1. Egypt plans to allot land to Indian industries in Suez Canal Special Economic Zone
Tags: International News
Egypt is considering allotting a special zone to Indian industries in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZ) and the Indian side may prepare a master plan for the same.
An overview of the news
The proposal is in the context of India's proposal to encourage companies with the potential to make foreign investments to make use of the investment opportunities available in Egypt.
Egypt welcomes the flow of more Indian investments and promises to provide incentives and facilities in accordance with applicable regulations and framework.
The trade between India and Egypt currently exceeds $3.15 billion.
Prime Minister Modi and the President of Egypt agreed to encourage businesses to explore mutually emerging economic and investment opportunities.
Egyptian President El-Sisi, who arrived in Delhi on a three-day visit to India, attended the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.
About Suez Canal
The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway running north to south from the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt to connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.
This canal separates the continent of Africa from Asia.
It provides the shortest sea route between Europe and the lands surrounding the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.
The Suez Canal is one of the busiest trade routes in the world. About 12 percent of the world's total trade passes through this canal daily.
2. Union Health Minister unveils world’s first intranasal COVID19 vaccine, iNNCOVACC
Tags: Science and Technology National News
Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on 26 January unveiled world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, iNNCOVACC in New Delhi.
An overview of the news
The vaccine was launched in the presence of Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology (Independent Charge).
It is developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) in collaboration with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance (BIRAC).
An initial manufacturing capacity of several million doses per year of the vaccine has been established, to be scaled up to one billion doses as needed.
iNCOVACC has been priced at Rs 325 per dose.
On September 9, 2022, Bharat Biotech's iNCOVACC, the world's first nasal COVID-19 vaccine, was approved for emergency use in adults.
On November 28, 2022, Bharat Biotech announced that the vaccine has been approved for restricted emergency use in adults.
About iNCOVACC Vaccine
Bharat Biotech's intranasal COVID-19 vaccine is a recombinant replicating adenovirus vectored vaccine.
A recombinant vaccine means that it has been manufactured using bacterial cells or yeast cells or parts of a virus to introduce viral proteins into the host.
It removes critical parts of the genome of SARS-CoV-2, so that the viral vector can no longer replicate.
Phase I, II and III clinical trials of the vaccine have yielded successful results.
The vaccine will be given intranasally through drops in the nose, a system that has been designed and developed to be cost-effective in low- and middle-income countries.
The maximum temperature range for storage and distribution of iNCOVACC is two to eight degrees Celsius.
Working of iNCOVACC
An intranasal vaccine stimulates a broad immune response by producing a wide range of antibodies including neutralising Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and mucosal Immunoglobulin A (IgA).
The vaccine also initiates T cell responses.
When the iNCOVACC vaccine is given to an individual, the immune cells in the body express the immobilized spike protein.
As a result, the body starts producing antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.
After a person is exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the immune system will block Covid-19 infection in both the upper and lower respiratory tract due to the presence of antibodies.
Therefore, iNCOVACC has the potential to block SARS-CoV-2 and prevent the transmission of Covid-19.
3. Republic Day 2023: This year's parade witnessed multiple events for the first time
Tags: National National News
India celebrated its 74th Republic Day on 26 January. This year's parade was special with many events taking place for the first time.
Programs to be organised for the first time in 74th Republic Day Parade
This was the first Republic Day celebrations hosted at the ceremonial boulevard after Rajpath was renamed to 'Kartavya Path' last year.
For the first time, 12 women riders were part of the Border Security Force's (BSF) camel contingent and 16 march contingents of the armed forces.
The old howitzers with 25-pounder guns, which traditionally thundered during the 21-gun salute during Republic Day celebrations, were replaced by 105 mm Indian field guns this year.
A team of "Daredevils" motorcycle riders from the Corps of Signals, co-led by a woman officer, became part of the parade for the first time.
Nine Rafale aircraft and the Navy's IL-38 participated in the air show for the first time.
Besides the IL-38 aircraft, the formations like 'Bheem' and 'Vajrang' showcased over the Kartavya Path for the first time.
It is the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, has been invited as the chief guest on the Republic Day.
A military contingent from the Egyptian Army also participated in the Republic Day parade for the first time.
During the Beating Retreat Ceremony 2023, 3-D anamorphic projection was held for the first time on the façade of North and South Block.
Newly appointed Agniveer was also a part of the parade for the first time.
The Narcotics Control Bureau also presented a tableau for the first time.
4. Ministry of Tourism to organise six - day mega event “Bharat Parv” at Red Fort lawns
Tags: National News
The six - day mega event “Bharat Parv” event is going to be organised by the Government of India at the Lawns and Gyan Path in front of Red Fort, Delhi from 26 to 31 January, 2023, as part of the Republic Day Celebrations.
An overview of the news
The Ministry of Tourism has been designated as the nodal Ministry for the event.
The event included display of the best Republic Day parade tableaux at the venue, cultural performances by Regional Cultural Centers as well as cultural troupes of States/UTs, an All India Food Court and an All India Crafts Bazaar with 65 handicraft stalls.
Bharat Parv was earlier held in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 and 2021 (virtually) on the lawns in front of the Red Fort and on the Gyan Path.
This physical event is being organised after a gap of 2 years on the lawn and Gyan Path of the Red Fort.
Branding and promotion of Dekho Apna Desh, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, G20 and Mission Life will be done during the event.
5. India-Egypt signed MoU between Prasar Bharati and National Media Authority of Egypt
Tags: International News
India and Egypt on 25 January signed an MoU to facilitate content exchange, capacity building, and Co-Productions between Prasar Bharati and the National Media Authority of Egypt.
An overview of the news
Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur and Foreign Minister Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Government of Egypt signed the MoU.
The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in New Delhi.
Under this MoU, broadcasters of both the countries will exchange their programs on bilateral basis in different genres of sports, news, culture, entertainment and many other fields and these programs will be broadcast on their radio and television platforms.
The validity of this MoU will be for three years.
Arab Republic of Egypt
It is an Arab country which is located on the African continent.
President: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
Capital: Cairo
Currency: Egyptian pound
6. China building dam on Yarlung Zangbo river near Indian border
Tags: International News
Recently it has been revealed through a satellite picture that China is building a new dam on the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) river in Tibet near the tri-junction of India, Nepal and Tibet, which remains a matter of concern for India.
An overview of the news:
By increasing the construction activities in the areas adjacent to the Indian border, China is installing military equipment and its related equipment there.
The Chinese dam follows the announcement of plans to build a large dam downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo in 2021 to generate 70 gigawatts of electricity.
This is nearly three times the power produced by China's Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric power plant in terms of installed capacity.
Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) River:
The Brahmaputra River is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in China.
Origin Source:- Mansarovar Lake
Total length 2,880 km.
Tibet:- 1,700 km.
Arunachal Pradesh and Assam :- 920 kms.
Bangladesh:- 260 km.
7. Visakhapatnam Railway Station awarded 'Green Railway Station Certificate'
Tags: National News
Visakhapatnam Railway Station under East Coast Railway has been awarded the 'Green Railway Station Certificate' with the highest Platinum rating by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for adopting green concepts.
An overview of the news
Dr. S. Vijayakumar, President, IGBC Visakhapatnam presented the certificate to DRM/Voltaire Anup Satpathy at a function held at Visakhapatnam on 24 January 2023.
Visakhapatnam has joined some of the major railway stations in the country to receive this certificate. Visakhapatnam has scored 82 out of 100 in six categories of environment.
The Green Railway Station Rating System has been developed by the Environment Directorate of Indian Railways in collaboration with IGBC.
The system addresses national priorities such as water conservation, waste management, energy efficiency, limited use of fossil fuels, minimal reliance on the use of natural materials, and health and well-being of users.
8. “U-WIN” platform launched to keep digital records of immunization of women and children in the country
Tags: National News
The Union Health Ministry has launched the “U-WIN” platform to keep a digital record of vaccination of women and children in the country.
An overview of the news
This platform will be launched as a pilot project in two districts of each state and union territory of the country.
Every pregnant woman will be registered on this digital platform and records of her vaccination will be maintained. Later a record will be kept of their offspring and their vaccinations at the time of birth and later.
The platform is based on Co-WIN, the government's digital infrastructure in India's fight against COVID-19.
Vaccination appointments can also be booked through U-Win. Till now the record of vaccination under UIP was kept manually in the country, but now there will be no need to do so because now all the records of vaccination will be kept digitally.
With this, once the entire vaccination program is digitised, the beneficiaries will get the certificates immediately and they can also download them if they want. These certificates will be kept in Digi-Lockers.
9. Indian Railways launches 'Ideal Train Profile'
Tags: National News
Indian Railways has introduced 'Ideal Train Profile' for maximum capacity utilisation and income generation by regularly analysing movement of demand in each train in reserved express trains.
An overview of the news
The project has been started on a pilot basis in seven Zonal Railways - Eastern, Central, Northern, Southern, South Central, Western and West Central Railways.
This project has been implemented in more than 200 trains so far.
Through this facility, it is expected to increase the availability of confirmed seats and increase the number of passengers in the train by 5 percent.
This module has been developed after two years of hard work by the Railway team under the leadership of R Gopalakrishnan.
Project Benefits
'Ideal Train Profile' is a seat capacity optimization decision aid. It allows more than 5,000 combinations of ticket and class for a single date train journey.
It will also help Railways to review train quota from time to time to address the changing demand mix due to holidays, festivals etc.
10. Working Group (ITWG) on Animal Genetic Resources (AGR) for Food and Agriculture
Tags: International News
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India has been elected as the Vice-Chair of the 12th session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group (ITWG) on Animal Genetic Resources (AGR) to be held in Rome during January 18-20, 2023.
An overview of the news
Dr. BN Tripathi, Deputy Director General (Animal Science) and National Coordinator, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) chaired the session and acted as ambassador.
This working group was formed by the FAO's Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA).
The task of this group is to review technical issues, advise and submit recommendations to the Commission and implement the Commission's program relating to AGR at the global level.
The 12th session of the ITWG reviewed the implementation of the Global Action Plan for Animal Genetic Resources, monitoring ANGR diversity and preparation of the third country report.
The Global National Coordinators' Workshop prior to the ITWG session was held in Rome on January 16-17, 2023.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that studies agricultural production, forestry and research related to agricultural marketing.
Establishment - 1945
Headquarters – Rome (Italy)
