1. CHEMISTRY NOBEL PRIZE 2021
Two scientists have been awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on building molecules that are mirror images of one another.
About:
- German-born Benjamin List and Briton David MacMillan (Born in Bellshill, United Kingdom and Professor at Princeton University, USA) were announced as the winners at an event in Stockholm.
- Their chemical toolkit has been used for discovering new drugs and making molecules that can capture light in solar cells. The winners will share the prize money of 10 million Swedish kroner (1,135.54 million US Dollars).
- The technique, called asymmetric organocatalysis, has made it much easier to produce asymmetric molecules - chemicals that exist in two versions, where one is a mirror image of the other.
- Chemists often just want one of these mirror images - particularly when producing medicines - but it has been difficult to find efficient methods for doing this.
Source : All India Radio
2. MUDRA TOOLBOX
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released the Multilingual Dementia Research and Assessment (MUDRA) Toolbox in five Indian languages - Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
About:
- MUDRA Toolbox is a comprehensive tool specifically to diagnose dementia in the Indian population.
- ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava said that the toolbox includes various cognitive tests to assess different domains of cognition such as attention and executive function, memory, language, and visuospatial functions.
- It is a unique tool consisting of various tests and questionnaires and is sensitive to the factors that affect performance on cognitive tests including education, language and culture.
- MUDRA Toolbox is an initiative undertaken by ICMR Neuro-Cognitive Tool Box (ICMR -NCTB) consortium to transform India's dementia and mild cognitive impairment research and clinical practices.
- It is a collective effort by seven leading centres in India NIMHANS (Bengaluru), AIIMS (New Delhi), SCTIMST (Thiruvananthapuram), NIMS (Hyderabad), Apollo Hospital (Kolkata), Manipal Hospital (Bengaluru) and Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College
Source : All India Radio
3. ANTI-MALARIAL VACCINE
In a historic move, the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the first anti-malarial vaccine.
About:
- The WHO said that it was recommending the use of the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission.
- The WHO’s recommendation was based on the results from an ongoing pilot programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.
- The development comes at a time when the WHO and its partners have reported a stagnation in the progress against the disease that kills more than 2,60,000 African children under the age of five annually.
- Malaria remains a primary cause of childhood illness and death in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The vaccine does significantly reduce life-threatening severed malaria, but It’s not the only tool. Vaccination against #malaria does not replace or reduce the need for other measures, including bed nets against mosquitoes.
- Using this vaccine on top of existing tools to prevent malaria could save tens of thousands of young lives each year.
Source : The Hindu
4. PRADHAN MANTRI BHARTIYA JANAUSHADHI PARIYOJANA (PMBJP)
Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) has completed the target of opening of 8,300 Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) for the FY 2021-22 before end of September, 2021.
About:
- All the districts of the country have been covered under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
- Government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,000 by March 2024. As on 5th October, 2021, the number of stores has increased to 8355.
- These kendras will ensure easy access of affordable medicine to the people in every nook and corner of the country.
- Product basket of PMBJP presently comprises 1,451 drugs and 240 surgical instruments. Further, new medicines and nutraceutical products like glucometer, protein powder, malt-based food supplements, protein bar, immunity bar, etc. have been launched.
- “Janaushadhi Sugam” a mobile application for Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) facilitates the public by providing a digital platform at the tip of their fingers.
- Under the Scheme, medicines are procured from World Health Organization – Good Manufacturing Practices (WHO-GMP) certified suppliers for ensuring the quality of the products.
- Apart from this, each batch of drug is tested at laboratories accredited by ‘National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories’ (NABL). Only after passing the quality tests, the medicines are dispatched to PMBJP Kendras.
- Medicines available under PMBJP are priced 50%-90% less than that of branded prices.
Source : PIB
5. PM MITRA
To position India strongly on the Global textiles map, the Government of India has approved the setting up of 7 PM MITRA parks as announced in Union Budget for 2021-22.
About:
- PM MITRA is inspired by the 5F vision of Prime Minister Modi. The '5F' Formula encompasses - Farm to fibre; fibre to factory; factory to fashion; fashion to foreign.
- The 7 Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks (PM MITRA) will be setup at Greenfield / Brownfield sites located in different willing States.
Important Info :
The PM MITRA parks will have following:
- Core Infrastructure: Incubation Centre & Plug & Play facility, Developed Factory Sites, Roads, Power, Water and Waste Water system, Common Processing House & CETP and other related facilities e.g. Design Centre, Testing Centres etc.
- Support Infrastructure: Workers’ hostels & housing, logistics park, warehousing, medical, training & skill development facilities.
Source : PIB
6. JACKFRUIT
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated exports of the first consignment of various value-added and nutri-rich products derived from Jackfruit, Passion fruit and Nutmeg (Jaiphal) sourced from farmers in Thrissur, Kerala, to Melbourne, Australia.
About:
- These products have a shelf life of more than one year. APEDA is promoting exports of value-added and health products as part of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s aim for achieving $ 400 billion merchandise exports by 2021-22.
- Jackfruit, originated in WesternGhats, was declared the state fruit of Kerala in March, 2018. The largest tree borne fruit is dense in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
- The tropical fruit is the popular meat substitute among vegans due to its protein content. In addition to the use of fruit, seed and pulp, Jackfruit leaves, bark, inflorescence and latex are used in traditional medicines too.
- The major export destinations of Jackfruit are Singapore, Nepal, Qatar, Germany etc.
- Passion fruit is a nutritious tropical fruit rich in antioxidants, vitamins and fiber. It is a beneficial fruit with a healthful nutrition profile important for skin, vision & immune system.
Source : PIB
7. CENTRAL ASIAN FLYWAY (CAF)
The two day Online Meeting of 30 range countries of Central Asian Flyway began with a resolve to strengthen the conservation actions for migratory birds and their habitats in the Central Asian Flyway.
About:
- Central Asian Flyway (CAF) covers a large area of Eurasia between the Arctic and Indian Oceans.
- This flyway comprises several important migration routes of birds.
- Including India, there are 30 countries under the Central Asian Flyway.
- At the 13th meeting of the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), held at Gandhinagar in February, 2020, a resolution (UNEP/CMS/Resolution 12.11 (Rev.COP13) and Decision 13.46 were adopted initer-alia providing for establishing, by COP14, under the umbrella of CMS an institutional framework, under the leadership of India with the aim to agree on conservation action for migratory birds.
- With a view to fulfill its commitment, India is organizing two day online meeting on 6th -7th October 2021 with CAF Range Countries, anchored in Wildlife Institute of India.
- Approximately one in five of the world's 11,000 bird species migrate, some covering enormous distances. Conserving migratory birds requires cooperation and coordination along the entire flyway between countries and across national boundaries.
Source : PIB
8. PRODUCTIVITY LINKED BONUS (PLB) SCHEME FOR THE RAILWAYS
The Union Cabinet approved the Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days' wages for the financial year 2020-21 for all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel).
About:
- About 11.56 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees are likely to benefit from the decision. Payment of PLB to eligible railway employees is made each year before the Dusshera/ Puja holidays. The decision of the Cabinet shall be implemented before the holidays for this year as well.
- Railways were the first departmental undertaking of the Government of India wherein the concept of PLB was introduced in the year 1979-80.
- The PLB Scheme for the Railways came into force from the year 1979-80 and was evolved in consultation with the two recognized Federations namely, All India Railwaymen's Federation and National Federation of Indian Railwaymen and with the approval of the Cabinet. The scheme envisages a review every three years.
Source : PIB
9. SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION (STI) HUBS
Union Minister of Science & Technology Jitendra Singh today said that the Government will be setting up 75 Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs in different parts of the country, exclusively for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
About:
- This will not only promote scientific talent but also contribute to socio-economic development of these communities.
- Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Hubs being established by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) will develop, nurture and ensure the delivery of appropriate and relevant technologies for inclusive socio-economic development through creation of sustainable livelihoods for the SC and ST population in tune to their growing aspirations.
- The training and skill development programmes under the STI Hubs will build the Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Capacities and Capabilities among SC/ST population.
- The STI Hubs also improve the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) through inputs of S&T and converting them to appropriate technologies for creating better livelihood options, he added.
- In the last two years, 20 STI Hubs (13 for SCs and 7 for STs) have already been established by DST which will directly benefit 20,000 SC and ST population through various interventions spreading across farm, non-farm, other allied livelihood sectors and various livelihoods assets like energy, water, health, education, etc.
STI hubs will have mainly three-fold objectives:
- To address the weakest linkages in the predominant livelihood systems through Science & Technology (S&T) interventions;
- Creation of social enterprises based on the strengths in livelihood systems; and
- To improve the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) through inputs of S&T for strengthening the livelihoods.
Source : PIB
10. MAHALAYA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of Mahalaya.
About:
- Mahalaya marks the beginning of the Devipaksha and the end of the Pitrupaksha according to Hindu calendar. Pitru Paksha is a 16-lunar day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors through shradh prayers and food offerings.
- In Bengal, Mahalaya marks the beginning of Durga Puja festivities. Mahalaya is the day when the goddess Durga is believed to have descended to Earth.
- Bengali people traditionally wake up early in the morning on Mahalaya to recite hymns from the Devi Mahatmya (Chandi) scripture. Offerings to the ancestors are made in homes and at puja mandaps (temporary shrines).
Source : PIB