News Crux
MISCELLANEOUS :
SAREX-2020
- The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has conducted the National level Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2020) in Goa to test the efficiency of operations and coordination of the stakeholders involved in Search and Rescue in the Indian Ocean Region.
New Environment Impact Norm
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released draft EIA notification.
- It proposes an update to Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of 2006.
- The current EIA specifies a “minimum of 30 days” for people to respond. The draft EIA notification gives a “minimum of 20 days” of notice period.
- It also requires that the public-hearing process be wrapped up in 40 days, as opposed to the existing norm of 45 days.
IOC: 1st Company To Supply BS-VI Fuel Across India
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited has become 1st company to begin supply of BS-VI fuel across its 28,000 petrol pumps.
- The Government of India has set 01st April 2020 as the deadline to start the supply of BS-VI emission compliant fuels.
- BS (Bharat Satge)-VI grade fuel is the world’s cleanest fuel containing just 10 parts per million of sulphur.
India’s First ‘Protein Day’
Right to Protein, a national-level public health initiative, has launched India’s first ‘Protein Day’ to raise awareness about the health benefits of protein.
- The theme for this year’s Protein Day is ‘Protein Mein Kya Hai?’ asking citizens to be mindful about their protein consumption.
- Many countries recognize 27th February as the Protein Day and from this year, India has also joined this movement.
Restaurant On Wheels
- Indian Railways has launched its first ‘Restaurant on Wheels’ at Asansol Railway station for the use of Railway passengers as well as general public of Asansol, West Bengal.
All Medical Devices Will Be Treated As Drugs From 1 April
- The government of India has announced all medical devices sold in the country would be treated as “drugs” with effect from 1 April 2020.
- All devices will be regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940. Currently, 23 medical devices have been classified as drugs.
Ella
- An Artificial Intelligence-based police officer called “Ella” has made its place in the New Zealand Police force.
- Ella is a virtual assistant with a face. Basically, it is like Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa but with a human like Face.
Apiary On Wheels
- It is an initiative by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for the easy upkeep and migration of bee boxes having live bee colonies.
- ‘Apiary on wheels’ will make the migration easy, the maintenance easy, easy feeding of bees and it will also help the bees to sustain even in extreme summers.
INS Jamuna
- The Indian Navy Hydrographic Survey Ship, INS Jamuna is on a deployment to carry out Joint Hydrographic Survey off the South – West coast of Sri Lanka. The ship has undertaken several survey activities as part of the Foreign Cooperation Survey alongwith the Sri Lanka Navy hydrographers.
IGIA: First Single-Use Plastic-Free Airport In India
- Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has become the first single-use plastic-free airport in India.