Published on: August 9, 2024
Snippets : 9 AUGUST 2024
Snippets : 9 AUGUST 2024
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has cleared the production of 200 Astra air-to-air missiles, designed and developed by DRDO and manufactured by BDL, for its Su-30 and LCA Tejas fighter aircraft, boasting advanced features like beyond-visual-range capability, hypersonic speed, active radar homing, and high single-shot kill probability, making it one of the best in its class globally.
- International Clouded Leopard Day falls on August 4
- The yen carry trade, a trading strategy involving borrowing at a low interest rate in Japan and investing in higher-yielding assets abroad, contributed to the recent sharp decline in global stock markets, as investors borrowed yen at zero interest rates and invested in foreign assets, such as stocks and bonds, seeking higher returns, but were forced to unwind their positions as markets fell, exacerbating the decline
- The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) will train 2,100 tribal students in semiconductor technology over three years, providing basic training to 1,500 and advanced training to 600 students, under a program initiated by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and conducted by IISc’s Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE)
- The Union Health Ministry has decided to do away with the current regulatory practice of clinical trials for imported medicines if the manufacturers receive approvals in the USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada and EU for their new drugs
- China has discovered the world’s first major shallow gas field in the disputed South China Sea, estimated to contain over 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas, which is expected to escalate tensions in the region, where multiple countries have competing claims, and is a significant find for China’s natural gas reserves and production.
- BBMP’s Suraksha 75 project aims to redevelop 75 traffic junctions to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow at a cost of ₹100 crore. The project was initiated in 2023 in collaboration with the World Resources Institute. The objectives are to improve pedestrian safety, streamline traffic flow, and reduce congestion. Three junctions have been transformed as part of a pilot project. Design partners and urban architects were brought on board to focus on safety elements like raised pedestrian crossings and proper road markings. Multiple stakeholder workshops were conducted to review draft DPRs. Interventions at each junction are unique and pragmatic. The aim is to complete work at all 75 junctions by end of 2024.
- QCI Surajya Recognition & Ranking Framework launched to drive excellence among states for a Viksit Bharat + Categorized under four pillars: Shiksha (Education), Swasthya (Health), Samriddhi (Prosperity), and Sushasan (Governance) + Aims to enhance quality of education, guarantee superior healthcare, drive economic prosperity, and ensure transparent governance + Uttar Pradesh leads in Shiksha Rankings, Chhattisgarh and others excel in Swasthya Rankings + Gujarat, Karnataka, and Rajasthan lead in Samriddhi Rankings
- The Union Health Ministry has released the first-ever SOPs for the transport of human organs + Aims to maximize utilization and streamline processes for organ transport + Guidelines cover air, road, railways, and waterways for organ transport + Priority take-off and landing for flights carrying organs, and green corridors for seamless road transport + Nodal officer from police department to handle issues related to green corridor creation + Priority transit for metro carrying live human organs, with security staff escorting the clinical team + Guidelines for transport of organs through ports via shipping also issued + SOPs developed in consultation with NITI Aayog, concerned ministries, and transplant professionals.
- Reserve Bank of India keeps key policy interest rates unchanged for 9th time in a row + Repo rate remains at 6.5%, SDF rate at 6.25%, MSF rate and Bank Rate at 6.75% + RBI aims to bring headline retail inflation down to 4% on a sustainable basis + CPI inflation for 2024-25 projected at 4.5%, assuming a normal monsoon + Headline inflation increased to 5.1% in June 2024, driven by food component + India’s GDP projected to grow by 7.2% in current financial year + Real GDP growth for first quarter of 2025-26 projected at 7.2% + MPC decides to maintain status quo with a majority of 4:2 to ensure inflation aligns to medium-term target.
- WHO releases list of Priority Pathogens and Emerging Threats, including COVID-19, Sarbecovirus, Nipah, Ebola, and others.Over 30 pathogens identified as priorities for surveillance and medical countermeasures. WHO’s Pathogens Prioritisation Report provides framework for epidemic and pandemic research preparedness. Result of work by over 200 scientists from 54 countries, evaluating 28 viral families and one core group of bacteria. Priority pathogens list includes viruses and bacteria that cause plague, cholera, pneumonia, dysentery, and non-typhoidal salmonella. Regional priorities vary, with Southeast Asia focusing on bacterial pathogens like cholera and dysentery. Surveillance and monitoring are crucial for tracking changes in priority pathogens. WHO aims to enhance global preparedness for epidemics and pandemics through this report.
