Nomura Business Resumption Index- Update

For the week which ended on 2oth February, the Nomura India Business Resumption Index (NIBRI) reached a record high of 122.8, up from 119.5 the previous

week.

The Index showed weak demand due to rising and the scarring due to the pandemic, as the recovery remains uneven, with sluggish consumption and Services even before the third COVID-19 wave.

The policy has been namedDraft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy 2022.It states that the Indian Data Council (IDC) and the India Data Office (IDO) will be in charge of forming metadata standards and enforcing them. IDC will act as the regulatory authority.

The IDC will be made up of the IDO and data officers from five government departments, while the IDO will be set up by the Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology (MeitY) to streamline data sharing and access sharing across the government and other stakeholders.

The IDC will be tasked with developing frameworks for defining high-value datasets, finalizing metadata standards and data, and monitoring policy implementation. The various State Governments and Departments will be nominated to the IDC on a rotating basis, with each department having a two-year term.

MeitY: Draft Policy on India Data Office

A draft data policy has been published by the central government. This policy states that all data collected, maintained, and generated, by every government ministry and agency shall be open and shareable. The government could also monetize and earn from detailed datasets that have undergone value addition.

DBT Draft Paper on Synthetic Biology

Department of Biotechnology has released a draft foresight paper on synthetic biology. In its paper, department has stressed on the need for a national policy to consolidate Indias stand on the issue.

This 70-page document also notes that, India should avoid conflicting stands on science and policy.

It looks not only at global policies and protocols that must be refer to develop such a policy but also defines synthetic biology and how

288 448 288 448s170.8 0 213.4-11.5c23.5-6.3 42-24.2 48.3-47.8 11.4-42.9 11.4-132.3 11.4-132.3s0-89.4-11.4-132.3zm-317.5 213.5V175.2l142.7 81.2-142.7 81.2z"/> Subscribe on YouTube
will be applicable in resulting processes and products.

The paper was developed through a consultative process with experts from several organisations, non-profit organisations, and some people from the Industry.

Synthetic Biology refers to science of using genetic sequencing, modification and editing, in order to create unnatural organisms or organic Molecules which can function in living systems. Synthetic biology helps the scientists in designing and synthesising new sequences of DNA from scratch.

Findings of the index

NIBRI, at present, has risen around 23 Percentage points (pp) higher than pre-pandemic levels, and around 21pp higher than the third wave.

The Index reported that Google workplace rose by 1.4 pp and retail & recreation mobility rose by 6 pp from the previous week, touching record highs. The Apple driving index increased by 11.3 points, the labor participation rate remained unchanged at 40.1 percent, and power demand increased by 0.4 percent following a 1.5 percent drop.

The monthly data until the month of January suggests that the third wave had very little on demand,

while the supply side remained intact.

Nomura Business Resumption Index- Update

For the week which ended on 2oth February, the Nomura India Business Resumption Index (NIBRI) reached a record high of 122.8, up from 119.5 the previous week.

The Index showed weak demand due to rising and the scarring due to the pandemic, as the recovery remains uneven, with sluggish consumption and Services even before the third

COVID-19 wave.

World Thinking Day: 22 February

World Thinking Day, initially referred to as Thinking Day, is widely known annually on 22 February by all Girl Scouts, Girl Guides, and other girl groups worldwide.

The day is observed to believe fellow brothers and sisters worldwide, address their concerns and understand the true meaning of guiding.

The theme for World Thinking Day 2022 is Our World, Our Equal Future.

href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/tamilnadu-notes-for-state-psc-exams/">TAMILNADU (524)

Hydrogen Train in Japan

Japan has launched its first hydrogen-powered train. This unveiling is seen as a step towards the country’s objective of becoming

carbon neutral by 2050. The hydrogen-fuelled train was tested within the country in March.

Highlights

“Hybari,” the two-car train costs over USD 35 million or 4 billion yen and might go up to 140 kilometers or 87 miles at a top speed of 100 kilometers per hour on a single hydrogen refueling.

The train was developed by East

Japan RAILWAY associated with Hitachi and Toyota Motor Corporation.

The nation has plans to interchange its diesel fleet with this hydrogen variant of trains and can also look to export them.

In 2030, commercial Services are expected to start. To attain net-zero energy, Japan has made hydrogen a significant clean-energy source.

Digital India Awards 2022, e-NAM wins Platinum Award

e-NAM,a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has won thePlatinum Awardin theDigital Empowerment of Citizens Category in Digital India Awards 2022held in New Delhi. The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, as Chief Guest of the event, has conferred the Digital India Awards, 2022.

e-NAM is a digital platform integrating 1260 APMC mandis across 22 States and 3 UTs to facilitate online trading of 203 agriculture and commodities to enable farmers to realize better remunerative prices for their produce. e-NAM is catalysing the digital transformation of mandi operations and e- trading of agricultural commodities. As on 31.12.2022, more than 1.74 Crore farmers & 2.39 Lakh traders have been registered on e-NAM portal. A total trade consisting of 69 million metric tonnes of worth Rs. 2.42 lakh crore has been recorded on e-NAM platform.

Indias second longest cable-stayed eight-lane Zuari Bridge opens in Goa

Union Minister of Roads Transport and HighwaysNitin Gadkarihas inaugurated the countrys second longest cable-stayed eight-laneZuari BridgeinGoa.Right-hand side (4-lane corridor) across the Zuari River and approaches from Bambolim to Verna were thrown open for vehicular traffic. Gadkari also launched the PWD Goa App for integrated operations management. Through the Insurance scheme of the Government of Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has given Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the workers who died during the construction of the bridge.

The Zuari Bridge is a bridge between North Goa and South Goa, India. It carries the NH 66 over the tidal part of the Zuari River, between the villages of Agaaim and Cortalim. It is a few metres downstream of the Konkan RAILWAY Bridge. The 640-metre-long bridge and the 13.20 km roads on both sides have been built in 3 phases. The Zuari Bridge work began in June 2016.