National
Raksha Mantri commissions stealth guided missile destroyer INS Imphal
⇒ INS Imphal, a Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at an impressive ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on December 26, 2023.
Design & constructed by:
The event marks the formal induction of the third of four indigenous ‘Visakhapatnam’ class destroyers, being designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.
» The Raksha Mantri defined INS IMPHAL as a conglomeration of different strengths of the nation.
- Brahmos Aerospace installed Brahmos missile on the ship.
- Torpedo tube launchers are of Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
- Rapid Gun Mount has been installed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), and Medium Range missiles by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
- In addition, many start-ups and MSMEs are involved in its construction.
About Ship:
- INS Imphal has the unique distinction of being the first warship to be named after a city in the North-east, underscoring the importance and contribution of the region and Manipur to the Nation & the Indian Navy.
- The ship measures 163m in length, 17m in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes and is amongst the most potent warships built in India.
- It is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas & Gas configuration, and is capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots.
- INS Imphal has enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced Radar Cross Section, achieved through efficient shaping of hull, full beam superstructure design, plated masts and use of radar transparent material on exposed decks.
- It is armed with sophisticated state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including Surface-to-Surface Missiles, Surface-to-Air Missiles, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) rocket launchers & Torpedo launchers, ASW helicopters, radars, sonar and Electronic Warfare systems.
- The ship is equipped to fight under Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare conditions.
» A unique feature of this ship is the high level of indigenisation of about 75%, highlighting Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government’s efforts towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
- The indigenous equipment/systems include Combat Management System, Rocket Launcher, Torpedo Launcher, Integrated Platform Management System, Automated Power Management System, Foldable Hangar Doors, Helo Traversing system, Close-in Weapon System, and the Bow-mounted SONAR.
12th ‘Divya Kala Mela’ 2023
⇒ The 12th ‘Divya Kala Mela’ 2023 was organised from 29th December 2023 – 7th January 2024 in Surat, Gujrat, to showcase the products and craftsmanship of Divyang entrepreneurs/artisans from across the country.
Organised by:
A unique event ‘Divya Kala Mela’ was organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) (DEPwD), MoSJ&E, GoI through National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC), an apex corporation under DEPwD.
- This is a unique initiative towards the economic empowerment of PwD/Divyangjan. The Divya Kala Mela presents a bigger platform for marketing and showcasing the products and skills of Divyangjan (PwD).
» The Divya Kala Mela, Surat was the 12th one in series starting from 2022:
(i) Delhi, 2-6 December 2022, (ii) Mumbai, 16th to 25th February 2023, (iii) Bhopal, 12th to 21st March 2023, (iv) Guwahati, 11th to 17th May 2023 (v) Indore, 17th to 23rd June 2023 (vi) Jaipur 29th June to 5th July 2023 (vii) Varanasi, 15th to 24th September, 2023 (viii) Secunderabad, Hyderabad 6th to 15th October 2023 (ix) Bengaluru, Karnataka 27th October to 5th November, 2023 (x) Chennai, TN 17th to 26th November, 2023, (xi) Patna (Bihar) 8th – 17th December 2023.
Highlights:
- Around 100 Divyang artisans/artists and entrepreneurs from about 20 states/UTs displayed their products and skills.
- There were Products in the following broad category: Home Décor & Lifestyle, Clothing, Stationery and eco-friendly products, packaged food and organic products, Toys & Gifts, Personal Accessories – Jewellery, Clutch Bags.
- The event presented an enthralling experience to the visitors as vibrant products from various parts of the country including Jammu and Kashmir, North Eastern states, handicrafts, handlooms, embroidery works and packaged food etc were seen together.
CSIR Young Scientist Awards & GN Ramachandran Medal for the year 2022
⇒ The Union Minister of State (I/C) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Space and Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh presented the CSIR Young Scientist Awards & GN Ramachandran Medal for the year 2022, at a function in New Delhi on 27 December 2023.
» CSIR-Human Resource Development Group (HRDG), New Delhi, organised a function to confer the CSIR Young Scientist Awards 2022 and GN Ramachandran Medal 2022 for Excellence in Biological Sciences & Technology 2022 at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL).
CSIR Young Scientist Awards 2022 Winners:
Biological Sciences:
- Dr Andugulapati Sai Balagi, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad
- In recognition of his significant basic and translational research in the area of molecular pharmacology and cancer biology.
- Dr Harsha Bajaj, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram
- For her outstanding contributions in developing novel vesicle membrane models having applications in the field of membrane biology and nanotechnology.
Chemical Sciences:
- Dr Nirmal Goswami, CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar
- For his significant contributions to nanostructures and applications.
Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences:
- Dr Karnan Chinnadurai, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa
- For his outstanding contributions to the plankton ecology along the Indian coast, which has immense significance in identifying fishery population.
Engineering Sciences:
- Dr Amit Kumar, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur
- For his outstanding contributions to the development of generalised formalism for the wave propagation in thin structures using piezoelectric transducers.
- Dr A Mercy Latha, CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute, Pilani (Chennai Centre)
- For her outstanding contributions in the areas of high-power microwave devices and THz systems leading to applications in space technology.
Physical Sciences (including instrumentation):
- Dr Naga Vara Aparna Akula, CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh
- For the development and advancement of intelligent sensing systems, which have significant strategic and socio-economic implications.
- Dr Vishant, CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute, Pilani
- For his outstanding contributions to the field of gyrotron and sub-Terahertz radiation source.
GN Ramachandran Gold Medal for Excellence in Biological Sciences & Technology 2022:
- Prof. Kaustuv Sanyal, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru
- For his seminal contributions in understanding chromosome segregation, centromere biology and evolution.
About GN Ramachandran Gold Medal:
» CSIR instituted a Gold Medal in 2004 in the fond memory of Prof. GN Ramachandran, a pioneer of protein chemistry & the founding father of structural biology in India, for recognising excellence in the interdisciplinary subject /field of Biological Sciences & Technology.
About CSIR Young Scientist Awards:
» The CSIR introduced in 1987, a scheme of awards for Young Scientists in the CSIR system in order to promote excellence in various fields of science and technology. The awards are known as the ‘CSIR Young Scientist Awards’.
- CSIR scientists below 35 years of age, as reckoned on 26 September (CSIR Foundation Day) of the preceding year, are eligible for the Award.
These awards are given annually in the following fields:
- Biological Sciences
- Chemical Sciences
- Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
- Engineering Sciences
- Physical Sciences (including instrumentation)
Prize:
- Each award consists of a citation, a cash prize of rupees fifty thousand and a plaque.
- CSIR Young Scientist Awardees are also entitled to a research grant of rupees five lakh per annum for a period of five years and an honorarium of rupees seven thousand and five hundred per month till the age of 45 years.
30th Flag Officer Commanding- in-Chief (FOCINC), Southern Naval Command
⇒ Vice Admiral V Srinivas, AVSM, NM took over as the 30th Flag Officer Commanding- in-Chief (FOCINC), Southern Naval Command at an impressive ceremonial parade held at Naval Base, Kochi on 31 December 2023.
- He succeeded Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, PVSM, AVSM, NM who retired upon superannuation after an illustrious career spanning close to four decades in the Indian Navy.
About Vice Admiral V Srinivas:
- Vice Admiral V Srinivas is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 July 1987.
- He was awarded the Nau Sena Medal (NM) in 2009 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2021.