INAM-Pro +
- INAM-Pro+ is an upgraded version of INAM-Pro, the web portal launched by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
- INAM Pro is a common platform to bring cement buyers and sellers together and made it very convenient for the buyers to procure cement at reasonable rates in a transparent manner.
- INAM-Pro+ is upgraded to include the A to Z of construction materials, equipments and services like purchase/hiring/lease of new/used products in the domains of construction materials viz, cement, steel, bitumen, stone aggregates, concrete, bricks, wood, sanitary items, paint etc.
Zika Virus
- Recently, one of the blood samples collected from Ahmedabad municipality tested positive for Zika virus.
- Zika virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae.
- It is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus).
- Its name comes from the Zika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947.
- It can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.
- There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika.
- Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other severe brain defects. It is also linked to other problems, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, and other birth defects.
- There have also been increased reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome, an uncommon sickness of the nervous system, in areas affected by Zika.
Slum Yuva Daud
- Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting flagged off the 5 th Mega Slum Yuva Daud.
- The Slum Yuva Daud is part of the Adopt Slum Campaign initiated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
- It aims to involve youngsters in constructive activities to keep the away from anti-social evils such as drug abuse and violence and to utilize their power in for development.
- The initiative also encouraged the youngsters to participate in sporting events, competitions to utilize their time and skills to achieve big in life.
- “Adopt a Slum” campaign will involve groups like NSS, public schools, RWAs, NGOs and Rotary clubs etc.
Solar Energy Production and Air Pollution
- Recent study has revealed that global solar energy production is taking a major hit due to air pollution and dust.
- The study shows airborne particles and their accumulation on solar cells is cutting energy output by more than 25 percent in certain parts of the world.
- The regions hardest hit are also those investing the most in solar energy installations such as China, India and the Arabian Peninsula.
- The human made pollutants composed of carbon and ion pollutants blocks more light efficiently than natural dust and contribute to more energy loss from solar production.
- The Arabian Peninsula loses much more solar power to dust than it does human made pollutants. But the reverse is true for regions of China, and regions of India.
