25-January-2024: 54th Statehood Day of Himachal Pradesh, Starch Toothpicks, PHDCCI, Water Quality Monitoring Device, IIT Guwahati,

25 January 2024

• Krishi Jagran Celebrates 54th Statehood Day of Himachal Pradesh Ahead of 75th Republic Day

  In a prelude to the 75th Republic Day, Krishi Jagran marked the 54th Statehood Day of Himachal Pradesh with a distinguished guest, Retired Colonel Kuldeep Singh Banshtu. Colonel Banshtu, currently serving as the Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, shared insights into his rich background, adding a unique perspective to the celebration. Adding to the vibrancy of the event were the special guests, Biofloc farmers KP Shibu and Jisna from Kerala, invited by the Central and State Fisheries Department to partake in the Republic Day festivities. 

• What are Starch Toothpicks, Why are Koreans Eating Them?

  In a bizarre chain of events, people in South Korea are eating deep-fried toothpicks as videos of individuals frying and eating toothpicks went viral on TikTok, a micro-vlogging site, with millions of views. The so-called delicacy has raised concerns among parents and has alarmed the government to take action. The recipe that went viral includes dipping green toothpicks made of corn starch and potato starch in hot oil. A toothpick is a sanitary product often used in restaurants, these are made of starch and are a step toward the conservation of nature. However, many are compelled to fry and eat them along with a spread of dry cheese powder or sauce. Those who tried the dish are calling it tasty.

• Water Quality Monitoring Device Developed by IIT Guwahati Student Wins Awards and Appreciations

  The water quality monitoring device R-SAM-PRO won the ‘Best Product Design’ Award at the Vishwakarma Awards 2023. The cost of the device is around 12,000 rupees, a stark contrast to existing integrated water quality devices that cost more than 2 lakhs rupees and are not IoT-enabled. The Vishwakarma Awards 2023 award competition aimed to identify and support the brightest minds in technology innovation from science and engineering colleges across India. The theme for 2023 was Water & Sanitation, Clean Technology & Smart Mobility. Compared to existing water quality monitoring devices Satyam’s device R-SAM-PRO is highly cost effective and integrated with IOT.

• Arunachal Pradesh Farmers To Embrace Settled Agriculture, Boosting Income

  According to a study released by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Export Promotion Council (EPC) and the Confederation of Organic Food Products and Marketing Agencies, a paradigm shift is underway in the agricultural landscape of Arunachal Pradesh, as subsistence farming is rapidly evolving from traditional jhum or shifting cultivation to settled agriculture. Titled 'Arunachal Pradesh Investment, Growth, and Development with Immense Opportunities with Asian Countries,' the study highlights the potential for commercial agriculture and floriculture in the frontier state.

• PHDCCI Summit on Cooperatives Sets the Stage for Viksit Bharat's Renaissance: 54 New Initiatives Unveiled for Economic Empowerment

  PHDCCI on Thursday organized the "Summit on Cooperatives: Building the Foundation of Viksit Bharat through 54 New Initiatives of MoC at PHD House, New Delhi.The summit commenced with Mr. R P Singh, Director (HR & Legal) at IFFCO and Co-Chair of the Task Force on Cooperatives at PHDCCI, providing insightful perspectives on the evolving dynamics of industries embracing cooperation. He underscored the deep-rooted connection of cooperative principles with India's ethos, emphasizing the historical existence of societies supporting various workers.