KERALA
Kochi startup develops a ‘BIN’ for used masks
VST Mobility Solution, a startup backed by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) has come up with BIN-19, a medical device that enables the collection of used facemasks.
BIN-19 has been successfully installed in all the district administration offices of the state with the support of CSR funds. Recently, the company received orders from a European mask manufacturer for deploying the mask disinfection device in hospitals.
The Kochi-based startup had in June last year developed BIN-19 using IoT (internet of things), using knowhow from the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Science Technology at Thiruvananthapuram. Amid a fresh spread of the pandemic, BIN-19 is playing a vital role in handling the disposal of used facemasks.
INTERNATIONAL
Annual Conference – Boao Forum for Asia
The opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference was held in Boao. Boao is the Hainan Province of South China. This year’s BFA will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
The forum witnessed more than 2500 participants from more than 60 countries. The theme for the year is A Changing World: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Promote Belt and Road Cooperation.
The main agenda is to strengthen mutual understanding in the post-pandemic era and create more incentives for overall socioeconomic growth and effective global governance.
An annual report on the Asian economy was released at that time, which emphasized the importance of the Asian economy that continues to develop despite the epidemic.
The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is an international non-profit organization that was co-sponsored by 26 member states in 2001. Now the number of members has increased to 29. India is also a member of the BFA.
NATIONAL
Establishment of 5th Session of Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs
The fifth session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) established by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCSCH) opened.
The Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs was established in the year 2013. India is the host country, and the Indian Spice Committee is the secretariat that organizes the meetings of the committee. The Spices Board is the flagship agency for the development and global promotion of spices in India.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is an intergovernmental organization established by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1963 within the framework of the Joint Food Standards Program.
Launch of Global Youth Mobilization Initiative
Aiming at young people in communities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, a program called “Global Youth Mobilization” was launched. The Global Youth Summit (GYS), to be held from April 23 to 25, 2021, is the starting point for young people to participate in mobilization.
GYS aims to provide young people aged 14 to 30 with new insights, skills and contact information, as well as a platform for interaction with peers, leaders and decision-makers.
State of the Economy Report by RBI
The resurgence of COVID-19 may convey back inflationary pressures. Also, the restrictions and disruptions in supply chains may add up to the inflationary pressures.
Under the G-Sec Acquisition Programme, RBI goals to purchase 1 trillion well worth of bonds from the secondary market in the June quarter.
Solutions to take care of the issue: The Reserve Bank of India has supplied the following options in its State of Economy Report to handle the COVID-19 disaster in the country:
Pandemic protocols: To ramp up a sanatorium and ancillary capacity, Speedier Vaccination, To continue to be centred on publishing pandemic future of strong and sustainable boom with economic stability
Current Pace of Vaccination in India: According to the report, India has set a vaccination goal of 300 million with the aid of August 2021. This will require 3.5 million photographs per day. It is 13% greater than the present-day pace noted. However, RBI expects that the vaccination pace will increase due to the improvised and accelerated Vaccination phase in the country.
Foundation Stone for Project Parasol
The foundation stone for the integrated Solar Dryer and Pyrolysis pilot plant was currently laid at Chennai.
The pilot is a section of the Indo-German challenge ‘Pyrasol’, launched to transform urban natural waste into biochar and energy in clever cities.
It used to be awarded to CSIR-CLRI with the aid of the Indo-German Science & Technology Centre.
The task will in the end lead to technology improvement for the joint processing of Fibrous Organic Waste (FOW) and Sewage Sludge (SS) of Indian smart cities into hygienic and especially valuable biochar associated with power recovery, carbon sequestration and environmental improvement.
Project Pyrasol: The project focuses on managing and organising collection, treatment, and disposal systems of city wastes in Indian Smart Cities as nicely as in other city centres with an built-in and interactive approach.