Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences or INMAS: INMAS is laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It was established in 1961 and is located in New Delhi. It is involved in nuclear medicine research and responding to nuclear accidents and explosions. Since 1968, Department of Nuclear Medicine in INMAS is offering two-year diploma in radiation medicine. It is first formal training program in nuclear medicine in the world. It was in news as the it developed India’s first anti-nuclear medical kit that includes Prussian blue tablet, EDTA injection, Ca-EDTA respiratory fluid, radioactive blood mopping dressing, radioactive urine or bio fluid collector, anti-gamma ray skin ointment and amifostine injection as well as Indranil 150 mg tablet.

VC 11184: VC 11184 is India’s first ocean surveillance ship. It has been made Hindustan Shipyard Limited. The ship is ready for sea trials. The ship has yet not been formally named and shall be named after its formal induction into Indian Navy. Only four other countries apart from India have such ships - US, Russia, China and France - that have integrated their Ballistic Missile Defence Systems with ships.

Fixed Dose Combination Drugs: FDC drugs are drugs having two or more active ingredients in a single dosage. They are widely used to improve patient compliance as it is easier for them to take one drug than several. They are acceptable only when the drugs so combined have a therapeutic advantage. FDCs have been in news as Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has prohibited manufacture, sale, distribution of 328 Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) for human use with immediate effect. It has also restricted manufacture, sale or distribution of six FDCs subject to certain conditions.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems or ENDS or E-Cigarettes: ENDS are devices that heat solution to create aerosol, which also frequently contains flavours, usually dissolved into propylene glycolor and glycerin. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are most common prototype of ENDS. These devices do not burn or use toacco leaves but instead vaporise solution, which user then inhales (This process is called as vaping). The main constituents of vaporise solution are nicotine, propylene glycol (with or without glycerol and flavouring agents). It were in news as the Tamil Nadu government has ordered banning manufacture, sale and possession of ENDS.

India, France ink agreement to collaborate for Gaganyaan Mission: India and France have signed agreement to collaborate for ISRO’s first human space mission Gaganyaan to be launched in 2022. It will be India’s first manned space mission. Under it, India is planning to send three humans (Gaganyatris) into space by 2022 for period of five to seven days. The mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 72nd Independence Day speech. It will make India fourth nation in the world after USA, Russia and China to launch a human spaceflight mission. The crew of three astronauts will conduct experiments on microgravity in space. They will be selected jointly by Indian Air Force (IAF) and ISRO after which they will undergo training for two-three years. GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle, having necessary payload capability will be used to launch Gaganyaan.