Current Affairs

TNPSC DAILY CA APRIL 9 - English

VIT  UVIVERSITY IN THE LIST OF BEST EDUCATIONAL INSTITITIONS 

Synopsis: 

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras is the best education institute in the country, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) the top university, and Miranda House the top-ranked college, according to the Union government’s National Institute Ranking Framework’s (NIRF) 2021 released by the education minister
• The annual comparison judges applying colleges on five parameters: teaching, learning and resources; research and professional practice; graduation outcomes; outreach and inclusivity; and perception. The government says the rankings are meant to encourage colleges and universities to improve, and experts expect these to influence admissions and graduate recruitments.

Key Highlights:

• A robust and a role model ranking framework will serve as India’s contribution to the global learning landscape. So, we must ensure that our ranking framework emerges as a benchmark not only in the country, but also globally, especially for developing economies.
• We should develop regional ranking frameworks,” said education and skill development minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
• The new National Education Policy (NEP), he added, will also provide an opportunity to internationalise India’s education system.
• “We must work collectively to bring more and more institutions under our rankings framework and also establish India as a preferred global study destination,”his is the third time IIT Madras has topped the best institutions category in a row. In this category, IISc Bengaluru and IIT-Bombay were the runners up.
• Seven IITs, including IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Guwahati and IIT Roorkee, made it in the list of top 10 in the overall rankings category.
•  Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Uttar Pradesh were ranked ninth and tenth in the overall rankings.

INDIA SUCCESSFULLY FLIGHT TESTES MISSILIE SYSTEM  SFDR

Synopsis: 

• The SFDR-based propulsion enables the missile to intercept aerial threats at very long range at supersonic speeds, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) India on Friday successfully flight tested Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) booster, a missile system, at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the Odisha coast here.
• The SFDR-based propulsion enables the missile to intercept aerial threats at very long range at supersonic speeds, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

Key Highlights:

• The test demonstrated reliable functioning of all critical components involved in the complex missile system and met all the mission objectives, it said.
• The performance of the system has been confirmed from the data captured by a number of instruments like telemetry, radar and electro Optical tracking systems deployed by ITR.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO for the successful trial of SFDR.
• He termed it as an important milestone towards development of critical missile technologies in the country. The SFDR has been developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories such as Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune.

389  MOBILE MEDICAL SERVICE VEHICLES 

Synopsis: 

• The units are part of the 389 new such vehicles the government had announced in the 2021-2022 Demands for Grants for Health and Family Welfare Department at a cost of Rs 70 crore
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday flagged off 133 mobile medical units that will provide diagnosis and treatment services to the poor in remote villages at their doorstep.
• The units are part of the 389 new such vehicles the government had announced in the 2021-2022 Demands for Grants for Health and Family Welfare Department at a cost of Rs 70 crore. Each of the mobile medical unit costs Rs 18 lakh.

Key Highlights:

• A total of 389 vehicles will be launched this year at the cost of Rs 70 crore by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation.
• About 100 ambulances were already operational by 2007 for the people in the rural areas, and mobile medical teams were set up for their regular check ups and treatment. In addition, 285 mobile ambulances were purchased in 2008.
•  A total of 385 mobile vehicles are already being operated in TN . With a special focus on better maternal health, treatment for tuberculosis, and treatment for infectious diseases in each panchayat union and village, the purpose of the mobile hospital project is to provide medical care to people who cannot travel long distances to hospitals.
•  As part of the scheme, 40 medical camps are being conducted per month in rural areas, with emphasis on areas with people living in temporary accommodations.
• The medical teams will also provide them with one-month supply of medicines for people with diabetes and high blood pressure and tuberculosis.
• The National Welfare Board has allocated Rs 70.02 crore for the 389 mobile ambulances in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 18 lakh per vehicle.
• The medical teams comprise a medical officer, a nurse, a driver along with a cleaner. The vehicles will be used for medical camps to provide necessary facilities to the people living in remote villages.
• The teams are also being upgraded to mobile hospitals by deploying laboratory technicians and providing quality medical services to the rural poor with lab facilities.

IIT   MADRAS RESEARCHES LAUNCH - INDIA'S FIRST POLYCENTRIC PROSTHETIC KNEE 

Synopsis: 

• Indian Institute of Technology Madras Researchers has launched India's first indigenously developed Polycentric Prosthetic Knee, which aims to improve the quality of life for thousands of above-knee amputees.
•  Called 'Kadam,' this 'Made in India' product is a polycentric knee for Above Knee Prosthesis developed in association with Society for Biomedical Technology (SBMT) and Mobility India.
• Kadam makes it possible for above-knee amputees to walk with a comfortable gait. Not just mobility, it also aims to improve the quality of life of users through increased community participation, access to education, livelihood opportunities, and overall well-being.

Key Highlights:

• It was developed by a team at TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) at IIT Madras, which also developed and commercialized 'Arise,' the country's first standing wheelchair and NeoFly-NeoBolt:
• active wheelchair and motorized add-on for seamless indoor-outdoor mobility. R2D2 is involved in research related to human movement, and the design and development of rehabilitation and assistive devices for people with movement impairments.
• SBMT, which supported the development, was established under DRDO by former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam to enable indigenous medical device development. Mobility India, an NGO in Bengaluru, will mass manufacture and take Kadam to the market along with overseeing the processes of fitment and training and ensuring easy access for the users.
• Kadam was launched on the IIT Madras campus today (8th April 2022) by Thiru. Johny Tom Varghese IAS, State Commissioner for Persons with Disability, Government of Tamil Nadu, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Prof. Sujatha Srinivasan, Faculty Head, TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2), IIT Madras, and other faculty, researchers and students.
• Addressing the launch event virtually, Thiru. Johny Tom Varghese IAS, State Commissioner for Persons with Disability, Government of Tamil Nadu, said, "What bridges the world of a Differently Abled Person with that of others is technology.
• It is phenomenal to see how technology can usher in inclusion in all walks of life. Kadam is one such innovation, along with other similarly path-breaking products that came out of R2D2 IIT Madras, which will make technology accessible and affordable!"
• Kadam has advantages over a hinge joint because of the multiple axes of rotation, which provide the user greater control over the prosthesis while walking and maximum knee flexion of 160 degrees to make it easy to sit in cramped spaces like buses and autos.
•  It is designed for durability with high-strength stainless steel and aluminum alloy along with hard chrome plated EN8 pins and high fatigue life polymer bushing
• Development efforts are translating into products that could be of benefit to mankind."
• Indigenously developed Kadam is affordable and at the same time, of high quality and performance, complying with ISO 10328 standards including 30 lakh cycles of fatigue testing. It provides stability, reduces the risk of stumbling and its patented geometry is specifically optimized for use on uneven terrains.

 TAMIL UNIVERSITY - AGREEMENT WITH THE TAMIL HERITAGE INSTITUTE OF SINGAPORE 

Synopsis: 

• The Tamil Historical Society of Singapore has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct quality classes with the Tamil Cultural Center established at the Tamil Dental University with the financial assistance of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
• The Tamil Historical Heritage Mike Association of Singapore has been conducting programs and workshops for the past few years to take Tamil history and traditions to Southeast Asia, especially to Singapore and Malaysia.

Key Highlights:

• The 1000th anniversary of the ascension of Rasendra Chola to the throne and the inauguration of the portrait of Rasendra Chola are noteworthy.
• During the MoU, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Tamil Nadu, Prof. V. Thiruvalluvan, said, “Knowing the need to teach Tamil music and Tamil arts in Southeastern countries such as Singapore and Malaysia.
• Thanjavur Tamil University has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tamil Cultural Center to implement them.
• "Through this agreement, the courses on vocal music, instrumental music, folk art and some songs will be conducted through the Tamil Cultural Center through the Tamil Historical Heritage Institute and the Tamil University will conduct examinations and award certificates,"
• Tamil University Assistant Professor V. Thiruvalluvan, President of the Tamil Historical Heritage Society of Singapore p. Purushothaman also exchanged this agreement.
• Dr. C. Thiyakarajan, Director, Tamil Cultural Center, Dr. S. Karpagam, Associate Director, Tamil Cultural Center and Dr. Raja Kalaivani, Director, Ezhisai Music Laboratory were also present on the occasion.

• 

  DAILY CA ENGLISH APRIL 9 

  downloads

SI/POLICE ACHIEVERS Achievers