DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Jan. 22, 2025

DRDO conducts Scramjet Engine Ground Test

Tags: Defence

Why in the news?

• Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has taken the initiative in developing a long-duration Supersonic Combustion Ramjet or Scramjet powered Hypersonic technology. 

Important points.

• DRDL recently developed these technologies and demonstrated a cutting-edge Active Cooled Scramjet Combustor ground test for 120 seconds for the first time in India. 
• The successful ground test marks a crucial milestone in developing next-generation hypersonic missiles. 
• Hypersonic missiles are a class of advanced weaponry that travel at speeds greater thanMach 5 i.e., five times the speed of sound or more than 5,400 km/hr.
• These advanced weapons have the potential to bypass existing Air Defence Systems and deliver rapid and high-impact strikes. Several nations including USA, Russia, India and China are actively pursuing Hypersonic technology. 
• The key to hypersonic vehicles is Scramjets, which are air breathing engines capable of sustaining combustion at supersonic speeds without using any moving parts. 
• The ground test of scramjet combustor showcased several notable achievements, demonstrating its potential for operational use in Hypersonic vehicles, like successful ignition and stable combustion. 
•  Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation tools were used for their evaluation & performance prediction. 
• The indigenous development of endothermic scramjet fuel, the first time in India, jointly by DRDL and Industry is central to this breakthrough. 
• The fuel offers dual benefits of significant cooling improvement and ease of ignition. The team developed a special manufacturing process to achieve stringent fuel requirements of DRDL at Industrial scale.

Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to Open Khelo India Winter Games 2025

Tags: Sports

Why in the news?

• The Khelo India season starts with theKhelo India Winter Games 2025 in Ladakh on 23th January,2025.

Important points:

• Nineteen teams, comprising states, Union Territories and institutional outfits, will compete over five days in two events – ice-hockey and ice-skating.
• This will bethe first part of KIWG 2025. The second part, featuring snow games like skiing, will be hosted by Jammu & Kashmir from February 22-25.
• Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya will be in attendance at the opening ceremony at the iconic Nawang Dorjay Stobdan Sports Complex in Lehon and will declare the Games Open.
• A traditional, Ladhaki-style opening has been planned to welcome 594 participants, of which 428 will be athletes. 
• This will be the second time Ladakh will be hosting the Winter Games, into its fifth edition.
• All teams have arrived in Leh which is at an altitude of 11,562 feet.Himachal Pradesh has the biggest contingent comprising 78 athletes and support staff. Haryana (62), Ladakh (52) and Maharashtra (48) will compete in the Ladakh edition.

ABOUT KHELO INDIA WINTER GAMES:

• Under the Khelo India Scheme, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) organizes National-level competitions, i.e., Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India University Games, Khelo India Para Games and Khelo India Winter Games to provide a platform for talented athletes to showcase their sporting and competitive skills.
• Starting in 2020, so far four editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have been successfully conducted with the participation of 36 States/UTs.
•  The fifth edition of Khelo India Winter Games 2025 will be held in the UT of Ladakh and J&K from Jan. 23-27 and Feb. 22-25,respectively, across two ice and four snow disciplines. 
• Apart from tapping talent, the Khelo India Winter Games also showcase a region’s art, culture, and heritage, and promote tourism through sports.

“National Conference of DMs on PM JANMAN on 21st January 2025

Tags: National News

Why in the news?

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is organizing “National Conference of DMs on PM JANMAN” on 21st January2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi under guidance of Sh. Jual Oram,  Minister of Tribal Affairs and Sh. Durgadas Uikey, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs. 

Important points:

• This conference is focusing on 06 core areas under the Abhiyan viz. Rural Development (Awas & Roads), PVTG) Hostels (schools) Drinking water under JJM, operationalization of Anganwadis and operationalization of Multi-Purpose Centers (MPCs).
• The Conference is specifically targeted at sharing best practices and facilitating progress in districts which have substantial scope for improvement. 
• This event is being organized to ensure that the objectives of the Mission are expedited and the intended benefits reach the last mile as targeted in line with vision of Prime Minister. 
• The conference will feature breakout sessions focused on each core area, with participation from State Tribal Welfare Departments (TWD), District Magistrates, and their teams, including the PO ITDA and the DSWO/DWO/ in-charge of Tribal Welfare (3 members per District). 
• A total of 88 districts from 18 States will engage in discussions and share insights draw out action plan on the implementation of PM JANMAN.

LOK SABHA SPEAKER SHRI OM BIRLA TO INAUGURATE THE 85TH ALL INDIA PRESIDING OFFICERS’ CONFERENCE

Tags: Summits

Why in the news?

• Lok Sabha speakerShri Om Birla will inaugurate the 85th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC) in Patna, Bihar on Monday, the 20th January, 2025.

Important points:

• Theme of the two-day conference which is being organised in Bihar for the third time is ‘75th Anniversary of Constitution:  Contribution of Parliament and State legislative bodies in strengthening constitutional values.’

• During the conference, Shri Birla will release the 8th edition of ‘Practice and Procedure of Parliament’.Shri Birla will also inaugurate Neva Seva Kendra in Bihar Legislature premises on 21 January, 2025.

• The 85th AIPOC will be preceded by the 61st Conference of Secretaries of Legislative Bodies in India on 19 January, 2025 in Patna, Bihar.

• During the conference, the delegates will deliberate on “Adoption of modern technologies in our legislative bodies for greater efficiency, effectiveness and productivity”. Secretary-General, Lok Sabha Shri Utpal Kumar Singh will inaugurate and address the Conference.