National
ISRO presented with “Indian of the Year Award" for the year 2023
⇒ Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh presented “Indian of the Year Award” for the year 2023 in the category ‘Outstanding Achievement’ to Team ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation).
- The award, instituted by a national TV channel, was received by ISRO Chairman S. Somnath and Project Director of Chandrayaan 3, Dr P. Veeramuthuvel, at a glittering ceremony in New Delhi.
- The award recognised the remarkable contribution made by ISRO in pushing the boundaries of Space exploration.
Jury Panel:
The distinguished jury panel for the IotY Awards comprised iconic figures, including former solicitor General of India, Harish Salve, screenwriter and Lyricist Javed Akhtar, Retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Indu Malhotra, former Indian Athlete and Vice-President of Athletics Federation of India, Anju Bobby George, chairperson of RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, Sanjiv Goenka, and environmental activist and lawyer Afroz Shah.
DRDO successfully flight tests New Generation AKASH Missile
⇒ Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight-test of the New Generation AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on January 12, 2024.
Highlights:
- The flight-test was conducted against a high-speed unmanned aerial target at very low altitude. During the flight-test, the target was successfully intercepted by the weapon system and destroyed.
- It has validated the functioning of the complete weapon system consisting of the missile with indigenously developed Radio Frequency Seeker, Launcher, Multi-Function Radar and Command, Control & Communication system.
- The system performance was also validated through the data captured by a number of Radars, Telemetry and Electro Optical Tracking System deployed by ITR, Chandipur.
- The AKASH-NG system is a state-of-the-art missile system capable of intercepting high speed, agile aerial threats.
PM inaugurates Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu in Navi Mumbai on 12 January 2024.
- Shri Modi took a walkthrough of the photo gallery and a showcase model of Atal Setu.
Background:
» The Prime Minister’s vision is to improve the ‘ease of mobility’ of citizens by strengthening urban transport infrastructure and connectivity.
- In line with this vision, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), now named ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri – Nhava Sheva Atal Setu’ has been built. The foundation stone of the bridge was laid by the Prime Minister in December 2016.
About Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri – Nhava Sheva Atal Setu:
- Atal Setu has been constructed at a total cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore.
- It is about a 21.8 km long 6-lane bridge having about 16.5 km length over the sea and about 5.5 km on the land.
- It is the longest bridge in India and also the longest sea bridge in India.
- It will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport and will also reduce the travel time from Mumbai to Pune, Goa and South India.
- It will also improve connectivity between Mumbai Port & Jawaharlal Nehru Port.