Defence Current Affairs And Updates 12 November 2020

Hemanth Kasturi
November 12, 2020
725

Indian Army Hands Over 20 Fully Trained Military Horses and 10 Mine Detection Dogs to Bangladesh Army

In an endeavour to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two Countries in general and between the two Armies in particular, the Indian Army gifted 20 fully trained military horses and 10 mine detection dogs to Bangladesh Army. These equines and canines were trained by the Remount and Veterinary Corps of Indian Army. The Indian Army has also trained Bangladesh Army personnel for training and handling these specialist dogs and horses.
Indian Army delegation was led by Major General Narinder Singh Khroud, Chief of Staff of Brahmastra Corps whereas the Bangladesh Army Delegation was led by Major General Mohammad HumayunKabir, who is Commanding the Jessore based Division. The presentation ceremony was held at Petrapole- Benapole Integrated Check Post (ICP) on the India – Bangladesh Border. Brig JS Cheema from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka was also present at the event.
India’s partnership with Peoples Republic of Bangladesh stands out as a role model in the region for good neighbourly relations. With this gesture the bond which two countries share is expected to grow even stronger.
“The performance of military dogs in Indian Army has been commendable. We are always ready to extend our assistance to a friendly country like Bangladesh in issues concerning security. When it comes to security, the dogs have proven their mettle. The dogs which have been handed over, are extremely effective in mine detection and contraband items,” said Maj Gen Narinder Singh, Chief of Staff, Brahmastra Corps.

ISRO’s PSLVC49 lifts off from Sriharikota carrying EOS-01 and nine international customer satellites – all placed successfully in orbit

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in its 51^st mission (PSLV-C49), launched EOS-01 as primary satellite along with nine international customer satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The countdown for the launch of PSLV-C49/EOS-01 mission commenced today at 1302 Hrs (IST) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. The launch was scheduled at 1502 Hrs IST on November 07, 2020.
The rocket lifted off at 3.12pm, instead of at the scheduled time of 3.02pm. The launch was postponed by 10 minutes due to lightning that could damage electronics onboard the rocket.
More than 15 minutes after liftoff, the launch vehicle successfully injected its primary payload, EOS-01, into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It was followed by nine customer satellites.
EOS-01 (previously called RISAT-2BR2) is an earth observation satellite intended for applications in agriculture, forestry and disaster management support. It carried an X-band synthetic-aperture radar.
The foreign satellites include an 2 satellite from Lithuania, which was a technology demonstration, four Kleos (KSM-1A/1B/1C/1D) satellites from Luxembourg for maritime applications and four Lemur (Lemur-1/2/3/4) satellites from the US meant for multi-mission remote sensing application.
Today’s launch is the first launch of ISRO after the Covid-19 pandemic delayed its schedules. It was the 76^th launch vehicle mission from the Sriharkota Spaceport, 38^th launch from the first launch pad and second flight of PSLV with DL variant carrying two strap-on boosters.
The customer satellites are being launched under commercial agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Department of Space.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh Unveils A-SAT Missile Model in DRDO Bhawan

A model of Anti Satellite (A-SAT) Missile installed inside the DRDO Bhawan premises was unveiled today by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh in the august presence of Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari and Secretary DDR&D & Chairman DRDO, Dr G Satheesh Reddy.
‘Mission Shakti’ was country’s first ever Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile Test successfully conducted on 27th March 2019 from Dr AP J Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha, where a fast-moving Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) was neutralised with pinpoint accuracy. This was a highly complex mission, conducted at extremely high speed with remarkable precision.
The successful conduct of Mission Shakti made India the fourth nation in the world with the capability to defend its assets in outer space.
On this occasion, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh appreciated the innovative accomplishment of the team of scientists.
Secretary DDR&D & Chairman DRDO, Dr G Satheesh Reddy stated that the installation of the A-SAT model will inspire the DRDO fraternity to take up many more such challenging missions in future.
Earlier Shri Rajnath Singh and Shri Nitin Gadkari witnessed the demonstration of Fire Detection and Suppression System (FDSS) for Passenger Buses. Demonstrations were given on Water Mist Based FDSS for Passenger Compartment and Aerosol Based FDSS for engine fire.
DRDO’s Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), Delhi has developed the technology, which can detect the fire in passenger compartment in less than 30 sec and then suppresses it in 60 sec thereby reducing the risk to life and property to a significant extent.
Shri Gadkari expressed satisfaction over the technology and wished to take it forward.

Armed Forces Celebrate 5 years anniversary of OROP

A sum of Rs. 10795.4 crore (which includes payment of Rs. 348.56 crore made to Nepali pensioners) has been disbursed to 2060220 Defence Forces Pensioners/Family Pensioners as arrears on account of implementation of OROP.
The yearly recurring expenditure on account of OROP is about Rs.7123.38 crores. For about six years starting from 01.07.2014, the total recurring expenditure works out to approximately Rs. 42740.28 crore.
One Rank One Pension (OROP), or “same pension, for same rank, for same length of service, irrespective of the date of retirement”, is a longstanding demand of the Indian armed forces and veterans.
In 1986, the sense of unease and distrust prompted by the Third Central Pay Commission (CPC) was exacerbated by the Rajiv Gandhi led Indian National Congress (I) Government’s decision to implement Rank Pay, which reduced basic pay of captain, majors, lt-colonel, colonels, and brigadiers, and their equivalent in the air-force, and the navy, relative to basic pay scales of civilian and police officers.
In February 2016, government issued orders to implement the scheme.
Potential beneficiaries of OROP is about 2.6 million ex-servicemen, and 60,000 widows, including war widows, i.e., a combined total of 3.2 million, of whom about 86 percent are widows, JCOs, NCOs, and other ranks, about 14 percent are officers. Out of the estimated outlay on OROP of Rs 8400 crores about Rs 6200 Crores will be on account of Widows, JCOs, NCOs, and other ranks, and about 2200 for Officers.

CAS addressed 5^th Foreign Defence Attaches’ conclave

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal #RKSBhadauria addressed the 5th Foreign Defence Attaches’ conclave organised by http://BharatShakti.in on ‘Enhancing Defence Capabilities through Cooperation’ today.
#CAS complimented team http://BharatShakti.in on their crucial role in promoting indigenisation and self reliance in defence sector and unique settings of the conclave which brought together key players.
The CAS put forth the need to build a robust and self reliant indigenous defence capability which could be brought to bear at will to counter a complex security scenario influenced by a ‘deep and long term threat’ from adversaries.
Referring to LCA as the best in its class and a ‘shining example’ of indigenisation,the CAS brought home the success story of ‘atmanirbharta’ in IAF. Articulating induction plans for next 3 decades, CAS said the time was right for the desired inflection in aviation ecosystem.
Addressing the industry, CAS stated that IAF was ‘very serious in its commitment to indigenisation’ which was ‘ irreversible’. While the ‘time for slogans is well past’, the CAS said that ‘all the stars were aligned’ for the industry ‘to rise and start the walk’.
Concluding his address, the CAS said that the FDAs needed to understand the ‘changed environment’ and the requirement for foreign players to invest with niche technologies and manufacturing set-up particularly in fields of sensor fusion, AI, UCAVs and cyberspace.

Convocation Ceremony Of 139^th NDA Course

The Convocation ceremony of 139th NDA course was held at Habibullah Hall, NDA on 06 November 2020. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Prof (Dr.) Nitin R Kamalkar, Vice-Chancellor, Savitribai Phule, Pune University, Pune.
217 cadets were conferred the degree of Jawaharlal Nehru University which included 49 cadets in the science stream, 113 cadets in Computer Science stream and 55 cadets in Arts stream. 12 Cadets from friendly foreign countries were also awarded degrees during the programme. In addition to this, the fourth batch of B.Tech comprising of 45 Naval cadets and 35 Air Force cadets also received course completion certificates. They would continue the fourth year of their B.tech curriculum at their respective service academy.
The Chief Guest was received by Lt. Gen. Asit Mistry, AVSM, SM, VSM, Commandant, National Defence Academy. After Commandant’s address, the academic report of Autumn Term-20 was presented by Principal, NDA Prof (Dr) O P Shukla. The Chief guest in his convocation address congratulated the cadets of the passing out course for undergoing the training with dedication and hard work.
He emphasized about the role and importance of armed forces in shaping India and also motivated the future military leaders to carry forward the professionalism and ethos imbibed at the academy towards the service of the nation.
Cadet Quartermaster Sergeant Arkshit Kapoor won the Commandant’s Silver medal and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Trophy presented by General K Sundarji, PVSM for standing first in Science stream, SquadranCadet CaptainParul Yadav won the Commandant’s Silver medal and Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Trophy presented by Admiral Sureesh Mehta, PVSM, AVSM for standing first in Computer Science Stream. Battalion Cadet Adjutant Dhananjay Jasrotia bagged the Commandant’s Silver Medal and Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Trophy presented by Air Chief Marshal N C Suri, PVSM, AVSM, VM for standing first in Arts Stream and Squadron Cadet Captain SawanMaan won the Commandant’s Silver Medal and Admiral OS Dawson’s Trophy for standing first in B.Tech.
Rear Admiral Atul Anand, VSM, Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor, presented the Vote of Thanks on conclusion of the Convocation ceremony.
The Reviewing officer for the passing out parade of 139th NDA course is Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC.

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Recently, Indian Army Handed Over 20 Fully Trained Military Horses and 10 Mine Detection Dogs to which country’s Army?
Bangladesh
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Bhutan

ANSWER: A