National
DRDO successfully flight tests the Very Short Range Air Defence System Missile
⇒ Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two consecutive successful flight tests of Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on March 14, 2023.
The flight tests were carried out from a ground-based man portable launcher against high speed unmanned aerial targets, mimicking approaching and receding aircraft. The targets were successfully intercepted, meeting all mission objectives.
About VSHORADS:
- VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) meant for neutralising low altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
- It has been designed and developed indigenously by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
- The missile incorporates many novel technologies including Dual-band IIR Seeker, miniaturised Reaction Control System and integrated avionics. The propulsion is provided by a dual thrust solid motor.
Maiden successful flight-test of Power Take off (PTO) Shaft
⇒ Maiden successful flight-test of Power Take off (PTO) Shaft was conducted on Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Tejas) Limited Series Production (LSP) – 3 aircraft in Bengaluru on March 14, 2023.
With this successful test, the DRDO has achieved a greater technological feat by realisation of complex high-speed rotor technology which only few countries have achieved.
Designed and developed by:
The PTO shaft is indigenously designed and developed by Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Chennai of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Key Points:
- The PTO shaft, which is a critical component in the aircraft, will support the requirements of future fighter aircraft & their variants and offers competitive cost & reduced time of availability.
- The PTO shaft was designed with unique innovative patented ‘Frequency Spanning Technique’ which enables it to negotiate different operating engine speeds.
- The light weight high speed, lubrication free PTO shaft transmits higher power between aircraft engine gear box and Aircraft Mounted Accessory Gear Box while accommodating misalignments that arise in the drive line.
- Aeronautical Development Agency, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited teamed along with CVRDE to achieve this feat.
- The PTO shaft technology has already been transferred to Godrej & Boyce, Mumbai and Lakshmi Technology and Engineering, Coimbatore.
International
MoC between India and Sweden to strengthen research cooperation
⇒ A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed between Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), and The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), Stockholm, Sweden, to strengthen cooperation and promote research networking between research institutions from both countries.
- The MoC was signed on 13 March 2023 by Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Secretary, SERB, and Dr. Andreas Göthenberg, Executive Director, STINT, in the presence of others.
Aim:
The MoC aims to promote mobility funding opportunities in both countries. It will facilitate academic cooperation through mobility activities as well as through seminars, workshops and conferences.
» The two organisations will announce a call that will focus on funding new mobility projects that will be used to exchange several individuals, including workshops between participating research groups. Researchers and scholars at institutions of higher education in Sweden and research institutions in India are eligible to apply for funding under this call, in which applications will be jointly funded.
3rd EXERCISE LA PEROUSE – 2023
⇒ The third edition of the multilateral exercise La Perouse 2023 was conducted in the Indian Ocean Region from 13 to 14 March 2023.
- The biennial exercise La Perouse was conducted by the French Navy.
Participation:
» This edition witnessed participation of personnel, ships and integral helicopters of Royal Australian Navy (RAN), French Navy (FN), Indian Navy (IN), Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), Royal Navy and the United States Navy.
- Indian Navy’s indigenously built guided missile frigate, INS Sahyadri and fleet tanker, INS Jyoti participated in the third edition of the multilateral exercise La Perouse 2023.
INS Sahyadri, is an indigenously designed and built guided missile stealth frigate fitted with state-of –the art weapons and sensors, which makes her capable of detecting and neutralising air, surface and sub-surface threats. INS Jyoti is a fleet tanker capable of providing prolonged sustenance at sea to the fleet. Both the ships are a part of Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam.
- The exercise witnessed participation of HMAS Perth from the RAN, FS Dixmude and FS La Fayette from the FN, JMSDF ship Suzutsuki from JMSDF along with Type SH 60 J Helicopter, HMS Tamar from the Royal Navy and USS Charleston the the US Navy.
Aim:
The exercise was aimed at enhancing maritime domain awareness and optimising maritime coordination amongst the participating navies in the Indo-Pacific Region.
Key Points:
- The two-day exercise provided an opportunity to undertake complex and advanced naval operations involving replenishment at sea, surface warfare drills, anti-air and air-defence exercises, cross deck helicopter operations and tactical manoeuvres in a joint manner suitable for seamless maritime operations.
- The two-day exercise provided an opportunity for like-minded navies to develop closer links in planning, coordination and information sharing for seamless maritime operations.
Participation of Indian Navy in the exercise showcases the high levels of synergy, coordination and inter-operability between the friendly navies, and their commitment to a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.
Important Day
World Consumer Rights Day 2023
⇒ World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated every year on 15 March to raise global awareness about consumer rights and needs.
The day is an opportunity to promote basic rights of all consumers, demanding that those rights are respected and protected. It also gives people a chance to protest against the market abuses and social injustices.
Theme:
The theme of World Consumer Rights Day, 2023 was “Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions”.
History:
- John F. Kennedy served as an inspiration for International Consumer Rights Day. The former President of the United States, was the first world leader to address the issue of consumer rights. On March 15, 1962, the US Congress received a special statement that addressed the topic of consumer rights.
- The first World Consumer Rights Day was observed in 1983 and has since become an important occasion for mobilising citizen action.
Consumer Rights Day in India:
» The Department of Consumer Affairs celebrated World Consumer Rights Day, 2023 on 15th March 2023.
» India, besides the World Consumer Rights Day, observes the National Consumer Day on 24 December every year.
Rights Guaranteed for the Consumers in India:
In India, Consumer rights were outlined in the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. This Act was replaced by the ‘Consumer Protection Act 2019’.
- The Consumer Protection Act 2019 was notified on August 9, 2019. However, it came into effect from July 20, 2020.
Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, there are six rights for the Consumers as mentioned below:
- Right to Safety
- Right to be informed
- Right to Choose
- Right to be Heard
- Right to Seek Redressal
- Right to Consumer Education