Notes:
The Union Road Transport Minister and Union Defence Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the first-ever National Road Safety Month on January 18, 2021.
The campaign seeks to build awareness on road safety and reduce road accidents in India. In the recent past, only ‘Road safety week’ was being organised. The Minister also presented various awards including best performing State in Road Safety works, Good Samaritan award, Best State Transport Corporations, among others.

Notes:
Indian Farm Forestry Development Co-operative Ltd (IFFDC) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TRIFED of Tribal Affairs Ministry.
The organisations aim to work together for promoting tribal livelihood. They will jointly conduct training programmes for tribal artisans, to enhance their entrepreneurship skill and business development. IFFDC, promoted by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), has been working in Farm Forestry, Climate Change, eco-restoration and livelihood generation.

Notes:
A bike-based ambulance named ‘Rakshita’ has been developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
It has been handed over to the Central Reserve Police Force. It seeks to provide quicker medical support to those living in narrow populous streets and remote locations.

Notes:
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan chaired the 148th session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization, through video conference.
He also said that the year 2020 is described as the Year of Science, while the Year 2021 would be the year of global solidarity and survival. He also sought for fair and equitable distribution of the COVID vaccines.

Notes:
The Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS) is an attached office of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Jal Shakti ministry.
Based at New Delhi, it deals with investigations and research in Geotechnical engineering, construction materials and river valley projects. It helps in development of water resources sector in the country, through Central Water Commission. Minister of State Jal Shakti conducted a Review Meeting of CSMRS recently.