Tag Archives: Bharat First

INTERNATIONAL: ASIA : SPORT – BADMINTON : Tanvi Patri wins Badminton U-15 Girls singles Asia title, beats Nguyen Thi Thu Huygen in final

Tanvi Patri’s victory is a testament to her talent and hard work. Her success at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships bodes well for her future in the sport.

Indian badminton sensation Tanvi Patri has clinched the U-15 girls singles title at the Badminton Asia U-17 & U-15 Junior Championships. This remarkable achievement solidifies Patri’s position as one of the rising stars in the sport.

Dominant Performance: Tanvi Patri

The top-seeded Tanvi Patri showcased exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament, remaining undefeated in her quest for the title. In the final, she faced a tough challenge from second-seeded Nguyen Thi Thu Huygen of Vietnam but emerged victorious in straight sets.

Joining the Elite List

Tanvi Patri’s triumph adds her name to an illustrious list of Indian champions who have won the U-15 girls singles title at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships. Previous winners include Samiya Imad Farooqui (2017) and Tasnim Mir (2019).

Semifinal Battle

In the semifinals, Patri faced a stern test against Kakanik of Thailand, the sixth seed in the tournament. Despite a closely contested first game, Patri ultimately prevailed, winning 21-19, 21-10.

Nguyen Thi Thu Huygen of Vietnam, got the better of China’s Liu Yu Tong 21-18, 17-21, 21-19 in the other semifinal.

Bright Future

Tanvi Patri’s victory is a testament to her talent and hard work. Her success at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships bodes well for her future in the sport. As she continues to develop her skills, she has the potential to become a major force in international badminton.

source/content: insidesport.in (headline edited)

NATIONAL: AGRICULTURE: SEEDS 0NLINE : Now buy certified seeds and planting material online for 1st time from National Seeds Corporation(NSC’s) MyStore platform

The onboarding of the National Seeds Corporation offices on the online marketplace will encourage farmers to buy certified seeds.

The state-run National Seeds Corporation (NSC) has initiated the onboarding of its area and regional offices on MyStore, an online marketplace connected to the Government’s Open Network for Digital Commerce. The move aimed at easing access to quality seeds will enable farmers across the country to buy seed and planting material online.

An official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare said the NSC has 48 area offices, 11 regional offices, and five farms across the country. Of these, 12 offices and farms (six area offices, four regional offices and two farms) have been onboarded on the MyStore platform, and started selling seeds and planting materials. The remaining offices will be onboarded by the first week of September, the officer added.

The dozen offices are located at places including Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh; Agra in Uttar Pradesh; Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Dharwad, Davangere and Raichur in Karnataka ; Hisar and Karnal in Haryana; Jaipur in Rajasthan ; and Bhubaneswar in Odisha. These offices and farms have 211 products, of which 88 are available for sale on the MyStore.

The NSC sells seeds and planting material of 80 crops–38 field crops and 42 horticulture crops. The NSC has so far made seeds available through a network of 5,000 dealers, including 861 cooperatives and 1,354 farmer producer organisations. This is the first time it has made them available through an online platform so that farmers in far-flung areas could easily buy authentic seeds, the official said.

Apart from seeds, some of the NSC offices are also selling indoor and outdoor plants online, the official said. For instance, the Bhopal-based NSC office is selling plants such as aglaonema (lipstick plant), snake plant Haiti, golden pothos (money plant), peace lily, aloevera, and ashwagandha on the platform, where anyone can order.

The move to onboard the NSC offices will enable and encourage farmers to buy certified and quality seeds, the official said, adding that it would also help to increase the seed replacement ratio of major field crops.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

INDIA: INNOVATION IN SPACE TECHNOLOGY: ‘Mission Rhumi 2024’: India to launch 1st reusable hybrid rocket on August 24

The rocket will be launched from Chennai using a mobile launcher and will carry “3 Cube Satellites and 50 PICO Satellites to a suborbital trajectory.”

India is set to launch its first reusable hybrid rocket – RHUMI 1 – on August 24, developed by the Tamil Nadu-based start-up Space Zone India. The rocket will be launched from Thiruvidandhai in Chennai using a mobile launcher and will carry “3 Cube Satellites and 50 PICO Satellites to a suborbital trajectory.” This launch, scheduled for 7 am on Saturday, is a collaboration between Space Zone India and the Martin Group and is designed to focus on flexibility and reusability.

According to a report by Money Control, the RHUMI series of rockets, which includes RHUMI-1, RHUMI-2, and RHUMI-3, is engineered to reach altitudes ranging from 1 km to 500 km.

This event marks the third collaboration between the Martin Group and Space Zone India. In 2023, as part of the ‘Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Students Satellite Launch – 2023’ mission, over 2,500 students from government, tribal, and public schools across the country collaborated to design and build a student satellite launch vehicle. This mission included a payload of 150 Pico satellite research experiment cubes. In 2021, during the ‘Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Space Research Payload Cubes Challenge 2021,’ 100 FEMTO satellites developed by 1,200 students were successfully launched.

Key features of RHUMI-1

– The rocket’s launch angle can be precisely adjusted between 0 to 120 degrees, allowing accurate trajectory control.

– A cost-effective, innovative, and eco-friendly descent mechanism uses CO2 to ensure the safe recovery of rocket components.

– The rocket’s applications extend beyond space exploration, impacting fields such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster management.

– The three cube satellites being sent will monitor atmospheric conditions, including cosmic radiation, UV radiation, and air quality, according to the Money Control report.

– Pico satellites will analyse environmental factors like vibration, accelerometer data, altitude, ozone levels, toxic content, and molecular bonding, contributing to a deeper understanding of atmospheric dynamics.

– The rocket utilises a hybrid propulsion system that combines solid fuel with liquid oxidizer technologies to ensure environmental safety.

– Space Zone India Founder and CEO Anand Megalingam highlighted that this system is reusable, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to satellite launches.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL & NATIONAL: AGRICULTURE & FOOD: India a food surplus country; working to provide solutions for global food security: PM Modi at the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE)

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE), which is being organised in India after 65 years, the Prime Minister also said the Union Budget 2024-25 focuses on sustainable agriculture.

Noting that the last time when the conference was hosted here, India had just achieved Independence, and it was a challenging time for the country’s agriculture and food security.

“Now, India is a food surplus country,” he said, adding that the country is the number one producer of milk, pulses and spices in the world.

Also, the country has become the second-largest producer of foodgrains, fruits, vegetables, cotton, sugar and tea.

“There was a time when India’s food security was a concern for the world. Now, India is working to provide solutions for global food security and global nutritional security,” he said at the conference, attended by about 1,000 delegates from around 70 countries.

The triennial conference, organised by the International Association of Agricultural Economists, is being held from August 2 to 7.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems”.

The Prime Minister also said India has provided 1,900 new climate-resilient varieties of crops in the last 10 years.

India is promoting chemical-free natural farming, he added.

He said the country is moving towards achieving the 20 per cent ethanol blending target in petrol.

The conference will highlight India’s proactive approach to global agricultural challenges and showcase the nation’s advancements in agricultural research and policy.

The event will provide a platform for young researchers and leading professionals to present their work and network with global peers.

It aims to strengthen partnerships between research institutes and universities, influence policymaking on both national and global scales, and showcase India’s agricultural progress, including advancements in digital agriculture and sustainable agri-food systems.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: PHARMACEUTICALS: Hyderabad’s Biological E. Ltd (BE) pharma company gets WHO PQ status for oral polio vaccine

This next-generation live, attenuated oral vaccine significantly reduces the risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks.

Biological E. Limited (BE), a Hyderabad-based vaccine and pharmaceutical company, on Tuesday announced that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has granted Pre-qualification (PQ) status to their Novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2).

nOPV2 is the 10th pre-qualified vaccine of BE. This next-generation live, attenuated oral vaccine significantly reduces the risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks and it is aimed at immunisation in countries that are affected by cVDPV2 outbreaks, the company said.

The persistent threat of cVDPV2 outbreaks can be tackled with the use of nOPV2 as the vaccine of choice. With its improved genetic stability, nOPV2 has a significantly decreased chance of seeding new outbreaks in low-immunity environments as against its predecessor, the Sabin poliovirus type 2 (mOPV2) vaccine, the BE said.

Extensive clinical trials have rigorously evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of nOPV2, leading to promising results published in The Lancet (2019-2024). Furthermore, the vaccine’s real-world deployment in outbreak regions has shown that it can significantly decrease the incidence of cVDPV2 outbreaks, safeguarding communities from the ravages of polio.

BE has become an important player in the production of the nOPV2 vaccine, having been selected for a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to assist in meeting the growing global demand.

In collaboration with PT BioFarma (PTB) in Indonesia, the first manufacturer of the nOPV2 vaccine to receive WHO Pre-Qualification in January 2024, BE has successfully received technology from PTB and qualified large-scale manufacturing facilities that produce more than 500 million doses of nOPV2 vaccine annually. BE has been approved by the Indian regulatory authorities to manufacture the vaccine for export purposes.

Mahima Datla, Managing Director, Biological E. Limited, said that they are pleased to be a part of the global effort to eradicate polio. “Our collective quest to eradicate polio marks a significant milestone with the WHO pre-qualification of nOPV2. This vaccine has been specifically designed to address concerns about Vaccine-Associated Paralytic Polio (VAPP), which has occurred in approximately 2 to 4 cases per million births with the traditional OPV due to the vaccine virus reverting to a virulent form,” she said.

Expressing BE’s gratitude for the collaboration with PT BioFarma (PTB) and for the support of a grant from the Gates Foundation, she further said, “The significance of this milestone extends beyond scientific achievement; it represents a beacon of hope for millions of children and families around the globe. The achievement of administering over 1 billion doses of nOPV2 in outbreak regions is crucial to realising the dream of a polio-free world.’’

source/content: siasat.com (headline edited)

INDIA: MANUFACTURING: 80% of Indian Steel Producers have Labelled ‘Made-in-India’ on products

The source said that the ‘Made in India’ branding, along with a QR code, provides for labeling of domestic steel products with details of the product. “

Following the Ministry of Steel’s initiative to brand products with ‘Made in India’, Indian steel producers (ISPs) have labelled 80 per cent of their products since November last year, said an official on Monday.

“Ministry of Steel was the first to initiate and complete the branding exercise. The efforts would result in branding of 80 million tonnes of steel out of the production of 125 million tonnes in the first phase,” the official added.

Indian steel producers have finalised common labels across the product categories and allocated size and space for the ‘Made in India’ logo for each label.

“All the ISPs have started roll out of branding with selected categories of steel products in their product portfolio by fixing of new ‘Made in India’ label on their products from November 4, 2023 onwards,” the source said, adding RINL, JSPL and TATA Steel Ltd have covered 100 per cent of their product range, while the rest will complete the branding by the end of June.

Explaining the need of the branding, the source said, “the label will help to create a common brand value for all Made-in-India steel products nationally and internationally and to further encourage manufacturers to maximise their local manufacturing process, thereby giving a much-needed boost to the Indian economy.

In the long run, it will be a key identifier for Indian steel sector markets across the world, further cementing India’s position in global markets. The Made in India Label along with the overall country branding through the Brand India Mission will complement each other and help in achieving the final goal of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ making for India and the world.”

According to sources, the concept was initially suggested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , which was later conceptualised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and implemented by the Steel Ministry.

The source said that the ‘Made in India’ branding, along with a QR code, provides for labeling of domestic steel products with details of the product. “The vision is to boost credibility of ‘Made in India’ and promotion of domestically-produced steel and to enable the Indian consumers to make an informed choice. ‘Made in India’ Label is intended for both domestic market and also for exports,” the source said.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SPACE : Indian-Origin Shawna Pandya on Virgin Galactic’s New Space Research Flight

Shawna Pandya, an Indian-origin physician and bioastronautics researcher, will be part of Virgin Galactic’s upcoming space research mission. This mission, a collaboration between Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), will be conducted aboard the Delta Class spaceship.

Pandya, a prominent figure in space medicine and Director of IIAS’ Space Medicine Group, joins a distinguished crew for this second research mission. The team includes Kellie Gerardi, Director of Human Spaceflight Operations at IIAS, and Norah Patten, an aeronautical engineer from Ireland. The mission follows the success of the ‘Galactic 05’ mission in November 2023, which tested novel healthcare technologies and analyzed fluid dynamics in microgravity to aid the design of future medical technologies and life-support systems.

Pandya, who has extensive experience in space research, was part of the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero gravity in 2015. Her impressive record includes flying in 10 parabolic flight campaigns, amassing over 160 parabolas in micro- and reduced gravity conditions.

“We were thrilled with the results from our fluid cell experiment on ‘Galactic 05’, which demonstrated our ability to accurately predict fluid behavior in a weightless environment”, said Gerardi, reflecting on the mission’s success.

Sirisha Bandla, Virgin Galactic’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Research, emphasized the ongoing collaboration with IIAS. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with IIAS in an expanded capacity”, said Bandla, who flew on the ‘Unity 22’ spaceflight, becoming the second Indian-born woman to travel to space.

This mission highlights the growing role of Indian-origin researchers in advancing space science and technology, further solidifying international collaborations in space exploration.

source/content: siliconindia.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: MEDIA : Annurag Batra Founder of exchange4media elected to International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

Annurag Batra is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of exchange4media, which manages several major media brands.

In Short

  • Annurag Batra elected to International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
  • He founded exchange4media and chairs BW Businessworld
  • The academy has over 900 members from 60 plus countries

Annurag Batra, Founder of exchange4media and Chairman of BW Businessworld, has been elected as a Member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

The prestigious academy consists of over 900 members from more than 60 countries, representing the world’s leading television and media companies.

Annurag Batra is well-known in the media and television industry. He set up exchange4media, creating a new platform for media and television and has made a big impact on the digital media industry.

Batra has created a new sector that others in the field respect and follow. He is a serial entrepreneur, author, angel investor, TV show host, and a believer in the power of dreams.

He is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of exchange4media, which manages several major media brands. He is also the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of BW Businessworld Media Group.

Since acquiring BW Businessworld in late 2013, he has transformed it into a modern media conglomerate.

Batra has also served on the Board of Governors at the Management Development Institute in Gurgaon, his alma mater. He was the first graduate of MDI’s flagship program to serve on its Board of Governors from January 2020 to June 2023.

As the founder of exchange4media, he has spent over 24 years engaging with leading media owners, editors, journalists, and news media professionals.

He has built several media brands and large-scale events under exchange4media and is an accepted authority in media and television and has written extensively on these subjects. He is set to release his book in 2025 titled “Media Moguls of India.”

He is expanding his initiatives to the UAE and the MENA region. He is also investing in many media tech startups that are shaping the Indian digital media landscape.

Annurag Batra’s election to the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a testament to his influence and contributions to the media industry.

source/content: indiatoday.in (headline edited)

NATIONAL : PATENT RECORD: Indian patent office grants record 1 lakh patents in past year, March 2023 – March 2024

The Patent Office granted over one lakh patents in the last 1 year (15-Mar-2023 to 14-Mar-2024). Every working day, 250 patents were granted, the ministry said.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Saturday (March 16) that the Patent Office has granted an unprecedented one lakh patents within a single year. As per an official release, in the fiscal year 2023-24 alone, the Patent Office received an all-time high of 90,300 patent applications.

The Patent Office granted over one lakh patents in the last 1 year (15-Mar-2023 to 14-Mar-2024). Every working day, 250 patents were granted, the ministry said. Alongside patent grants, there has been a notable surge in GI registrations, demonstrating a threefold increase compared to the previous year. Currently, India boasts 573 registered GIs, with 98 new registrations in the fiscal year 2023-24, according to the release.

Additionally, copyright registrations have reached a record-breaking 36,378, underscoring the vast potential within the creative sector. In the realm of design, the fiscal year 2023-24 witnessed the highest number of registrations to date, totalling 27,819, alongside the final disposal of 30,450 applications.

Noteworthy initiatives such as Toycathon, jointly organized by J&K SCERT and the Indian IP Office, have facilitated the registration of 115 novel designs by J&K school students, according to the release. The Trade Marks Registry has also redoubled its efforts to expedite trademark protection, committing to issuing examination reports within 30 days of receiving trademark applications.

In parallel, the National Intellectual Property Academy (NIPAM) has played a pivotal role in raising IP awareness, offering training to 24 lakh youths, particularly students and teachers, across over 7,000 institutions in the last two years. The announcement coincided with the official notification of the Patent Rules, 2024, which introduces several provisions aimed at simplifying the patent prosecution and maintenance processes.

These rules are poised to streamline the acquisition and management of patents, thereby nurturing an environment conducive to innovation and economic growth. Notable features of the revamped rules include provisions for acknowledging inventors’ contributions through a new ‘Certificate of Inventorship’ and reducing the time limit for filing examination requests to accommodate the fast pace of technological advancements, read the press release.

Highlighting the significance of these developments, government officials emphasized their commitment to enhancing the IP ecosystem and administration in the country. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is dedicated to creating an environment that fosters innovation and economic development through robust IP protection mechanisms.

The surge in patent grants reflects India’s emergence as a hub for technological innovation, with one technology seeking IP protection every six minutes.

source/content: indiatvnews.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: ARMYs FIRST : First-of-its-kind Skin Bank facility for Armed Forces established

By establishing this facility the Armed Forces are ensuring that those who have sacrificed for our nation have access to the most advanced skin replacement therapies available.

The Armed Forces on Tuesday established a first-of-its-kind skin bank facility at the Army Hospital (Research & Referral) New Delhi. The opening of the state-of-the-art facility within the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) will be dedicated to managing and treating soldiers suffering from burn cases which are mostly combat-related.

It will also cater to other skin-related conditions among service members and their families.

The Army said, “The new skin bank will serve as a centralized hub for the collection, processing, storage, and distribution of skin grafts, providing a critical resource for military medical centres across the country.”

By establishing this facility the Armed Forces are ensuring that those who have sacrificed for our nation have access to the most advanced skin replacement therapies available.

The significance of this step was underlined as it was recently that New Delhi-based premier AIIMS Burns Block and Safdarjung Hospital have both opened skin banks. The people in this field told TNIE that most skin banks are struggling with skin donations.

The military personnel face peculiar burn injuries which can be either combat or non-combat-related. The majority, as told by officers, are sustained directly and indirectly, while handling explosives and ammunition. There are also burns related to chemicals and gases, among others.

“The launch of this skin bank is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of our service members,” said Lt Gen Arindam Chatterjee DGMS (Army) & Col Comdt. 

“This facility will not only enhance the quality of care we provide but also strengthen our ability to support those who have been affected by devastating injuries.”

The skin bank will be staffed by a team of highly trained medical professionals, including plastic surgeons, tissue engineers, and specialized technicians. The facility will adhere to the highest standards of quality control and safety, ensuring the integrity and reliability of skin grafts.

“This skin bank represents a significant leap forward in our ability to treat severe burns and other complex skin conditions,” said Lt Gen Ajith Nilakantan Commandant Army Hospital (R&R). “By having a dedicated resource for skin tissue, we can provide our patients with the most effective and personalized treatments, ultimately improving their chances of recovery and rehabilitation,” he added.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)