- Important Days
International World Meteorological Day: March 23
The World Meteorological Day is celebrated every year on 23 March to mark the date of the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization on 23 March 1950.
This day also highlights the contribution that the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services make to the safety and well-being of the society.
This year’s theme is “The ocean, our climate and weather” celebrates WMO’s focus in connecting the ocean, climate and weather within the Earth System. It also marks the starting year of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).
Quick Fact: World Meteorological Organization Head is Petteri Taalas. It is an intergovernmental organization with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Meteorological Organization has a membership of 191 member states and territories.
- Important Days
Shaheed Diwas: 23rd March
Every year, March 23 is observed as Martyrs Day (Shaheed Diwas or Sarvodaya Day) to pay tribute on the death anniversary of the freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru, who laid their lives for the freedom of India.
It was on March 23 in 1931, in Lahore (Pakistan), that these three were hanged to death for assassinating John Saunders, a British police officer in 1928. They had mistaken him for British police superintendent James Scott, who had ordered lathi-charge, which eventually led to the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
Shaheed Diwas is observed on March 23 to honour the sacrifice of three extraordinary freedom fighters of India. Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were hanged to death by the Britishers. They came forward at a very young age and fought bravely for the independence of India. They went on to become an inspiration to the youth of the country.
Quick Fact: Also, 30 January is observed as Martyr’s Day or Shaheed Diwas in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi.
- National News
Indian armed forces, 4th strongest in the world
China has the strongest military force in the world while India stands at number four, according to a study released by defence website Military Direct.
China has the strongest military in the world, scoring 82 out of 100 points in the index. The USA, despite their enormous military budgets, comes in 2nd place with 74 points, followed by Russia with 69, India at 61 and then France with 58. The U.K. just about makes the Top 10, coming in 9th place with a score of 43.
The study said “ultimate military strength index” was calculated after taking into consideration various factors including budgets, number of inactive and active military personnel, total air, sea, land and nuclear resources, average salaries, and weight of equipment.
- International News
Russia successfully launches 38 satellites for 18 countries
Russia has successfully launched 38 foreign satellites for the 18 countries into orbit after the successful launch from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Though, the launch was delayed due to the technical issues.
The launch of 38 satellites in one go by Russia is of great significance in light that the Russian Space Sector is lagging behind ever since the fall of Soviet Union. It also lagged behind the international competitors because of several corruption scandals and the technological stagnation.
In the year 2018, Russia had launched a Soyuz rocket carrying the Russian cosmonaut and a NASA astronaut. But this mission failed mid-flight and the crew had to carry out the emergency landing.
- International News
ISRO Demonstrates Free Space Quantum Communication
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced on March 22, 2021 that it has successfully demonstrated its free-space Quantum Communication for a distance of 300 metres for the first time in India. It was demonstrated at the Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad in between the two line-of-sight buildings within its campus.
Several numbers of the key technologies were indigenously developed to achieve this major feat. This space quantum communication includes the use of indigenously developed NAVIC receiver for the time synchronisation in between the transmitter and receiver modules. It also includes a gimbal mechanism system instead of the bulky large-aperture telescopes for the optical alignment of the system.
ISRO’s demonstration of the Free Space Quantum Communication includes the live video conferencing using the quantum-key-encrypted signals. It is a major milestone to achieve the unconditionally secured satellite data communication using the quantum technologies.
Quick Fact: Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) or NAVIC
NAVIC is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system which provides the accurate real-time positioning and timing services.
