what is "R" factor of covid-19 ? All you need to know

The Central Government, in its recent communications with the State Governments, has been pointing out an increase in the R factor of Corona in India and has urged the states to practice caution.

Ajay Bhalla, the Union Home Secretary on July 14, 2021, wrote to all the State governments and UTs saying that an increase in the R factor in some states is a matter of concern.

The letter stated that an increase in the R factor above 1.0 is an indicator of the spread of Coronavirus. Therefore, it has become important that the authorities concerned must be made responsible for ensuring the Covid appropriate behavior in all the crowded places.

R Factor of COVID-19 refers to the reproduction rate which denotes the number of people getting infected by one infected person.

The Health Ministry explained that if the value of the R factor is above 1, it means that one infected person is able to spread the infection to more than one person which establishes that the infection is spreading.

Reportedly, the Northeast states and Kerala have an increased R Factor, which is why the decline in positive COVID-19 cases has become slow in these regions.

The Institute of Mathematical Science in Chennai has come up with a study on this R factor of COVID-19 and has found that Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Kerala are on an increase in this factor.

In mid-May 2021, the R factor in India was 0.78, while in June end it was 0.88.

As per the findings by the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, between March 9 and April 21, the R-Value was 1.37.

Between April 24 and May 1, the value was 1.18. From April 29 to May 7, the R Factor was 1.10. Since then, the R factor value in India has been decreasing.

Lockdown and lockdown-like restrictions in the country can keep the R-Value under check. If people are not able to go out, an infected person will not be able to spread the infection.

Hence, the R-Value was low in May 2021, even though, the 2nd wave was raging at that time. Many of the states were under strict lockdown to keep the increasing positive cases under control.

As per the Institute of Mathematical Science in Chennai, the R-Value in the following states are:

States

R-Value

Kerala

1.10

Manipur

1.07

Meghalaya

0.92

Tripura

1.15

Mizoram

0.86

Arunachal Pradesh

1.14

Sikkim

0.88

Assam

0.86

Bhutan becomes second country to adapt India's BHIM-UPI

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with Finance Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Namgay Tshering launched BHIM-UPI in Bhutan on July 13, 2021, via a virtual ceremony.

With this launch, Bhutan became the first country to adopt India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) standards for its Quick Response (QR) code, the Ministry of External Affairs stated in a press release.

This launch also made Bhutan the second country after Singapore to have BHIM-UPI acceptance at merchant locations.

During the launch, Sitharaman also carried out a Live transaction using the BHIM-UPI app to purchase organic products from a Bhutanese OGOP outlet.

India and Bhutan have already operationalized inter-operability for accepting Rupay cards in each other’s countries in two phases following the visit of PM Narendra Modi to Bhutan in 2019.

✅FM Smt. @nsitharaman & FM of Bhutan Mr Lyonpo Namgay Tshering @BhutanFinance virtually launch BHIM–UPI in Bhutan
✅Launch fulfils the commitment made by two countries during PM Shri @NarendraModi visit to Bhutan in 2019

Read More ➡️ https://t.co/xfxwCm9k2V
(1/9) pic.twitter.com/FfATpda3PR

• BHIM-UPI app has been launched in Bhutan in a collaboration between the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan to enable and implement BHIM-UPI QR-based payments in Bhutan.

• The app was launched by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a virtual ceremony along with Finance Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Namgay Tshering, Governor of Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan Dasho Penjore, Ambassador of India to Bhutan Ruchira Kamboj, Ambassador of Bhutan to India General V Namgyel, Secretary-Department of Financial Services Debasish Panda, MD & CEO of NPCI Dilip Asbe.

• While launching the BHIM-UPI app in Bhutan, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said:

(i) The services for BHIM-UPI in Bhutan have been launched under India’s neighbhourhood first policy.

(ii) BHIM-UPI is an achievement for digital transactions in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(iii) More than 100 million UPI QRs have been generated in the past 5 years.

(iv) In 2020-21, BHIM-UPI processed 22 billion transactions worth Rs 41 lakh crore.

• The launch of BHIM-UPI in Bhutan has enabled the seamless connection of the payment infrastructures of both countries.

• The app now in Bhutan will also benefit more than 200,000 Indian tourists, businessmen, and Bhutanese citizens who travel to Bhutan each year.

India and Asia's first National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) will be set up on the banks of the River Ganges in the Patna University campus in Bihar.

India and Asia's first National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) will be set up on the banks of the River Ganges in the Patna University campus in Bihar. The work on the centre is expected to begin after the monsoon season. 

According to a survey conducted in 2018-19 in the river Ganga by the teams of experts, around 1,455 dolphins were sighted in the river. 

The deputy chief minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi said that the state government is working hard to set up the national dolphin research centre in the premises of Patna University. He added saying that a 7 km long stretch between Sultanganj and Kahalgao in Bhagalpur district has already been declared as Vikram Sheela Gangetic dolphin sanctuary.

• The setting of the National Dolphin Research Centre is a major step towards conservation of the Gangetic river dolphin.

• The centre will be set up on a 4,400 square metre plot of land within the Patna University. The centre would be about 200 metres from the Ganga river. 

• The construction of the NDRC building was recently cleared by the Bihar urban development department.

• The centre is expected to be set up by 2022. The project was initially proposed in 2011. Montek Singh Ahulwalia, then-deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, had approved the project proposal during his visits in mid-2011 to Bihar.

• However, the project continued hanging in balance for the next eight years. The Bihar state government has now finally decided to expedited the work and complete it by next year. 

The National Dolphin Research Centre is expected to boost up the conservation efforts of the endangered Gangetic Dolphin and enable in-depth research on dolphins including their changing behaviour, food habits, survival skills, cause of death and other aspects.

NDRC would be beneficial for project Dolphin, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2020.

• Project Dolphin was announced by the Prime Minister along with Project Lion during his Independence Day speech last year to replicate the success of Project Tiger.

• Project Dolphin aims to protect and conserve Dolphins in both rivers and oceans of the country. 

• The project will involve the conservation of the Dolphins and the aquatic habitat through the use of modern technology, especially in anti-poaching activities and enumeration.

• The project will aim to engage the fishermen and other river/ocean-dependent communities, which will give a boost to biodiversity and also improve the livelihood opportunities of the local communities. 

• The project will aim to engage the fishermen and other river/ocean-dependent communities. 

• The project will also envisage activities that will help in the mitigation of pollution in rivers and in the oceans.

• The Gangetic Dolphin is India’s national aquatic animal. It is one of four freshwater dolphin species in the world. 

• The other three freshwater dolphin species are found in China's Yangtze River (now extinct), Pakistan's Indus river and South America's Amazon river. 

• The Gangetic Dolphin is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent, especially in Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems.

• The Gangetic Dolphin has been categorized as endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List. 

• The dolphins prefer water that is at least 5 ft to 8 ft deep. They are usually found in turbulent waters, where they have enough fish to feed on.

• The dolphins act as indicators of the overall condition of the ecosystem. They provide the status of other species in that ecosystem and the river, as they are extremely vulnerable to changes in water quality and flow.

• Hence, the presence of dolphins in the Ganga gives a sign of a healthy ecosystem.

• Bihar has around half of the country’s estimated 3,000 dolphin population.

India's largest solar power park of 4.75 Gigawatt (Gw) is set to come up in Rann of Kutch in Khavada, Gujarat.

India's largest solar power park of 4.75 Gigawatt (Gw) is set to come up in Rann of Kutch in Khavada, Gujarat. The renewable energy park will be built by the largest power producer of the country, NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of NTPC.

The NTPC-REL said in a statement on July 13, 2021 that it has received a go-ahead from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to set up the 4750 MW renewable energy park under Mode 8 (Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park) of Solar Park Scheme.

The state-run company plans to use the park to generate green hydrogen on a commercial scale. The Hydrogen produced from renewable sources is called green hydrogen.

• The NTPC-REL said in a release that “as part of its green energy portfolio augmentation, NTPC, India’s largest energy integrated company, aims to build 60 GW Renewable Energy Capacity by 2032.” 

• The company now has 70 power plants with a total installed generation capacity of 66 GW, out of which thermal (coal+gas) is 61 Gw, hydro 3.7 Gw, solar is 1 Gw and the balance is wind. An additional 18 GW generation capacity is currently under construction.

• NTPC had on October 7, 2020 incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary-NTPC REL - for its renewable energy. The company aims to add 7-8 GW renewable every year. 

• Besides solar and wind power projects, NTPC is also looking to invest in green hydrogen and green methanol, which are cleaner fuels manufactured at units powered by renewable energy.

• Currently, there are five operational solar power parks in the country, out of which Bhadla in Rajasthan
and Pavgada in Karnataka are the world’s largest single-location solar plants.

• India’s first solar power park of 0.75 Gw was fully commissioned in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district in 2019.

The NTPC project at Rann of Kutch will be almost twice the capacity of Rajasthan's Bhadla solar park, which is currently the largest single-location solar power project in the country.

Five Major Solar Parks in India

1. Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan
2. Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka
3. Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh
4. NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh
5. Rewa Ultra Mega Solar, Madhya Pradesh

• The NTPC has commissioned India’s largest Floating Solar plant of 10 MW on the reservoir of Simhadri Thermal Power Plant in Andhra Pradesh. An additional 15 MW (ac) will be commissioned by August 2021.

• Another floating solar plant of 100 MW is in the advanced stage of implementation on the reservoir of Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant in Telangana. 

• NTPC REL also recently signed an MoU with Ladakh and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) for the generation of green hydrogen and deployment on FCEV buses. The signing of the agreement marks the inauguration of NTPC’s first solar installations in Leh in form of solar trees and a solar car port.

The Rann of Kutch region in Gujarat, which is the largest salt desert in the country already hosts two of India’s largest coal-fired power plants. It will now have the largest solar power park as well. 

The Gujarat government has identified the Kutch region to set up 40 Gw of hybrid renewable energy projects and has also earmarked 60,000 hectares for the same. 

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮ ಇತಿಹಾಸ(Journalism)

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮ ಇತಿಹಾಸ

ನಾಗರಿಕ ಪ್ರಪಂಚದಲ್ಲಿ ವೃತ್ತ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿಶೇಷ ಸ್ಥಾನವಿದೆ. ಆಧುನಿಕ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಗಂತೂ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರ ಸಹಾಯ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾದದ್ದೇನಲ್ಲ. ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದುದು ಕಳೆದ ಶತಮಾನದ ಉತ್ತರಾರ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ. ಪಾಶ್ಚಾತ್ಯರ ಸಂಪರ್ಕವಾದ ಮೇಲೆ ಅವರು ಮುದ್ರಣಯಂತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲೂ ಬಳಕೆಗೆ ತಂದರು ನಂತರ ಅವರಿಂದಲ್ಲೇ ಆದಿಯ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದವು. ಪಾದ್ರಿಗಳ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನದಿಂದ ಅವರು ಆ ಕೆಲಸವನ್ನು ತಮ್ಮ ಮತ ಪ್ರಚಾರಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಮಾಡಿದರು. ಆದರೂ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು ಕನ್ನಡ ಜನ ಜೀವನದ ಪ್ರತಿಬಿಂಬವಾಗಿದೆ. ಪ್ರಥಮ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯವಿಷಯದ ಚರ್ಚೆ ಇದ್ದರೂ ೧೮೪೩ ನೆಯ ಜುಲೈ ಒಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದ 'ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಸಮಾಚಾರ' ವೆಂಬ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯೇ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯೆಂದು ಭಾವಿಸಬಹುದು^[೧]. ಈ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಸ್ವಿಸರ್‌ಲ್ಯಾಡಿನ ಇವಾಂಜಲಿಕಲ್ ಸೊಸೈಟಿಯ ರೆವರೆಂಡ್ ಮಾಗ್ ಲಿಂಗ್ ರವರು ಮುದ್ರಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು ^[೨]. ಇದನ್ನು ಕ್ರಿಸ್ತ ಮತ ಪ್ರಚಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಳಸುವುದೇ ಇವರ ಉದ್ದೇಶವಾಗಿತ್ತು^[೩][೪]. ಪ್ರತಿ ತಿಂಗಳು ೧ ನೆಯ ಮತ್ತು ೧೫ ನೆಯ ತಾರೀಖುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಬಳ್ಳಾರಿಗೆ ವರ್ಗವಾಗಿ 'ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಮಾಚಾರ' ಎಂಬ ಹೊಸ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ತಾಳಿತು^[೫]. ೧೮೪೪ ರ ಮಾರ್ಚ್ ಒಂದರಿಂದ ಬಳ್ಳಾರಿಯಿಂದಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗಲು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ಇದರ ಬೆಲೆ ಒಂದು ದುಡ್ಡಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಕೆಲವು ಕಾಲಗಳಾದ ನಂತರ ಇದರ ಬೆಲೆ ಎರಡು ದುಡ್ದಿಗೂ ಏರಿತು. ಅಲ್ಪಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಮಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ವರ್ಗವಾಗಿ 'ಕನ್ನಡ ಸುವಾರ್ತಿಕ', 'ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ', 'ಬಾಲಪತ್ರ', 'ಸತ್ಯದೀಪಿಕೆ', 'ಕ್ರಿಸ್ತಸಭಾಪತ್ರ', ಎಂಬ ಬೇರೆಬೇರೆ ಹೆಸರುಗಳಿಂದ ೧೯೪೦ ರವರೆಗೆ ಬೆಳೆಯಿತು. ೧೮೪೪ ಕ್ಕೂ ಮೊದಲು 'ಭಾಷಾ' ಎಂಬ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ಜನ್ಮ ತಾಳಿ ಅಲ್ಪಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ನಿಂತು ಹೋಯಿತೆಂದೂ ಹೇಳಲಾಗಿದೆ.

ಮೋಗ್ಲಿನ್ ಹರ್ ಮನ್

೧೯ ನೇ ಶತಮಾನ

ಕನ್ನಡ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಪ್ರಪಂಚದ ಇತಿಹಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ಮೈಸೂರು, ಮದ್ರಾಸ್, ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಮತ್ತು ಮುಂಬಯಿ ಮೂಲ ಕೇಂದ್ರಗಳು. ವಿವಿಧ ಖಾಸಗಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಇಲ್ಲೆಲ್ಲ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿ ಕೆಲಕಾಲ ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಬ್ರಿಟಿಷರಂತೂ 'ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಮಾಚಾರ' ನಿಂತ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಂಗಳೂರು, ಉಡುಪಿ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ಮೈಸೂರು ಪ್ರಾಂತಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವಿಧ ರೀತಿಯ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾವ್ಯವಸಾಯವನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಮೈಸೂರು ಸಂಸ್ಥಾನದ ವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆ 'ವೃತ್ತಾಂತ ಬೋಧಿನಿ' ಇದು ಮುಮ್ಮಡಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಜ ಒಡೆಯರ ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರೇರಣೆಯಿಂದ ಜನ್ಮತಾಳಿತು. ವಿದ್ವನ್‌ಭಾಷ್ಯಂಭೀಷ್ಮಾಚಾರ್ ಇದರ ಸಂಪಾದಕರು, ಕೆಲವು ವಿದ್ವಾಂಸರ ಸಹಾಯದಿಂದ ೧೮೬೪ ರವರೆಗೂ ನಡೆದು ಬಂದಿತು. ೧೮೬೫ ರ ಜುಲೈ ತಿಂಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇವರ ತಂದೆಯವರಾದ ಭಿಷ್ಮಂತಿರುಮಲಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ಮೊದಲ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆ "ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಿಕಾ" ವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿ ಅದರೊಡನೆ ತಂದೆಗೂ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಭಾಷೆ ಮೇಲು ಮಟ್ಟದ್ದಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೂ ಇದು ಅಲ್ಪಾಯುಷ್ಯವುಳ್ಳದ್ದಾಯಿತು. ೧೮೬೬ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಭೀಷ್ಮಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದುದರಿಂದ ತಿರುಮಲಾಚಾರ್ಯರೇ ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೋದರು. ಈ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ೧೮೬೮ ರವರೆಗೂ ೭೮ ರಿಂದ ೯೮ ರವರೆಗೂ ಪ್ರಕಾಶವಾಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ತಿರುಮಲಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ೧೮೭೭ ರಲ್ಲಿ ತೀರಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ಭೀಷ್ಮಾಚಾರ್ಯರ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ವೆಂಕಟಾಚಾರ್ಯರ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾಗಿಯೂ, ಟಿ.ಸಿ.ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸಾಚಾರ್ಯರೂ ಒಡೆಯರಾಗಿಯೂ ಇದ್ದು ೧೮೯೮ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಇಬ್ಬರೂ ವಿಧಿ ವಶರಾದುದರಿಂದನಿಂತು ಹೋಯಿತು. ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ಲೇಖನಗಳು ಬಹಳ ಪ್ರಭಾವಶಾಲಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದವು.

ಉತ್ತರ ಕರ್ಣಾಟಕದ ಮೊದಲನೆಯ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ 'ಸುಬುದ್ದಿಪ್ರಕಾಶ' ಇದು ೧೮೫೧ ನೆಯ ಸೆಪ್ಟೆಂಬರ್ ಒಂದರಂದು ಬೆಳಗಾವಿಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಿತವಾಯಿತು. ಸರಕಾರದ ಘೋಷಣಾ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷ್ ಪ್ರಕಟನೆಗಳ ಸಾರವಾಗಿರುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಇದರ ಶೈಲಿ ಶುದ್ಧ ಕನ್ನಡವಾಗಿತ್ತು.೧೮೭೪ ರಲ್ಲಿ 'ದೇಶಾಭಿಮಾನಿ' ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ನಿರ್ಭೀತವಾದ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಗಳಿಗೆ ತವರಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಆಗ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿ ಮುದ್ರಣಾಲಯವು ಮುಟ್ಟುಗೋಲಾದುದರಿಂದ ನಿಂತು ಹೋಯಿತು. ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಜಾಸತ್ಮಾತ್ತಕ ಪ್ರಚಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಟೊಂಕ ಕಟ್ಟಿನಿಂತವರು ಎಂ.ವೆಂಕಟ್ಟಕೃಷ್ಣಯ್ಯನವರು. ಇವರಿಗೆ ದೆರ್ವಾರಂಗಚಾರ್ಲು ಅವರಿಂದ ವಿಶೇಷಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹ ದೊರೆಯಿತು. ಇವರು ಬಹು ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾದ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಮುಂದೆ ಇವರು ಅಧಿಕ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯ ಕನ್ನಡ ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷ್ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣರಾದರು. 'ಹಿತಬೋಧಿನಿ', 'ವೆದಂತ ಚಿಂತಾಮಣಿ', 'ಸಂಪದಭ್ಯುದಯ', 'ವೃತ್ತಾಂತಚಿಂತಾಮಣಿ', 'ಸಾದ್ವಿ', 'ಪೌರ' ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ. ಇವನ್ನು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ 'ಮೈಸೂರು ಹರಾಲ್ದ್', 'ವೆಲ್ತ್ ಆಫ್ ಮೈಸೂರು', 'ನೇಚರ್ಕ್ಯೂರ್' ಇವನ್ನು ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷಿನಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಬಹು ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿ ನಡೆಸಿದರು. ಈ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳ ಪ್ರಚಾರವೂ ಗಮನಾರ್ಹವಾಗಿತ್ತು.

ಬಳ್ಳಾರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ೧೮೮೦ ರ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದ 'ವಿಜಯ ಧ್ವಜ' ೧೯೩೦ ರಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತು ಹೋಯಿತು. ಧಾರವಾಡದ 'ಕರ್ಮವೀರ' ಅನೇಕ ತೊಂದರೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸಿ ಇನ್ನೂ ಜೀವಂತವಾಗಿದೆ. ಸಂಪಾದಕ ದಿವಾಕರ ರಂಗನಾಥರವರೂ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಾಪಕ ಹುಕ್ಕೇರಿಯವರೂ ೧೯೨೧ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂಧಿತರಾದಾಗ ಇದನ್ನು ಆಲೂರು ವೆಂಕಟರಾಯರು ನಡೆಸಿದರು. ಈಗ ಇದು ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರಕಾಶವಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದು ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಪ್ರಸಾರದಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿದೆ. ಎಂ. ಗೋಪಾಲಯ್ಯಂಗಾರ್ ಮತ್ತು ಎಂ. ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸಯ್ಯಂಗಾರ್ ಎಂಬ ಸೋದರರು ವೆಂಕಟಕೃಷ್ಣಯ್ಯನವರಲ್ಲಿ ತರಬೇತಾದರು, ಇವರು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ೧೮೮೫ ರಲ್ಲಿ 'ಕನ್ನಡ ನಡೆಗನ್ನದಿ' ಎಂಬ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ಇದು ಬಹುಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾದ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಮುಂದೆ ಇವರೇ 'ಮೈಸೂರು ಸ್ಟಾಂಡರ್ಡ್' ಎಂಬ ಪಕ್ಷಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ಇವರೇ ನಿಜವಾಗಿ ಪೂರ್ಣಸಮಯದ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮಿಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಇದು 'ನಡೆಗನ್ನಡಿ' ವಾಚಕರ ಮೇಲೆ ವಿಶೇಷ ಪ್ರಭಾವಶಾಲಿಯಾಗಿತ್ತು. ದಿವಾನರುಗಳಾದಸರ್. ಪಿ. ಎನ್. ಕೃಷ್ಣಮೂರ್ತಿ ಮತ್ತು ವಿ. ಪಿ. ಮಾಧವರಾಯರು ಪೂರ್ಣ ಆಶ್ರಯಕ್ಕೆಪಾತ್ರರಾಗಿದ್ದರು.

೧೮೮೭ರಲ್ಲಿ ವೆಸ್ಲಿಯನ್ ಮಿಷನ್ನಿಂದ "ವೃತ್ತಾಂತ" ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯು ಮೈಸೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ಅದರ ಸಂಪಾದಕ ಹೆನ್ರಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ವಿವೇಕದಿಂದ ತನ್ನ ಕಾರ್ಯವನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದರು. ಇದು ೧೯೪೨ ರವೆಗೂ ನಡೆದು ನಿಂತು ಹೋಯಿತು.೧೮೮೮ ರಲ್ಲಿ ನರಸಿಂಗರಾಯರು 'ಸೂರ್ಯೋದಯ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಿಕಾ' ಎಂಬ ವಾರ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ಅದೇ ಮುಂದೆ ದಿನಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಾಯಿತು. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಅತಿಪುರಾತನ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 'ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವೈಭವ 'ವೂ ಒಂದು. ಇದನ್ನು ೧೮೯೨ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಮ. ಗೋವಿಂದರಾಯರು ಬಿಜಾಪುರದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ೧೯೨೨ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಇದರ ಮಾಲೀಕತ್ವವನ್ನೂ ಮೊಹರೆ ಹನುಮಂತರಾಯರು ವಹಿಸಿಕೊಂಡರು. ಇದು ಭಾರತ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ಸಮರಕ್ಕೆ ಮೀಸಲಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಸರ್ಕಾರದಿಂದ ವಿಶೇಷ ತೊಂದರೆಗೆ ಈಡಾಯಿತು. ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿಯ ಮೂತಾಲಿಕೆ ದೇಸಾಯಿಯವರು 'ವೀರ ಕೇಸರಿ' ಬಿ. ಆರ್. ಚಿಕ್ಕೋಡಿಯವರ 'ವಿಭಾಕರ', ವಿ. ವಿ. ಪುರಾಣಿಕರ 'ಲೋಕಮತ' ೧೯೨೨ ರ ವೇಳೆಗೆ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗಿದ್ದವು.

೨೦ ನೇ ಶತಮಾನ

ಕನ್ನಡ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಂದೆ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ದರಾದವರು ಡಿ. ವಿ. ಗುಂಡಪ್ಪನವರು. ಇವರು ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಷ್ಣಾತರಾದ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮಿಗಳು. ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಸಾಹಿತಿಗಳು, ಪಕ್ಷಪಾತರ ಹಿತವೂ ದಾಕ್ಷಿಣ್ಯದೂರವು ಆದ ಅವರು ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಲೇಖನಗಳಿಂದ ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳಿಗೂ, ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಪ್ರಪಂಚಕ್ಕೂ ವಿಶೇಷ ಪ್ರಯೋಜನವಾಗಿದೆ. ೧೯೦೨ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದ ಸಮಾಚಾರ ಸಂಗ್ರಹವೆಂಬ ದೈನಂದಿನ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ಇದರಿಂದಲೆ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿ "ಕೆಲಸ ಮತ್ತು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ" ಎಂಬ ದ್ವಿವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 'ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ'ವು ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿ ೧೪ ವರ್ಷಗಳಾದ ಮೇಲೆ ನಿಂತುಹೋಯಿತು. ಆಮೇಲೆ 'ಅರ್ಥಸಾದಕ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ'ಯೆಂಬ ಮಾಸಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಿದರು. ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷಿನಲ್ಲಿ 'ರಿವ್ಯೂಸ್ ಆಫ್ ರಿವ್ಯೂಸ್' ಎಂಬ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ಅದೂ ಕೂಡ ಬಹುಕಾಲ ನಡೆಯಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೂ ಅವರು ಇದುವರೆಗೂ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿದ್ವತ್ಪೂರ್ಣವಾದ ಲೇಖನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬರೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಅವರೇ ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿದ ಗೋಖಲೆ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯ ಸಂಪಾದಕರೂ ಆಗಿದ್ದರು.

ಈ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಪ್ರಪಂಚದ ಮೊದಲನೆಯ ಮಹಾಯುದ್ದ ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ಸಂಗ್ರಾಮದ ಅನೇಕ ಚಳುವಳಿಗಳು ಹೊಸ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಪ್ರೇರಕವಾದವು. ಅವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧಿಯವರ ಅಸಹಕಾರ ಚಳುವಳಿಯ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಮನೋಭಾವದಿಂದ ತಿರುಮಲೆ ತಾತಾಚಾರ್ಯ ಶರ್ಮರವರಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದ 'ವಿಶ್ವಕರ್ಣಾಟಕ' ದೈನಂದಿನ ಮತ್ತು ವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು ಮುಖ್ಯವಾದವು. ಇವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯ ಭಾಷಾ ಪ್ರೌಢಿಮೆ, ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ ಗಾಂಭೀರ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ನಿರ್ದಾಕ್ಷಿಣ್ಯವಾದ ಸಂಪಾದಕೀಯಗಳು ಸಾರ್ವತ್ರಿಕ ಮೆಚ್ಚುಗೆಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆದವು. ಆದರೆ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆಯನ್ನೂ ಸಹಿಸದ ಸರ್ಕಾರದಿಂದ ಅನೇಕ ಸಲ ಪೆಟ್ಟುಗಳನ್ನು ತಿಂದುವು. ೧೯೨೧ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದ ಈ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯು ೧೯೪೨ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ದಕ್ಷರಾದ ಸಿದ್ಧವನಹಳ್ಳಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣಶರ್ಮರ ಸಂಪಾದಕತ್ವಕ್ಕೆ ಬದಲಾಗಿ ೧೯೪೪ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರದಿಂದ ನಿಷೇಧಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟು ೧೯೪೫ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪುನಃ ಶಾಮಯ್ಯಂಗಾರ್ಯರಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗಿ ೧೯೪೭ರಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶ್ರಾಂತಿಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಿತು. ಸೀತಾರಾಮಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಿ ಗಳಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದ ವೀರಕೇಸರಿಯು ಇಷ್ಟೇ ಉಜ್ವಲವಾಗಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿ ಕೆಲವು ವರ್ಷಗಳಾದ ಮೇಲೆ ವಿರಾಮಿಸಿದವು.

ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧೀಜಿ

1982 ರಲ್ಲಿ ಗದಗ ಮೂಲಕ ದೇವರಾಜ ಕಾರಭಾರಿ ಸಂಪಾದಕತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಸಾರವಾದ ವಜ್ರಾಯುಧ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟರ ನಿದ್ದೆಗೆಡಿಸಿತು 1992 ರ ವರೆಗೂ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ವಿವಿಧ ದಬ್ಬಾಳಿಕೆಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ತೆವಳುತ್ತ ಸಾಗಿತ್ತು ಆದರೆ ಪತ್ರಿಕೊದ್ಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ತಲ್ಲಣವನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿತ್ತು ನಂತರ 1998 ರಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರ ಮಗ ರಾಜವೆಂಕಟೇಶ ಕಾರಭಾರಿ ಯವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಹತ್ತನೆಯ ತರಗತಿ ಕಲಿಯುತ್ತಿರಯವಾಗಲೆ ವಜ್ರಾಯುಧ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯ ಸಂಪಾದಕರ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ಹೊತ್ತುಕೊಂಡು ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ಮುನ್ನಡೆಸಿದರು ಆ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಪಂಚದಲ್ಲಿಯೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಕಿರಿಯ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಸಂಪಾದಕರ ಕಿರ್ತಿ ಅವರದ್ದು ನಂತರ 2002 ರಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮದೆ ಮಹಾಪಾಪಿ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿದರು ಇನ್ನುವರೆಗೂ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ತನ್ನ ಆಸ್ತಿತ್ವ ಹೊಂದಿದೆ.

ವಿಶ್ವಕರ್ನಾಟಕಕ್ಕೆ ಸಮಕಾಲೀನವೂ ಒಂದು ರೀತಿಯಿಂದಲೇ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಸ್ಪರ್ಧಾಳುವೂ ಆದ 'ತಾಯಿನಾಡು' ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯೂ ೧೯೨೬ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗಿ ಅದರ ಸ್ಥಾಪಕ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾದ ಪಿ. ಆರ್. ರಾಮಯ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಸಹಸಂಪಾದಕರಾದ ವಿ. ಬಿ. ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸನ್ ಅವರಿಂದ ಇಂದಿನವರೆಗೆ ರುಜುವಾದ ಮಾರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದು ಬರುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಇದು ಯಾವ ಪಕ್ಷಕ್ಕೂ ಒಲಿಯದೇ ಸಮತೂಕದ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಾಗಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಇಂದಿನವರೆಗೂ ನಡೆದು ಬರಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ. ರುಮಾಲೆ ಚೆನ್ನಬಸವಯ್ಯ, ದಯಾನಂದ ಸಾಗರ್ ಮೊದಲಾದ ದಕ್ಷ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮಿಗಳು ಇದರ ಸಂಪಾದಕತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗಿಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ೧೯೩೧ ರಲ್ಲಿ 'ಪ್ರಜಾಮತ' ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗಿ ಬಹು ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾಯಿತು. ಅದರ ಮಾಲೀಕರಾದ ಗುಪ್ತರು ಇದರ ಪ್ರಖ್ಯಾತಿಗೆ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಕಾರಣರು. ಇದು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿಯಿಂದಲೇ ಪ್ರಚಾರವಾಗತೊಡಗಿತು. ಕೆಲವು ಕಾಲ 'ಪ್ರಜಾಮಿತ್ರ' ಎಂಬ ಹೊಸ ಹೆಸರಿನಿಂದಲೂ ಪ್ರಚಾರವಾಯಿತು. ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸಯ್ಯನವರ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಂ.ಎಸ್. ಗುರುಪಾದಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಇದರ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಕೆಲವು ಕಾಲ ಟಿ.ಎಸ್. ಸಿದ್ಧಪ್ಪನವರು ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಈಗಲೂ ಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾಗದೆ ಎಚ್. ವಿ. ನಾಗರಾಜು ಈಗ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈಗ ಅದರ ತೆಲುಗು ಆವೃತ್ತಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಗಿ ಆಂಧ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶೇಷ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿದೆ.

ಬಿ. ಎನ್. ಗುಪ್ತರು ೧೯೩೪ ರಲ್ಲಿ 'ಜನವಾಣಿಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ಇದು ದೇಶಭಕ್ತಿಯುತವಾದ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಕೆಲವು ಕಾಲ ಕೆ. ಸಿ. ರೆಡ್ಡಿಯವರೂ ಇದರ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಗುಪ್ತರು ತಮ್ಮ 'ಜನವಾಣಿಯನ್ನು 'ಪ್ರಜಾಮತ ' ವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಕೈಗಾರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮಿ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಯ್ಯನವರಿಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದರು. ಜಿ. ಎಸ್. ನರಸಿಂಹಯ್ಯ, ಸೋಮಯಾಜಿಗಳು ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾದರು. 'ಜನವಾಣಿ ' ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ಮನೋಭಾವವುಳ್ಳ ಸಂಜೆಯ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಾಗಿತ್ತು. ವೀರಣ್ಣ ಗೌಡರ 'ಚಿತ್ರಗುಪ್ತ' ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಎಸ್. ಆರ್. ವಿ. ಎನ್ ರಾಘವನ್ ಅವರಿಂದ ಸಂಪಾದಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ 'ಡೆಮೊಕ್ರಾಟ್' ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥನಾರಾಯಣ ರಾಯರ 'ನವಚೇತನ' ಇವು ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ ಹೋರಾಟಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ದುಡಿದ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು.

ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯೋತ್ತರ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಸಕ್ತ

ಕಳೆದ ಶತಮಾನದ ಅಂತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಈ ಶತಮಾನದ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಭಾಷಾ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಗಳ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗಾಗಿ ಅನೇಕ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು ಜನ್ಮತಾಳಿದವು. 'ಪುಷ್ಪಮಾಲಿಕೆ' ಮತ್ತು ' ಚಂದ್ರೋದಯ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಮದನಸೆಟ್ಟಿ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಪ್ಪನವರೂ ವಿಭೂತಿ ಹುಚ್ಚಯ್ಯನವರೂ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ದೇಸಾಯಿ ಶಿವಪ್ಪನವರು 'ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪತ್ರ' ವನ್ನು ಹೊರಡಿಸಿದರು. ವೆಂಕಟರಂಗೋಕಟ್ಟಿಯವರು 'ಲೋಕ ಶಿಕ್ಷಕ' ಮಾಸಪತ್ರಿಯನ್ನೂ, ಅನಾಡ ಚೆನ್ನ ಬಸಪ್ಪನವರು 'ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವೃತ್ತ' ಇವನ್ನೂ ಮಮಲಾಪುರ ಗುರುರಾಯರು 'ಲೋಕಬಂಧು'ವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿದರು. ಬಳ್ಳಾರಿ ರಾಮರಾಯರ ಸಂಪಾದಕತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ' ರಾಜಹಂಸ'ವೂ ಹೊಸಕೇರಿ ಅಣ್ಣಾಚಾರ್ಯರ ನೇತೃತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ 'ಧನಂಜಯ' ಪತ್ರಗಳು ಜನ್ಮತಾಳಿದವು. ಬಾಗಲಕೋಟೆಯ ಕೆರೂರು ವಾಸುದೇವಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ 'ಕನ್ನಡ ಕೇಸರಿ' ವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗೂ 'ಸಚಿತ್ರಭಾರತ' ಮಾಸಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗೂ ಜನ್ಮ ದಾತರಾದರು. ದಿವಾಕರ ರಂಗರಾಯರೂ, ಮಧ್ವರಾಯರೂ, ಕರ್ಮವೀರಕ್ಕೆ ಜನಕರಾದರು. ಗದುಗಿಲ್ಲಿ ಉಮಚಗಿ ಶೀನಪ್ಪನವರು 'ರಸಿಕರಂಜಿನಿ' ವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗೆ ಅಸ್ತಿಭಾರ ಹಾಸಿದರು. ಬಿಜಾಪುರದಲ್ಲಿ 'ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವೈಭವ'ವು ಉದಯವಾಯಿತು. ಹುನುಗುಂದ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯರೇ ಮೊದಲಾದ ಮೂವರಿಂದ ಸ್ಥಾಪಿತವಾದ ಭಾಷಾಸೇವಕ' ಮಾಸಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತದ ಮಾಲತೀಮಾಧವ ಮತ್ತು ಶಾಕುಂತಲಗಳು ಕುರುಹಿನ ಬಕುಳಹಾರ ಮತ್ತು 'ಕೇಡುತಂದ ಉಂಗುರ ' ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರುಗಳಿಂದ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾದವು. ಬೆಳಗಾವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ 'ಮಾತೃಭೂಮಿ' ಮತ್ತು 'ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಮಿತ್ರ' ಪತ್ರಿಗಳೂ ಕುಮಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಧುರೀಣ ಮತ್ತು ಕನ್ನಡ ವೃತ್ತಗಳು ಅವತಾರವಾದುದೂ ಈ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ.

ಬೆಳಗಾವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಏಕೀಕರಣಕಾರರು ೧೯೩೩ ರಲ್ಲಿ 'ಸಂಯುಕ್ತ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ'ವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ದತ್ತೋಪಂತ ಬೆಳವಿ, ನಾರಾಯಣರಾವ್ ಜೋಷಿ, ದಾತಾರ ಬೆಳವಂತರಾಯರು, ಗೋಖಲೆ ಕೇಶವರಾವ್ ಇವರು ಇದರ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಾಪಕರಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವರು ಈ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ಬೇಗನೆ ದಿನಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಾಯಿತು. ದಿವಾಕರರ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯಾದ ಮೇಲೆ 'ಲೋಕ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಟ್ರಸ್ಟು' ಇದನ್ನು ವಹಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿತು. ಅಲ್ಲಿಯ ಕಾಲವು ಶತಮಾನಗಳಕಾಲ ಹನುಮಂತರಾಯರೇ ಅದರ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾಗಿದ್ದರು ಮತ್ತು ಇದು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಆವೃತ್ತಿ ೧೯೫೯ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ರೋಟರೀ ಮುದ್ರಣ ಯಂತ್ರವನ್ನು ತಂದು 'ಸಂಯುಕ್ತ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ' ಸ್ಥಿರೀಕೃತವಾಯಿತು. ಟ್ರಸ್ಟು ಗ್ರಾಮಸ್ಥರಿಗಾಗಿ 'ಕಾಮಧೇನು' ಎಂಬ ಮಾಸಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿತು. ೧೯೩೭ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಎನ್. ಎಸ್. ಹರ್ಡಿಕಕ್ ಅವರು 'ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿ ಗೆಜೆಟ್' ಎಂಬ ವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿಯ ಪೌರಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ೧೯೪೭ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಇದು 'ಜೈಹಿಂದ್' ಎಂಬ ಹೊಸ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ತಾಳಿತು.

ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಆದಿಕಾಲದ 'ಕೃಷ್ಣಸೂಕ್ತಿ' 'ಮಧುರವಾಣಿ' ಮೊದಲಾದ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳೇ ಅಲ್ಲದೆ 'ಕಂಠೀರವ', 'ನವಯುಗ' 'ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ಭಾರತ', 'ಪ್ರಭಾತ', 'ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಬಂಧು', 'ಸ್ವದೇಶಾಭಿಮಾನಿ'. 'ಸ್ವರಾಜ್ಯ', 'ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಮತ' ಮುಂತಾದವು ಉಪಯುಕ್ತ ಕೆಲಸಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿವೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿಯ ಸಂಪಾದಕ ವರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಂಜೆಮಂಗೇಶರಾವ್, ಬೆನಗಲ್ ರಾಮರಾವ್, ರಾಜಗೋಪಾಲಕೃಷ್ಣರಾವ್, ಉಲ್ಲಾಳ ವೆಂಕಟರಾವ್, ಕೆ. ಶಂಕರಭಟ್ಟ ಮೊದಲಾದವರು ಸುಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧರು. ಹೈದರಾಬಾದ್ ಪ್ರಾಂತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ 'ಹೈದರಾಬಾದ್ ಸಮಾಚಾರ್' ಮತ್ತು 'ಸಾಧನ' ಎಂಬುವು ಗಣ್ಯವಾದವು. ಜಿ. ಕೆ. ಪಾಣೀಶಾಚಾರ್ಯರು ಅಲ್ಲಿಯ ಗಣ್ಯಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮಿಗಳು. ಕೊಡನಿನಲ್ಲಿ 'ಕೊಡಗುವೃತ್ತಾಂತ', 'ಕೊಡಗು' ಎಂಬ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು ಸಿ. ಎ. ಪೂಣಚ್ಚ ಮತ್ತು ವಿ. ಪಿ. ಬೆಳ್ಳಪ್ಪ ಎಂಬುವರ ಸಂಪಾದಕತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ.

ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯೋತ್ತರ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ವಾರ ಮತ್ತು ದಿನಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು ಅಸಂಖ್ಯೇಯವಾಗಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿವೆ. ಈಗ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮ ಒಂದು ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ವೃತ್ತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಪತ್ರಿಕಾಕರ್ತರಿಗೆ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಧ್ಯೇಯಗಳು ಸಿದ್ಧಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಅವರು ದೇಶವಿದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸೂಕ್ತ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದು ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮ ವೃತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಲು ಯೋಗ್ಯತೆಯನ್ನು ಸಂಪಾದಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಪ್ರತ್ಯೇಕ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳ ರೀತಿ ರಚನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಧ್ಯೇಯಗಳು ಒಂದು ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಷ್ಕೃಷ್ಟವಾಗುತ್ತಿವೆ. ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾನಿಲಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮವು ವ್ಯಾಸಂಗ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಾಗಿ ಅಂಗೀಕೃತವಾಗಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಗೌರವವುಂಟಾಗಿದೆ.

ಈಗಿನ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 'ಪ್ರಜಾವಾಣಿ' ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಭಾಷಾ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಾದ 'ಡೆಕ್ಕನ್ ಹೆರಾಲ್ಡ್' ಜೊತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇದು ೧೯೪೮ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾಯಿತು. ಜನಪ್ರಿಯವೂ ಆಯಿತು. ಇದರ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಸಂಪಾದಕರು ಬಿ. ಪುಟ್ಟಸ್ವಾಮಿಯವರು. ನಂತರ ಖಾದ್ರಿ ಶಾಮಣ್ಣನವರು, ಬಿ. ಎಸ್. ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರರಾಯರು, ಈಗ ಕೆ.ಎನ್.ಶಾಂತ ಕುಮಾರ್ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ಅನೇಕ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ವಿಷಯಗಳು ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಮತ್ತು ಅಂತರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಚಾರ ಮಾಡಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಇದರ ಪ್ರಸಾರ ಗಮನಾರ್ಹವಾಗಿದೆ. 'ವಿಜಯವಾಣಿ', 'ವಿಜಯ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ', 'ಉದಯವಾಣಿ', 'ಕನ್ನಡ ಪ್ರಭ' ಮು೦ತಾದವು ಪ್ರಸಕ್ತ ಕನ್ನಡ ದಿನಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು.

'ಪ್ರಪಂಚ' ಎಂಬ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ೧೯೫೯ ರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಲೀಲ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪನವರು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ಇವರು ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಂ. ಎಸ್. ಸಿ. ಪದವೀಧರರು. ೧೯೫೯ ರಲ್ಲಿ 'ವಿಶ್ವವಾಣಿ'ಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ಸುದ್ದಿಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಾದ ಇದು ನಾಲ್ಕು ಪುಟಗಳಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿದ್ದರೂ ಉತ್ತಮ ಲೇಖನಗಳಿಂದ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟವಾಗಿದೆ. ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಿಂದಲೇ ಗಣ್ಯವಾದುದು ಪಾಕ್ಷಿಕ, ಮಾಸಿಕ, ತ್ರೈಮಾಸಿಕ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು (ಕೆಲವು ದಿನ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳ ಸಾಪ್ತಾಹಿಕ ಪ್ರಕರಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಪಟ್ಟ ವಿಷಯ,ಕತೆ, ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳು ಅಡಕವಾಗುತ್ತಿವೆ). ಇವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 'ಮನೋರಮಾ', ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ಪ್ರಪಂಚವನ್ನು ಕುರಿತದ್ದು. 'ಕಥಾವಳಿ', 'ಕಥಾಕುಂಜ', 'ಕತೆಗಾರ' ಇವು ಕತೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಮೀಸಲಾಯಿತು. 'ತಮಾಷ್', ಸಣ್ಣ ಕಥೆಗಳ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ. 'ನಗುವನಂದ', 'ಕೊರವಂಜಿ', 'ವಿಕಟವಿನೋದಿನಿ', 'ವಿನೋದ' ಇವು ವಿನೋದ ಪ್ರಧಾನವಾದ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು. 'ಸರಸ್ವತಿ', 'ಸೋದರಿ', 'ಶಕ್ತಿ' ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು. 'ಕಂದ', 'ಬಾಲಪ್ರಪಂಚ', 'ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಪುಸ್ತಕ', 'ಚಂದಮಾಮ' ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು. 'ಜಯಕರ್ನಾಟಕ', 'ಜಯಂತಿ', 'ಜೀವನ', 'ಪ್ರಬುದ್ಧಕರ್ನಾಟಕ', 'ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ (ಕನ್ನಡ)', 'ವರಿಷತ್ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ', 'ಕನ್ನಡ ನುಡಿ' ಗಳು ವಿವಿಧ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಪ್ರಕಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯವು ಸರ್ವತೋಮುಖವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆಯಲು ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಿವೆ. ಇವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 'ಪ್ರಬುದ್ಧ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ'ಕ್ಕೆ ಅಗ್ರಸ್ಥಾನ. ಇದರ ಜೊತೆಯಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾನಿಲಯದಿಂದ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವ 'ಮಾನವಿಕ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ' ಮತ್ತು 'ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ' ಗಳು ಸ್ತುತ್ಯರ್ಹವಾದ ಕೆಲಸವನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿವೆ.

'ಪ್ರಬುದ್ಧ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ'ದ ವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕ ಶಾಖೆಯ ಚಿನ್ನದ ಸಂಪುಟಗಳು (ಎರಡು) ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ ಪ್ರಪಂಚದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಹುಗಣ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮದ ಮಟ್ಟವನ್ನು ಬಹು ಎತ್ತರಕ್ಕೆ ಕೊಂಡೊಯ್ದಿದೆ. ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮದ ಸರ್ವತೋಮುಖವಾದ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯಿಂದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷಾ ಸಂಪತ್ತು ಬೆಳೆದಿದೆ. ಪ್ರಾಂತಭೇದವು ಮಾಯವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಶೈಲಿಯು ಶಕ್ತಿ ಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ, ಶಿಶು ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ, ಮಹಿಳಾ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಬಹುಮುಖಿಯಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಯಥೇಚ್ಛವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಹೊಸ ಲೇಖಕರಿಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶವನ್ನು ಕಲ್ಪಿಸುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅನೇಕ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ವಿವಿಧ ಸ್ಪರ್ಧೆಗಳು ಜನರಿಗೆ ಸ್ಪೂರ್ತಿದಾಯಕವಾಗಿದೆ. ಜನಪದ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಪುನರುದ್ಧಾರವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಉತ್ಪಾದನೆ, ವಿತರಣೆ, ಸಂಪಾದನೆ, ಜ್ಞಾನ ಪ್ರಸಾರ, ನಿರುದ್ಯೋಗ ಪರಿಹಾರ, ಲೇಖಕರ ಸಂಭಾವನೆ, ಭಿನ್ನರುಚಿಗಳ ಸಮನ್ವಯ ಮೊದಲಾದ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಿಂದ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮವು ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಾಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಯ ಕಾರ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಹು ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಮೇಲೆಯೇ ತಿಳಿಸಿರುವಂತೆ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮ ಅದರ ವಿವಿಧ ಶಾಖೆಗಳಾದ ಸೂಕ್ತ ಸಂಗ್ರಹ, ವಿತರಣೆ, ಸಂಪಾದನೆ, ವರದಿ, ಮುದ್ರಣ, ಅಗ್ರಲೇಖನ, ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ ಮೊದಲಾದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ವಿಶೇಷ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗೂ, ಪ್ರಾವೀಣ್ಯತೆಗೂ ಅವಕಾಶವನ್ನು ಕಲ್ಪಿಸಿದೆ. ಜ್ಞಾನ ಪ್ರಸಾರ ಮತ್ತು ವಾಚನಾಭಿರುಚಿಯ ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹ ಕಾರ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅದರ ಸ್ಥಾನ ಬಹು ಹಿರಿದಾದದ್ದು. ಕನ್ನಡ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮ ಇಂದು ಇತರ ಯಾವ ಭಾಷಾ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮದೊಡನೆಯೂ ಸಮಮಟ್ಟವನ್ನು ಸ್ಪರ್ಧಿಸಬಲ್ಲುದು. ಕೆಲವು ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳ ಪ್ರಸಾರ ಆರು ಲಕ್ಷದವರೆಗೆ ಏರಿರುವುದು ಗಮನಾರ್ಹವಾದರೂ ಕಲ್ಕತ್ತಾದ ಕೆಲವು ವಂಗ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಮದ್ರಾಸಿನ ಕೆಲವು ತಮಿಳು ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು ಮೂವತ್ತು ಲಕ್ಷವನ್ನು ಮೀರಿರುವುದು ಕನ್ನಡ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳೂ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಯಾಗುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ವಿಶೇಷ ಅವಕಾಶವಿದೆ ಎಂಬ ಅಂಶವನ್ನು ಮನಗಾಣಿಸುತ್ತಿವೆ. ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಗಳು, ಜನತೆಯ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾನಿಲಯವೆಂಬುದು ಪ್ರತಿದಿನವೂ ಅನುಭವಕ್ಕೆ ಬರುತ್ತಿರುವ ನಿತ್ಯ ಸತ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ.

Indian-origin Sirisha Bandla became the second Indian-born woman to fly into space on July 11, 2021. All you need to know

Indian-origin Sirisha Bandla became the second Indian-born woman to fly into space on July 11, 2021. She flew to the edge of space aboard billionaire Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic flight ‘VSS Unity’. 

Sirisha Bandla was one of the six crew members aboard Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic flight, which flew to the edge of space before returning to the Earth. 

The Virgin Galactic rocket flew high above New Mexico in the US and returned to the Earth just an hour after leaving the ground.
Sir Richard in a  press conference after the flight called the trip the "experience of a lifetime".

Virgin Galactic space flight#AFPgraphics pic.twitter.com/4B72JN207N

He said "I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid, but honestly nothing can prepare you for the view of Earth from space. The whole thing was just magical."

I have dreamt about this moment since I was a child, but going to space was more magical than I ever imagined https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/grs7vHAzca

Bandla has become the second woman born in India to go to space after Kalpana Chawla, who had died when the Columbia Space Shuttle disintegrated at re-entry in 2003.

The 34-year-old's presence on the historic trip stirred a lot of excitement among Indians, especially among those in the state of Andhra Pradesh where she was born.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu tweeted that "her achievement will motivate many more young girls in India and abroad to take up challenging careers"

Glad to know that Sirisha Bandla became the second India-born woman to fly into space. Her achievement will motivate many more young girls in India & abroad to take up challenging careers. Heartiest congratulations to Sirisha Bandla, her parents and mentors! pic.twitter.com/ncGPiH07i9

Industrialist Anand Mahindra also tweeted saying that "Indian women are not just breaking glass ceilings - they're literally dismantling ALL ceilings on this planet and rocketing into space."

• Sirisha Bandla is the Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations at Virgin Galactic, the company that has made the spacecraft.

• She was born in Tenali, a city in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. She was raised in Houston, Texas in the United States of America.

Speaking on the mission earlier, Bandla has that she is incredibly honored to be a part of the amazing crew of #Unity22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all. She will be astronaut number 4 on the crew.

I am so incredibly honored to be a part of the amazing crew of #Unity22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all. https://t.co/sPrYy1styc

• Billionaire Richard Branson's "Unity 22" mission aboard Virgin Galactic flight, VSS Unity- a suborbital rocket-powered spaceplane reached the height of 85km (282,000ft; 53 miles).

• The 70-year-old founder of Virgin Galactic traveled to space as a mission specialist in the six-member team of the "Unity 22" mission.

• He was accompanied by pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci and three Galactic employees, chief astronaut instructor Beth Moses, lead operations engineer Colin Bennett and Sirisha Bandla.

• The Indian-origin astronaut was given the researcher experience profile on the Unity 22 mission. She was responsible for evaluating the human-tended research experience, using an experiment from the University of Florida that requires several handheld fixation tubes that were activated at various points in the flight profile.

• The Virgin Galactic test flight on July 11 was the twenty-second flight test for VSS Unity and the fourth crewed spaceflight of Virgin Galactic. 

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and the #Unity22 crew soared more than 50 miles above the New Mexico desert in the vehicle's first fully crewed test flight to space https://t.co/YbFUbNvkLK pic.twitter.com/r9JWngUCtx

After the flight, Richard Branson tweeted saying, "Welcome to the dawn of a new space age."

Welcome to the dawn of a new space age #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/Rlim1UGMkx

1. Sirisha Bandla became the second India-born woman to fly to space. 

2. Bandla also became the fourth Indian to fly into space.

3. The other Indians who went to space include Rakesh Sharma, Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams.

4. Richard Branson became the first billionaire to fly to space.

5. The world's richest man, Jeff Bezos is scheduled to fly into space aboard New Shepard rocket on July 20 from Van Horn, Texas.

Kalpana Chawla was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space and first flew to space on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator.

Her second flight was the final flight of Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. On February 1, 2003, the ill-fated space shuttle disintegrated during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, killing all the seven crew members on board including Kalpana Chawla. She was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

UK billionaire and founder of Virgin Galactic company, Sir Richard Branson had first announced his intention to make a space plane in 2004, with the belief that he could start a commercial service to space by 2007.

However, the space projects became one of the most challenging ventures of his career due to technical difficulties and a fatal crash during a development flight in 2014.

The billionaire announced this year on June 2nd that he will fly to the edge of space on July 11th. He had tweeted saying, "I've always been a dreamer. My mum taught me to never give up and to reach for the stars. On July 11, it's time to turn that dream into a reality aboard the next @VirginGalactic spaceflight."

I’ve always been a dreamer. My mum taught me to never give up and to reach for the stars. On July 11, it’s time to turn that dream into a reality aboard the next @VirginGalactic spaceflight https://t.co/x0ksfnuEQ3 #Unity22 pic.twitter.com/GWskcMSXyA

This was Virgin Galactic's first fully crewed rocket-powered test flight. It comes after over 16 years of research, engineering, and testing. The company aims to make space available for all. 

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson – 1st Billionaire to Fly into Space: All you need to know.

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson – 1st Billionaire to Fly into Space: On 11th July 2021 – Sunday, British Billionaire, Philanthropist, Business Tycoon Richard Branson became the first billionaire to fly into space after Historic Space Flight on board a Virgin Galactic spacecraft called 'VSS Unity' from New Mexico in the US. Branson narrowly beat his fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos by mere 9 days, who is also slated to travel to space on 20th July 2021. As per the flight plan, VSS Unity space plane was hauled aloft by a carrier aircraft upto a height of 45000 feet or 13,700 meters where it detached from it. Thereafter, the space plane’s rocket engine came to life helping the team ascend to about 290,000 feet or a peak altitude of around 53 miles (85 kilometers), beyond the boundary of space. The 1.5 hour flight allowed the passengers to experience a few minutes of weightlessness, while admiring the curvature of Earth from the ship's 17 windows.

Welcome to the dawn of a new space age #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/Rlim1UGMkx

The 6-member crew aboard the VSS unity, spent around an hour in space before returning back to earth. UK entrepreneur termed his trip to space as an “experience of lifetime.” Speaking to media persons after his historic space flight, Branson said "I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid, but honestly nothing can prepare you for the view of Earth from space." He futher added that "The whole thing was just magical." After returning back to earth, Branson also said that we want to turn the next generation of dreamers into the astronauts of today and tomorrow.”

The Business Tycoon was accompanied in space by the vehicle's two pilots, Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci, and three Galactic employees - Beth Moses, Colin Bennett and Sirisha Bandla. Along with Branson, Aeronautical engineer Sirisha Bandla also created history on Sunday. Bandla became the third Indian-origin woman to fly into space on Sunday Virgin Galactic's first fully crewed suborbital test flight from New Mexico. She currently holds the position of Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations at Virgin Galatic.

Moving away from the Classical Space Race, which was sparked during the Cold War era between the US and the USSR; the modern space race has been launched between the billionaires of the 21^st Century to gain the first mover advantage in the niche Space Tourism market. With his flight on 11^th July 2021, Richard Branson became the 1^st Billionaire to fly into the space, beating fellow billionaire and e-commerce giant Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in the new space race by nine days aboard a a rocket made by Blue Origin, his space venture. Both companies i.e. Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Bezos’s Blue One, envision businesses catering to wealthy tourists willing to pay top dollar for a short period of weightlessness and an unforgettable view of the Earth and heavens. On similar lines, Tesla Founder Elon Musk, who also owns and operates SpaceX also plans to launch commercial operations as part of his space venture soon, as per media reports.

The Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on July 11, 2021, inaugurated India’s first private Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG) plant in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

The Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on July 11, 2021, inaugurated India’s first private Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG) plant in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

India’s first LNG facility plant has been set up by Baidyanath Ayurvedic Group on Kamptee Road near Nagpur-Jabalpur Highway.

At the inauguration of the plant, the Union Minister emphasized the significance of alternate biofuels for the diversification of agriculture towards the power and energy sector.

He also informed that the Central Government has been promoting Electric, Ethanol, LNG, and CNG gas as an alternative to conventional fuels.

Inaugurating India’s First LNG Facility Plant, Nagpur https://t.co/kWuqVXQ37z

•   The Liquefied Natural Gas is a clean and cost-effective fuel that is capable of decreasing logistics costs.

•   LNG has the potential of creating ample of job opportunities.

•   It is the fuel of the future and has the capability of revolutionizing the transport sector.

The Union Minister, during the inauguration of the LNG plant, said that the Central Government has been spending Rs. 8 lakh crores for the import of petrol diesel, and petroleum products which is a major challenge.

He added that the policy has been designed that encourages the development of imports substitute cost-effective pollution-free and indigenous ethanol, LNG, bio CNG, and hydrogen fuels. The Ministry has also been constantly working on different alternative fuels.

Gadkari pointed that India produces surplus rice and sugar and suggested that the surplus of such products can be used to make biofuels. Experiments by researchers were also carried out for producing bioethanol from these agricultural products which have succeeded.

The Union Minister underlined the significance of ‘Flex engines’ which are capable of using both Ethanol and Petrol for transportation.

He informed that the policy is under consideration for the mandatory installation of flex engines by automobile manufacturers, both two and four-wheelers, in the country.

Countries such as Canada, Brazil, USA already have them. The cost of the vehicle will also remain the same whether it is a Flex engine or petrol.

Malala Day 2021: what is malala day, why is it celebrated ? date, significance, history and other details.

Malala Day 2021: The International Malala Day is observed on July 12, on the birthday of the young activist, Malala Yousafzai. The United Nations had designated July 12 as Malala Day to honour the young woman who has been a prominent activist for female education since her early teens.

As a young girl, Malala Yousafzai was not allowed to go to school as the Pakistani Taliban had banned girls from going to school. However, the young girl refused to stay home and publicly advocated for the right to education for girls from as early as September 2008. 

As Malala Yousafzai became more recognised, the dangers facing her increased and she received numerous death threats.

• 0n October 9, 2021, Malala was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen as she rode home on a bus after giving an exam in Pakistan's Swat Valley. She was shot with one bullet, which travelled 18 inches (46 cm) from the side of her left eye, through her neck and landed in her shoulder. Two other girls were also wounded in the attack, Kainat Riaz and Shazia Ramzan, both of whom were stable. 

• Following the shooting, Yousafzai was airlifted to a military hospital in Peshawar, then later was moved to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi. Yousafzai was later flown to the United Kingdom for further treatment, She was treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with the Pakistani government bearing all costs of transportation, treatment and accommodation. 

• She came out of her coma on October 17, 2012 and was finally discharged after multiple surgeries on January 3, 2013. Despite her gruelling attack, Malala soon returned to the public eye, fiercer in her views than before and continued her advocacy for gender rights and girls education. 

• She founded the Malala Fund, a non-profit organisation in 2013 along with her father to ensure free, safe, quality school education for girls around the world.

• She also co-authored her autobiography titled “I Am Malala”, which is an international bestseller.

• Malala Yousafzai also published a children's picture book about her life experience in October 2017, which was titled-'Malala's Magic Pencil.'

• She also wrote another book about herself and the refugee girls she met in her campaigns. The book titled, 'We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World', was published in 2018.

Malala Yousafzai has received numerous national and international honours over the years, some of which are listed below:

• Malala Yousafzai jointly won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize along with Kailash Satyarthi, a children's rights activist from India.  At 17 years, Yousafzai became the youngest Nobel laureate.

• She is the second Pakistani national to receive a Nobel Prize after  Abdus Salam who won Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979. 

• She also won the International Children's Prize in 2013. 

• She won the Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice in November 2012. 

• She won the Simone de Beauvoir Prize, an international human rights prize for women's freedom, in January 2013. 

• The European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in October 2013. 

• She also won the Harvard Foundation's Peter Gomes Humanitarian Award in September 2013. 

• Yousafzai was honoured with the Anna Politkovskaya Award – Reach All Women in War in 2013. The award has been constituted to remember and honor the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya (1958–2006), who was murdered in Moscow on 7 October 2006 to silence her reporting about the war in Chechnya.

• She also won the International Prize for Equality and Non-Discrimination in 2013. 

• She was appointed as the UN Messenger of Peace by the United Nations in April 2017. She became the youngest-ever to hold the post. 

• She was also awarded an honorary Canadian citizenship in April 

Malala Yousafzai gave a speech at the United Nations headquarters on the need for worldwide access to women's education on her 16th birthday, on July 12, 2013. During her speech, she laid emphasis on women's rights and education, calling world leaders to reform their policies.

The speech gained several rounds of standing ovations and UN declared the day as Malala Day to honour the young activist. The address took place nine months after she was shot by the Taliban.  

Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilization, and Welfare) Bill, 2021, All you need to know

The Uttar Pradesh government on July 11, 2021, announced a new population bill known as the Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilization, and Welfare) Bill, 2021 on World Population Day.

Prepared by the Uttar Pradesh Law Commission (UPLC), the Draft of the Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilization, and Welfare) Bill, 2021 aims at curbing the population menace in the state. Uttar Pradesh, with a population of around 220 million, is India’s most populous state.

The Draft currently available on the state government’s website is open to suggestions and comments from the public till July 19, 2021. The Bill comprises incentives for those who limit their families to two children or less and disincentives for those who defy the two-children norm laid out in the bill.

• Focus on increasing access to contraceptive measures as stated under the Family Planning Programme. The bill also aims at providing a safe system for abortion.

• Reduce the maternal and newborns mortality rate.

• Introduce population control as a mandatory subject in all secondary schools.

• Better management of health, nutrition, and education of adolescents aged 11 to 19 years, and care of elderly as well.

• Increments, promotions, concessions in housing schemes, and perks to those who adhere to the laws outlined in the bill.

• Government employees who adhere to the two-children norm under the bill will be given 2 additional increments during their entire service, maternity or paternity leave of 12 months, along with complete salary and allowances and a 3 per cent raise in the Employer’s Contribution Fund (EPF) under the National Pension Scheme.

• Non-government employees who assist in curbing population menace will receive rebates in taxes on housing, water, home loans, etc.

• If the parent of a child undergoes vasectomy, he or she will be offered free medical facilities until the age of 20.

• Set up a state population fund to implement the measures under the bill.

• The bill will apply to married couples wherein the boy is 21 years or older and the girl is 18 years or older.

• The bill will be voluntary in nature. It will not be enforced on everyone.

• The Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilization, and Welfare) Bill, 2021 has been devised keeping in mind the urgent need, amid the growing population in the state, to ensure that all citizens have access to necessities such as safe drinking water, affordable food, access to quality education, decent housing, power or electricity for domestic consumption, economic or livelihood opportunities, and a secure living.

Farm laws 2020 Explained: Everything you need to know about the new agriculture reforms in india

In September 2020, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the three 'Agriculture Bills' that were earlier passed by the Indian Parliament. These Farm Acts are as follows:

1- Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020

2- Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020

3- Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020

Citation: Act No. 20 of 2020

Territorial extent: India

Lok Sabha: The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 14 September 2020, passed in Lok Sabha on 17 September 2020. 

Rajya Sabha: It was passed in Rajya Sabha on 20 September 2020. 

Presidential Assent: The Bill received Presidential Assent on 24 September 2020. 

Introduced by: Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar

1- Background: On 5 June 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated by the Union Cabinet. 

2- Act: It creates a national framework for contract farming through an agreement between a farmer and a buyer before the production or rearing of any farm produces.

3- Provisions:

(a) Farming Agreement: The Act provides for a farming agreement between a farmer and a buyer prior to the production or rearing of any farm produce.

(b) Minimum Period of Farming Agreement: The minimum period of the farming agreement shall be for one crop season or one production cycle of livestock.

(c) Maximum Period of Farming Agreement: The maximum period of the farming agreement shall be five years. It also states that if the production cycle of any farming produce is longer and may go beyond five years, the maximum period of the farming agreement may be mutually decided by the farmer and the buyer and explicitly mentioned in the farming agreement.

(d) Pricing of Farming Produce: The pricing of farming produce and the process of price determination should be mentioned in the agreement. For prices subjected to variation, a guaranteed price for the produce and a clear reference for any additional amount above the guaranteed price must be specified in the agreement. 

(e) Settlement of Dispute: The Act provides for a three-level dispute settlement mechanism-- Conciliation Board, Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Appellate Authority.

Citation: Act No. 21 of 2020

Territorial extent: India

Lok Sabha: The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 14 September 2020, passed in Lok Sabha on 17 September 2020. 

Rajya Sabha: It was passed in Rajya Sabha on 20 September 2020. 

Presidential Assent: The Bill received Presidential Assent on 24 September 2020. 

Introduced by: Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar

1- Background: On 5 June 2020, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated by the Union Cabinet. 

2- Act: It permits intra and inter-state trade of farmers’ produce beyond the physical premises of Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets and other markets notified under the state APMC Acts. 

3- Provisions: 

(a) Trade of Farmers' Produce: The Act allows the farmers to trade in outside trade areas such as farm gates, factory premises, cold storages, and so on. Previously, it could only be done in the APMC yards or Mandis. 

(b) Alternative Trading Channels: It facilitates lucrative prices for the farmers via alternative trading channels to promote barrier-free intra-state and inter-state trade of agriculture produce. 

(c) Electronic Trading: Additionally, it allows the electronic trading of scheduled farmers’ produce (agricultural produce regulated under any state APMC Act) in the specified trade area. It will also facilitate direct and online buying and selling of agricultural produce via electronic devices and the internet.

(d) Market Fee Abolished: As per the Act, the State Governments are prohibited from levying any market fee or cess on farmers, traders and electronic trading platforms for trading farmers’ produce in an 'outside trade area'.

Citation: Act No. 10 of 1995

Territorial extent: India

Status: Amended

Lok Sabha: The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 14 September 2020, passed in Lok Sabha on 15 September 2020. 

Rajya Sabha: It was passed in Rajya Sabha on 22 September 2020. 

Presidential Assent: The amendment received Presidential Assent on 26 September 2020. 

1- Background: On 5 June 2020, the  Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated by the Union Cabinet. 

2- Act: It is an act of the Indian Parliament that was enacted in 1955 to ensure the delivery of certain commodities or products, the supply of which if obstructed owing to hoarding or black-marketing would affect the normal life of the people. This includes foodstuff, drugs, fuel (petroleum products) etc.

3- Powers of Central Government:

(a) The Government of India regulates the production, supply, and distribution of a whole host of commodities it declares ‘essential’ in order to make them available to consumers at fair prices. 

(b) The Government can also fix the MRP of any packaged product that it declares an 'essential commodity'. 

(c) The Centre can add commodities to this list when the need arises and can take them off the list once the situation improves. 

(d) If a certain commodity is in short supply and its price is spiking, the Government can notify stock-holding limits on it for a specified period.

4- Powers of State Government: The respective State Governments can choose not to impose any restrictions as notified by the Centre. However, if the restrictions are imposed, traders have to immediately sell any stocks held beyond the mandated quantity into the market. This is done to improve supplies and brings down prices. 

5- Amendment: With the amendment in the Act, the Government of India will list certain commodities as essential to regulate their supply and prices only in cases of war, famine, extraordinary price rises, or natural calamities. The commodities that have been deregulated are food items, including cereals, pulses, potatoes, onions, edible oilseeds, and oils.

6- Stock Limit: As per the amendment, the imposition of any stock limit on agricultural produce will be based on price rise and can only be imposed if there's-- a 100% increase in the retail price of horticultural produce and a 50% increase in the retail price of non-perishable agricultural food items. 

7- Calculation: The increase will be calculated over the price prevailing immediately preceding twelve months, or the average retail price of the last five years, whichever is lower.

It is to be noted that these restrictions will not be applied to stocks of food held for public distribution in India.

Indian farmers are fearing that they might lose more than they could gain after the new Farms Laws 2020 thereby taking the protest to the streets. 

As quoted by ANI, Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait stated, " They (Central Government) want amendment in them (Farm Laws 2020) but we want these laws to be repealed. We don’t want changes. We will end our protest only when these laws are withdrawn. Like the government brought the three bills, they should also bring a bill on the MSP."

ANI further quoted BKU leader Rakesh Tikait stating that they are ready to have future talks on Farm Laws 2020 with the Government. 

As reported by AlJazeera, 27-year-old Rashpinder Singh stated that the Indian Government has left the farmers at the mercy of big corporations. It is preposterous to believe that farmers who have small landholdings will have any bargaining power over private players.

As Farmers' agitation against three contentious Farm Laws entered day 34 (on 29 December 2020), the Farmer's Union on 29 December 2020 has accepted the Centre's proposal to hold the sixth round of talks. 

After agitating farmers accepted the Centre's proposal to hold the sixth round of talks, the Centre sent an invitation for talks on 30 December 2020 to 40 farmer representatives which have been accepted by the farmers. 

As per a letter by Union Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal, all the issues related to farmers, including the three farm laws, MSP-based procurement, the Commission for the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020, and the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 will be discussed in detail with the 40 representatives of farm unions. 

The talks scheduled on 30 December 2020 at 2 p.m. between the Centre and 40 farmer representatives took place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. 

The sixth round of talks between the Central Government and the farmer unions reached to conclusions on the issues related to the environment and Electricity Acts, however, their demand of repealing the three Farm Laws 2020 and legal guarantee for MSP (Minimum Support Price) remained inconclusive. The seventh round of talks between the Centre and the farmers took place on 4 January 2021 at Vigyan Bhawan and failed to reach a breakthrough. 

As reported by ANI, Sukhwinder S Sabra, Joint Secy, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee stated that if their demands aren't met on 4 January 2021, then, they'll hold tractor march on January 6 and 26, 2021. 

Speaking from the protest site in favour of tractor march, Yogendra Yadav stated, “We have decided that on January 7, we will take out a tractor march at four borders of Delhi including Eastern and Western peripheral. This will be a trailer for what lies ahead on January 26.”

As per farmers' leaders, around 3,000 tractors participated in the tractor march held on 7 January 2021 on Kundli-Manesar-Palwal or Western Peripheral expressway and at least 500 on the Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal or Eastern Peripheral expressway. It is important to note that the two expressways (Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressway) form a ring around the National Capital Delhi. 

The eighth round of talks between the Centre and the farmers took place on 8 January 2021 at 2 p.m. at Vigyan Bhawan. Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Railways, Commerce and Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Prakash participated with the representatives of 41 Farmers’ Unions. 

Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar stated that the Farm Laws 2020 have been made keeping in mind the benefits of farmers throughout the country. The government is concerned about farmers and wants the agitation to end but due to no solutions, forthcoming issues could not be resolved. He further praised the farmers for keeping the agitation disciplined.

The Farmers’ Unions have asked for a repeal of the Farm Laws 2020, however, the Central Government again suggested amendments. The ninth round of talks took place on 15 January 2021. 

The 10th round of talks was scheduled for 19 January 2021 which is postponed by a day to 20 January 2021. Ministry of Agriculture in a statement stated that the government's ministerial meeting with farmers unions will be held on 20 January 2021 at 2 pm at Vigyan Bhawan, instead of 19 January 2021. 

On 20 January 2021, Minister of Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Railways, Commerce and Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Prakash participated in the 10th round of talks with the representatives of 41 Farmers’ Unions at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.  

The Government has proposed to the farmers' union that the implementation of Farm Laws 2020 should be kept on hold for a period of one to one and a half years. Amid the said time period, the representatives of the farmers' Union and the Government can discuss the issues related to the contentious Farm Acts 2020 to arrive at an appropriate solution. 

The 11th round of talks between the Centre and the farmers' union was scheduled for 22 January 2021. The farmers refused to accept the Centre's proposal to put the controversial laws on hold for a year-and-a-half.

It is to be noted that 11 rounds of talks have taken place so far between the Government and the Farmers' representatives. However, no solution has been found to date. 

On 8 July 2021, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reiterated that the Centre will not repeal Farm Laws 2020 and is ready to discuss other options with farmers. 

"I want to appeal to protesting farmers to end their protest and to hold talks with us. The government is ready for discussions," said Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. 

He further added, "Rs. 1 lakh crore allocated under Atmanirbhar Bharat to Farmers Infrastructure Fund can be used by APMCs. APMCs will not be done away with. After the implementation of farm laws, APMCs will receive crores of rupees from the Centre's Infrastructure fund, which will strengthen them and will be useful for more farmers."

Speaking from the protest site in favour of the tractor march, Yogendra Yadav stated that a tractor march will be carried out on 26 January 2021.

The Supreme Court stated that the proposed tractor rally on Republic Day (26 January) by protesting farmers is a 'law and order' matter and Delhi Police will decide who should be allowed to enter Delhi.

Groups of protesting farmers camping at the Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur border took out a massive tractor rally against the Farm Laws 2020 on the occasion of 72nd Republic Day (26 January 2021). 

As per Delhi Police, over 300 barricades were broken, and 17 Government vehicles were damaged by the protesting farmers, forcing their way into the city.  

The Delhi Police has so far registered 38 cases and arrested 84 people in connection with the violence on 72nd Republic Day. 

On 4 February 2021, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait stated that there will be a three-hour-long 'Chakka Jam' on 6 February 2021. 

As per a statement released by the farmers' group, there will be no 'Chakka Jam' programme inside Delhi since all the protest sites are already in chakka jam mode. All roads for entering Delhi will remain open except where farmers' protest sites are already located. 

The Income Tax raids were conducted at the premises of big Arhtiyas of Punjab within four days of issuing notices, without waiting for responses to the notices. Around 16 Arhtiyas have been served Income Tax notices. There are around 28,000 licensed commission agents in Punjab.

As per leaders of different unions, Arhtiyas are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with farmers in their ongoing protest against the Farm Laws 2020 and the raids were an attempt to divide the farmer and arhtiya unity to sabotage this movement.

Thus, Arhtiyas in the Indian State of Punjab has decided to shut down all the grain markets in the state from 22-25 December 2020 to express resentment over the Income Tax raids. 

1- Central Government proposed that the respective State Governments can levy cess on the private mandis.

The proposal was rejected by the farmers as they believe that the creation of private mandis along with APMC will drive agriculture business towards private mandis, ending government markets, intermediary systems and APMCs. As a result, big corporate houses will overtake markets, thereby procuring farm produce at incidental rates. The farmers believe that the Government may delay the procurement (as in the case of paddy), turning the public markets inefficient and redundant.  

2- Central Government proposed that they will give written assurance for the continuation of the existing MSP system.

The proposal was rejected by the farmers as they believe that the new Farm Laws 2020 are brought to dismantle APMCs. Thus, they are demanding a comprehensive Act on MSP pan India and for all crops. They are of the view that a written assurance from the Union Government is not a legal document and holds no guarantee. 

3- Central Government proposed that they will direct the State Governments to register traders in order to regulate them. 

The proposal was rejected by the farmers as the new Farm Laws 2020 have no provision to regulate the traders. As per new Laws, any PAN cardholder can procure grains from the markets at wishful prices and hoard the farm produce. The farmers believe that the Central Government is not ready to take responsibility for the ongoing issue as they want the State Governments to regulate the traders. 

4- Central Government proposed that under the contract farming law, farmers will have the alternative to approach the court and their land will be safe as no loan will be given on farmers’ land and their buildings by mortgaging it.

The proposal was rejected by the farmers as the history of contract farming has many examples of non-payment by the companies making various excuses like substandard produce. For example, in Sugarcane produce, payments were held for years; many cases of non-procurement have been witnessed citing 'poor quality', driving the farmers into a debt trap. Thus, farmers do not have money to repay the loans and have no option to sell/lose their lands.

On 20 September 2020, Prime Minister Modi referred to the Farm Bills 2020 as a watershed moment in the history of Indian agriculture, empowering millions of farmers.

On 29 November 2020, PM Modi in his Mann Ki Baat radio address to the nation stated that all the political parties had been making promises to the farmers but now these promises had been fulfilled, citing an example of the Maharashtrian farmer whose payments for his corn crop was kept pending by traders for four months. 

He further stated that under new Farm Laws 2020, all the dues of the farmers must be cleared within three days of procurement, failing which, the farmer can lodge a complaint.

On 30 November 2020, Prime Minister Modi stated that the farmers are being deceived on these historic agriculture reform laws by the same people who have misled them for decades. He added that the old system was not replaced rather new options were added under the Farm Laws 2020 for the farmers. 

Prime Minister Modi stated, “The new agricultural laws have been brought in for benefit of the farmers. We will see and experience the benefits of these new laws in the coming days.” 

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Narendra Singh Tomar stated that the government is committed to MSP, however, it was "not a part of the law" earlier and "is not" today.

Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Narendra Singh Tomar in a Press Conference stated, "The Government is ready to consider with an open mind any provision in the new laws where farmers have any issues and we want to clarify all their apprehension.

The Supreme Court will hear a plea seeking immediate removal of farmers from Delhi borders on 11 January 2021 filed by law student Rishabh Sharma. A Bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde, Justice A S Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian will hear the petition. 

The petition stated that commuters are facing hardships due to blockades. Emergency and medical services have been severely impacted due to the farmers' agitation. The petition further stated that the farmers should be shifted to a fixed place allotted by the Government and claimed that farmers were allowed to protest peacefully at Nirankari ground in Burari but they refused to accept the offer and are still blocking the borders. 

On 11 January 2021, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the three Farm Acts 2020 and constituted a four-member committee to make recommendations on the same. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India S. A. Bobde gave the panel two months time to submit its report for a 'fair, equitable and just solution'.

Members of the Committee

1- Bhupinder Singh Mann, the national president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union and All India Kisan Coordination Committee. (disassociated himself from the SC formed panel).

2- Dr. Parmod Kumar Joshi, an agricultural economist who is also the Director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute.

3- Ashok Gulati, agricultural economist and former chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.

4- Anil Ghanwat, the chief of Shetkari Sanghatana.

On 19 January 2021, the farmers' unions have refused to attend the first meeting of the SC appointed committee to resolve the ongoing agitation over the contentious Farm Acts 2020, sticking to their demands of repealing the farm laws. 

Spokesperson of Bhartiya Kisan Union, Rakesh Tikait stated, "We don't know, we're not going (to the first meeting of SC-formed committee). Nobody from the agitation approached Court. The government brought the Bill through Ordinance, it was tabled in the House. It'll go back the same route it came from."

SC appointed panel for deliberations on the three contentious Farm Acts 2020 has notified a dedicated portal to get views of farmers individually. The panel has also decided to hear at least 20 organizations on the first day of consultations, i.e., 21 January 2021. 

Ahead of 'Bharat Bandh', Delhi's Chief Minister Arwind Kejriwal is on his way to the Singhu border. In addition to this, leaders of 11 parties including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, DMK chief M K Stalin, NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Left Front’s Sitaram Yechury and D Raja stated that they will lend their 'whole-hearted' support to the December 8 Bharat Bandh called by Farmers' Union, The Times of India reported. 

A day after the scheduled Bharat Bandh called by Farmers' Union, Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar has called a meeting on 9 December 2020 as the fifth round of talks remained inconclusive with farmers' leaders. 

Farmers have called the new Farm Laws 2020 'corporate-friendly and 'anti-farmer.

(a) President of the Maharashtra Rajya Bazaar Samiti Sahakari Sangh, Dilip Mohite Patil claimed that around 100-125 market committees in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions have reported almost no business and are on the verge of closure after the announcement of the central Ordinance. 

(b) Food Processing Industries Minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal of Shiromani Akali Dal resigned from her post in protest against these Bills.

(c) Former Chief Minister of Punjab, Prakash Singh Badal returned his Padma Vibhushan to protest 'the betrayal of farmers by the Government of India'. 

(d) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated, "Let me remind you, Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protesters. We believe in the process of dialogue. We’ve reached out through multiple means to the Indian authorities to highlight our concerns. This is a moment for all of us to pull together."

To this, the Indian Government reacted sharply stating that his remarks are “ill-informed” and “unwarranted”. 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson stated, "We have seen some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders relating to farmers in India. Such comments are unwarranted, especially when pertaining to the internal affairs of a democratic country. It is also best that diplomatic conversations are not misrepresented for political purposes."

(e) As reported by PTI, social activist Anna Hazare has threatened to go on a hunger strike if his demands on issues concerning farmers are not met by the Central Government by the end of January 2020. He further stated that it would be his 'last protest'. 

(f) Congress Communication Chief Randeep Surjewala while addressing a press conference attacked Prime Minister Modi over three Farm Acts 2020 and stated that if he can’t repeal the Fram Laws and has to depend on the Supreme Court to break the deadlock with farmers, he must resign from the post of Prime Minister. 

Congress Communication Chief, Randeep Surjewala stated, "This is the first government in the past 73 years history of the country that is grossly abdicating its responsibility and telling the farmers to approach the Supreme Court. These three controversial agriculture laws have not been enacted by the Supreme Court but have been forcibly passed by the Modi government in Parliament.”

He further added, “The Constitution has not given the responsibility of framing the laws to the Supreme Court but to the Parliament of India. If this government is incapacitated to discharge this responsibility, then the Modi government has no moral authority to remain in power even for a minute."

ದೇಶದ ಮೊದಲ ಪಾಚಿ, ಜರೀಗಿಡ, ಶಿಲೀಂಧ್ರಗಳ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನ ಉದ್ಘಾಟನೆ

ಡೆಹ್ರಾಡೂನ್: ಪಾಚಿ, ಜರೀಗಿಡ (ಕಲ್ಲುಹೂವುಗಳು) ಹಾಗೂ ಶಿಲೀಂಧ್ರಗಳು ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಏಕಕೋಶೀಯ ಸಸ್ಯಗಳಿರುವ ದೇಶದ ಮೊದಲ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನ್ನು (ಕ್ರಿಪ್ಟೋಗ್ಯಾಮಿಕ್‌ ಗಾರ್ಡನ್‌) ಡೆಹ್ರಾಡೂನ್‌ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಚಕರಾತಾ ಪಟ್ಟಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾನುವಾರ ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.

ಪಟ್ಟಣದ ದೇವವನದಲ್ಲಿ 50 ಪ್ರಭೇದಗಳಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿದ ಇಂಥ ಸಸ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಬೆಳೆಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. 9 ಸಾವಿರ ಅಡಿ ಎತ್ತರದ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಪಡಿಸಿರುವ ಈ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನ್ನು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತ ಅನೂಪ್‌ ನೌತಿಯಾಲ್ ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಿದರು.

‘ಸಸ್ಯಶಾಸ್ತ್ರದ ಪ್ರಕಾರ, ಪಾಚಿ, ಶಿಲೀಂಧ್ರ, ಜರೀಗಿಡಗಳು ‘ಕ್ರಿಪ್ಟೋಗ್ಯಾಮೆ’ ಪ್ರಭೇದಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿದವುಗಳಾಗಿವೆ. ಇವು ನಾಳ ರಹಿತ ಸಸ್ಯಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಇವುಗಳು ಹೂವು ಅಥವಾ ಬೀಜಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಸಂತಾನೋತ್ಪತ್ತಿ ನಡೆಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಸಸ್ಯಗಳು ಕಾಂಡ, ಎಲೆ ಮತ್ತು ಬೇರಿನಂತಹ ಏಕಕೋಶಿಯ ರಚನೆಯನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿರುತ್ತವೆ’ ಎಂದು ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣಾಧಿಕಾರಿ (ಸಂಶೋಧನೆ) ಸಂಜೀವ್‌ ಚತುರ್ವೇದಿ ವಿವರಿಸಿದರು.

‘ದೇವವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯದ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಕಡಿಮೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ತೇವಾಂಶ ಸಹ ಇಂಥ ಸಸ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಬೆಳೆಯಲು ಸೂಕ್ತವಾದುದು. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ಈ ಉದ್ಯಾನದ ಮೂರು ಎಕರೆ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಸಸ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಬೆಳೆಸಲಾಗಿದೆ’ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರು.

‘ದೇವವನ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ದೇವದಾರು ಹಾಗೂ ಓಕ್‌ ಮರಗಳೇ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿರುವ ಅರಣ್ಯಗಳಿವೆ. ಇಂಥ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳು ಪಾಚಿ, ಶಿಲೀಂಧ್ರಗಳಿಗೆ ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಆಶ್ರಯ ತಾಣಗಳಾಗುತ್ತವೆ’ ಎಂದೂ ಹೇಳಿದರು.

Israel became the first country in the world to use Aerial Laser weapons to shoot down hostile drones.

Air birne laser weapon system: Isrel became the first country to the shoot down hostile drones mid air With the advent of kamikaze or suicide drones, militaries across the globe have been forced to enhance their counter-drone capabilities. On 21 June 2021, Israel became the first country in the world to use Aerial Laser weapons to shoot down hostile drones. 

For the first time ever: the Israel MOD and @ElbitSystemsLtd and the IAF have successfully completed a series of interception tests employing an airborne, High-Power Laser system. Israel is among the first countries in the world to demonstrate such capabilities. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/F0Egg6HUI6

The Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD), Elbit Systems, and the Israel Air Force have jointly managed to successfully intercept a series of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) at various ranges and flight altitudes using airborne High-Power Laser Weapon System (HPL-WS). As per the officials, the prototype will be ready by 2025. 

The as-yet-unnamed laser system may add another layer to Israel’s multi-tier defence array, complementing the capabilities of the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow systems.

In its preliminary tests, the laser weapon was flown on a light aircraft and successfully took down numerous drones at ranges of roughly half a mile (1 km).  

Due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and technical difficulties, the project was delayed by a year. This means that the prototype will only undergo its extensive test at the end of 2021, and will require around three more years before it becomes operational.

A 100-kilowatt prototype with a range of 20 km (12.5 miles) is expected in three to four years, suggesting an operational version to take longer to roll out.

1- Low cost per inception
2- Ability to defend vast areas
3- Ability to effectively intercept long-range threats at high altitudes regardless of weather conditions

The new laser weapon will use tracking technologies similar to C-Music, a defence system fitted to aircraft which uses a laser to blind incoming missiles but will destroy incoming targets by heating them up to such an extent that they catch fire within a few seconds. 

The Israel Ministry of Defense, Elbit and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd are jointly developing a ground-based laser weapon to shoot down aerial threats, having a range of 8-10 km (5-6 miles). The weapon is expected to be operational by 2025.

No, this is not the first airborne laser weapon. In the early 1980s, a Boeing NKC-135A was equipped with a modified laser. During 2002-2014, the Boeing YAL-1 was outfitted with an advanced airborne laser system (ABL) to identify incoming missiles or other threats. However, neither of the Boeing aircraft were designed to take down drones.