Posts

Centre Amends Drugs Rules, 1945 to Ensure Uniform Regulation of Advanced Cell and Gene Therapies

By
In a significant step towards strengthening the regulatory oversight of advanced and emerging medical technologies, the Central Government has amended the Drugs Rules, 1945 to bring Cell or Stem Cell derived products, Gene therapeutic products and Xenografts under the ambit of the Centrally License Approving Authority (CLAA) framework. Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, certain specified categories of critical drugs and biological products are under the joint regulatory supervision of the Central and State regulators. These include vaccines, large volume parenterals (IV solutions > 100 ml) and r-DNA based medicines. This set is being expanded with this amendment to cover additional emerging technologies. Cell or Stem Cell derived products e.g. such as stem cell-based regenerative treatments, CAR-T cell therapies have seen increasing use in treatment of blood cancers such as leukemias and lymphomas. Gene therapeutic products such as gene replacement and gene editing products have fou...
Post a Comment
Read more

NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

By
The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has achieved a significant milestone in the conservation of India's wild rice genetic resources through its funded project titled "In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur District of Assam. The project has been implemented since 2022 by the ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR), New Delhi, in collaboration with the Assam State Biodiversity Board. The researchers informed that the Borjuli site in Sonitpur district of Assam, identified under the project, has been notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site by the National Biodiversity Authority. The recognition marks a major step towards conserving India's rich wild rice diversity and strengthening climate-resilient agriculture. About  Oryza rufipogon: Oryza rufipogon is one of the most studied wild species of rice. It is a perennial plant commonly found in a marsh or...
Post a Comment
Read more

ADB Issues Inaugural Digital Solutions Bond to Open New Growth Pathways

By
1. They are issued by  The Asian Development Bank (ADB). 2. It was the first bond issued under    ADB Theme Bonds for Sustainable Development program. 3. It aims to support  digital connectivity across Asia and the Pacific. 4. The $100 million 3-year issue was arranged by Credit Agricole CIB and will be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Previously ( in May ) ADB announced $20 billion Asia-Pacific Digital Highway initiative. It aims to  provide first-time broadband access to 200 million people and faster, more reliable connections for another 450 million people across the region. By 2035, the initiative is expected to reduce Internet costs by about 40% in remote and landlocked areas and help create 4 million jobs. ADB News
Post a Comment
Read more

Department of Consumer Affairs Prescribes Standard Pack Sizes for Edible Oils under Legal Metrology Framework

By
In a significant step towards enhancing consumer transparency and promoting fair trade practices, the Department of Consumer Affairs has amended the Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) dated 29.12.2023 for determination of net quantity and standard pack sizes of edible oils and fats under the Legal Metrology framework. The decision follows extensive consultations with major edible oil industry associations representing nearly 90 per cent of the country's edible oil sector. The initiative seeks to address the growing proliferation of varying package sizes in the market, which often makes it difficult for consumers to compare prices and make informed purchasing decisions Major Consumer-Centric Reforms Announced for Edible Oil Packaging and Labelling Standard pack sizes prescribed for major edible oils and blended edible oils. Consumers will be able to compare prices across brands more easily and assess value for money accurately. Declaration of both volume and equivalent weight to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment ( HETDEX )

By
"  Astronomers Create the Largest 3D Map of the Early Universe’s Hydrogen Glow " - Gadgets360 The Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) is a major spectroscopic survey at McDonald Observatory aimed at understanding dark energy—the force accelerating the universe's expansion. Using the 10-meter Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) and VIRUS spectrographs, it maps over one million galaxies 9–11 billion light-years away.  HETDEX is currently collecting data on at least one million galaxies that are 9 billion to 11 billion light-years away, yielding the largest map of the early universe ever produced.  Key Details of HETDEX: Goal: To measure the expansion rate of the universe and determine if dark energy changes over time by mapping the 3D positions of over a million distant galaxies (specifically, Lyman-alpha emitters). Instrument: The survey uses VIRUS (Visible Integral-Field Replicable Unit Spectrograph), which consists of 150 spectrographs connected by 33,000+ op...
Post a Comment
Read more