1) Aluminium freight rake- Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated India’s First Aluminium Freight Rake (61 BOBRNALHSM1) at Bhubaneswar Railway Station.
- It has been fully designed and developed indigenously in collaboration with RDSO, HINDALCO, and Besco Wagon. Designed under the Make in India program, and have lock-bolted construction with no welding on the superstructure.
- Rakes have 180 tons extra carrying capacity than the traditional ones resulting in higher throughput per wagon. It is 3.25 tons lesser in weight in comparison to normal steel rakes.
- It will reduce the carbon footprint as lower consumption of fuel in empty directions and more transport of freight in a loaded condition. A single rake can save over 14,500 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime. However, the indigenously designed aluminium freight rake will be 35% more costly than the normal steel rake.
2) Deep technology (deep tech) or hard tech– Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making a concerted push for self-reliance in military technology, semiconductors, and science-based businesses.
- Deep Tech is a classification of organization, or more typically startup company, with the expressed objective of providing technology solutions based on engineering challenges
- Deep tech innovations are often radical or may disrupt existing markets. Such companies often address big societal and environmental challenges and have the potential to impact everyday life. Silicon chips are an example of this innovation-led model of business.
- About 18 per cent of all startups in India are into deep tech such as AI (artificial intelligence), ML (machine learning), IoT (Internet of Things) AR/VR (augmented reality/virtual reality)
3) Bhasha Kendras (BK) – 22 BKs will be established under the Union Ministry of Education’s Indian Knowledge System (IKS) initiative
- These language centres will be in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which emphasizes promoting regional languages. The goal is to provide instructional materials for students at the school and undergraduate levels.
- The program aims to promote interdisciplinary research on all aspects of ‘Indian Knowledge Systems’ (Bharatiya Gnana Parampara)
4)Kampala Principles- It promotes ownership of private sector engagement (PSE) through development cooperation by partner countries.
- They were endorsed by the Steering Committee of the Global Partnership in Kampala, Uganda in March 2019.
- The five mutually reinforcing Principles are 1. Inclusive country ownership 2. Results and targeted Impacts: through mutual benefits. 3. Inclusive partnership 4. Transparency and Accountability 5. Leave no-one behind
5) Mock Meat- Mock meat is a term used for alternative meat options. It can be created from plant-based proteins to resemble the real deal in taste, colour and texture. Ingredients like soybean, wheat protein, tempeh and pea protein are used. ‘Plant-based’ refers to products that bio-mimic or replicate meat, seafood, eggs, and milk derived from animals. Plant-based meat is likely to have a niche market relevant to the top 1%.
- These innovations are made possible through biotechnology.
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