Today in History (July 31st, 1912)
On this day in 1912, Milton Friedman, an esteemed American economist and educator, was born. He received the Nobel Prize in 1976 for his notable contributions to consumption analysis, monetary history, and theory, including his keen observations on the intricacies of stabilization policy.
Summary of Today’s News
Quantum cryptography
Quantum cryptography uses quantum mechanics principles to establish secure communication channels. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocol enables two parties to create secret cryptographic keys. Quantum cryptography offers information-theoretic security, resistant to both classical and quantum attacks.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CKI)
Indian Navy’s Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130 transport aircraft conducted a visit to Australia’s Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CKI) to enhance military strategic reach and interoperability. The visit signifies potential maritime security and surveillance collaboration within the Indian Ocean. Discussions also included Australia’s support in space missions and plans to expand CKI’s runway to accommodate larger military aircraft. Access to CKI could strengthen India’s monitoring of China’s naval activities in the region.
PSLV-C56
On Sunday, ISRO successfully launched PSLV-C56, carrying Singapore’s DS-SAR and six other satellites from Sriharikota. The DS-SAR satellite is developed under a partnership between Singapore’s DSTA and ST Engineering. ISRO plans to launch four more missions this year, including another PSLV mission.
The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023
The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023, introduced by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, seeks to amend the Cinematograph Act 1952. It adds new certificate categories based on age, replacing UA with UA 7+, UA 13+, and UA 16+. Films with ‘A’ or ‘S’ certificates will need a separate certificate for television or other media. The Bill also aims to prevent unauthorized recording and exhibition of films to curb piracy. It makes the issued certificates perpetually valid and removes the Central Government’s revisional powers over certified films.
National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)
G. Kannabiran, former Director In-charge of the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi, has been appointed as the new Director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Established in 1994 under the University Grants Commission (UGC) and headquartered in Bengaluru, NAAC’s mission is to ensure quality assurance in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in India. It evaluates and accredits HEIs through a comprehensive process involving self-study reports and validation by expert and peer teams from universities nationwide. Accreditation grades range from A++ to C, reflecting the institutions’ quality across various parameters.
