National
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS)
⇒ Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution Shri Piyush Goyal on 19 April 2021 launched the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS).
The Scheme was announced by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on 16th January 2021 while addressing the ‘Prarambh: StartupIndia International Summit’.
Aim:
The Fund aims to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization.
Experts Advisory Committee for the Scheme:
For the scheme, an online portal and Experts Advisory Committee has been created by DPIIT to execute and monitor the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme.
Grants Under Scheme:
- Grants of upto Rs 5 Crores shall be provided to the eligible incubators selected by the Experts Advisory Committee.
- The selected incubators shall provide grants of up to Rs 20 lakhs for validation of Proof of Concept, or prototype development, or product trials to startups.
- Furthermore, investments of up to Rs 50 lakhs shall be provided to the startups for market entry, commercialization, or scaling up through convertible debentures or debt-linked instruments.
SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation) supplemental Oxygen Delivery System
⇒ Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation) supplemental Oxygen Delivery System for soldiers posted at extreme high-altitude areas. It has been developed by Defence Bio-Engineering & Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru of DRDO.
The system delivers supplemental oxygen based on the SpO2 levels and prevents the person from sinking in to a state of Hypoxia. This automatic system can also prove to be a boon during the current Covid-19 situation.
This system reads SpO2 levels of the subject from a wrist-worn pulse oximeter module through wireless interface. It will automatically increase/decrease the O2 flow based on SpO2 setting which can be auto adjusted at 2, 5, 7, 10 lpm flow rate.
Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 323 Commissioned in Indian Navy
⇒ Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 323, the first unit of the indigenously built ALH Mk III aircraft, was commissioned into the Indian Navy at INS Hansa, Goa on 19 April 2021.
INAS 323 was commissioned in the presence of Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Naik and Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command.
The Mk III version of the ALH has an all glass cockpit and will be used for Search and Rescue, Special Operations and Coastal Surveillance.
Part-time Chairman of the HDFC Bank
⇒ Private sector lender HDFC Bank on 23 April 2021 said the Reserve Bank has approved appointment of former Economic Affairs Secretary Atanu Chakraborty as the part-time chairman of the bank.
He has been appointed for a period of three years with effect from May 5, 2021 or the date of his taking charge, whichever is later.
Chairperson & Vice Chairperson of Nasscom
⇒ Chirperson:
The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom), the information technology service body, announced on 22 April 2021 it has appointed Rekha M Menon, Chairperson and Senior Managing Director at Accenture in India as its Chairperson for 2021-22. She becomes the first woman to take on the role of Chairperson at Nasscom.
Vice Chairperson:
ABOUT:
The National Association of Software and Service Companies is a not-for-profit industry association, established in 1988, & headquartered in New Delhi.
International
Washington, DC as the 51st State
⇒ The US House of Representatives on 22 April 2021 passed bill to make Washington, DC (formally known as the District of Columbia), as the 51st state. The new state would be named “Washington, Douglass Commonwealth”.
2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards
⇒ 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards were presented by Film Independent on 22 April 2021. The best independent films and television series of 2020 has been honored in the 36th Spirit Award ceremony.
Death
Former Hyderabad fast bowler, Ashwin Yadav
⇒ Former Hyderabad fast bowler, Ashwin Yadav died on 24 April 2021. He was 33. He had played 14 first-class matches and captured 34 wickets after making his Ranji Trophy debut in 2007.
Congress MLA, Kalawati Bhuriya
⇒ Congress MLA, Kalawati Bhuriya died on 24 April 2021. She was 49. She won the elections in 2018 from Jobat constituency of Madhya Pradesh’s Alirajpur district.