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Scientists have recently uncovered possible artefacts from the oldest known Wallacean hominids on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. This discovery has provided fresh insight into the migration patterns of prehistoric humans, particularly those from the Wallacea region. About Wallacean Hominids The earliest humans in the Wallacea region were believed to be Homo Erectus, who were previously thought to have only settled in Indonesia’s Flores Island and the Philippines’ Luzon I

State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH)

The Union Health Secretary recently launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing the performance of state drug regulatory systems in India. About SHRESTH First-of-its-kind: SHRESTH is a national initiative designed to benchmark and strengthen state drug regulatory authorities through a transparent and data-driven framework. The initiative has been proposed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization

Bandipur Tiger Reserve

A Kerala tourist recently survived a miraculous attack by an elephant in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka. About Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) Location: BTR is situated in the Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts of southern Karnataka. It lies at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Ecological Importance: The reserve is an ecological confluence of the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, playing a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity. Histo

Chagas Disease

Despite the significant human and economic toll that Chagas disease inflicts, investment in research and development (R&D) for diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines remains disproportionately low, raising concerns about the lack of innovation in medical solutions. About Chagas Disease Name: Chagas disease (also called American trypanosomiasis) is an infectious and inflammatory disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Transmission: The disease i

Cheque Truncation System (CTS)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a significant upgrade to the Cheque Truncation System (CTS), moving from the current batch processing model to a continuous clearing system with settlement on realisation. This transition will take place in two phases. What is CTS? CTS is an image-based cheque clearing system that captures cheque images and MICR data electronically at the collecting bank, eliminating the physical movement of cheques. It is secured through a PK

SabhaSaar AI Tool

Launch: The Indian government is set to unveil SabhaSaar, an AI-powered tool, in Tripura on Independence Day. What is SabhaSaar? An AI tool designed to automatically generate minutes of meetings from gram sabha gatherings. Gram Sabha: The fundamental unit of Panchayati Raj, comprising all registered voters of a gram panchayat. Features: Uses AI to convert gram sabha meeting videos and audio recordings into structured minutes. Promotes uniformity