NATIONAL
11 Apr 15 : Major breakthrough in Rafale Deal
India will buy 36 Rafale fighter jets in flyaway condition from France “as soon as possible” after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande today agreed to conclude an Inter-Governmental Agreement bypassing the protracted negotiations for purchase
of 126 such jets.
Taking Indo-French strategic relationship to a new level Modi and Hollande also decided to move ahead with the stalled Jaitapur nuclear project in Maharashtra.
“Keeping in view the critical operational necessity of fighter aircraft in India, I have asked President to provide 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition as quickly as possible after agreements between both countries.
We both have decided that these will be provided to India in modified terms and conditions,” Modi announced at a joint news conference with Hollande after their summit talks at Elysee Palace.
A joint statement issued after the talks said the two leaders agreed to conclude an Inter-Governmental Agreement for supply of the aircraft on terms that would be “better” than that conveyed as part of a separate process underway, an apparent reference to the ongoing talks that kicked off in 2012 for years for the sale of 126 Rafale fighter jets valued at 12 billion USD.
“The delivery would be in time-frame that would be compatible with the operational requirement of IAF and the aircraft and associated systems and weapons would be delivered on the same configuration as had been tested and approved by Indian Air Force and with a longer maintenance responsibility by France,” it added.
With ‘Make-in-India’ being the theme, the two sides signed about 20 pacts, covering areas like civil nuclear energy, urban development, railways and space.
Rafale deal has been bogged down over cost and Dassault Aviation’s reluctance to stand guarantee for 108 planes to be made by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
10 Apr 15 : PM Modi’s visit to France
PM Narendra Modi commenced his tri-nation tour by landing in France on evening of 09 Apr, Thursday. The other two nations in the itinerary includes are Germany and Canada.
30 Mar 15 : World’s Largest Power Plant becomes operational in Madhya Pradesh
The world’s largest Power Plant-cum-Mining Project has finally began its operations. The 3960 MW Ultra Mega Power Plant (UMPP) started when its last unit generating 660 MW was commissioned.
The project is located in Sasan village of Sangrauli district in M.P. Plant consists of six units each producing 660 MW of power.
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| India’s largest solar plant in MP, Modi-calls-it-saffron-revolution |
The country’s present biggest solar power plant is located in Neemuch district of M.P. generating 130 MW.
03 Apr 2014 : Indian Army to take ‘Swatchh Bharat’ Campaign to Mount Everest
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| Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh meeting with the Mount Everest massif expedition team during its flag off ceremony in New Delhi (Photo: PTI) |
The team, which will leave for Kathmandu on April 4 and plan the ascent in mid-May, comprises six officers and 24 other ranks. The team will be split into two groups. One group will attempt to climb Mount Everest while the second will set out to scale Mount Lahotse, the fourth highest peak in the world. The team members will also participate in the extreme high-altitude marathon in the Himalayas. For ensuring definite success of the adventure, the Indian team has been undergoing special endurance and mountaineering training for the high-altitude mission.
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| Trash on Mount Everest passage |
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| Indian Army Mountaineers |
02 Apr 2015 : Over 350 Indians rescued from war-torn Yemen
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| War situation in Yemen |
Evacuation : In a massive rescue operation being called ‘Op Raahat’ involving multiple agencies from Indian Government, more than 350 stranded nationals were brought back home from Yemen amid bombings and fierce battle between Saudi-led coalition and Shiite Rebels. The operation is launched to bring back each of 4000 nationals suffering in the hostile conditions in the war-torn state of Yemen.
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| VK Singh in Djibouti. MEA/Flickr : Indians evacuated from Yemen |
Meanwhile adding to the relief of rescued nationals Central Railways offered free-of-cost travel to their destinations and also extra coaches are to be added to the trains from Mumbai routed towards the states of the personnels.
Moreover Air India has stationed two 180-seater Airbus A320 planes in Muscat, Oman to fly off victims from Yemen’s capital Sanaa to Djibouti whenever a clearance is provided by concerned authorities. Also two Indian naval ships INS Mumbai and stealth frigate INS Tarkash set off from Kochi port on 30 March, escorting two merchant vessels Kavaratti and Corals in the piracy risk area off the Somalian Coast to reach Aden, Yemen in order assist evacuation of remaining nationals (It takes about four days in sea to reach Aden and one day more for Djibouti). After reaching Aden, the warships themselves will be available for rescuing Indian national, as required.
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| Required Paperwork of evacuees being carried out by Indian Navy personnels. Courtesy: Indian Navy |
According to officials, while sea route has been working fine for evacuation operation ‘Raahat’, government was making profound efforts to have air route open to rescue its nationals from Sanaa, which was far from any port in Yemen and where over 2000 Indians are still perishing.
Update (05 Apr ’15) : Pakistan joining hands with India in rescuing indians from Yemen. Pakistan stated on Saturday i.e. 04 Apr 2015 that PNS Al-Asat evacuated 11 Indian nationals along with 148 Pakistani citizens from southeastern Yemeni city of Mokallah which has now being controlled by Al-Qaeda militants. The Pak naval is expected to arrive in Karachi on Tuesday i.e. 07 April.
Update (09 Apr ’15) : India received requests from 26 countries for assistance in evacuating their nationals. Effort was so professional that the US Embassy advised Americans to seek Indian assistance to leave Sanaa. Till Thursday night, 5,600 had been pulled out of Yemen, including 960 foreigners — a dozen Americans and three Pakistanis among them.
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| Courtesy: Indian Express |
Nawaz Sharif sent 11 Indians rescued by Pak warship PNS Aslat to India in a special PAF aircraft. PM Modi thanked Pak PM for ‘humanitarian gesture’.
Update (10 Apr ’15) : It was a scene of celebration happening at IGI T-3 Terminal, New Delhi on night of 9-10 Apr till morning to where hundreds of fellow citizens ( not any party workers, just the common people) gathered to receive VK Singh as he returns after winding up the Rescue operation in Yemen.
The crowd started gathering soon after midnight and it wasn’t until close to 8 in the morning that General’s flight would arrive.
It was amazing because when was the last time the people of India gathered to welcome an MP minister this way? The gesture is reserved for cricketers or Olympic winners. It’s a working day today and yet no one slept until the plane landed in the morning. It was a unique show of solidarity as even those away from Delhi, stayed awake and alert awaiting General’s arrival.
In total, 4640 Indians & 960 from 41 countries were rescued by ‘Operation Rahat’. India has, for now, closed its Embassy there.India made its presence felt in the world stage with such a humanitarian gesture.
At the end, this nation expresses its heartiest gratitude to the Gen (retd.) V K Singh for his efforts that brought India back its people and recognition.
30 Mar 15 : Civilian Awards 2015 at Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Pranab Mukherjee Link
- Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former acclaimed educationist & freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malviya (posthumously) were bestowed with Bharat Ratna
- Padma Vibhushan, second highest civilian award was awarded to veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani and Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Parkash Singh Badal
- Padma Bhushan was awarded to journalists Swapan Dasgupta and Rajat Sharma.
- Captain of Indian Hockey team Sardar Singh, Arjuna awardee, badminton player P V Sindhu and Olympic Bronze Medalist Wrestler Sushil Kumar were conferred with Padma Shri
- Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Writer-lyricist Prasoon Joshi, creator of cartoon-character ‘Chacha Chaudhary’ Pran Kumar Sharma (posthumously) and Bill Gates along with his wife Melinda Gates received the Padma Shri Award
28 Mar 2015 : Chaos in AAP
Two (former) senior party leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan were ousted from National Executive of AAP on accounts of ‘backstabbing’ and hatching conspiracy against the goodwill of the party. Following the trend, party Admiral (Retired) L Ramdas was then sacked from the position of Party Lokpal. The former navy chief who is seen by many as close aide to Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan expressed his disappointment staying that he deserved to be informed before the decision was made public.
28 Mar 2015 : IRNSS programme by ISRO
- ISRO placed fourth satellite in series of seven satellites that will form the constituent part of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite Service (IRNSS). The system will totally be under control of Indian Government.
- IRNSS will serve dual purposes of Standard Positioning Service for civilian use and the Restricted Service (i.e. encrypted) for military use.
- Motivation is derived from unreliable access to foreign government controlled navigation system in hostile situations
- Coverage will consist of 1500-2000 km around Indian landmass
- Total Cost is expected to be 1420 crore with ground equipment costing 300 crore and reach satellite costing 125 crore.
- Satellite series is as IRNSS-1A up to IRNSS-1G
- Four of seven are already in orbit with the latest one placed on 28 Mar 15
27 Mar 2015 : Indira Gandhi Peace Prize to ISRO for year 2014
ISRO to get Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2014 for its contribution to scientific development in the country through space technology and satellite based services. The prissy money for the prestigious award stands Rs 1 crore. The award was conferred by the jury consisting of PM, CJI, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, LK Advani. In past the award has been presented to Nelson Mandela, Baba Amte, Grameen Bank.
INTERNATIONAL
07 Apr 15: World Health Day
04 Apr 15 : Iran Nuclear Deal : Peace and Discontent
Obviously world is going to be affected as a whole. So let’s try to understand the deal, part by part.
Before the Deal:
- Iran had been processing Uranium ore to 20 percent (Weapon grade uranium has enrichment levels above 90%) . Most of the western Nuclear power reactors operate at 5% enrichment levels.
- Iran had been crippled with imposition of Economic Sanctions for its ruthless Tehran Nuclear Enrichment Programme in 2006. It impacted every major sector of Iranian economy including aviation, trade with world oil and gas market
After the deal:
- Iran will get to keep a limited version of its Nuclear Programme.
- It will limit its uranium enrichment levels to 3.7% and cut its stock-pile of such uranium from 10,000 kgs to 300 kgs for 15 years. The country also agreed to reduce its centrifuges by 67% and that too are first generation not the advanced ones. This will assure the annihilation of any possibility of Iran utilising its Uranium ore for nuclear weapons and will also ensure that the ore will only be used for peaceful purposes like power generation.
- Iran will provide access to its Nuclear reactors, research labs, military bases, nuclear reactors supporting supply chains to the International Inspectors along with continuous surveillance of its centrifuge manufacturing and storage facilities.
- The country government has also agreed to redesign its Arak Nuclear Reactor that initially was going to use natural Uranium to produce plutonium-239, a weapon grade material. According to the deal such core of the reactor would subject to be destroyed and will procure the termination of construction of any additional Heavy Water unit for 15 years.
- Iran has hence made a deal with its Nuclear weapon less future and a coordinated environment with IAEA, also making a commitment to utilise nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
- Iran will see the hefty economic sanctions lifted which may bring a new boom into its economy by attracting investments and signing deals with major commercial players.
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| Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Courtesy : Netanyahu blasts the nuke deal |
Israel discontent over the deal
- PM Netanyahu denounced the agreement as a ‘bad deal’.
- US congress Republicans and Israel were demanding complete destruction of centrifuges in Iran, but Obama gave away up to 6500 centrifuges from a total of around 2000 for 10 years keeping a significant portion of Nuclear Programme intact.
- Israeli cabinet addressed its dissatisfaction stating that the deal doesn’t compel Iran to roll-back its nuclear programme, not a single centrifuge is destroyed. He also added that the limited Nuclear Programme still dangers their very existence.
24 Mar 15 : Air-Crash in Germany
Solar Impulse 2 : Global Tour
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| Solar Impulse 2 |
Solar Impulse 2, a fully solar run aircraft weighing 2.3 tonne, completed the second leg of its flight from Muscat to Ahmedabad. Two Swiss pioneers Andrè Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard are attempting to circumnavigate the earth on an aircraft that consumes not even a drop of fossil. They say the aim of the endeavor is to bring back focus to Solar Energy and point out that Solar Energy makes sense.
- Cruise speed 70 kmph
- Takeoff speed 35 kmph
- Service Ceiling 8500 m
- Projected Endurance 36 hrs
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| Factfile on the solar-powered Solar Impulse aircraft. Courtesy : PHYS.ORG |
SPORTS
29 Mar 2015 : Indian Women Hockey Team Wins
The Indian women’s hockey team defeated Poland 3-1 in the final to emerge champions of Hockey World League (HWL) at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. With this win, India qualified for the HWL Round 3. If they finish within the top six in Round 3, they would qualify for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. Runners-up Poland also advanced to the HWL Round 3.
28 March 2015 : Glory for Indian Badminton
Saina Nehwal becomes first Indian woman to attain Rank 1 in Badminton World Federation rankings after she qualified for the finals of Indian Open by defeating Carolina Marin (ESP) to whom she lost in the finals of All England Open Badminton Championship in early March and for icing on the cake she later clinched the title by registering an easy win 21-16 21-14 over Thai Ratchanok Intanon who is a former world champion . Another Indian to achieve such great was Prakash Padukone and that was 35 years ago.
Update (05 Apr ’15 ) : Saina loses No. 1 ranking after succumbing 21-13 17-21 20-22 to world No. 3 Li Xuerui in Malaysian Open semifinals.
Saina Nehwal creates history
DEFENCE
08 Apr 2015 : New Commandant at NCC OTA Kamptee, Nagpur
06 Apr 2015 : India’s first Scorpene class stealth Submarine ‘Undocked’
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| INS Kalvari undocked at Mazagaon Dockyard, Mumbai. Courtesy: Indian Navy |
- The Scorpene is part of the ambitious ‘Project 75’ of Indian Navy’s submarine programme, undertaken with in collaboration with French firm DCNS, which will include six such vessels joining the fleet over the next few years.
- The first Scorpene submarine has been named after its predecessor, an erstwhile Russian ‘Foxtrot’ class submarine, Kalvari. It was the first submarine operated by India. Hence the submarine is christened as ‘INS Kalvari’
- All the six submarines under this projects will be indigenously built at Mumbai’s Mazagaon Dockyard Ltd.
- These attack submarines have diesel-electric propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion.
- The first batch of crew of 10 Navy officers and 35 sailors, headed by the submarine’s skipper Commodore SD Mahendale, have been sent for training.
- The project to built the Scorpene submarines was awarded to DCNS in October 2005 and has taken longer than the stipulated time. Even though French blame the Indian side for the delay, Parrikar has said the delay is “mainly” due to difficulties in procuring material from foreign vendors.
- The project has also overshot the budget by nearly Rs 5,000 crore and is expected to cost about Rs 23,000 crore.
27 Mar 2015 : Indian Naval Aircraft crashed
27 Mar 15 : Army Veteran-Politician Dies
23 Mar 2015 : First Squadron of HAL Tejas
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| HAL Tejas during Leh Winter 2013 Trials. Courtesy : http://www.tejas.gov.in/ |
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| HAL TEjas. Courtesy : http://www.tejas.gov.in/ |
IAF Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) Tender
- Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
- Dassault Rafale
- Eurofighter Typhoon
- Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon
- Mikoyan MiG-35
- Saab JAS 39 Gripen
In the backdrop, with IAF down to only 34 fighter squadrons (out of sanctioned 44), Indian government if also on its way to fast-track the FGFA project with Russia. For that India is considering Direct Acquisition of initial lot followed by co-production instead of original plan of co-development and co-production.
Update (10 Apr ’15) : PM Narendra Modi on his visit to France said in a joint press-conference with French President Francois Hollande that he has asked his counterpart to supply 36 Rafale in fly-away condition as quickly as possible. This agreement will override the original MMRCA deal where Dassault Rafale was the lowest bidder. However deal has not been finally inks since there are still some issues among the governments pertaining to final amounts.
India is keen to finish the acquisition and induct this new aircraft squadron before 2017 when the MiG squadrons will start to phase out. Presence of Rafale will help India maintain a strategic edge over its notorious neighbours.
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