Shri Shripad Naik inaugurates conference on Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Technologies

1.WHO advises 140 tests per day per million population

The World Health Organization released its Guidance Note on Public Health Criteria to adjust Public Health and Social Measures.Under the guidance note, the organization advised comprehensive surveillance for suspected cases.WHO advises that a country has to conduct 140 COVID-19 tests per day per million population.With the various coordinated efforts made by the Centre and the States/UTs, 22 States/UTs in India are already conducting 140 and more tests per day per million.With 865 labs in the government sector and 358 private labs, the total number of testing labs is 1223, as on date.In addition to the gold standard for a test, RT PCR, TrueNat and CBNAAT are also used to augment this facility.During the last 24 hours, 3,20,161 samples have been tested.The testing per million for India is consistently rising. Today it has touched 8994.7.

2.Government nod for ₹300 crore emergency defence procurement

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has decided to entrust capital procurement powers to the Armed Forces.This decision came out after Meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council which was headed by Defence Mantri Rajnath Singh.After this, the Armed Forces will get instant Capital Acquisition Cases upto Rs 300 crores to complete their emergent operational requirements.These powers will help to decrease the procurement timelines of Armed Forces.

3.Indian Railways creates ‘post-Covid coach’ to ensure safer journey

Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, has developed a “post-Covid Coach” to fight the virus.This post-Covid Coach has design improvements like handsfree amenities, copper-coated handrails and latches, plasma air purification and titanium di-oxide coating for Covid free journey.One of the salient features is hands free amenities which include foot operated water tap and soap dispenser, foot operated lavatory door (outside), foot operated flush valve, foot operated latches in lavatory door, outside wash basin with foot operated water tap and soap dispenser and forearm operated handle on compartment door.The coach will be equipped with copper-coated handrails and latches because copper degrades the virus and lands on it within a few hours.When the virus lands on copper, ion blasts pathogens and destroys the DNA and RNA inside the virus.

4.Government to allow Invalid Pension to Armed Forces Personnel with less than 10 years of qualifying service

Government has decided to allow Invalid Pension to Armed Forces Personnel with less than ten years of qualifying service.This pension is granted to the Armed Forces Personnel who is invalided out of service on account of disability which is accepted as Neither Attributable to Nor aggravated (NANA) by Military Service.It will be available to those Armed Forces Personnel who were in service on or after 4th January 2019.Earlier, the minimum period of qualifying service actually rendered and required for invalid pension was ten years or more.

5.Indian Railways’ 1st cable-stayed rail bridge, Anji Khad bridge

Indian Railways’ Anji Khad Bridge Project is a big milestone for a better and more connected India.The country’s “first cable-stayed” Indian Railways bridge, the magnificent Anji Khad Bridge will soon connect Katra and Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir.The ambitious project of Indian Railways is being constructed with superior technology and engineering excellence.The country’s first cable-stayed railway bridge is being developed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, which is a Government of India undertaking.The cable-stayed railway bridge is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.

6.Shri Shripad Naik inaugurates conference on Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Technologies

Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Yesso Naik has inaugurated the 5th edition of the conference on “Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Technologies“.The conference was held with the theme Empowering India with ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Mission’.Tamil Nadu Technology Development & Promotion Centre (TNTDPC) jointly organised the conference with Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).The Aerospace and Defence industry in India has been projected to reach around 70 billion Dollar by 2030.

7.AAI, BEL sign MoU for co-operation in civil aviation sector

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), to collaborate in tapping emerging global opportunities in the airport business, including those in the Asia-Pacific region.AAl, playing the role of a development partner, will assist BEL in its domain of expertise to enable execution of the prestigious MEA projects outside India by BEL.The manufacturing of Communication, Navigation & Surveillance (CNS) equipment in India will reduce the cost substantially and will save foreign exchange outflow, paving the way for an “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.

8.NABARD extends grant assistance of Rs 221.89 cr to support 298 watershed projects in Karnataka

In Karnataka, NABARD has extended a grant assistance of 221.89 crore rupees to support 298 watershed projects in over three lakh hectares benefitting 66,500 families.The State has about 75 percent of rainfed area.The projects have resulted in improving the crop productivity, diversification, soil and water conservation and socio-economic condition of the beneficiaries.To mitigate the COVID 19 impact on rural population, NABARD has released 2200 crore rupees in the state to the Co-operative and Regional Rural Banks under a special line of credit over and above the normal limits.

9.Mukesh Ambani becomes 6th richest man in the world, surpasses Larry Page

Reliance Industries Limited Chairman Mukesh Ambani has become the sixth richest man in the world after surpassing Alphabet Co-founder Larry Page, according to data on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index (BBI).Ambani’s real-time net worth has increased by $ 2.17 billion to 72.4 billion.Ambani, who was the richest man in India and Asia, is now close to entering the elite club of the world’s top five billionaires.According to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ambani’s net worth now stands at $72.4 billion (Rs 5.44 lakh crore) after a rise of $2.17 billion.In terms of net worth, Ambani is behind American businessman Steve Ballmer who is placed fifth on the list with a net worth of $74.6 billion.