National
First-of-its-kind initiative 'FIRE'
⇒ Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body of Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with Intel India launched the first-of-its-kind initiative called ‘Fund for Industrial Research Engagement (FIRE)’.
A first-of-its-kind research initiative has been launched on 29 June 2021 to advance deep tech-based research in India.
It will increase research opportunities in the space of Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML), platform systems, circuits & architecture, Internet of Things (IoT), materials & devices, security, and so on from edge to cloud.
The FIRE program is a joint government and industry initiative with a co-funding mechanism to promote innovative technology solutions and strengthen academic research through collaboration with key research and development (R&D) organizations in India.
India’s first 3D printed house at IIT, Madras
⇒ Recently, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the India’s first 3D printed house at IIT, Madras.
The single-storey house has one bedroom, hall and kitchen, developed with ‘Concrete 3D Printing” technology.
Chennai-based TVASTA Manufacturing Solutions built it on a concept by former IIT-M students. It was developed in association with Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Centre for Innovation in Shelter.
International
New US Chargé d’Affaires in India
⇒ Recently, the US State Department announced the appointment of Atul Keshap, a senior Foreign Service officer with years of experience in South Asia, as Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, in New Delhi.
Mr Keshap also served as Deputy Assistance Secretary for South Asia and was posted previously to the American Embassy in New Delhi.
MoU Between ICMR & NHRC
⇒ The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Indian Council of Medical Research, India and the Nepal Health Research Council, Nepal in 17 November 2020 and 4 January 2021 respectively. The Union Cabinet approves MoU between India and Nepal in the field of Health Research.
Objective:
The objectives of this MOU are collaboration on joint research activities of mutual interest such as:
Cross-border health issues, Ayurveda/traditional medicine and medicinal plants, climate change and health, non-communicable diseases, mental Health, Population based cancer registry, tropical diseases, etc.
MoU Between ICMR & DMR
⇒ The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Indian Council of Medical Research, India and the Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sports of Myanmar, in New Delhi in February 2020. The Union Cabinet approves MoU between India and Myanmar in the field of health research.
Objective:
The objective of this MoU is to build on the health research relationship in the topics of mutual research.
The main objectives are:
- Elimination of infectious diseases
- Development of network platform of emerging and viral infections
- Training /capacity building in research methodology management, clinical trials, ethics etc
- Harmonization of regulatory mechanism
Israel's first embassy in Abu Dhabi
⇒ During two-day visit of UAE, Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met the UAE’s foreign minister in Abu Dhabi.
During his visit on 29 June 2021, he inaugurated Israel’s first embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Important Day
National Doctors’ Day
⇒ In India, National Doctors’ Day is celebrated on July 1 every year.
Theme:
The theme of National Doctors’ Day 2021 was ‘Save The Saviours’.
History:
The day is celebrated to mark the birth and honour the contributions of renowned physician and former West Bengal chief minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy. The first National Doctors’ Day was celebrated in the year 1991.
Fact:
National Doctor’s Day in other countries-
- United States celebrates it on 30 March
- Iran celebrates it on 23 August
- Cuba celebrates on 3 December
Death
K V Sampath Kumar, editor of 'Sudharma'
⇒ K V Sampath Kumar, editor of India’s only Sanskrit daily ‘Sudharma’ for the past 31 years, passed away on 30 June 2021. He was 64.
Sampath Kumar introduced the country’s first Sanskrit calendar in 2009. In 1970, the Sanskrit daily ‘Sudharma’ was founded by father of sampath, Kalale Nadadur Varadaraja Iyengar, a renowned Sanskrit scholar from Mysuru.