News In Shorts: 14 September 2024

Indian International Maritime Dispute Resolution Centre (IIMDRC) Launched

About IIMDRC:

• Aim: IIMDRC is a specialised platform that will offer merit-based and industry-governed solutions to resolve maritime disputes.
• Significance: IIMDRC positions India as a global hub for arbitration, aligning with the “Resolve in India” initiative.

Key Outcomes from the 20th Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) Meeting:

• New Ports: Foundation stone laid for India’s 13th major port at Vadhavan, Maharashtra, and the government has designated Galathea Bay in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands as another major port.
• Indian Maritime Centre (IMC) Launched: A policy think tank aimed at fostering innovation and strategic planning among maritime stakeholders.
• National Safety in Ports Committee (NSPC) application: The MSDC launched the NSPC application on the National Single Window System to streamline regulatory processes, cut costs, and enhance efficiency. 
• National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC): Located in Lothal, Gujarat, this complex will showcase India’s maritime heritage. 
  • International collaborations are underway, with MoUs signed with Portugal, the UAE, and Vietnam, and talks with France, Norway, Iran, and Myanmar in advanced stages.
  • Coastal states are encouraged to participate.

Maritime State Development Council (MSDC)

• Established in 1997 as an apex advisory body for the maritime sector.
• Chaired by the Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Aims to ensure the integrated development of Major and Non-Major ports in consultation with State Governments.

Indigenous light tank Zorawar

About the Zorawar Tank: 

• The Zorawar is an Indian light tank designed with a high power-to-weight ratio, substantial firepower, protection, surveillance, and communication capabilities.
• It aims to provide the Indian Army with versatility for operations in varying terrains against diverse threats and equipment profiles of adversaries.
• Zorawar has been developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), under DRDO, in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro Limited.
• The tank is named after the 19th-century Dogra General Zorawar Singh.
• The tank is capable of operating in extreme environments, including harsh weather conditions and high altitudes, with minimal logistical support.
• The tank is planned to be handed over to the Army for user trials by August 2025.
• Engine Development:
  • Initially, a German engine was considered, but delays in export clearances led to the adoption of a Cummins engine.
  • DRDO is also working on developing a new power pack for the light tank, which aligns with the ongoing development of a 1400 HP engine for the Arjun Mk1A main battle tank.
• Strategic Importance:
  • The need for a light tank arose during the standoff in Eastern Ladakh, where extreme altitudes posed challenges for deploying main battle tanks.
  • The Zorawar’s lightweight design (maximum 25 tonnes) allows for air transportability and manoeuvrability at high altitudes.
  • It can fire at high angles of elevation and serve as limited artillery, enhancing tactical and operational mobility.
  • The tank is built in a modular fashion to accommodate future upgrades

Hindi Diwas

About Hindi Diwas:

History

• The Constituent Assembly of India took the historic decision on September 14, 1949, to designate Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, as one of the official languages of the newly formed nation. 
• This decision laid the groundwork for the celebration of Rashtriya Hindi Diwas. 
• This choice was made to promote linguistic cohesion in a multilingual and multilingual country. 
• Since 1953, India has observed Hindi Diwas every year.

Constitutional Provision:

• Under Article 343 of the Constitution, “The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals.”

Significance:

• Official Language: Designated as the official language on September 14, 1949.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru declared this day to be observed as Hindi Diwas.
• Promotes the Hindi Language:
  • Aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of Hindi.
  • Schools and universities organize events like essay writing, poetry, and drama to foster interest.
• Global Importance:
  • 3rd most spoken language globally, after Mandarin and English.
  • Mother tongue of around 60.88 crore people.
  • Growing influence on social media globally, with many influencers using Hindi.
• Cultural Importance:
  • Highlights Hindi’s role in India’s educational system and official communication.
  • Promotes cultural pride and national cohesion.

Facts:

• Descendant of Sanskrit and has a rich tradition, dating back to the 12th century.
• Hindi is spoken by nearly 57% of Indians and 43% of people reported it as their mother tongue (Census 2011).
• Third most spoken language in the world after English and Mandarin. (around 600 million speakers).
• Spoken in other countries such as Fiji, Nepal and Mauritius.

Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VLSRSAM)

About Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VLSRSAM):

• VL-SRSAM is a ship borne weapon system, meant for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets.
• Provides quick-reaction defense for the Indian Navy against supersonic low-flying targets like aircraft and drones.

Design and Development:

• Based on the design of the Astra missile, a beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile.
  • Beyond Visual Range (BVR) refers to the distance, usually over 20-30 kilometres, at which a target is too far to be seen with the naked eye and requires advanced tracking systems.
• Developed by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

Advanced Features:

• Uses a smokeless engine for low visibility.
• Equipped with jam-resistant technology.
• Has a radio frequency (RF) seeker for accurate target locking.
• Inertial navigation system with a fiber-optic gyroscope for mid-flight guidance.
• The RF seeker ensures precision in the terminal phase.

Warhead:

• Carries a high-explosive warhead with pre-formed fragments.
• Uses a radar proximity fuse for optimal detonation near the target.

Launch System:

• Stored in a Vertical Launch System (VLS), with a twin quad-pack canister setup (eight missiles per pack, 40 missiles total).
• Multiple launch systems can be installed on various types of warships.

Platforms: Designed for installation on destroyers, frigates, corvettes, and aircraft carriers.

Future Replacement: Expected to replace the Barak 1 anti-air missile in the future.