World Lion Day

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The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in collaboration with the Forest and Environment Department, Government of Gujarat, celebrated World Lion Day 2025 at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Dwarka, Gujarat. 

World Lion Day

• It is celebrated annually on August 10, aims to raise awareness about the conservation and protection of lions worldwide.
• It was started in 2013 with the intention of raising awareness about the challenges lions face in the wild.
• The day was initiated by the wildlife conservationists to rally people around the world in defending lions and their habitats.
• The grand celebrations of ‘World Lion Day’ 2025, was organized at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat and across 11 districts of Saurashtra, Gujarat.

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary

• This Sanctuary spans 192.31 sq. km across Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, is now emerging as a second home for Asiatic Lions.
• Sanctuary now flourishes wi th 17 lions and 25 leopards, reflecting years of ecological restoration and scientific management.
• The sanctuary is a significant biodiversity hotspot and a key area for the conservation of Asiatic Lions, especially by local Maldhari pastoralists, has made conservation truly inclusive and citizen-centric in Barda sanctuary.
• There is a significant rise in India’s lion population, which has grown to 891, up from 674 in 2020.

About Lion

Lions (Panthera leo) are large carnivorous mammals belonging to the family Felidae and are among the most iconic apex predators in the world. 

Lions are social animals, living in family groups called prides, which typically consist of related females, their offspring, and a coalition of males.

Two main subspecies survive today:

• Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica): Endangered IUCN status
• African Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita):  Vulnerable IUCN status

9^th Foundation Day of Government e Marketplace (GeM) 

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The Government of India celebrated the 9th foundation day of the Government e-Marketplace on 9^th August.

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The theme of 9th Foundation Day of GeM is  Ease, Access and Inclusion.

Key Reforms Announced at the celebrations:

• Elimination of caution money for sellers.
• Rationalisation of vendor assessment fees.
• Reduction in transaction charges resulting in 97% of orders exempted.

GeM Seller Samvad held on 6th August 2025 at the GeM office in New Delhi to mark the Foundation Day celebrations.

Government e-Marketplace (GeM) 

• Launched in 2016 to promote transparent, inclusive and efficient public procurement in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance,”
• It  is India’s national public procurement portal launched  by the Ministry of Commerce to promote transparent, inclusive and efficient public procurement.
• The platform has grown into a digital procurement system connecting sellers and service providers across the country, including women entrepreneurs, startups, micro and small enterprises (MSEs), artisans, self-help groups (SHGs) and Divyangjans.
• It is a fully digital, cashless and system-driven platform that offers an end-to-end solution for all government buyers and sellers.
• The GeM Special Purpose Vehicle, a Section 8 (Non-Profit) Private Limited Company under the Ministry of Commerce, has been incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 to develop, manage and maintain the GeM platform.
• In FY 2024–25, GeM recorded transactions worth ₹5.4 lakh crore in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV).

Cancer AI & Technology Challenge (CATCH) Grant Program

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Recently, IndiaAI Independent Business Division (IBD), in collaboration with the National Cancer Grid (NCG), launched (CATCH) Grant Program. 

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• This initiative seeks to support the development and deployment of innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to strengthen cancer screening, diagnostics, treatment support, and healthcare operations across India.
• The initiative is designed to catalyse piloted deployment of AI solutions within the NCG hospital network, with the potential for future scale-up based on demonstrated clinical impact and operational readiness.
• This initiative provides up to ₹50 lakh per project, co-funded by IndiaAI and NCG
• Successful pilot projects are eligible for an additional scale-up grant of up to ₹1 crore for wider deployment
• Up to 10 proposals to be selected based on technical maturity, feasibility, and healthcare alignment.
• Eligible applicants: startups, health technology companies, academic institutions, public or private hospitals.

IndiaAI Independent Business Division (IBD)

• IndiaAI is an IBD under the Digital India Corporation (DIC) of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), 
• It is the implementation agency of the IndiaAI Mission, which aims to democratize AI's benefits across all strata of society, bolster India’s global leadership in AI, foster technological self-reliance, and ensure ethical and responsible use of AI.

The National Cancer Grid (NCG)

• It was established in August 2012 to form a union of cancer centres in India which could provide uniform and high standards of cancer care.
• The NCG is an initiative of the Government of India through the Department of Atomic Energy and the Tata Memorial Centre. 
• It aims to ensure uniform, high-quality cancer treatment by promoting evidence-based guidelines and collaborative research. 

India’s first ‘Animal Stem Cell Biobank’

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Recently, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology inaugurated India’s first ‘Animal Stem Cell Biobank’ at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), under the Department of Biotechnology’s Biotechnology Research Innovation Council (BRIC).

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Animal Stem Cell Biobank is a state-of-the-art facility that will store and preserve high-quality stem cells from various animal species, at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology.

The biobank is equipped with a stem cell culture unit, 3D bioprinter, bacterial culture lab, cryostorage, autoclave rooms, advanced air handling systems, and uninterrupted power backup, the laboratory will advance research in disease modelling, tissue engineering, and reproductive biotechnology.

The Animal Stem Cell Biobank is developed in partnership with HiMedia Laboratories and will provide quality-controlled animal stem cells and indigenous, cost-effective cell culture media to veterinary clinics, research institutions, hospitals, and industry.

In addition, during the programme, the Minister also launched five innovative veterinary diagnostic tools designed to revolutionise animal health management and support the ‘One Health’ approach:

• Rapid Detection of Brucellosis – A field-deployable, DIVA-capable diagnostic kit for early and accurate detection of Brucella species.
• Mastitis Detection Technology – A cost-effective on-site diagnostic assay for subclinical and clinical mastitis in dairy cattle.
• Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing Device – A portable tool providing results within two hours to promote responsible antibiotic use.
• Toxoplasmosis Detection Kit – A sensitive and specific test for Toxoplasma gondii infection in animals.
• Japanese Encephalitis Detection Kit – An indigenously developed rapid strip for large-scale surveillance in animals and humans.

Significance of the Animal Stem Cell Biobank

• Advancement in Livestock Healthcare – Enables regenerative medicine, cellular therapies, and disease modelling for improving animal health and productivity.
• Boost to Veterinary Research & Innovation – Provides state-of-the-art infrastructure for tissue engineering, reproductive biotechnology, and development of diagnostic tools.
• Support for ‘One Health’ Approach – Strengthens integrated human-animal-environment health strategies by facilitating early disease detection and prevention in livestock.