World Veterinary Day 2023 observed on 29th April
World Veterinary Day is an annual event celebrated on the last Saturday of April to increase awareness about the important work of veterinarians in promoting animal health, welfare, and public health.
World Veterinary Day 2023
World Veterinary Day is an annual event celebrated on the last Saturday of April to increase awareness about the important work of veterinarians in promoting animal health, welfare, and public health. This year, the event falls on April 29th. The aim of World Veterinary Day is to recognize the hard work and dedication of veterinary professionals in protecting the health and safety of animals and humans alike. This day is a celebration of the efforts made by veterinarians worldwide to improve animal welfare and health. It also serves as a platform for the global veterinary community to come together and seek support for their work.
World Veterinary Day- Theme
This year’s theme for World Veterinary Day 2023 is “Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness in the Veterinary Profession”.
World Veterinary Day- Significance
Veterinarians play a crucial role not only in animal and public health but also in environmental protection and sustainability. They work to ensure the welfare of animals in diverse settings, including farms, zoos, and wildlife habitats.
In addition, they contribute to the conservation of endangered species and the protection of biodiversity by working with conservation organizations and wildlife management agencies. By addressing animal welfare issues and promoting sustainable agriculture practices, veterinarians are helping to create a more sustainable future for all of us.
World Veterinary Day- History
The World Veterinary Day (WVD) was established on April 29, 2000, by the World Veterinary Association (WVA). Since then, the last Saturday of April is observed as WVD every year with a new theme that highlights a specific aspect of veterinary medicine. This day provides an excellent opportunity to recognize and appreciate the significant contributions made by veterinarians to society and to increase awareness about the field of veterinary medicine.
Along with various celebrations and events organized by veterinary associations and organizations worldwide, the WVA also presents the World Veterinary Day Awards. These awards acknowledge and honour individuals or organizations that have made remarkable contributions to veterinary medicine and animal welfare.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launches ‘Reflections’
The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, launched a book called "Reflections" in Mumbai. The author of the book is Narayanan Vaghul.
The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, launched a book called “Reflections” in Mumbai. The author of the book is Narayanan Vaghul, a well-known banker, and it provides a detailed account of his experiences in the financial landscape of India over several decades. Sitharaman praised Vaghul for his leadership qualities and extensive experience in banking, as well as his contributions to mentoring leaders. She particularly highlighted his ideas and vision for women empowerment, which she believes will continue to be relevant and valuable as more women take on leadership roles in financial services in India.
Widely considered as the architect of modern banking in India, Shri Vaghul’s book recounts the dramatic, humorous, and often momentous events throughout his illustrious career. Packed with fascinating anecdotes, the book touches upon various initiatives that he was privileged to have been part of.
“Mr. Vaghul is regarded as the Bhishma pitamah of banking in India and the journey of her life epitomizes selfless service, nation building, mentoring and empowerment of women.” The processes established by Shri Vaghul went on to become strong and sustainable practices in the Indian financial ecosystem. He has been instrumental in mentoring several powerhouses of banking talent and actively groomed more women CEOs in banking, thereby fostering a culture of gender-neutral meritocracy.
NASA Successfully Extracts Oxygen from Lunar Soil Simulant
NASA scientists have successfully extracted oxygen from simulated lunar soil in a vacuum environment, which could pave the way for future human colonies on the Moon.
NASA Scientists Extract Oxygen from Lunar Soil in Vacuum Environment:
NASA scientists have successfully extracted oxygen from simulated lunar soil in a vacuum environment, which could pave the way for future human colonies on the Moon. The ability to extract oxygen from lunar soil is crucial for providing breathable air for astronauts and can also be used as propellant for transportation and space exploration.
The Dirty Thermal Vacuum Chamber:
To simulate the conditions on the Moon, NASA scientists used a special spherical chamber called the Dirty Thermal Vacuum Chamber. This chamber has a 15-foot diameter and is designed to allow unclean samples to be tested inside. The vacuum environment inside the chamber is similar to the conditions on the Moon, where there is no atmosphere and the temperature can range from -173°C to 127°C.
The Carbothermal Reactor:
Inside the Dirty Thermal Vacuum Chamber, the scientists used a carbothermal reactor to extract the oxygen from the lunar soil simulant. The carbothermal reactor is a device that uses heat to break down materials into their constituent parts. In this case, the reactor was used to heat the lunar soil simulant to a temperature of 1,000°C, which caused it to melt.
High-Powered Laser:
To simulate the heat from a solar energy concentrator, the scientists used a high-powered laser to melt the lunar soil simulant. The laser was able to create a temperature of 1,000°C, which is similar to the temperature on the Moon’s surface when exposed to direct sunlight. This process is similar to the one used on Earth to create items like solar panels and steel.
Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo):
After the lunar soil simulant was heated in the carbothermal reactor, the team used a device called Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo) to detect carbon monoxide. The MSolo is an instrument that can measure the composition of gases in a sample. Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of the carbothermal reaction and its detection indicated that the process was successful in extracting oxygen from the lunar soil simulant.
Future Missions to the Moon:
NASA plans to send similar devices to the Moon’s South Pole on two upcoming exploration missions – the Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 in 2023 and NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) in November 2024. These missions will focus on the search for water and other resources on the Moon’s surface, which could be used to support future human colonies.
NPCI Bharat BillPay launches NOCS platform to process ONDC transactions
The National Payments Corporation of India's (NPCI) subsidiary, NBBL, has launched the NOCS platform to provide reconciliation and settlement services for transactions made on the ONDC network.
NPCI’s NBBL Launches NOCS Platform for ONDC Transactions:
The National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI) subsidiary, NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL), has launched the NOCS platform to provide reconciliation and settlement services for transactions made on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) network. This platform will serve as the foundation for the ONDC network and enable secure and timely transfer of funds to network participants.
Integrated Platform:
The NOCS platform is integrated with banks, fintechs, and e-commerce players, and will soon go live with the first set of five banks on ONDC—AU Small Finance Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, IDFC First Bank, and YES Bank. According to the release, NBBL is also working closely with ONDC to bring other innovations to the ecosystem and launch more value-added solutions for the customers, sellers, and network participants in the foreseeable future.
Expertise and Populations Scale Platform:
NBBL, with its expertise in running the national platform Bharat BillPay, has developed NOCS to aid ONDC in its mission. This will offer a population-scale platform to tackle the challenges posed by the increased volume of transactions occurring among different entities on the network. NBBL operates the Bharat BillPay platform, which processes millions of transactions per month and has over 20,000 billers.
ONDC Platform:
The ONDC platform was set up to facilitate the rapid adoption of e-commerce and boost and strengthen the growth of startups in India. This is done by facilitating scalable and cost-effective e-commerce through the open protocol.
PM Modi inaugurates ‘NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 'NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute' in Silvassa town, located in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute Inaugurated by PM Modi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute’ in Silvassa town, located in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The institute has been developed under the Ministry of Health and is spread over a lush green campus of 14.48 acres built at a cost of ₹203 crore. Here are five things to know about this new medical college.
Cost and Foundation Stone
The NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute has been built at a cost of ₹203 crore, and the foundation stone for the project was laid in January 2019. The institute is a significant addition to the healthcare infrastructure of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and is expected to improve the healthcare services in the region.
Sprawling Campus and Facilities:
The campus of the NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute is spread over a sprawling 14.48-acre area in Silvassa. It features a medical college building, a 24×7 central library, residential quarters, hostels for students and interns, research labs, an anatomy museum, and a club house. The institute has an annual intake capacity of 177 medical students. The hospital associated with the institute is equipped with modern facilities such as blood bank facilities, Intensive Care facilities, modular operation theatre facilities, and 24X7 emergency and pharmacy services for all indoor and outdoor patients.
Convenient Healthcare Services:
The high-class features and modern amenities of the institute are expected to facilitate healthcare services for the citizens of the Union Territory more conveniently. With an increasing demand for healthcare services, the NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute is expected to provide quality healthcare education and services to the people of the region.
Associated Hospital:
The hospital associated with the institute is the Shree Vinoba Bhave Civil Hospital in Silvassa, earlier known as the Cottage Hospital, established in the year 1952. With a current capacity of 650 beds, the hospital has been planned to upgrade to 1,250 beds in the coming time. This association will not only benefit the medical students but also the patients seeking medical care.
Reliance General becomes first insurer to accept CBDC in tie-up with YES Bank
Reliance General Insurance has made history by becoming the first general insurance company to accept the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) e-Rupee (e₹) for premium payments.
Reliance General Insurance accepts RBI’s CBDC e-Rupee for premium payments:
Reliance General Insurance has made history by becoming the first general insurance company to accept the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) e-Rupee (e₹) for premium payments. The insurer has partnered with YES Bank to facilitate the collection of premiums in digital mode using the bank’s e-rupee platform.
Easy, safe, instant, and green payments:
Customers who have an active e-rupee wallet with any bank can scan Reliance General Insurance’s CBDC QR code to make easy, safe, instant, and green payments. This move has eliminated the need to handle physical cash, which can be risky during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Digital token equivalent to a banknote:
e-rupee is a digital token that is equivalent to a banknote, and it is legal tender or sovereign currency backed by the RBI. It removes all the issues of handling physical cash and offers the same anonymity as a banknote. Moreover, since all transactions are done through an RBI-regulated entity, it reduces banknote-related risks such as anti-money laundering and the counterfeiting of currency.
Complement existing digital payment systems:
“YES Bank is pleased to partner with Reliance General Insurance in promoting CBDC, an industry first in the insurance sector. With higher familiarisation and wider adoption, we expect CBDC transactions to complement existing digital payment systems considering features such as authenticity, interoperability, and settlement finality,” said Arun Agrawal, Country Head-Institutional & Government Banking, YES Bank.
Physical e-rupee QR code available at select branches:
Currently, Reliance General Insurance’s physical e-rupee QR code is available at select branches for walk-in customers to scan and pay instantly. It plans to make it available at all branches across the country, on its website, and on the Reliance Self-i app in the next few months. This move is expected to make the payment process more convenient for customers who prefer to make digital payments.
3 new conservation reserves declared in Rajasthan
The Rajasthan government's recent declaration of three areas as conservation reserves has brought a ray of hope for wildlife conservation efforts and ecotourism in the state.
The Rajasthan government’s recent declaration of three areas as conservation reserves has brought a ray of hope for wildlife conservation efforts and ecotourism in the state. As the state government declared three areas — Sorsan in Baran, Khichan in Jodhpur and Hamirgarh in Bhilwara — as conservation reserves. The new reserves are expected to protect rare and endangered species and provide a safe haven for migratory birds.
3 New Wildlife Conservation Reserves in Rajasthan: Boosting Conservation Efforts and Ecotourism:
Protecting Endangered Species: Sorsan Conservation Reserve:
Sorsan, located in Baran, has been declared a conservation reserve to protect rare and endangered species, mainly the great Indian bustard (GIB) and blackbucks. With only 200 GIBs left in the world, the conservation reserve aims to provide a safe home for these critically endangered birds. The reserve also seeks to protect the state animal, blackbucks, from excessive hunting, deforestation and habitat loss.
Winter Home for Migratory Birds: Khichan Conservation Reserve:
Khichan, situated in Jodhpur, has been given the conservation reserve tag to provide a winter home for migratory birds such as demoiselle cranes. These birds can be spotted in the state during winter and the conservation reserve aims to provide a safe abode for them. This move is also expected to provide a fillip to wildlife tourism in the state.
Existing Wildlife Conservation Reserves in Rajasthan:
Rajasthan is already home to 26 wildlife conservation reserves, and the recent addition of three new reserves has further strengthened the state’s commitment to wildlife conservation efforts. Some of the well-known existing conservation reserves in the state are Bisalpur Conservation Reserve in Tonk, Jodbeed Gadhwala Bikaner Conservation Reserve in Bikaner, Khetri Bansyal Conservation Reserve in Jhunjhunu and Jawai Bandh Leopard Conservation Reserve in Pali.
With the addition of these reserves, Rajasthan now has 29 conservation reserves, providing a safe haven for various species of flora and fauna.
The Purpose of Conservation Reserves:
Conservation reserves play a crucial role in protecting endangered species and preserving their natural habitats. The Forest Conservation Act of 1990 mandates that all development projects in conservation areas must get approval from the National Board for Wildlife and the State Board of Wildlife. This helps in maintaining a balance between development and conservation efforts.