News in Short

• Forty central universities will kick off implementation of innovative measures such as the academic credit bank and the glue grant meant to encourage multidisciplinarity.
• To start with, the system would allow students to attain qualifications by amassing credits rather than specific durations on campus.
• A certain number of credits would add up to a certificate, then a diploma and then a degree, allowing for multiple entry and exit points.
• Students can earn up to 40% of their credits in online Swayam classes, rather than in the physical classroom. In the future, these credits will hold validity across different institutions.

• Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a pro-Pakistan supporter who spearheaded the separatist movement in Jammu and Kashmir for over three decades, died in Srinagar
• A three-time MLA in the erstwhile state from Sopore, Geelani had virtually become the face of agitation in the 2008 Amarnath land row, 2010 agitation sparked by killing of a youth in Srinagar.
• He was the founder member of Hurriyat Conference but broke away and formed his own Tehreek-e-Hurriyat in early 2000. He finally bid farewell to his own Hurriyat Conference in June 2020.

• India’s exports continued to rise in August posting a 45.17 per cent growth year-on-year (Y-o-Y) at $33.14 billion.
• Exports in April-August 2021 rose 66.92 per cent to $163.67 billion compared to exports in the comparable period last year.
• Imports of petroleum, gold, vegetable oil, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, machinery, iron and steel and coke posted sharp increases in August 2021 compared to August 2020.

• The Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) has inaugurated India’s first bio-bricks-based building, constructed out of agro-waste.
• This technology was developed to counter air pollution caused by stubble burning. The bio-brick was developed as an alternative and sustainable building material that replaces stubble burning.
• When used in roofing and wall panelling, the bio-bricks could effectively reduce heat gain by five to six degrees. Compared to burnt clay bricks, bio-bricks would cost about ?2-?3 when mass-produced.

• Shooter AvaniLekhara became the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals by claiming the 50 m rifle 3 Position SH1 bronze to add to an unprecedented gold she had won earlier in the ongoing Games here.
• Lekhara had become the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold by claiming the top honours in the 10 m air rifle standing SH1 event.
• Joginder Singh Sodhi is the only other Indian to win multiple medals in the same edition of the Games. Sodhi won a silver and two bronze medals in the 1984 Paralympics.