National
Anti-pollution Helmet
⇒ An anti-pollution helmet developed by a Delhi based startup can help 2-wheeler riders breathe clean air. The helmet developed by Shellios Technolabs has a Bluetooth-enabled app that lets the rider know when the helmet requires cleaning.
The startup received seed funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and was incubated at Science and Technology Entrepreneur Park (JSSATE-STEP) Noida. They had signed commercialization deals with leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for the helmet.
About Helmet:
- The helmet titled PUROS is integrated with air purifying accessories which include the patented innovations of the startup — a Brushless DC (BLDC) blower fan, High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter membrane, electronic circuit, and microUSB charging port integrated into the helmet.
- The purifying system set at the back of the helmet picks up all particulate matter coming from outside and cleans the air before it reaches the biker.
- Following all mandatory standards stipulated by the government, the 1.5 Kg helmet ensures exposure reduction by more than 80% as measured using a controlled environment.
75 "Amrit" Grants for Biotech initiatives
⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; Minister of State (I/C) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh announced 75 “Amrit” Grants for Biotech initiatives involving StartUps, industry, academia and research bodies in integrated collaboration on 22 August 2022.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said:
- DBT-BIRAC 75 Amrit Team Grant Initiative will give a big boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “Jai Anusandhan”.
- 75 inter-disciplinary, multi-institutional grants would be supported for high-risk, ambitious research ideas, milestones-driven collaborative research in all domain specific areas of the biotech sector.
- Startups, Industries, Academia and Research Bodies can form Team Science Grant in a Public-Private Partnership mode to avail grant of Rs 10-15 Crore over a period of two to three years for inter-disciplinary, high-quality research.
- India’s Bioeconomy will grow from $70 Billion to $150 Billion by 2025 and this can only be achieved with active participation of all the stakeholders in biotechnology Sector.
- This initiative builds on the deep foundation of partnerships, to support new and innovative research programs, which aims to propel India to a position of global leadership.
- Under this initiative, ambitious research ideas, high-risk, milestone-driven collaborative research for knowledge-based discoveries with broad demonstrable application from both academia and industry will be considered for support.
SILK MARK EXPO
⇒ Minster of State for Textiles and Railways Smt Darshana Vikram Jardosh inaugurated the SILK MARK EXPO on 22 August 2022.
Organized by:
The exhibition was organized by Silk Mark Organization of India (SMOI) a Society, sponsored by Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India. The Expo was held from 22nd August, 2022 to 28th August, 2022.
- The Silk Mark Expos proved as a powerful tool for the promotion of Silk Mark. 39 Exhibitors from 12 states participated in this Expo.
» The purpose behind the Exhibition was to protect our rich heritage and to empower the women weavers and workers engaged in the silk sector with greater opportunities to earn a better living.
About Silk Mark:
- Silk Mark is a Quality Assurance Label, which signifies that the product to which it is affixed is made of pure silk.
- It can be affixed to Silk yarn, Sarees, Dress Materials, Made ups, furnishing materials and other silk products which are made up of 100% Natural silk.
- With more than 4300 members and over 4.3 crore Silk Mark labeled products are in the market, ‘Silk Mark Organisation Of India’ is spearheading the quality movement in silk, the Assurance of Purity to Silk fraternity.
Sports
First Indian to play in UEFA Women’s Champions League
⇒ Young striker Manisha Kalyan became the first Indian to play in UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Manisha Kalyan has become the first Indian footballer to play at the UEFA Women’s Champions League when she made her debut for Apollon Ladies FC in the European Club competition in Engomi, Cyprus.
Kalyan replaced Cyprus’ Marilena Georgiou in the 60th minute at the Makareio Stadium, as Apollon Ladies FC beat Latvian top flight club SFK Riga 3-0 in their UWCL opener on 18 August 2022.
The 20-year-old had emerged as the fourth Indian women’s international footballer to sign for an overseas club when she landed a multi-year contract with Cypriot top division winners Apollon Ladies.
- Kalyan was recently awarded the AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
Important Day
58th Foundation Day of Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles
⇒ The Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India commemorated its 58th Foundation Day on 22nd August, 2022.
» On this occasion, Shri UP Singh, Union Secretary (Textiles), & Chairman, Textiles Committee inaugurated the programme as Chief Guest.
- The inaugural function deliberated upon the topic of “Imperatives & Way Forward for the Indian Textile Sector and Role of the Textiles Committee”.
- This was followed by a fashion show showcasing the Unique Textiles of India with the theme “Indian Textiles: From Tradition to Modernity”.
History:
The Textiles Committee was established by an Act of Parliament in 1963 & came into being in 1964 with an objective to ensure quality of all textiles and textile products for domestic and export markets.