‘Space was easier’: Astronaut Shukla quips about Bengaluru traffic at tech summit
Bengaluru (PTI): Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Thursday made a light-hearted remark about the city's relentless traffic during the tech summit here.
Group Captain Shukla is an Indian Air Force officer and test pilot. He is one of four astronauts selected and trained for India’s first manned mission, Gaganyaan, slated for launch in 2027.
Taking the stage before a packed audience at the Bengaluru Tech Summit, Shukla joked that his commute from Marathahalli to the venue took three times longer than his scheduled speech.
"I’m coming all the way from the other side of Bengaluru, Marathahalli. I have spent thrice the time that I am going to be spending on this presentation with you. So you have to look at the commitment that I have," he said.
Responding to the comment during his closing-day address, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge quipped, "Shubhanshu Shukla said it was easier for him to get from space to Bengaluru, but getting from Marathahalli to this venue was difficult."
Kharge added that the government would ensure such delays do not recur.
The Future Makers Conclave, one of the most engaging sessions of this year’s Bengaluru Tech Summit, drew thousands of participants and featured a strong lineup of creators, innovators, founders, athletes and thought leaders.
Speakers included Shukla, entrepreneur-author Ankur Warikoo, Zepto co-founder Kaivalya Vohra, mind reader Suhani Shah, six-time Grand Slam champion Sania Mirza, and India wicketkeeper-batter and ICC World Cup champion Richa Ghosh.
The 28th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit, themed 'Futurise', organised by the Department of Electronics, IT & BT, Government of Karnataka, concluded at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).
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SC slams freebies culture, says states should open avenues for employment
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the freebies culture, saying it was high time to revisit such policies that hamper the country's economic development.
Taking note of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd's plea, which proposed to provide free electricity to all irrespective of financial status of consumers, the top court said it was quite understandable if states hand-hold the poor.
“Most of the states in the country are revenue deficit states and yet they are offering such freebies” overlooking development, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said.
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The bench said economic development of the nation gets hampered with this kind of largesse distribution and states should work to open avenues for employment instead of giving free food, cycles, electricity to all.
The top court, however, issued notice to Centre and others on the plea of the DMK government-led power distribution firm which proposes to provide free electricity.
The power firm has challenged a rule of the Electricity Amendment Rules, 2024.
“What kind of culture are we developing in India? It is understandable that as part of the welfare measure you want to provide to those who are incapable of pay the electricity charges,” the bench asked.
“But without drawing a distinction between those who can afford and those who cannot, you start distributing. Will it not amount to an appeasing policy,” the CJI asked.
The bench asked as to why the Tamil Nadu firm suddenly decided to loosen the purse strings after the electricity tariff was notified.
“The states should work to open avenues for employment. If you start giving free food from morning to evening then free cycle, then free electricity then who will work and then what will happen to the work culture,” the CJI said.
The bench said states, instead of spending on development projects, do two jobs - paying salaries and distributing such largesse.
