THE INDIAN Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday successfully completed the ground test of the solid-fuel based booster stage (SS1) of its new Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), completing the ground testing of all three stages of the launch vehicle. The new launch vehicle is now ready for its first development flight, which is scheduled for May this year.

“The successful test of solid booster stage has given sufficient confidence to proceed with the first developmental flight of SSLV (SSLV-D1), which is scheduled in May 2022. The remaining stages of SSLV i.e. SS2 & SS3 stages have successfully undergone necessary ground tests and are ready for integration,” the space agency said in a statement.

The space agency usually declares a launch vehicle operational after two successful development flights.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with French firm Safran Helicopter Engines to extend their cooperation and explore opportunities for new helicopter engines in civil and military markets.

The MoU was signed during the ground-breaking ceremony for a new facility of Helicopter Engines MRO Pvt Ltd (HE-MRO), a joint venture of HAL and Safran at Sattari, 40 km from Panaji, in Goa.

Today is World Consumer Rights Day and the theme for this year is Fair Digital Finance. Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is organizing an event in New Delhi, as part of Consumer Empowerment Week, which will be inaugurated by Minister for Consumer Affairs Piyush Goyal. Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Ashwini Kumar Choubey, President of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Justice R K Agarwal, Non-Executive Chairman of Infosys Nandan Nilekani and other dignitaries are expected to grace the occasion. Dedicated sessions have been earmarked to discuss issues facing consumers. The Department is also launching a virtual exhibition on 75 years of scientific and organisational journey of BIS, RRSL and NTH.

The Department is celebrating Consumer Empowerment Week from yesterday till 20th of this month. This will commemorate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Department of Consumer Affairs is organising “Consumer Empowerment Week” from March 14 to March 20, 2022 to celebrate and honour 75 years of progressive India and the wonderful history of its people, culture, and achievements.

The celebrations coincide with World Consumer Rights Day to be celebrated on 15th March 2022. Under Consumer Empowerment Week, the Department of Consumer Affairs will host a number of events across the country.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Indian Institute of Legal Metrology (IILM) Ranchi, National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF), National Test House (NTH), and Regional Reference Standards Laboratories (RRSLs) will conduct rural outreach programmes in 75 villages on the first day of the celebration.

Flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant on Sunday broke the legendary Kapil Dev’s 40-year-old record of fastest Test fifty by an Indian on the second day of the Day/Night match against Sri Lanka here.

The dashing left-hander cruised to his fifty in 28 balls (7×4, 2×6) in the 42nd over of Indian second innings when he hit a Praveen Jayawickrama delivery through the extra cover boundary.

India’s first World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev had cracked a 30-ball half-century against Pakistan in the Karachi Test in 1982.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated the new complex building of Rashtriya Raksha University- RRU Gandhinagar to the nation today by unveiling a plaque. The new campus building complex of Rashtriya Raksha University- an institution of national importance is situated at Lavad village near Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

Delivering his convocation address at Rashtriya Raksha University- RRU Gandhinagar as a Chief Guest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that seeds of police reforms were sown by the launch of Rashtriya Raksha University in Gujarat. He said that police reforms were needed immediately after our independence, but it was neglected for many years. PM said, we need scientific education and training with human approach for the modernization of police. He expressed the hope that Rashtriya Raksha University will emerge in the field of national security and defense that will change the security picture of the nation.  

Road Transport and Highways Ministry has issued draft notification related to Motor Vehicles Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility Amendment Rules 2022. These amendments lay down the procedure for establishment of Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility.

The notification states that registered vehicle owners shall apply digitally for vehicle scrapping. Road Transport and Highways Ministry said, all applications for vehicle scrapping shall be submitted digitally and Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility will act as facilitation centres to help vehicle owners. 

Government will select hundred start-ups across the country to empower sustainable economic growth and generate employment opportunities in the water or used water sector. Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said this at the launch of ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Challenge’ in New Delhi on Saturday. Mr. Puri also added that his ministry will select start-ups through this Start-up challenge and provide twenty lakh rupees to each start-up as funding support as well as mentorship.

On the occasion, Mr. Puri emphasized on the important role being played by the Start-ups, and assured them of full and active support from the Government. He said that the Start-ups are the flavor of the season, as the number of Unicorns in the country has jumped, by leaps and bounds.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said that automobile companies will start manufacturing flex-fuel vehicles within six months. Addressing a Global Business Summit, he said, most vehicles in India will soon run on 100 percent ethanol. Flex-fuel or flexible fuel is an alternative fuel with a combination of gasoline and methanol or ethanol.

Government is enabling the use of various alternate fuels in an effort to shift from fossil fuels. Automobile and auto components of flex-fuel engines have been included in the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. NITI Aayog has formulated the roadmap for ethanol blending for the period 2020-2025 to accelerate the introduction of flex-fuel vehicles. Mr Gadkari also said the government is working to encourage the use of green hydrogen and other alternative fuels.

Communication Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today inaugurated a seminar on 25 Years of TRAI Act: The Way Forward for Stakeholders in New Delhi. TRAI Act was enacted in 1997 to regulate the telecommunications sector in India.

It also provided for a mechanism of dispute resolution among the stakeholders of telecom sector. 

Speaking on the occasion, Ashwini Vaishnaw said that Antyodaya and inclusive development is the first and foremost philosophy behind the decisions and initiatives of the government and with this thought the government wants to narrow down the digital divide in the country. He said, Aatmanirbhar Bharat is the second dominant philosophy guiding the strategy and approach of government.