1. DRDO celebrated its 65th foundation day
Tags: Important Days
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 65th foundation day on 1st January 2023.
Important facts
DRDO Chairman Dr S V Kamat addressed the DRDO fraternity on the occasion.
He reaffirmed DRDO's commitment towards R&D excellence and briefed about the development of cutting edge technologies for self-reliance in defence.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
It is working on several cutting-edge military technology areas, including aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, electronics, instrumentation, engineering systems, missiles, materials, naval systems, advanced computing, simulation, cyber, hypersonic technology, quantum computing and communications
DRDO's first project for the Indian military was in surface-to-air missiles (SAM) known as Project Indigo.
Since inception, DRDO has made several breakthroughs in developing key systems and critical technologies such as aircraft avionics, UAVs, small arms, artillery systems, EW systems, tanks and armoured vehicles, sonar systems, command and control systems and missile systems
It aims to make India self-reliant in critical defence technology and systems.
It was set up in 1958.
Headquarters - New Delhi
Chairman - Samir V Kamat
2. Air version of BrahMos Missile with 400 km Range test fired form IAF Sukhoi plane
Tags: Defence
The Indian Air Force successfully tested the extended range version of the Brahmos Air Launched missile against a ship target in Bay of Bengal from Su-30 MKI fighter jet on 29 December 2022.
According to the media report the extended range of the Brahmos missile is believed to have the ability to take out targets in sea 400 km away.
According to the Defence ministry the supersonic cruise missile successfully achieved all its mission objectives.
The successful test firing was a joint effort by the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the BrahMos Aerospace (BAPL).
In May this year, the extended-range version of the supersonic missile was successfully tested from the Sukhoi fighter. The extended range was reported to have increased to 350 km from 290 km.
Brahmos missile
Brahmos supersonic missile has been developed by the Brahmos Aerospace ltd. The company is a joint venture of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and Russia’s NPOM.
The missile takes its name from the river Brahmaputra and Moskva Rivers. Russian capital Moscow is situated along the Moskva River.
The missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has a two-stage propellant booster engine. The first stage is a solid booster engine and the second stage is the liquid ramjet engine. The missile has a low radar signature.
The missile has a speed of 2.8 Mach or 2.8 times the speed of the sound.
The missile has a range of 290-400 km.
The Philippines is the first country in the world to buy the Brahmos missile from India.
Managing Director and CEO of Brahmos Aerospace: Atul Dinkar Rane
3. Power ministry, DRDO ink pact to install early warning systems for power stations
Tags: National News
On 27 December the Ministry of Power has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the implementation of an early warning system for vulnerable hydroelectric projects/power stations.
Important facts
Power Secretary Alok Kumar and DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat signed the MoU in New Delhi.
It aims to jointly work towards developing appropriate mitigation measures against avalanches, landslides, glaciers, glacial lakes and other land hazards.
DRDO's expertise will also be utilized in developing a comprehensive early warning system for vulnerable hydroelectric projects/power stations in hilly areas.
With the comprehensive understanding developed through this MoU, separate and specific assignments will be drawn up between DRDO and the respective project developers.
Under the leadership of Union Power Minister RK Singh, the Ministry of Power has taken the initiative to implement Early Warning System (EWS) in hydro power projects especially located in the upper reaches of hilly areas.
Early Warning System (EWS)
It is an adaptive measure to climate change, which uses integrated communication systems to help communities prepare for dangerous climate-related events.
A successful EWS saves lives and jobs, land and infrastructure and provides long-term sustainability.
This will aid in planning in the public sector, saving money in the long run and protecting economies.
4. Govt clears 120 Pralay ballistic missiles for armed forces, to be deployed along China, Pakistan border
Tags: Defence
The Union Defence ministry has approved a proposal on 25 December 2022 to buy around 120 Pralay ballistic missiles to be deployed along the China Pakistan borders. The missile will be inducted first in the Indian Air Force and then in the Indian Army.
Pralay ballistic missiles is a canisterised tactical, surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for battlefield use.
Pralay missile will replace the liquid fuelled Prithvi-1 missile which is in use by the Indian Army. Prithvi-1 has a range of 150 Km with a payload of 1 tonnes of warhead. Liquid fueled rockets are more accurate but are expensive and prone to weather conditions affecting its performances.
The Pralay ballistic missile is an improvement over the Prithvi -1 missile. The missiles have a range of 150 to 500 kms. It is a solid fuelled rocket that follows a quasi- ballistic trajectory and can perform mid-air maneuver to defeat anti-ballistic interceptors.
Pralay is a tactical missile which can hit military targets in China and Pakistan and has a better capability in the high altitude areas.
DRDO chairman: Samir Kamat
5. Rajasthan Government to provide LPG cylinder at Rs 500 per cylinder; Ashok Gehlot
Tags: Person in news State News
The Rajasthan Government will provide 12 LPG cylinders per year to the poor families at Rs 500 per cylinder from 1 April 2023. This was announced by the Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Alwar on 19 December 2022.
He said the decision was taken to provide relief to the people suffering from unprecedented inflation and unemployment.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ (PMUY) was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 May 2016 in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
Under the scheme a poor household headed by a woman is provided with a free LPG gas stove and free first LPG Cylinder.
However under the scheme the beneficiaries have to buy the subsidized LPG cylinder.
The target of the PMUY was to release 8 crore LPG connections by March 2020 which was achieved on 7 September 2019.
PMUY 2.0
It was launched virtually by PM Modi on 10 August 2021 at Mahoba, Madhya Pradesh.
It aims to provide additional 1.6 crore LPG connections with special focus on migrant households.
Connection is provided to an adult woman belonging to a poor household.
The beneficiaries should belong to any of the following categories:
- Eligible as per Socio Economic Caste Census 2011 list,
- Belongs to SC/ST households, be a beneficiary of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), Forest dwellers, Most Backward Classes (MBC), Tea and Ex-Tea Garden Tribes, People residing in river Islands.
6. Fifth Scorpene Submarine ‘Vagir’ delivered to Indian Navy
Tags: Defence National News
The fifth submarine of the Project -75, Kalvari Class submarines, Yard 11879 (Vagir) was delivered to the Indian Navy on 20 December.
Important facts
Project -75 includes indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design.
These submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.
Launched on 12 Nov 20, Vagir commenced sea trials from 1 Feb 2022 and has completed all major trials, including weapon and sensor trials, in less time than earlier submarines.
The construction of these submarines in an Indian yard is another step towards 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and instills confidence in the region.
What is also a remarkable achievement is that this is the third submarine delivered to the Indian Navy in a span of 24 months.
Project- 75
Project- 75 intends to build six diesel-electric attack submarines of the Kalvari class that are based on the Scorpene-class, which are being built at MDL (Mazagon Dock Limited).
Project 75 (I), approved in 2007, is part of the Indian Navy’s 30 year Plan for indigenous submarine construction.
7. Gujarat CM unveils Urban G20 logo, website and social media handle
Tags: place in news Summits Person in news
Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel unveiled the logo, website and social media handles of the Urban-20 conference in Gandhinagar on 19 December 2022. The ceremony was attended virtually by the Union Minister for Urban Development and Urban Housing Hardeep Singh Puri.
Urban 20
The UNESCO heritage city Ahmedabad will host the Urban 20 meetings as part of G 20 meetings between Februarys to July 2023.
In July 2023, the U20 mayor’s summit will be held in Ahmedabad to discuss urban development issues.
The Urban 20 will provide a platform for the G20 cities to facilitate discussions on important issues of urban development including climate change, social inclusion, sustainable mobility, affordable housing, and financing of urban infrastructure to propose collective solutions.
Indian Presidency of G 20
India officially assumed the Presidency of G20 on 1 December 2022 from Indonesia. The summit meeting of the Head of the States and the leaders of the G20 is scheduled to be held in September 2023 in New Delhi.
To prepare for the summit meeting a series of meetings is to be held by India.
The first meeting was the G-20 Sherpa meeting held in Udaipur in the first week of December 2022.
G-20
The G-20 was founded back in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis.
The Group of Twenty (G-20) comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and the European Union.
The G-20 members represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
8. First successful flight test of phase -II ballistic missile defence interceptor
Tags: Defence Science and Technology National News
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the first successful flight test of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Interceptor AD-1 missile with Large Kill Altitude Bracket from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on November 2, 2022.
Interceptor AD-1 Missile
It is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles as well as aircraft.
It is driven by a two-phase solid motor.
It is equipped with indigenously developed advanced control system, navigation and guidance algorithms to accurately guide the missile to the target.
It has the ability to hit many different types of targets.
During this flight-test, all sub-systems performed as expected.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
It aims to make India self-reliant in critical defence technology and systems.
It was set up in 1958.
Headquarters - New Delhi
Chairman - Samir V Kamat
9. India successfully test nuclear capable Agni prime missile
Tags: Defence
India has successfully tested its new generation nuclear capable Agni Prime’ or Agni P ballistic missile from the coast of Odisha on 21 October 2022. It was the third test of the missile which is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The first test was in June last year and the second test was in December 2021.
Agni Prime is a two-stage canisterised missile with a maximum range of 2,000 km. It is a two stage missile that can be launched from rail or road, be stored for longer periods
DRDO Chairman: Dr Samir Kamat
10. DRDO successfully tests Very Short Range Air Defence System Missile
Tags: Defence
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two successful test flights of Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles on 27 September 2022 from a ground based portable launcher at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
MANPAD is being developed by the DRDO for the Indian Army. . VSHORAD is the soldier’s last line of defence against enemy combat aircraft and helicopters in the multi-layered air defence network.
The Army, which has for long been looking for new portable air defence systems, has inducted a small number of Igla-S systems recently bought from Russia under emergency procurement.
