1) Coconut Development Board: Coconut Development Board (CDB) has officially launched the “Hello Naariyal,” Friends of Coconut Tree call centre for coconut harvesting and other plant management practices.
- CDB is a statutory body established under the Coconut Development Board Act, of 1979.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Headquarters: Kochi in Kerala.
- Mandate: integrated development of coconut cultivation and industry in the country with focus on productivity increase and product diversification.
2) National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM): NIDM recently got global recognition as ‘centre of excellence’ on landslide disaster reduction for the period 2023-2026.
- NIDM is a statutory organisation under the National Disaster Management Act 2005 (under Ministry of Home Affairs).
- It is tasked with human resource development, capacity building, training, research, documentation, and policy advocacy in the field of disaster management.
- Union Home Minister is President of NIDM
3) Kill Switch For Cancer Cells: Scientists have reportedly discovered a ‘kill switch’ that triggers death of cancer cells.
- They have identified a crucial epitope (a protein section that can activate the larger protein) on the CD95 receptor that can cause cells to die.
- CD95 receptors- also referred to as Fas – send a signal that causes cancer cells to self-destruct.
- Future cancer drugs could boost the activity of these CD95 receptors to create a new weapon against cancer tumors.
- Cancer have been treated historically with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation
4) Innovation Handshake: India and the US launched ‘Innovation Handshake’ to deepen bilateral tech ties.
- Both sides signed an MoU on “Enhancing Innovation Ecosystems through an Innovation Handshake”.
- Innovation Handshake, as a concept was developed under the US-India Commercial Dialogue for better cooperation in Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET)
- Objectives:
- Connect the dynamic startup ecosystems,
- Address regulatory hurdles to cooperation,
- Share information and best practices for startup fundraising and
- Promote innovation in CET
