DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Jan. 13, 2025

LAUNCH OF ‘UTKARSH’, SECOND MULTI PURPOSE VESSEL

Tags: Defence

Why in the news?

• The second of the two Multi Purpose Vessels, being built by M/s L&T Shipyard for the Indian Navy, was launched in the presence of Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary on 13 Jan 25 at L&T, Kattupalli, Chennai. 

Important points:

• The ship has been named ‘Utkarsh’ which means ‘Superior in Conduct’ and is synonymous to the multi-dimensional role envisaged for the platform.

• These Multi Purpose Vessels will be capable of towing ships, launch and recover various targets, operate unmanned autonomous vehicles and act as a trial platform for various indigenous weapons and sensors under development. 

• The 106 m vessels are designed to achieve a maximum speed of 15 knots.

• This endeavour is in line with Indian Navy efforts towards indigenous shipbuilding and the launch of this vessel by a private Indian shipyard showcases the country’s strides in indigenous shipbuilding, in consonance with Govt. of India vision for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiative.

Anti-Tank Fire-and-Forget Guided Missile 'Naag Mk 2'

Tags: Defence

Why in news?

• Successful field evaluation test of indigenously developed third-generation anti-tank fire-and-forget guided missile 'Naag Mk 2' at Pokhran Field Range.

Key Points:

• During the three field trials, the missile systems accurately destroyed all targets - maximum and minimum range - thus validating its firing range.
• The Nag Missile Carrier Version-2 was also field evaluated. With this, the entire weapon system is now ready to be inducted into the Indian Army.

About Nag Missile:

• The Nag missile, also called "Prospina" for the land-attack version, is anIndian third-generation, all-weather, fire-and-forget, lock-on after launch, operational anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). Range from 500 m to 20 km depending on the variant.
• It has asingle-shot hit probability of 90% and a ten-year, maintenance-free shelf life.

INS TUSHIL AT LAGOS

Tags: Defence

Why in the news?

• INS Tushil, Indian Navy's latest guided missile stealth frigate, arrived at Lagos, Nigeria, on 12 Jan 25, for an operational turnaround, as part of her ongoing deployment to the Gulf of Guinea.

Important points:

• Captain Peter Varghese, Commanding Officer of INS Tushil, will meet with senior leadership of the Nigerian Navy, including Rear Admiral MG Oamen, the Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command and the Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard. 

• The discussions will focus on enhancing bilateral naval cooperation.

• During her stay in harbour, the ship will undertake various professional interactions, including a tabletop exercise, collaborative training activities, and cross-visits, and discussions on sharing Best Practices. 

• The visit reaffirms the Indian Navy's commitment to maritime security and stability in the region through collaborative efforts.
•  It also underscores the warm and friendly relations between India and Nigeria, rooted in shared values of democracy and development, as well as the long-standing bilateral cooperation between the two navies.

About INS TUSHIL:

• INS Tushil is a stealth frigate in the Indian Navy that is armed with guided missiles.

• It was commissioned in December 2024 and is part of a deal with Russia to build four frigates

About Nigeria:

• Nigeria, an African country on the Gulf of Guinea, has many natural landmarks and wildlife reserves. 

• Protected areas such as Cross River National Park and Yankari National Park have waterfalls, dense rainforest, savanna and rare primate habitats. One of the most recognizable sites is Zuma Rock, a 725m-tall monolith outside the capital of Abuja that’s pictured on the national currency.

PM Modi inaugurates Z-Morh tunnel in J&K’s Sonamarg

Tags: National

Why in the news?

• The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sonamarg tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir.

Key points:

• The two-lane bi-directional road tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district in central Kashmir has been built at a cost of over Rs.2,700 crore.

Significance:

• This tunnel will significantly ease the lives of people in Sonamarg, Kargil, and Leh. 

• The tunnel will reduce the difficulties faced during avalanches, heavy snowfall and landslides, which often led to road closures.

• The tunnel will improve access to major hospitals and ensure the availability of essential supplies, thereby reducing the challenges faced by the residents.

• The tunnel will maintain connectivity to Sonamarg during the winter season and boost tourism in the entire region. 

Cow induction, gift milk and market support for OMFED initiatives of National Dairy Development Board launched

Tags: State News

Why in the news?

• The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu virtually inaugurated/launched Cow Induction, Giftmilk and Market support for Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation (OMFED) initiatives of the National Dairy Development Board from Rashtrapati Bhavan on 13th January, 2025.

Important points:

• The President said that livestock plays an important role in the rural economy and rural household income.

•  India has a diverse range of livestock breeds.All those breeds have contributed to the rich agricultural heritage of the country. 

• To support and promote our livestock, several measures and policy efforts have been taken by the government for breed development and genetic upgradation of livestock.

•  The productivity of our Milch cattle has also seen extraordinary growth in the last 10 years. All these achievements reflect our commitment to excellence in animal husbandry.