Mountaineer, AI scientist, 'Google boy' among 19 children awarded with PM Bal Puraskar
New Delhi, Jan 22: A nine-year-old mountaineer, a young AI scientist, a specially abled painter and a 'Google boy' were among the 19 children who were conferred with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2024 on Monday.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the national awards to them for their exceptional achievements.
Among the winners is Aaditya Vijay Brahmane, 12, from Maharashtra, who was awarded posthumously for his extraordinary act of courage. He sacrificed his life to rescue his cousins Harsh and Shlok from drowning in a river while playing.
Aryan Singh, 17, from Rajasthan is another remarkable recipient of the award. Singh ingeniously developed an Agrobot, an artificial intelligence-powered robot aimed at simplifying the lives of farmers by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT).
In Chhattisgarh, Armaan Ubhrani, also known as the 'Google boy', has earned the award for his outstanding prowess in mathematics and science.
At the tender age of six, Ubhrani has achieved numerous milestones, including becoming the youngest author of a book series and solving 100 multiplication sums, garnering recognition both nationally and internationally.
In the domain of art and culture, eight-year-old Anushka Pathak from Uttar Pradesh has established herself in 'Katha Vachan' (religious text narration). Following in her esteemed father's footsteps, Pathak has captivated audiences across 22 states with her performances, becoming a recognised figure in the spiritual realm.
Arijeet Banerjee, 13, from West Bengal, a prodigy in playing the traditional Pakhawaj, has made an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.
Having performed at prestigious events like the International Dhrupad Festival, Banerjee has received accolades such as the Bharat Ratna M S Subbulakshmi Fellowship and the Asia Book of Records.
Despite facing severe cerebral palsy, 13-year-old Hetvi Kantibhai Khimsuriya from Gujarat has displayed extraordinary artistic abilities, creating 250 works of free-hand painting, receiving numerous awards, and selflessly donating her monthly disability pension to support differently abled children.
Ishfaq Hamid, 12, from Jammu and Kashmir has become a maestro of Rabab and Matka, receiving accolades during various festivals and being honoured with the Bhai Mardana National Award in 2020.
Md Hussain, 16, from Bihar has excelled in handcrafted arts, winning accolades in state and national-level competitions, and even presenting his indigenous toys to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' programme.
Pendyala Laxmi Priya, 14, from Telangana is a Kuchipudi dancer, winning the Kala Utsav National Award 2023 in the classical dance category and holding titles like 'Laasyapriya'.
In the realm of innovation, 16-year-old Suhani Chauhan from Delhi has developed 'SO-APT', a solar-powered agriculture vehicle, offering an impressive solution for sustainable farming.
Despite obstacles associated with Down syndrome, nine-year-old Avnish Tiwari from Madhya Pradesh trekked Mount Everest base camp at the age of seven and received the Shresth Divyang Bal Puraskar in 2022 for his exceptional social service.
Nine-year-old Garima from Haryana, a visually impaired girl, is dedicated to providing education to underprivileged children through her initiative called 'Sakshar Pathshala'.
Jyotsna Aktar, 16, from Tripura challenges societal norms and actively fights against child marriage, advocating for education and empowering other girls in her community.
In the field of wildlife conservation, 15-year-old Saiyam Mazumder from Assam has become India's youngest snake rescuer and also cares for stray animals.
Aaditya Yadav, 12, from Uttar Pradesh is being awarded for his sports achievements. As a specially abled badminton player, Yadav has triumphed in numerous tournaments, including international championships, demonstrating resilience and excellence.
Charvi A, 9, from Karnataka, the Under-8 World Chess Champion, stands out among other awardees in the sports and games segment, securing multiple titles at both national and international levels.
Nine-year-old Jesicca Neyi Saring from Arunachal Pradesh is a highly skilled badminton champion, consistently achieving excellence in various categories.
Linthoi Chanambam, 17, from Manipur is the first Indian to clinch a judo championship in any age group, securing gold at the 2022 World Judo Cadets championship in Sarajevo.
R Surya Prasad, 9, from Andhra Pradesh, who commenced mountaineering training at the age of five, accomplished the feat of scaling Mount Kilimanjaro at the age of nine.
President Droupadi Murmu presented Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. The President said that children and youth are the leaders of the future of our country. It is our duty to make them aware of Indian culture and life values along with providing them modern education.… pic.twitter.com/7NHovQslYz
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 22, 2024
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India achieves major milestone in wind energy; capacity now 56 gigawatts: PM Modi
New Delhi (PTI): India has achieved a major milestone in wind energy, with the country's wind energy generation capacity exceeding 56 gigawatts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.
In his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat', Modi also said the country must save electricity and adopt clean energy.
“India recently achieved a major milestone in wind energy. India's wind energy generation capacity has now exceeded 56 gigawatts. In just the past year, nearly 6 gigawatts of new capacity have been added,” he said.
Underlining that solar and wind energy are essential for India's development, Modi said, “It is not just about the environment; it is about securing our future, and we all have a role to play in it.”
On April 22, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, said that India has recorded its best-ever year in wind energy capacity addition, with a historic 6.1 GW added during 2025-26.
India currently ranks fourth globally in wind energy, with more than 56.1 GW installed capacity and an additional 28 GW under implementation.
Emphasising the vast untapped potential of the sector, Joshi highlighted that India's wind energy potential at 150 metres hub height is estimated at nearly 1,164 GW.
He expressed confidence that with sustained efforts, the country will achieve 100 GW wind capacity by 2030 and 156 GW by 2036, contributing significantly to the net-zero target by 2070.
Joshi also underlined that wind energy plays a critical role in stabilising India's energy system, particularly due to its peak generation during evening and night hours, which aligns with high demand periods.
He noted that nearly 45 per cent of wind power generation occurs during peak demand hours, making it a vital complement to solar energy.
