1.Miscellaneous
Jharkhand govt bans Pan Masala for 1 year on health concerns
The state government has banned 11 premium brands of pan masala
This has been done on the suspicion that they contain magnesium carbonate which can cause acute hyper magnesia and cardiac arrest
The move would also contain spread of COVID-19
2.Defence and Security
Defence Ministry signs pact with Tata Power to modernise 37 Airfields
The Rs. 1200 crore deal aims to modernise 37 airfields for the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
The project is a turnkey project that includes installation and commissioning of modern airfield equipment.
This up-gradation would enhance the operational capability by facilitating air operations even in poor visibility and adverse weather conditions while enhancing aerospace safety.
3.India and the World
India launches Mission Sagar
‘Mission Sagar’ is in line with India’s role as the first responder in the East Indian Ocean region
As part of it, Indian Naval Ship Kesari has departed for Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, to provide food items and COVID related medicines.
This step is for Prime Minister’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region, i.e. ‘SAGAR’.
4.National Affairs
Department of Consumer Affairs launches Suraksha Store Initiative
The Department of Consumer Affairs has partnered with a StartUps Safejob and Seekify for this initiative.
The initiative aims to educate owners of Kirana stores about COVID-19, related protocols and safety guidelines.
The protocols and safety guidelines have been developed by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).
Arogya Setu app would be used to find a store that is operated under the initiative.
5.Science and Technology
COVID KAVACH: India’s first indigenous ELISA Test Kit for COVID-19
The National Institute of Virology and ICMR have developed an antibody detection kit for COVID-19.
COVID Kavach will test the presence of IGg antibodies in blood samples.
Compared to other kits, COVID Kavach is sensitive, cost-effective, rapid and requires minimum biosafety and biosecurity requirements.
Gujarat based Zydus Cadila will be producing the kits on a large scale.
Quick Fact: ELISA is Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay and is considered the gold standard test for HIV.
6.National Affairs
Birth rate, death rate and IMR data for 2018 released by Registrar General of India
As per the data, in India:
- birth rate is 20 (Highest in Bihar, Lowest in Andaman and Nicobar)
- death rate is 6.2 (Highest in Chhattisgarh, Lowest in Delhi)
- infant mortality rate is 32 (Highest in Madhya Pradesh, lowest in Nagaland)
Data for these annual estimates is collected via Sample Registration System (SRS)
Quick Fact: SRS is a mix of field investigation and demographic surveys where continuous enumeration of deaths and births takes place, alongside 6-monthly surveys conducted by Anganwadi workers.
7. Science and Technology
DHRUVs: UV based Sanitizer developed by DRDO to sanitize phones
Research Centre Imarat (RCI) of DRDO has developed Defence Research Ultraviolet Sanitizer (DHRUVS).
DHRUV is a contactless ultraviolet sanitization cabinet that sanitizes electronic gadgets through 360 degrees UV ray exposure.
Short wavelength (200-300nm) UV rays are generally germicidal and inhibit DNA/RNA replication by reacting with its nucleic acid.
Quick Fact: Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) is the technology where UV rays are used as a disinfectant.
