NCSTS-DST Launches YASH Programme on Health & Risk Communication with focus on COVID-19

• The National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) has launched a programme called YASH for health and risk communication, with main focus on COVID-19.
• YASH stands for “Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH)”.
• The YASH initiative aims to involve academic, research, media, and voluntary organizations to facilitate necessary actions and emergency preparedness of society to address the COVID-19 challenge.
• It is also targeted at encouraging public engagement and participation, perceptions, in risk-related communication processes to open wide routes for building capacities.
• Involvement of stakeholders and communities will develop a greater sense of awareness, to take informed decisions regarding healthcare and associated risks.

Pune-based Defence Institute of Advanced Technology develops microwave steriliser ATULYA to kill coronavirus

• The Defence Institute of Advanced Technology – Pune, a deemed university supported by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a path-breaking piece of technology named ATULYA, a microwave steriliser.
• Atulya can disintegrate Covid-19 virus within 30 seconds.
• With this product, the virus gets disintegrated by differential heating in the range of 56 degree to 60 degree celsius temperatures.
• The sterilisation time can range from 30 to 60 seconds depending on the size and shape of objects.
• The total weight of Atulya is 3 kilos and it can be used for sterilising non-metallic objects only.

All India Institute of Ayurveda Launches AYURAKSHA for Delhi Police Officials

• The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), under Ministry of AYUSH, has launched an initiative in collaboration with the Delhi Police to boost immunity of Delhi Police personal.
• The joint programme titled AYURAKSHA “Corona Se Jung- Delhi Police Ke Sang” aims to fight against corona through simple and time tested Ayurveda immunity boosting measures.
• Under the initiative, recommended formulations like Chyawanaprasha (Amla as main content), Anu Taila and SanshamaniVati (prepared from Guduchi) will be distributed to the Delhi police personal in phased manner.

Black Rice Chak-Hao from Manipur, Gorakhpur terracotta and Kovilpatti kadalai mittai of TN Gets GI Tag

• Chak-Hao, the scented glutinous rice popularly known as Black Rice cultivated in Manipur, has got GI (Geographical Indications).
• Besides this, the terracotta work of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh has also received the GI Tag.
• Also, Kovilpatti kadalai mittai, a peanut candy, from Tamil Nadu has also bagged GI tag.
• This data was given by the Geographical Indications Registry of Ministry of Commerce and Industries on its website.

Chak-Hao (Black Rice)	Agricultural	Manipur
Gorakhpur terracotta	Handicraft	Uttar Pradesh
Kovilpatti kadalai mittai	Food Stuff	Tamil Nadu

Appointment

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TS Tirumurti Appointed India’s Permanent Representative To United Nations

• Senior diplomat T S Tirumurti has been appointed as the Ambassador/Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations at New York as of 30 April 2020.
• A 1985-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Tirumurti was previously serving as Secretary in the the Ministry of External Affairs.
• He succeeds Syed Akbaruddin, who had been serving as India’s Permanent Representative at the UN since January 2016.

Award & Recognition

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Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan Scripts New World Record of becoming the most-watched TV show

• The epic mythological show Ramayan, by Ramanand Sagar, has scripted new world wide record of becoming the most watched entertainment programme in the world in 2020 as of April 16.
• This announcement was made by Doordharshan (DD) on its Twitter handle on 30 April 2020, based on the data released by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India.
• As per DD, Ramayan has also clocked the highest viewership record on a single day and has reported a viewership of 7.7 crore as of 16 April 2020.
• Besides this, the record has also contributed to make DD as one of the most viewed channels.
• The show Ramayan, based on the life of mythical character Lord Ram, was first aired on the DD channel, two decades ago, in January 1987 and ended in July 1988.
• It began re-telecasting from March 28 after the nationwide lockdown was announced.

IIT-Madras professor T Pradeep Chosen for Nikkei Asia prizes 2020

• The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) Professor T Pradeep, has been selected for the Nikkei Asia Prizes 2020 in the ”Science and Technology” category.
• The Padma Shri awardee T. Pradeep has been recognized for his pioneering work in nanotechnology-based water purification system that works without expensive filtration membranes or electricity.
• The nanotechnology-enabled water filters have helped deliver clean water at a cost of just 2 paise per litre in India.
• The Nikkei Asia Prizes are annual awards conferred on individuals who have contributed to bring sustainable development in the region and for the creation of a better future in Asia.
• The award is presented in three categories namely: Economic and Business Innovation, Science and Technology and Culture and Community.

Indian-Origin Girl Vaneeza Rupani Credied to Name NASA’s First Mars Helicopter as ‘Ingenuity’

• A 17-year-old Indian-origin girl Vaneeza Rupani has been earned the honour of naming the NASA’s first Mars helicopter, after she submitted her essay into NASA’s “Name the Rover” contest.
• Rupani, a high school junior from Northport, Alabama, has suggested the name ‘INGENUITY’ for the helicopter, which has been liked and accepted by NASA.
• Rupani’s entry was among 28,000 essays submitted by K-12 students from every US state and territory.
• In March 2020, NASA announced that its next rover to Mars, would be named Perseverance.
• Perseverance and Ingenuity are scheduled to launch in July 2020 and land in February 2021 at the Mars. Ingenuity will be the first aircraft to attempt powered flight on another planet.

Obituary

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Delhi Historian RV Smith Passes Away at 81

• Eminent historian, author and columnist Ronald Vivian Smith, who is best known for his writings on Delhi, passed away due to age-related ailments. He was 81.
• Born in Agra in 1938, Smith made Delhi his second home and was recognised as the city’s greatest chronicler, for writing extensively in many leading publications on Delhi’s intricate histories
• He has authored a dozen books, mostly on the National Capital.

Padma Shri Freedom Fighter Hema Bharali from Assam, passes away at 101

• Assam born renowned freedom fighter and Padma Shri awardee Hema Bharali passed away in Guwahati suffering from prolonged illness. She was 101.
• Hema Bharali, who was born on 19 February 1919 was an Indian freedom activist, social worker, Sarvodaya leader and Gandhian known for her contributions for the empowerment of women and efforts towards the upliftment of the socially and financially challenged sections of the society.
• She had received the Padma Shri in 2005.

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