ISRO: India plans to send rover to moons shadow region in collaboration with Japan

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), after missions to the moon and mars, has now set its eyes on Venus and also plans to explore the dark side of the moon in collaboration with Japans Space Agency.

While making a presentation on ISROs future missions, the Director of the Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory Anil Bhardwaj said that the space agency plans on sending a probe to Mars. He also informed that ISRO was in talks with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for sending a lunar rover to explore the permanent shadow region to the moon.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans on launching its third lunar mission in June 2023.

Notably, the Chandrayaan-3 mission is a follow-up of Chandrayaan-2 of July 2019, which aimed to land a rover on the lunar south pole. It was sent aboard the countrys most powerful geosynchronous launch vehicle, the GSLV-Mk3.

More infectious Delta variant behind 2nd wave, says study

TheDelta variantor B.1.617.2 strain, which was first detected in India, is more infectious than the Alpha variant or B.1.1.7, first detected in the United Kingdom, and is also the reason behind the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, reveals a study conducted by a team of scientists from different Indian institutions.

The scientists noted B.1.617.2 is capable of creating very fast-rising outbreaks, importantly with vaccination breakthroughs (infections after vaccination). We would re-emphasise that prior infections, high seropositivity and partial vaccination are insufficient impediments to its spread, as seen in Delhi, and strong public Health response will be needed globally for its containment

76,000 crore sent directly to farmers accounts for their wheat

TheCentredisbursed around Rs 76,000 crore directly to farmersaccountswhile procuring wheat during the ongoing rabi Marketing season (RMS). While for the first timefarmersinPunjabhave received more than Rs 26,000 crore in their accounts directly, Rs 16,700 crore has been transferred to farmers accounts inHaryana.
Punjab and Haryana are the last two states to implement direct cash transfer of the minimum support price and with this now the online payment system has become universal across the country. The government has termed it One Nation, One MSP, One DBT.

The government has also revised the current wheat procurement target to 433 lakh tonnes, an increase of six lakh tonnes, as almost every state is reporting highest ever procurement. Last year the total procurement of wheat during the RMS was 390 lakh tonnes.

Foundation raised $1.2 million for Covid efforts in India

US-India Chambers of Commerce Foundation has raised more than $1.2 million for coronavirus-related efforts in India.

With a record-breaking fundraising, US-India Chambers of Commerce Foundation has shipped or en route nearly 120 ventilators and over 1,000 Oxygen concentrators.

Recipients have been Indian Red Cross, along with no-governmental and government hospitals in Haryana, Andhra Pradesh,, Jharkhand, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra, Gujarat,Karnataka, Chhattisgarh,PunjabandTamil Nadu.

Centre asks states to bring 1.97 cr poor under food security coverage

The Centre has asked state governments to launch a special drive to identify nearly 1.97 crore poor, particularly from the and most vulnerable groups such as street dwellers, rag pickers, hawkers and rickshaw pullers, who can get the ration cards to avail highly subsidized foodgrain every month under the National Act (NFSA).

The ministry, in its Communication to all states, has cited that they can utilize the available coverage under the NFSA limits for this. Food secretary Sudhanshu Pandey shared the number of ration cards that the states and UTs can issue without breaching the ceiling fixed for each state under the NFSA. He said 14 states have a 100% coverage quota. The states have been deleting fake or duplicate ration cards to prevent leakage of highly subsidized foodgrains and also been adding new bonafied beneficiaries.

The government data show that out of the total 19.8 crore such transactions in the past 13 months,Biharregistered a maximum of 1.17 crore transactions followed by 91 lakh in Rajasthan, 42 lakh in Andhra Pradesh and 35 lakh Telangana.

Government recognises 50,000 startups across India

The government has recognised 50,000 startups across the country helping them avail of benefits across a range of laws and regulations with as many as 10,000 getting a seal of approval over the last six months.

The pace of recognising startups has picked up after the department for promotion of and internal trade (DPIIT) tweaked the norms a few years ago, which also enable them to get fiscal and infrastructural support.

A startup registered with DPIIT, for instance, enjoys a simplified compliance structure, 80% reduction in the cost of filing patents, tax exemptions and can wind up its business within 90 days of its application to do so.

To be eligible for registration underStartup India, a government initiative launched in 2016 to bolster the domestic startup ecosystem, a company needs to fulfill several criteria, including being incorporated and registered in India up to 10 years from the date of incorporation and having annual turnover of not more than Rs 100 crore for the financial years since registration.

Tipu Sultansfabled sword was found in the private bedchamber as it has now broken all auction records for an Indian object for Bonhams in London by fetching overGBP 14 millionat its Islamic and Indian Art sale this week. The sword from Tipu Sultans reign between 1782 and 1799, is described as a fine gold koftgari hilted steel sword referred to as sukhela, which is an emblem of authority.

The sword was found in the private apartments of Tipu Sultan and the Army of the East India Company presented it to Major General David Baird as a token of their high esteem of his courage and conduct in the assault which resulted in the killing of Tipu Sultan.

The Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj,Shri Giriraj Singh, recently launched the SAMARTH Campaign on Promoting Digital Transactions in 50,000 Gram Panchayats under the AzadiKaAmritMahotsav in Lucknow. This campaign, initiated by the Ministry of Rural Development, aims to promote digital transactions in rural areas, with a particular focus on empowering women. The launch event witnessed the participation of various dignitaries, including Chief MinisterYogi Adityanathand Minister of State Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.

Under the SAMARTH Campaign, the government seeks to foster the adoption of digital transactions in 50,000 Gram Panchayats across India. This initiative aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modis AzadiKaAmritMahotsav, which commemorates 75 years of Indias independence. The campaign commenced on February 1, 2023, and will continue until August 15, 2023.

A panel inJapans health ministryhas approved the countrysfirst abortion pill,in a major step for reproductive rights decades after other countries made abortion medication widely available. The ministrys pharmaceutical board granted approval to theMeFeego Pack,an abortion pill manufactured by British pharmaceutical Linepharma, according to a spokesperson from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

The medication consists of two types of pill, and can be used within nine weeks of pregnancy, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. In a clinical trial in Japan, 93% of participants had a complete abortion within 24 hours. The medication combines mifepristone and misoprostol, which the World Health Organization has included in its Essential Medicines List, described as safe and effective for pregnant people.

It would provide an alternative to a surgical procedure amid calls for progress in womens reproductive rights and gender . In Japan, abortions have been usually performed with Metal instruments. As this procedure is invasive, medical experts and others are calling for introduction of abortion pills in Japan.

National Mission for Clean Ganga Organizes Ganga Utsav – The River Festival

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organized Ganga Utsav – The River Festival 2022 on 4thNovember at New Delhi in two sessions.

Ganga Utsav 2022 is dedicated to theAzadi ka Amrit Mahotsavthat is being observed to commemorate the 75 years of Indian Independence. As Ganga Utsav 2022 is held in the 75thyear of independence, it is planned to have 75 separate events in Ganga and its tributary basin cities and towns, by August 2023, 3-day events in 15 major cities like Haridwar, Mathura, Delhi, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna, Bhagalpur, Kolkata etc., 1-day events in 60 smaller towns/cities, in which local and pan-India culture based events will be promoted.