1. Ministry of Textile inaugurated the 'Lota Shop' at National Crafts Museum, New Delhi
Tags: National News
The Ministry of Textile inaugurated the 'Lota Shop' at National Crafts Museum, New Delhi on 14 June.
Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Limited (CCIC), popularly known as Central Cottage Industries Emporium, has opened 'Lota Shop'.
It displays the finest handicrafts, souvenirs, handicrafts and textiles based on the traditional craft forms of India.
It has immense potential to attract foreign tourists and buyers.
It will give a new direction to the handicrafts sector as well as the artisans in the light of the 'One Nation One Product' initiative launched by the Centre.
The centre is also working towards one district one product which will give impetus to the handicrafts sector as well as the artisans.
The museum provides accommodation facilities and also provides audio-visual facilities for the visitors.
What is One District One Product scheme?
It aims to realize the true potential of a district, promote economic development and generate employment and rural entrepreneurship.
The Ministry of Food Processing had entered into an agreement with NAFED to develop 10 brands into one district one product brand.
Of this, six brands have been launched till now.
All products will be available across NAFED markets, e-commerce platforms and leading retail stores across India.
It was launched by the Uttar Pradesh government in January, 2018, and was later adopted by the central government after seeing its success.
Its aim is to identify, promote and brand a product from one district.
2. Short-range ballistic missile Prithvi-II successfully tested
India successfully launched the Prithvi-II short-range ballistic missile in the night on June 15 from an integrated test range at Chandipur in Odisha.
Prithvi-II Missile
It is an indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile, which has a range of about 250 km and can carry one tonne of payload.
It was developed by DRDO and first used by the Indian Air Force.
It is a proven system and is capable of hitting targets with a very high degree of accuracy.
The user training launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile.
Prithvi Missiles of India
Prithvi missile is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
Prithvi was the first missile to be developed under this programme.
Three variants of Prithvi Missiles
Prithvi-I - Army version -150 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg.
Prithvi II – Air Force version 250-350 km range with a payload of 500 kg
Prithvi III – Naval version 350 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
It was started by the Government of India in 1982-83, it included the following projects -
Prithvi - Short range surface to surface missile
Trishul - Short range surface to air missile
Aakash - Medium range surface to air missile
Nag - Third generation anti-tank missile
Agni-I -Agni missile was later separated from the IGMDP due to its strategic importance
3. Strategic missile Agni-4 successfully test fired
Tags: Science and Technology
India on 6 June successfully test-fired nuclear-capable long-range ballistic missile Agni-IV from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
The test was part of the routine user training launch conducted under the aegis of Strategic Forces Command.
The launch of the missile recognized all the operational parameters as well as the reliability of the system.
This successful test reaffirms India's policy of having 'reliable minimum deterrence'.
In May 2022, India successfully test-fired an extended range version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi fighter jet.
This was the first launch of the extended range version of the BrahMos missile from a Su-30MKI aircraft.
About Agni-IV Missile
It is an intermediate range ballistic missile with a range of about 4,000 km.
It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
It can carry a payload of 1,000 kg and can reach an altitude of 900 km.
The first flight test of Agni-4 took place on 10 December 2010.
The missile crashed into the sea soon after launch because of errors in its control system.
Features of Agni-IV Missile
It is a two-stage, solid-fueled missile weighing 17,000 kg.
It is about 20 metres long and 1.2 metres in diameter at its lower stage.
Agni class of missiles
Agni I - Range of 700-800 km.
Agni II - Range more than 2000 km.
Agni III - Range of more than 2,500 Km.
Agni IV - Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher
Agni V - The longest missile of the Agni series, with a range of over 5,000 km.
These missiles are built under Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
4. Astra Mk1: Govt places order for first indigenous BVR missile
Tags: Defence
The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with the Hyderabad-based public-sector Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) for supply of the Astra Mark-1, at a cost of Rs 2,971 crore, for deployment on fighter jets of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
About Astra Mk-1 Missile
It is a beyond visual range (BVR), air-to-air missile (AAM).
It has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and manufactured by Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited.
The project was officially launched in the early 2000s.
It has a range of over 100 km and 20 km altitude.
It will be deployed on fighter jets like Indian Air Force's Sukhoi-30 MKI and Tejas and Navy's MiG-29K.
The contract worth Rs 2,971 crore for the Astra Mk1 will be completed in six years.
Currently, India imports similar missiles from Israel, Russia and a few other manufacturers.
The Astra Mk-1 has a range of about 110 km, the Mk-2 with a range of over 150 km is being developed and a longer range Mk-3 variant is being envisaged.
Strategic significance
The missile has been designed based on the requirements specified by the IAF for BVR as well as close-combat engagement.
Its capability provides large stand-off ranges to get fighter aircraft.
It can neutralise adversarial air assets without exposing them to unfavourable air defence measures.
It is technically and economically superior to many such imported missiles.
5. DRDO And Indian Navy Test-Fire New NASM-SR Missile
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the indigenously developed “Naval Anti-Ship Missile-Short Range" or NASM-SR.
It was launched from Indian Navy helicopter Seaking 42B from DRDO‘s Interim Testing Range, Balasore in Odisha on 18 May 2022.
According to DRDO, the NASM-SR would be a 380 kilogram projectile with a maximum range of 55 kilometres that will be deployed to replace the previous Sea Eagle missiles on Indian Navy Sea King helicopters.
In a tweet, Indian Navy said, this firing is a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in niche missile technology and reaffirms the Indian Navy’s commitment to indigenization.
The Naval Anti-Ship Missile-Short Range has been developed in association with Defence Research and Development Organisation,
It is the first indigenous air-launched Anti-ship missile system for the Indian Navy.
The missile employed many new technologies, including an indigenously developed launcher for the helicopter, state-of-the-art navigation system and integrated avionics.
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. The extended range version of the air-to-air BrahMos missile was successfully launched
Tags: National Science and Technology
The extended range version of the air-to-air BrahMos missile was successfully launched from a Sukhoi-30 Mark-I fighter aircraft.
During the test, the missile hit the target accurately in the Bay of Bengal.
This was the first launch of the extended-range version of the BrahMos missile from a Sukhoi-30 Mark-I fighter aircraft.
The advanced version of this missile has a range of around 350 kms while the original missile had a range of around 290 kms.
Indian Defence Research Organisation (DRDO), Indian Navy, BAPL and HAL were involved in this test along with the Indian Air Force.
Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft
The Sukhoi 30 MKI is the flagship fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
This fighter aircraft is made in collaboration with Russia's military aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
It was inducted into the Indian Air Force in the year 2002 and since 2004, they have been manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
This aircraft can attack at a distance of 3000 km.
About BrahMos missile
BrahMos is a short-range ramjet, supersonic cruise missile.
It can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or even from land.
It has been jointly developed by Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Brahmos is named after the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva river of Russia.
Features of BrahMos
It can change course in the air and can also hit the moving target.
It can fly at a height of 10 metres and is not caught by radar.
7. DRDO successfully test-fired Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System
Tags: National Defence Science and Technology
The longest range indigenous artillery gun i.e. 155mm/52 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) was successfully test fired at Jaisalmer's Pokhran Firing Range (PFFR) from 26 April to 2 May 2022.
What is ATAGS ?
The Advanced Artillery Gun System Project is a modern 155 mm artillery gun developed by DRDO.
This gun is manufactured by Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems Limited.
It weighs 18 tonnes and has a firing range of 48 km.
The 155mm ATAGS developed by DRDO was first fired in 2016.
It took almost four years to develop the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, the Indian Army currently has seven Advanced Towed Artillery Guns available.
8. Anti-ship version of BrahMos missile successfully test-fired
Tags: Popular Defence Science and Technology
An anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired jointly by the Andaman and Nicobar Command and Indian Navy.
The Andaman and Nicobar Command is the only tri-services command of the Indian armed forces.
On 19 April, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully test-fired a BrahMos missile from a Sukhoi fighter jet on the eastern seaboard.
In march 2022, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired an improved version of the BrahMos missile from a stealth destroyer in the Indian Ocean.
About BrahMos-
It is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and Russia’s NPOM.
Brahmos is named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
Brahmos produces supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.
BrahMos missile flies at a speed of almost three times the speed of sound or 2.8 Mach.
The range of the advanced version of the missile is learnt to have been extended to around 350 km from the original 290 km.
9. National Cyber Security Incident Response Exercise (NCX India)
Tags: National News
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Recently, the National Security Council Secretariat organised the National Cyber Security Incident Response Exercise (NCX India).
It will be conducted as a hybrid exercise over a period of ten days from 18 to 29 April 2022.
The aim is to train senior management and technical personnel of Government/Critical Sector organisations and agencies on contemporary cyber threats and handling cyber incidents and responses.
The program is being conducted by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Govt of India in association with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI).
It is supported by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The platform for training is being provided by CyberExer Technologies, an Estonian cybersecurity company.
More than 140 officials will be trained through training sessions, Live Fire and Strategic exercises.
The participants will be trained on various key cyber security areas such as Intrusion Detection Techniques, Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP), Vulnerability Handling & Penetration Testing, Network Protocols & Data Flows, Digital Forensics, etc.
10. Helina Missile’s Testing Successful! Now It can hit the enemy tank accurately even in the dark
India successfully test-fired the anti-tank guided missile HELINA on 11 April. This missile was tested by Advanced Light Helicopter in the high altitude area of Ladakh, which has been a complete success.
This missile works on the principle of fire and forget. This means forget it after launch, as they are able to reach their target.
This missile works on Infrared Imaging System.
During the test, this missile accurately hit a simulated tank. The missile was launched from an Advanced Light Helicopter.
Its testing has been done in Pokhran.
Earlier, this missile was also successfully tested at Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan. India has another anti-tank missile named Nag. Both the missiles can be fired from helicopters and both have a range of 7 km.
According to the Ministry of Defence, DRDO, Indian Air Force and Army have jointly carried out this test.
Features of the missile:
It can be fired in any season.
This missile is capable of hitting the target accurately even in the dark night and can destroy enemy tanks.
They are capable of targeting enemy tanks in two ways. One it can hit the target straight and the other can target the tank in top attack mode.
India has recently released a list of 101 such weapons and systems which have been banned from importing from other countries. This ban is for the next five years. India's objective behind doing this is to make itself self-reliant in the field of defence.
