Category: Science & Technology

** IIT-Bombay finds innovative way to generate oxygen

An official statement claimed that initial tests conducted at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay have shown “promising results”.

Amid the shortage of medical oxygen for treating COVID-19 patients, the IIT-Bombay has come up with an ingenious solution to help address the issue by converting a nitrogen unit into an oxygen generating unit, the institute said on Thursday.

The pilot project, which has been tested successfully, relies on a simple technological intervention of converting a Pressure Swing Adsorption nitrogen unit into a PSA oxygen unit, according to an official statement.

** Coronavirus | Duty exemption for diagnostic kits imports

Aim to boost the testing apparatus for COVID-19 across the country

To boost the testing apparatus for COVID-19 across the country and ease the availability of oxygen concentrators, the government on Friday notified a customs duty exemption for diagnostic kits imports and altered the foreign trade policy.

The Department of Revenue exempted imports of inflammatory diagnostic (marker) kits, namely IL6, D-Dimer, CRP, LDH, Ferritin, Pro Calcitonin (PCT) and blood gas reagents, from customs duty till October 31, 2021 to supplement testing efforts, the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

** RIL emerges as the largest producer and supplier of medical grade oxygen

“I am proud of our engineers at Jamnagar who have worked tirelessly.”

The country’s largest refiner and petrochemical giant Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has ramped up its production of medical grade oxygen from ZERO to 1000 MT per day, constituting more than 11% of the country’s total medical grade liquid oxygen production.

This oxygen is being provided free-of-cost to several State Governments across the country to bring immediate relief to over 1 lakh patients on a daily basis, the company said in a statement.

“Our plants at our Jamnagar refinery have been repurposed overnight to produce medical grade liquid oxygen that is being distributed across India. Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow countrymen and women. Together, we will overcome these difficult times,” said Nita Ambani, chief of Reliance Foundation, philanthropic arm of the RIL.

** India gets first consignment of Sputnik V vaccine from Russia

Hyderabad customs expedited the clearance of the COVID-19 vaccine

India on Saturday received the first consignment of Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

The CBIC in a tweet said that Hyderabad customs expedited the clearance of the COVID-19 vaccine imported from Russia.

“Hyderabad Customs, @cgstcushyd facilitated expeditious clearance of #SputnikV Vaccine imported from Russia,” the CBIC tweeted

** IGCAR scientists develop ‘breakthrough’ technology for paint, water and other industries

Scientists at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam have come out with a ‘breakthrough’ technology which could help the water-based solutions industry in the country to cut down on costs and enhance quality by real time monitoring of electrical conductivity of aqueous solutions in industrial plants and field applications, said Prabhakar Rao, head of the Security, Innovation and Sensor division in IGCAR.

** Coronavirus | TN launches Twitter handle for those seeking beds

The dedicated handle is @104_GoTN

The State government has launched a new Twitter handle @104_GoTN for the benefit of people seeking beds for patients with COVID-19.

Those seeking beds may also use the hashtag #BedsForTN to maximise reach and filter messages, a release has said.

** LCA Tejas adds 5th gen air-to-air missile to its weapons capability

Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LAC) Tejas added the 5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) to its air-to-air weapons capability after successful trials, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said on Wednesday.

“Trials were also aimed to validate enhanced capability of already integrated Derby Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM on Tejas. The test firing at Goa completed a series of missile trials to validate its performance under extremely challenging scenarios,” a DRDO statement said.

** BRO appoints first woman officer for road project along border with China

In a first, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has appointed a woman officer to command a Road Construction Company (RCC) tasked to provide connectivity in a high-altitude area along the India-China border, officials said on Wednesday.

They said Vaishali S Hiwase from Wardha in Maharastra will discharge her duties in a challenging environment.