Export

1. Spices exports from India goes over Rs 21000 crore in 2019-20, records growth of 10 per cent

Key points:

1. The exports of Indian spices and spice products surged to Rs 21,515.4 crore (USD 3033.44 million) and a volume of 11,83,000 tonnes in 2019-20, sustaining their robust demand in international markets despite stiff competition.
2. During the previous year of 2018-19, India exported a total of 11,00,250 MT of spices and spices products. 
3. In rupee terms, the spices exports in 2019-20 grew by 10 percent from Rs 19,505.81 crore and in dollar terms, the growth was 8 percent.
4. Though the Indian spices are exported to 185 countries, China (24 percent), USA (16 percent), Bangladesh (six percent), Thailand (five percent), UAE (six percent), Sri Lanka, Malaysia, UK, Indonesia, and Germany are the major buyers contributing over 70 percent export earnings.

(The New Indian Express, 19 August 2020) News Link

Startup in Bharat by Bhartiya

How two college students built a profitable home service business based in Jaipur
Key points:

1. The Jaipur-based startup is a ‘service at home’ company that provides trained service professionals for various needs at home.
2. At present, the startup is serving eight cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Surat, Jaipur, Indore, Kota, and Sawai Madhopur.
3. NamasteSir takes bookings on its consumer app ‘NamasteSir: Your Service Partner’, which then assigns these orders manually to its registered partners. However, it is developing a partner app ‘Sir Partner’, which will allow partners to accept bookings directly from the nearest customers.
4. NamasteSir takes bookings on its consumer app ‘NamasteSir: Your Service Partner’, which then assigns these orders manually to its registered partners. However, it is developing a partner app ‘Sir Partner’, which will allow partners to accept bookings directly from the nearest customers.
   (Your Story, 19 August 2020) News Link

• How DevOps startup Esper helps with Android device deployment, app management
  Key points:

• Founded two years ago by Shiv Sundar and Yadhu Gopalan, Esper creates a complete tool chain and allows enterprises to deploy and manage touch-enabled Android device applications without worrying about the device infrastructure.
• The startup also helps streamline the process for building, deploying, and managing apps on devices for POS, restaurants, kiosks, logistics, and transportation at scale.
• Esper raised $7.6 million in Series A funding in February 2020. The round was led by US-based venture capital firm Madrona Venture Group and saw participation from existing seed investors Root Ventures, Ubiquity Ventures, Haystack Ventures, and Pathbreaker Ventures.
  (Your Story, 19 August 2020) News Link

• This edtech startup aims to instil analytical and scientific skills in children as young as six years
  Key points:

• Bengaluru-based WizKlub is a K-8 edtech startup that combines technology and research in cognitive learning to empower K-12 kids to get started on a skill.
• WizKlub has two flagship products – Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) programme and SmartTech Programme to develop skills in children of ages six to 13 years.
• The WizKlub SmartTech Programme helps children as young as six years to build and code technology.
• WizKlub has raised angel and seed funding from HNIs, Incubate Fund India, and Insitor Impact Asia Fund. The startup works on a subscription model, and charges Rs 500 per month for a single programme.
  (Your Story, 19 August 2020) News Link

Investment in Bharat by other countries

Lightspeed India raises $275M, will focus on startups of the future
Key points:

1. Lightspeed India Partners has closed the Lightspeed India Partners III fund with $275 million of committed capital. As a fund, it has invested more than $750 million in India and supports startups through the growth stages.
2. It will continue to focus on early stages of innovation, and work with founders to support them through their growth lifecycle – working with a growth capital pool of over $3 billion raised recently in its global funds.
   (Your Story, 19 August 2020) News Link

• DrinkPrime raises Rs 21 Cr from Omidyar Network India, Sequoia Surge
  Key points:
• Water purifier startup DrinkPrime on Tuesday announced that it had raised Rs 21 crore ($3 million) in its pre-Series A round.
• The round was led by Omidyar Network India, with participation from Sequoia Surge
  The Bengaluru-based startup will use the freshly raised funds to strengthen its team and invest in growth plans.
• The startup has created smart water purifiers by leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technology and a seven-stage filtration process. It allows users to subscribe to use the company’s advanced modular water purifiers, with a pay-as-you-use model.
• DrinkPrime is also backed by founders of Snapdeal, Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal, GrowthStory’s founders Meena and Krishnan Ganesh, and Bounce, among others.
  (Your Story, 19 August 2020) News Link

Vaccine Development

1. Oxford COVID-19 vaccine final trials will be held in these 17 hospitals in India

Key points:

1. The phase II and phase III clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford is all set to start in India
2. Indian pharmaceutical major Serum Institute of India has initiated the process, according to report by news agency ANI.
3. Pune based drug maker has selected 17 sites in India to conduct the trial. A total of 1,600 candidates will take part in the study.
4. These sites include — Andhra Medical College (Visakhapatnam), JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, (Mysore), Seth G. S. Medical College and KEM Hospital (Mumbai), KEM Hospital Research Centre (Vadu), B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital (Pune), All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (Jodhpur), Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, (Patna), Institute of Community Medicine ( Madras), Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College and Hospital (Pune), Jehangir Hospital ( Pune), AIIMS (Delhi), ICMR- Regional Medical Research Centre ( Gorakhpur), TN Medical College & BYL Nair Hospital (Mumbai), Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (Sewagram) and Government Medical College (Nagpur).

(Live Mint, 19 August 2020) News Link