Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)

Context: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted three successive flight trials of VSHORADS from Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.

About VSHORADS 

• VSHORADS is a short-range, lightweight, and portable surface-to-air missile system.
  • It can be fired by individuals or small groups to destroy enemy aircraft or helicopters.
• Development: Indigenously developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories.
• Range & Capabilities: Propelled by a dual-thrust solid motor, making it effective for neutralizing low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
  • Maximum range of 8 kilometres.
  • Can engage targets at altitudes of up to 4.5 km.
• Strategic Importance: Portability and rapid deployment capabilities make it a crucial asset for strengthening India’s air defence.
  • Can be used by all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces i.e. Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Key Technologies Integrated
  • Miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS): A small but powerful technology used to steer and stabilize missiles, spacecraft, and high-speed objects during flight.
    • Consists of tiny thrusters or jet nozzles that help control the missile’s movement in mid-air.
  • Integrated Avionics: Incorporates advanced electronics for precision targeting and enhanced performance.

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Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme

Context: Recently, The Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme was introduced by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2025-26.

About Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme

• It is part of the government’s broader effort to integrate technology into education while promoting linguistic diversity.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education
• Objective: To make learning more accessible by providing digital textbooks and study materials in multiple Indian languages.
• The scheme complements the ASMITA initiative, which focuses on developing 22,000 books in 22 Indian languages over the next five year
  • Launched in July 2024 by the Ministry of Education and University Grants Commission (UGC).
  • The UGC and the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti (under the Ministry of Education) are working together on translation and academic writing in Indian languages.
• Key Features of the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme
  • Access to Digital Textbooks: Students in schools and universities can avail textbooks and other learning materials in digital formats.
  • Focus on Regional Languages: The initiative ensures that students from diverse linguistic backgrounds receive educational resources in their mother tongue.
  • Bridging Educational Gaps: It aims to reduce disparities in access to quality educational resources for students from different linguistic communities.

Deep Ocean Mission

Context: The Deep Ocean Mission’s allocation has been increased by Rs 600 crore in the 2025 Union budget.

• The Deep Ocean Mission has been allocated Rs 3649.81 crore in the Union Budget as against Rs 3064.80 crore in 2024.

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About the Deep Ocean Mission

• The Deep Ocean Mission is a multi-disciplinary program to explore the deep ocean and develop technologies to use its resources to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) 
• Components: 
  • Samudrayaan: It is a manned submersible, which will be developed to carry 3 people to a depth of 6000 metres in the ocean with suite of scientific sensors and tools. 
    • Developed By: The Samudrayaan vehicle will be developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT)
  • An Integrated Mining System: It will be developed for mining Polymetallic Nodules from 6000 m depth in the central Indian Ocean paving way for its commercial exploitation 
    • It will help the Blue Economy priority area of exploring and harnessing of deep-sea minerals and energy
  • Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services Models: It will provide future projections of important climate variables on seasonal to decadal time scales supporting the Blue Economy priority area of coastal tourism.
  • Conservation: Bio- prospecting of deep-sea flora and fauna including microbes and studies on sustainable utilization of deep sea bio-resources will be the main focus.
    • This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of Marine Fisheries and allied services.
  • Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration: To explore and identify potential sites of multi-metal hydrothermal sulphides mineralization along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.
  • Harness Ocean Energy: Studies and detailed engineering design for offshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plants are envisaged.
    • It will support the Blue Economy priority area of off-shore energy development.
  • Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology: To translate research capacity into industrial application and product development in ocean biology and engineering through on-site business incubator facilities
    • It will support the Blue Economy priority area of Marine Biology, Blue trade and Blue manufacturing.

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