonda districts of Uttar Pradesh.

·         It spans across 452 sq km and is positioned on the border of India and Nepal. It is renowned for its natural resources and named after King Soheldev, with the Shivalik ranges of the Himalayas located nearby.

·         Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary is a significant area within the Bhabar-Tarai eco-system region, which is renowned for its diverse range of flora and fauna.

·         Vegetation: Sal, Asana, Khair, Teak etc. are the main trees. The sanctuary area is rich in medicinal plants. Some species of medicinal plants are Safed Musuli, Kali Musuli, Piperwala Longum and Adhtoda Vasika etc.

·         Fauna: Various types of mammals are found here. Leopard, bear, wolf, hyena, jackal, wild boar, sambar, spotted deer etc.

What is the Bhabar region?

·         The Bhabar region is a narrow strip of land located in the Northern Plains of India.

·         As the rivers originating from the mountains flow down, they deposit pebbles in this region.

·         It runs parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks and has a width of around 8 to 16 kilometres.

What is Terai Region?

·         It is South of the Bhabar region where the streams and rivers re-emerge and create a wet, swampy and marshy region known as terai.

Jallianwala Bagh massacre 104th anniversary

Why In News

·         On April 13, 1919, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in Amritsar, Punjab, which is remembered as a tragic event and a symbol of the atrocities committed against the Indian people.

Key Points

·         On April 13, 1919, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in Amritsar, Punjab, which is remembered as a tragic event and a symbol of the atrocities committed against the Indian people during the British colonial era.

·         The massacre played a significant role in India’s fight for independence, as it increased the nation’s determination to achieve self-rule and break free from British subjugation. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Day 2023 marks 104 years since the tragic incident that is seen as a turning point in Indian History.

·         It was this that led to Gandhi’s full commitment to the cause of Indian nationalism and independence from Britain.

Why people’s are gathered in Jallianwala Bagh?

·         The British military officer, General Dyer, on April 13, 1919 entered the Jallianwala Bagh (Amritsar) with his troops, where people had gathered to peacefully protest against the arrest of the two nationalist leaders, Satya Pal and Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew.

·         Without so much as a warning to the people to disperse, he ordered his troops to fire at the unarmed crowd. The onslaught lasted ten minutes till their ammunition was exhausted, after which the British soldiers left. A total of 1,650 rounds were fired, and more than 500 people were killed and murdered. The exact number of casualties remains unknown.

·         On the morning of Baisakhi, Colonel Reginald Dyer had announced the implementation of a curfew throughout Amritsar and a ban on all processions that even prohibited a group of 4 or more people to meet publicly. At about 12:40 PM, Dyer received confidential information about the meeting taking place at Jallianwala Bagh that may result in riots and protests.

General Dyer’s Orders: 

·         General Dyer had issued orders to his troops to shoot at the protesters without warning. He later defended his actions by saying that he wanted to teach the Indians a lesson and that he would have used even more force if he had more troops at his disposal.

·         There were about 25,000 people present there at the time of the firing. Some tried to escape while some choose to jump in the solitude well built in the premises of Jallianwala Bagh. The troops were ordered to start shooting from the most densely crowded spot to harm the maximum number of people.

Who take revenge of Jallianwala Bagh massacre?

·         After the tragedy, Sardar Udham Singh avenged his people by killing the British officer serving as Governor General of Punjab, Michael O’Dwyer. He was Born on December 26, 1899, Udham Singh was a member of the Ghadar Party and the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).

·         The assassination of Michael O’Dwyer, the ex-lieutenant governor of Punjab, brought him widespread notoriety. Singh carried out the murder in retaliation for the 1919 slaughter at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.

·         The recognized martyr (born Sher Singh) was born to Tehal Singh, a manual laborer, and Narain Kaur, a housekeeper, in the vicinity of Pilbad, some 130 miles from British India’s Lahore. His older brother Sadhu was two years older than him, making him the youngest. They lost both parents at an early age, both to separate mishaps.

The Memorial:

·         In 1951, a memorial was built at Jallianwala Bagh to commemorate the victims of the massacre. The park, which covers an area of approximately 6.5 acres, contains a museum that displays artefacts related to the incident.

·         Every year on April 13, people gather at the park to pay their homage to the victims. The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre remains a dark chapter in India’s history, and its impact can still be felt today.

·         The incident served as a catalyst for India’s freedom struggle and inspired many Indians to fight for their independence.