- 1. CAWACH companies come up with safe disinfection & sanitization technologies
The issue in news
Ten companies supported by CAWACH have come up with new technologies for sanitization and disinfection.
Main points
- CAWACH is an initiative of the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), that supports innovations in the areas of diagnostics, devices, informatics including bio-informatics & information management systems, any intervention for the control of COVID-19 and/or start-up ideas to address/mitigate various challenges faced by country/society due to the severe impact of COVID-19.
Some of the new innovative products are mentioned below:
- Mumbai based start-up Inphlox Water Systems, with expertise in treating complex polluted water and wastewater, modified their technology to design and develop a system for space and equipment disinfection to fight COVID-19 contamination.
- The product is titled Vajra.
- The VAJRA KE Series uses a disinfection system consisting of a multistage disinfection process by incorporating electrostatic discharge that generates ozone, and the powerful sterilizing effects of UVC light spectrum.
- Coimbatore based Eta Purification offers advanced sterilization solutions.
- The COSMO (Complete Sterilization by Microplasma Oxidation) system can rapidly disinfect Covid-19 infected areas, including quarantine facilities, ambulatory care, and equipment surfaces.
- It uses environmentally-sound micro-cavity plasma technology.
- The disinfectant is produced on-site, thereby eliminating the transport, storage, and handling of hazardous chemicals.
- This offers a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical-based decontamination.
- Chennai-based start-up MicroGO offers a mechanical hand sanitizing dispenser machine that quantifies the steps of hand sanitization through touchless, real-time monitoring via a dashboard.
- We innovate Biosolutions from Pune has developed silver nanoparticles based on non-alcoholic liquid sanitizer.
- Their technology pending for patent also inhibits the RNA replication activity – preventing the spread of the virus and blocks surface glycoproteins – making the virus ineffective.
- Lucknow based Maser Technology offers ATULYA and OPTIMASER.
- OPTIMASER is a microwave-assisted cold sterilization device for hazardous biomedical waste disinfection and making linen and PPE reusable.
- ATULYA is an Instant Microwave based handheld sterilizer which offers a cutting edge over the UV tube-based steriliser, sanitising sprays & all the possible methods of sterilisation & protection.
- DoPT reforms regarding Child Care Leave
The issue in news
The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has announced new reforms regarding child care leave for male government servants.
Main points
- The new Child Care Leave (CCL) will be available only for those male employees who happen to be “single male parent”, which may include male employees who are widowers or divorcees or even unmarried and may, therefore, be expected to take up the responsibility of child care as a single-handed parent.
- It is a path-breaking and progressive reform to bring ease of living for government servants.
- Another measure introduced is the doing away with the restriction on age for CCL for a disabled child. Earlier, it was up to 22 years, but now the restriction has been removed and now Child Care Leave can be availed by a government servant for a disabled child of any age.
- India–Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE)
The issue in news
AIM Launches India–Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE), with Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
About I-ACE:
- AIM (Atal Innovation Mission), in association with CSIRO, is organizing a two-day hackathon on circular economy, ‘India–Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE)’ in December 2020.
- The idea of I-ACE was conceived during a virtual summit in June between the Indian and Australian prime ministers, exploring innovative ways to boost the circular economy in India and Australia.
- I-ACE will focus on the identification and development of innovative technology solutions by bright-minded students, start-ups and MSMEs of both nations.
- The four key themes for the hackathon are as follows:
- Innovation in packaging reducing packaging waste
- Innovation in food supply chains avoiding waste
- Creating opportunities for plastic waste reduction
- Recycling critical energy metals and e-waste
- Shortlisted students and start-ups/MSMEs will be called for the hackathon, where two winners (one student and one start-up/MSME) per theme from each country will be announced at an award ceremony.
- The winning Indian student and start-up/MSME team will be awarded a prize of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively, coupled with post-hackathon product development opportunities. The winning Australian student will be awarded a prize of AUD$3500 and the winning Australian SMEs/start-up team a prize of AUD$9500.
- WORLD POLIO DAY
The issue in news
October 24 is observed as World Polio Day every year in order to call on countries to stay vigilant in their fight against the disease.
Main points
- As per the WHO, since 1980, the cases of wild poliovirus have decreased by over 99.9 per cent as a result of vaccination efforts made around the world.
- World Polio Day was established by Rotary International over a decade ago to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop the vaccine against the disease.
Important Info :
- Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly disease that affects the nervous system
- There are three variants of the poliovirus, numbered 1 to 3.
- For a country to be declared polio-free, the wild transmission of all three kinds has to be stopped. For eradication, cases of both wild and vaccine-derived polio infection have to be reduced to zero. India was declared polio-free in January 2014, after three years of zero cases.
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