Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO successfully launched one hundred seventy-seven foreign satellites belonging to 19 countries through its commercial arms in the last five years.

These countries include Australia, Brazil, France, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, United Kingdom, and USA. Atomic Energy and Space Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha yesterday. Dr Singh informed that foreign exchange generated through launching of these satellites is approximately 94 million US dollars. He said, government has taken several steps to strengthen space programme and take it to greater heights.

India has successfully conducted night trials of nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni V, capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometers with very high degree of accuracy. The missile test firing was conducted from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast at around 5.30 pm yesterday. This was the latest test in the Agni missile series. According to defence sources, the test was carried out to validate new technologies and equipment on the missile that are now lighter than before. 

The Nation is celebrating Vijay Diwas today to commemorate India's victory over Pakistan in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war. On this day, the sacrifice of war heroes is remembered and rich tributes are being paid to them. On 16th December 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93 thousand troops, surrendered unconditionally to the allied forces led by Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, in Dhaka after their defeat. The end of the war resulted in the freedom of Bangladesh.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Army Chief General Manoj Pande attended the At Home reception at Army House on the eve of Vijay Diwas.

The 16th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint army training exercise begins today. The exercise “SURYA KIRAN” will be conducted at Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi, and continue up to 29 December 2022. It is conducted annually between India and Nepal with the aim to enhance inter-operability in jungle warfare and counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) under UN mandate. Nepal Army soldiers of Shree Bhawani Baksh Battalion and Indian Army soldiers from the 5 GR are participating in the exercise. 

Parliament has passed the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2022 with Rajya Sabha approving it today unanimously. Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill. 

The Bill amends the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Act, 2019.  The  Bill renames the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre as the India International Arbitration Centre. The Act requires the Arbitration Centre to strive to facilitate the conduct of international and domestic arbitration and conciliation and the new legislation expands this to include the conduct of other forms of alternative dispute resolution. 

The 6th edition of Indo - Kazakhstan joint training exercise -KAZIND-22 will be conducted at Umroi (Meghalaya) from tomorrow. The Defence Ministry said, the exercise will enhance the level of defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the Kazakhstan Army which will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will inaugurate the 7th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS 2022) at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi today. The theme of the summit this year is  Restoration and Conservation of Small Rivers in a Large Basin. It will also focus on the select aspects of ‘Mapping and Convergence of 5Ps’ - People, Policy, Plan, Programme and Project.  The three-day-long summit will aim to give an insight into the potential causes for divergence and formulate a strategy to achieve convergence. The event will also host a finance forum to bring together global financial institutions and investors interested in river restoration and conservation programmes.

The Ministry of Power will celebrate the National Energy Conservation Day in New Delhi today, to showcase the achievements of the nation in energy efficiency and conservation.

President Droupadi Murmu will be the Chief Guest of the event and will felicitate the winners of the National Energy Conservation and National Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards. During the event, the President will also launch EV Yatra Portal and Mobile application.

Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has lauded the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) for the robustness of their duty especially during the time of COVID-19.

Attending celebrations of 60 years of Customs Act, 1962 in New Delhi, Ms Sitharaman said that robustness was not written in the act but it was how the officials took it.

The Minister also underlined the need for making the Customs Act future ready and said that the Customs officers also have to be ready for newer technological challenges.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket yesterday carried into space the first ever Arab-built lunar spacecraft. It was launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Rashid Rover was built by Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and is being delivered by the HAKUTO-R lander, engineered by Japanese lunar exploration company ispace.

The mission is due to arrive at Moon around April 2023. According to Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai on Sunday, the Rashid rover will provide 'novel and highly valued data, images, and insights,' as well as 'collect scientific data on matters relating to the origin of the solar system, our planet and life.'