2015 National Medal of Science

Dr. Rakesh K. Jain, an Indian American professor at Harvard Medical School, will be presented with the National Medal of Science by President Barack Obama.He, along with 16 other winners will receive the honor at a White House ceremony early next month.National Medal of Science award, recognized since 1959, is given to individuals for their contribution to the field of science and engineering.

25th December

                     

The nation is observing ‘Good Governance Day’ on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna recipient Atal Bihari Vajpayee.on the 91st birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee several programmes were organized nationwide and new initiatives were announced. It should be noted that this day is also being observed as Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Divas.

North India’s first cable bridge

North India's first cable-stayed bridge--the fourth of its kind in the country--that will provide close connectivity among the three states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab was open to traffic.Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar inaugurated the bridge on river Ravi named 'Atal Setu' at Basholi Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag were also present.Out of 592 metre span bridge, 350 metres is cable-stayed while rest is plain bridge.It is a joint venture (JV) of Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON) and SP Singla Construction group.

Three major cable-stayed bridges in the country are: 

(i) Vidyasagar Setu – Over the Hoogly River in Kolkata (West Bengal)

(ii) Bandra-Worli Sea Link (Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link) – Mumbai (Maharashtra) 

(iii) New Yamuna Bridge- Over Yamuna River in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh)