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Current Affairs
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Oct
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Volume - 8
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New aviation policy soon, says Minister
65th Annual General Meeting at Hyderabad
Civil Aviation Minister Mr P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that a new aviation
policy would be brought out soon to develop infrastructure and attract
investments. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 65 Annual General
Meeting (AGM) of The Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI), Hyderabad
chapter, he warned that there was every chance of some unused airports
becoming a liability to the government. “There are 125 airports in the country
out of which 75 are in use. There needs to be a strategy regarding the rest of
the airports. Otherwise, they will end up as non-performing assets.” He ruled
out the possibility of bailing out private airlines that were incurring huge losses.
On the industry’s demand for a reduction in tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel
(ATF), he said Andhra Pradesh was among the few States that had responded
positively to the Union government’s appeal to lower the tax on ATF. “Along
with A.P., Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Punjab also want to reduce
the ATF prices. We are pursuing the issue with other States as well. The
States that see less aviation activity have responded to our request positively,
whereas the States that witness heavy aviation activity are dragging their
feet on this,” he remarked.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/
T ec
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Cur
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Agni-I Hits Target Area with Pin
Point Accuracy
Mars Orbiter Mission may have
longer life
ISRO Gears Up for IRNSS 1C
Launch
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CURRENT AFF
AIRS
AFFAIRS
India may regain its aviation safety rating from Federal Aviation Authority
India may regain American aviation regulator’s category 1 rating for safety standards within the next few months as
the Federal Aviation Authority has agreed to another audit after appearing to be satisfied with the corrective measures
that have been put in place since January when it downgraded the country. The consent to another audit by the
FAA, which is seen as the first step to restoring the category 1 status, came after a six-member team of the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation made a presentation to the US regulator. “The FAA is satisfied with our
performance and has agreed to come to India to audit us again. We have requested them to come either in
September-end or October first week, but they have not given us a date for the audit yet,” said a senior civil aviation
ministry official, requesting anonymity. The government hopes that the FAA will restore the category 1 status before
the end of the year, another official said. The FAA had downgraded India to category 2 status after it found that the
DGCA did not have enough flight operations inspectors and its officials were not trained on the type of aircraft flying
in India. A six-member team, headed by Director General of the DGCA Mr Prabhat Kumar, went to the US last
week to apprise the FAA of the work done in the country to address concerns that it had raised in its audits
conducted in September and December last year. The team is learnt to have told the FAA that the Indian regulator
has 20 full-time flight operations inspectors, which are enough to monitor the 500 aircraft flying in the country. The
team also conveyed that the DGCA is about to recruit another 15-20 inspectors. Earlier, the DGCA did not have any
regular flight operations inspectors. Pilots and commanders were seconded from scheduled airlines to carry out
these functions. The team also sought to allay the FAA’s concerns over the training imparted to the DGCA officials,
saying the officials had been duly trained on the types of aircraft flying in India.
Source: http://m.economictimes.com/
T-50 PAK-FA fighter jet project with Russia hits turbulence
New Delhi is increasingly concerned about the sluggish progress in the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA)
project, a joint endeavour between India and Russia. Driving India’s worries is the fact that the Russians are
neither explaining why a prototype aircraft caught fire during a technology demonstration earlier this year nor
addressing other technical doubts expressed by India. In fact, the defence ministry is quite sceptical about reports
from Russia that a final design contract for the next generation combat jet is on the cards. New Delhi is particularly
miffed with the fact that despite being an equal partner in the FGFA project in terms of financial contribution,
Moscow is not keen to share technical details about its next generation stealth fighter PAK-FA, on which the Indian
version of the combat jet will be based. The Indian version, called the Prospective Multi-Role Fighter (PMF), is
almost exactly the same as PAK-FA but with some variations. In fact, Indian money is key to keeping Russia’s
PAKFA programme alive. Russia has built six prototypes of PAK-FA and, after repeated requests from India, it
agreed to hold a demonstration flight earlier this year for technical evaluation. The flight ended in a fire that
embarrassed the Russians. But much to the surprise of an Indian team present at the site, they were not allowed
anywhere near the aircraft. India wanted to know the reasons for the fire but details were never shared, said
sources. India has paid $295 million (Rs.1,785.19 crore) for the preliminary design, which was finalised last year,
and it is only logical that Indian officials feel concerned about the status of the PAK-FA programme. The Indian side
was not satisfied with the preliminary design and raised questions about maintenance issues, the engine, stealth
features, weapon carriage system, safety and reliability. Sources said there could not be any progress until these
issues were resolved. But the queries remain unanswered even after a round of discussions between the two sides
this month. The Russian side’s common response to New Delhi’s concerns has been: “Don’t get emotional.” Any
further push on these issues results in talk of price escalation, sources said. For instance, the Indian Air Force had
made it clear last year that it was not satisfied with the engine of the new fighter, which was based on the power
plant for the Sukhoi-30. A change has been promised at an additional cost. No Indian expert or pilot has had a long
hard look at the PAK-FA jet to date. The Russians are not allowing Indian pilots to fly the aircraft, claiming foreign
pilots are barred from flying in their airspace. But India argues that such restrictions were not imposed when the
Sukhois or MiG jets were extensively flown in Russia by Indian pilots. Already, India has been reduced from a joint
collaborator to a financing partner in the FGFA project. The Indian work share in the venture is a paltry 13 per cent
though it is paying 50 per cent of the projected cost of $10.5 billion agreed on in 2011. In terms of work, India’s
state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will contribute only tyres, basic navigational instrument VOR-DME, coolant
for the radar, laser designation pod and heads-up display. Even within this 13 per cent, the actual indigenous items
will be in single digits and the rest will be procured from abroad. The programme has been plagued by difficulties
right from the start. India initially wanted around 30 or 40 twin-seat aircraft to be used as trainers. But since PAK-FA
was a single-seater, the Russians sought an additional $8 billion for the trainer version. The move was scrapped as
India settled for training on simulators. After the signing of the final design contract, it will take 94 months to
complete the development programme. The delay in resolving technical issues has meant that the IAF will not have
fifth generation fighters even by the next decade.
Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in
‘IISc’s Alumni are Global Achievers’
As a scientist, Prof Anurag Kumar works on mathematical modelling of communication networks such as the
Internet, WiFi, cellular systems, methods of improving them and new designs. Now, as director of the premier
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, he says his focus is to make it one of the top institutes in the world. He
took over as IISc director on August 1. “Rankings vary. The first batch of undergraduates will pass out this year from
IISc. In the Shanghai Rankings, we are between 300-400 in the world and the first in the country. As of now, we do
not have Nobel Prize winners in the institute. That counts in the rankings. The aim is certainly to go up in the list. We
are seized of this issue and working on it,” Prof Kumar said. He felt rankings depend on a variety of factors —
publishing in the right journals, getting visitors from abroad, international collaborators, etc. The visibility of IISc
does not correspond to its size and its reach, he felt. ”A good university is world class because it creates alumni
who go and serve the country. IISc is playing a world class role in the nation. IIScians play leadership roles in
different government institutions, industries, etc. Rankings do not include all that,” he said. Historically, the institute
has played a role in setting up the first national internet and power system in the country. It has also contributed in
a big way to science and research activities. IISc produces over 200 high quality PhD students annually. Quite a
few of them go on to become faculty members in Indian institutions of higher education or researchers in industry
and government research and development laboratories. The institute produces more than 400 Masters degree
holders every year who are highly sought after by the industry. IISc leads the nation in high quality international
research publications in science and engineering, and is consistently ranked No. 1 in the country in this measure of
scientific achievement, he said.
Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/
India to submit Saarc satellite proposal at next summit
Two months after Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi came out with the idea of a South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) satellite, the government is readying a proposal for the group’s upcoming Kathmandu summit
in November. The contours of the proposal have been kept closely guarded. “I cannot talk about the SAARC
satellite at the moment. It is not right on my part. I will tell you later in an appropriate time,” Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan told. Mr Modi’s idea of ISRO taking a lead on the SAARC
satellite, sources said, came in the wake of an alert from the external intelligence agency, Research and Analysis
Wing that warned the government of China boosting space cooperation in India’s neighbourhood. The communist
nation in the last three years launched two satellites from Sri Lanka and Pakistan and signed an agreement for a
third launch. In November 2012, the China Great Wall Industry Corporation ferried a 5 tonnes communication
satellite from a Sri Lankan private firm Supreme SAT (Supreme SAT-1) to the orbit. Though Colombo distanced
itself from the launch, President Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Mr Rohita, played a key role in developing the
satellite as he is the technical director of the firm.
Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/
Google tests using drones to deliver goods
Google has said it is testing using drones to deliver items bought online, putting its own spin on similar efforts by
Internet retail titan Amazon.com. Two years of research into what Google referred to as “Project Wing” was capped
this month with test flights delivering candy, water, medicine, dog treats and other items to two farmers in Queensland,
Australia. “Self-flying vehicles could open up entirely new approaches to moving goods,” California-based Google
said in a blog post disclosing the project. “Throughout history, major changes in how we move goods from place to
place have led to new opportunities for economic growth and generally made consumers’ lives easier.” Project
Wing drones were described as having more in common with Google’s self-driving car than remote-controlled
aircraft used by hobbyists. Delivery drones and autonomous vehicles are both being worked on in Google X lab
devoted to innovative new technologies. Google expected it to be several years before a delivery drone system is
ready. Last month, Amazon sought permission for drone test flights in the United States, saying it is moving forward
on plans for deliveries using unmanned aircraft. In a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration, Amazon said that
because of restrictions on drones in US airspace, it has been conducting test flights indoors and in other countries.
Amazon said an exemption to FAA rules would be “in the public interest” and “is a necessary step towards realizing
the consumer benefits of Amazon Prime Air,” which company founder Mr Jeff Bezos has described as a plan for
drone delivery to consumers. Mr Bezos unveiled his idea for drone deliveries last December, and said the company
would be ready to launch Amazon Prime Air as early as 2015 if FAA regulations allowed. The letter said that over
the past five months, “we have made advancements toward the development of highly-automated aerial vehicles
for Prime Air,” which travel at over 80 kilometers per hour and can carry loads up to 2.2 kilos. Amazon’s plan is to
allow for deliveries of some goods within 30 minutes of an order. Amazon predicted in the letter that “one day,
seeing Amazon Prime Air will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today, resulting in enormous benefits
for consumers across the nation.”
Source: http://www.newsnation.in/a
For First Time Since World War 2, Japan Will Sell Military Equipment. To India.
During his visit to Japan, Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi may not have closed a deal on nuclear energy cooperation,
but he is returning with a pledge from counterpart Shinzo Abe for nearly 34 billion dollars in investment over the
next five years, and the sale of an amphibious aircraft to India’s navy. The deal marks the intent of Asia’s second
and third largest economies to counter an increasingly aggressive China. The specialised sea-plane, the US-2,
will be Japan’s first overseas military sale in nearly 50 years. Because it provides landings on sea and land, the
plane will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s ability to carry out, casualty evacuations, deliver humanitarian
assistance and conduct long-range surveillance and reconnaissance. In keeping with Mr Modi’s emphasis on
developing military technology indigenously to check India’s dependence on foreign defence manufacturers, the
US-2 planes will be made in India. The Indian Navy has been lobbying to get 15 of these. A statement issued in
Tokyo after Monday’s summit between Prime Ministers Mr Modi and Abe said “both sides directed the Joint Working
Group to accelerate progress in the discussions and preparations for a road map for the development of the Indian
aircraft industry through US-2 amphibian aircraft cooperation including the transfer of the aircraft and its technology
to India.” This is the first time since World War-II ended seven decades ago that Japan will be selling military
hardware abroad. Following its defeat, Japan had imposed an embargo on sale of weapons and military equipment.
The four-engine US-2 aircraft will act as a force multiplier for the Indian Navy, allowing it to quickly insert troops at
places where there is no landing strip on shore, including the numerous far-flung islands in Andaman and Nicobar
and Lakshwadeep. Currently, ground troops are delivered to areas like this using a ‘Landing Ship Tank’ which isn’t
always effective. The Sea Planes will allow faster troop insertion of small clusters of soldiers for specialised operations.
India’s coastline runs nearly 7,500 kilometres and the Navy had earlier projected a requirement of 15 such sea
planes, but their acquisition was stalled by a shortage of funds and other competing requirements, seen as more
urgent - like acquiring multi-role helicopters, torpedoes, submarines and ships. The US-2 is one sturdiest aircrafts
and can operate in sea state 5 conditions (wind speed of 30 to 38 km per hour) on the high seas as well as on rivers
and lakes. Each plane can carry about 30 personnel and lift 18 tonnes and fly 4,500 km at stretch without needing
to stop for refuelling.
Source: http://www.ndtv.com/article
Science City gets green signal
The ambitious Science City project proposed to come up on 10,000 acres in Chitradurga district’s Challakere taluk
came unhitched, with the National Green Tribunal (South Zone) giving it the go-ahead. The tribunal had earlier
ordered a stay on proposals by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Defence Research and Development
Organization (DRDO), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
to set up key projects in the taluk. The green signal applies to all projects. In its order dated August 27, the tribunal
said: “...By applying the Doctrine of Sustainable Development, it is held that the respondents (IISc, DRDO, BARC
& ISRO)/ land allottees are not to be restrained from carrying on their proposed projects in view of allegations that
if allowed they would cause environmental degradation.” The order, a copy of which is with TOI, comes after a stay
till August 27, the day the order was to be pronounced. Lifting the stay, the tribunal ordered that the project be
carried out only after the institutes obtain environment clearance from the pollution control board and consent for
establishment ministry of environment and forests (MoEF). The tribunal observed that the land allotted was not
forest land. Sources in DRDO said their project is key for the organization, given the increasing demand for unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAV) and micro air vehicles (MAVs) by the armed forces. The testing bed to come up in Challakere
will also be crucial to test unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV), termed drones by the Western world.
While DRDO, which hasn’t proposed any underground facilities, will not require clearance from the MoEF, the
other three institutes will need to take clearances from both MoEF and the pollution control board. DRDO’s
Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), responsible for UAVs and MAVs, has already got permission
from the pollution control board. ISRO’s remote sensing facility will supplement the one at Hyderabad, while BARC
will have a material enrichment facility dealing with minerals like uranium and thorium, making it the second big
facility in Karnataka, following Kaiga. IISc will build a series of labs, including the crucial gigantic circular magnetic
facility called a Synchrotron. The National Green Tribunal was hearing a plea from Environment Support Group,
which had garnered considerable local support. It ordered a stay on the project proposals of the four premier
institutes on August 22, 2013, following a plea by activists and locals that these projects should not be allowed in
the ecologically sensitive Amrutmahal Kaval grasslands. The activists argued they are important grazing lands and
considered a potential habitat for the Great Indian Bustard. The lands were a source of livelihood for people, and
the projects are pose a threat to them. The word Amrutmahal Kaval is derived from two words - the Amrutmahal
breed of cattle known in the region, and Kaval, meaning protection. The lands were traditionally meant for grazing
cattle.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
Create an aeronautics commission: Mr R K Tyagi
Just weeks after the ministry of defence (MoD) decided to infuse a senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officer as a
permanent member of HAL to have better synergy and understanding while undertaking and implementing projects,
the defence PSU’s chairman has suggested the creation of an Indian Aeronautics Commission, on the lines of the
Space Commission. Speaking at an international conference on ‘energising Indian aerospace industry’ organised
by CII, HAL chairman Mr R K Tyagi said: “The commission will ensure greater cohesion, synergy, understanding
and speeding-up decision making in aerospace related activities.” Pointing out that exploiting foreign direct
investment (FDI) and joint venture opportunities are key to the industry striving for indigenous technologies, he
said: “...Also, our industry must have greater say in selecting technologies for future platform developments and
our offset focus should be on acquisition of cutting edge technology.” The two-day conference is being attended by
representatives from nearly 100 Indian defence industries, will focus on defence technologies in aerospace sector,
design and development of aerospace systems, indigenisation and developing partnership with industry. Adding to
this, vice chief of the Air Staff R K Sharma said that the coming together of resourceful defence PSUs, foreign firms
and private industry would go a long way in creating vibrant defence eco-system in the country.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
SFC personnel test-fires Agni-I
Agni-I, a surface-to-surface, nuclear-weapons-capable ballistic missile, was test-fired for its 700-km strike range
from the Wheeler Island, off the Odisha Coast. Strategic Forces Command (SFC) personnel launched the singlestage, short-range missile, powered by a solid propellant, from a rail mobile launcher as part of regular user
training to consolidate operational readiness. The missile carrying a 1,100-kg payload zeroed in on the target with
a high degree of accuracy, a missile scientist with the Defence Research and Development Organisation said.
Describing it as a fantastic launch, he said the missile achieved a CEP (circular error probability) of about 50
metres. Its trajectory was tracked and monitored by sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electrooptic instruments and naval ships through the 550-second flight. The first night-trial of the missile was conducted
in April.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news
Agni-I Hits Target Area with Pin Point Accuracy
Indian army personnel successfully test fired nuclear capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-I from a
defence base off the Odisha coast. The test was conducted by the strategic forces command (SFC) integrating all
the operational systems and the strategic command network. Defence sources said the indigenously developed
missile, propelled by solid rocket propellant system, blasted off from the launching complex-IV located in Wheeler
Island, a part of Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 11.15 am. After a vertical lift-off from launch pad, the missile
rose into the sky leaving behind a ribbon of smokes. “The missile went off perfectly well and the performance of all
systems had been exactly as expected. It followed the trajectory perfectly and reached the designated target in
Bay of Bengal. The missile’s re-entry system worked flawlessly,” said an official. The launch was undertaken as a
part of periodic training activity by the SFC to further consolidate operational readiness. The trajectory of the trial
was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and
naval ships from its launch till the missile hit the target area with pin point accuracy. The missile used for the test
was picked up randomly from the production lot. According defence sources, the 700-km range missile can be
fired from both road and rail mobile launchers. The 15 meters tall missile having a diameter of one meter weighs
round 12 tonnes and can carry both conventional and nuclear payload of about 1,000 kg. It can flies at a speed of
2.5 km/sec. The need for the Agni-I, a part of minimum credible deterrence, was felt after the Kargil war with
Pakistan. It took DRDO 15 months to develop the Agni-I after having completed Agni-II development. The first test
of Agni-I was carried out on January 25, 2002. Prior to the test, armed security personnel in power boats were
engaged to patrol around the Wheeler Island and fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea. Heavy
security arrangements also were made along the seacoast. Agni-I has been developed by advanced systems
laboratory, the premier missile development laboratory of the DRDO in collaboration with Defence Research
Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited,
Hyderabad. Commander-in-Chief of SFC Lieutenant General Amit Sharma, Scientific Advisor to defence Minister
and DRDO Chief Avinash Chander, DRDO Director-General (Missiles and Strategic Systems) Mr VG Sekaran and
ITR Director Mr MVKV Prasad witnessed the launch among other DRDO scientists and army officials.
Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/
Mars Orbiter Mission may have longer life
If the Mars orbiter can weather a solar eclipse expected to occur in the Martian orbit sometime in April-May 2015,
and maintain its health and course, its life will increase by a few weeks, allowing India to probe more. Going by fuel
consumption pattern, the craft will be left with 76 kg of propellant, 56 kg more than required to last its expected six
months of life around Mars. As on Wednesday, a total of 338.9 kg of fuel has been used for various manoeuvres,
including the launch on November 5. “The December 1 Trans Mars Injection manoeuvre will have burn duration of
22.43 minutes, using 190 kg of fuel to gain an incremental velocity of 648 m/sec. And the Mars Orbit Insertion,
planned on September 24, 2014, will use 247 kg of fuel with a burn period of 28.8 minutes,” a senior scientist
explained. So of the 852 kg of fuel the craft is carrying, a total of 776 kg would have been used by the time
it reaches its designated orbit, leaving 56 kg of fuel. However, according to scientific secretary Mr V Koteswara
Rao, it needs only about 20 kg of fuel to survive for six months, which has been set as its lifespan there.
Therefore, another scientist explained, it will have additional fuel, which is generally kept as a backup for
course-correcting manoeuvres and other glitches. MOM programme director Mr M Annadurai, told TOI:
“The four course corrections that are planned also need not take place if it maintains its course and reaches
the designated orbit, leaving us with more fuel and allowing the spacecraft to continue operations.” He,
however, said that a solar eclipse expected around April-May 2015 may hinder the possibility of additional
life. “If we had carried larger solar panels and batteries, it would have been easier. But we have the best
composition onboard now. And if MOM survives the eclipse, its life can increase,” he said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
Final clearance eludes Tejas light combat aircraft
The much-awaited final operational clearance for Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) will not take place by
December 2014 as previously scheduled. This is because the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) is yet to receive two crucial equipment, required to improve the performance of the
home grown fighter, from a British vendor. “The final operational clearance (FOC) for Tejas LCA will not
happen by December 2014. It may take at least another three to six months,” Dr K Tamilmani, DirectorGeneral, Aeronautical Systems at DRDO, told here. The delay is due to the slippage in time to get imported
fuel probe and quartz nose cone from a UK-based company named Cobham PLC. Fitting the air-to-air
refuelling probe and replacing the existing composite radome nose cone by a quartz-made one are two
critical conditions, which the Tejas has to fulfil before approaching the regulator for final operational clearance.
Tejas was cleared in January 2011 for use by Indian Air Force. It received a second operational clearance
(IOC II) on December 20, 2013. Former defence minister Mr A K Antony told Parliament in August 2013
that DRDO and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) have been asked to strictly adhere to the planned
schedules for the FOC by end of 2014 to ensure LCA’s timely induction into the Indian Air Force. Three
decades after it received the government’s approval, Tejas is still in the making. When it began in the
1980s, the estimated project cost was Rs 560 crore. the government has so far spent Rs 7,965 crore as
the developmental cost of LCA including 15 aircraft and creation of infrastructure to manufacture eight
aircraft every year. The Defence Ministry allocated a total of Rs 14,000 crore for developing up to Mark III
version of LCA and up to Mark II version of LCA Navy. “While Tejas underwent 2,700 flights so far, another
200-300 flights are still required before it is ready for the FOC,” Tamilmani said. The quartz nose cone,
which will improve the fighter’s performance by 20-30 per cent, is expected to arrive by November after
which it will have to undergo ground tests followed by integration. It will add to the aircraft cost and enhance
the radar’s range of detection. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) readied the first Series Production
aircraft (SP1), which is expected to fly in “a few days,” he said.
Source: http://www.deccanherald.com
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ISRO scientists enlightens students on mars mission
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientist Mrs Roopa Malali has said that handling Mars Orbiter
Mission (MOM) spacecraft is a challenging task, especially when it reaches the sun orbit. Speaking on ‘Current
developments of mars mission’ at Hardwick PU College, she said: “We are on our way to success after a
series of experiments. MOM, one of the biggest milestones of India’s space research activities, is gearing for
such a success (reaching the mars orbit).” Explaining the controlling system through remote-sensing
technology, she said: “With the help of data which collected through Deep Space Antenna, ISRO (Bangalore) has been
controlling the direction of MOM which is expected to reach the mars orbit on September 24. On December 5, the MOM
entered the sun’s orbit after crossing the earth’s orbit. It is challenging to handle satellite through remote-sensing technology
once it enters the sun’s orbit. A radiation flows from the sun is an obstacle to satellites, which might result in changing its
directions. Concerned over such change in path, we are collecting the data from not only remote-sensing method, but
also from the European Union, Russia and the US.” Further explaining the working of MOM, Mrs Roopa said: “The MOM
has been assembled with automated problem-solving technology to deal with radiations. But the major concern is that
the health of the satellite and its fuel efficiency. MOM has also been assembled with advanced solar panel which can
generate electricity at even 20 degree temperature. A data collected from various sources show it (MOM) is fuel-efficient,
which makes the mars mission successful.” Speaking on the occasion, Mr J Shashidhara Prasad, vice-chancellor of Sai
Baba University (Puttaparthy), said that the conflict between society and nature is the root cause for the birth of scientific
research. Hardwick PU College principal Mr Hirimaralli Dharmaraju suggested students that they utilize science in a
proper manner to excel in life. He also urged them to get themselves updated in S&T-related knowledge.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Centre for research in nanoscience to be set up
A centre for research in nanoscience and nanotechnology will be set up at the nano park in Nelamangala, Prof C.N.R.
Rao, head, Karnataka Vision Group on Nanotechnology, told presspersons here on Monday. The Centre for Nano and
Soft Matter Science’ will be a research-based centre and not an academic one, he said on the sidelines of a press
conference to announce Bangalore India Nano 2014 conclave. Various global analyses have ranked India third after the
U.S. and China in nanoscience research, said Prof. Rao. This had been achieved by “targeted funding” for individual
institutes — a model that should be applied for other subjects too, he said. Bangalore — known as India’s IT capital and
Silicon Valley — could soon be the country’s “nano capital” said Minister for IT, BT and Science and Technology Mr S.R.
Patil. The State government plans to give as much importance to nanotechnology as it does to IT, he said. The 7th
edition of the Bangalore India Nano conclave will be held on December 5 and 6 at the Lalit Ashok. The event is India’s
largest nanotechnology event and is organised by the Department of IT, BT and Science and Technology, the Vision
Group on Nanotechnology, and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research. The event includes an
international conference, a product and technology exhibition, keynote lectures and nano excellence awards. It will also
include a special programme for students titled ‘Nano for the young’.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/
More Tests on DRDO Radar
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has pulled up its socks after Prime Minister Mr Narendra
Modi directed it to ensure delivery of cutting edge weapon systems to the Armed Forces in time so that the country can
keep pace with other nations in the national security arena. The DRDO plans to test nuclear capable Agni-I, sub-sonic
cruise missile Nirbhay and longest range Agni-V. While the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of Indian Army is slated to
carry out a fresh user trial of the 700-km range surface-to-surface medium range Agni-I on September 10, DRDO would
conduct the second and third developmental trials of Nirbhay and Agni-V missiles too. Though the exact date for the
experimental tests of Nirbhay and Agni-V missiles has not been fixed, preparations are underway at the Wheeler Island
test facility off the Odisha coast. If everything falls in place, the weapons could be test-fired this month itself. At the
annual DRDO awards function recently, Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi flayed the ‘chalta hai’ attitude of the DRDO,
which has been resulting in delay in projects and cost overruns. While DRDO is not worried about performance of AgniI and Agni-V missiles, all eyes will be on Nirbhay, which is India’s first home made cruise missile capable of delivering
nuclear warheads nearly 1,000 km away. While Agni-I has already been inducted in the Armed Forces after several
rounds of successful trials, Agni-V has proved its might successfully twice in the last two years. Nirbhay had failed
during its maiden test on March 12, last year. The missile veered off as snags developed in its inertial navigation system
(INS). Post failure, the DRDO is said to have made some corrections in the design of the missile. DRDO Chief, Mr
Avinash Chander said the faults in the missile have been rectified and the missile is ready for the test which will be
conducted soon. What makes Nirbhay significant is that the missile is very manoeuvrable and can fly at low altitude
thus making it difficult to be detected on the enemy radar. The defence scientists are also expecting third consecutive
success of Agni-V missile that would pave the way for its early induction in the Armed Forces and maiden test of its
next generation missile Agni-VI having a projected strike range of more than 8,000 km. Sources said the Prime
Minister is expected to witness Agni-V launch from the Wheeler Island. DRDO spokesperson Mr Ravi Kumar
Gupta said Mr Modi’s attendance depends on his schedule.
Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com
Robotic birds that look and fly like the real thing
A Dutch designer has come up with unique remote-controlled robotic birds that look and fly exactly like the real
creatures and act as a deterrent to flocks of nuisance birds. Brainchild of Nico Nijenhuis from Clear Flight Solutions
in The Netherlands, the ‘Robirds’ actually flap their wings to fly, and in a way that makes them remarkably similar to
the real thing. “Birds are beautiful creatures. However, if you work in aviation, waste management or agriculture,
you will be aware that birds can be a very tough problem to deal with. Birds are not only a nuisance, they can also
be a serious threat to safety in aviation,” the creators wrote on their website. The Robird is an environmentallyfriendly solution for all such bird-related problems, they wrote. According to the creators, the Robird can fly in and
around problem areas, encouraging nuisance birds to leave by exploiting the natural instinct of birds to avoid
predators, particularly through silhouette and wing movement recognition, ‘Gizmag’ reported. The creators claim
that as the system is fully remote controlled by an operator on the ground, difficult birds can be persuaded to leave
by singling them out with the Robird to chase them away. Targeted bird populations learn to avoid what they
perceive as the active stalking grounds of a bird of prey and that bird numbers in the areas of Robird operation drop
by 50 per cent or more, according to the creators. The Robirds virtually eliminate the chances of nuisance bird flock
habituation in the long term, the report said. With a body length of up to 58 cm and a wingspan of 120 cm the
peregrine falcon model can reach 80 km/h and is designed to act as a deterrent to birds of up to 3 kg. The eagle
model is even more intimidating. With a body length nearly twice the length of the falcon and wingspan of up to 220
cm, this robot bird is designed to scare off any type of bird. PTI
Source: http://zeenews.india.com/
‘Creation of Indigenous Engines Should be Focus’
The BJP government’s policy to promote domestic military industry might see the country achieving the goal of 70
per cent indigenous content in military hardware in the next 5-7 years, according to Dr K Tamilmani, Director
General Aeronautical Systems (AERO). He was speaking at the inaugural of the 9th National Conference on IT in
Defence which began in the city. Discussing challenges faced by the military aerospace industry, Dr Tamilmani
said creation of indigenous engines should also be an area of focus. “India is no longer a learner in the field of
military aviation technology. We have learnt,” he said while stressing that integration of private industry in production
will help in competing with global giants. Speaking earlier, Mr N C Vyas, Executive Director Design for HAL, said,
“Today’s challenges are to put together legacy systems with the latest technologies. Integration is a challenge as
technology keeps changing”. HAL has reached a level where the software architecture is fairly open, thus facilitating
easier integration, he added.
Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com
Namma UAV Gets Rave Reviews in US
Dawon, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) named after the mythological tiger of goddess Durga and designed by
M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT) students, won rave reviews at an international event held in the
United States recently. The seven-member team from MSRIT - Edhitha- competed with 50 universities from 20
countries during the event jointly organised by the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the
US Navy at the Patuxent River Naval Airbase at Maryland. In an interaction with Express, Mr M Akash, a seventh
semester Mechanical Engineering student of the college, said the competition was backed by aerospace giants like
Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. ”We came 10th in journal presentation, seventh in oral flight
readiness review and 25th in executing the mission. The jury appreciated the UAV’s unique design and in-house
fabrication,” Mr Akash said. The competition demanded students to develop a UAV capable of autonomous GPS
navigation and with a real-time imagery system relaying information of strategic importance in intelligence and
reconnaissance mission. In addition, the UAV needed to have a mechanism for aerial drop tasks and an infrared
imaging system for night vision.
The Edhitha team was led by Mr Vishnu B N.
“The UAV Dawon flew for 30 minutes and even undertook a digital image processing mission. It also dropped an
egg-shaped canister on an assigned target. The entire airframe, fabrication and electronics of the UAV cost us `6
lakh,” Akash said. Two-and-a-half metre long Dawson, with a wingspan of three metres, 90-minute endurance and
one litre fuel-carrying capacity, is currently kept at the college lab. The team is also exploring whether the UAV can
be put to military or civil use. ”We are looking at regulations controlling UAVs in India. We are keen to see it put to
good use,” Mr Akash said.
Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities
Demo on ATOL Role of Rustom-1 UAV
Defence scientists at the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) are closing in on enabling the country’s
Rustom-1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with the automatic take-off and landing (ATOL) capability. The ATOL
configuration, to be demonstrated by this yearend, would increase the endurance and payload-carrying capacity of
the UAV. Insiders linked to the project told Express that the ATOL feature would add more teeth to the Rustom-1
while undertaking prolonged missions. “We will be able to carry more fuel for missions, which require the UAV to be
airborne for longer durations. Instead of more fuel, different types of payloads can be integrated on the UAV, which
will give it an additional operational advantage. At present, we are in the process of evaluating some of the sensors
required for the ATOL implementation. Extensive real-time simulation has been initiated on the UAV flight simulator
to develop and fine-tune the guidance and control algorithms,” an official said. The ADE took up the Rustom-1
project in 2006 with the primary objective of converting a proven manned aircraft configuration into a UAV. The first
flight of Rustom-1 was in 2010 and since then, the lab has conducted over 30 flights with around `40 crore already
spent on the project. “So far our work on Rustom-1 has resulted in the availability of a baseline system, which can
be considered for operational roles by the users. This system can also be developed into an efficient FTB (Flying
Test Bed), which can be used as a platform for development and demonstration of some of the emerging technologies
in UAV systems,” he said. While enhancing the performance envelope of the UAV, the total weight (also called as
AUW or all-up weight) goes up due to the increased weight of fuel or payload. This results in increase in take-off/
landing distances and speeds. “Beyond a point, it becomes difficult for the external pilot to confidently handle the
UAV during the take-off and landing phases. Thus the capability for ATOL is essential,” the official said. The Indian
Army has evinced keen interest in considering Rustom-1 for operational roles. However, in addition to ATOL capability,
the Army wants ADE to demonstrate features such as range of operation, colour video datalink and payload
combinations.
Source: http://defence.pk/threads/demo-on-atol-role-of-rustom-1-uav.333216/#ixzz3Eg7b4Ukt
India Looks To Expand Aerospace Manufacturing Sector
With a clear mandate from India’s 100-day-old government to make aerospace manufacturing a focus area for
domestic and export markets, there is renewed interest by manufacturers to be in the forefront. This was clear at a
recent conference the Center for Air Power Studies and the Confederation of Indian Industry held in New Delhi.
India is taking stock of aerospace manufacturing opportunities that are expected to arise in offsets from the $72
billion worth of contracts signed or about to be signed for work running through 2021. State-owned Hindustan
Aeronautics’ (HAL) current commitments will keep it busy for the next decade, and private-sector involvement in
the manufacturing arena is imminent. This follows HAL’s announcement of its decision to “develop as a system
integrator and designer [and leave] manufacturing to the Indian industry,” said chairman Air Marshal R.K Tyagi.
India can easily aim for $12 billion in exports in the next decade, said Mr Sujeet Samaadar, CEO of ShinMaywa
Industries India, who has “plans to get some aerostructures business to India.” Under a memorandum of cooperation
in defense signed during Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Japan, the ShinMaywa US-2 amphibian
will be Japan’s first international military sale in nearly 50 years, one that will enable Indian companies to manufacture
parts. “India has innovative solutions to machining. Our Japanese partners were amazed with our work in surface
treatment and sheet metal. But in the high end like landing gear and propulsion systems, there are limitations,” Mr
Samaadar said. Lockheed Martin, which has an agreement with Tata Advanced Systems to manufacture parts for
the C-130, is exploring the “system or mission side…to develop with an Indian partner,” said Mr Phil Shaw, Lockheed
Martin India chief executive. Raytheon is addressing air-to-air and air-to-ground requirements,” said Mr Nikhil
Khanna, the company’s India country manager. “We have [also] played a sub role in many projects,” he added.
Manufacture related to aero engines might also be in the offing. “We are looking at a project in India,” said Mr
Stephane Lauret, Safran India CEO.
Source: http://www.ainonline.com/
IISc takes up research on jewels with in-built sensors
How would you like it if a sensor in your diamond ring or locket, could at the press of a button, open a car garage,
get your cellphone to play music or even measure pulse rate?This may soon be a reality as research on jewels with
in-built sensors and cognitive capabilities, is being undertaken by IISc’s Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber-Physical
Systems. The project, first taken up by the Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing (CPDM), aims to build a
collection of jewels with sensing capabilities. “For instance, with just the press of a button on a ring or locket, say
made of diamond, one can put a mobile phone into silent or ringing mode. The ring and locket can also get your cell
phone to play music, which can also come in handy when searching for one’s misplaced mobile,” scholars at the
Robert Bosch Centre said. There is also a health function that the piece of jewellery can perform. The person who
wears it can get his or her pulse rate measured. There can also be exchange of contact information when two
persons shake hands, possible when both persons wear a similar piece of jewellery with an in-built sensor. This
was demonstrated under the Master of Design (MDES) research programme. There are other popular functions
that jewellery with sensors can perform, such as opening a car garage, switching on music, TV and DVD systems.
Then there is the recognition of movement, very similar to the sixth sense technology, made famous by MIT graduate
Mr Pranav Mistry. This project was premised on the belief that wearable computing and digital information could act
in addition to the five traditional senses. The device has also been described as a name for extra information
supplied by a wearable computer, like the device Mistry had built - “WuW” (Wear your World). Going by this, the
diamond with a sensor can act as the sixth sense. The sixth sense technology works with a pocket projector, mirror
and a camera, all contained in a head-mounted, handheld or pendant-like, wearable device. The projector and the
camera are connected to a mobile computing device in the user’s pocket. The projector projects visual information,
enabling surfaces, walls and physical objects around us to be used as interfaces. The camera recognises and
tracks users’ hand gestures and a software program processes the video stream data captured by the camera and
tracks the locations of the coloured markers at the tips of the user’s fingers, which are interpreted as gestures.
Once done, one can interpret messages that are being conveyed by gestures.
Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/
ISRO Gears Up for IRNSS 1C Launch on October 9
Amid the success of India’s Mars Orbiter Mission to the Red Planet, ISRO scientists are working towards the
launch of the country’s next rocket PSLV-C26, which would carry IRNSS 1C satellite, the third in the IRNSS series
from Sriharikota on October 9. “We are working towards the launch of IRNSS 1C, which is tentatively scheduled
around 2 am on October 9. The stacking of PSLV C26 stage 2 has been completed. This is identical to the earlier
ones in the series IRNSS 1A and IRNSS 1B. The countdown for the launch would be a bit longer for over 60 hours
and likely to commence on October 6,” a senior ISRO official told PTI. As part of its aspirations to build a regional
navigational system equivalent to Global Positioning System of the US, ISRO had planned to send seven satellites
to put in place the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS). The first two satellites in the series,
IRNSS 1A and IRNSS 1B, were launched from Sriharikota on July 1 last year and April 4 this year respectively.
ISRO needs to launch at least four of the seven satellites to start the operations of the IRNSS, the official added.
Being developed by India, IRNSS is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in the
country as well as the region extending up to 1,500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area. IRNSS’
applications include terrestrial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management.
IRNSS is similar to US’ Global Positioning System, Russia’s Glonass and Europe’s Galileo. China and Japan too
have similar systems named Beidou and Japanese Quasi Zenith Satellite System respectively, ISRO officials said.
Source: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/
BUSINESS
India nears $2.5 bln deal for Boeing military helicopters
Aug 30 (Reuters) - India has decided to acquire Boeing’s Chinook and Apache helicopters, an Indian defence
ministry official said, in a deal valued at $2.5 billion that could ease strained ties between New Delhi and Washington.
The new nationalist-led government of Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi has grand plans to vastly strengthen
India’s military capability, in order to play its role as a regional power and meet challenges posed by a rising China
and arch rival Pakistan. “The defence aquisition council has cleared the last hurdle for signing of the contract with
the USA in respect of Apache and Chinook,” the official told Reuters, while declining to be named as he was not
authorised to speak to media. The deal topped the agenda during a visit by U.S. Defence Secretary Mr Chuck
Hagel in August and is likely to help mend ties frayed by years of trade and diplomatic disputes. Mr Modi is due to
visit the United States next month. At a meeting on Friday, the government also approved the Indian Navy’s proposal
to purchase 16 multi-role helicopters, the official said. The deal could potentially benefit Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of
United Technologies Corp (UTX.N) and European joint venture NHIndustries. Jaitley, however, cancelled a $991.65
million tender to buy 197 light-utility helicopters from foreign vendors and asked local manufacturers to produce
them at home, the official said. Eurocopter, a unit of aerospace and defense company EADS, and Russian Kamov
had been participating in the tender. The government also deferred a decision on a $2.5 billion proposal to acquire
Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missiles. Analysts estimate that India, the world’s largest arms importer, will spend
$250 billion in the next decade to upgrade its Soviet-era military equipment and narrow the gap with China, which
spends $120 billion a year on defence. India’s military modernization plan includes a renewed push to develop a
domestic weapons industry. India insists on “offsets” from foreign vendors to ensure technology is transferred or
some of the deal’s value remains in the country. The decision to scrap the troubled light helicopter tender comes
weeks after Mr Modi loosened the limit on foreign ownership in defence manufacturing to 49 percent from 26
percent to make “buy Indian” the default option for defence purchases. “It has also been decided that the Indian
Industry would be given the responsibility to produce nearly 400 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) as per the requirement
of the Indian Army and Air Force,” said the official. A slew of kickback allegations, procurement delays and a recent
spate of operational accidents have marred efforts to upgrade India’s armed forces. A decision on the acquisition of
light reconnaissance helicopters was deferred last year and tenders re-examined after Italian prosecutors alleged
defence group Finmeccanica had paid bribes to Indian officials to win a separate $750 million deal to supply luxury
helicopters for political VIPs. New Delhi partially banned Finmeccanica this week from bidding for future contracts.
Finmeccanica denies any wrongdoing.
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article
NASA, ISRO in talks to set up Joint Mars Working Group
America’s premier space agency NASA and its Indian counterpart ISRO are talking about setting up a Joint Mars
Working Group, a top US space official has said ahead of Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi’s visit to the US.
“NASA is in discussions with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) regarding potential scientific
collaboration with their Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), due to enter Mars orbit about two days after MAVEN (Mars
Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter, which will arrive at Mars later this month,” said Mr James
Green Director, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA. Testifying before the House of
Representatives Subcommittee on Space Committee on Science, Space and Technology, he said while primarily a
technology-demonstration mission, MOM includes five science instruments to study the martian atmosphere,
mineralogy and surface features. “With multiple data sets being collected, NASA and ISRO scientists will have a
wealth of information to help solve mysteries regarding the Mars atmosphere,” he said. “In addition, NASA and
ISRO are talking about setting up a Joint Mars Working Group, under the auspices of the State Department’s USIndia Civil Space Joint Working Group, that would coordinate our two agencies’ plans for studying one of the
Earth’s nearest neighbors,” Green said. Both the missions of NASA and ISRO will arrive at the Red Planet just in
time to join the fleet of Mars-based spacecraft that could witness the effects of comet Siding Spring, Green told
lawmakers. MAVEN, he said, will explore the Mars’ upper atmosphere, ionosphere and interactions with the sun
and solar wind. Scientists will use MAVEN data to determine the role that loss of volatiles from the Mars atmosphere
to space has played through time, giving insight into the history of Mars’ atmosphere and climate, liquid water, and
planetary habitability, he added. Mr James F. Bell, president of The Planetary Society & Professor at Arizona State
University, described NASA as the most active, most capable, and most successful of all of the world’s space
agencies. When NASA doesn’t prioritize planetary science, no other agencies are presently capable of filling the
gap, he added. The emergence of the Chinese and Indian space programs and the continued successes of the
European and Japanese programs illustrate that robotic exploration of space is an international priority — a way to
gain scientific knowledge, global prestige and advance technological capability, he said. “In the coming decade,
China is preparing a series of robotic lunar missions, Russia is preparing lunar, Venus and Mars missions, India
has plans to go to the Moon and Mars, Japan is planning a second asteroid sample-return mission, and the
Europeans are headed to Mercury, Mars, the asteroids and Jupiter,” Bell said.
Source: http://indianexpress.com/
Achie
vements
hiev
ISRO scientist Suresh Kumar first Indian to visit stratosphere
Mr TN Suresh Kumar, a senior ISRO scientist has become the first Indian to visit the stratosphere, the second layer
of the Earth’s atmosphere. Mr Kumar, who is working with ISRO’s Master Control Facility in Hassan, on August 15,
2014 travelled to an altitude of 17,100 metres in a MIG-29 from Sokol Airbase near Nizhny Novgorod in Russia. To
achieve this feat, he paid a hefty fee of around Rs 15 lakh. Reaching the stratosphere in 48 minutes, the aircraft
reached to a maximum speed of 1850 km per hour during the travel. Mr Kumar also becomes the 259th person of
the world to take the flight ever since the Country of Tourism Ltd., an agency conducting space travel in Russia,
started the journey called ‘Edge of Space’ six years ago. Mr Kumar was also one of the four people selected by
ISRO to travel to space in 1985. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen as the flight had to be cancelled following the
explosion of space shuttle ‘Challenger’, in February 1986.
Source: http://zeenews.india.com/
India to rank among world’s biggest aviation markets: British Airways
According to a report in Hindustan Times, India is going to be one of the biggest aviation markets in the world and
British Airways (BA) wants to be a grab a chunk of the pie. “India is our biggest market after North America, and is
absolutely a critical part of BA network. We are putting a lot of emphasis and investing a lot in terms of our brand.
India is strategically one of the most important markets we fly. It’s a massive market for BA,” Mr Christopher Fordyce,
Regional Commercial Manager - South Asia, British Airways, said. BA, which is celebrating 90 years of flying to
India, operates 48 flights a week to five Indian cities, namely Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.
“One of the big things is that we have been flying here for 90 years. Some other carriers have come in and gone and
they haven’t been able to make it work. The fact that we have been here for so long and have been growing is a
good indicator of us having the right product and we are looking to be here for another 90 years,” Fordyce said. At
the moment, Mr Fordyce said, BA did not have plans to operate the Airbus 380 in India or invest in an Indian carrier.
“We continue to review as the market grows and if we are able to be as successful as we have been so far, there is
no reason why we won’t love to bring bigger aircraft,” he said. “What we are really focusing on at the moment is
making sure we have got the right frequency, particularly in Delhi and Mumbai,” he added. BA, which operates the
Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Hyderabad, may operate the aircraft to other Indian cities as well. “We are looking at new
places to fly to and India is definitely on that list,” Mr Fordyce added.
Source: Hindustan Times
Awar
ds
ards
IISc’s Engineering Professor Gets Young Scientist Award
Mr Neelesh B Mehta from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is the only city-based recipient of the 2014 Scopus
Young Scientist Award. He won the award for his work in the engineering discipline. The award has been instituted
by Elsevier, a leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services and the National
Academy of Science, India (NASI). Mr Mehta, an associate professor at the department of electrical communication
engineering at IISc, told Express that he is happy to have received the award. He works on next generation wireless
communication systems like cellular systems, wireless local area networks and wireless ad-hoc networks. Mr
Mehta and eight other researchers from other disciplines received the awards from the Union Minister of State for
Science and Technology Mr Jitendra Singh in New Delhi. The award consists of a plaque, a framed certificate and
Rs 75,000. The 39-year old scientist received a bachelor of technology degree in electronics and communications
engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, in 1996. He received his MS and PhD degrees in
electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1997 and 2001 respectively. He joined the IISc
in 2007. This year’s NASI-Scopus Young Scientist Awards attracted nearly 650 applications from premier research
institutions across the country. Applications were judged by a panel of 31 subject experts who looked at criteria
such as quality and number of publications, nature and uniqueness of research, outcomes of research, impact on
society and the researcher’s vision.
Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities
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