Cuttack (Odisha) [India], March 2 (ANI): Scientists of ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, have developed an Alternate Energy Light Trap (AELT) device for checking pests in agricultural fields and got a patent for the invention.
The automated device was invented by Dr Shyamaranjan Das Mohapatra, Principal Scientist, Entomology and Dr Mayabini Jena, former Principal Scientist and Head of Crop Protection Division of ICAR-National Rice Research Institute. It can help the farmers to identify insect types that lurk in the field and manage them.

“There are two models of the AELT. The bigger valued at around Rs 8,800 can be used on farmland of about one hectare while the mini version costing Rs 4,100 can be used for land under one acre. We have shared the patent with a Maharashtra-based company and the commercial production of the device will start soon,” Dr Mohapatra told ANI here on Monday.
He said: “With this new invention, we can save crops worth thousands of crores worldwide and can also save the life of people from pesticides used in farm lands to kill insects.”
The AELT device includes a light trap unit for attracting the flying insects, a collector unit coupled with the light trap unit for receiving the lured insects from the light trap.
It is an economical and eco-friendly insect trapping method and efficient enough to handle a large number of insects. (ANI)

Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], March 2 (ANI): Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine during the second phase of the vaccination drive on Monday, saying that it was a true example of leadership.
“The Prime Minister has passed many milestones in leadership. Taking a dose of COVID-19 vaccine was another step towards it. It is a true example of leadership,” Harivansh told ANI.
Harivansh praised the Prime Minister for giving priority to corona warriors in the vaccination drive.
“The Prime Minister has not followed the Very Important Person (VIP) culture. He organised vaccination for corona warriors first,” he added. (ANI)
Yesterday morning, Prime Minister Modi took the first dose of Covaxin, India’s homegrown coronavirus vaccine developed by biotechnology firm Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Soon after receiving the first dose of the vaccine at AIIMS Delhi, he tweeted, “Took my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS.”
“Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked fast to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19,” he added.
The Covid-19 vaccines Covaxin and Covishield have been made available to the general public. (ANI)

By Siddharth Sharma
New Delhi [India], March 2 (ANI): After the event in Jammu attended by G-23 members and Gulam Nabi Azad’s remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi created a storm in the state Congress unit, the PCC chief Gulam Ahmed Mir went to Delhi to meet Congress general secretary incharge organisation KC Venugopal and state incharge Rajni Patil on Monday.
According to sources, Mir has apprised the leadership about the situation in the state, the sentiments and political condition following the event. He said the state unit workers are upset over the remarks of Azad about PM Modi.
An event was organised in Jammu by the Gandhi Global Family whose national chairman is Gulam Nabi Azad where G-23 leaders were invited but PCC president and unit was set aside and were not invited for the event. Azad met Congress workers from different districts in the presence of G-23 members.
Mir has also briefed the leadership about the message that went among the workers after the event and party leadership is assessing the situation. Gulam Ahmed Mir will be staying in Delhi and more meetings are likely to be held on the issue for deciding the future course of action.
At the same time Gulam Nabi Azad’s statement has not been liked by G-23 members too. A leader told ANI on the condition of anonymity that Azad shouldn’t have made these remarks as they can deflect attention from the G-23’s aim of strengthening the party. (ANI)

By Siddharth Sharma
New Delhi [India], March 2 (ANI): The Congress saga of G-23 will continue as the group is planning a second event in Haryana’s Kurukshetra district. While leaders are pointing guns and taking pot-shots at the decisions of the party, the party high command is assessing the situation,
According to sources, the party high command is dealing with the situation with care so that no wrong message goes to the party cadre. The top leadership is not in a mood to take action against senior leaders who gathered at the event of Gandhi Global Family in Jammu and has not sought for an explanation from them for their remarks. It is easy to understand that the top leadership is avoiding any kind of public embarrassment.
“Planning of a rally is underway in Kurukshetra district. Though it is yet to be finalised under which banner it would be held, G-23 leaders are not in a mood to normalise the tension building up after group opened a front in Jammu in which leaders like Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, Manish Tiwari, Raj Babbar, Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the party is getting weak which is weakening the opposition too. Sibal had advocated for Azad, saying, “We do not know why the party is not using the experience of Gulam Nabi Azad.”
In response, party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said from the forum: “It would have been better if they helped the Congress in five poll-bound states. These are respected leaders and we respect them.”
The leader said: “The one who has used the term ‘used’ does not know the legacy of the party. The man about whom the word has been used has been a Congress MP seven times.
“Soniaji made him the Chief Minister. Indiraji bestowed cabinet berth in central government. He has been general secretary in party and has exercised supervision over 20 states across the nation,” the leader said.
A senior leader in the group, who wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi and was present at the Gandhi Global Family Function in Jammu, told ANI that no one from the AICC contacted them after the programme and “We are being advised to work for the Congress in poll-bound states but we have not been made a star campaigner by the party. If we go for campaigning it will included in the expense of a candidate and we have not been contacted and assigned any task but we will continue to raise our voices to strengthen the party and we will go the other states too.”
Even on Monday the crisis went on to next level when senior leader of Congress raised questions about party’s Alliance with Indian Secular Front (ISF). Anand Sharma tweeted that “Congress’ alliance with parties like ISF and other such forces militates against the core ideology of the party and Gandhian and Nehruvian secularism, which forms the soul of the party. These issues need to be approved by the CWC. Congress cannot be selective in fighting communalists but must do so in all its manifestations, irrespective of religion and colour. The presence and endorsement by West Bengal PCC president is painful and shameful. He must clarify.”
After that AICC Incharge of West Bengal Jitin Prasad wrote on Twitter, “Alliance decisions are taken keeping in mind the best interests of the party and the workers. Now is the time for everyone to join hands and work towards strengthening the prospects of the Congress in the poll bound states. @INCIndia @rssurjewala @adhirrcinc @AnandSharmaINC.”
While West Bengal PCC Chief and Leader of the Party in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary tweeted that “Know ur facts @AnandSharmaINC ji CPI(M) led Left Front is leading the secular alliance in West Bengal of which Congress is an integral part. We are determined to defeat BJP’s communal and divisive politics and an autocratic regime.” (ANI)

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], March 2 (ANI): Five more persons have been arrested and one more First Information Report (FIR) registered in connection with the army recruitment paper leak case, said an official statement on Monday.
Earlier, three persons including two ex-army personnel were arrested for allegedly running an Army recruitment racket in Pune district.
The accused have been identified as Kishore Giri, Bharat, Yogesh Goswai and Madhav Gite.
In a joint operation, officials of Military Intelligence of Indian Army and Crime branch unit of Pune city police have arrested five more people and registered one more FIR in connection with the army recruitment paper leak case.
So far eight accused have been arrested in the paper leak case and two different FIRs have been registered with Pune city police. Officials suspect the involvement of more accused in this case and are likely to make more arrests in the matter. Earlier the Army had announced postponement of the exam after this leak.
According to a complaint received by the police, the accused were about to leak the exam papers of the Indian Army recruitment exam being held in Pune on February 28.
The police said that the accused had promised recruitment in the Army to those appearing for exams and had asked them to pay Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 3 lakhs for leaked paper.
A case has been registered against all the accused under relevant sections and further investigation is underway. (ANI)