National
International Cricket Stadium in Varanasi
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of International Cricket Stadium in Varanasi on 23 September 2023.
About Stadium:
- The international cricket stadium in Varanasi will be a step towards realizing the Prime Minister’s vision to develop modern world-class sports infrastructure.
- The modern international cricket stadium will be developed in Ganjari, Rajatalab, Varanasi at a cost of about Rs 450 crores and spread across an area of more than 30 acres.
- The thematic architecture of this stadium draws inspiration from Lord Shiva, with designs developed for crescent-shaped roof covers, trident-shaped lights, ghat steps-based seating, and Bilvipatra-shaped metallic sheets on the facade.
- The stadium will have a capacity of 30,000 spectators.
Launch of 3rd MCA BARGE, LSAM 9 (YARD 77)
⇒ Third Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge, Yard 77 (LSAM 9) was launched by Cmde G Ravi, Warship Production Superintendent (Visakhapatnam) on 22 September 2023 at Guttenadeevi, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh (launch site of M/s SECON).
With all major and auxiliary equipment/systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers, this Barge is proud flag bearer of “Make in India” initiatives of Ministry of Defence.
Key Points:
- Contract for construction and delivery of 08 x Missile Cum Ammunition (MCA) Barge was concluded with M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd, Visakhapatnam, a MSME, in consonance with “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives of the Government of India.
- This Barge is being built under the classification rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) with a service life of 30 years.
- The availability of MCA Barges will provide impetus to Operational commitments of IN by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles / ammunition to IN Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.
» The MSME shipyard has already delivered first MCA Barge on 18 July 2023 and has launched Second Barge on 18 August 2023.
India’s First Lighthouse Festival in Goa
⇒ India’s first ever Lighthouse Festival or ‘Bharatiya Prakash Sthamb Utsav’ was held at the historic Fort Aguada in Goa from 23rd-25th September, 2023.
» The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the maiden edition of Indian Lighthouse Festival at the historic Fort Aguada in Panjim, Goa on 23rd September 2023.
The festival was aimed at rejuvenating the rich maritime history of India’s 75 iconic lighthouses and unravel the illustrious stories to the world.
Key Points:
- A three-day festival was celebrated across all the lighthouses in the country in an effort to transform these historical spots into tourist destinations.
- The gala event was organised in carnival style with local artists, dance troupes, food and culinary stalls, music concerts and similar activities to attract common people to Lighthouses.
During the first day’s programme:
- A session titled ‘Vanguards of Our Shores: Lighthouses as Testaments of India’s Past and Present’ was held, organized by Bharat Pravah, an initiative of Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics. During the session, famous historian and archaeologist, Prof. Vasant Shinde of the Rakhigarhi fame, spoke about the historical significance of Lighthouses in India’s maritime history.
- Joint Secretary of MoPSW presented a case for Ministry’s approach towards the Lighthouse Heritage Tourism Development and the investment opportunities across 75 Lighthouses in this phase.
- The key highlights of India’s First Lighthouse Festival were cultural exhibitions, session highlighting maritime history and culture, classical performances, light and sound shows, melodious evenings with celebrity singers, flavours of the coast and community engagements.
India’s First Green Hydrogen-Powered Fuel Cell Buses
⇒ In a significant step towards green mobility, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs, flagged off the first Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus at Kartavya Path in Delhi on September 25, 2023.
Key Points:
» IndianOil has initiated a scientifically designed program to undertake operational trials of 15 Fuel Cell buses powered by Green hydrogen on the identified routes in Delhi, Haryana and UP.
» Under this program, first set of 2 fuel cell buses were launched on 25 September from India Gate.
- This project is the first ever initiative in India to dispense green hydrogen at 350 bar to operate fuel cell buses.
- IndianOil has also established a state-of-the-art dispensing facility at our R&D Faridabad campus that can refuel green hydrogen produced from electrolysis using solar PV panels.
Background:
Green Hydrogen:
- Green Hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, has the potential to play a key role in such low-carbon and self-reliant economic pathways.
- Green Hydrogen can enable utilization of domestically abundant renewable energy resources across regions, seasons, and sectors, feeding multiple usage streams, either as a fuel or as an industrial feedstock.
- It can directly replace fossil fuel derived feedstocks in petroleum refining, fertilizer production, steel manufacturing etc.
Innovating Mobility: The Power of Fuel Cells
- Fuel cell technology is emerging as one of the important spokes in the e-mobility paradigm.
- Hydrogen can be used as a fuel for Fuel Cells. The electrochemical reaction converts fuel (hydrogen) at anode and oxygen from the air at cathode to water and liberate electrical energy in the form of electrons.
- Fuel cells are highly efficient as compared to other mobility options.
- Fuel cells vehicles have inherent advantages of long range and lower refuelling time as compared to battery vehicles.
- Hydrogen gas is compressed and stored onboard in cylinders, typically at a pressure of 350 bar.
International
Maiden India-Indonesia-Australia Trilateral Maritime Exercise 2023
⇒ Indian Navy’s indigenously built warship INS Sahyadri, mission deployed in Indo-Pacific, participated in the maiden trilateral Maritime Partnership Exercise with the ships and aircraft from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Indonesian Navy from 20 – 21 September 2023.
Key Points:
- The trilateral exercise provided an opportunity for the three maritime nations to strengthen their partnership and improve their collective capability to support a stable, peaceful and secure Indo-Pacific region.
- The exercise also provided the opportunity for the participating navies to benefit from each other’s experience and expertise.
- Complex tactical and manoeuvring exercises, cross-deck visits and cross-deck landings of integral helicopters were conducted for training of crew and enhancement of interoperability.
» INS Sahyadri, the third ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-17 class multirole stealth frigates was built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai and is commanded by Capt Rajan Kapoor.