UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

Coffee and pepper, being procured by the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) from the tribal coffee farmers of Chintapalli division receives  National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) certification from   Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Organic Farming Products Certification Policy in India: Two types of organic certifications systems have been developed for quality assurance of organic products in country. Third Party Certification by Accredited Certification Agency under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry for development of export market . Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-India) under Ministry of Agriculture and farmers Welfare for meeting the demand of domestic market. NPOP was launched during 2001 by the Government of India under Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The NPOP not only provides the institutional framework for accreditation of certification agencies and opera

The AI Supercomputer ‘AIRAWAT’, installed at C-DAC, Pune has been ranked 75 th  in the world. It was declared so in the 61 st  edition of Top 500 Global Supercomputing List yesterday at the International Supercomputing Conference (ISC 2023) in Germany. It puts India on top of AI Supercomputing nations worldwide. The system is installed under National Program on AI by Government of India. President & CEO, NeGD and MeitY Additional Secretary Shri Abhishek Singh stated, “Proof of Concept (PoC) AI Research Analytics and Knowledge Dissemination Platform (AIRAWAT) of 200 AI Petaflops Mixed Precision peak compute capacity is currently funded by MeitY and implemented by C-DAC, Pune. The AIRAWAT PoC of 200 AI Petaflops integrated with PARAM Siddhi – AI of 210 AI Petaflops gives a total peak compute of 410 AI Petaflops Mixed Precision and sustained compute capacity of 8.5 Petaflops (Rmax) Double Precision. The peak compute capacity (Double Precision, Rpeak) is 13 Petaflops.” He added that AI

WHO launches The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) Cabinet approves signing of Project Collaboration Agreement between the Department of Health Research (DHR) and the WHO on Assistive Technology Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to address the 76th World Health Assembly at Geneva International Day for Biological Diversity GRSE’s ‘GAINS’ Startup Challenge ISO COPOLCO Plenary has significant impact on global economy and lives of people

WHO and partners are launching a global network to help protect people from infectious disease threats through the power of pathogen genomics. The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) will provide a platform to connect countries and regions, improving systems for collecting and analyzing samples, using these data to drive public health decision-making, and sharing that information more broadly. The IPSN is a new global network of pathogen genomic actors, hosted by the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, to accelerate progress on the deployment of pathogen genomics and improve public health decision-making. The IPSN envisions a world where every country has equitable access to sustained capacity for genomic sequencing and analytics as part of its public health surveillance system. It sets out to create a mutually supportive global network of genomic surveillance actors that amplifies and accelerates the work of its members to improve access and equity. WHO

  The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, was apprised of signing of Project Collaboration Agreement between the Department of Health Research (DHR) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for promoting access to high quality affordable assistive technology mainly through fostering research, innovation, and capacity building. The Project Collaboration Agreement (PCA) was signed on 10.10.2022 by WHO and on 18.10.2022 by Department of Health Research (DHR). This collaboration aims to work towards drawing global attention toward access to assistive technology, fostering research and innovation and developing and disseminating appropriate training programmes. Assistive Technology: Assistive technology is an umbrella term covering the systems and services related to the delivery of assistive products and services. Assistive products maintain or improve an individual’s functioning and independence, thereby promoting their well-being. Overview Assistive technology

Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya will represent India in the 76 th  World Health Assembly at Geneva, Switzerland to be held from 21st to 30th May 2023. About The World Health Assembly: The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland. PIB WHO

  The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. When first created by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly in late 1993, 29 December (the date of entry into force of the Convention of Biological Diversity), was designated The International Day for Biological Diversity. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This was partly done because it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations for the date of 29 December, given the number of holidays that coincide around that time of year. Themes: 2023 - From agreement to action: Build back biodiversity 2022 - Building a shared future for all life 2021 - We’re part of the solut

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, one of India’s premier defence shipyards and a Category 1 Mini Ratna Company, has embarked on a mission to identify and encourage the development of innovative solutions towards technological advances in shipbuilding by Startups. As part of this drive, the Company launched GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme – 2023 or “GAINS 2023” in Kolkata today leverage the eco-system that addresses present and emerging challenges in the ship design and construction industry. With this initiative, the GRSE embraces the energy and ideas of today’s talented youngsters to revolutionise the industry and reaffirms its belief that the young minds of today are the driving force behind the future of both the company and the industry at large. This strategic move signifies GRSE’s unwavering commitment to fostering innovation and embracing fresh perspectives.  The GRSE has been a pioneering shipyard since becoming a DPSU way back in 1960 by deliveri

India is hosting the 44th edition of the coveted annual ISO COPOLCO Plenary from 23-26 May 2023 in New Delhi. ISO COPOLCO, or the Committee on Consumer Policy, is a committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) responsible for promoting consumer interests in the standardization process and for ensuring that standards are developed with the needs of consumers in mind. Apart from other distinct activities targeting enhanced consumer engagement in the standardization process, the mega event that is being organized by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the national standards body of India will also feature dialogue sessions and workshops on related themes. The International Standards Organisation (ISO), an international body with 168 countries as members, develops standards for the world impacting a diverse range of business and social sectors. Through their consumer committee on standards development (COPOLCO), ISO involves the wider public in the process of sta

Indian Naval Ships Satpura and Delhi with RAdm Gurcharan Singh, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet embarked onboard arrived at Singapore on 01 May 2023 to participate in the Inaugural ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) scheduled from 02 to 08 May 2023. The Harbour Phase of the exercise is scheduled to be held at Changi Naval Base from 02 to 04 May 2023 and the Sea Phase will be conducted from 07 to 08 May 2023 in the South China Sea. AIME 2023 will provide an opportunity for Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work together closely and conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain. INS Delhi, India's first indigenously-built guided missile destroyer and INS Satpura, an indigenously-built guided missile stealth frigate  are a part of Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam and function under the operational command of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command. These ships are fitted with state-of-the art weapons and sensors. The ships,

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of ‘ADC-150’ from IL 38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa on April 27, 2023. ‘ADC-150’ is an indigenously designed and developed Air Droppable Container with 150 kg payload capacity. The trial was conducted to enhance the naval operational logistics capabilities by providing quick response to meet the requirement of critical engineering stores to ships (under distress), which are deployed more than 2,000 kms from the coast. It reduces the requirement of ships to come close to the coast to collect spares and stores. Three DRDO laboratories - Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam; Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru - have been involved in the development of ADC-150 container. The crucial flight clearance certification was given by Regional Center for Mili

Centre of Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), a Delhi-based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has designed and developed a Vertical Shaft based Underground Ammunition Storage Facility. It enables upward vertical dissipation of blast effects considerably reducing the blast effect on surrounding utilities. The Design Validation Trial of this Underground Ammunition Storage Structure was successfully conducted on April 30, 2023. The instrumented blast trial was carried out in presence of the Armed Forces by detonating 5,000 kgs of TNT in one of the chambers of the underground facility. The CFEES team conducted the trial with precision and utmost safety in place. All the parameters recorded during the trial matched with estimated values. This facility will ensure that an explosion within will not cause damage to the adjacent chamber and also ensuring full operability of the remaining facility. The Armed Forces find it difficult to stock ammunitio

The 2 nd   meeting of the G-20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group will be held in Mumbai from May 23rd to 25th.  Today, the  Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal held a meeting at the BMC headquarters in Mumbai, to review the preparations being made by BMC and other agencies. The work done by Mumbai in the last few years in the field of disaster management has been recognized not only at the national level but also at the global level. The scheduled meeting of Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group of the G-20 Council is an opportunity to highlight this achievement to the world. Keeping this in mind, BMC Commissioner directed all the agencies including BMC to maintain proper coordination and complete the pending works within prescribed time. The 2 nd  G-20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting will begin in Mumbai from May 23, 2023. More than 120 members will attend this meeting.  On the sidelines of this meeting, representatives of the Working G

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a Consultation Paper on Definition of International Traffic. Department of Telecommunications (DoT) through a reference dated 30.08.2022 requested the Authority to provide its recommendations under Section 11(1)(a) of TRAI Act, 1997 (as amended) on definition of International SMS and Domestic SMS. The load carried on a telecommunication network is called traffic, or more specifically ‘telecommunication traffic’. Telecommunication traffic comprises of several types of traffic such as voice call, SMS, etc. Further, telecommunication traffic comprises domestic traffic ( i.e. , traffic within the country), and international traffic. In the Indian context, domestic traffic comprises intra-circle traffic and inter-circle traffic which have been specifically defined in the Unified License. As intra-circle traffic and inter-circle traffic are the only two components of domestic traffic, the term ‘domestic traffic’ has been defined

NTPC Ltd. signed a Supplementary Joint Venture Agreement with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) in New Delhi today for development of Nuclear Power Projects. Initially, the JV company shall develop two Pressurized Heavy-Water Reactor (PHWR) projects, Chutka Madhya Pradesh Atomic Power Project 2x700 MW and Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project 4x700 MW, which were identified as a part of fleet mode nuclear projects. This Supplementary Joint Venture Agreement marks a pivotal step for NTPC Ltd. and NPCIL to collaborate and cooperate in the field of development of Nuclear Power projects which shall help the country in meeting its Clean Energy Commitments to achieve net zero emission target by 2070. PIB

A n ew low-cost star sensor developed by astronomers from off-the-shelf components  was recently launched by ISRO on board PSLV C-55. In its first-ever space test, the sensor, which is mounted on the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM), is performing well, and the initial data has now validated its design as well as its function. The StarBerrySense payload developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), was launched on 22 April. This novel low-cost sensor designed to quickly calculate where the satellite is pointing is being tested in space for the very first time. The astronomers from the Space Payloads Group at the institute have announced that not only has StarBerrySense withstood the harsh conditions in space and is functioning as expected, the initial data shows that it is able to calculate the pointing direction. StarBerrySense was mounted on ISRO's PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM),