Surat (Gujarat) [India], September 12 (ANI/PNN): The Man-Made Textile Research Association (MANTRA), which is one of the leading national Textile Research Associations (TRAs) in the country and is connected to the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, opened the first-of-its-kind Face Mask and PPE Kit testing laboratory at its facility on the Ring Road in Surat.

New Delhi Apr 21 PTI Government think tank Niti Aayog on Thursday came out with a draft battery swapping policy for electric vehicles and suggested incentives as well as a rigorous testing protocol for swappable batteries The draft policy also comes at a time when there are rising concerns over safety issues around electric vehicles in the wake of multiple instances of such vehicles catching fire The Aayog in its draft policy further said all major cities such as state capitals UT headquarters and cities with population above 5 lakh will be covered under the second phase given the importance of the two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicle segments in growing cities The policy seeks a level playing field across business models involving the sale of EVs with fixed or swappable batteries The draft policy also proposes that demand side incentives offered under existing or new schemes for EV purchase can be made available to EVs with swappable batteries eligible under this policy The size of the incentive could be determined based on the kWh rating of the battery and compatible EV it suggested As per the draft policy an appropriate multiplier may be applied to the subsidy allocated to battery providers to account for the float battery requirements for battery swapping stations It is also proposed that a seamless mechanism for the disbursement of subsidies shall be worked out by the ministry or department concerned the draft policy stated To ensure a high level of protection at the electrical interface the Aayog proposed that a robustrigorous testing protocol shall be adopted to avoid any dielectric breakdown arc phenomenon or any unwanted temperature rise at the electrical interface The draft policy noted that Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment EVSE used at the swapping station must be tested and approved by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories NABL or agency appointed by the central nodal agency for battery swapping For safety during operation of the charging infrastructure the operator must follow the guidelines and protocols of DISCOMSCEA Central Electricity Authority it said Regarding issues related to grievance redressal and compensation the Aayog proposed that in case complaints are registered by EV owners the battery provider may be asked by the appropriate authority to return the demand incentive given to it under the applicable scheme Battery management system BMS of the battery must be self-certified and open for testing to check its compatibility with various systems and capability to meet safety requirements it said The draft pointed out that as per the current Goods and Services Tax GST regime the tax rates on lithium-ion batteries and EVSE are 18 per cent and 5 per cent respectively The GST Council the decision making body on GST provisions may consider reducing the differential across the two tax rates it suggested According to the draft policy document to provide improved information on battery health and performance and to enable more flexibility to consumers through peer-to-peer roaming networks data sharing agreements among major battery providers will be encouraged To implement unique traceability across the battery lifecycle the draft policy also proposes to assign a Unique Identification NumberUIN at the manufacturing stage for tracking and monitoring EV batteries It said any individual or entity is free to set up a battery swapping station at any location provided that the specified technical safety and performance standards are adhered to According to the policy document a single window portal should be set up to facilitate submission of all required documents by battery swapping providers issue trade licences for battery swapping businesses Considering the constraint of space in urban areas for setting up charging stations at scale Finance Minister in her Budget speech 2022-23 had announced that the Centre would be introducing a battery swapping policy and interoperability standards in order to improve efficiency in the EV ecosystem According to an official statement in this regard Niti Aayog held an inter-ministerial discussion to formulate a robust and comprehensive battery swapping policy framework in February 2022 It also held an extensive pre-draft stakeholder discussion with a wide spectrum of stakeholders representing battery swapping operators battery manufacturers vehicle OEMs financial institutions think tanks and other experts Battery swapping is an alternative which involves exchanging discharged batteries for charged ones Battery swapping de-links the vehicle and fuel Battery in this case and hence reduces the upfront cost of the vehicles The statement noted that battery swapping is popularly used for smaller vehicles such as 2 and 3 wheelers which have smaller batteries that are easier to swap compared to other automotive segments wherein the same can be implemented mechanically Further battery swapping provides level playing field to innovative and sustainable business models such as Battery As a Service the statement said The draft is up for consultation and Niti Aayog has invited comments on it until June 5 PTI BKS BKS ANU ANU ANU

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 5 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Intertek, a Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, is pleased to announce that Acucert, its cybersecurity testing lab, in Mumbai has successfully completed accreditation in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). This is the first ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certification issued in India, acknowledging that Acucert possesses the necessary expertise in software and IT system testing while meeting the rigorous quality control requirements of the standard.

Bhopal Dec 18 PTI Union Jal Shakti Minister Prahlad Patel on Saturday said water tap connections have been installed in 4464 lakh or 365 per cent households in Madhya Pradesh He said at the start of Jal Jeevan which kicked off in the state in May last year the percentage of households with water tap connection stood at 145 per cent As on Friday a total of 4464 lakh 365 per cent households have been given water tap connections in Madhya Pradesh The Jal Jeevan Mission was kicked off in August 2019 but it was launched in MP in May 2020 As part of the mission 122 crore water tap connections are to be installed by 2024 in MP he told reporters He said MP was the only state where labs in all districts have been certified by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories NABL The budgetary allocation to MP under the Jal Jeevan Mission has been tripled to Rs 5824 crore in 2021-22 he added Patel who also handles the food processing portfolio at the Centre said efforts were on to make Indian food firms become global brands He said there are plans to establish certified food processing laboratories in each important region Two mega food parks namely Indus Mega Food Park Pvt Ltd in Khargone and Avanti Mega Food Park Pvt Ltd in Dewas were operational in MP he informed PTI LAL BNM BNM BNM

New Delhi Nov 22 PTI The Delhi High Court Monday directed the Delhi government to file an affidavit on how pathological laboratories in the city are being regulated and asked it to state if any action has been taken against those running in violation of the frameworkA bench headed by Justice Manmohan which was hearing a PIL alleging that unauthorised laboratories and diagnostic centres were being managed by unqualified technicians asked the Delhi government to file the affidavit within a weekThe bench also comprising Justice Navin Chawla asked social activist Bejon Kumar Misra who has filed the petition to show instances of false medical reports from path labs and posted the matter for further hearing on December 17Delhi government counsel Gautam Narayan said that path labs were being regulated under the Clinical Establishments Rules 2018 and under the present regime all medical reports have to be signed by a registered medical practitioner having post-graduate educationHe submitted that the authorities were taking all steps to ensure that the public does not suffer and action was being taken on complaints against erring labsThe lawyer also stated that the Delhi Health Bill is at an advanced stage and the Delhi government was following in letter and spirit a Supreme Court order mandating the signing of medical reports only by qualified professionalsGive us a one-page affidavit on Delhi government complying with the 2018 rules You will let us know how many complaints were received the bench told Delhi government counselLawyer Shashank Deo Sudhi appearing for the petitioner argued that at present pathological labs in the city are unregulated which poses a threat to the lives of the citizensHe submitted that on account of wrong reports from the labs which are signed by unqualified technicians the public was unable to secure proper treatmentThe lawyer prayed that a robust health policy be framed by the authorities to govern path labs and stern action should be taken against those which are running in violation of the ICMR and WHO guidelines The high court had in September 2018 said the presence of unauthorised pathological laboratories and clinics in the national capital was a serious issueIt had directed the Delhi government to inspect the laboratories and clinics find out who were running those and under which laws were set upThe court had said when the Supreme Court had made it clear that only post-graduate degree holders in pathology could sign medical test reports it should have been implemented by nowMisra in his plea has said Such illegal labs continue to mushroom in and around Delhi-NCT and it can be easily estimated that the total number of such illegal pathological and diagnostic labs can be anywhere between 20000 and 25000 and every street in the capital has such illegal pathological labs The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories NABL under the Quality Council of India QCI is optional and not mandatory before the opening of a pathological or diagnostic lab in Delhi the petition added PTI ADS RKS RKS

New Delhi [India], October 31 (ANI): Environmental experts are concerned that the National Capital's pollution level will add up this winter due to the ongoing construction of the Central Vista Avenue project at the heart of New Delhi. However, contractors of the project claim they have put in place measures to curb the pollution at the site.

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 28 (ANI/PRNewswire): SGS expands its food testing capabilities with the launch of the Advanced Centre of Testing (ACT) at its laboratory premises at Ambattur, Chennai.

BENGALURU India Sept 17 2021 PRNewswire -- RxDx Healthcare has been a prime provider of reliable and affordable medical care and testing since 2007 On July 24 and 25 2021 a team of four members from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories NABL evaluated the central lab at RxDx Healthcare Whitefield in accordance with ISO 151892012 In addition they assessed the competency and quality of the centre in the field of medical testing for the disciplines of clinical biochemistry clinical pathology haematology microbiology and infectious disease serology Following that RxDx lab was granted the NABL accreditation in September 2021 Dr Sunita Maheshwari Founder of RxDx Healthcare said Our goal has always been to deliver high-quality medical care The NABL seal reaffirms this According to Dr Chhavi Mehra Senior Internist and Quality Head of RxDx Healthcare NABL certification further gives our high-quality patient care services at RxDx not only an enhanced client confidence and satisfaction but also certified and robust quality management Our commitment to our patrons becomes deeper The peripheral branches of RxDx located in Kadugodi Siddapura and Bellandur have the NABL recommended recognition as sample collection facilities SCFs Dr Seema Pavan Lab Director RxDx Healthcare informed From sample collection to testing and reporting we maintain quality and accuracy The NABL accreditation gives RxDx the formal recognition of competence following international criteria RxDx NABH-accredited which won the TOI Best Phygital Health Care Services Award in 2020 is a leading chain of primary care driven multispecialty healthcare clinics with two main branches situated in Whitefield and Malleswaram Bengaluru It was founded in 2007 with a mission to provide pre-hospital care to communities RxDx provides care in its 30 brick and mortar clinics 23 in Bengaluru and 7 rural e-AarogyaKendras as well as online and onsite healthcare delivery at corporates residential communities and at home a truly phygital healthcare provider NABL is a Constituent Board of Quality Council of India PWR PWR

New Delhi [India], September 7 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said that ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) cannot be sitting in an ivory tower and said that it should look into the complaints relating to private pathology laboratories.

New Delhi [India], September 6 (ANI): The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) certification is must for enrollment of private labs for COVID-19 testing, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday.