National
India's first e-vehicle friendly highway
⇒ Recently, the Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey inaugurated Solar Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station at Karnal Lake Resort, Karnal.
The Delhi-Chandigarh Highway has become the first e-vehicle friendly highway in the country with a network of Solar-based Electric Vehicle Charging stations (SEVCs).
Set up by:
It has been set up by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited under the FAME-1 [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) & Electric Vehicles in India] scheme of the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
World’s first DNA based vaccine for COVID-19
⇒ Zydus Cadila has received approval for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for ZyCoV-D on 20 August 2021.
This is the world’s first and India’s indigenously developed DNA based vaccine for COVID-19 to be administered in humans including Children and adults 12 years and above.
35th edition of Hyderabad Sailing Week
⇒ 35th edition of Hyderabad Sailing Week Yachting Association of India (YAI) Sailing Championship organised at Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad from 13 August to 19 August, 2021.
120 sailors from all over India participated in the competition in this national ranking event. The Laser Standard, 4.7 and Radial class of boats were used in the event.
This National event in the Laser Class of boats – which is an Olympic class, for both men and women, is being conducted regularly since 1986.
All Women Tri-Services Mountaineering Team
⇒ As a part of commemorative activities for ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’, Indian Air Force had flagged off an All Women Tri-Services Mountaineering Team on 01 Aug 21 from Air Force Station, New Delhi. The 15-member expedition team was led by Wing Commander Bhavana Mehra of the Indian Air Force.
The team successfully summited Mt Manirang (21,625 ft) on 15 August 2021. Mt Manirang is one of the highest peaks of Himachal Pradesh, nestled at the border of Kinnaur & Spiti districts.
Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard fighter aircraft
⇒ Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force against hostile radar threats.
Defence Laboratory Jodhpur, a DRDO laboratory developed the advanced Chaff material and chaff cartridge-118/I in collaboration with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, a Pune based laboratory of DRDO, meeting qualitative requirements of IAF.
International
5th meeting of BRICS Industry Ministers
⇒ Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal chaired the “5th meeting of BRICS Industry Ministers” Meeting under the Chairship of India on 18 August 2021.
Participants:
The Industry Ministers of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa) and delegates attended the virtual meeting.
India’s theme for this year’s Chairship:
India chose the theme of ‘BRICS@15: Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus’ for its Chairship, this year.
Discussion:
» During the meeting, India’s efforts of channelizing technology towards good and smart governance thus increasing transparency and accountability, were highlighted.
» The Ministers of the BRICS countries also discussed the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the field of trade and industry.
» They agreed on the need to build human resources in line with the changing requirements accelerated by the new emerging technology to promote training and skills development of the related workforce and businesses through workshops, seminars, and exchange programs.
» They expressed their intention to collaborate with the New Development Bank (NDB). India expressed the desire to expand the horizon of NDB for strengthening social infrastructure.
SCO Culture Ministers Meeting
⇒ Minister of State for Culture, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal participated in the SCO Culture Ministers Meeting on 18 August, 2021 hosted by Tajikistan during their ongoing Chairship of SCO in 2021.
Key highlights of Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal’s Address:
» MoS, Culture cited India’s initiatives of online exhibition on ‘Shared Buddhist Heritage’ and translation of Indian Classics in official languages of SCO (Russian and Chinese).
» Shri Meghwal appreciated the efforts of Tajikistan for their proposals for Agreements on cooperation in the field of Protection of Cultural Heritage.
Discussion:
» The development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, prospects for cooperation in the field of culture within the SCO, including in the post-pandemic period and importance of cultural cooperation within the SCO, which has enormous potential for strengthening inter-state understanding.
» The Ministers of Culture of SCO Member States discussed and agreed upon the draft Agreements on cultural cooperation in the field of Protection of Cultural Heritage and the Vocational Education in Culture and Arts.
At the end of the meeting, the Regulations on Gala Concert of the Arts Festival of SCO Member States was agreed upon and signed by all Heads of Delegations of SCO Member States.