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ISRO Successfully Completes Hypersonic Vehicle Test Run

National News

 

ISRO Successfully Completes Hypersonic Vehicle Test Run

 

Why In News


Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted a joint hypersonic vehicle trial along with the Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).

 

Key Points


Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted a joint hypersonic vehicle trial along with the Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS). According to the country’s premier space research agency, the joint hypersonic vehicle trial matched with the predetermined targets.

The hypersonic vehicle, based on state-of-the-art technology, is capable of delivering military response over long distances by rapidly reaching space.

 

India is also developing an indigenous, dual-capable hypersonic cruise missile as part of its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle programme.

 

This missile will be capable of firing conventional weapons as well as nuclear weapons.

Hypersonic Vehicle:

A hypersonic vehicle can be an airplane, missile, or spacecraft that has the ability to travel five times faster than the speed of sound, or greater than Mach 5 . It is regarded as a cutting-edge technology, and countries like China, India, Russia, and the United States have been trying to further enhance the ability of their hypersonic weapons.

The Indian space agency has been developing hypersonic missiles in collaboration with Russia.

 

Indian scientists are also working on a project for an indigenous, dual-capable hypersonic cruise missile as part of its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle program.

Hypersonic missile:

 

Hypersonic missiles move towards the target at a speed of Mach 5 i.e. 5 times or more than the speed of sound (343 m/s).

 

It can travel about 6,200 kilometers in an hour. Capable of carrying nuclear warheads, hypersonic missiles can fly at very low altitudes and at higher speeds than common ballistic and cruise missiles.

 

They can also change direction during their journey, that is, like a normal missile, the target does not follow a fixed path.


UIDAI Topped the Grievance Redressal Index For the Fourth Consecutive Month in November

UIDAI Topped the Grievance Redressal Index For the Fourth Consecutive Month in November

Why In News

 

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) topped the grievance redressal index for resolution of public grievances for the fourth month in a row in November. 

Key Points


 Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) topped the grievance redressal index among all group A ministries, departments and autonomous bodies for resolution of public grievances for the fourth month in a row in November.

The report was published by the Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Department (DARPG)

The Electronics and  Information Technology Ministry stated that UIDAI has moved towards a centralized grievance handling mechanism through its Open-Source customer relationship management system. UIDAI’s new open-source CRM (customer relationship management) system has enhanced user experience and improved service delivery to the residents.

UIDAI’s Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning based Chatbot, Aadhaar Mitra is also gaining popularity and soon the conversations happening there on a daily basis are going to cross 50,000 figures.

UIDAI:

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory authority established on 12 July 2016 by the Government of India under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, following the provisions of the Aadhaar Act 2016.
The UIDAI is mandated to assign a 12-digit unique identification (UID) number (Aadhaar) to all the residents of India.

The UIDAI was initially set up by the Government of India in January 2009, as an attached office under the aegis of the Planning Commission.


BoB Proposes to Sell Its Majority Stake in Nainital Bank

BoB Proposes to Sell Its Majority Stake in Nainital Bank

Why In News

 

State-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) said it plans to sell its majority stake in Nainital Bank.

Key Points


 State-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) said it plans to sell its majority stake in Nainital Bank. The board of directors of the bank has approved divestment of its majority shareholding in Nainital Bank Limited (NBL), and authorised issuance of an advertisement inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) through a Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) from interested parties (IPs).

 

BoB currently holds 98.57 per cent of the total equity share capital of NBL. Uttarakhand-based Nainital Bank has about 150 branches across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. The Mumbai-based BoB had taken over Nainital Bank in 1973 on the directions of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Bank of Baroda:

Bank of Baroda is one of the leading commercial public sector banks in India. The Bank is having their head office located at Baroda and their corporate office is located at Mumbai.

Bank of Baroda is one of India’s largest banks and as on December 2020 the bank has a strong domestic presence spanning 8246 domestic branches and 11553 ATMs & Cash Recyclers supported by self-service channels.

The bank has a significant international presence with a network of 99 overseas branches/offices subsidiaries spanning 21 countries. The bank has wholly owned subsidiaries including BOB Financial Solutions Limited (erstwhile BOB Cards Ltd.) and BOB Capital Markets.

 

Bank of Baroda also has a joint venture for life insurance business with India First Life Insurance.

The bank owns 98.57% in The Nainital Bank. The bank has also sponsored three Regional Rural Banks namely Baroda Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank Baroda Rajasthan Gramin Bank and Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank.
Bank of Baroda was incorporated on July 20 1908 as a private bank with the name The Bank of Baroda Ltd.


Chief Justice of India Inaugurates Digitisation Hubs in 10 districts of Odisha

Chief Justice of India Inaugurates Digitisation Hubs in 10 districts of Odisha

Why In News

 

 

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud  virtually inaugurated 10 district court digitisation hubs (DCDH) in Odisha.

 

Impotant Points

 

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud  virtually inaugurated 10 district court digitisation hubs (DCDH) in Odisha, and said that modernisation of judiciary is the need of the hour.

 

With this inauguration, a total of 15 DCDHs have now become functional in the state, with each catering to a neighbouring district, thus covering all 30 district courts.

The hubs at Angul, Bhadrak, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh and Sonepur, will take care of digitisation work of all 30 districts of the state.

Each DCDH will be assigned the task of digitizing the surrounding districts.
Initially, four District Court Digitization Centres (DCDC) were set up on a pilot basis in Cuttack, Ganjam, Sambalpur and Balasore districts on April 30, 2021.

Appreciating the information and communication technology (ICT) measures adopted by the Orissa High Court under the leadership of its Chief Justice S Muralidhar, he said, “Digitisation should be accompanied by a push for e-filing of cases.”

Digitization makes access to records easier for authorized persons and also ensures systematic information keeping, security of documents and records and reduction in the time taken to locate documents.

Odisha’s Achievement:

Orissa High Court, with its digitisation initiatives, is now a “role model” for all other high courts of the country. Very soon, the Orissa High Court would be mentoring the entire judiciary of the nation in the field of digitisation.


Ex-Vice President Venkaiah Naidu receives SIES award for public leadership

Ex-Vice President Venkaiah Naidu receives SIES award for public leadership

Why In News

 

Former vice president Venkaiah Naidu has been conferred with the 25th Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award (SIES).

Key Points


Former vice president Venkaiah Naidu has been conferred with the 25th Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award (SIES). 

 

The award was presented during the event held at Shanmukhananda auditorium, King’s Circle in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 

The awards are given in the fields of public leadership, community leadership, science and technology, and social thinkers who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

 

The SIES was set up in 1932 by M. V. Venkateshwaran in Mumbai.

About Venkaiah Naidu:

Venkaiah Naidu was the 13th Vice President of India from 11th August 2017 to 11th August 2022.

Prior to joining Modi’s Cabinet, he was the minister of housing, urban poverty alleviation, urban development, and information.

He was a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National President from 2002 to 2004.

He served as Minister for Rural Development in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government from 1996 to 2002.

Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award:

The Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award was instituted by SIES in 1998 in memory of late seer of Kanchi, Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi. This award is given annually in the field of Public eminence, Community leadership, Science and Technology, Social thinkers and the International category.
SIES was set up in 1932 by M. V. Venkateshwaran in Mumbai, Maharashtra.