1. Vedanta, Foxconn signs MoU with Gujarat government to set up a semiconductor unit in the state
Tags: place in news Economy/Finance Science and Technology
In a boost to the government’s semiconductor mission, Anil Agarwal led Vedanta Group and electronic manufacturing giant Foxconn of Taiwan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat Government on 13 September 2022 to set up a FAB manufacturing unit in the state. The manufacturing unit which will include display and semiconductor facilities will be set up near Ahmedabad.
Update on 16 September 2022
The Vedanta Limited has issued a clarification on 16 September 2022 that Volcan Investments would undertake the business of manufacturing semi-conductors and not Vedanta Limited. Volcan Investments is a holding company wholly owned by the Agarwal family trust. It is also the majority shareholder of the London based Vedanta Resources and owns more than 50 percent stake in Vedanta India. However, unlike Vedanta India, Volcan Investments is unlisted.
- The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister for Railways, Communication, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- A fab (fabrication facility) is short for fabrication plant where raw silicon wafers are processed and turned into integrated circuits.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Joint Venture partners :
- The manufacturing giant Foxconn will be the technical partner in the Joint venture while the oil-to-metals conglomerate Vedanta is financing the project, as it looks to diversify into chip manufacturing.
- Under the Joint Venture , Volcan Investment will hold a majority stake of up to 60%, and the remaining 40% will be held by Foxconn.
- The total investment in the manufacturing unit will be Rs 1, 54,000 crore to set up the facility in Gujarat which is expected to create one lakh job opportunities.
Other Chip manufacturing proposals :
- Vedanta is the third company to announce a chip plant location in India after international consortium ISMC and Singapore-based IGSS Ventures, which are setting up in the southern states Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, respectively.
- The world chip market is dominated by China and Taiwan and India wants to be self-sufficient in this critical technology
India’s Semiconductor Mission :
- On 29 December 2022, the Information Technology Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, launched the India Semiconductor Mission.
- Under the policy, the government will provide Rs 76000 crore incentives for companies setting up manufacturing facilities in India.
- This was done by the government to encourage companies to set up chip manufacturing plants in India.
What is semiconductor :
- Semiconductors are materials which have a conductivity between conductors and insulators. They can be pure elements, silicon or germanium or compounds; gallium, arsenide or cadmium selenide.
- They are the basic building blocks that serve as the heart and brain of all modern electronics and information and communications technology products.
- These chips are now an integral part of contemporary automobiles, household gadgets and essential medical devices such as ECG machines.
Fabrication units in India :
- Currently, India has two fabrication facilities (fab).One is Society for Integrated Circuit Technology and Applied Research (SITAR) of the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru and a semiconductor laboratory in Chandigarh, which builds silicon chips for strategic purposes like defense and space and not for commercial use.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Vedanta limited :
- It is a multinational company headquartered in Mumbai, India.
- It is in the business of Zinc-Lead-Silver, Iron ore, Steel, Copper, Aluminium, Power, Oil and Gas.
- The Chairman of Vedanta group: Anil Aggarwal
2. DRDO, Indian Army successfully complete six flight-tests of QRSAM system
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army successfully test-fired six flights of Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) System from the Integrated Test Area, Chandipur off the Odisha coast on September 8.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The flight tests were conducted by the Indian Army as part of the evaluation trials.
The flight tests were carried out on high speed targets.
These targets were designed for the type of actual threat, in order to assess the capability of the weapon systems in a variety of situations.
This included long-range and medium-altitude targets, short-range targets, high-altitude targets, and targets that were not easily detectable on radar.
The evaluation found the weapon system and its excellent guidance and control to be accurate.
The performance of the system was also confirmed by telemetry, radar and electro-optical tracking systems developed by ITR.
QRSAM weapon system :
It is a short-range Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system.
It is primarily designed and developed by the DRDO to provide a protective shield to the moving armoured columns of the Army from aerial attacks.
This weapon system can operate when moving with search and track capability, and can fire at short halts.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
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
3. Distinguished Scientist Samir V Kamat takes charge as new DRDO chairman
Tags: Person in news
Dr Sameer V Kamat has been appointed as the Secretary, Department of Defense Research and Development (DDRD) and the new Chairman of Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO).
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Dr Sameer V Kamat was currently serving as Director General (Naval Systems and Materials) in DRDO.
Sameer V Kamat will succeed the current Secretary G Satheesh Reddy who has been appointed as Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister.
About Dr Sameer V Kamat :
His full name is Dr Sameer Venkatapathy Kamat.
Dr. Kamat holds a B.Tech Engineering (Hons) degree in Metallurgical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1985.
He obtained his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Ohio State University, USA in 1988.
In recent times, Dr. Kamat has made significant contributions in the development of Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) at DMRL.
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 established in 1958.
Headquarters : New Delhi
Chairman : Dr. Sameer V Kamat
4. DRDO test fire indigenous Vertical Launch Short Range surface-to-air missile
Tags: Science and Technology
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy successfully flight tested Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) on 23 August.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The missile was test fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
The flight test was conducted from an Indian Navy ship against a high speed unmanned aerial target.
During the test launch, flight path and vehicle performance parameters were monitored using flight data captured by various instruments such as Radar, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS), and Telemetry System deployed by ITR, Chandipur.
Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) :
It is a ship-borne weapon system capable of neutralising various airborne threats at close range, including sea-skimming targets.
The strategy of sea skimming is used by various anti-ship missiles and some fighter aircraft to avoid detection by radar on warships.
They fly very close to the ocean surface and thus are difficult to detect and neutralise.
Design of VL-SRSAM Missile :
This missile is indigenously designed and developed by DRDO.
Its design is based on Astra missile which is a Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile.
Astra is India's first air-to-air missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Main features of VL-SRSAM Missile :
It has two key features - cruciform wings and thrust vectoring.
The cruciform has four small wings arranged like a cross on all four sides and provides a stable posture to the projectile.
Thrust vectoring, on the other hand, helps to change the angular velocity from its engine and the direction of thrust that controls the missile.
The missile weighs 154 kg and its length is about 12.6 feet.
It is designed to strike high-speed air targets at a range of 40 to 50 km and at an altitude of about 15 km.
5. DRDO successfully test-fires indigenously developed laser-guided Anti-Tank Guided Missiles
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
India on 4 August successfully test fired the indigenously developed laser-guided anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra.
Important facts
The ATGM was test-fired from Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjuna by DRDO and Indian Army in collaboration with Armored Corps Center and School (ACC&S) at KK Range.
The missiles struck with precision and successfully destroyed targets at two different ranges.
The telemetry system has recorded satisfactory flight performance of the missiles.
The ATGM has been developed with multi-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical trials with the 120 mm rifled gun of MBT Arjun.
This indigenous anti-tank guided missile is fitted with a Tandem High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) weapon, which is capable of destroying armoured vehicles with state-of-the-art Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).
Earlier in June, the DRDO and the Indian Army successfully test-fired an indigenously built tank destroyer missile at the KK range in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
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 - G. Satheesh Reddy
6. Former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam's 7th Death Anniversary
Tags: Person in news
July 27, 2022 is the seventh death anniversary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who was the 11th President of India.
Important facts
He was born on 15th October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
He graduated in Science from St Joseph's College, Trichy in 1954 and specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1957.
He is known as the "Missile Man of India" for his contribution to the country's space programme.
He played a key role in the Pokhran-II nuclear tests of 1998.
Dr Kalam had received seven honorary doctorates from 40 universities.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1981 and Padma Vibhushan in 1990 for his significant work with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
He was awarded the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 1997.
He made a significant contribution as the Project Director to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3), which successfully injected the Rohini satellite into Near-Earth Orbit in July 1980.
He took the responsibility of developing indigenous guided missiles at DRDO.
He was the chief executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).
He was sworn in as the 11th President of India in 2002 and completed his term in 2007.
He died of cardiac arrest on July 27, 2015, while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Shillong.
7. Ministry of Defence sets up an Apex Committee for Performance and Efficiency Audit
Tags: Economy/Finance
The Ministry of Defence has set up an institutional mechanism consisting of an Apex Committee with the Defence Secretary as the Chairperson to conduct Performance and Efficiency Audit in various aspects of its activities on 15th July.
Members of the committee
Vice Chiefs of the three Services, Secretary Defence (Finance), Chief of Integrated Staff Committee (CISC), Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Director General (Acquisition) and other senior officials of Ministry of Defence and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Important facts
This is a major change from the existing transaction-based compliance audit to an outcome-based performance/efficiency audit aimed at increasing overall efficiency.
The broad areas that have been identified for conducting performance and efficiency audits include role and performance of Defense Capital Procurement, Provisioning, Logistics, Inventory Level, Asset Maintenance, Authority Holding Sealed Statement (AHSP) etc.
8. New Manufacturing Facilities at Bharat Dynamics Limited Dedicated to the Nation
Tags: Defence National News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dedicates to the nation new manufacturing facilities at Bharat Dynamics Limited, Bhanur.
Rajnath Singh visited the Bhanur Unit of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in Telangana on July 2, 2022.
During his visit he dedicated to the Nation a number of new manufacturing facilities set up by the Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU).
These include the Warhead Facility at Bhanur Unit and Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker Facility at Kanchanbagh Unit.
Rajnath Singh also unveiled a statue of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi in the BDL campus.
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
It is a Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Defence.
It was established in Hyderabad in the year 1970.
It manufactures guided missiles and allied defence equipment for the Indian Armed Forces.
It has been working in collaboration with DRDO and foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
9. DRDO carries out maiden flight of unmanned combat aircraft
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully carried out the maiden flight of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator from the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka on July 1.
The aircraft performed a complete flight, including take-off, way point navigation and touchdown.
The flight was conducted in a fully autonomous mode.
It is designed and developed by the Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), a premier research laboratory under the DRDO.
The unmanned fighter aircraft is powered by a small, turbofan engine.
The vehicle's airframe, as well as its undercarriage, flight control and avionics systems, were indigenously developed.
The program is associated with the development of India's fifth generation stealth fighter Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft or AMCA.
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 - G. Satheesh Reddy
10. VL-SRSAM: Successful Launch of Short Range Surface to Air Missile
Tags: Science and Technology
Recently Vertical Launched Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) was successfully flight tested from an Indian Naval Ship at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
The test was conducted jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy.
About VL-SRSAM -
The VL-SRSAM has been jointly designed and developed by three units of the Defence Research and Development Organisation for deployment on warships of the Indian Navy.
The missile has the capability to neutralise various airborne threats at close range including sea-skimming targets.
Sea skimming is a technique used by many anti-ship missiles and some fighter or strike aircraft to evade radar and infrared detection.
The missile is designed to strike high-speed air targets at a range of 40 to 50 km and an altitude of about 15 km.
Its design is based on the Astra missile, which is an air-to-air missile beyond visual range.
Features
Cruciform Wings: They are four small wings arranged like a cross on four sides and provide a stable aerodynamic position to the projectile.
Thrust vectoring: It is the ability to change the direction of thrust, angular velocity and position of the missile with its engine.
Thrust is the force that moves the aircraft through the air.
Canistered System: It controls the environment inside, thus making it easier to transport and store, and to make the weapon durable.
