Bihar Affairs
IIIT-Bhagalpurs software for Covid test gets ICMR nod
The Indian Council of Medical Research (Icmr) has approved the (AI) based Software technology COVZN, developed by theIIIT-Bhagalpurfor detection of Covid-19, tuberculosis and other severe chest infections at low cost and in less time. The ICMR has given its nod to use it at hospitals and laboratories across the country.
The researchers at IIIT-Bhagalpur had started working on the project after the surge of Covid-19 patients and delay in Covid testing since March, 2020.
Earlier, the ICMR had formed a high-level advisory committee headed by Dr Randeep Guleria (director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi) and experts from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to explore the COVZN software and suggest the modalities for using it as soon as possible.
National and International Affairs
National Cybersecurity Strategy
National Cybersecurity Strategy is in its final stage in India and ready to be cleared as the increasing cyber-attacks and threats from nation-state actors against India.
Highlights:
India has been working on the National Cybersecurity Strategy for the last two years in the cabinet for final approval.
National Cyber Security Strategy 2020 was selected to improve cyber awareness and cybersecurity using stringent audits.
Under the policy, empanelled cyber auditors will carefully look at the security features of companies.
The table-top cyber crisis management exercises will be conducted to reinforce the idea that cyber-attacks can happen regularly.
India has led to avoid any significant cyber-attacks or threats. As a result, in Global Cybersecurity Index 2021, India has jumped from 47 to 10.
As the policy is executed, the country will confront the challenge of addressing cyber-skilling.
As per the report, there will be around 1.5 million job vacancies in cybersecurity in India by 2025.
Banni Buffalo: Indias First IVF Calf Born
Indias first IVF calf of the Banni breed of buffaloes was born at a farmers house in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat on 23 October.
Highlights
Banni breed of buffalo is found in the Kutch region of Gujarat.
The IVC process was conducted to enhance the number of genetically superior buffaloes for enhancing milk production.
Banni buffalo belongs to a farmer from Dhanej village, who gave birth to IVF male calf.
Embryos of Banni donors were instilled in 18 recipient buffaloes using the IVF technology.
The Banni breed had gained six pregnancies at the farmers firm, and One calf was born.
This process was carried out by JKBovagenix of NGO JK Trust, a social enterprise of Raymond Group.
Banni buffalo is also known as Kutchi, found primarily in the Kutch district of Gujarat.
PM To Launch PMASBY In UP On 25 October.
PMASBY to be one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare across the country
The objective of PMASBY is to fill critical gaps in public Health infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. It will be in addition to the National Health Mission.
It will provide support for 17,788 rural Health and Wellness Centres in 10 High Focus States. Further, 11,024 urban Health and Wellness Centres will be established in all the States.
Critical care Services will be available in all the country districts with more than 5 lakh populations through Exclusive Critical Care Hospital Blocks. The remaining districts will be covered through referral services.
People will have access to a full range of diagnostic services in the Public Healthcare system through a Network of Laboratories across the country.
Integrated Public Health Labs will be set up in all the districts.
Under PMASBY, a National Institution for One Health, 4 New National Institutes for Virology, a Regional Research Platform for WHO South-East Asia Region, 9 Biosafety Level III laboratories, 5 New Regional National Centre for Disease Control will be set up.
PMASBY targets to build an IT enabled disease surveillance system by developing a network of surveillance laboratories at block, district, regional and national levels in Metropolitan areas.
World Polio Day Is Observed On 24 October
Affairs:World Polio Day is celebrated on 24 October to raise awareness for polio vaccination and eradication of Polio.
Highlights:
The Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk,
He led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis.
The 2021 theme for World Polio Day is Delivering on a Promise.
Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease.
There is no cure, but there are safe and effective Vaccines. Polio can be prevented through immunization.
The Polio vaccine, given multiple times, almost always protects a child for life. Therefore, the strategy to eradicate Polio is based on preventing infection by immunizing every child until transmission stops and the world is polio-free.
Polio is caused by an RNA virus, where 85% of the infections are paralytic. Poliovirus is most commonly spread in areas where there is poor sanitation.