10th Governing Body Meeting of National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)

The Union Minister emphasized the importance of addressing the specific needs of traditional fishermen, suggesting that NFDB examine the possibility of allocating a separate percentage for this community. Non-official Governing Body Members from different states also highlighted issues faced by the fishing community, emphasizing the need for sector development.

MedTech Mitra Launched To Empower Innovators in Healthcare

Acknowledging the import dependency of India’s MedTech sector, which stands at 80%, the Minister underscored the progress made through production-linked incentive schemes, investments in medical drug parks, and the implementation of the MedTech research policy and incentive scheme. The collaborative initiative of ‘MedTech Mitra’ is expected to drive indigenous development, making quality MedTech devices more affordable and reducing import dependence.

UGC (Recognition of Colleges under Clause (f) of Section 2 of the UGC Act) Regulations, 2023

The University Grants Commission (UGC), in its continued effort to enhance the quality of higher education in India, has introduced the UGC (Recognition of Colleges under Clause (f) of Section 2 of the UGC Act) Regulations, 2023. The 2023 Regulations, set to come into force upon their publication in the Gazette of India, supersede previous guidelines in this domain. They apply to all colleges defined under Section 12A(1)(b) of the UGC Act, 1956, encompassing a broad spectrum of institutions offering undergraduate, postgraduate, Ph.D. programs, or Diploma courses.

UGC highlights importance of organ donation

Anyone of the age t8 years and above can pledge for Organ donation by visiting NOTTO web-portal notto.abdm.gov.in. A 24×7 toll-free helpline No. 1800114770 is functional for providing any guidance related to pledging process or for any information on organ donation.

Incorporation of new feature in SWAYAM Prabha SMS/WhatsApp facility

To enhance student accessibility to SWAYAM Prabha, a new SMS/WhatsApp feature has been incorporated into the schedule. This functionality aims to efficiently communicate information about the schedule for various subjects. The SMS facility is backed by an Al engine operating on the SWAYAM Prabha portal, ensuring that information is structured and shared with students in an organized manner. The UGC sees this intervention as a means to further the objective of providing quality education in regions with limited digital or internet access.