Mumbai becomes first city in India to have female icons on traffic signals

1.World Biofuel Day: 10 August

Every year 10th August is observed as World Biofuel Day.It is observed to raise awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and highlight the various efforts made by the Government in the biofuel sector.They are renewable, biodegradable, sustainable and environment friendly fuel.It can be seen as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.Biofuels have the benefits of reducing import dependency on crude oil, cleaner environment, additional income to farmers and employment generation in rural areas.

2.BCG vaccine stimulates immune responses against Covid-19: Study

A study published in Cell Reports Medicine stated that BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin), a vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) disease, is effective to contain multiple infectious diseases including Covid-19 by evoking immune responses.The study was conducted on people who have received a BCG vaccine in the past five years (before the coronavirus pandemic). It showed that the vaccine is safe and induces immune responses.The study found that those who received the BCG vaccine did not fall ill more often or become critical during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands.However, researchers warned that the study has its own limitations and should not be used to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the BCG vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2.Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is a vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis (TB).In countries where TB or leprosy is common, one dose is recommended in healthy babies as close to the time of birth as possible.

3.India bans import of 101 defence items

India announced a negative arms imports list, under which acquisition of 101 weapon systems and platforms from abroad will be progressively banned from December 2020 to December 2025.It was announced in a bid to bolster the fledgling domestic defence production sector.The decision has been made to provide opportunity to the defence industries of the country to manufacture items in the embargoed list.The negative list of 101 items has been chosen carefully by the services, and at least a third of these items – including corvettes and frigates for the Navy and multi-barrel rocket launchers for the Army – are already being produced in India.

4.FSSAI restricted the sale of junk food within 50 metres of school campus

With the aim to ensure safe and wholesome food for school children, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has restricted the sale of junk and unhealthy food in canteens of schools and other educational institutions.Besides this, the food regulator has prohibited the sale and advertisement of unhealthy food within 50 metres of the school premises.The idea is to provide safe food and a balanced diet for children in schools.Foods which are referred to as foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) cannot be sold to schoolchildren in school canteens or mess premises or hostel kitchens or within 50 metres of the school campus.

5.KVIC to set up the first Silk Training cum Production Center in Arunachal Pradesh

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission is to set up the first of its kind training cum production centre of silk in the tribal village of Chullyu in Arunachal Pradesh.The centre is to be launched in the first week of September, 2020.The KVIC will provide machinery such as handlooms, warping drums and silk reeling machines.The centre is to provide training to 25 local artisans and will boost weaving activities in the region.

6.Mumbai becomes first city in India to have female icons on traffic signals

Mumbai has become the first city in India to have women symbols on traffic signals and signage.Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has installed traffic signals that display female icons sporting triangular frock, a shift from the default representation of men.Aditya Thackery, Minister for Tourism and Environment termed that the signage is “ensuring gender equality with a simple idea.”While a first in India, countries like Germany and Australia started marking female icons in traffic signage in 2014 and 2017, respectively.

7.Mumbai municipal corporation to start pilot project to use voice analysis to detect Covid -19

The Municipal corporation of Greater Mumbaiwill start using a voice sampling method to diagnose Covid-19 at one of its jumbo facilities in Mumbai.Although, this will be on pilot basis but the app based tool will soon be introduced in other hospitals as well..The audio based app can find a person’s Covid 19 status from the voice’s timbre.Such voice based apps or tools have been tested across the world.A suspected patient will be asked to speak into a cell phone or computer, where the voice analysis app has been uploaded.The patient’s vital parameters will also be taken. The sample will be compared with the voice of a person not suffering from Covid 19 to provide an analysis.

8.After dry chillies Indian Railways to transport denim and dyes to Bangladesh from Gujarat

Indian Railways’ Western Railway Zone has achieved a unique record after deciding to run a parcel train from Ahmedabad division in Gujarat to neighbouring country Bangladesh.The train is to carry denim cloth, dyes and colours. This is to generate a revenue of Rs 31 lakhs.The train is to traverse 2,110 km to reach Benapole in Bangladesh.Earlier, the Indian Railways operated the first ever special parcel train to Bangladesh transporting dry chillies from Andhra Pradesh.

9.PM Modi inaugurates submarine Optical Fibre Cable connecting Chennai, Port Blair

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and dedicated the nation’s submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connecting Chennai and Port Blair through video conferencing.The foundation stone for the project was laid by Mr Modi on 30th December 2018 at Port Blair.The submarine cable will also connect Port Blair to Swaraj Dweep, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Great Nicobar, Long Island, and Rangat.This connectivity will enable delivery of faster and more reliable mobile and landline telecom services to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.Once inaugurated, the submarine Optical Fibre Cable link will deliver bandwidth of 2×200 Gigabits per second, Gbps between Chennai and Port Blair, and 2×100 Gbps between Port Blair and the other islands.About 2,300 Kilometers of Submarine Optical Fibre Cable has been laid at a cost of about 1 thousand 2 hundred 24 Crore rupees and the project has been completed in time.

10.Delhi Airport launches ‘Air Suvidha’, an online portal for international passengers

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has developed a first-of-its-kind web portal named ‘AIR SUVIDHA’.This portal is meant for India-bound international arriving flyers, to enable them to fill the mandatory self- declaration form.Eligible passengers can also apply online for exemption from mandatory institution quarantine process.The AIR SUVIDHA portal will make traveling contactless as the passengers won’t have to fill physical copies of self declaration and quarantine exemption forms when they arrive in India.

11.Flipkart signs MoU with UP government’s one District, One Product scheme

E-commerce marketplace Flipkart has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme of the Uttar Pradesh government.The scheme aims to bring artisans, weavers and craftsmen into mainstream business.The partnership will enable these under-served communities to showcase their specialised products and crafts to millions of customers across the country.The initiative called `Flipkart Samarth` will help support the including benefits in the form of on-boarding, free cataloguing, marketing, account management, business insights and warehousing support.

12.Golfer Chawrasia tests positive for Covid-19

Ace Indian golfer SSP Chawrasia has tested positive for Covid-19 and is in home quarantine.A four-time winner on the European Tour, including back-to-back Indian Open triumphs in 2016 and 2017, Chawrasia had started training at the Royal Calcutta Golf Course and was slated to fly to England this week.He is a four-time winner on the European Tour, including back-to-back Indian Open triumphs in 2016 and 2017.