“Proud of our DRDO scientists for Mission Divyastra, the first flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology,” he posted on X.

The missile system is equipped with indigenous Avionics systems and high accuracy sensor packages, which ensured that the re-entry vehicles reached the target points within the desired accuracy, government sources said. Notably, Mission Divyastra is spearheaded by a female project director.

MIRV TECHNOLOGY

The MIRV technology enables a single missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to different targets. Warheads on MIRVed missiles can be released from the missile at different speeds and in different directions. In fact, some MIRV-enabled missiles can hit targets as far as 1,500 km apart. “The capability is an enunciator of India’s growing technological prowess,” a government source was quoted as saying by ANI.

With this test of Mission Divyastra, India has joined the elite club of United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom, who have MIRV capability.

“The development of MIRV technology is not easy. It requires the combination of large missiles, small warheads, accurate guidance, and a complex mechanism for releasing warheads sequentially during flight,” the Center for Arms Control and Non-proliferation said.

Reports further said that a Chinese research vessel had anchored in international waters off the Indian coastline following a NOTAM (notice to airmen) alert issued by India for an impending missile test off the Odisha coast. This no-fly zone earmarked in the NOTAM alert spanned 3,500 km, well into the south of the Bay of Bengal, the NDTV reported.

It further added that the Chinese ship, Xian Yang Hong 01, was less than 260 nautical miles – about 480 kilometres – off the coast of Visakhapatnam on Monday.

Agni-5 , capable of carrying nuclear warheads, has a range of 5,500 to 5,800 km and is aimed mainly at thwarting the challenge from China.

Alongside this, road accidents are a significant worry.

Addressing this issue, the food delivery app Zomato has declared in New Delhi that it will provide helmets with Bluetooth functionality to all its delivery partners.

During the recent ‘India’s Emergency Heroes’ event on the ‘X’ platform, Zomato, in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, bestowed first responder training upon 2,500+ delivery partners.

These helmets feature an AI-powered hybrid system integrating advanced technologies.

This includes helmet wear detection, monitoring the status of the chin strap lock, and preset conditions to ensure compliance.

How to active this helmet;
To activate the helmet, delivery partners simply need to power it on, connect it to the application, and secure it properly.

In the previous year, as part of their commitment to the safety of Zomato delivery partners, the company provided 250,000 wearable assets and various other tech gadgets.

The station will monitor weather and air quality within a five-mile radius of SOA’s Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) located in the campus of the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), faculty of engineering and technology of SOA.

The initiative has been funded by US Consulate at Hyderabad and the principal investigators are Prof. Neal Phillip, Chairperson of Bronx Community College’s department of Chemistry, Earth Sciences and Environmental Sciences and Prof. Paramita Sen of the same department.

The project also involves Indian Initiative for Research and Education Collaboration of CUNY CREST Institute which was officially launched on September 9, 2022.

The weather station, part of the green initiative and fully runs on solar power, was inaugurated by Prof. Manas Kumar Mallick, Director of ITER in the presence of Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director of CEC, Prof. Phillip, Prof. Sen and Advisor to the US Consul General at Hyderabad Salil Kader.

Sahu said that the weather and air quality monitoring station will put the issue of climate and air quality at the forefront of sustainability discussions in the university and local circles. The data which will be generated continuously would be used by the faculty for climate research, he said adding it would also be incorporated into the curriculum.

The Indian Meteorological Department would also be encouraged to use the weather and air quality data generated by the station for societal good, Sahu said.

“Climate change and air quality had become two most important factors affecting mankind and our effort is to work with Indian institutions of higher education to make a difference,” Prof. Phillip said.

At 9.32 am, ISRO announced that the lift-off of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) was normal and XPoSAT was launched successfully. “PSLV-C58 vehicle placed the satellite precisely into the intended orbit of 650 km with 6-degree inclination. The POEM-3 is being scripted,” ISRO posted in X. Soon after, ISRO chief S Somanath announced the successful launch.

Astrophysicist Dipankar Bhattacharya told NDTV that today’s launch was a “textbook launch”. “The expected orbit has been achieved. Now all the expected science is hopefully going to work as planned,” he said.

The XPoSAT mission launch also marked the 60th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The 260-tonne rocket carries an advanced astronomy observatory meant to study black holes and neutron stars. With this, India is set to become only the second country after the US to have an ‘observatory’ to study black holes.

How it will work?

Using X-ray photons and their polarisation, XPoSAT will help study the radiation from near black holes and neutron stars. It carries two payloads — POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing).
The satellite will measure the polarisation of X-rays in the energy band 8-30keV emanating from about 50 potential cosmic sources through Thomson Scattering by POLIX payload.
It will carry out long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources. It will also carry out polarisation and spectroscopic measurements of X-ray emissions from cosmic sources through POLIX and XSPECT payloads.
Fact file
When stars run out of fuel and ‘die’, they collapse under their own gravity and leave behind black holes or neutron stars. Black holes have the highest gravitational force in the universe, and neutron stars have the highest densities. Gathering more information on this, the mission will help unravel the mysteries of ultra-extreme environments in space.
The XPoSat satellite cost around Rs 250 crore (approximately $30 million). The NASA IXPE — which has been on a similar mission since 2021 — cost $188 million. The Indian satellite is expected to last more than five years, compared to the two-year life span of the NASA IXPE.
Former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair has said the PSLV rocket system has evolved as the most reliable and cost-effective one in the global scenario. “When we look back in history, we started this journey in 1993 and since then, most of the missions have been successfully completed,” he told news agency ANI.

The space agency also has drawn up plans to launch missions for studying climate and weather conditions of the Earth, the space agency chief said, speaking to reporters on Sunday.

Besides, ISRO is also working on regular scientific missions including communication, remote sensing satellites, Somanath, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Space, said here.

Speaking about the Gaganyaan programme, he said the maiden TV-D1 test flight is scheduled for October 21.

Elaborating about the upcoming missions undertaken by the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency, he said, “We have exploration missions. We have plans to go to Mars, Venus, again sometime to the Moon. We also have programmes to look at the climate and weather of Earth.”.

Stressing that the scientists at ISRO would be focused on taking up regular missions like launching satellites for communications and remote sensing, he said scientific missions are also in the pipeline to look at issues like aeronomy, thermal imaging, and climate change impact assessment.

“So many things are there and we are very busy doing all of this,” he said.

To a query about whether scientists were able to receive any kind of response from the Vikram lander of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, which successfully made a soft-landing on the surface of the Moon on August 23, he said Vikram had done its job very well during the lunar day (equivalent of 14 Earth days) at which time it was programmed to perform its functions.

“It is happily sleeping on the Moon. It has done its job very well. Maybe if it wishes to wake up, let it wake up. Until then, we will wait,” he said. ISRO made efforts to re-establish communication with rover Pragyan and lander Vikram after they were put into sleep mode in September following the onset of night on the Moon.

“No signals have been received from them. Efforts to establish contact will continue,” ISRO had said.

After the historic landing on August 23, lander Vikram and rover Pragyan performed different tasks on the lunar surface, including detecting the presence of sulphur and recording relative temperature.

About ISRO’s maiden mission to study the Sun, Somanath said the spacecraft is ‘very healthy’ and is on a 110-day long journey to the Lagrange point L1 and is expected to reach the intended destination by “middle of January.”.

“It is a long journey. It is almost 110 days of journey and it has covered some distance now. We corrected a little bit of its trajectory, because early correction is important to reach the L1 point. After tracking, we find it is going in the right direction towards the L1 point,” he said.

Observing that the rocket is on a ‘complex travel’, Somanath said, “It takes almost another 70-75 days further to reach. By the middle of January, it will reach there. After that, we will make some corrections to make it enter into the Halo orbit at the L1 point.”.

“After that instruments will be switched on and it will start doing the scientific data streaming. Currently, everything is very healthy on Aditya L1,” he said.

Aditya-L1 was launched on September 2, and it is the first Indian space-based observatory that will study the Sun from a halo orbit around the first Sun-Earth Lagrangian point (L1), which is located roughly 1.5 million km from the Earth.

Earlier, Somanath visited the residence of renowned agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan, who passed away on September 28. He met the family members of the eminent plant geneticist known as the driving force behind India’s ‘Green Revolution’, here in the city.

“I am here today just to pay my tributes and my affection to his (M S Swaminathan’s) contribution… Whoever works in whichever field whether it is space, agriculture or sustainability and many other domains, we all find a place to work together,” he said.

“Thank you so much for the opportunity. His (M S Swaminathan’s) legacy will continue to inspire more young people in the country to work in science and technology.” Somanath said.

Addressing the students and dignitaries, the CM said that technology is the pivot of our future. “Our growth, our wellbeing … everything is dependent on our hold on advanced and emerging technologies. We must therefore keep ourselves engaged with the latest technology, and stay ahead,” he said.

He said that the carnival has been conceived to engage students in technical, cultural and sports activities. “It will be a calendar event to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work, sincerity and dedication of our students.”

Naveen further said that Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) is a pre-eminent institution in the realm of technical education and has produced many brilliant technocrats contributing immensely to the development of the state and the country.

He emphasised that Odisha has made great strides in skilling its youth, making them employable and transforming the state into the skill capital of the World. “World Skill Center is a premier institute providing advanced skill training in several trades. Our efforts have been highly effective in making our children globally employable,” he said.

This campaign is dedicated to raising awareness and educating citizens about the various facets of cybercrime and, more importantly, how to protect themselves from falling victim to these malicious activities, a release from the state police headquarters said.

In an era characterised by technological advancement and digital transformation, the realm of cybercrime has become a formidable challenge worldwide, and Odisha is no exception. Cybercrime encompasses a range of illegal activities committed through digital means, often with the intention to deceive, defraud, or exploit unsuspecting individuals.

These crimes can take various forms, including phishing attacks, online scams, identity theft, and more. Due to lack of awareness, general public are sharing their valuable bank credentials, personal information either to the cyber fraudsters or online.

The campaign was inaugurated with a Curtain Raiser Event held in Bhubaneswar today. The event saw the presence of Director General of Police (DGP) Sunil Kumar Bansal who launched the following components:

• Logo: A unique emblem symbolizing the essence of cyber safety and security.
• Mascot: An engaging character representing the campaign’s spirit.
• Campaign Poster: A striking poster to be widely distributed across the state to promote awareness.
• Theme Song: A catchy tune designed to reinforce key cyber safety messages in a memorable way.
• 2 Cyber Safety Advisory Brochures: Informative brochures providing practical tips and guidelines on how to stay safe online.
• Campaign Videos: Educational videos highlighting two critical aspects – one addressing fraudulent activities in the name of loan apps, shedding light on the dangers of such schemes, and the other addressing the grave issue of child pornography, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding our children from online exploitation. These videos aim to educate and empower the public to recognize and combat these threats effectively.

Presenting welcome address, Additional DGP (Crime Branch) Arun Bothra highlighted the importance of the campaign in Odisha. IG (Crime Branch) Shefeen Ahmed proposed vote thanks. Among others, Chief General Manager (CGM) of SBI Chandrasekhar Sharma, General Manger of UCO Bank and Convenor of State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) Goutam Patra were present.

This campaign embodies the commitment to safeguarding the citizens of Odisha from the perils of the digital age. Through education and vigilance, we aim to create a safer online environment for all. The Cyber Safety Campaign 2023 seeks to engage citizens across all demographics, including students, parents, professionals, and senior citizens, ensuring that no one is left vulnerable to cyber threats. Furthermore, we extend an invitation to individuals who wish to actively participate in the campaign as cyber safety volunteers, aiding in spreading awareness and knowledge.

The Nigerian Government is focusing on a National strategy to tackle micronutrient deficiencies. In line with this strategy, the government has authorised the fortification of rice, one of the primary staple foods of the country, as a part of the national fortification program.

India’s rice fortification implementation experience is a valuable example for Nigeria, especially the manner in which the ecosystem has been created around fortified rice in the country. India’s approach involves strong government leadership that supports public delivery systems such as the Targeted Public distribution system and other welfare schemes.

“This learning visit aims to provide first-hand experience and knowledge to the stakeholders, equipping them to efficiently kick-start a rice fortification pilot project in Kebbi State using the school feeding program as a delivery mechanism,” said John Uruakpa, Director of the Federal Ministry of Health, Government of Nigeria, who is leading the delegation.

On their arrival in Odisha, the delegation called upon Anu Garg, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary in Lok Seva Bhawan today.

“Odisha achieved the complete introduction of fortified rice across the State in all food based schemes a year ahead of the deadline provided by the National Government. Odisha piloted the first rice fortification in the country in 2012 in the Gajapati District. The State government is open to sharing its experiences and learning, especially towards addressing malnutrition and creating food security,” said Anu Garg.

“We are very excited to host the Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRiFN) South-South Learning Visit to India. The visit aims to learn from India’s implementation journey’s successes, challenges, and lessons. Also, to identify how these learnings can be adapted and implemented in the Nigerian context,” said Elisabeth Faure, Representative and Country Director for WFP in India.

The delegation will visit rice fortification sites to understand the process; machinery used, quality control measures, and safety standards. Members will meet with Indian food regulation officials to discuss regulatory aspects and compliance measures. They will also interact with policymakers designing and implementing the rice fortification programme.

V.V Yadav, Principal Secretary FS&CW, Shubha Sharma, Commissioner cum Secretary W&CD Department & Senior officers from concerned departments were present during the meeting.

The appointment of Subrahmanyan came into effect from August 25, 2023 after President Droupadi Murmu, the Visitor of NIT-R, nominated him for a period of three years, according to the ministry’s order received by the institute on Tuesday evening.

His also Vice Chairman on the boards of LTIMindtree and L&T Technology Services, Chairman of L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited, and Director and Chairperson of L&T Finance Holdings Ltd. Prior to taking over the reins as CEO & MD in July 2017, Subrahmanyan in his capacity as Deputy MD & President led L&T’s infrastructure business to its position as the country’s largest construction organisation and 14th in the world. He has been ranked 8th in the Construction Week Power 100 Ranking for 2022.

In February 2021, he was appointed Chairman of the National Safety Council (NSC) for three years by the Union Ministry of Labour & Employment. He is also one of the nine founding members of Climate Finance Leadership Initiative (CFLI) India to bring global scale and influence to the initiative.

The NIT-R director had been additionally officiating as the BoG chairperson since the post fell vacant in June 2020 after end of the tenure of another corporate leader Santrupta B Misra.

The event, jointly organised by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the Payments Council of India (PCI), and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC), convened on Wednesday in Mumbai.

The Global Fintech Festival 2023 serves as a vital forum for fintech leaders to cultivate partnerships and chart a course for the future of the industry. It is a platform that unites some of the brightest analytical minds in the fintech industry. Over the past three years, the Global Fintech Festival has played a pivotal role in showcasing the multifaceted fintech ecosystem’s transformative potential and its capacity to drive sustainable global progress.

Tusharkanti Behera underlined that India stands among the world’s fastest-growing fintech markets, rivalling the United Kingdom in funding volume. Highlighting Odisha’s participation in the fintech revolution, the Minister expressed the state’s commitment to innovation. Odisha has launched several citizen welfare schemes, leveraging technology for the delivery of public services and financial assistance, he shared.

The state’s financial inclusion has been recognised nationally and internationally for schemes like Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) and the Social Protection Delivery Platform (SPDP), which offer cashless, paperless, and faceless access to social benefits and services.

The Minister outlined Odisha’s efforts to create a conducive environment for fintech startups and businesses, offering incentives, promoting innovation, and attracting major players to the state. This commitment has already yielded promising results, with several fintech startups making a mark nationally.

Today, Odisha has a thriving fintech ecosystem, and a rapidly growing economy and the state’s strong focus on technology and innovation makes it an ideal destination for fintech ventures.

Manoj Kumar Mishra Principal Secretary E & IT, Manas Ranjan Panda, Special Secretary, E & IT also attended the program.