Thol and Wadhwana from Gujarat and Sultanpur and Bhindawas from Haryana are added to the Ramsar list as wetlands of international importance. While Haryana gets its first Ramsar sites, Gujarat gets three more after Nalsarovar which was declared in 2012. The total number of Ramsar sites in India is 46.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran.
Union Minister for Social Justice launched an online portal TAPAS (Training for Augmenting Productivity and Services). TAPAS is the initiative of the National Institute of Social Defence to provide access to lectures by subject experts, study material and more, but in a manner that it supplements the physical classroom without compromising on the quality of teaching.
NISD is a Central Advisory Body for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
In a fitting tribute to all those who lost their lives due to the partition and were displaced from their roots, the Government has decided to observe 14th August every year as the day to commemorate their sacrifice. Declaration of such a day would remind present and future generations of Indians of the pain and suffering faced by the people during the partition.
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited organized 'Fit India Freedom Run 2.0' to celebrate ' Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'. Shri D.K.Mohanty, D(C) & CMD (Addl. Charge) flagged off the Freedom Run and addressed the participants. He stressed the importance of regular physical fitness for every individual and the advantages of good health.
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited is a PSE under the Ministry of Steel.
The government has notified Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibiting identified single-use plastic items by 2022. With effect from 30th September 2021, the thickness of plastic carry bags has been increased to 75 microns from 50 microns and to 120 microns with effect from the 31st December 2022.
The provisions will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic.
Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech's nasal COVID-19 vaccine candidate has received regulatory approval for mid-to late-stage trials. Early-stage trials of the vaccine candidate, BBV154, have been completed in subjects aged 18 to 60 years, and the doses were found to be well tolerated. BBV154 Covid Vaccine is the first intranasal vaccine being developed in the country.
COVAXIN, Bharat Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine is administered through an injection.
Prime Minister announced a Rs 100 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti initiative which will create employment opportunities for the country's youth and help in holistic infrastructure growth. Gatishakti will help local manufacturers turn globally competitive and also develop possibilities of new future economic zones.
Prime Minister set a target of becoming energy independent by 2047 through a mix of electric mobility, gas-based economy, doping ethanol in petrol, and making the country a hub for hydrogen production. The country has achieved a target of 100 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity ahead of the target.
India spends over Rs 12 lakh crore on energy imports every year.
NTPC Limited has floated a global Expression of Interest (EoI) to set up a Pilot Project on Hydrogen Blending with Natural Gas in City Gas Distribution (CGD) Network. The EoI follows the recent tenders floated by NTPC REL for green hydrogen fuelling station at Leh and NTPC VidyutVyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) for procurement of Fuel Cell Buses.
National Thermal Power Corporation Renewable Energy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC.
The 2nd phase of SAMVAD (Support, Advocacy & Mental health interventions for children in Vulnerable circumstances And Distress) was launched in Bengaluru. SAMVAD is slated to begin work with Panchayati Raj systems to integrate child protection and mental health in aspirational districts across the country to facilitate awareness generation and improve service delivery.
Ministers of agriculture of BRICS nations deliberated virtually on the theme “BRICS Partnership for Strengthening Agro Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition Security" ahead of a summit, to be chaired by India, next month.
BRICS Agriculture Research platform has been developed by India to promote cooperation in areas of agricultural research, extension and technology transfer.
India will be hosting the 13th BRICS summit in 2021.
Chief Executive Officer of Royal Enfield and Executive Director of the Board of Eicher Motors, Vinod Dasari stepped down. B Govindarajan will take on the responsibility of leading Royal Enfield. He will be inducted as a full-time director on the Board of Eicher Motors and will take on the position of Executive Director - Royal Enfield from August 18.