Current affairs 31 August 2023

ISRO-developed device for fishers’ safety successfully tested at Neendakara.

• Nabhmitra, a device developed by ISRO-Space Applications Centre (Ahmedabad) for the safety of fishermen, was tested at Neendakara.
• Satellite-based communication system enables two-way messaging services from and to the sea.
• Weather and cyclone warnings will be communicated in the local language, the boats can also send distress messages to the authorities.
• In capsizing and fire, fishers can press a button on the device and get in touch with the control centre.

Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover confirms presence of sulphur in lunar surface.

• The Indian Space Research Organisation has announced that the Pragyan rover's Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope confirmed the presence of sulphur in the lunar surface near the south pole, through the first-ever in-situ measurements.
• The rover's spectroscope also detected Aluminium, Calcium, Ferrous (Iron), Chromium, Titanium, Manganese, Silicon, and Oxygen as expected and the search for hydrogen is underway.

Nitin Gadkari unveils world's first hundred percent Ethanol fuelled Car.

• Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the world's first 100 percent Ethanol-fueled car in New Delhi.
• Aim: To reduce carbon footprint, improve sustainable mobility, and decrease the country's dependency on traditional fuel sources.
• According to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with the implementation of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol, the country will save 35 thousand crore rupees annually as import bill.

NITI Aayog and UNDP sign Memorandum of Understanding on fast tracking SDGs.

• NITI Aayog and the United Nations Development Programme signed an MoU to formalize a cooperative framework to fast-track India's pursuit to achieve its sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Objective: To focus on the two organizations' cooperation in a range of areas, including SDG localization, and data-driven monitoring, among others.
• NITI Aayog is the nodal Institution for coordinating the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national levels.

Govt to launch a new scheme for in Pharma-Med Sector.

• Government to launch a new scheme for Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma- Med Sector with a total outlay of five thousand crore rupees.
• Objective: To transform the Indian Pharma Med Tech sector from cost-based competitiveness to innovation-based growth by strengthening the research infrastructure in the country.
• Aim: To promote the growth of pharma industry in the country , enhance manufacturing of drugs and promote research and innovation in the sector.