Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation attended  Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of NAFSCOB. 

About NAFSCOB

• Genesis: Established in 1964 with a view to facilitate the operations of State and Central Co-operative Banks in general and Development of Co-operative Credit in particular.
• Objective:
  • To facilitate the growth and development of cooperative banking in India, ensuring financial inclusion and supporting the rural economy.
  • Promote and protect the interests of the member banks in all spheres of their activities and to give expression to the views of the member banks.
• Three wings of NAFSCOB: Planning, Research and Development , All India Mutual Arrangement Schemes and Computer Services Division.

India's aquaculture sector is increasingly adopting Biofloc Technology (BFT) and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) to enhance production, sustainability, and minimize environmental impact in aquaculture.

Biofloc Technology (BFT)

• BFT is a closed, tank-based fish farming method that utilizes beneficial microbes, called flocs, to maintain water quality.
• Heterotrophic bacterias are used to convert organic waste in the tanks into microbial biomass, which can serve as an additional food source for fish or shrimp.
• This system reduces the need for frequent water changes by naturally cleaning the water.

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)

• RAS is also a closed-loop, tank-based aquaculture technique that recycles water through advanced filtration systems.
• The setup includes automated culture tanks equipped with mechanical and biological filtration units, ensuring efficient water use and a controlled environment for aquaculture.

Central Electricity Authority  has recognized SHKT technology under Hydro Category to drive innovations in alternate technologies.

About SHKT:

• Unlike conventional hydroelectric systems that rely on potential energy of water, It harnesses kinetic energy of flowing water with minimal potential.
• This enables generation of electricity without the need of large dams.

Significance of SHKT

• It is a cost effective and scalable solution for generating renewable energy.
• Turbines are easy to install, making them highly suitable for locations like canals, hydropower tailrace channels.
• They can be deployed in remote locations where power-grid might be absent.

Ministry of Science & Technology has formally launched India’s first indigenous antibiotic "Nafithromycin" for tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

About Nafithromycin

• It has been developed with the support of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), under its Biotechnology Industry Partnership Program (BIPP). 
• It has been brought to market under trade name "Miqnaf" by pharma company "Wolkardt".
• It is designed to treat Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP), a severe illness caused by drug-resistant bacteria, which affects vulnerable populations (children, elderly etc.).
• Ten times more effective than current options and offers safer, faster, and more tolerable solution for patients.

IPSN has announced first round of grants towards understanding disease threats.

About IPSN

• It is brought together by WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, established in 2021 in Berlin, to provide world with better data, analytics and decisions to detect and respond to health emergencies.
• It is a new global network of Pathogen Genomic Surveillance (PGS) actors that accelerates work of its members to improve access and equity. 
  • PGS is monitoring and analysis of genetic material (genome) of pathogens, like viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
• IPSN catalytic grant fund support partners from low- and middle-income countries to build their capacities in pathogen genomic analysis.

Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has launched third edition of national campaign ‘Nayi Chetna – Pahal Badlaav Ki’.

About Nayi Chetna – Pahal Badlaav Ki campaign

• It aims to raise awareness and promote targeted action against all forms of gender-based violence through grassroots initiatives.
• Organized by Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under aegis of Ministry of Rural Development. 
• As part of initiative, 227 new Gender Resource Centers were inaugurated across 13 states.
• Campaign’s slogan: “Ek Saath, Ek Awaaz, Hinsa Ke Khilaaf.”

Supreme Court seeks Union government report prepared by a committee negotiating a dispute between Tamilnadu and Karnataka over sharing of Pennaiyar river water.

About Pennaiyar River

• Pennaiyar Basin is second largest interstate East flowing river basin. Its basin is bounded in north by Palar basin, on west and south by Cauvery basin and on east by Bay of Bengal. 
• It covers a large area in Tamilnadu besides the areas covered in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• It is known as Dakshina Pinakini in Kannada and Thenpennai in Tamil. 
• It originates near Nandidurg in Kolar district of Karnataka. 

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is conducting 11^th Edition of National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercises & Workshop (SAREX-24) under National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board at Kochi.

About SAREX-24

• Theme: Enhancing Search and Rescue capabilities through Regional collaboration.
• It signifies ICG's commitment to provide help during large scale contingencies regardless of location, Nationality or circumstances in Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR) and beyond.