Today in History (August 31st, 1991)
On this day, in 1991, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan declared independence from the Soviet Union.
Summary of Today’s News
National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) is a statutory body established under India’s Disaster Management Act 2005. It aims to be a leading institution for capacity building in disaster management. NIDM’s responsibilities include developing human resources, providing training, conducting research, documenting projects, and advocating for legislative changes in the field of disaster management. The institute collaborates with various ministries, state and municipal governments, and academic and technical institutions in India and abroad. NIDM’s primary goal is to enhance disaster prevention and preparedness capabilities at all levels to make India more resilient to catastrophes.
Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc)
The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc) was established by Alladi Ramakrishnan on January 3, 1962, in South Chennai’s Adyar-Taramani area. It operates as an autonomous institution for fundamental research in Theoretical Physics, Mathematics, Theoretical Computer Science, and Computational Biology. IMSc is governed by a Board and an Academic Council and financially supported by the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India and Tamil Nadu. The institute offers a robust academic program, including an active Ph.D. program with selective annual admissions. It also hosts post-doctoral researchers and a visiting scientist program. IMSc annually organizes national and international scientific meetings and actively engages in outreach initiatives targeting schools, colleges, and the general public.
Sanchar Saathi
Sanchar Saathi, a citizen-centric portal by India’s Telecommunications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, combats cybercrimes. Launched in May, it empowers users to verify registered mobile connections, block lost/stolen phones, report fraudulent connections, and authenticate devices via IMEI. The portal has flagged 66 lakh suspicious connections, disconnected 52 lakh, blocked 66,000 WhatsApp accounts, and frozen eight lakh bank/wallet accounts. It enhances digital security and citizen participation.
