Category: Science & Technology

** How Abhijeet Kain is empowered to educate through Reels

Content creator Abhijeet Kain from Lucknow uses popular Bollywood music from the 90s to make his PSA-style short videos

Regulars on Instagram would have shared Abhijeet Kain’s Reel more than once. Especially during Lockdown 2.0 and 2.1. Videos of him doing a lip sync to Bollywood music, while educating and entertaining social media regulars on physical distancing, right mask usage, other COVID-19 safety protocols and vaccination were shared by many of his 917k Insta followers. Apart from his regular videos, ones, Abhijeet has also made some videos on the Omicron variant.

The 26-year-old content creator from Lucknow says, “My Instagram becoming what it is now, is a lockdown miracle. I call myself an extroverted introvert; so I’m very selectively social., but when I started creating content I felt as though a new part of me was acting in front of the camera. I’m grateful my audience was so kind and encouraging; that kept me going.”

** DGCI gives nod to SII’s proposal to manufacture vaccine against omicron for test, analysis

SII has obtained permission and licence to manufacture SARS-CoV-2rS drug substance for examination, test and analysis.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved Serum Institute of India’s proposal to manufacture a vaccine against omicron variant of coronavirus for examination, test and analysis, official sources said on Monday.

“With reference to your application, please find herewith the permission to manufacture SARS-CoV-2 rS Protein (COVID-19) recombinant spike protein nanoparticle vaccine (omicron variant) for examination, test and analysis under the provisions of New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 to manufacture the test batches of the drug/drugs mentioned therein,” an approval order issued on February 4 stated.

** NITI Aayog, USAID to collaborate in healthcare

Collaboration to focus on innovations across healthcare landscape

The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a new partnership under the Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for Innovative Delivery of Healthcare (SAMRIDH) initiative, which aims to improve access to affordable and quality healthcare for vulnerable populations in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and rural and tribal regions.

A release issued by NITI Aayog on Tuesday said that in 2020, USAID, IPE Global, and stakeholders from the Indian government, academia, and the private sector developed the innovative SAMRIDH blended finance facility to combine public and philanthropic funds with commercial capital to create and rapidly scale market-based health solutions.

** Army begins RFID tagging of ammunition inventory

It will lead to increased efficiency in technical activities and cut costs, it says

The Army has commenced Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tagging of its ammunition inventory, which it said would lead to increased efficiency in technical activities carried out in ammunition depots and reduce inventory carrying costs.

“The first consignment of RFID tagged ammunition, comprising three lots of 5.56mm ammunition, was despatched from Ammunition Factory Khadki to Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) Pulgaon,” the Army said in a statement.

** RIL unit picks up stake in EV firm Altigreen

eliance New Energy Ltd (RNEL) a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has entered into an agreement with Altigreen Propulsion Labs Private Ltd (Altigreen) for subscription of 34000 Series A Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares of face value Rs 100 each for an aggregate consideration of Rs 50.16 crore.

Based out of Bengaluru Altigreen is an electric vehicle technology and solutions company for commercial last mile transportationthrough 2/3/4 wheeled vehicles.It has developed an E3Wvehicle and its vehicles are built in-house in Bangalore on a mobility platform that is 100% indigenous.Its current patent portfolio spans 60 countries with 26 global patents, RIL said.Some of Altigreen’s current technologies include electric motors & generator vehicle controls， motor controls， EV transmissions， telematics & 10T and battery management.“The investment is part of our Company’s strategic intent of collaborating with innovative companies in New Energy and New Mobility ecosystems,” RIL said.Altigreen is a private limited company incorporated in India on February 8， 2013

** Bosch Global Software Technologies expands to Hyderabad

Bosch plans to hire upto 3,000 professionals for the Hyderabad centre by 2025

Global technology and software services provider Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW) is setting up a technology and innovation R&D centre in Hyderabad.

Spread over two facilities in Hi-tech City, the preferred destination in Hyderabad for technology and new generation firms, the centre will augment the company’s focus on automotive engineering and digital enterprise.

The company plans to hire upto 3,000 professionals for the Hyderabad centre by 2025. It will also be looking for fresh talent from universities and colleges in the areas of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics Engineering, and Instrumentation.

* Experts recall success story of CFTRI’s infant food from buffalo’s milk

The story behind the formulation of infant food (Amul) from buffalo’s milk using the technology developed by the scientists from CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) was retold during a webinar organised on Monday, in commemoration of 80 years of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Under the title “80 years and 80 success stories”, experts, including present and former CFTRI directors, former senior official of Amul and others brought to light how the infant food using buffalo’s milk was formulated and the efforts put in by the scientists of CSIR-CFTRI decades ago when resources were in scarce.

** Indian scientists develop self-disinfecting, biodegradable face masks to combat COVID-19

A team of Indian Scientists, including from Bengaluru’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), in collaboration with an industry partner have developed a self-disinfecting ‘Copper-based Nanoparticle-coated Antiviral Face Mask to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

To this end, Scientists at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous R&D Centre of Department of Science and Technology (DST), in collaboration with CSIR-CCMB and Resil Chemicals, a Bengaluru based company have developed the self-disinfecting ‘Copper-based Nanoparticle-coated Antiviral Face Masks’ under the DST sponsored Nano-Mission project, to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Their Industrial partner Resil Chemicals Bengaluru is now producing such double-layer masks on large scale

** Jio invests $15 million in Silicon Valley-based Two Platforms for 25% stake

Two is an Artificial Reality company with focus on building interactive and immersional AI experiences

Jio Platforms Ltd. has announced an investment of US$ 15 million in Two Platforms Inc., a Silicon Valley based deep tech startup founded by Pranav Mistry, for a 25% equity stake on a fully diluted basis.

Two is an Artificial Reality company with focus on building interactive and immersional AI experiences. After text and voice, it believes the next chapter of AI is visual and interactive.

The founding team at Two has several years of leadership experience in research, design and operations with leading global technology companies, Jio said in a statement. “Two will work collaboratively with Jio to fast-track the adoption of new technologies and build disruptive technologies such as AI, metaverse, and mixed realities,” it said.

** Hyderabad-based trade body to develop defence robots

The All India Robotics Association (AIRA), a Hyderabad-based trade body of the Robotics industry in India on Wednesday announced the commencement of making India’s indigenously built defence robots. DefenCe robots are professional service robots that are deployed by the military in combat scenarios. They are often intended to enhance a soldier’s existence. 

We will strive hard and will not leave any option which will make India the global leader in Robotics, said Srinivas Madhavam, Board of Director, AIRA and Founder, Exprs.