NIDHI (National Initiative for Developing And Harnessing Innovations)
8 new NIDHI i-TBIs inaugurated across India.
- Developed by – Department of Science & Technology (DST) in 2016.
- Objective – To nurture ideas and innovations (knowledge-based and technology-driven) into successful startups.
- Implementation – National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) under DST is funding agency.
- All NIDHI-Startup funds and offerings are disbursed to eligible startups only through eligible NSTEDB associated incubators across India.
Hepatitis A Vaccine
Indian Immunologicals Limited launched pediatric dose of India’s first indigenous Hepatitis A vaccine, Havisure.
- Hepatitis – An inflammation of liver.
- Caused by infectious viruses as well as non-infectious agents.
- 5 main strains – Types A, B, C, D and E.
- Types B and C together are most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and viral hepatitis-related deaths.
- Vaccine not available for type C.
FAO Food Price Index
Recently, the benchmark for world food commodity prices declined marginally in August 2024.
- Introduced in 1996 as a public good to help in monitoring developments in global agricultural commodity markets.
- Ameasure of monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities.
- Consists of average of 5 commodity group price indices weighted by average export shares of each of groups over 2014- 2016.
- 5 commodities are Meat, Dairy products, Cereals, Vegetables oil, and Sugar.
Agni missiles
Agni-4 was successfully launched from Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha.
- Conceived under – Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
- Surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
- Have medium- to intercontinental-range.
- Fuelled by Solid propellant
- Agni Prime is the latest missile to be developed in the series.
Yudh Abhyas and Mitra Shakti
India’s military diplomacy in top gear with back-to-back exercises.
- Yudh Abhyas – Annual joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the United States Army. Here are some key points:
- Mitra Shakti – A joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army.