Laxman Rawat of PSPB overcame fellow PSPB challenger Aditya Mehta 9-6 in a best-of-17-frame final.

* Laxman Rawat of PSPB emerged victorious in the ‘Baulkline’ NSCI All India Snooker Open.

* Previously, Laxman Rawat won the runner-up in the last edition of the All India Snooker Open losing to Sourav Kothari in the finals. This win marks Laxman Rawat’s first major title after 2 to 3 years.

 

* Laxman Rawat of the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) won the NSCI Snooker Open 2023 against Aditya Mehta.

* Laxman Rawat received Rs 3 lakh cash prize while Aditya Mehta received Rs 1.5 lakh.

* The summit clash contested between the accomplished Indian Oil Cueists Rawat and Mehta witnessed top-quality positive play as both were aggressive and went for their shots.

* Rawat was more consistent and managed to wrest the initiative and enjoy a 5-3 lead at the break.

* Rawat was a bit scratchy, and Mehta did well to win frames to draw level at 5-all and stay in. the fight.

* Rawat gained the moment in the next three frames to surge to an 8-5 lead.

* Aditya Mehta managed to take some time in the 14th frame.

* However, Rawat was destined to win the game in the next frame.

The first ever joint exercise between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army named “Exercise Cyclone-I” is in progress at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan since 14 January 2023.

The exercise aims to bolster defence co-operation between the two nations and focus on sharing professional skills and interoperability of Special Forces in desert terrain while undertaking counter terrorism, reconnaissance, raids and other special operations.

 

Exercise “Cyclone - I” is the first exercise of its kind bringing the special forces of both the nations on a common platform.

The 14 days long exercise which is being carried out in the deserts of Rajasthan engages both the contingents to advance special forces skills such as Sniping, Combat Free Fall, Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Designation, sharing of information on weapons, equipment, innovations, tactics, techniques & procedures.

The participants would also undertake joint planning and drills for Special Forces operations in a mechanised warfare setting as well as surgical strikes on terrorist camps / hideouts to include sniping of High Value Targets.

 

The joint exercise would provide an insight into the culture and ethos of both armies thereby fostering military cooperation and interoperability to further strengthen the diplomatic relations between India and Egypt...

Source : PIB

The Indian Navy will commission the fifth scorpene-class submarine "Vagir" on 23rd January 2023, officials said on Thursday (19th Jan 2023).

* The commissioning of the submarine, built under the Project-75, is set to bolster the Navy's combat capability at a time when China has been increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean region.

 

* Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar will grace the induction ceremony as the Chief Guest.

 

* The Project-75 includes indigenous construction of six submarines of Scorpene design.

 

* The submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai under a collaboration with the Naval Group of France.

 

* Four of the Kalvari class of submarines have already been commissioned into the Indian Navy.

 

* The former Vagir was commissioned on 01 Nov 1973 and undertook numerous operational missions including deterrent patrols.

* The submarine was decommissioned on 07 Jan 2001 after serving the nation for about three decades.

* The submarine was launched and named ‘Vagir’ on 12 Nov 2020, in its new avatar has the distinction of having the lowest build time among all indigenously manufactured submarines to date.

* She undertook her maiden sea sortie on Feb 22, marking the commencement of sea trials, and has gone through a series of comprehensive acceptance checks and, stringent and demanding sea trials before being commissioned.

* The submarine was delivered to Indian Navy by M/s MDL on 20 Dec 2022.

About Vagir – Ferocious Fifth : Vagir will boost the Indian Navy’s capability to further India’s maritime interests and is capable of undertaking diverse missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and surveillance missions....

Source :  Hindustan Times

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, setting annual performance target for the year 2022-23.

The MOU was signed by Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary, MNRE and Shri Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), IREDA 20th Jan 2023 in the presence of senior officials from MNRE & IREDA.

 

The Government of India has set a target ₹ 3,361 crores for Revenue from Operation, up by approx. 18% from the previous year achievement.

The Government of India has also set various performance-related key parameters such as Return on Net Worth, Return on Capital Employed, NPA to Total Loans, Asset Turnover Ratio and Earning per share, etc.

 

Shri Pradip Kumar Das highlighted that IREDA has been delivering exemplary performances for the previous two financial years and is fully geared to meet these targets.

The company has posted 67% jump in Profit After Tax (PAT) in 2nd Quarter of FY 2022-23, as compared to corresponding period during FY 2021-22. Most importantly, Net NPAs have been reduced from 4.87% to 2.72% in Quarter 2, as compared to corresponding period during FY 2021-22.

 

IREDA has demonstrated exceptional performance by securing 96.54 marks for the MoU of FY 2021-22. The company as on date, has financed more than 3,068 Renewable Energy projects loan accounts with cumulative loan sanction and disbursement to the tune of

₹ 1,41,622 crores & ₹ 90,037 crores respectively and has supported Renewable Energy capacity addition of 19,502 MW in the country.

Source : PIB

An India-born multicultural marketing agency founder, Manish Tiwari has been awarded the 'The Freedom of the City of London' title for leaving a mark on the financial hub of the British capital.

 

Manish Tiwari received the honour at a ceremony at the Chamberlain's Court at Guildhall in London earlier this month (January 2023).

 

The award, given by the City of London Corporation, dates back to the 13th century and has since developed into an honour bestowed upon individuals who make an impact in the financial hub of London, referred to as the City or the Square Mile..

Source : NDTV

Himalayan Cataract Project Co-Founder Dr Sanduk Ruit has won the ISA Award for Service to Humanity, a top civilian award of Bahrain.

 

The award carries a cash prize of USD 1 million, a certificate of merit and a gold medal.  Dr Ruit is pioneer in delivering high-quality microsurgical procedures in remote eye camps.

He made modern eye care affordable and accessible to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. He is fondly called as "God of Sight" to have saved 1,20,000 eyesight who would have otherwise gone blind in absence of treatment.  

 

Dr Ruit has trained more than 650 doctors, teaching them to cure preventable blindness. He is the recipient of the Padma Shri Award by the GoI, The National Order of Merit of Bhutan as well as the Ramon Magsaysay Award. 

Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' congratulated senior ophthalmologist Ruit for receiving prestigious Bahrain’s ISA award..

Source : AIR

Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) has delivered the first fuselage for six AH-64 Apache attack helicopters ordered by the Indian Army from its modern facility in Hyderabad, the company said on Thursday (19th Jan 2023).

 

The company said TBAL’s 14,000-sq-m facility, in addition to being a global sole source supplier for Apache fuselages, produces complex aero-structures for Boeing 737 and 777 models.

The joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) employs over 900 engineers and technicians and utilises the latest robotics, automation and advanced aerospace concepts in its manufacturing processes.

 

“This is a proud milestone and a testimony of our commitment towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the world-class manufacturing capabilities at our joint venture Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited at Hyderabad.

The Apache will provide the Indian Army with a significant boost in capability just as the AH-64 has for the Indian Air Force,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India.

 

Boeing had completed the deliveries of all 22 AH-64E Apache helicopters to the Indian Air Force in 2020.

 

TBAL has produced and supplied Boeing’s Apache final assembly plant in Mesa, Arizona, with over 190 fuselages, Tata Boeing Aerospace said. More than 90 per cent of the parts used in these aerostructures assemblies are manufactured within India through over 100 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) suppliers in support of the government’s vision for Make in India, according to the statement. Tata Group recently won the ‘Supplier of the year’ award 2022 from Boeing, from among more than 11,000 suppliers worldwide, it added.

 

With more than 1,275 AH-64 Apaches in operation accumulating over 4.9 million flight hours globally, 1.3 million of which have been in combat, the attack helicopter holds the reputation of being the world’s most advanced and proven attack helicopter..

Source : The Print

India is likely to become a $26-trillion economy in 100th year of its Indepe­ndence in 2047 with per capita GDP growing six times from current level to over $15,000 during the period, Ernst & Young (EY) said in a report released at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2023 at Davos.

 

The report, titled “India@100: Realising the potential of a $26 trillion economy”, says India is most likely to overtake Germany and Japan to become the third largest economy after China and the US by 2030.

 

Carmine Di Sibio, global Chairman and CEO at EY, said India offers a unique investment opportunity as the world struggles, with increased geo-political pressures.

“With the biggest talent pool, an accelerated pace of economic reforms, breakthroughs in energy transition, and rapid digital transformation, the long-term growth trajectory is clearly positive. India shows immense potential and is positioned to make a truly transfo­rmative impact on the world stage”...

Source : Business Standard

Indian captain Rohit Sharma shattered a long-standing record held by MS Dhoni to become India's most prolific six-hitter in the history of ODI cricket. On Wednesday (January 18, 2023), at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad, Rohit achieved this remarkable feat during the first ODI between India and New Zealand. 

 

Rohit won the toss and decided to bat first in the series opener, explaining that the team wanted to get into the habit of defending totals in preparation for the upcoming World Cup. The Indian squad is entering the series on a high note, having achieved a remarkable 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka.

 

Rohit Sharma gave India a blistering start with a knock of 34 runs in just 38 balls, but failed to convert his score into a big knock. The Indian captain's knock included two maximums, breaking MS Dhoni's long-standing record. Rohit is now India's leading six-getter in the history of ODI cricket, with a total of 125 sixes to his name.