The News Horizon

2155 Posts
Consortium launched to monitor genomic variations in SARS-CoV-2 virus

Consortium launched to monitor genomic variations in SARS-CoV-2 virus

New Delhi (India Science Wire): The Government of India has launched a Consortium comprising 10 research laboratories from different parts of the country to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus on a regular basis. Called Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG), it will ascertain the status of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01) in the country, establish a sentinel surveillance for early detection of genomic variants with public health implication, and determine the genomic variants in unusual events/trends such as super-spreader events, high mortality/morbidity trend areas etc. The consortia comprised of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Institute…
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How the Domestic Medical Equipment Industry “Adapted, Evolved and Expanded” to meet COVID19 challenge in 2020

How the Domestic Medical Equipment Industry “Adapted, Evolved and Expanded” to meet COVID19 challenge in 2020

2020 witnessed tremendous achievements in the medical supplies sector in the country. At the beginning of the pandemic, India was almost totally dependent on imported Ventilators, PPE Kits and N-95 Masks. There were, in fact, no standard specifications for these products which are essential in the fight against the pandemic. The Central Government recognised the challenges posed by the pandemic in the very initial stages and successfully ensured more than adequate availability and supplies of essential medical items across the country. The average cost of ventilators in India in February-March, 2020 was approximately Rs. 15 lakh and nearly all were…
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PM chairs 34th PRAGATI interaction

PM chairs 34th PRAGATI interaction

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the thirty-fourth PRAGATI interaction today. In today’s meeting, various projects, programmes and grievances were reviewed. Projects of the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs were discussed. These projects, with a total cost of about Rs 1 lakh crore, pertained to ten states and Union Territories, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. During the interaction, the programmes-Ayushman Bharat and Jal JeevanMission were reviewed. Also, grievances related to the Ministry of Consumer…
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Extension of time limits for income tax returns

In view of the challenges faced by taxpayers in meeting the statutory and regulatory compliances due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Government brought the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020 (‘the Ordinance’) on 31st March, 2020 which, inter alia, extended various time limits. The Ordinance has since been replaced by the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act. The Government issued a Notification on 24th June, 2020 under the Ordinance which, inter alia, extended the due date for all Income Tax Returns for the FY 2019-20 (AY 2020-21) to 30th November,…
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PM lays Foundation Stone of AIIMS at Rajkot

PM lays Foundation Stone of AIIMS at Rajkot

AIIMS Rajkot will boost health infrastructure and provide employment opportunities in Gujarat : PM Gujarat has shown the path in fighting COVID : PM Work on 10 New AIIMS and construction of super speciality hospitals underway : PM 2020 was the year of health challenges, 2021 is going to be the year of health solutions: PM India will strengthen its role as the nerve centre of the global health in 2021:PM Remembers frontline corona warriors on the last day of the year Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of AIIMS Rajkot through a video conference today. Union…
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Health Ministry recommends extension of temporary suspension of international flights from the UK to India till 7th Jan 2021

Health Ministry recommends extension of temporary suspension of international flights from the UK to India till 7th Jan 2021

Health Secretary writes to all States to keep strict vigil to curb “super spreader” events in the wake of New Year celebrations The Health Ministry has recommended to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the extension of the temporary suspension of flights originating from UK into India to be further extended till 7th January (Thursday), 2021. This has been recommended based on the inputs received from the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) headed by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) and the National Task Force jointly headed by DG, ICMR and Member (Health), NITI Aayog. It has also been suggested to…
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New application for integrated and improved oceanographic data for India launched 

New application for integrated and improved oceanographic data for India launched 

New Delhi (India Science Wire):  The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) launched a new application to integrate and enhance the accessibility and utility of oceanographic data in the country. The application is named Digital Ocean and was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister of Science and Technology, Health and Family Welfare, and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan through a virtual event webcast live. Digital ocean is a web-based platform that integrates all oceanographic data available in the country and aids its analysis, visualisation, fusion, management, and faster dissemination on a user-friendly interface. It is developed by the Indian National Centre for…
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Union Education Minister to announce the dates of commencement of CBSE Board examinations- 2021 tomorrow

Union Education Minister to announce the dates of commencement of CBSE Board examinations- 2021 tomorrow

Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ will announce the dates of commencement of CBSE Board examinations- 2021 at 6 pm tomorrow i.e 31st December. This information was given by the Minister on his Twitter account. Earlier during virtual interaction with teachers, Shri Pokhriyal informed that CBSE is making necessary preparations for conducting the 2021 board examinations after taking into consideration the suggestions given by students, teachers and parents on the same.
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Dr Harsh Vardhan launches ‘Digital Ocean’ -the first of its kind digital platform for Ocean Data Management developed by INCOIS of MoES

Dr Harsh Vardhan launches ‘Digital Ocean’ -the first of its kind digital platform for Ocean Data Management developed by INCOIS of MoES

Digital Ocean is a big step towards Digital India, will help expand ‘Blue Economy’ and promote Atmanirbhar Bharat: Dr Harsh Vardhan The Minister of Earth Sciences, Science & Technology, andHealth & Family WelfareDr.Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the web-based application “Digital Ocean (www.do.incois.gov.in)” developed by INCOIS of M/o Earth sciences , during a Virtual Meeting held in New Delhi today. Dr. M. Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences; Dr. Vipin Chandra, Joint Secretary, MoES; Dr. T. Srinivasa Kumar, Director, INCOIS and several senior functionaries from MoES and INCOIS attended the function. Addressing at the event, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that Digital Ocean…
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Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan nominated to the Board of GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan nominated to the Board of GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare has been nominated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) as a member on the GAVI Board. Dr. Harsh Vardhan will be representing the South East Area Regional Office(SEARO)/ Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) constituency on the GAVI Board. The seat is currently held by Mr. MyintHtwe of Myanmar. Dr. Harsh Vardhan will be representing India from 1stJanuary 2021 until 31st December 2023. The Board normally meets twice a year in June and November/ Decemberand holds an annual retreat, normally in March or April. All these meetings arenormally…
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