1) Artificial Sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners have gained popularity among calorie-conscious individuals seeking low-calorie options. However, recent studies have raised concerns about their long-term effectiveness for weight loss and potential health risks
Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes that are used as alternatives to natural sugars.
These sweeteners are chemically synthesized and provide a sweet taste without the high calorie content of regular sugar.
They are commonly used in various food and beverage products, including diet sodas, sugar-free desserts, and low-calorie snacks.
Benefits: weight management, diabetes control, tooth decay prevention, and provide safe options for individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic disorder
Negative Impacts: Controversial health effects, and digestive issues
2) Innovations for Defence Excellence: Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence, has signed its 250th contract – first under Mission DefSpace – and 100th SPRINT (Navy) contract.
iDEX, launched in 2018, is an ecosystem to foster innovation & technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging innovators & entrepreneurs to deliver technologically advanced solutions for modernizing the Indian Military
It provides funding/grants to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups, individual innovators, R&D (Research and Developments) institutes and academia to carry out research and development
The iDEX-Prime aims to support projects requiring support beyond Rs 1.5 crore up to Rs 10 crore, to help ever-growing start-ups in the defence sector
Objectives: Indigenization, and innovation
iDEX is funded and managed by Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO)
3) Greenwashing TechSprint: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will be among 13 international regulators taking part in the Global Financial Innovation Network’s (GFIN) first-ever Greenwashing TechSprint
The Greenwashing TechSprint is organized by the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN), a consortium of over 80 international organizations committed to supporting financial innovation for the benefit of consumers
TechSprint aims to develop a tool or solution that can effectively help regulators and the market tackle the risks of greenwashing in financial services
