India has successfully launched 10 satellites in a single mission, boosting its capabilities in space.
The rocket was carrying an Indian remote-sensing satellite and nine smaller ones, eight of them foreign.
The launch, from the Sriharikota space centre off India's east coast, is being described as a milestone for the country's 45-year-old space programme.
Observers say it is a sign that India is emerging as a major player in the multi-billion dollar space market.
'Historic moment'
"The mission was perfect," said G Madhavan Nair, chairman of the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).
"It is a historic moment for us because it is the first time that we have launched 10 satellites in a single mission."
Last year, Russia launched a rocket carrying 16 satellites - but with a smaller payload, the Press Trust of India reported.
India's space programme is more than 45 years old
Monday's lift-off from Sriharikota, near the southern city of Madras (Chennai), took place in clear weather and left behind a trail of orange and white smoke as scientists at mission control cheered.
The event was carried live on state television.
The satellites put into orbit include Cartosat2A - a remote-sensing satellite fitted with a high-resolution camera which will supply data for maps precise enough to detail every house in the country.
Officials plan to use the information to manage infrastructure and natural resources.
Also on board the rocket were an Indian mini satellite to gather technological data which will be available for sale, and eight tiny research satellites belonging to research facilities in Canada, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
The satellites were deployed in orbit within moments of each other and the entire operation lasted 20 minutes.
Indian space aims
Experts have described Monday's launch as a rare feat for India's space programme.
India started its space programme in 1963, and has since designed, built and launched its own satellites into space.
Last year, India put an Italian satellite into orbit for a fee of $11m. In January, India successfully launched an Israeli spy satellite into orbit.
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says India is developing its rocket-launching capabilities to reduce its dependence on foreign space agencies, as well as to corner a share of the world's lucrative satellite-launching market.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
India warned over heart disease
India will account for 60% of heart disease cases worldwide within two years, according to new research.
The study, published in the British journal Lancet, says that is nearly four times more than its share of the global population.
The study, by Canadian and Indian researchers, says one major problem is that Indians are unable to reach hospital quickly in an emergency.
Heart disease kills 7.1 million people globally each year.
'Major milestone'
It has been long known that South Asia has the highest level of acute coronary syndromes in the world, but this is the first comprehensive research which provides statistical data about heart disease.
"This registry is a major milestone, since it provides the first comprehensive view of the epidemic of acute coronary syndrome in India and helps to identify opportunities for improvement in care," news agency AFP quoted US cardiologist Kim Eagle as saying.
Smoker in India
Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease
"As the Indian economy grows, there is a possibility of further increases in cardiovascular disease before we see a decline similar to that being witnessed in developed countries," Mr Eagle, who was not involved with the research, warned.
The study has been carried out by a team of researchers, led by Dr Denis Xavier of St John's National Academy of Health Sciences in Bangalore and included others from Canada.
The team studied nearly 21,000 heart attack patients admitted to 89 hospitals in 50 cities across the country.
The risk factors in India were the same as elsewhere and included tobacco use, high levels of lipids in the blood due to diets rich in saturated fat, and hypertension, the study said.
But, it noted, there were causes specific to India - the most important being the time taken to get access to medical help.
On average, it took 300 minutes to reach a hospital in India, twice as long in rich nations. "Few patients used an ambulance to reach the hospital. Most used private or public transport" due to financial constraints, the report says.
Poverty also prevents most Indians from obtaining routine treatments including surgical procedures because most of them have to pay for it themselves.
The study also found that many of the Indian patients were younger by three to six years than those in richer nations.
The study, published in the British journal Lancet, says that is nearly four times more than its share of the global population.
The study, by Canadian and Indian researchers, says one major problem is that Indians are unable to reach hospital quickly in an emergency.
Heart disease kills 7.1 million people globally each year.
'Major milestone'
It has been long known that South Asia has the highest level of acute coronary syndromes in the world, but this is the first comprehensive research which provides statistical data about heart disease.
"This registry is a major milestone, since it provides the first comprehensive view of the epidemic of acute coronary syndrome in India and helps to identify opportunities for improvement in care," news agency AFP quoted US cardiologist Kim Eagle as saying.
Smoker in India
Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease
"As the Indian economy grows, there is a possibility of further increases in cardiovascular disease before we see a decline similar to that being witnessed in developed countries," Mr Eagle, who was not involved with the research, warned.
The study has been carried out by a team of researchers, led by Dr Denis Xavier of St John's National Academy of Health Sciences in Bangalore and included others from Canada.
The team studied nearly 21,000 heart attack patients admitted to 89 hospitals in 50 cities across the country.
The risk factors in India were the same as elsewhere and included tobacco use, high levels of lipids in the blood due to diets rich in saturated fat, and hypertension, the study said.
But, it noted, there were causes specific to India - the most important being the time taken to get access to medical help.
On average, it took 300 minutes to reach a hospital in India, twice as long in rich nations. "Few patients used an ambulance to reach the hospital. Most used private or public transport" due to financial constraints, the report says.
Poverty also prevents most Indians from obtaining routine treatments including surgical procedures because most of them have to pay for it themselves.
The study also found that many of the Indian patients were younger by three to six years than those in richer nations.
Countdown to ISRO's 10-satellite launch begins
Stage is set for the launch of PSLV-C9 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. As many as ten satellites will be launched on Monday by the Indian Space Research Organisation, including country's latest remote sensing satellite and eight nano satellites.
PSLV-C9 would put into orbit CARTOSAT-2A (remote sensing satellite) along with Indian Mini Satellite (IMS-1) and the eight nano satellites. This will be the thirteenth flight of PSLV and third flight with 'core-alone' configuration.
CARTOSAT-2A weighing about 690 kg carries state-of-the-art Panchromatic camera (PAN) that is capable of taking black and white pictures in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The imagery will have a spatial resolution of about one metre. The camera covers a swath (geographical strip of land) of about 9.6 km. The highly agile CARTOSAT-2A is steerable along as well as across the direction of its movement to facilitate imaging of any area more frequently.
The 83 kg Indian Satellite (IMS-1) developed by ISRO incorporated many new technologies and has miniaturised subsystems.
IMS-1 carried two optical payloads, a multi-spectral camera (Mx Payload) and a Hyperspectral camera (HySI Payload). Both Mx and HySI payloads operate in the visible and near infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The resolution of Mx camera is 37 metre with swath of 151 km, while that of HySI is about 506 metre with a swath of 129.5 km. The data from this mission will be made available to developing countries.
Eight nano satellites built by universities and research institutions in Canada and Germany are also being launched under a commercial agreement with Antrix Corporation. The weight of these nano satellites vary from 3 to 16 kg with a total weight of about 50 kg.
PSLV-C9 would put into orbit CARTOSAT-2A (remote sensing satellite) along with Indian Mini Satellite (IMS-1) and the eight nano satellites. This will be the thirteenth flight of PSLV and third flight with 'core-alone' configuration.
CARTOSAT-2A weighing about 690 kg carries state-of-the-art Panchromatic camera (PAN) that is capable of taking black and white pictures in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The imagery will have a spatial resolution of about one metre. The camera covers a swath (geographical strip of land) of about 9.6 km. The highly agile CARTOSAT-2A is steerable along as well as across the direction of its movement to facilitate imaging of any area more frequently.
The 83 kg Indian Satellite (IMS-1) developed by ISRO incorporated many new technologies and has miniaturised subsystems.
IMS-1 carried two optical payloads, a multi-spectral camera (Mx Payload) and a Hyperspectral camera (HySI Payload). Both Mx and HySI payloads operate in the visible and near infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The resolution of Mx camera is 37 metre with swath of 151 km, while that of HySI is about 506 metre with a swath of 129.5 km. The data from this mission will be made available to developing countries.
Eight nano satellites built by universities and research institutions in Canada and Germany are also being launched under a commercial agreement with Antrix Corporation. The weight of these nano satellites vary from 3 to 16 kg with a total weight of about 50 kg.
Friday, April 25, 2008
ISRO to launch 10 satellites in one go
MUMBAI: For the first time in ISRO's four-decade history, it will launch an Indian mini-satellite — IMS-1 — on April 28.
The highly-proven polar satellite launch vehicle will also carry a 690-kg Cartosat-2a remote sensing satellite and eight nano satellites—-a first for simultaneous launch of 10 satellites.
"ISRO has developed and designed the 83-kg mini satellite. The launch is to try new technologies and also miniaturisation," an ISRO official told TOI from Bangalore. "It will have a two-year life span and will operate at an altitude of 635 km. The data will be available to developing countries."
The eight nano satellites are built by universities and research institutions in Canada and Germany. The satellites weigh 3 kg to 16 kg, the total weight being about 50 kg.
The much-awaited lift-off is scheduled for 9.20 am on April 28 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. It will be the 13th flight of the PSLV.
The mini satellite carries two optical payloads consisting of what is known as a multispectral camera and a hyperspectral camera.
The resolution of the multispectral camera is 37 metres and that of the hyperspectral camera is 506 metres. The data from the mini satellite can be picked up by developing nations using "very little equipment", said the ISRO official.
The mini satellite will serve initially as a platform for experimenting new remote sensing technologies. The launch of a mini satellite is significant as miniaturisation is expected to play an important role in future space missions.
The Cartosat-2a, which will be used for mapping, will be placed in orbit first, followed a few seconds later by the mini satellite. Then, the foreign nano satellites will go into orbit one after the other at an interval of a few seconds.
"This exercise will be tricky because the satellites have to be placed in orbit at the right time and at the right angle," said the official.
The highly-proven polar satellite launch vehicle will also carry a 690-kg Cartosat-2a remote sensing satellite and eight nano satellites—-a first for simultaneous launch of 10 satellites.
"ISRO has developed and designed the 83-kg mini satellite. The launch is to try new technologies and also miniaturisation," an ISRO official told TOI from Bangalore. "It will have a two-year life span and will operate at an altitude of 635 km. The data will be available to developing countries."
The eight nano satellites are built by universities and research institutions in Canada and Germany. The satellites weigh 3 kg to 16 kg, the total weight being about 50 kg.
The much-awaited lift-off is scheduled for 9.20 am on April 28 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. It will be the 13th flight of the PSLV.
The mini satellite carries two optical payloads consisting of what is known as a multispectral camera and a hyperspectral camera.
The resolution of the multispectral camera is 37 metres and that of the hyperspectral camera is 506 metres. The data from the mini satellite can be picked up by developing nations using "very little equipment", said the ISRO official.
The mini satellite will serve initially as a platform for experimenting new remote sensing technologies. The launch of a mini satellite is significant as miniaturisation is expected to play an important role in future space missions.
The Cartosat-2a, which will be used for mapping, will be placed in orbit first, followed a few seconds later by the mini satellite. Then, the foreign nano satellites will go into orbit one after the other at an interval of a few seconds.
"This exercise will be tricky because the satellites have to be placed in orbit at the right time and at the right angle," said the official.
Europe jumps into fray to sell India fighter jets
It's a battle-royale in the making. Rattled by the aggressive marketing of its fighter jets by the US, Europe came out with full guns blazing in the lucrative Indian arms battleground on Thursday.
The prize, after all, is the gigantic Rs 42,000-crore ($10.4-billion) project to supply 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) to IAF, which will be one of the largest defence deals in the world, as also the most fiercely contested among armament giants.
Over the last couple of years, the US government has put its considerable weight behind its aviation majors, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, in hawking their F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-16 Falcons to India. On Thursday, it was the turn of Germany, UK, Spain and Italy to jointly unleash their strong sales pitch for the "awesome" Eurofighter Typhoon fighter for the "mother of all defence deals".
"Typhoon is the most modern and capable fighter in the world today. The project is about giving substance to the strategic partnership between India and the European Union," declared German ambassador Bernd Muetzelburg, promising the full support of all four governments.
Bernhrad Gerwert, CEO of EADS (consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian companies) military air systems, in turn, added: "As part of our industrial cooperation offer, we invite India to become a member of the successful Eurofighter company."
Europe's wooing of India comes in the face of its growing strategic embrace with US, which has seen Indian armed forces shed their long-standing distrust of America as a reliable long-term defence supplier. In a bid to grab the project, US is even promising spin-offs from its futuristic fifth-generation fighter programmes like the F-35 'Lightning-II' project.
Amid all this talk of "strategic partnership" with the US on one side and Europe on the other, the low-profile Sweden is positioning its Gripen fighter as "the independent choice" for India.
Yet another European nation, France, too, is hard-selling its Rafale multi-role fighter, banking upon IAF's good experience with French Mirage-2000s inducted in the mid-1980s.
Then, there is of course Russia, the long-standing largest defence supplier to India, with its MiG-35 jets. India and Russia have already agreed to a joint project for a fifth-generation fighter, with a lethal mix of stealth, beyond-visual range combat capabilities, super-manoeuvrability and supersonic cruising ability.
But that is in the future. The buzz now is for the MRCA contract, with the deadline for submission of commercial and technical bids to the Indian defence ministry ending on Monday.
Boeing, on its part, submitted its 7,000-page proposal to the US embassy on Thursday for forwarding to MoD. "We are offering India the most advanced and proven multi-role combat fighter in production today," said CEO of Boeing Integrated Defence Systems, Jim Albaugh.
India certainly has some hard choices to make. But apart from seeking best value for money, India is sure to factor in its geo-political considerations while finally choosing the winner. It will, however, take two to three years for the torturous technical evaluations, fields trials, commercial negotiations and the like to be completed.
Consequently, the first lot of the new fighters — 18 jets will be bought off-the-shelf, while the rest will be manufactured in India under transfer of technology (ToT) — are likely to arrive in India only by 2012 or so.
The prize, after all, is the gigantic Rs 42,000-crore ($10.4-billion) project to supply 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) to IAF, which will be one of the largest defence deals in the world, as also the most fiercely contested among armament giants.
Over the last couple of years, the US government has put its considerable weight behind its aviation majors, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, in hawking their F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-16 Falcons to India. On Thursday, it was the turn of Germany, UK, Spain and Italy to jointly unleash their strong sales pitch for the "awesome" Eurofighter Typhoon fighter for the "mother of all defence deals".
"Typhoon is the most modern and capable fighter in the world today. The project is about giving substance to the strategic partnership between India and the European Union," declared German ambassador Bernd Muetzelburg, promising the full support of all four governments.
Bernhrad Gerwert, CEO of EADS (consortium of British, German, Spanish and Italian companies) military air systems, in turn, added: "As part of our industrial cooperation offer, we invite India to become a member of the successful Eurofighter company."
Europe's wooing of India comes in the face of its growing strategic embrace with US, which has seen Indian armed forces shed their long-standing distrust of America as a reliable long-term defence supplier. In a bid to grab the project, US is even promising spin-offs from its futuristic fifth-generation fighter programmes like the F-35 'Lightning-II' project.
Amid all this talk of "strategic partnership" with the US on one side and Europe on the other, the low-profile Sweden is positioning its Gripen fighter as "the independent choice" for India.
Yet another European nation, France, too, is hard-selling its Rafale multi-role fighter, banking upon IAF's good experience with French Mirage-2000s inducted in the mid-1980s.
Then, there is of course Russia, the long-standing largest defence supplier to India, with its MiG-35 jets. India and Russia have already agreed to a joint project for a fifth-generation fighter, with a lethal mix of stealth, beyond-visual range combat capabilities, super-manoeuvrability and supersonic cruising ability.
But that is in the future. The buzz now is for the MRCA contract, with the deadline for submission of commercial and technical bids to the Indian defence ministry ending on Monday.
Boeing, on its part, submitted its 7,000-page proposal to the US embassy on Thursday for forwarding to MoD. "We are offering India the most advanced and proven multi-role combat fighter in production today," said CEO of Boeing Integrated Defence Systems, Jim Albaugh.
India certainly has some hard choices to make. But apart from seeking best value for money, India is sure to factor in its geo-political considerations while finally choosing the winner. It will, however, take two to three years for the torturous technical evaluations, fields trials, commercial negotiations and the like to be completed.
Consequently, the first lot of the new fighters — 18 jets will be bought off-the-shelf, while the rest will be manufactured in India under transfer of technology (ToT) — are likely to arrive in India only by 2012 or so.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Anti-submarine corvette for Navy next year
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineeers (GRSE) Limited, Kolkata, a PSU of the Defence Ministry, will release the first of the four anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvettes, ordered by the Navy, in the middle of next year.
GRSE Additional General Manager Deepak Pathi told The Hindu from Kolkata that each ship would cost around Rs.700 crores and this was the first time that the ships, with the state-of-the-art technology, were built in India with mostly indigenous equipment.
Named project 28 class, each ship, known as “hunters and killers”, would be of medium size and would be fully packed with advanced and modern weapons.
Sources said the subsequent ships would be delivered in a gap of 15-18 months. The Navy plans to have 12 such ships and the order for these four ships was given under phase I.
Though the order for the corvettes was given as early as 2003 for some unforeseen reasons the plate cutting for the first vessel commenced only on August 12, 2005.
Each of the ASW corvette would have 2500 tonnes standard displacement with a length of 110 metres. It could sail at a maximum speed of 28 to 32 knots.
The ships would be powered by four Pielstick 12 PA6 STC engines, each rated at 4270 KW.
Known as ASW surface combatant for the Indian Navy for the 21st century, the vessels would be armed with stealth-mounted guns, the latest electronic warfare suite. The structure of the ship would be such that it would cut down noise drastically to prevent it from getting detected by enemy submarines. But it will be able to detect an enemy submarine from a distance and destroy it.
GRSE Additional General Manager Deepak Pathi told The Hindu from Kolkata that each ship would cost around Rs.700 crores and this was the first time that the ships, with the state-of-the-art technology, were built in India with mostly indigenous equipment.
Named project 28 class, each ship, known as “hunters and killers”, would be of medium size and would be fully packed with advanced and modern weapons.
Sources said the subsequent ships would be delivered in a gap of 15-18 months. The Navy plans to have 12 such ships and the order for these four ships was given under phase I.
Though the order for the corvettes was given as early as 2003 for some unforeseen reasons the plate cutting for the first vessel commenced only on August 12, 2005.
Each of the ASW corvette would have 2500 tonnes standard displacement with a length of 110 metres. It could sail at a maximum speed of 28 to 32 knots.
The ships would be powered by four Pielstick 12 PA6 STC engines, each rated at 4270 KW.
Known as ASW surface combatant for the Indian Navy for the 21st century, the vessels would be armed with stealth-mounted guns, the latest electronic warfare suite. The structure of the ship would be such that it would cut down noise drastically to prevent it from getting detected by enemy submarines. But it will be able to detect an enemy submarine from a distance and destroy it.
India's battle tank of future & love for Russia
The battle lines have been drawn. At stake is the future of one of India's most prestigious defence products: the Arjun Main Battle Tank.
In its 29th report, which was tabled in Parliament earlier this week, Parliament's Standing Committee on Defence writes that it is 'startled' to be told that the tank had performed poorly in winter trials, and that it was miles away from meeting the army's requirements.
Business Standard has come to know from three different members of the Standing Committee on Defence that it is more than 'startled' -- it is frankly disbelieving of the army's deposition.
In its last annual report for 2007-08, the committee was told by the ministry that the Arjun tank was 'a product unique in its class', an improved system over the T-72, Rs 6-8 crore cheaper than its contemporary system in the West, far superior (in firing accuracy) to the other two tanks (T-72 and T-90), driven for over 60,000 km and fired more than 8,000 rounds and 'there was no problem'.
After the army representative slammed the Arjun, the Standing Committee chairman, Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, as well as the defence secretary and several other members agreed that the committee would formulate a clear policy on India's tank of the future.
Underlying this decision is the belief amongst most members of the Standing Committee that the army is biased against the Arjun tank and is in favour of continuing to use the Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks. There were clear factual inaccuracies in the army's deposition before the Standing Committee. The most glaring of them is the army's suggestion that it is carrying out trials on the Arjun's performance.
In fact, the army has already accepted the Arjun for introduction into service, based upon its driving and firing performance over the years. After firing trials in summer 2006, the trial report (written by the army) said: "The accuracy and consistency of the Arjun has been proved beyond doubt."
The ongoing trials in Pokhran are being cited by the army as Accelerated Usage cum Reliability Trials. In these, two Arjun tanks were run almost non-stop for 3,000 kilometres, not to judge performance, but to evaluate the tank's requirement of spare parts, fuel and lubricants during its entire service life.
In fact, it is the Arjun's developer, the Central Vehicle R&D Laboratory, Avadi, that has long demanded comparative trials, where the performance of five Arjuns would be gauged against five Russian T-90s and T-72s. The army has consistently sidestepped that invitation.
The army has also testified incorrectly to the Standing Committee about four engine failures during the recent AUCRT. In fact, sources closely associated with the trials say, the problems were with four gearboxes manufactured by German company Renk AG. A world leader in transmission systems, Renk representatives are already in Pokhran and Avadi, analysing and resolving the problem.
The army does not mention, but problems were also experienced with four hydro-pneumatic suspension units (HSUs), which leaked after the Arjuns had run 2,000 kilometres.
But Arjun's makers say 2,000 kilometres is the service life of the suspension; normally they would have been replaced before the point at which they leaked.
Officers closely associated with the Arjun, as well as several members of the Standing Committee on Defence, contrast the army's approach to the Arjun with the navy's acceptance of indigenous projects.
They say the navy has achieved striking success in building its own warships by associating itself with the project right from the design stage; warships are accepted into service and many hiccups overcome during their service lives. In contrast, the army is resisting accepting the Arjun until every last hiccup is resolved by the DRDO.
An application to interview the army's Director General of Mechanised Forces was approved by the MoD eight months ago. However, the DGMF has not granted an interview so far because of 'scheduling problems'.
In its 29th report, which was tabled in Parliament earlier this week, Parliament's Standing Committee on Defence writes that it is 'startled' to be told that the tank had performed poorly in winter trials, and that it was miles away from meeting the army's requirements.
Business Standard has come to know from three different members of the Standing Committee on Defence that it is more than 'startled' -- it is frankly disbelieving of the army's deposition.
In its last annual report for 2007-08, the committee was told by the ministry that the Arjun tank was 'a product unique in its class', an improved system over the T-72, Rs 6-8 crore cheaper than its contemporary system in the West, far superior (in firing accuracy) to the other two tanks (T-72 and T-90), driven for over 60,000 km and fired more than 8,000 rounds and 'there was no problem'.
After the army representative slammed the Arjun, the Standing Committee chairman, Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, as well as the defence secretary and several other members agreed that the committee would formulate a clear policy on India's tank of the future.
Underlying this decision is the belief amongst most members of the Standing Committee that the army is biased against the Arjun tank and is in favour of continuing to use the Russian T-72 and T-90 tanks. There were clear factual inaccuracies in the army's deposition before the Standing Committee. The most glaring of them is the army's suggestion that it is carrying out trials on the Arjun's performance.
In fact, the army has already accepted the Arjun for introduction into service, based upon its driving and firing performance over the years. After firing trials in summer 2006, the trial report (written by the army) said: "The accuracy and consistency of the Arjun has been proved beyond doubt."
The ongoing trials in Pokhran are being cited by the army as Accelerated Usage cum Reliability Trials. In these, two Arjun tanks were run almost non-stop for 3,000 kilometres, not to judge performance, but to evaluate the tank's requirement of spare parts, fuel and lubricants during its entire service life.
In fact, it is the Arjun's developer, the Central Vehicle R&D Laboratory, Avadi, that has long demanded comparative trials, where the performance of five Arjuns would be gauged against five Russian T-90s and T-72s. The army has consistently sidestepped that invitation.
The army has also testified incorrectly to the Standing Committee about four engine failures during the recent AUCRT. In fact, sources closely associated with the trials say, the problems were with four gearboxes manufactured by German company Renk AG. A world leader in transmission systems, Renk representatives are already in Pokhran and Avadi, analysing and resolving the problem.
The army does not mention, but problems were also experienced with four hydro-pneumatic suspension units (HSUs), which leaked after the Arjuns had run 2,000 kilometres.
But Arjun's makers say 2,000 kilometres is the service life of the suspension; normally they would have been replaced before the point at which they leaked.
Officers closely associated with the Arjun, as well as several members of the Standing Committee on Defence, contrast the army's approach to the Arjun with the navy's acceptance of indigenous projects.
They say the navy has achieved striking success in building its own warships by associating itself with the project right from the design stage; warships are accepted into service and many hiccups overcome during their service lives. In contrast, the army is resisting accepting the Arjun until every last hiccup is resolved by the DRDO.
An application to interview the army's Director General of Mechanised Forces was approved by the MoD eight months ago. However, the DGMF has not granted an interview so far because of 'scheduling problems'.
Monday, April 14, 2008
India Awakens
New Dawn: With the southern skyline of Bombay rising in the distance, locals perform a range of early-morning rituals on the city's Marine Drive promenade
PRASHANT PANJIAR /
Even if you have never gone to India--never wrapped your food in a piping-hot naan or had your eyeballs singed by a Bollywood spectacular--there is a good chance you encounter some piece of it every day of your life. It might be the place you call (although you don't know it) if your luggage is lost on a connecting flight, or the guys to whom your company has outsourced its data processing. Every night, young radiologists in Bangalore read CT scans e-mailed to them by emergency-room doctors in the U.S. Few modern Americans are surprised to find that their dentist or lawyer is of Indian origin, or are shocked to hear how vital Indians have been to California's high-tech industry. In ways big and small, Indians are changing the world.
Read More....
Even if you have never gone to India--never wrapped your food in a piping-hot naan or had your eyeballs singed by a Bollywood spectacular--there is a good chance you encounter some piece of it every day of your life. It might be the place you call (although you don't know it) if your luggage is lost on a connecting flight, or the guys to whom your company has outsourced its data processing. Every night, young radiologists in Bangalore read CT scans e-mailed to them by emergency-room doctors in the U.S. Few modern Americans are surprised to find that their dentist or lawyer is of Indian origin, or are shocked to hear how vital Indians have been to California's high-tech industry. In ways big and small, Indians are changing the world.
That's possible because India--the second most populous nation in the world, and projected to be by 2015 the most populous--is itself being transformed. Writers like to attach catchy tags to nations, which is why you have read plenty about the rise of Asian tigers and the Chinese dragon. Now here comes the elephant. India's economy is growing more than 8% a year, and the country is modernizing so fast that old friends are bewildered by the changes that occurred between visits. The economic boom is taking place at a time when the U.S. and India are forging new ties. During the cold war, relations between New Delhi and Washington were frosty at best, as India cozied up to the Soviet Union and successive U.S. Administrations armed and supported India's regional rival, Pakistan. But in a breathtaking shift, the Bush Administration in 2004 declared India a strategic partner and proposed a bilateral deal (presently stalled in Congress) to share nuclear know-how. After decades when it hardly registered in the political or public consciousness, India is on the U.S. mental map.
Among policymakers in Washington, the new approach can be explained simply: India is the un-China. One Asian giant is run by a Communist Party that increasingly appeals to nationalism as a way of legitimating its power. The other is the largest democracy the world has ever seen. The U.S. will always have to deal with China, but it has learned that doing so is never easy: China bristles too much with old resentments at the hands of the West. India is no pushover either (try suggesting in New Delhi that outsiders might usefully broker a deal with Pakistan about Kashmir, the disputed territory over which the two countries have fought three wars), but democrats are easier to talk to than communist apparatchiks. Making friends with India is a good way for the U.S. to hedge its Asia bet.
Read More....
IAF clears proposals to purchase three more AWACS
New Delhi, April 13: As India prepares to receive the first of its Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) Phalcon, Indian Air Force has cleared proposals to acquire three more such platforms.
The proposals have been forwarded to the Defence Ministry to enable placing of follow-on order estimated to be worth USD 2 billion for Phalcon IL-76TD, a top IAF official said.
With this, IAF now proposes to field six such platforms with delivery expected to be completed between 2009-2012.
These AWACS will bolster India's air-surveillance capability multi-fold giving it an eye-in-the-air to detect enemy planes and missiles while in flight far away.
India will get the delivery of first of its three Phalcons AWACS in September this year and the follow-on platforms in April 2009 and August 2010.
The first of the Phalcon AWACS powered by 4PS-90A-76 engines is currently being fitted out with mission sensors and management suites and will be ready for roll out by end of next month for flight certification, a top Israeli Aircraft Industry (IAI) official said.
"Air platforms have already undergone maiden flight tests in November last year and again in January and February this year in Russia," he said.
India was to receive deliveries of the first of these aircrafts in December 2007, but the transfer was delayed due to time over-runs in customising the airframes by Uzbekistan’s Tashkent Aircraft Production Organisation (TAPO).
India had inked the USD 1.5 billion contract in November 2003 with Russia's Rosoboronexport Corporation and Israel's IAI for purchase of three AWACS.
The proposals have been forwarded to the Defence Ministry to enable placing of follow-on order estimated to be worth USD 2 billion for Phalcon IL-76TD, a top IAF official said.
With this, IAF now proposes to field six such platforms with delivery expected to be completed between 2009-2012.
These AWACS will bolster India's air-surveillance capability multi-fold giving it an eye-in-the-air to detect enemy planes and missiles while in flight far away.
India will get the delivery of first of its three Phalcons AWACS in September this year and the follow-on platforms in April 2009 and August 2010.
The first of the Phalcon AWACS powered by 4PS-90A-76 engines is currently being fitted out with mission sensors and management suites and will be ready for roll out by end of next month for flight certification, a top Israeli Aircraft Industry (IAI) official said.
"Air platforms have already undergone maiden flight tests in November last year and again in January and February this year in Russia," he said.
India was to receive deliveries of the first of these aircrafts in December 2007, but the transfer was delayed due to time over-runs in customising the airframes by Uzbekistan’s Tashkent Aircraft Production Organisation (TAPO).
India had inked the USD 1.5 billion contract in November 2003 with Russia's Rosoboronexport Corporation and Israel's IAI for purchase of three AWACS.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
SINGHPURA, India - Standing in front of his small brick home, in a courtyard where the dirt has been packed down by generations of barefoot children, the middle-aged mustard farmer doesn't bother to hide his exhaustion."Only someone who has been through
something like this can understand the size of my catastrophe," said Sukhpal Singh Tomar. For years, he has struggled to find some reason for his suffering, but has come up with little. He shrugged: "It must be my karma."
The catastrophe? His daughters — all eight — so many he sometimes stumbles over their names. But his wife, Shanti, never forgets, and the words spill from her like a breathless prayer: "Anu-Jyoti-Poonam-Roshni-Sheetal-Bindu-Chandni-Shezal."
They have been born in a country leaping headfirst into the globalized world but still holding tight to a preference for boys, enlarging an ever-widening gender imbalance in the second most populous nation on earth.
Tomar, 50, said his wife had also had three abortions. Asked if the intent had been to abort female fetuses, he looked silently at the ground.
"It would have been easier to have a son. Even just one," said Shanti, 38, whose stringy hair and worn skin make her look 20 years older. She's holding their youngest girl, 3-month-old Shezal.
Much has changed in this village since the Tomars' first daughter was born 19 years ago. Electricity arrived, and later the first cell phones. The number of tractors has quadrupled. Today, the village's girls attend the local primary school just like its boys.
"There's more money here now, and more education. But it's still in the back of everyone's mind: 'I must have a male child,'" said Madhur Gurhan, the obstetrician who runs the public hospital's maternity ward in Morena, the largest nearby city. "The money doesn't change that."
It has long been clear that India has a deep-seated preference for boys. By 2001, researchers estimated the country had anywhere from 20 million to 40 million "missing" girls from sex-selective abortions made available through the spread of ultrasound technology.
But as India modernizes — as places like Singhpura become small towns, as towns become cities and as India's once-overwhelming poverty is slowly supplanted by an increasingly educated middle class that wants fewer children — researchers say the problem is only getting worse.
"We're now dealing with attitudes that are spreading," said Sabu George, a prominent activist against the practice. "It's frightening what we're heading to."
While the next national census will not be done until 2011, giving a detailed overall picture, study after study has found an increasingly grim situation even as India's middle class grows.
While researchers once thought education and wealth would dampen the preference for boys, the reverse has turned out to be true.
According to UNICEF, about 7,000 fewer girls than expected are born every day in India. According to the British medical journal The Lancet, up to 500,000 female fetuses are being aborted every year. This in a country where abortion is legal but sex-determination tests were outlawed in 1991 — a law nearly impossible to enforce, since ultrasound tests leave no trace.
Cricket: India secure win to level series
Third Test, day three, Kanpur: India 325, 64-2 beat South Africa 265, 121 by eight wickets
Harbhajan Singh ended with 19 wickets in the three-Test series
India earned a thrilling eight-wicket victory within three days in the third and final Test against South Africa in Kanpur to level the series 1-1.
The home side dismissed the tourists for 121, with Harbhajan Singh (4-44) and Virender Sehwag (3-12) leading the attack on a vicious, turning pitch.
Only captain Graeme Smith (35) managed an innings of any genuine substance.
Set a target of 62 to win, India lost openers Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer, but Rahul Dravid hit the winning runs.
The victory ensures India maintain their position in second in the ICC Test rankings - as well as earn stand-in captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni a memorable debut victory.
"It was a team effort. There were a couple of players who were above par, Harbhajan has been superb in the entire series and the part-timers also bowled well in this Test," said Dhoni.
 | India were clinical throughout and they deserved their victory SA captain Graeme Smith |
"It was a tough series and losing the toss put us on the back foot."
South Africa's prospects of setting the home side an intimidating fourth-innings target on a spiteful and demonic pitch were frustrated by a stubborn final-wicket partnership between Sree Santh and Ishant Sharma.
The fast bowlers yielded 37 priceless runs in the morning session to extend India's first innings lead, batting out 11 overs for a 60-run advantage.
"We were 30 runs short in the first innings, we lost our way with our batting," said Smith.
"And also India getting a lead like that, those were the two big swinging points in the Test match.
"We were also not as good with the ball as we had been in the series. We were a little bit too anxious to bowl India out."
Left-arm spinner Paul Harris eventually made the breakthrough when Santh was caught at short cover by Ashwell Prince for 29.
More........India to invite bids for purchase of 312 helicopters
NEW DELHI: Close on the heels of floating multi-billion dollar global tenders for buying long-range artillery guns, India plans to invite international bids for purchase of 312 light helicopters. The tenders for these helicopters, 197 for the army aviati on and another 115 for the air force, are to be floated in the next few days and are estimated to be worth over $2 billion.
India plans to buy these helicopters to give its forces capability of rapid deployment and for logistics support on the icy heights of Siachen glacier.
"These choppers are being inducted to enhance the operational capability of the armed forces in the high Himalayan frontiers", according to the Defence Secretary Mr Vijay Singh.
Textron-based American helicopter major Bell, European arms major EADS, Russia's Kamov and Italian Augusta Westland are expected to be the main bidders for the Indian tenders.
The four helicopter manufacturers were also the bidders in the Indian army request for proposals for 197 helicopters, which was cancelled at the last moment after government said rules of procurement had been flouted by a bidder. At the time of cancellat ion of the deal, officials were engaged in price negotiation.
The combined army and IAF tenders were to be out in the first week of this month, but were delayed as the air force was late in firming up its requirements, according to officials. - PTI
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Akash SAM
Hi,
Some Facts and Figures about The Akash (Sky), medium-range, theatre defence, surface-to-air missile.
Support Vehicles and Akash Pictures
The Battery Surveillance Radar (BSR) is a track vehicle based, long range sensor, interfaced with the BCC. It can detect and track upto 40 targets in range and azimuth.
The Battery Level Radar (BLR) is a phased array, multi-function sensor interfaced with the BCC. It acquires and tracks upto 20 targets in range, azimuth and height. Slewable and mobile, the BLR also tracks and guides upto eight missiles simultaneously towards the targets assigned by the BCC.
The Akash Air Force Launcher (AAFL) is configured on a trailer based mobile vehicle, which can deploy in three ways; the vehicle mode, the trailer mode and the stand-alone mode. It carries three ready to fire missiles and is capable
of remote operation. 360 degree slewable, in elevation it can fire from 8 to 75 degrees in all directions depending on the mode of deployment.
The launch platforms are microprocessor driven and controlled through an electro-mechanical servo system. They have there own inbuilt gas turbine engine (GTE) driven power sources.
Some Facts and Figures about The Akash (Sky), medium-range, theatre defence, surface-to-air missile.
Designed around a plug-and-fight architecture, the Akash ground and flight elements can be configuredfor specific user requirements.
Akash’s proven kill capabilities are a result of state-of-the-art technologies. With repeatedly successful trails, India joined a select club of nations possessing similar capabilities, however with a distinct advantage in costs.
The Akash is a highly dependable, indeginously produced weapon system, capable of fighting mobile and fast paced operations.
Support Vehicles and Akash Pictures
The Battery Surveillance Radar (BSR) is a track vehicle based, long range sensor, interfaced with the BCC. It can detect and track upto 40 targets in range and azimuth.
The Battery Level Radar (BLR) is a phased array, multi-function sensor interfaced with the BCC. It acquires and tracks upto 20 targets in range, azimuth and height. Slewable and mobile, the BLR also tracks and guides upto eight missiles simultaneously towards the targets assigned by the BCC.
The Akash Air Force Launcher (AAFL) is configured on a trailer based mobile vehicle, which can deploy in three ways; the vehicle mode, the trailer mode and the stand-alone mode. It carries three ready to fire missiles and is capable
of remote operation. 360 degree slewable, in elevation it can fire from 8 to 75 degrees in all directions depending on the mode of deployment.The launch platforms are microprocessor driven and controlled through an electro-mechanical servo system. They have there own inbuilt gas turbine engine (GTE) driven power sources.
Air Force to place order for Akash missile system
BANGALORE: The Air Force will soon place a production order for the guided, medium range surface-to-air Akash missile system.
With the process for placing the order with the public sector enterprise Bharat Electronics (BEL) already set in motion with the Ministry of Defence, official sources said the public announcement could be expected “within a matter of days.” This is the first time that the armed forces are placing an order for a wholly indigenously developed weapon delivery system of this complexity and class.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), the Akash, complete with its radars, mobile launchers, control centres, battle field management software and other support systems, will be utilised by the Air Force against aerial attacks, both in the form of aircraft and missiles. The initial order will be for two squadrons.
The Akash, which is in the same class as the U.S.’ Patriot, Israel’s Barak and the U.K.’s SAM, can destroy targets 25 km away, has a supersonic speed of 600 metres a second, and can intercept targets such as the Cruise missile and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Over 700 kg in weight and 5.78 metres long, the Akash is fired by solid propellants and can destroy multiple targets. It can be fired from both trucks and tracked vehicles. The indigenous missile is expected to cost the exchequer relatively less than similar missiles which are in the range of Rs.5 crore to Rs.6 crore each.
For the Air Force, which now deploys missile systems mostly of Russian vintage, the Akash will be a long overdue replacement, fructifying a good 21 years after the project was launched.
The delay had forced the defence forces to rethink elements of their air defence modernisation plans, with the Air Force even planning an order for the short range Spyder missile system to plug gaps in its air defence capabilities.
DRDL Project Director R.R. Panyam told The Hindu that the Air Force had “fully cleared the Akash after elaborate user field trials,” at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea in Orissa last December. He expects the two squadrons to be delivered to the Air Force in around three years.
More........
India launches Israeli satellite
 Officials say the satellite has already begun transmitting |
The Israeli press is reporting that the satellite will improve Israel's ability to monitor Iran's military activities.
Indian officials that given these sensitivities, the operation was secret and carried out under tight security.
The Tecsar satellite - sometimes referred to as the Polaris - was put into space on Monday morning.
'Sinister tie-up'
Tecsar is said to have enhanced footage technology, which allows it to transmit images regardless of daytime and weather conditions.
It is considered to be one of the most advanced spy satellites that India has put into orbit to date.
India is eager to compete in the world space technology market
Correspondents say the launch was the second commercial mission on behalf of another country that has been carried out by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
"It was a grand success," an unnamed official told the AFP news agency from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Israeli newspapers reported that both Israeli and Indian space engineers were at the launch, and that 80 minutes afterwards, the Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) ground station began receiving Tecsar's first signals.
The 300kg (650-pound) satellite is reported to be Israel's most advanced space craft, and equipped with a camera that can take pictures in almost any weather conditions.
Israel reportedly took the decision to launch the satellite from India three years ago, and asked for Delhi's help because it lacks a vehicle capable of boosting the satellite into a polar orbit.
India Rolls Its Own Space Tech
BANGALORE, India -- India hasn't put men in orbit, sent remote-control rovers across Mars, or shot probes beyond the edge of our galaxy. But for the last five decades, it has been quietly making advances to keep it a player thousands of miles from Earth.
The Indian Space Research Organization doesn't need to look outside the borders of its own country to find technological innovators. The program today is an entirely ground-up operation that designs and launches its own satellites and research vehicles into space. Here is a list of some of the more promising programs sponsored by ISRO.
Shooting the Moon: Some time in early 2008, ISRO plans to launch the Chandryaan-1, an orbital space satellite designed to map the surface of the moon. Since NASA proposed a new initiative to use the moon as a starting point for an eventual manned mission to Mars, India has stepped forward to help out. Chandrayaan-1 will begin a two-year mission where it will aim to send back millions of high-quality images for scientists around the globe to ponder. Just 100 kilometers above endless miles of dusty planes, Chandryaan will drop a miniature probe to test future technology that could one day be the proposed basis for a lunar landing where the ISRO could use its own robotic rovers. Scientists from the European Union, United States and Bulgaria have all contributed instruments to the mission.
SCRAMJET: When you absolutely, positively have to get a jet to move at 25 times the speed of sound, the only practical option is to construct an engine that uses atmospheric air to fuel combustion. To reach those speeds it's just not practical to carry along your own oxygen like most rocket engines do.
Rocket science: Sending delicate objects made out of metal and glass into space without breaking them into a million pieces or dropping them into a nearby ocean is not something to be taken lightly. India has successfully put 44 satellites into orbit. Until a recent failure in which the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle, a disposable three-stage cryogenic rocket designed for launching communications satellites, exploded a minute after takeoff, ISRO had an impressive string of successful launches. A second disposable rocket that positions reconaissance satellites into polar orbits, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle has only had one failure in eight launches and will launch the Chandryaan probe next year. In the coming two years India will complete research on a new launch craft, the GSLV-III, that will be able to handle large satellites weighing up to 6 tons into space.
Afghanistan Wants Indian Help Training Troops
NEW DELHI - Afghanistan is seeking India's help in training its troops to fight insurgents.
The request will be conveyed to senior Indian defense planners by visiting Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, who arrived here April 8, sources in the Indian Defence Ministry said.
While New Delhi has ruled out direct involvement of its forces in Afghanistan, the government will consider training Afghan military personnel at Indian institutes, a senior Defence Ministry official here said.
Wardak's weeklong visit to India will include a stop in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, where Indian troops are fighting Muslim extremists from across the Pakistan border.
Wardak, heading a seven-member delegation, is set to hold talks with Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony and top brass of India's military on security issues and will be the first Afghan defense minister to visit Jammu and Kashmir.
He also will visit state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and the Air Force's Training Command, both in Bangalore. Afghanistan is keen to get its air force personnel trained in India, Defence Ministry sources here said, adding that HAL is also expecting an order from Kabul for its Advanced Light Helicopter.
Afghanistan also hopes to get training and maintenance support from India for its military's 10 Russian-made Mi-35 helicopter gunships.
The other emerging economic giant
By Peter Walker for CNN
(CNN) -- Business schools worldwide are, understandably, rushing to equip students with the skills needed to trade with China.
But there is another emerging economic giant that cannot be ignored -- India.
With a population of 1.1 billion and a fast-growing and increasingly affluent middle class, India is an increasingly important market for aspirant business executives to understand.
This is all the more
so i
n Britain, India's former colonial ruler and home to more than a million people of Indian origin, not to mention a partner in bilateral trade worth nearly 15 billion dollars last year.
The increasing importance of the countries' business relationship has been reinforced this month, with two leading British business schools announcing major new links with India.
Judge Business School, the highly
-ranked institution attached to Cambridge University, has just signed a three-year deal with the Indian School of Business for the exchange of students.
The program will see some Indian School of Business students spent a semester in Cambridge on Judge's full-time MBA course, while students from Judge make the opposite journey to Hyderabad in India.
High-tech links
The exchange students will attend lectures and undertake consulting projects with the research arm of software giant Microsoft, a partner in the project.
The emphasis on high-tech business reflects both India's increasing prominence in the global IT industry, and also the popularity of the so-called "Silicon Fen" area around Cambridge, in eastern England, as a hub for technology firms.
The UK and Indian schools "share much in common in terms of our goals for our students," said Dr Shai Vyakarnam, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Learning at Judge.
"As a rapidly developing economy, India is also becoming one of these new sources of innovation, so it is a fantastic opportunity for us to provide educational services to inspire and build up skills in the practice of entrepreneurship to India's future business leaders," Vyakarnam said.
In a separate venture, the highly-rated Tanaka Business School, part of London University's Imperial College, has just announced it is to launch a new Indian research center in London, working with the Confederation of Indian Industry.
The Rajiv Gandhi Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship -- named after the Indian prime minister assassinated in 1991 -- is intended to help Indian and British companies improve innovation management.
The aim to is to "permit the cross-fertilization of ideas between science, engineering, medicine and business" in India and Britain.
"India is fast becoming one of the economic wonders of the 21st century, and we believe that the world can learn much from its experience," noted Sir Richard Sykes, rector of Imperial College.
"India's economic success will increasingly depend on wealth creation through knowledge and hi-tech interaction with the global economy and we feel that this historic agreement between Imperial and the Confederation of Indian Industry will help pave the way towards a more innovative corporate environment and increasing interaction between the bright new hopes of our two countries," he added.
Link
Featured Thread of the Month
INDIAN ECONOMY IN CRISIS
by omkara on Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:11 am
"Before 5 months 1 CAN $ = IND Rs 32
After 5 months. Now it is 1 CAN $ = IND Rs 37
Do u know this, INDIAN economy is in a crisis - As you are all aware ! INDIA like many other ASIAN countries, INDIA is undergoing a severe economic crunch. Many INDIAN industries are closing down. More than 30000 crore rupees of foreign exchange are being siphoned out of our country on products such as cosmetics, snacks, tea, beverages...etc which are grown, produced and consumed here .
To save our future………
What you can do about it?
1. Buy only products manufactured by WHOLLY INDIAN COMPANIES.
2. ENROLL as many people as possible for this cause.
This is the only way to save our country from severe economic crisis.
You don't need to give-up your lifestyle. You just need to choose an alternate product.
All categories of products are available from WHOLLY INDIAN COMPANIES.
"
SwordFish_13 Replied:
"Hi,
Brilliant; if you don't mind -- where did you go to school for the finance?
Another Left Wing Communist .... This is just silly and retrogade. It brings back just the mindset that brought us economic ruin for 40 years.To quote Deng Xiaoping, "what does it matter whether the cat is black or white as long as it catches the mouse ?"
In other words, money is money. Indian economic growth is what matters... and Bottom Line is Growth has never been faster
we need to understand Gandhi's Swadeshi Movement is over.... Look at Chinese Economic Model if you need a Proof that globalisation works or why Not Look at India Before and After we Started the Economic Reforms.......Second it was only Globalisation that we see the Kind of Development we see around us.... Would have been Un- imagineable without Globalisation.."
Rocker2000 Pitched in With his Support for SwordFish_13
"Well said Swordfish i don't know (omkara) how old are you but in your childhood have you ever imagined getting to see all the international channels on your tv set or for that matter using the latest gizmos which are released in US and Japan in India. let's take the best example can you imagine so many jobs the BPOs are offering to the indian youth ??
So boycotting the MNCs will only harm our economy not boost it!!!
U have to understand that we have to compete with global players to beat them. Why do you use a Lux instead of Cinthol? Ponder over it !! becoz the quality is better and this is the simple but bitter truth. so the indian companies have to come up to global level to compete with them."
Letter from India: India can't wait to put the 'super' before 'power'
NEW DELHI: The Times of India has designed a neat logo that it sticks at the top of every article about India's thriving economy or growing international importance: a small spinning wheel, the national symbol, alongside the words "Global Indian Takeover."
Sometimes the articles deemed to reflect the nation's unstoppable rise are persuasive - Indian corporate successes, rising share prices, Booker Prize victories. More often they are bewilderingly trifling.
In a front-page article this week, the latest evidence of India's rising power was the rather underwhelming news that a girl of Indian-origin had become Miss Great Britain. The "Global Indian Takeover" slogan was stamped next to a pouting picture of Preeti Desai.
The Times of India, the nation's largest-selling English-language paper, is chasing a trend. This desire to highlight every small achievement as proof of India's unstoppable rise has become a national sport. An obsessive conviction that India is destined for international supremacy is spreading fast.
Over the past few years there has been a rush to invest India with nascent superpower status. Banks predict India will become the world's third- largest economy in the next couple of decades, a CIA report forecasts that the 21st century will be India's. Every visiting foreign dignitary pauses to pay tribute to India's relentless ascent to economic, international glory.
'DRDO must avoid delays in defence projects'
NEW DELHI: Indicating that the Defence Research and Development Organization was in for a major revamp, defence minister A K Antony on Friday said cost and time overruns would no longer do in crucial defence projects.
"We are in the process of introducing several innovations to streamline and make more effective the entire defence product development and procurement process," said Antony, while addressing the 32nd DRDO conference here.
"On the anvil are amendments to our procurement procedures, developing a healthy interface with the public and private industry through offsets and bringing about organizational improvements in DRDO," he added.
This assumes significance in the backdrop of the recent report by the P Rama Rao committee, which has called for a drastic overhaul of DRDO to ensure it can supply cutting-edge weapon systems to armed forces without the prevailing huge time and cost overruns, as reported by TOI earlier.
"We are in the process of introducing several innovations to streamline and make more effective the entire defence product development and procurement process," said Antony, while addressing the 32nd DRDO conference here.
"On the anvil are amendments to our procurement procedures, developing a healthy interface with the public and private industry through offsets and bringing about organizational improvements in DRDO," he added.
This assumes significance in the backdrop of the recent report by the P Rama Rao committee, which has called for a drastic overhaul of DRDO to ensure it can supply cutting-edge weapon systems to armed forces without the prevailing huge time and cost overruns, as reported by TOI earlier.
India won't succumb to Taliban threat: Pranab
BAHARAMPORE (WB): Expressing outrage over the killing of Indian construction workers in Afghanistan by suspected Taliban, India on Saturday said it would never succumb to the threats by the Islamist militia and measures would be taken to protect Indians working in that country.
"We will take necessary measures to safeguard Indians working in Afghanistan," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here.
Mukherjee said that those injured in the attack would be brought back to India for treatment.
"Despite the Taliban attack, India will remain firm on its stand and not succumb to the pressures of the militia," Mukherjee asserted.
Suspected Taliban militants on Saturday killed three personnel of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and injured several in a suicide attack near Minar area in Nimroz province.
Referring to CPM's agitation against Congress for rise in essential commodities, Mukherjee said the blame was unjusitified as Congress had put in place the PDS system across the country and the Marxists were responsible for its ''collapse'' in West Bengal.
"We will take necessary measures to safeguard Indians working in Afghanistan," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here.
Mukherjee said that those injured in the attack would be brought back to India for treatment.
"Despite the Taliban attack, India will remain firm on its stand and not succumb to the pressures of the militia," Mukherjee asserted.
Suspected Taliban militants on Saturday killed three personnel of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and injured several in a suicide attack near Minar area in Nimroz province.
Referring to CPM's agitation against Congress for rise in essential commodities, Mukherjee said the blame was unjusitified as Congress had put in place the PDS system across the country and the Marxists were responsible for its ''collapse'' in West Bengal.
India court approves quota plan
 College students have in the past protested against quotas |
India's Supreme Court has approved a government plan to allow controversial affirmative action quotas in colleges and universities.
Under the plan the lower castes' share of places in educational institutions would more than double to nearly 50%.
But the judges have ruled that the privileged among the lower castes will not be entitled to the quota benefits.
The court had put the programme on hold last year after several petitions challenging it were filed.
The controversial plan split the country and led to widespread protests across India when it was announced last year.
Unhappy
Many argued that the plan could hurt India's rapid economic rise. But it has the support of millions of students from underprivileged groups.
Efforts to increase affirmative action quotas have been bitterly opposed by students at some of the country's best-known professional colleges.
Student groups have already said they are unhappy with the Supreme Court ruling and that they will hold protests against the order.
Putting the programme on hold last year, the Supreme Court said the government needed to provide fresh data on lower castes - also known as Other Backward Castes or OBCs in official language - because it said it found the present data too old.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said his government is committed to removing inequalities so that everyone can enjoy the fruit of India's economic growth.
Last year, the government pushed a bill through parliament in which places at some of the country's best-known professional colleges were set aside for students from lower-caste and disadvantaged communities.
Link
Mughal emperor's gold dagger sold
 Shah Jahan was known for his love of precious artefacts |
A gold dagger which once belonged to Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal, has been sold at auction for £1.7m.
The international fine art auction house, Bonhams, said the price was more than three times the estimate.
The emperor's personal dagger dates back to 1629-30, and carries his name.
It is part of the collection of late Jacques Desenfans who spent five decades collecting Islamic, Indian and south-east Asian art.
Claire Penhallurick, Head of Bonhams Indian and Islamic sales, said: "Objects of this quality and importance come to the market very, very rarely. We are delighted with the result."
India fight back to stun Proteas
Third Test, day one, Kanpur: South Africa 265 all out v India (close)
 The recalled Yuvraj Singh (right) congratulates Ishant Sharma |
India fought back superbly on day one of the third and final Test in Kanpur to bowl South Africa out for 265.
Graeme Smith (69) and Hashim Amla led the Proteas to 152-1 after tea, before India's spinners and paceman Ishant Sharma (3-55) took control.
Spin pair Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla, 19, shared five wickets.
India, skippered by Mahendra Dhoni in the absence of the injured Anil Kumble, need to win the game to level the three-match series.
If they do, it will be without captain Kumble, who failed a morning fitness test on his injured groin and must sit out the decisive encounter.
The Proteas made an impressive start in Kanpur, knowing a draw in the Test would be enough to move them up to number two behind Australia in the ICC's Test rankings.
Goa sacks police officer who botched Scarlett murder probe
PANAJI, India (AFP) - Authorities in India's resort state of Goa have sacked a police officer who initially probed the murder of a British teenager and dismissed the death as a drowning, officials said.
AFP/HO/File Photo: This picture released by the family of British teenager Scarlett Keeling shows Scarlett standing on...
Scarlett Keeling, 15, was found dead on popular Anjuna beach in February.
Her mother Fiona Mackeown has accused authorities in the former Portuguese colony of covering up the killing because of their links to local drug dealers and politicians.
On Friday, the Goa government, which agreed to allow a federal probe into the murder of the teenager, dismissed sub-inspector Nerlon Albuquerque who was already on suspension.
"We have found major lapses on the part of Albuquerque and hence police establishment board recommended his dismissal," said Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat.
His lapses were very serious," he told AFP.
Another senior police official, who requested anonymity, said Albuquerque "has been dismissed because of goof-up and sabotage into the investigations" after Keeling's bruised and partially naked body was found on February 18.
<
Scarlett Keeling, 15, was found dead on popular Anjuna beach in February.
Her mother Fiona Mackeown has accused authorities in the former Portuguese colony of covering up the killing because of their links to local drug dealers and politicians.
On Friday, the Goa government, which agreed to allow a federal probe into the murder of the teenager, dismissed sub-inspector Nerlon Albuquerque who was already on suspension.
"We have found major lapses on the part of Albuquerque and hence police establishment board recommended his dismissal," said Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat.
His lapses were very serious," he told AFP.
Another senior police official, who requested anonymity, said Albuquerque "has been dismissed because of goof-up and sabotage into the investigations" after Keeling's bruised and partially naked body was found on February 18.
Friday, April 11, 2008
India inflation nears 4 year high
 The government has said it will focus on capping price growth |
Inflation in India climbed to its highest level in March for almost four years driven by rising metal, food and oil prices, official figures show.
The annual rate of consumer price growth was 7.4% last month, the highest rate since November 2004.
Concerned by rising food prices, India last week announced a ban on exports of non-basmati rice and removed duties on imports of crude edible oils.
On Friday, it banned cement exports and withdrew concessions for steel.
Trade Minister Kamal Nath said inflation control was a priority and more measures would follow.
Poverty measures
Unlike many countries India calculates inflation on factory gate prices or wholesale prices.
Prices paid by consumers in retail shops are higher and the issue of price growth and inflation has become a become sticky political problem with six Indian states going to polls in coming months.
India and Africa investment deal
 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants to increase India's influence in Africa |
Africa's top leaders have pushed for greater investment from India at the end of a two-day summit in Delhi.
Leaders from more than a dozen African countries said that food shortages and rising oil prices are leading to a major crisis in the continent.
India has pledged to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in Africa over the next five years, in return for greater access to its natural resources.
India is competing with China in securing lucrative contracts in Africa.
But many believe that it has lost a lot of ground to its regional rival.
From wikipedia India
3,500km range Agni-III to be testfired this month
NEW DELHI: India plans to test-fire its most ambitious strategic missile Agni-III, which can hit high-value targets deep inside China with a strike range of 3,500-km, towards April-end.
Sources said the test-firing is likely to take place in the "window" between April 20 to 30, but the exact launch date will depend on technical, environmental and other parameters. This will be the third test of the rail-mobile Agni-III — which can carry a 1.5 tonne nuclear payload — from the integrated test range on Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa.
While the first test of the two-stage, solid-fuelled Agni-III in July 2006 had flopped, with scientists losing control of the missile over the Bay of Bengal barely 65 seconds into its flight, the second test in April 2007 had proved successful during its entire flight path of 15 minutes.
Read the Complete Article Here
Sources said the test-firing is likely to take place in the "window" between April 20 to 30, but the exact launch date will depend on technical, environmental and other parameters. This will be the third test of the rail-mobile Agni-III — which can carry a 1.5 tonne nuclear payload — from the integrated test range on Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa.
While the first test of the two-stage, solid-fuelled Agni-III in July 2006 had flopped, with scientists losing control of the missile over the Bay of Bengal barely 65 seconds into its flight, the second test in April 2007 had proved successful during its entire flight path of 15 minutes.
Read the Complete Article Here
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