Thailand is set to become the 1st nation in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. The Thai bill amends the Civil and Commercial Code of the country and proposes replacing gendered terms like “husband and wife” with gender-neutral language such as “spouses” and “individuals” ABOUT SAME SEX MARRIAGE: Several countries in Asia criminalise lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people —Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Malaysia all criminalise some form of same-sex activities, according to United Kingdom-based registered charity....Read More

In a historic gathering in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé, African health ministers, global malaria partners, funding agencies, scientists, civil society organisations and other principal malaria stakeholders pledged to end malaria deaths. STATISTICS Globally, the number of malaria cases in 2022 surged significantly compared to the pre-COVID-19 era. The total cases rose from 233 million in 2019 to a staggering 249 million. Africa remains the epicentre of the malaria crisis, bearing an immense burden. It accounts for 94 per cent of all global malaria cases and a staggering 95 per cent of global malaria-related deaths, totaling an estimated 580,000 deaths in 2022.....Read More

The government conducted the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) as part of Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram across 23 states. The FLNAT was held in all districts of each participating State and UT. The assessment comprises three subjects – Reading, Writing, and Numeracy – each carrying 50 marks, totalling 150 marks. The test was conducted in the regional language of the learners, in line with National Education Policy 2020’s focus on promoting multilingualism. The test is crucial in assessing the impact of teaching-learning sessions conducted as part of the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. ABOUT ULLAS ULLAS (Understanding....Read More

Nearly 100 jails across the country have been certified as ‘Eat Right Campus’ by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), marking a significant milestone in its goal of promoting safe and healthy eating habits within different campuses. Uttar Pradesh had the most certified jails, followed by Punjab, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. The certification is based on compliance with key parameters like basic hygiene criteria, steps to ensure the provision of healthy food, and efforts towards building awareness about local and seasonal food. This initiative falls under FSSAI’s Eat Right India movement and aims to promote safe, healthy....Read More

Uttar Pradesh has become as the first state in the country to issue 5 crore cards under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme providing health insurance. ABOUT AYUSHMAN BHARAT It is a government-led healthcare scheme launched in The scheme aims to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and has two main components: the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana program and Health and Wellness Centers. PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance scheme fully financed by the government. It offers a sum insured of Rs.5 lakh per family for secondary care and tertiary care. Health Benefit Packages covers surgery, medical and day care treatments,....Read More

Poshan Pakhwada 2024 is being organized from 9th March till 23rd March, 2024. The focus of mass sensitization and community activities would be around the following main themes- Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB)- towards better Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) September is celebrated as Rashtriya Poshan Maah across the country. Tribal, Traditional, Regional & Local dietary practices focused on sensitization around nutrition Health of pregnant women & Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices The Ministry of Women & Child Development is the nodal Ministry for coordinating activities during the Poshan Pakhwada. In the State/UT, Department of Women &....Read More

The Karnataka government has banned use of food coloring agents in Gobi Manchurian and cotton candy across the state over health concerns, primarily because eateries use food colouring agents like Rhodamine-B and Carmoisine, which studies have shown to be toxic. Rhodamine B (RhB) is a chemical compound commonly employed in synthetic dyes for colouring silk, jute, leather, cotton, and wool, as well as in the cosmetics and plastics industries. Its low cost, however, also makes it a popular choice for food colouring. Of the 171 samples collected from eateries across the state, 107 were prepared using unsafe chemicals like Tartrazine,....Read More

The She Research Network India has been launched by the University Grants Commission’s Information and Library Network Centre. This initiative is designed to achieve equal representation of women scientists across various research areas. The SheRNI website is set to connect 81,818 profiles of Indian women involved in science and research fields. Furthermore, it encompasses an extensive collection of 675,313 publications and 11,543 patents, underscoring the crucial role women play in advancing scientific progress and encouraging innovation. This platform empowers female scientists and faculty members to establish strong professional networks, fostering collaboration, mentorship, and opportunities for career advancement.      Read More

In recognition of country’s tireless efforts to combat Measles and Rubella, India has been bestowed with the prestigious Measles and Rubella Champion Award by The Measles and Rubella Partnership at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington D.C., USA. The Measles and Rubella Partnership comprises a multi-agency planning committee, including the American Red Cross, BMGF, GAVI, US CDC, UNF, UNICEF, and WHO, all dedicated to reducing global measles deaths and preventing rubella illness. ABOUT MEASLES Measles is a highly contagious virus, spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. It is caused by a single-stranded, enveloped RNA....Read More

A Kerala school has introduced a humanoid as a teacher. Named Iris, the humanoid was unveiled last month at KTCT Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram in collaboration with Makerlabs Edutech Private Limited. According to Makerlabs, Iris was built as part of the Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL), a 2021 NITI Aayog project to boost students’ extracurricular activities in schools. Iris can speak three languages and also answer difficult questions, along with features including voice assistant, interactive learning, manipulation capabilities, and mobilities. Equipped with a dedicated Intel processor and a coprocessor for maneuvering tasks, the robot offers seamless performance and responsiveness. With....Read More