National News
First Standard Body to Join ‘One Nation, One Standard’ Scheme: RDSO
RDSO set standards for the Indian Railway Sector, and became the first body to join the ‘One Nation, One Standard’ scheme by GOI.
RDSO, the sole R&D wing of the Railways Ministry, was recognised as a ‘Standard Developing Organisation’ by the BIS for three years.
RDSO and BIS will now jointly define the parameters to ensure quality goods and services for the Railways.
Quick Fact: RDSO Headquarters location: Lucknow; RDSO Founded: 1921.
Finance News
Revised GDP Growth Estimate by SBI Economists in FY22 to 7.9%
In the research report ‘Ecowrap’, SBI economists sharply cut the GDP growth estimates for Indian economy to 7.9% in FY22.
This was the lowest growth rate estimate for India among all analysts.
The key factor for revision in the growth estimate was the impact of the second wave of COVID-19 infections.
Quick Fact: SBI Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara; SBI Founded: 1 July 1955.
India and the World
Covid-19 variants first found in India as ‘Kappa’ and ‘Delta’ named by WHO
The UN health agency, WHO, gave easy-to-say labels to two variants of the Covid-19 first found in India.
The two variants are B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2. The B.1.617.1 variant was named as ‘Kappa’ while the B1.617.2 variant was named as ‘Delta.’
The naming of these variants is aimed at helping the public discussion about VOI/VOC.
Quick Fact: WHO President: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
National News
Justice (retd.) Vikramjit Sen appointed as the chairman of IBF
The IBF appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Vikramjit Sen as the Chairman of its self-regulatory body DMCRC.
DMCRC is formed as per the mandate of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The move was done to bring together the broadcasters and OTT (over-the-top) platforms.
Quick Fact: IBF is a unified representative body of the television broadcasters in India. Over 250 Indian television channels are associated with it.
Technology
‘AmbiTAG’ India’s First Indigenous Temperature Data Logger by IIT-Ropar
IIT Ropar in Punjab developed a first-of-its-kind IoT device that records real-time ambient temperature.
This information is particularly critical for vaccines including the Covid-19 vaccine, organs and blood transportation.
The recorded temperature helps to know whether the item transported is still usable or perished because of temperature variation.
Quick Fact: IIT Ropar Director: P K Raina.
National News
NHRC to be headed by Justice A.K. Mishra
Former Supreme Court judge, Arun Kumar Mishra, will be the new chairperson of the NHRC after a high-powered recommendation.
The selection panel consisted of PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, DC of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Mahesh Mittal Kumar and Rajiv Jain were recommended by the high-powered panel as members of the NHRC too.
Quick Fact: NHRC Jurisdiction: Government of India; NHRC Headquarters: New Delhi.
Person in News
Tata Steel’s T.V. Narendran takes over as CII president
Tata Steel Ltd CEO and MD, T.V. Narendran. took over as president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for 2021-22.
He took over the leadership from Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd MD and CEO Uday Kotak, who completed his term.
Narendran, an alumnus of the IIM Calcutta, has been associated with the CII for many years.
Quick Fact: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Founded: 1895.
Miscellaneous
Centre for World University Rankings 2021-22 announced
The Centre for World University Rankings 2021-22 announced rankings of 19,788 institutions, and those placed at the top made the global 2000 list.
Harvard University topped the ranking globally followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University.
As many as 68 Indian institutes made it to the list of the top 2000 higher education institutes across the world, as per CWUR 2021-22.
Quick Fact: Publisher of CWUR: Quacquarelli Symonds Limited, UK.
