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Saturday 16 January 2016

12 more return Sahitya Akademi awards

Kannada poet Professor Chandrashekhar Patil and Hindi writer Uday Prakash have decided to return their literary awards to protest against the killing of well-known Kannada writer Professor M M Kalburgi, who was gunned down by unidentified persons in Dharwad last month.

12 more return Sahitya Akademi awards
New Delhi/Chandigarh: Booker Prize winning author Salman Rushdie on Monday joined the growing chorus of protests by writers and poets against spread of "communal poison" and "rising intolerance" in the country even as 12 more authors decided to return their Sahitya Akademi awards.
I support Nayantara Sahgal and the many other writers protesting to the Sahitya Akademi. Alarming times for free expression in India," he tweeted.
88-year-old Sahgal, niece of Jawaharlal Nehru, was among the first to lodge her protest against the Akademi's silence over repeated attacks on writers and rationalists who were raising their voice of dissent.
Kashmiri writer Ghulam Nabi Khayal, Urdu novelist Rahman Abbas and Kannada writer- translator Srinath DN said they were handing back their Sahitya awards.
Khayal and Srinath were joined by Hindi writers Mangalesh Dabral and Rajesh Joshi who backed the spiralling protest by litterateurs against "communal" atmosphere following rationalist M M Kalburgi's killing.
Punjabi author Waryam Sandhu and Kannada translator GN Ranganatha Rao said they have intimated to the Akademi their decision to give back their awards.
Delhi-based theatre artist Maya Krishna Rao today returned her Sangeet Natak Akademi award to protest against the Dadri lynching and the "overall rising intolerance" in the country.
Four more writers and poets from Punjab--Surjit Pattar, Baldev Singh Sadaknama, Jaswinder and Darshan Buttar-- today joined protest against communal violence and said they were also returning their their awards as a mark of protest.

Urdu writer Rahman Abbas said, "After the Dadri lynching, the Urdu writing community has been quite unhappy. Therefore, I decided to return the award. 


Expressing his anguish over recent developments, Kannada translator Srinath said,"In the place of the pen, there are now bullets being fired. Author Kalburgi was murdered and both the Centre and the state should quickly act against the offenders so that such an incident is not repeated in the future." 

100 upcoming smart cities of India

100 upcoming smart cities of India

Here goes the list of cities that have been proposed by Union Cabinet to be upgraded to smart cities
1. Pune - Maharashtra
2. Mumbai - Maharashtra
3. Nagpur - Maharashtra
4. Nashik - Maharashtra
5. Aurangabad - Maharashtra
6. Bhivandi - Maharashtra
7. Calcutta - West Bengal
8. Durgapur - West Bengal
9. Haldia - West Bengal
10. Habra - West Bengal
11. Jangipur - West Bengal
12. Ahmedabad - Gujarat
13. Surat - Gujarat
14. Vadodara - Gujarat
15. Rajkot - Gujarat
16. Bhavnagar - Gujarat
17. Junagadh - Gujarat
18. Gandhi Nagar - Gujarat
19. Bhopal - Madhya Pradesh
20. Indore - Madhya Pradesh
21. Gwalior - Madhya Pradesh
22. Burhanpur - Madhya Pradesh
23. Jabalpur - Madhya Pradesh
24. Chennai - Tamil Nadu
25. Coimbatore - Tamil Nadu
26. Madurai - Tamil Nadu
27. Tiruchirappalli - Tamil Nadu
28. Salem - Tamil Nadu
29. Tirunelveli - Tamil Nadu
30. Bangalore - Karnataka
31. Gulbarga - Karnataka
32. Bidar - Karnataka
33. Bijapur - Karnataka
34. Badami - Karnataka
35. Pattadakal - Karnataka
36. Mahakuta - Karnataka
37. Thiruvananthapuram - Kerala
38. Kollam - Kerala
39. Kottayam - Kerala
40. Tiruvalla - Kerala
41. Ernakulam - Kerala
42. Cochin - Kerala
43. Thrissur - Kerala
44. Hyderabad - Telangana
45. Warangal - Telangana
46. Karimnagar - Telangana
47. Nizamabad - Telaganana
48. Nalgonda - Telangana
49. Guntur - Andhra Pradesh
50. Vijayawada - Andhra Pradesh
51. Kurnool - Andhra Pradesh
52. Chittoor - Andhra Pradesh
53. Kanpur - Uttar Pradesh
54. Allahabad - Uttar Pradesh
55. Lucknow - Uttar Pradesh
56. Jhansi - Uttar Pradesh
57. Faizabad - Uttar Pradesh
58. Varanasi - Uttar Pradesh
59. Jaipur - Rajasthan
60. Ajmer - Rajasthan
61. Bharatpur - Rajasthan
62. Bikaner - Rajasthan
63. Jodhapur - Rajasthan
64. Kota - Rajasthan
65. Udipur - Rajasthan
66. Ludhiana - Punjab
67. Amritsar - Punjab
68. Jalandhar - Punjab
69. Patiala - Punjab
70. Muzaffarapur - Bihar
71. Patna - Bihar
72. Gaya - Bihar
73. Bhagalpur - Bihar
74. Bihar Sharif - Bihar
75. Faridabad - Haryana
76. Gurgaon - Haryana
77. Panipat - Haryana
78. Ambala - Haryana
79. Guwahati - Assam
80. Tinsukia - Assam
81. Odalguri - Assam
82. Tangla - Assam
83. Goalpara - Assam
84. Bhubaneswar - Odisha
85. Cuttack - Odisha
86. Rourkela - Odisha
87. Sambalpur - Odisha
88. Balasore - Odisha
89. Shimla - Himachal Pradesh
90. Dehradoon - Uttarakhand
91. Haridwar - Uttarakhand
92. Roorkee - Uttarakhand
93. Jamshedpur - Jharkhand
94. Dhanbad - Jharkhand
95. Ranchi - Jharkhand
96. Gangtok - Sikkim
97. Pelling - Sikkim
98. Yuksam - Sikkim
99. Bishnupur - Manipur
100. Chandel - Manipur


Sahitya Akademi releases list of 23 poets and authors for 2015

Sahitya Akademi releases list of 23 poets and authors for 2015 Sahitya Akademi Award

The names of 23 poets and authors have been announced for the 2015 Sahitya Akademi Award.  
Sahitya Akademi Award has recognised premier works in 23 Indian languages and includes six books of short stories, six of poetry, four novels, two books each of essays, criticism and plays, and one memoir.
Here's the list of 23 awardees in various categories:
·      Poetry: Brajendra Kumar Brahma (Bodo), Dhian Singh (Dogri), Ramdarash Mishra (Hindi), K.V. Tirumalesh (Kannada), Kshetri Rajan (Manipuri) and Ram Shankar Awasthi (Sanskrit).
·       Short stories: Kula Saikia (Assamese), Man Mohan Jha (Maithili), Gupta Pradhan (Nepali), Bibhuti Pattanaik (Odia), Maya Rahi (Sindhi) and Volga (Telugu).
·  Novels: Cyrus Mistry (English), Jaswinder Singh (Punjabi) and Madhu Acharya 'Ashawadi' (Rajasthani).
·         Essays: Rasik Shah (Gujrati) and A. Madhavan (Tamil).
·         Plays: Uday Bhembre (Konkani), Rabilal Tudu (Santali).
·         Books on criticism: Bashir Bhadarwahi (Kashmiri) and Shamim Tariq (Urdu).
·         Memoirs: Arun Khopkar (Marathi).
A distinguished jury representing 23 Indian languages is appointed to choose the 23 awardees. The final approval was given by the Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi chaired by its President, Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari.
These 23 awardees will be conferred with the 2015 Sahitya Akademi Award in the respective categories at a special function during the Festival of Letters. Festival of Letters is the annual function of the Akademi. However, as per the reports, the award in Bengali language will be announced later.
The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. It was founded in March 1954. The Akademi presents the annual Sahitya Akademi Award of Rs 1,00,000 in each of the 24 languages it supports, as well as the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship for lifetime achievement.


Stephen Hawking releases namesake award

Stephen Hawking releases namesake award for scientists worldwide

One of the greatest scientists ever, Stephen Hawking, has released a namesake award for the promotion of scientific discoveries and breakthroughs. The "Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication" award will be given to individuals or organisations that promote aspects of science among public through cinema, theater, music, literature and other art forms.
The first medals will be presented next year under three main categories: scientific, artistic and film communities. The names of the winners will be announced at the next Starmus Festival, a gathering of art and science enthusiasts that would take place in Canary Islands, Spain, from June 27 to July 2 in 2016.
Brian May, lead guitarist of British rock band, Queen and an astronomer, supported the cause that will benefit both the worlds of media and science.
List of seven (7) awards for achievements in science in India:
  • Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Award: This award is presented by the Bureau of Indian Standards to those organisations and institutes who perform extraordinarily and ensure best quality of service
  • Maharishi Badrayan Vyas Samman: This Presidential honour is meant for young scholars, who contribute to the amalgamation of ancient Indian technology to that of modern era, especially through information technology
  • Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy Award: This award was instituted by the Medical Council of India in memory of legendary statesman, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy. This award is given to those who achieve any rare feat in medical science
  • India Science Award: This is the highest and the most prestigious recognition presented by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to science. India's 10th Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee instituted this award in 2003
  • Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research presents this award annually, for outstanding research in biology, chemistry, environmental science, engineering, mathematics, medicine or physics
  • Infosys Prize: The Infosys Science Foundation presents this annual award to scientists, researchers, engineers and social scientists for their stellar performance in each sector. A gold medal, a certificate and a prize money of Rs 55 lakh is given to the winner
  • G.D. Birla Award for Scientific Research: The K. K. Birla Foundation released this award in the year 1991 in honour of the Indian philanthropist, Ghanashyam Das Birla. Indian scientists under the age of 55 are eligible to receive the award for outstanding performance in the field of scientific research. Prize money of Rs 1.5 lakh is also given with this award
  • Kalinga Award for Scientific Research: Instituted by Biju Patnaik collaboration with UNESCO


Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis Crowned World Champions in 2015

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis Crowned World Champions in a Phenomenal Year

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis dominated the women's doubles in 2015 winning Wimbledon and US Open's and seven other Grand Prix events to cap a super year

Sania and Martina teamed up as a pair only in March this year and quickly proved a force to be reckoned with in 2015, winning two Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and the US Open, and seven Grand Prix tournaments. Thus making the women’s doubles events very much their own.
They won their last 22 matches from the start of the US Open through wins in Asia at Guangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing and the WTA Finals, ending the year with a 55-7 record. It is a phenomenal record for the pair and justified their top rankings.

“I am very honoured to receive this award from the ITF after what has been a great year for me and Martina. It is incredible that we have achieved so much in such a short time playing together. I am grateful to everyone that has helped me throughout my career and I hope that my success can inspire other girls in India” Sania said.

Martina said, “It is a great honour to be named ITF Women’s Doubles World Champions. Sania and I have enjoyed every minute of the season and we hope to continue in 2016 in the same fashion. We are set to join a long list of champions and it is a privilege to be recognised alongside them.”
The ITF also announced American Serena Williams and Serbian Novak Djokovic as the 2015 ITF World Champions.

Williams is named Women”s World Champion for the sixth time, while this is the fifth occasion that Djokovic has received the honour.


The Rock Garden and how Nek Chand constructed it

Nek Chand Saini's 91st birth anniversary: The man who secretly constructed an entire garden

Creator of the world famous Rock Garden of Chandigarh, Nek Chand Saini, was born on December 15, 1924. The self-taught planner became famous for his 'Outsider Art' movement. He had to go through a lot of hardships to create the sculpture garden during the 1950s.
The garden is one of the most alluring man-made creations. But one should not be simply be fazed away by the beauty as Nek Chand had to face many obstacles while completing it.
http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/images/stories/2015December/rock_650_121515013944.jpg
On his 91st birth anniversary today, here is a short history of the Rock Garden and how Nek Chand constructed it:
  • The Rock Garden is situated near Sukhna Lake at Chandigarh. Spread over an area of 40 acres, the garden is made up of industrial and urban waste material
  • The garden consists of man-made interlined waterfalls and sculptures which have been built using scrap and throw-away items like bottles, glasses, frames, mudguards, metal wires, porcelain, play marbles, bangles, tiles, etc
  • Chandigarh was being redesigned by the Swiss architect, Le Corbusier and Chand found work there as a road inspector for the Public Works Department (PWD)
  • He envisioned the kingdom of Sukrani which was his inspiration behind the garden, so in his spare time, he started collecting waste material from the ruined sites and chose a gorge in a forest near the Sukhmani Lake
  • Chand secretly started building the garden and couldn't hide it further until 1975, when authorities found it. By this time, he had already created a 12 acre land consisting of dancers, musicians and animals made up of clay and other times
  • The garden was almost on the verge of destruction but Chand gained public favour. The municipal authorities then decided to provide him financial support and labour force to enable him to continue working
  • In 1996, the city withdrew its funding and vandals attacked the Rock Garden in order to destroy it, when Nek Chand was away for a lecture tour
  • His statues have also found a place in Capitol Children's Museum in Washington D.C and the American Folk Art Museum in New York City
  • The site was officially recognised in January 24, 1976 as the Rock Garden and is now a key tourist attraction not only in India but, internationally. The garden has thousands of visitors every day
  • He was conferred with the Padma Shri in 1984
  • Nek Chand popularised the term 'Outsider Art' in India which means raw art or self-taught art where the artist has no formal art training from any institution or has no connection with mainstream art world.


Juvenile bill-2015

Here are the key provisions - Juvenile bill-2015
Parliament on Tuesday passed the juvenile justice bill, a day after members cutting across party lines agreed that the important legislation should be taken up immediately.

The bill provides for the trial of those between 16 and 18 years of age as adults for heinous offences. Also, anyone between the age of 16 and 18 who commits a less serious offence may be tried as an adult if he is apprehended after he attains the age of 21.

Key provisions of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2015
1.      Juveniles aged 16-18 accused of heinous crimes (rape, murder) to be tried as adults
2.      Could face imprisonment up to 7 years but won’t get life sentence or death penalty
3.      Juvenile Justice Board to decide if every accused minor should be tried under Juvenile Justice Act or in regular trial court
4.      Juveniles convicted under the regular justice system cannot contest polls and are ineligible for government jobs
5.      Corporal punishment has been made an offence and is punishable between 6 months and 3 years in jail
6.      Employing a child for begging will invite up to 10 years in jail
7.      Use of children by militants will carry up to 7 years in jail

The law at present
Currently, a juvenile accused (under 18 years) is tried by the Juvenile Justice Board and if convicted, sent to a reform home for a maximum of 3 years — as in the case of the recently-released convict in the December 16 , 2012, gang rape.


What happened in Parliament on Tuesday?
Giving out the bill’s details, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said borstals -- a custodial institution for young offenders -- would be set up under the proposed law to house juveniles accused of heinous crimes.

Maneka Gandhi said juvenile crime was being encouraged by the existing law.
“Juveniles’ involvement in crime is increasing the fastest. Children walk into police stations and say we have murdered... send us to a juvenile home,” she said.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said juvenile convicts should not be kept in jail with “hardened criminals” and there should be a separate place for them.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, meanwhile, said the government had listed the bill several times in the monsoon session as well as the winter session but it could not be taken up.
“This law will not be applicable in retrospective,” he said, which means it will not be applicable on the rape convict who has already been freed.
Members from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and DMK also questioned the hurry in passing the bill, suggesting that it may be sent to a select committee.
However, none of the notices to send the bill to a house panel were presented to Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien.



An emotional move?
Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury called it an emotional move.
“If tomorrow, a 15-year 11-month-old commits a crime, will you change the definition again? Today, ISIS is recruiting 14-15 year olds. Are we going to reduce the age from 18 to 16 to 14?” he asked.
“The culprit who has committed the horrendous crime, you cannot punish him. That sentiment of punishing him is there. These are matters that merit a certain consideration. Refer it to a select committee,” he said.
Kurien, however, said there was no proposal to send the bill to a panel, after which members of the Left parties staged a walkout.

The bill was passed through voice vote after that.


Historical conquest of Mecca

Mecca at a glance

December 11 was the day when Prophet Muhammad conquered Mecca in 629. On this day, Mecca was opened for and conquered by Muslims. 
Here are some interesting facts about the historical conquest of Mecca:
  • The Muslim army set out for Mecca from Medina on November 29, 629 and conquered the city on December 11
  • The idols of the tribal gods at Kabba were destroyed and Prophet Muhammad declared Mecca a sanctuary for everyone
  • A year before in 628, the Meccan tribe of Quraysh and the Muslim community in Medina signed a 10-year truce called the 'Treaty of Hudaybiyah'
  • But the Quraysh violated the treaty when they helped the Banu Bakr tribe to attack the Banu Khuza's tribe
  • To help Bhanu Khuza's, Prophet Muhammad gathered an army of 10,000 men and divided it into four columns to attack from different sides
  • There were only 14 causalities in the war and the Muslim army spared everyone who converted to Islam
  • Mecca, in a desert valley in western Saudi Arabia, is Islam's holiest city
  • Only Muslims are allowed in the city, with millions arriving for the annual Hajj (pilgrimage)
  • Dating from the 7th century, the central Masjid al-Haram (Sacred Mosque) surrounds the Kaaba, the cloth-covered cubic structure; Islam's most sacred shrine
  • The opening of Mecca was followed by the Battle of Hunayn. It was a battle fought between Muhammad and his followers against the Bedouin tribe of Hawazin and its subsection the Thaqif in 630.


Health Report 2015 in India

India Health Report 2015

Union Health Minister, J. P. Nadda released the India Health Report: Nutrition 2015 on December 10. The report has been prepared by Transform Nutrition Consortium that analyses the current situation with nutrition at the national and state level in India.
The report shows that India still struggles to tackle malnutrition but the country has made major improvements in the last 10 years. The country meets two of the eight targets set by World Health Organisation (WHO).

Here are 10 facts about the report:
  • According to the report, around 55 percent of Indian women aged between 15 and 49 have anaemia or low blood cell count
  • Over 38 percent of children in India have stunted growth and 18.6 percent children under three years have low birth weight (under 2.5 kilograms)
  • Around 63 percent of mothers in India, who have children aged under 36 months, have received three or more antenatal checkups
  • Vaccination has also not reached its target as only 65.3 percent children of 12 to 23 months have received full immunisation
  • Malnutrition is still prevalent in the country, as only 50.5 percent infants of six to eight months receive solid, semi-solid and soft food
  • The report also shows that 69.5 percent of Indian children aged between six to 35 months are suffering from anaemia
  • It also shows that as many as 44.7 percent of girls aged between 15 to 18 have low Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
  • The report also points out that infant malnutrition might be a result of early marriage. It reveals that around 30 percent of women, aged 20 to 24, had been married before the age of 18
  • Infant health has improved in India in the last 10 years as awareness about the correct baby diet has educated the mothers. At present, around 64.9 percent infants, aged under five months, are exclusively breastfed
  • India's situation of malnutrition among children may pose bigger threats in health care for the country in the future. Only 21.3 percent of children under three years of age have received supplementary food recommended by Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) for 21 days, a month.


ISRO’s Achievements in 2015

Indian in Space: Year End Review of ISRO’s Achievements in 2015

From positive news of Mars Orbiter Mission completing its task successfully and enhancing it lifespan for few more years, ISRO has made every Indian smile with pride in 2015. Hardwork, dedication and team spirit still dominate the sprawling ISRO campus in Bangalore and their efforts towards socially beneficial projects has equally taken centre-stage in 2015.

At a glance what ISRO achieved in 2015:

1. MARS Orbiter Mission has successfully completed its objective as planned and has completed one year around Mars orbit on September 24, 2015 and it withstood the test of scientific challenge by successfully coming out of the solar conjunction (a phase of communication blackout) in July 2015 using the On-board autonomy built in the spacecraft.
The Spacecraft is in good health and all the five scientific payloads are providing valuable data about the Martian atmosphere. A book titled ‘From Fishing Hamlet to Red Planet’, India’s space Journey, with series of articles from luminaries from ISRO, was released on November 05, 2015, on the second anniversary of Mars Orbiter spacecraft launch.
Mars Orbiter Mission has been awarded “Space Pioneer Award” for science and engineering category for the year 2015 by the US based National Space Society. The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development has been awarded to ISRO in recognition of its path-breaking.

2. Successful launch of GSLV:
On Aug 27, 2015, Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D6), equipped with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), successfully launched GSAT-6, the country’s advanced communication satellite, into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). This was the second consecutively successful flight of GSLV with the indigenous CUS, which is testimony to ISRO’s expertise in mastering the highly complex cryogenic rocket propulsion technology. It also signifies self reliance in launching 2 Ton class communication satellites into GTO.

3. Next Generation Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III:
The first experimental flight of heavy lift next generation launch vehicle, GSLV-Mk III, was successfully conducted on December 18, 2014 to vlidate the Integrity of design of GSLV Mk III. It has also successfully tested the unmanned Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) as the crew module splashed down over Andaman Sea with the help of its parachutes and was recovered from the sea.
Endurance hot test of High Thrust cryogenic engine (CE20) of GSLV-Mk III was successfully conducted on July 20, 2015 for 800 seconds as compared to its nominal burn duration of 635 seconds during flight. This engine is useful for powering the Cryogenic stage (C25) of GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle. Another short duration (5.7 s) hot test on the CE20 engine was conducted on Aug 10, 2015 to test engine ignition with tank pressure conditions as in flight. GSLV Mk III is designed to launch 3.5 to 4 Ton class communication satellites to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.

4. Navigational Satellite System called Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) consisting of a total of seven satellites to provide satellite-based navigational services in the country was carried out as planned in 2015. IRNSS-1D, the fourth satellite in this series was successfully launched on-board PSLV-C27 on March 28, 2015.
With four navigational satellites in orbit, it is now possible to provide Position, Navigation and Timing services. The IRNSS constellation of seven satellites is expected to be completed by 2016. Once completed, the IRNSS System will benefit the country by providing positioning services over Indian Land Mass and a region extending to the about 1500 Kms around India.

In addition, GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), which is primarily being used in aviation sector for precise position information services, has been certified by DGCA for Navigation Performance level of Approach with Vertical Guidance (APV-1) over India.
With this, India becomes the Third country in the world, after USA and European Union, to offer Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) based precision approach services to civil aviation sector. The GAGAN System jointly developed by ISRO and AAI is a giant leap forward in the development of GNSS services in India and will redefine navigation in both aviation and non-aviation application areas.

5. Augmenting the Satellite Communications infrastructure:
GSAT-15, a 3 ton class communication satellite (carrying 24 Ku band transponders & GAGAN payload) was launched on November 11, 2015 at 3.04 hrs IST to augment the INSAT/GSAT system capacity for DTH, TV broadcasting, Digital Satellite News Gathering and VSAT services and other societal benefits.
GSAT-6, the country’s Advanced Communication Satellite (carrying S-Band payload with 5 spot beams & C-Band Payload with one beam) was successfully launched on Aug 27, 2015 into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. S-Band Unfurlable Antenna of 6 meter diameter was successfully deployed on August 30, 2015. The satellite has now been positioned in its designated orbital slot of 83 degree East longitude. GSAT-6 is intended to be used for mobile communication with hand held terminals for defence applications.

6. India’s first multi-wavelength Observatory in Space:
ASTROSAT satellite, India’s first dedicated astronomy satellite was successfully launched by PSLV-C30 on September 28, 2015. ASTROSAT enables simultaneous Ultraviolet to X-Ray observations to study Stars and Galaxies. It is a unique mission with combination of scientific instruments covering near ultra-violet, far ultra-violet and x-ray bands for multi wavelength observations. The ultra-violet imaging telescope of ASTROSAT has a best resolution of 1.8 arc second combined with large field of view.

7. Commercial Launch of PSLV:
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle has launched 17 foreign satellites from seven countries (Canada, Indonesia, Singapore, UK, and USA) during 2015 bringing the total number of foreign satellites launched by ISRO to 57.
(a) India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C28, successfully launched five satellites from United Kingdom viz. DMC3-1, DMC3-2, DMC3-3, CBNT-1 and De-orbitsail from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota on July 10, 2015 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.
(b) PSLV-C30, along with ASTROSAT has successfully launched six co-passenger satellites, 4 LEMUR Satellites (USA), Lapan-A2 (Indonesia) ; NLS-14 (Canada) on September 28, 2015.
(c) PSLV-C29 lofted off six satellites of Singapore in to their designated orbit this year. TeLEOS-1 is the primary satellite whereas the other five are co-passenger satellites which include two microsatellites (VELOX-CI, Kent Ridge-1) and three nano satellites (VELOX-II, Athenoxat-1, Galassia).

8. Satellite for SAARC Region:
ISRO/DOS, with active support from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), hosted a Conference on “Satellite for the SAARC region and Space Technology Applications” on June 22, 2015 at New Delhi to study configuration and ground Infrastructure requirements for the proposed ‘Satellite for the SAARC region’ and representatives from all SAARC member countries participated.

9. Conservation of heritage sites:
ISRO has prepared a systematic database of heritage sites using space technology for mapping and identification of vulnerability of each monument and preparation of plans to track and mitigate environmental or weather changes that may have an adverse impact on fragile monuments.

10. Addressing unmanned level crossings:
Pilot studies for automatic warnings at unmanned level crossings have been carried out using GAGAN, Rail-Navigator tools; MSS based tracking system and Bhuvan. It comprises of a geospatial database on the accurate locations (geographical coordinates) of unmanned level crossings and GAGAN enabled devices mounted on the train engine. A train mounted with such a device would know the location of unmanned level crossing and train’s hooter will automatically start when it approaches near to an unmanned crossing.


Indian wedding-Big fat

Big fat Indian wedding

Rohan Mehta-Roshni: Rohan Mehta, the son of Dubai-based petroleum magnate Yogesh “Yogi” Mehta, wed Roshni in a Bollywood-style wedding in Florence in another example of the Indian mega-rich opting for sylvan European locations to marry off their children.

The three-day extravaganza featured nearly 500 guests from India and elsewhere, and elaborates events such as a ‘mehndi’ and a ‘sangeet’ at different locations in Florence. Luxury hotels were booked for the event that made much news in the local press.

The only “irritant” – if it can be called that – was the local council refusing permission for the groom to arrive at the wedding venue on an elephant, citing health and safety reasons. The reception was held in the grand estate of Villa Le Corti in San Casciano.

La Nazione, a leading local newspaper, called it a “stellar wedding” that “moves the GDP of Florence”. Wedding planners from India and Italy were involved in preparations, it reported.

The wedding – called a “magical RORO wedding” by Yogesh Mehta after the names of the couple – cost 20 million Euros, according to the newspaper. Mehta is the CEO of chemicals distribution major Petrochem Middle East.

Akhil Paul-Bisma Mowjee: The last such mega Indian wedding took place in Budapest in August, when Akhil Paul, the grandson of prominent London-based industrialist Swraj Paul, tied the knot with his Pakistan-origin fiancee Bisma Mowjee over three days.

Ritika Agarwal- Rohan Mehta: In September last year, Ritika Agarwal, the daughter of mining magnate Pramod Agarwal, married Rohan Mehta, the son of Arun Mehta, at Fasano in south Italy in a lavish, Bollywood-style wedding that included chefs from India, elephants from France and local women dressed in saris.

Agarwal had previously organised his other daughter Vineeta’s wedding in Venice in 2011.

Vanisha Mittal-Amit Bhatia: Steel baron Lakshmi Mittal’s daughter Vanisha’s wedding to Amit Bhatia was held in France in 2004.

Shrishti Mittal-Gulraj Behl: and his niece Shrishti married Gulraj Behl in Barcelona in December 2013.

After spinner Harbhajan Singh tied nuptial knots with actress Geeta Basra, hitman Rohit Sharma finally got hitched with his longtime girlfriend Ritika Sajdeh.
The wedding guests that have already checked in, include Yuvraj Singh, his fiancee Hazel Keech and mother Shabnam Singh, Suresh Raina, Umesh Yadav and his wife Tanya.
Sachin Tendulkar was seen arriving at the party along with his wife Anjali.
Team India's middle order batsman Suresh Raina, married his lady love, Priyanka Chaudhary, on April 3, 2015. Raina and Priyanka have been childhood friends, and a private wedding in Delhi, tied these buddies together in the sacred knot.

Cricketer Dinesh Karthik and squash ace Dipika Pallikal tied the knot at Chennai this year.
Kerala's richest businessman Ravi Pillai's daughter Dr Arathi Pillai with husband Dr Adithya Vishnu.

Mahesh Savani (Diamond Merchant of Surat)
Every year has paid for the weddings of young women from poor families who have lost their fathers. Savani said the wedding and gifts for the 151 couples would cost more than 50 million rupees (RM3.2 million), with around 100,000 guests joining in the three days of festivities that ended on Sunday.

Savani said the wedding and gifts for the 151 couples would cost more than 50 million rupees (RM3.2 million), with around 100,000 guests joining in the three days of festivities that ended on Sunday.

Sonali who tied the knot with businessman-lawyer Jaish Bakshi: Arun Jaitley, the Union finance minister, played the loving, doting father of the bride on Saturday and Sunday at the wedding of his daughter Sonali who tied the knot with businessman-lawyer Jaish Bakshi.