Good morning, Bengaluru!
⛅ Today’s weather: High: 36 ℃ | Low: 22 ℃ | Partly cloudy sky.
🧐 Did you know? The Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru, a leading research institution in astronomy and related sciences, evolved from the Madras Observatory established in 1786. This observatory, originally based in Nungambakkam, Chennai, moved to Kodaikanal in 1899, and transformed into the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in 1971.
🍺 Beer sales soar in Karnataka
Summer heat boosts Karnataka’s beer consumption.
Dramatic spike: As temperatures soar across Karnataka, beer sales have spiked dramatically, with Bengaluru leading the surge. The last two weeks alone saw 23.5 lakh carton boxes of beer sold, fueled by an intense heatwave affecting the region.
- Karnataka has achieved 61% of its total April beer sales in just half the month.
- This year’s sales have increased by 30% compared to the same period last year.
The prediction: Forecasts predict continued above-normal temperatures, suggesting that beer sales may remain high throughout the summer.
🚜 AI for climate-smart farming
Cropin Technology introduces Aksara for agriculture.
Crop advice: Bengaluru-based agri-tech firm, Cropin Technology, has launched Aksara, an innovative open-source micro language model aimed at assisting farmers with actionable, crop-specific advice. This tool is designed to help farmers make informed decisions by providing localized information tailored to their specific crops and environmental conditions.
- Aksara is fine-tuned for nine key crops including paddy, wheat, and soybean, focusing on the needs of farmers in the Indian subcontinent.
- The model is a step towards enabling real-time climate data processing and suggesting practical farming interventions.
Farming insights: The introduction of Aksara could revolutionize how farmers manage crop cultivation amidst changing climatic conditions, offering insights from sowing to harvesting. As Aksara evolves, it is expected to include more crops and regions, enhancing its utility and helping farmers adapt to climate variability through smart agricultural practices.
🏢 Deloitte bolsters Bengaluru base
Deloitte opens fourth office in Bengaluru.
Local to global: Deloitte has significantly expanded its operations in Bengaluru, with the inauguration of a new office in Yemalur Village, Marathahalli. This latest addition aims to accommodate 6,000 professionals, enhancing Deloitte’s commitment to leveraging local talent and infrastructure to serve global clients.
- The new facility will focus on key technology domains such as AI, cybersecurity, and cloud services.
- It includes state-of-the-art features like an XR Studio and Innovation Labs, inaugurated by Lara Abrash, Chair of Deloitte US.
AI education: This expansion is part of Deloitte’s broader strategy to enhance its technological capabilities and training, including a $2 billion investment in AI education and development through its AI Academy.
🚰 Aerators demand soars
Spike in aerator demand amidst Bengaluru water crisis.
What’s it about? Following a mandate by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), there’s a sudden surge in demand for water tap aerators in Bengaluru. The BWSSB’s decision, aimed at addressing severe water shortages, required bulk users to install these devices by the end of March, with penalties for non-compliance.
- Aerators, which can reduce tap water flow from 10 litres to 3 litres per minute, have led to a 30-40% drop in water consumption.
- Despite the successful installation of around four lakh aerators, suppliers struggle to meet the soaring demand, jumping from 300 to thousands monthly.
Other efforts: The BWSSB is also enhancing its water conservation efforts by increasing treated water capacity and planning long-term measures such as lake refilling and rainwater harvesting improvements. Additionally, an AI chatbot for handling water-related grievances is set to launch soon, further aiding the city’s water management efforts.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Is your permanent residence in Bengaluru?
- My permanent residence is in Bengaluru.
- My permanent residence is not in Bengaluru.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
Which sport do you play regularly these days?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- The chairman of Quess Corp has purchased a property in Bengaluru for ₹67.5 crore.
- Haldiram’s Nagpur opened its 14th restaurant in Bengaluru in Malleshwaram.
- The ‘Surya Tilak’ project, which illuminated the forehead of the Ram Lalla idol on Ram Navami, was designed by a team from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru.
- The Bengaluru civic body has requested tech firms to grant a paid holiday on voting day.
- Namma Metro plans to construct a pedestrian bridge at Challaghatta station in Bengaluru.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- I like pineapple on pizza: 50.0% 🏆
- I don’t like pineapple on pizza: 50.0% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!