The technology summit is being organised by Ministry of Science and Technology every year.
The 24th edition of this summit is going to be organised with Italy as the partner country.
In the past 18 years, several countries have become partner countries in this summit.
This is the first time that Italy has been selected as partner country.
The Summit is envisaged to serve as a wide-ranging knowledge-business partnership platform.
It will also facilitate a comprehensive convergence of key elements of knowledge economy of India and Italy.
Aerospace, Clean tech, Cultural Heritage, Education, Healthcare, ICT and Renewable are the seven focus sectors for this year’s summit.
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
The first indigenously overhauled Sukhoi Su-30MKI supersonic aircraft was recently handed over to the Indian Air Force.
During the overhaul, the aircraft was stripped completely and rebuilt from scratch, replacing certain worn out parts/components.
The aircraft was overhauled in country’s only fighter aircraft repair depot “Ojhar” in Maharashtra.
Sukhoi Aircraft was developed by Russia. The license for building it was given to Indian Air Force in the past 2 decades.
It is twin-finned, twin-jet multi-role aircraft capable of attaining speeds of Mach 2 at high altitudes.
It can carry guns, missiles, bombs, rockets and other weaponry.
World Agriculture Prize
The first world agriculture prize was instituted by the Non-Governmental organisation Indian Council of Food and Agriculture.
The prize was launched recently as a part of the Global Agriculture Leadership Summit and AgroWorld 2018 in New Delhi.
It is going to be presented annually to an individual or institution, who played seminal role in transforming agriculture globally and saving the humanity from the curse of hunger.
Any individual or institution, private or public organization, may apply or submit a nomination for this prize.
Professor M.S. Swaminathan, founder of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), was awarded the first World Agriculture Prize.
DRDO’s New Missile Test Range
Union Environment Ministry has recently given nod to DRDO to set up its surveillance sytem including long range missile test range in Rutland island in South Andaman.
Rutland Island is located at a vintage location of about 200 km from the Strait of Malacca that connects Indian Ocean with South China Sea.
As of now, long-range missile tests are being carried out from the Odisha coast and are tracked by naval vessels.
DRDO requires a land-based test area as well to accurately track its longrange missiles, with the island in the Andamans being ideally located due to its distance from mainland.
Now, DRDO will have to obtain environment and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearances before commencing the project.
The project involves the diversion of forest area from Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park and reserve forest within 10km of the Eco Sensitive Zone.
Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony
It is an annual award instituted by the Government of India during the commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.
The first Tagore award was conferred on Pt. Ravi Shankar, the Indian Sitar Maestro in the year 2012.
The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or sex.
Tagore award for the year 2014, 2015 and 2016 has been conferred upon prominent Manipuri dancer Shri Rajkumar Singhajit Singh, Chhayanaut (a cultural organization of Bangladesh) and one of India’s greatest sculptors, Shri Ram Vanji Sutar, respectively.
