General Awareness

GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION - January 2020

Jan 2020

Apr 05, 2024

Droupadi Murmu Launches India's First Gene Therapy for Cancer

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, launched India's first home-grown gene therapy for cancer at IIT Bombay. This groundbreaking treatment, called 'CAR-T cell therapy', is a major breakthrough in the battle against cancer.
President Murmu hailed the therapy as a new hope for humanity as it is both accessible and affordable. She expressed confidence that the innovative treatment will give new life to countless patients suffering from cancer.
The President emphasized that CAR-T cell therapy is considered one of the most phenomenal advances in medical science. While it has been available in developed nations for some time, the therapy was extremely costly and beyond the reach of most patients worldwide. However, the newly launched therapy is the world's most affordable CAR-T cell therapy.
She praised the therapy's development as a collaborative effort between IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Hospital, and industry partner ImmunoACT.

CBSE Class 11, 12 Exam Format Changes, Focus on Concept Application Questions

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) introduced significant changes in the examination format for Classes 11 and 12, aiming to enhance students' competency in applying concepts to real-life scenarios.
CBSE officials announced that starting from the 2024-25 session, the examination pattern for Classes 11 and 12 will feature a higher percentage of competency-based questions.
These questions will assess students' ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations, aligning with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Apr 04, 2024

Aaryan Shukla of Class 8 Sets Guiness World Record for Fastest Mental Addition

Aaryan Shukla, a Class 8 student from Delhi Public School Nashik, etched his name in the annals of history by setting a Guinness World Record for the 'fastest time to mentally add 50 five-digit numbers.'
Aaryan's extraordinary achievement, accomplished in a mere 25.19 seconds, took place on the prestigious Italian TV show, 'Lo Show Dei Record,' in Milan, Italy.
Aaryan Shukla, affectionately known as the 'Human Calculator,' has been immersed in the world of mental mathematics since the tender age of six. His journey to the Guinness World Record is punctuated by a series of outstanding accomplishments, including clinching the title of 'World Champion' at the 2022 Mental Calculation World Cup held in Paderborn, Germany.
Despite being just 12 years old at the time, Aaryan's exceptional precision and talent propelled him to victory, surpassing competitors from across the globe.

IIM Lucknow Appoints Prof. Archana Shukla as Director-in-Charge

The Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIML) re-appointed Prof. Archana Shukla as Director-in-charge of IIM Lucknow. She will continue as the Director-in-charge till a regular Director is appointed.
Prof. Shukla is the senior most Professor at IIM Lucknow and her appointment is as per Clause (9) of IIM Act 2017.
This decision was taken by Chairperson of the IIM Lucknow Board of Governors, N. Chandrasekaran.
Established in 1984, IIM Lucknow was the fourth IIM to be established in the country, after IIM Calcutta, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore. IIML was the first IIM to start a two year full time MBA programme in Sustainable Management. It also has a full-time MBA programme in Agri Business Management.

Apr 03, 2024

Full List of Colleges for PG Medical Courses 2024-25 by NMC

The National Medical Commission (NMC) expanded its roster of medical colleges offering postgraduate courses for the academic year 2024-25. This latest announcement encompasses 119 institutions, including 16 new colleges and 103 existing ones that will augment their postgraduate medical seats.
Aspiring medical professionals keen on pursuing specialisations such as MS - Ophthalmology, MD - Respiratory Medicine, MS - Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and MD - Physical Medicine Rehabilitation now have a broader array of options.

India-Nepal Joint Initiative to Promote Sanskrit Research and Education

The Indian and Nepalese governments, along with scholars from both countries, collaborated to advance Sanskrit research and education. This partnership aims to strengthen bilateral relations and preserve the cultural heritage shared by India and Nepal.
The collaboration proposed for an annual conference to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among Sanskrit scholars from India and Nepal.
Plan to establish a study centre to research and publish Sanskrit scriptures, particularly focusing on Nepal's vast collection of unpublished manuscripts.
Agreement to promote the preservation of Sanskrit, Pali, and Prakrit languages, along with the associated religious, cultural, philosophical, historical, and archaeological heritage of both nations.

Double Majors, 5-year Dual Degree Courses at IIT Kharagpur for UG Students

In a bid to align with the National Educational Policy (NEP 2020) and enhance the educational experience of undergraduate students, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) announced a series of significant reforms in its UG programmes starting from the academic year 2024-25.
This includes several new options such as five-year dual degree programmes, elimination of branch change, double major options, and semester away programmes.
From the upcoming academic session, admission to all undergraduate programmes at IIT Kharagpur will be for a five-year duration, encompassing both BTech and BS levels.
Additionally, students will have the option to choose five-year dual degree programmes after completing their second or third year of study.
These dual degree programmes may be availed by students within their parent departments or through interdisciplinary options available across various schools and centres.
This initiative aims to create novel possibilities such as combining a BS (Hons) in Economics with an MTech in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, or pursuing a BTech (Hons) in Civil Engineering alongside an MTech in Financial Engineering.

Apr 02, 2024

WHO Launches CoViNet: A Global Network for Coronaviruses

The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced CoViNet, a global initiative aimed at enhancing the detection, monitoring, and assessment of coronaviruses worldwide. CoViNet expands upon the existing WHO COVID-19 reference laboratory network to encompass a broader spectrum of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and potential novel strains of public health concern.
CoViNet leverages the expertise of 36 laboratories from 21 countries across all six WHO regions.
These laboratories specialize in human, animal, and environmental coronavirus surveillance, fostering a comprehensive approach to understanding and managing coronaviruses.
CoViNet emphasizes a One Health approach, bringing together experts from human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
This collaborative effort aims to monitor and assess coronavirus evolution and transmission patterns comprehensively.

IIT Guwahati Hosts Science & Math Olympiad

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati hosted a Science and Maths Olympiad in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha Assam. Over 1.14 lakh students from 3,828 schools across Assam participated in this IIT Guwahati Olympiad.
The Olympiad comprised two phases: an OMR-based physical pen-paper test for secondary school students across Assam. This was designed to assess students' understanding and application of scientific and mathematical concepts. This was followed by a state-level round.
After this, the top two performers from each district were selected to participate in the final round of the Olympiad at IIT Guwahati campus. The final round saw participation from 62 students (32 female and 30 male) who were from classes 9 and 10.
The top three winners were:
1st prize – Chandan Kaushik Saikia, Namdeuri HS, Jorhat
2nd prize – Jnanarun Hazarika, Dhalasatra HS, Jorhat
3rd prize – Arjun Karki, Hawaipur HS, West Karbianglong

IIT Madras Study Reveals Surge in C-sections across India between 2016-2021

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) researchers discovered a sharp uptick in the number of caesarean section (C-section) deliveries that took place across the country between 2016 and 2021. The study was undertaken by researchers from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Madras. They include Ms. Varshini Neethi Mohan and Dr. P Shirisha, Research Scholars, Dr. Girija Vaidyanathan and Prof. V R Muraleedharan. The findings of this study were published in the reputed, peer-reviewed journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
A caesarean section (C-section) delivery is a surgical technique that involves making an incision in the mother's belly to deliver one or more infants. When medically justified, the procedure can be lifesaving. When not strictly necessary, however, it can cause several adverse health outcomes, lead to unnecessary expenditure, and place a strain on scarce public health resources. Factors that could contribute to adverse birth outcomes and possibly justify C-sections (such as the mother's age being less than 18 years or greater than 34 years, the interval between births being less than 24 months or the child being the fourth or more born to the mother) are considered high-risk fertility behaviour.

Mar 30, 2024

UNESCO Opens Applications for Women's Education Prize Worth Rs. 41 lakh

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is currently accepting applications for the 2024 UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education.
This award aims to recognise exceptional efforts in advancing girls' and women's education worldwide.
The UNESCO Executive Board, in collaboration with the People's Republic of China, will select two laureates for the 2024 prize, with each recipient being awarded 50,000 US dollars.

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