** DRDO tests Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology

The test was carried out at around 10.30 a.m. from the integrated test range (ITR) launch platform at Chandipur

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday successfully carried out a flight demonstration based on Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from Integrated Test Range (ITR) Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. 

** M.G. George, Muthoot Finance chairman, passes away

M.G. George Muthoot, chairman of the Muthoot Group and former lay secretary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, died in New Delhi on Friday. He was 71.

He was listed as the 26th richest person in India by the Forbes Magazine in 2020. He also served as a member of the National Executive Committee of the FICCI..

** EVMs were used first time in Kerala in 50 booths in 1982

Defeated candidate wins in re-poll using conventional ballot papers.

The use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in some booths of the Paravur Assembly constituency in Ernakulam is etched in the electoral history as they were introduced in the constituency in the 1982 polling, a first in the country.

** Only NRI quota seats based on entrance exams for OCI cardholders: MHA

OCI cardholders cannot undertake any ‘missionary, mountaineering, journalism and tabligh activities’ without prior permission of the GoI

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reiterated through a gazette notification that Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders can lay claim to “only NRI (Non Resident Indian) quota seats” in educational institutions based on all-India entrance tests such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Joint Entrance Examination (Mains), Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) or other such all-India professional tests

** St. John’s develops new test to measure Vit B12 absorption

A team of researchers from St. John’s Research Institute (SJRI) has developed a new test to measure vitamin B12 absorption in humans with stable 13C isotopes. Earlier, this was possible only using the radio-isotopes-based Schilling test.

This major clinical development has been published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.