GUJARAT

Infant mortality rate in Gujarat now 30

The infant mortality rate (IMR) in the state has moved downwards. The Sample Registration System2016 found the infant mortalityto be 30. This number was 33 in 2015.

The infant mortality rate was 41 in 2011 and has dropped to 30 in 2016. According to data released by the Office of the Registrar General and CensusCommissioner, India, the IMR has been falling continuously. The data further shows that the IMR in rural areas is 38, while it is 19 in urban areas.

In 2015, when the IMR was 33, the number for rural areas was 41 and for urban areas was 21.

The data reveals that the state’s IMR in 2004-06 was over 53 and in 2014-15 it was slightly less than 33. The average IMR has thus fallen by around 39%. Similarly, in rural areas the fall was around 41% while in urban areas it was about 43% between 2004-06 and 2014-16.

The child mortality rate also dropped from 10 in 2015 to 8 in 2016. The SRS data revealed that child mortality was almost double in rural areas compared to urban ones. The state’s child mortality rate in rural areas was 11 in 2016.

Similarly, the neonatal mortality rate was 21 in 2016. It was 23 in 2015. Neonatal mortality in 2016 was 27 in rural areas and 13 in urban areas. In 2015, it was 29 in rural areas and 15 in urban areas.

The IMR in tribal-dominated districts of Gujarati was more than double the state average. The IMR in the state’s tribal districts is 86 per 1,000 live births, while the overall IMR in the state is 33. This was stated in the latest report of the Union ministry of tribal affairs, citing figures from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2015-16.

INTERNATIONAL

MoU between Botanical Survey of India and Natural History Museum, UK

Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Natural History Museum (NHM), UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of genetic/taxonomic studies, research and training, conservation in India, including species and habitat conservation assessments, etc.

NHM will help BSI in capacity building in areas of systematic botany and long-term conservation of plant genetic resources in India.

· Malacidins: Scientists discover new class of antibiotics from soil

Scientists from The Rockefeller University in New York have reported the discovery of a new class of antibiotics called maladies.
It produced by microorganisms living in soil and dirt and is capable of killing off several antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
The new family of antibiotics comes from molecules present in a large variety of soils. Scientists had analyzed more than 1000 unique soil samples across US to better understand how new class of antibiotics is produced and how it can be exploited for fighting bacteria.
They had used DNA information that encodes production of antibiotic in daptomycin to study it.
This discovery could be a useful weapon in the field of medicine.

· Indian Engineer Awarded Sci-Tech Oscar Award

Vikas Sathaye, a Pune-born person honored with the Scientific and Engineering Academy Award at the Oscars Scientific and Technical Awards 2018 at Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, California.
Sathaye and his team received the award for his contribution towards conceptualization, designing, engineering, and the implementation of the ‘Shotover K1 Camera System’ during his stint at Shotover Camera Systems in Queenstown, New Zealand.

NATIONAL

National Conference “Agriculture 2022- Doubling Farmers’ Income”

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) is organizing a National Conference under the title of “Agriculture 2022 – Doubling Farmers’ Income” at National Agriculture Science Complex (NASC), Pusa, New Delhi.

It is a two days conference scheduled on 19th and 20th February, 2018.

The Conference is being organized on the advice of the Hon’ble Prime Minister with a view to identify various critical issues relating to agriculture and farmers’ welfare and finding appropriate solutions.

The main aim of the conference is to build a consensus around appropriate recommendations that will help in shaping and sharpening the vision of the Government on Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2022 into actionable points.

Mumbai to have India’s first artificial intelligence centre

In a first in the country, Maharashtra government will be setting up an institute for artificial intelligence (AI) in Mumbai.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will unveil the plan for the institute during the Magnetic Maharashtra Summit.

The Magnetic Maharashtra Summit will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 18.

Milkbasket recognised as ‘Startup of the Year’ 2017

Milkbasket, India’s first and largest micro-delivery platform has been recognised as ‘Startup of the Year’ 2017 at the 7th Small Business Awards.

The Startup of the Year award is dedicated to young SMEs, aged 7 years or less, with great potential to become big in local/international markets.

Launched in early 2015, Milkbasket is India’s first and largest daily micro-delivery service.

ISRO planning to launch Chandrayaan-2 mission around April this year

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch Chandrayan-2 Mission around April this year.

Chandrayaan-2 is the country’s second mission to the moon, he added.

He was addressing a press conference on the achievements of Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy.

Chandraayan-2 is a challenging mission as for the first time we will carry an orbiter, a lander and a rover to the moon.

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