India Successfully Carries Out Trials of Nuclear-Capable ”Agni-5 missile”
India Successfully Carries Out Trials of
Nuclear-Capable ”Agni-5 missile”
Why In News
India has
successfully conducted night trials of nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni
V, capable of striking targets at ranges more than 5,000 kilometers with very
high degree of accuracy.
Key Points
India has successfully conducted night trials of nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni V, capable of striking targets at ranges more than 5,000 kilometers with very high degree of accuracy. The missile test firing was conducted from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. This was the latest test in the Agni missile series. According to defence sources, the test was carried out to validate new technologies and equipment on the missile that are now lighter than before.
The nigh-trials came a few days after Chinese soldiers indulged in a brawl with Indian soldiers at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. Several soldiers from both sides are injured, but none of the armies reported any deaths.
Last year, China raised concerns regarding India’s launch of an Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile citing a resolution of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 1172. The resolution was issued after India’s 1998 nuclear tests.
The nuclear-capable missile, which uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine, has been developed by India’s Defence Research and Development organisation (DRDO).
The development of Agni missiles started in early 1980 under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme spearheaded by scientist and former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who was also a central figure in India’s missile and space programmes.
Medium to Intercontinental versions of Agni missile systems 1 to 5 have varying ranges — starting from 700 km for Agni-1 to 5000 km and above for Agni-5. In June 2021, DRDO successfully tested Agni P, a canisterised missile with a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km. This means that the missile can be launched from road and rail platforms, making it easier for it to be deployed and launched at a quicker pace. Agni-6 is also said to be under development, with a range starting at 8000 km.
Agni-5 has been successfully tested multiple times since 2012. Defence Ministry sources said the latest test was carried out primarily to validate various new technologies on board the missile. The flight performance of the missile was tracked and monitored by radars, range stations and tracking systems all through the mission including by the assets deployed in the sea.
The SFC, which carried out the test, is a key tri-services formation that manages and administers all the strategic assets and falls under the purview of the Nuclear Command Authority of India. The Nuclear Command Authority is the sole body which can authorize the use of nuclear weapons. It comprises a Political Council and an Executive Council. The Political Council is chaired by the Prime Minister. The Executive Council, chaired by the National Security Advisor, provides inputs for decision-making by the Nuclear Command Authority and executes the directives given to it by the Political Council.
Tata Steel Officially Partnered FIH Men’s World Cup 2023
Tata Steel Officially Partnered FIH Men’s World
Cup 2023
Why In News
Tata Steel Limited signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Hockey India on December 13, 2022 to become an
Official Partner of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar -
Rourkela.
Key Points
Tata Steel Limited signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with Hockey India on December 13, 2022 to
become an Official Partner of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World
Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar – Rourkela. The FIH Men’s World Cup is the pinnacle
of men’s hockey tournaments. The 15th edition of the esteemed event
will take place in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13 to
January 29, 2023.
Tata Steel has contributed in strengthening
the national sport of India through various top-notch
high-performance residential hockey training facilities, international coaches,
nutritionists, and mental and physical trainers.
This journey started with the Naval Tata
Hockey Academy which was founded in the year 2017 as
a state-of-the-art facility to enable budding field hockey talent at
the grassroot level in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
Currently, there are around 65+ centres of
grassroot programmes with 3000+ cadetsrun by Collectives for Integrated
Livelihood Initiatives in the interiors of 3 districts of Jharkhand.
In addition to this, 9 centres are being run
by Tata Steel Foundation in the interiors of other districts of the
State with 300+ cadets. These talented cadets from the grassroot centres are
promoted to the Regional Development Centre, where they are given advanced
training along with a better pitch and match exposure at state levels.
The Odisha Naval Tata Hockey
High-Performance Centre (HPC), an initiative of the Sports Department,
Government of Odisha, in partnership with Tata Steel & Tata Trusts was
inaugurated in 2019. The HPC has grown in stature over the years and has its
roots in 14 centres spread across 6 districts of the State.
Around 2200 young trainees are groomed in these
centres by 30 experienced coaches. The testimony to the efforts of the hockey
HPC & its grassroot programmes in Odisha comes from the selection of 6
cadets in the Indian National Junior women camp in the last 12
months. Moreover, four girls have already made their international debut for
the country in the junior women category.
The FIH Men’s World Cup is the 15th
edition of the prestigious event, the top tournament for men along with
the Olympics, and will take place in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13
to January 29, 2023.
The FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup will be
the fourth time that India will be hosting the prestigious tournament
after organising it in 1982 in Bombay, 2010 in New Delhi, and 2018 in
Bhubaneswar. A total of 16 nations will take part in the upcoming tournament.