27-Jun-2019: National mission on natural language translation soon
The Ministry of Electronics and IT will soon place before the Union Cabinet a ₹450 crore proposal for Natural Language Translation. The proposal is part of the 100-day action plan charted out by MeitY, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions. It is one of the key missions identified by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).
The aim of this mission is to make opportunities and progress science and technology accessible to all, this mission aims to remove the barrier that a requirement of high level faculty in English poses today. Using a combination of machine and human translation, the mission will eventually enable access to teaching and researching material bilingually- in English and one's native Indian language. It is planned to set up an ecosystem which involves central and state government agencies and start-ups who will work with scientists and build implementable solution.
Lead Agencies
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
- Ministry of Human Resource Development
- Department of Science and Technology
Funding: ₹450 crore
Startup funding to use Natural Languages Platform.: In a welcome move, which is both technologically-forward and in keeping with the heterogeneous heritage of the country, the Central Government is reportedly set to fund 100 startups to use its artificial intelligence-powered language platform. This platform, which will be used for translation services in numerous languages, will be opened for private use to allow both MNCs and startups alike for their language translation needs. Initially, the Government will reportedly rely on text material available in both Hindi and English and will resort to Parliament documents and Election Commission notifications which are available in public domain and are usually issued in 22 languages.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has reportedly already started work on the programme, under the name Natural Languages Translation Mission.
About PM-STIAC:
- Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) is an overarching body for assessment, creation and implementation of major scientific, technology and innovation interventions for India.
- It is a nine member body which has replaced the two Scientific Advisory Committees (SAC) for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
- It is expected to act as a high level advisory body to several ministries and execute mission-oriented programmes.
- The PM-STIAC will be chaired by the government’s Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA).
- PM STIAC facilitates the PSA’s Office to assess the status in specific science and technology domains and advise the Prime Minister accordingly.
Besides natural language translation, other missions identified by the body includes Quantum Frontier, Artificial Intelligence, National Bio-diversity mission, electric vehicles, BioScience for Human Health and deep ocean exploration.
4-May-2019: Geological display boards set up at Mawmluh cave, Therriaghat
Meghalaya has a unique geological history of more than 2,000 million years. To preserve the geological site and raise awareness, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) North Eastern Region (NER) recently installed two geological display boards at two important sites -- Mawmluh cave and Therriaghat, Sobhar in East Khasi district.
GSI is the premier organisation that studies various aspects of the Earth forming processes and evolution of life. GSI is also the primary custodian of the rocks and fossils of the country, which are a part of our natural heritage.
The boards were recently unveiled at Mawmluh cave and Therriaghat, Sobhar in East Khasi Hill district in Shillong in the presence of Meghalaya Tourism Department officials, and local villagers.
This is one of the longest caves in Meghalaya. GSI did some research but besides that many scientists have worked inside this cave. And inside, there are huge stalactites and stalagmites and scientists who are doing the monsoon studies are very much interested.
These sites have already made the state famous to the international geological community.
Mawmluh cave made headlines earlier as high resolution stable isotopic studies of the stalagmites from the cave showed that there was a major climatic event about 4,200 years ago.
The place will be preserved to do preliminary studies and for geo-tourism purposes as well. This is one step towards a declaration to preserve the geological monument in the future.
According to studies, about 65 million years ago, the Earth experienced a major global extinction event that marks the boundary between the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras and on a finer scale, the Cretaceous and the Palaeogene.
Most of the large vertebrates on the Earth, most plankton and many tropical invertebrates, suddenly became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous Period. Many land plants were severely affected and some organisms survived too and they gave rise to many of the plants and animals.
The stalagmite in the Mawmluh cave has now been tagged a Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point GSSP. This is the first formally ratified marker of a geological time period in India.
9-Feb-2019: PM launches DD Arunprabha – a dedicated 24x7 Satellite channel for Arunachal Pradesh
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today launched DD Arunprabha at Arunachal Pradesh. He also laid foundation stone of Film and Television Institute (FTI) and several other projects in the state.
Prime Minister said that in order to strengthen and develop the culture of the State, a dedicated 24x7 Satellite TV channel DD Arunprabha has been launched by the Government. He expressed hope that the channel will act as an ambassador of the culture of the state and will familiarize people across India with the beauty and the culture of the State.
8-Feb-2019: Dedicated 24x7 Doordarshan Satellite channel for Arunachal Pradesh – DD Arunprabha – set to be launched by PM tomorrow
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will launch DD Arunprabha, a dedicated 24x7 Doordarshan satellite channel for Arunachal Pradesh and lay the foundation stone of a permanent campus of Film and Television Institute (FTI) at Arunachal Pradesh on 9.2.2019.
DD Arunprabha, set to become the 24th satellite channel operated by Doordarshan, will be launched by the Prime Minister at IG Park, Itanagar. It will be equipped with state of the art facilities, including a Digital Satellite News Gathering unit to provide live coverage from remote locations, for 24x7 telecast. The playout facility and the earth stations established at DDK Itanagar will ensure seamless transmission of DD Arunprabha.
The channel will showcase the rich tradition and diversity of local culture. Not only will it help integrate North-East with the country, but will also bring alive the magnificence of North-East by airing content sensitive to the needs and aspirations of local population including news, travelogues, mythological shows, documentaries, magazines, tele-films, reality shows, daily shows etc.
The foundation stone of the permanent campus of FTI will be laid by the Prime Minister at Jollang-Rakap (Jote), Papum Pare, Arunachal Pradesh. This is the third Film and Television Institute of Ministry of I&B, the first two being FTII Pune and SRFTI Kolkata. It is the first Film and Television Institute of entire North-East.
It will provide a boost to the talented youngsters of the North-East in film and television sector. The project, to be constructed at around 20 km from Itanagar, has been approved for construction at a total estimated cost of Rs. 204.32 crore. To be executed by CPWD, it is expected that the project will be completed in 25 months’ time.
The FTI campus will have an integrated campus comprising of Administrative Block, Class Room Block, Class Room Theatre, Academic Staff Block, Library, Preview Theatre, Mini Theatre, Shooting Floor, Digital Block, Sound Studio, Canteen and Recreation, Residential Quarters, Boys Hostel, Girls Hostel, Transit Accommodation and Guest House with other supportive structures like Electrical Sub-station, Pump-room, Sump, Filtration Plant, Sewerage Treatment Plant etc.
The campus will be constructed with an organic design philosophy, ensuring minimum disturbance to natural topography. National Building Code 2016 Norms, Accessible India Campaign Features and other statutory norms will be followed in construction. It will be a state of the art modern campus with several Green Features including Sewage Treatment Plant of 150 kilolitres per day capacity to ensure a zero discharge building, 300 KW solar panels, energy efficient air conditioning plants, street lighting with LED lamps, rain water harvesting, energy efficient light fixtures with sensors etc.