National
Chief of Materiel (Indian Navy)
⇒ Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh, AVSM, VSM has assumed charge as the Chief of Materiel on 01 January 2024.
VAdm Kiran Deshmukh, takes over as COM from VAdm Sandeep Naithani, AVSM, VSM who hands over the baton on completion of 39 Years of glorious service.
- The Chief of Materiel (COM) is a senior Indian Navy appointment in the rank of Vice-Admiral.
About VAdm Kiran Deshmukh:
- An alumnus of VJTI, University of Mumbai, VAdm Deshmukh was commissioned as an Engineer Officer into the Indian Navy on 31 March 1986.
- In recognition of his distinguished service, the Admiral has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.
Controller Warship Production and Acquisition (Indian Navy)
⇒ Vice Admiral B Sivakumar, AVSM, VSM has assumed charge as the Controller Warship Production and Acquisition on 01 January 2024.
About Vice Admiral B Sivakumar:
- An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (70th Course), he was commissioned as an Electrical Officer into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1987.
- He is a recipient of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished Service.
First all-girls Sainik School at Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh
⇒ Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated Samvid Gurukulam Girls Sainik School at Vrindavan in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh on January 01, 2024.
Key Points:
- It is the first all-girls Sainik School, with a strength of approx 870 students.
- The school has been inaugurated under the initiative of establishing 100 new Sainik Schools in partnership mode with NGOs/Private/State Government Schools in all State/Union Territories, of which 42 have been set up.
- These are in addition to the existing 33 Sainik Schools already functioning under the erstwhile pattern.
Background:
- The objectives behind the vision of setting up of 100 new Sainik Schools are to provide quality education to the students in tune with the National Education Policy 2020 and give them better career opportunities, including joining the Armed Forces.
- It also gives an opportunity to the private sector to work hand-in-hand with the Government towards nation building by refining today’s youth to become responsible citizens of tomorrow.
Senior Officer-in-Charge Administration (SOA) of Headquarters Western Air Command
⇒ On 1st January, 2024 Air Vice Marshal S Sivakumar took over as Senior Officer-in-Charge Administration (SOA) of Headquarters Western Air Command, New Delhi.
About Air Vice Marshal Sivakumar:
- Air Vice Marshal Sivakumar was commissioned in the Administration Branch on 16 Jun 1990 and is an alumni of the College of Air Warfare.
- Air Vice Marshal Sivakumar was Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Air Force Works) at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhavan) prior to the current appointment at Headquarters Western Air Command, New Delhi.
International
Gujarat creates Guinness World Record for most people performing Surya Namaskar simultaneously at 108 venues
⇒ In a remarkable display of health and unity, Gujarat etched its name in the Guinness Book of World Records for most people performing Surya Namaskar simultaneously on the occasion of the New Year on 01 January 2024.
- More than 4,000 participants across 108 locations and 51 different categories performed the Surya Namaskar yoga, solidifying the state’s commitment to wellness and cultural heritage.
Important Day
66th Foundation Day of DRDO
⇒ DRDO celebrated the 66th Foundation Day of its establishment on 01 January 2024.
History:
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is the premier agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
- It was formed in 1958 by the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production of the Indian Ordnance Factories with the Defence Science Organisation under the administration of Jawaharlal Nehru.