Month: November 2021

** TN gets country’s first-ever forensic DNA search tool

Tamil Nadu has become the first State in the country to get its own ‘forensic DNA profile search tool’, developed by the State Forensic Sciences Department. On Saturday, Chief Minister MK Stalin launched the facility and handed it over to the state police chief.

The tool will come in handy for gathering profiles of victims of human trafficking; identifying missing children; tracking criminals from other States, unidentified bodies, profiles of history-sheeters, and people who die in natural disasters.

** Online tool to check COVID-19 vaccination status

Health Ministry says it will obviate need for physical certificate

The Union Health Ministry said it had unveiled a feature that allows third party entities such as travel agencies, offices, employers to verify an individual’s vaccination status.

This, it stated, would obviate the need for a physical vaccination certificate.

The feature, as it is called, was enabled on the CoWIN [cowin.gov.in] digital platform on Saturday. It could be accessed by clicking on the “Share your vaccination status” sub-link.

** New tree species named after Muthuvar tribe

Cryptocarya muthuvariana’ spotted in Edamalakkudy

A new tree species of the genus Cryptocarya spotted in Edamalakkudy in Idukki district has been named after a tribe from the locality.

‘Cryptocarya muthuvariana’ has been named so to honour the Muthuvar tribe and as it was discovered in their neighbourhood, researchers responsible for the identification said.

Kerala