02-06-21 Daily-Gujarat-GPSC Current Affairs

Gujarat Technological Universityon Sunday announced that it has introduced digi-lockers for 7 lakh graduates. Using the digi-lockers, the graduates can upload their degree certificates to further promote the Digital India campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The decision to create digi-lockers comes in the wake of a project evolved by theUniversity Grants Commissionand the Union Education ministry to accelerate the ongoing technology upgrade in universities across the world.

With this facility created by GTU, students can access their certificates in a safe and secure way from any corner of the world. The digi-lockers also enable the students to download copies of certificates without any cost, for the academic years 2011 to 2020.

The government announced the setting up of an eight-member ministerial panel, headed by Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma, to examine the issue of concessions or exemptions to Covid-19 materials like Vaccines, Oxygen concentrators, hand sanitisers, testing and PPE kits, masks, ventilators and temperaturechecking equipment.

The fitment committee comprising officers had recommended a reduction in rates for a number of items. While nine states wanted Covid materials to be zero-rated (which means the entire value chain to be exempted while providing tax credits to manufacturers), three states pushed for 5%. TheCentrehas said it was not clear if the benefit of lower rates on vaccines or other goods will flow to the end consumer.

A Housing Pricing Index (HPI) on residential property prices in eight cities across the country has been unveiled by real estate portal Housing.com in association with Indian School of Business (ISB).

It seeks to help homebuyers assess the appropriate time to purchase as well as assist sellers know the opportune moment to sell assets. Policymakers and financial analysts can make use of the Index as a reliable estimate to keep track of the trends in the real estate sector, said a release from Housing.com by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra.

India Inc has stepped up its efforts to contribute to thecountrys healthcare in the wake of the second wave of Covid.

HDFC Bank, under its Parivartan programme, will set up and enhance medical infrastructure across the country to assist the fight against the coronavirus. The bank said it has committed Rs 100 crore as an initial amount for Covid relief in FY22. This is in addition to the Rs 120 crore the bank spent in FY21.

The Money will be used to set up 20oxygenplants attached to hospitals, three 100-bed Covid-care facilities, isolation centres and provide medical equipment & supplies to over 200 hospitals across the country.

The initiative targets providing 20 lakh patients Home care support for asymptomatic, mild-symptom cases to reduce pressure on the overburdened Health system.