Consulate General of India, Vancouver www.cgivancouver.gov.in
Vol. 03, Issue No. 51 December 30 2019.
Do you know? India’s tourism industry is growing rapidly & is expected to reach USD 460 Bn by 2028! A diverse portfolio of niche #tourism segments such as adventure, healthcare, & eco-tourism make #NewIndia an ideal destination. Learn more: http://bit.ly/II-Tourism
India Perspectives India Perspectives is the flagship publication of the Ministry of External Affairs. Richly illustrated, this magazine provides our readers with an insight into India’s culture and tradition along with elements of contemporary India. Click here to read more…. Ministry of External Affairs, India
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Vol. 03, Issue 51, December 30, 2019.
Consulate News Consul General’s interview to Y TV (December 24, 2019) Consul General Abhilasha Joshi gave an interview on December 24, 2019 to News Channel Y TV in which she spoke about a range of topics including Consulate's outreach to the Indian community, collaboration with the Indian Diaspora in showcasing the rich heritage of India, the new guidelines to ease the process of OCI cards and visas and the need for Indian students to register themselves on the Madad portal. Please watch this space for the date and time of the telecast of this interview.
The Aaj Media Legacy Gala (December 08, 2019) Consul General Abhilasha Joshi attended Aaj Media Legacy Gala on December 08, 2019. The AAJ Legacy Initiative is focused on documenting and preserving the forgotten voices of the first wave of South Asians who immigrated to Canada in the early 1900s from India. Initiative was led by Suki Pangalia and Karen Dosanjh and the AAJ Magazine team. (Consul General Abhilasha Joshi is with The Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence; Mrs and Mr Dosanjh, former BC Premier; Mrs Gaitry Kaul from Aaj Media and Mrs Aman Gill, Director Abbotsford Police Board.)
Quiz on the Indian Constitution and Life & Works of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Winner of Week 06 (December 23 – 27, 2019) Name - Arpit Arora City - Surrey
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Vol. 03, Issue 51, December 30, 2019.
Information Relating to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Dear\Friend, Please find below information relating to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). It gives out factual position vis-Ă -vis various myths and wrong information being circulated about the Act. You are requested to bring this to the notice of all community members to make them aware of the factual position on the issue.
Important Trade Fairs in India – To know more, click on
How to File Quality Complaints / Trade Disputes to DGFT? 2|P a g e
Vol. 03, Issue 51, December 30, 2019.
Renewable Energy Industry in India THE Indian renewable energy sector is the fourth most attractive renewable energy market in the world. As of October 2018, India ranked 5th in installed renewable energy capacity. According to 2018 Climatescope report India ranked second among the emerging economies to lead to transition to clean energy. Installed renewable power generation capacity has increased at a fast pace over the past few years, posting a CAGR of 19.78 per cent between FY14–18. Market Size: As of April 2019, total renewable power installed capacity (excluding large hydro) in the country stood at 78.35 GW. Off-grid renewable power capacity has also increased. As of October 2018, generation capacities for Waste to Energy, Biomass Gasifiers, SPV systems stood at 175.28 MWeq, 163.37 MWeq and 767.51 MWeq, respectively. With a potential capacity of 363 gigawatts (GW) and with policies focused on the renewable energy sector, Northern India is expected to become the hub for renewable energy in India. Investments/ Developments: According to data released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), FDI inflows in the Indian non-conventional energy sector between April 2000 and March 2019 stood at US$ 7.83 billion. More than US$ 42 billion has been invested in India’s renewable energy sector since 2014. New investments in clean energy in the country reached US$ 11.1 billion in 2018. Government initiatives: •
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A new Hydropower policy for 2018-28 has been drafted for the growth of hydro projects in the country. The Government of India has announced plans to implement a US$ 238 million National Mission on advanced ultrasupercritical technologies for cleaner coal utilization. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has decided to provide custom and excise duty benefits to the solar rooftop sector, which in turn will lower the cost of setting up as well as generate power, thus boosting growth. The Indian Railways is taking increased efforts through sustained energy efficient measures and maximum use of clean fuel to cut down emission level by 33 per cent by 2030.
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Solar capacity has increased by eight times between FY14-18. India added record 11,788 MW of renewable energy capacity in 2017-18.
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A total of 47 solar parks with generation capacity of 26,694 MW have been approved in India up to November 2018, out of capacity of 4,195 MW has been commissioned.
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Inter-state distribution of wind power was started in August 2018.
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Power generation from renewable energy sources (excluding large hydro) in India reached record 101.84 billion units in FY18 and has reached 107.22 billion units between April 2018-January 2019. For more information: https://www.ibef.org/industry/renewable-energy.aspx 3|P a g e
Vol. 03, Issue 51, December 30, 2019.
Famous Bidri Craft from Bidar, Karnataka BIDRIWARE is a renowned metal handicraft that derives its name from Bidar, presently in Karnataka. It was believed to have originated in 14th century AD during the reign of Bahamani Sultans. The term 'Bidriware' therefore represents the manufacture of a unique metal ware that is named after the region of Bidar. The Bahamani sultans had ruled Bidar in the 14th–15th centuries. Bidriware was first practiced in ancient Persia and then it was brought to India by Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti’s followers. The art form developed due to a mix of Persian and Arabic cultures and after the fusion with local style, a new and unique style of its own was created. The Nizam of Hyderabad introduced the art form in Aurangabad, which was part of Nizam’s Hyderabad state before 1947. Bidriware is an eight-stage process. Those are moulding, smoothening by file and the process of designing by chisels. It is then followed by engraving using chisel and hammer where pure silver inlaying is done. It is subjected to smoothening again, followed by buffing and finally oxidizing by making use of soil and ammonium chloride. Bidriware is therefore manufactured from an alloy of copper and zinc metals, in the ratio 1:16 by means of casting.
This unique art of silver engraved on metal has always enthralled people with its lure.
The world famous artistic metallic Work which was on a decline few decades ago is currently on the revival path following the introduction of several innovative designs and new patterns. The designs represent Indian to international themes in tune with latest home and lifestyle needs and interior spaces. Source: https://www.telanganatourism.gov.in
Bidar in Karnataka state and Hyderabad in Telangana are the popular centers for Bidriware in India and it is also practiced in some of the other centers across India. Due to the striking inlay artworks, Bidriware is considered an important export handicraft item from India’s handicraft market and seen as a prized symbol of wealth. Click here to know more…
Source: https://www.telanganatourism.gov.in
Cultural Heritage - Festivals of India Kanathoor Nalvar Bhootha Stanam Theyyam (28th Dec 2019 – 1st Jan 2020) This festival is a tribute to Theyyam, one of the most complicated dance forms of all. This festival of Theyyam is celebrated in Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothasthanam. The deity of this temple is considered as the mother of the Theyyam art. The best part about this festival is the colorful dresses and decorations of the dancers. Place of Celebration: Kanathoor Nalvar Bhoothasthanam, Kasargod
Unique Attractions and Activities to enjoy during the festival: • • • • •
Take part in rituals and celebrated inside the temple Watch trained dancers performing Theyyam Enjoy traditional music performances Visit the stalls around the temple to find religious souvenirs Take part in spiritual processions, where the deity is taken around the region for the locals to watch and pay tributes Source: https://www.travelogyindia.com/blog/top-fairs-and-festivals-inindia-in-december#21_Kanathoor_Nalvar_Bhootha_Stanam_Theyyam
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Vol. 03, Issue 51, December 30, 2019.
India News Section 1. Innovation set to drive growth in the medical devices market in 2020 The Indian medical devices industry is a diverse space that has been ruled by giant multinationals operating through extensive service networks. Many of these devices—ranging from orthopedic implants, artificial joints, stents, pacemakers and imaging equipment—are imported from the US, Germany, Singapore, China and Japan. Read more… (Neha Rastogi, Entrepreneur, Saturday, 21st December 2019, 10:58 am)
2. India to set up ‘sustainable development cell’ for coal projects The Indian government will set up a ‘sustainable development cell’ to ensure environmentally sustainable coal mining across the country. Read more… (Ajoy Das, Mining Weekly, Friday, 20th December 2019, 9:55 am)
3. India in Space through 2019: From RISAT, ASAT and Chandrayaan 2 to big wins for private space Looking back at the year India has had in space, the most vivid moments come to mind around the loss of signal with the Vikram lander, India's first attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon. The silence that descended in the Control Room and the anxious moments that followed only paved the way to more silence and suspense till the lander's debris was spotted in images taken by NASA's lunar orbiter close to three months later. Read more… (Pradeep Mohandas, First Post, Wednesday, 25th December 2019, 10:09 am)
4. Bisleri installs recycled benches made out of plastic in Mumbai’s Santacruz Railway Colony ‘Bottles for Change’, A Plastic Recycling Initiative by Bisleri Has Made Tremendous Progress In One Year Alone And Aims To Further Introduce Various Platforms And Spread The Awareness About Plastic Recycling To Reach Out And Engage More Citizens For A Cleaner Environment. Read more… (Suman Chaudhary, IndianWeb2.com, Thursday, 19th December 2019, 10:31 am)
5. Indian-American becomes US Telecom Regulator’s first top officer Indian-American Dr Monisha Ghosh has been appointed as the first woman Chief Technology Officer at the US government’s powerful Federal Communications Commission. Read more… (Syed , Moose Gazette, Sunday, 22nd December 2019, 10:05 am)
6. Serum Institute of India develops affordable pneumonia vaccine The World Health Organisation (WHO) has just quality assured a third pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, that protects children against certain types of pneumonia and will be much more affordable than existing vaccines. This critical step will enable countries and treatment providers to procure more affordable versions of the vaccine, which has long been out of reach for millions of children because of the high prices of the existing vaccines produced by Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). This is the first pneumococcal vaccine produced by a developing country manufacturer. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided some pioneering support for the development of the vaccine. Read more… (EH News Bureau, Express Healthcare, Saturday, 21st December 2019, 11:03 am)
7. Mobile app that’s a ‘virtual clinic’ for healthcare services Taking use of technology, an Indian entrepreneur has developed a tool which can be used as a “virtual clinic” for availing healthcare facilities sitting at home, with just a click on his/her cellphone, 24×7. Read more… (Navtan Kumar, The Sunday Guardian, Sunday, 22nd December 2019, 10:34 am)
8. Meet 22-year-old Pratap from Mandya, who has built over 600 drones, and is known as the Drone Scientist Recently, when floods ravaged major parts of North Karnataka and people were stranded in different places, Pratap NM used the drone he made to provide food and relief materials to several affected areas. From Hipparagi Barrage to Janwada, a nearby village — he used his drone to help many. Thousands of people gathered to watch if this drone could really reach the right place. And when it did, both police personnel and the public cheered loudly for the 22-year-old. Originally from the Mandya district, Pratap is a BSc graduate from JSS College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Mysuru. Read more… (Rashmi Patil, Edex Live, Tuesday, 24th December 2019, 11:04 am)
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Vol. 03, Issue 51, December 30, 2019. 9. Indian-origin scientist creates ''Lemon'' for better drugs An Indian-American drug discovery researcher-led team from Purdue University has created a new framework for mining data for training Machine Learning models. Read more… (IANS, Outlook India, Monday, 23rd December 2019, 3:16 am)
10. IIT Hyderabad Researchers developing algae-based sewage treatment systems that can reduce the cost of treatment & produce recyclable water & biodiesel Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad Researchers are developing algal-bacterial hybrid systems that can reduce the cost of wastewater treatment, in addition to providing practical routes to producing recyclable water and biodiesel. These systems serve the dual purposes of wastewater treatment and biodiesel production. Read more… (India Education Diary, Monday, 23rd December 2019, 10:54 am)
Tenders Title: Tender for Inviting Quotations for One Tourism Management Agency for Canada. Opening date: December 19, 2019 Closing date: January 21, 2020 Tender Document
More tenders…
India – A tourism destination
Kye (Ki or Key) Monastery is situated 12 kms north of Kaza and serves the western population of Spiti in the Lahaul & Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh. It is the oldest and biggest monastery of the valley and located at (4116 m) above Kye village. It houses beautiful scriptures and paintings of Buddha and other goddesses. #KyeMonastery #KiMonastery #KeyMonastery #SpitiValley #HimachalPradesh #India #IncredibleIndia 6|P a g e