Health

New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) The Indian biotech companies are actively developing mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics, said a team of scientists at the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology.They were speaking at the 14th Webinar under the ‘Webinar Series on Biofoundry and Biomanufacturing Initiative’, along with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).The session focused on “Biomanufacturing for mRNA Therapeutics”, a vital component under the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy.“The BioE3 Policy’s vision is to foster high-performance biomanufacturing by supporting sustainable green growth. This approach marks a global shift toward sustainability, fuelling a ‘BioRevolution’ with the potential to resha...

New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) The Digital Life Certificate Campaign has revolutionised pension disbursal, said Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology.Singh noted that the campaign roped in technology to make it easier for elderly to get their pensions. It also abolished several outdated rules that were hindering the process.“The Digital Life Certificate Campaign has revolutionised pension disbursal by enabling elderly pensioners to verify their identity using facial recognition technology, eliminating the need for physical visits to bank branches,” Singh said.“Significant strides have also been made in simplifying administrative processes, including the introduction of a single pension form, a unified fellowship application portal, and the abolit...

New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) Hypertension or high blood pressure is a silent killer that affects over 294 million people in the Southeast Asia region, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday, ahead of World Hypertension Day.World Hypertension Day is observed every year on May 17 to raise awareness of hypertension and its serious medical complications.The theme this year is "measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer". It emphasises the importance of regular and accurate blood pressure measurements.“Hypertension continues to be a major public health challenge -- a silent killer that affects over 294 million people across the WHO South-East Asia Region,” said Saima Wazed, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia.“Modifiable behavioural risk factors such a...

New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) The indigenous PSLV, or Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, is set to mark its 63rd launch with Earth Observation Satellite-09 (EOS-09) on May 18, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V. Narayanan on Friday.Narayanan noted that EOS-09 will be the 101st satellite to be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.“At 5:59 am, we have scheduled the 101st launch of India. The PSLV-C61 rocket will carry the Earth Observation Satellite-09,” said Narayanan, while speaking to reporters at Tirumala temple, where he along with a team of scientists went to offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara.“As you all know, India’s space programme began in 1962, and we are now nearing its 63rd anniversary. This will be the 63rd launch of the PSL...

New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) Atal Pension Yojana has accumulated a record 7.65 crore subscribers, and women make up about 48 per cent of all, according to data from the government.Atal Pension Yojana (APY) was launched in May 2015, to address the twin challenges of longevity risks and lack of retirement security among India’s vast unorganised workforce.The scheme, offering defined pension benefits based on the age of joining and the amount of contribution, was designed to encourage voluntary savings for retirement.It targeted primarily at poor and underprivileged workers in the informal sector and has emerged as one of the most inclusive and accessible social security initiatives in India.“As of April 2025, APY has accumulated over 7.65 crore subscribers, mobilised a total corpus of Rs 45,974....

New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) Adopting cleanliness, checking mosquito breeding sites, and spreading awareness are key measures to curb the spread of dengue, said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on National Dengue Day on Friday. In a bid to promote awareness about dengue, the Ministry of Health had designated May 16 as 'National Dengue Day' in 2010. This year’s theme is “Check, Clean, Cover: Steps to Defeat Dengue”.“The theme emphasises the importance of regularly checking for mosquito breeding sites, cleaning surroundings, and covering water containers to prevent the spread of dengue,” Nadda said in a post on social media platform X.Calling dengue a "pressing public health challenge", he urged for active public participation to "raise awareness and educate people about prevention and early diag...

New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) Feeling lonely or older than your age at 40? According to a study, these negative perceptions about ageing could be early signs of frailty, even in your 40s.Usually associated with older age, frailty is a recognised medical condition, marked by reduced strength, energy, and ability to recover from illness.Pre-frailty is the reversible transition stage that comes before; however, experts say it's ill-defined and requires more understanding.The research, published in the journal BMC Public Health, showed that it can begin much earlier with subtle psychological and social cues."Many people assume frailty is something that happens when we get much older," said lead author Tom Brennan from Flinders University's Caring Futures Institute in Australia."But our research sho...

New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) India and the European Union (EU) have launched two major research and innovation initiatives that focus on marine plastic litter and waste-to-green-hydrogen solutions.The initiatives were launched under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), established in 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen to strengthen the bilateral partnership on trade and technology.With a joint investment of Rs 391 crore, the initiatives focus on two coordinated calls in the areas of Marine Plastic Litter (MPL) and Waste to Green Hydrogen (W2GH), co-funded by Horizon Europe — the EU’s research and innovation framework programme — and the Indian government."Collaborative research is the cornerstone of innovation. These initiat...

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) From sporadic outbreaks of Aedes-borne dengue and chikungunya, the European Union is transitioning towards an endemic state, according to a study, published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal.The principal vectors of dengue virus and chikungunya virus are Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito, and Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito.In 2024, there were a total of 304 dengue cases in the European region -- a historic peak compared with the combined total of 275 cases in the previous 15 years.The rising trend suggests the spread of tiger mosquitoes -- that transmit these viruses -- to farther north due to global warming, said the researchers in Sweden and Germany.The team cited that from being mainly confined to tropical regions once, the virus’ frequen...

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur have developed a smart tracked robot that can detect crop diseases and spray pesticides to boost farming.The semi-automatic tracked mobile manipulator cum agricultural robotic system has been successfully designed and developed by a group of students at the Institute’s Mechanical Engineering Department.The intelligent robotic system aims to address the recurring challenges faced by farmers in identifying plant diseases and ensuring appropriate and safe pesticide application.Recognising that agricultural terrains are neither completely smooth nor entirely rough, Prof. Dilip Kumar Pratihar, who led the research, proposed a tracked mobile manipulator as the ideal solution.“This system features a serial ...