National
Laser-Guided ATGM successfully tested by DRDO & Indian Army
⇒ Indigenously-developed Laser-Guided Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) was successfully test-fired from Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun on June 28, 2022.
- The test-fired was conducted by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Army at KK Ranges with support of Armoured Corps Centre & School (ACC&S) Ahmednagar.
The all-indigenous ATGM employs a tandem High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) protected armoured vehicles. The ATGM has been developed with multi-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from 120 mm rifled gun of MBT Arjun.
Engaging the targets at lower ranges is a challenge due to the dimensional constraints of tank launched ATGMs, which has been successfully accomplished by the ATGM for MBT Arjun. With the trial, the ATGM’s capability to engage targets from minimum to maximum range has been established. Earlier the trials have been successful for maximum range.
Jyotirgamaya Festival
⇒ As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of India’s independence and on the occasion of World Music Day, Sangeet Natak Akademi presented Jyotirgamaya.
Jyotirgamaya was a unique festival to showcase the talent of rare musical instruments from across the country, including street performers, train entertainers, performers attached to temples, etc. This was a unique endeavour of Sangeet Natak Akademi to salvage the dying performing arts of India.
- Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER , Shri G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated the festival on 21 June 2022.
Key Points:
- A total of 75 performances were selected for the 5-day festival from 21-25 June 2022.
- The 5-day festival showcased the talent of unsung performers from all corners of the country. Each day 15 performers displayed their artistry.
- A live exhibition was organised in Lalit Kala Gallery displaying the making of musical instruments like the Kamaicha, Ravanhatha, Rabab, Pung, Sarangi, Jodiya Pava, Khol which hail from various parts of our country.
- Simultaneously, there were workshops conducted on the making of rare musical instruments such as the Maddlam, Rudra Veena, Dukkad, Shehnai and Nadaswaram, which was visited daily by artists, scholars, researchers, students, etc. with enthusiasm. An exhibit of 20 rare musical instruments was also curated.
PADMA, the Centralised Pay System for Indian Coast Guard
⇒ Pay Roll Automation for Disbursement of Monthly Allowances (PADMA), an automated Pay & Allowances module for the Indian Coast Guard was inaugurated by Shri Rajnish Kumar, Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Ministry of Defence, on June 28, 2022.
Developed by:
This module has been developed under the aegis of Defense Accounts Department and will be operated by Pay Accounts Office Coast Guard, Noida.
About PADMA:
» PADMA is an automated platform leveraging latest technology which will provide seamless and timely disbursal of Pay & Allowances to around 15,000 Indian Coast Guard personnel.
- The CGDA emphasized that the Government has campaigned for Digital India to ensure dedicated services and reduce manual intervention at every level & to promote E-Governance in a big way. Launch of PADMA will strengthen the Digital India concept.
International
Colombo Security Conclave Training Programme on Investigation of Terrorism-related Cases
⇒ The Colombo Security Conclave Training Programme on Investigation of Terrorism-related Cases was organised in New Delhi on June 20-28, 2022.
- The training programme was organasied by the National Investigation Agency, in collaboration with the National Security Council Secretariat.
- Participants from India, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Seychelles participated in the training programme.
The training programme was one of the engagement activities identified in the Colombo Security Conclave’s Roadmap for Cooperation and Activities for 2022-23 agreed by member countries at the 5th NSA level Meeting held in Maldives on 9-10 March 2022.
Discussion:
Participants discussed the various challenges related to investigating terrorism-related cases in their respective countries and shared experiences and best practices on prosecution of terrorism related cases, legal provisions in their respective countries, terror financing (including counterfeit currency), online radicalization and social media footprints, organized crime, economic intelligence, cyber and mobile forensics, and role of INTERPOL.
- Participants agreed to identify specific areas to take forward the cooperation on countering terrorism and radicalisation under the Colombo Security Conclave.
Sports
India pace allrounder Rumeli Dhar announces retirement
⇒ India pace allrounder Rumeli Dhar has announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on 22 June 2022.
- In all, 38-year-old, Rumeli represented India in four Tests, 78 ODIs and 18 T20Is from 2003 to 2018.
About Rumeli’s career:
- Dhar made her international debut in 2003 against England playing an ODI in Lincoln.
- She also had the rare achievement of opening both the batting as well as bowling for India in a T20I against the West Indies in 2012.
- Overall, Rumeli scored 236 runs at an average of 29.50 and picked eight wickets at an average of 21.75 in Test cricket.
- In ODI cricket, she amassed 961 runs, including six half-centuries at an average of 19.61 while picking 63 wickets at an average of 27.38.
- In T20I cricket, Rumeli made 131 runs with a best score of unbeaten 66, averaging 18.71 and also took 13 wickets at an average of 23.30.
Important Day
World Music Day 2022
⇒ World Music Day is celebrated every year on 21 June. The day cherishes the spirit of music, the vibrancy of vocals and the melody of instruments.
Theme:
The theme for World Music Day 2022 was “Music on the intersections”.
Background:
- The day was first celebrated as Fete de la Musique in France in the year 1982. It was organized by the then French Minister of Art and Culture, Jack Lange, and a French composer, Maurice Fleuret.
- In 1985, which is also marked as the European Year of Music, other nations adopted this annual concert to celebrate music and music artists.
- In 1997, a charter was signed at the European Festival of Music in Budapest, which internationally recognized the day as World Music Day.
- The celebrations are no more restricted to European nations. In fact, the day is marked by 120 countries, including India, Italy, Greece, Russia, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, the United States, the UK, Japan, China and Malaysia.