Central Bank of Oman (CBO) launches first polymer one-rial banknote for circulation.
[Central Bank of Oman (CBO)]
Key Updates:
- The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has released the first polymer one-rial banknote.
- The polymer note will start circulating from January 11, 2026.
- The note measures 145 by 76 millimetres and features the Oman Botanic Garden on the front.
- The reverse side displays the Sayyid Tariq bin Taimur Cultural Complex, Duqm Port and Refinery.
- Security elements include a large transparent window and colour-shifting foil showing the frankincense tree.
- The Central Bank’s logo on the back is printed in iridescent, colour-shifting ink.
- The new polymer note will circulate alongside existing one-rial banknotes and remain legal tender.
- Limited editions of 1,000 uncut sheets and 10,000 specially packaged notes will be available from January 11, 2026 at CBO counters in Ruwi, Salalah, and Sohar, as well as Oman Post’s outlet at the Opera Galleria.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has unveiled an official symbol for the Omani Rial.
- This marks a major national milestone and standardizes the currency’s representation across financial, commercial, and digital platforms.
- The symbol reflects Oman’s rich heritage and economic maturity.
- It aligns with Oman Vision 2040, strengthening global recognition, investor confidence, and the Sultanate’s position as a growing financial hub.
- Ahmed Ja’afar Al Musalmi, Governor of the Central Bank of Oman, described the adoption of the symbol as a strategic initiative.
- The symbol will facilitate international exchange operations by ensuring the currency is immediately recognizable.
- Its design draws inspiration from Oman’s rich heritage, linking Oman’s economic past with its contemporary ambitions.
- The CBO anticipates that the new symbol will strengthen global recognition of the Omani Rial and support Oman’s growing economic integration with the world.
- Punjab National Bank (PNB) introduced the RuPay metal credit card named 'Luxura' aimed at premium customers.
- The card features a rewards programme offering welcome and milestone points linked to specific spending thresholds.
- Cardholders receive hotel- and dining-related benefits through partner networks.
- PNB appointed Indian women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur as its first female brand ambassador during the launch event in New Delhi.
- Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju stated the product adds depth to PNB’s offerings for customers seeking premium features.
- PNB Managing Director & CEO Ashok Chandra expects the partnership to support the bank’s ongoing brand-building initiatives.
- Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL) received RBI authorisation to operate as a payment aggregator for physical (offline) payments and cross-border transactions.
- PPSL now holds Payment Aggregator licences across all key segments, enabling end-to-end payment aggregation services across online, offline and cross-border use cases.
- PPSL had already received online payment aggregator authorisation from RBI on November 26, 2025, under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
- Sweden has formally stepped into a new financial era, becoming the first country in the world to operate almost entirely without cash.
- The Riksbank is testing a state-backed digital currency, the e-krona, with the goal to ensure that everyone can use money guaranteed by the government in a digital economy.
- While physical theft has plummeted, digital fraud has skyrocketed in Sweden.
- ECOWAS has approved Sahel States’ accession to an Anti-Money Laundering Group as non-member participants.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants final Payment Aggregator licence to Mswipe Technologies.
[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Mswipe Technologies]
Key Updates:
- The licence covers both online and physical payment acceptance modes.
- Mswipe serves merchants through MPOS, Smart PoS terminals, QR soundboxes, payment gateways, and embedded digital payment services.
- Mswipe’s payments business turned adjusted profitable in the most recent financial year, recording over ₹275 crore in revenue in FY24.
- Total payment volume more than doubled year on year.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas oversees the Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL)-PAHAL Scheme operational since January 2015.
- Common LPG Database Platform (CLDP) introduced to identify and block duplicate, inactive, and fraudulent LPG connections using Aadhaar number, bank details, Household ID, Ration card, name and address matching.
- Aadhaar-Based Biometric Verification mandated for PMUY and PAHAL beneficiaries, with 69% of existing PMUY users completed as of 1 November 2025.
- Terminated 8.63 lakh ineligible PMUY connections and 20,000 inactive beneficiaries since January 2025.
- Strengthened Grievance Redress System includes toll-free helpline 1800-2333-555, LPG distributor offices, OMCs' apps and websites, CPGRAMS portal, WhatsApp support, social media channels, and LPG emergency line 1906.
- Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL) received RBI authorisation to operate as a payment aggregator for physical (offline) payments and cross-border transactions.
- PPSL now holds Payment Aggregator licences across all key segments, enabling end-to-end payment aggregation services across online, offline and cross-border use cases.
- PPSL had already received online payment aggregator authorisation from RBI on November 26, 2025, under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
- The event, Samanvay 2025, is a two-day industry synergy meet organised by the Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS) cluster of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Proof: "The handover took place during the inaugural session of Samanvay 2025 , a two-day industry synergy meet being organised by the Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS) cluster of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru."
- The meet took place in Bengaluru.
- Proof: "The handover took place during the inaugural session of Samanvay 2025 , a two-day industry synergy meet being organised by the Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS) cluster of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru."
- The DRDO handed over 12 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LATOTs) for eight products to industry partners.
- Proof: "the DRDO handed over 12 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LATOTs) for eight products to industry partners on Wednesday, the defence ministry said."
- The event is being attended by representatives of more than 150 industry partners.
- Proof: "The event, being attended by the representatives of more than 150 industry partners, has been organised to apprise and update industries, especially the MSMEs and start-ups, about various industry-friendly initiatives and policies of the DRDO in line with the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'."
- Ministry of Home Affairs relaxed the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime in Nagaland.
- The relaxation aims to promote tourism, improve ease of movement and strengthen integration with the rest of the country during the Hornbill Festival.
- Nagaland government requested lifting of the PAP regime.
- Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to relax the PAP regime.
South Indian Bank (SIB) launches RuPay Contactless SIB Paytag Sticker for tap-and-pay transactions.
[South Indian Bank (SIB)]
Key Updates:
- South Indian Bank (SIB) introduces the RuPay Contactless SIB Paytag Sticker, an NFC-enabled payment instrument.
- The compact NFC sticker can be affixed to mobile phones, wallets, or cardholders.
- Customers can make tap-and-pay transactions at contactless POS terminals without carrying a physical debit card.
- No PIN is required for purchases up to ₹5,000; PIN authentication is mandatory for transactions above ₹5,000.
- SIB Paytag can be used at all contactless POS terminals.
- Online e-commerce payments are possible by viewing card details through the SIB Mirror+ app.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Punjab National Bank (PNB) introduced the RuPay metal credit card named 'Luxura' aimed at premium customers.
- The card features a rewards programme offering welcome and milestone points linked to specific spending thresholds.
- Cardholders receive hotel- and dining-related benefits through partner networks.
- PNB appointed Indian women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur as its first female brand ambassador during the launch event in New Delhi.
- Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju stated the product adds depth to PNB’s offerings for customers seeking premium features.
- PNB Managing Director & CEO Ashok Chandra expects the partnership to support the bank’s ongoing brand-building initiatives.
- Google Pay launched FLEX, a fully digital, UPI-powered co-branded credit card with Axis Bank built on the RuPay network.
- Users can link the FLEX card to UPI accounts inside Google Pay and scan QR codes for credit-powered merchant payments.
- The card offers instant cashbacks or rewards instead of monthly billing-cycle credits.
- Eligible users can apply and receive a virtual card within minutes at zero cost directly inside the Google Pay app.
- Google Pay introduced Pocket Money on the UPI Circle framework, letting parents set monthly spending limits up to ₹15,000 or approve each child transaction.
- Google Pay now prompts customers to rate small merchants immediately after transactions to build unified customer ratings.
- A GenAI-powered Ads tool within Google Pay for Business lets small merchants create, preview, and launch ad campaigns in minutes.
- South Indian Bank has launched a premium savings account exclusively for women, branded as SIB HER Account.
- The account offers higher savings interest through an auto-sweep facility on balances above ₹1 lakh and unlimited ATM withdrawals.
- It includes complimentary airport lounge access, free air accident insurance of ₹1 crore, and personal accident cover of ₹1 lakh.
- Customers can access cancer care insurance of up to ₹25 lakh at discounted premiums and receive concessions on retail loans, including housing, vehicle and business loans designed for women.
- The SIB HER Account is available to both domestic and NRI customers and allows women account holders to add up to three free family accounts.
- Account holders receive a 50% waiver on locker rentals along with shopping, wellness and lifestyle offers.
- The account requires a monthly balance of ₹50,000, which can be waived if customers maintain a fixed deposit of ₹1 lakh or achieve debit card spending of ₹50,000 in the prior month.
- Razorpay becomes one of a select cohort of fintechs authorised to facilitate both inward and outward cross-border payments with complete regulatory oversight.
- Indian businesses can accept payments in over 130 currencies through cards, wallets, and local bank transfers, achieving 95% success rates on international transactions.
- Global platforms can go live in India in real-time without setting up an India entity, accessing UPI, RuPay, EMIs, netbanking, and over 100 local methods via a single integration.
10th Swachh Survekshan: MoHUA enables year-round citizen feedback and expands assessment to river and coastal towns
[Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)]
Key Updates:
- Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Manohar Lal released the toolkit for the 10th edition of Swachh Survekshan in Bhopal.
- Starting this year, citizens will be able to share feedback round the year through multiple platforms, including the Vote For My City App and Portal, MyGov App, Swachhata App, and through QR codes.
- The field assessments are expected to begin from mid-February to March 2026, and the Garbage Free Cities (GFC) and Open Defecation Free (ODF) certification assessment will also commence from mid-February.
- Over 3,000 trained field assessors from across the country will conduct a 45-day, on-ground survey covering all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), supported by real-time, GPS-enabled monitoring.
- Expanding its scope, the assessment will now include river towns across the country and a separate matrix has been introduced for coastal areas to bring it under the Swachh Survekshan ambit.
- MoHUA launched the Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) mentorship programme in September, where 72 mentors and 200 mentee cities signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to foster knowledge transfer.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Ministry of Minority Affairs is implementing the scheme. "According to the Ministry of Minority Affairs"
- Focuses on socio-economic empowerment of six notified minority communities through skill development, support for women entrepreneurs, and education assistance for school dropouts. "the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan PM VIKAS scheme is focused on the socio-economic empowerment of six notified minority communities through skill development, support for women entrepreneurs, and education assistance for school dropouts."
- Aims to strengthen capacity of minority youth by providing skill training in need-based courses and linking them with employment or self-employment. "PM VIKAS aims to strengthen the capacity of minority youth by providing skill training in need-based courses and linking them with employment or self-employment avenues."
- Allocation letters have been issued for training about 1.40 lakh beneficiaries. "allocation letters have been issued for training about 1.40 lakh beneficiaries."
- 3 per cent of all seats across components are reserved for persons with disabilities. "As per scheme guidelines, 3 per cent of all seats across components are reserved for persons with disabilities."
- Chhattisgarh Finance Minister, O.P. Chaudhary, tabled the largest supplementary budget in the state's history, proposing an additional outlay of Rs 35,000 crore.
- The supplementary budget is aimed at addressing pending liabilities exceeding Rs 45,000 crore inherited by boards and corporations.
- The budget focuses on reviving institutions such as MARKFED and NAAN, which are described as the backbone of paddy procurement and the public distribution system.
- An additional Rs 2,000 crore has been provided through the supplementary budget for capital expenditure, in addition to the Rs 26,341 crore in the main budget for 2025-26.
- Capital expenditure now accounts for about 4.1 per cent of the total budget, reflecting a shift towards long-term asset creation.
- Dinesh Khatak, second-in-command (2-IC) of the 196 Battalion, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was honoured with the “Kendriya Grah Mantri Dakshata Padak” (Union Home Minister’s Efficiency Medal).
- The award was given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
- He is a native of Intel Kalan village in Jind district.
- Dinesh Khatak joined the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as a Gazetted Officer in 2005.
- He played key roles in managing the Amarnath Yatra and maintaining law and order during his deployments in Jammu and Kashmir.
- He served during crucial phases such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Dinesh Khatak contributed to advancing commando training at CIAT Shivpuri.
- He is currently posted in the Naxal-affected Bijapur district.
- He has led major security and relief initiatives, including establishing new forward camps and participating in KGH Special Operations.
- Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jayant Chaudhary jointly inaugurated the Skill India Centre in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh.
- The centre in Baraut will offer quality skilling to unlock local aspirations and expand opportunities.
- It is positioned as a gateway for youth in rural and underserved regions to access new-age skills and contribute to India’s growth.
Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to bolster maritime safety and cybersecurity
[Bureau of Port Security (BoPS)]
Key Updates:
- India is establishing the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to bolster maritime safety, mirroring aviation security models.
- The new body, modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will be constituted as a statutory body under the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will work under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
- Headed by a senior IPS officer as its director general, the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.
- The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats.
- The government has designated the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a recognised security organisation (RSO), responsible for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for port facilities.
- The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will train and build the capacities of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issued order on 18 November categorising CISF as nodal regulator for port security.
- CISF will act as nodal regulatory authority for all port-security matters including counter-terrorism and anti-sabotage operations at EXIM ports.
- Non-core tasks like traffic management and gate control to be handled by private agencies or state police.
- Hybrid security model combining CISF and private personnel, upgraded screening systems and dedicated training institutions introduced.
- Plan to be operational within six months; CISF may need up to 80,000 personnel for 80 major ports.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs has scrapped the coastal sign-on/sign-off and shore leave pass (SLP) procedures for crew and supernumerary of Indian flag ships solely engaged in coastal trade, dredgers, barges and research vessels operating within port limits.
- The shore access of crew, supernumerary of Indian flag coastal vessels plying exclusively on local routes shall, henceforth, be regulated by the port authorities.
- The move follows demands from the shipping industry to ease the procedures as Indian seafarers were facing difficulties with the existing immigration process.
- The Home Ministry has asked the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to direct the port authorities concerned to keep a record/data of the crew, supernumerary of the Indian flag coastal run vessels.
- The Bureau of Immigration shall conduct periodical surprise inspections and seek crew lists from the Indian flag coastal run vessels, dredgers, barges, research vessels and similar types/categories of vessels operating within port limits.
- Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Vigraha is undertaking an operational visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, from December 02-05, 2025, as part of its overseas deployment to ASEAN countries.
- Personnel of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indonesian Coast Guard (BAKAMLA) will participate in an extensive programme of activities.
- The engagements are focused on Maritime Law Enforcement, Marine Pollution Response and Maritime Search and Rescue areas.
- A Passage Exercise (PASSEX) will be organised to further enhance operational cohesion, communication procedures, and seamanship coordination between the two services.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the ICG and BAKAMLA in July 2020, institutionalising a structured framework for operational engagement.
- On completion of the Jakarta leg, ICGS Vigraha will sail to Port Klang, Malaysia, continuing its operational deployment to ASEAN countries.
- Indian Institute of Technology, Madras researchers have developed and deployed India's first indigenous vessel traffic management system for ports.
- The system has been developed by the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) at IIT Madras based on the requirements outlined by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
- The system has already been implemented in Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL), Kerala.
- The indigenous system eliminates the risk of a leak of strategic data on the movement of vessels.
- The system is scalable to accommodate deployment in more ports with enhanced capabilities and is completely secure, with minimal deployment and maintenance costs.
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd delivers fifth warship Anjadip to Indian Navy
[Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, Indian Navy]
Key Updates:
- GRSE Ltd delivered its fifth warship of the year to the Navy on Monday.
- The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft Anjadip is the third of eight such platforms being built at the shipyard.
- Anjadip is the 115th warship built by GRSE and the 77th warship delivered to the Navy.
- The ASW SWC was accepted by Rear Admiral Gautam Marwaha, VSM, CSO (Tech), Eastern Naval Command.
- Anjadip's delivery comes less than four months after that of the Androth on September 13, 2025.
- The warship is fitted with an indigenous 30 mm Naval Surface Gun manufactured by GRSE and has nearly 88% indigenous content.
- These ships can carry out coordinated anti-submarine operations with aircraft and are armed with lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine warfare rockets.
- Anjadip accommodates 57 personnel including seven officers and requires a draught of only 2.7 metres.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Exercise Malabar-2025 involves the Navies of India, Japan, Australia, and USA
- Harbour Phase will include operational planning, communication alignment, familiarisation visits, and sports fixtures
- Sea Phase will feature joint fleet operations, anti-submarine warfare, gunnery serials, and flying operations
- India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and multi-mission stealth frigate Udaygiri have arrived in Colombo for an international fleet review to mark the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka Navy.
- In a display of naval cooperation, three warships representing Bangladesh and India made port calls in Colombo on November 25 and 26, for the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2025, scheduled to be held on November 30.
- This also marks INS Udaygiri 's first foreign visit since its commission on August 26, 2025.
- India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, arrived in Colombo for her maiden participation in Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) IFR 2025.
- The state-of-the-art Project 17A multi-mission stealth frigates Udaygiri and Himgiri were commissioned at the Naval Base in Visakhapatnam on August 26 this year.
- Udaygiri, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai, and Himgiri, constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata, showcase the nation's growing shipbuilding prowess.
- Defence equipment: Anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft 'Mahe' – first of eight ASW-SWC being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi
- Commissioning venue: Naval Dockyard, Mumbai
- Key capabilities: equipped with torpedoes, multi-functional anti-submarine rockets, advanced radars and sonars; designed for submarine hunting, coastal patrol and securing maritime approaches
- Indigenous content: more than 80 per cent indigenous; showcases India's mastery in warship design, construction and integration under Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative
- Navy Day is observed every year on December 4.
- The day honours the Indian Navy’s victory during Operation Trident on the night of 4 December 1971.
- Operation Trident was led by Commodore Kasargod Pattana Shetty Gopal Rao.
- The 2025 Naval Day Operation Demo was held at Shankhumukham Beach, Thiruvananthapuram, on 3 December.
- President Droupadi Murmu attended the 2025 demo as chief guest, with Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi hosting the event.
Niigata Local Government Approves Restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant
[Niigata Local Government, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant]
Key Updates:
- The partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, the world’s largest nuclear power facility, received approval in a vote by the Niigata local government.
- Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the first plant to be operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
- The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) estimates that reactivating the first of seven reactors could boost the electricity supply to the Tokyo area by 2 percent.
- Japan spent 10.7 trillion yen ($68bn) last year on imported liquefied natural gas and coal, representing one-tenth of its total import costs.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has backed the reopening of nuclear facilities to strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The quake occurred at 23:15 local time at a depth of 50 km about 80 km off the coast of the Aomori region.
- Tohoku Electric Power reported no irregularities at its Higashidori and Onagawa nuclear power plants.
- Japanese authorities told the International Atomic Energy Agency no abnormalities were detected at the disabled Fukushima nuclear power station site.
- Fresh lava fountains erupted from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano on Saturday, US vulcanologists said.
- Sustained lava fountains approximately 50–100 feet (15–30 meters) in height are currently erupting from the north vent.
- All the eruptive activity is confined to Halema‘uma‘u crater within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
- Authorities are monitoring elevated volcanic gas levels and the potential spread of “Pele’s hair,” strands of volcanic glass often produced by lava fountaining activity.
- Hot, glassy volcanic fragments can fall on the ground within 1–2 miles (1–3 kilometers) of the eruptive vents.
- China has successfully achieved the first-ever thorium to uranium nuclear fuel conversion in a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR), confirming the technical feasibility of thorium utilization in a molten-salt reactor nuclear energy system.
- The experimental TMSR was built by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) in collaboration with other Chinese institutions and is currently the only operational molten-salt reactor in the world loaded with thorium fuel.
- Molten-salt reactors are fourth-generation advanced nuclear energy systems that use high-temperature molten salt as a coolant, boasting inherent safety features, cooling without water, running at atmospheric pressure, and delivering a high-temperature output.
- The TMSR program was launched in 2011, achieving major progress from laboratory research to the engineering verification of core materials, equipment and technologies, with domestically developed core equipment and an independent supply chain.
- SINAP aims to construct a 100-megawatt demonstration project and realize its demonstration application by 2035, working with leading energy companies to consolidate the TMSR industrial and supply chains and accelerate technology iteration and engineering application.
- The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, allows private players to enter the operations side of the tightly-governed nuclear power sector.
- The law replaces two key legislations: the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (AE Act) and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLNDA).
- The legislation is a key step towards achieving India’s target of 100 gigawatt of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
- The new law allows public and private companies to set up nuclear power plants and undertake activities related to the transport, storage, import and export of nuclear fuel, technology, equipment and minerals.
- The Bill grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to ensure its independence from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
- The law adopts graded liability caps for nuclear power operators based on their size of installation and removes the 'right of recourse' against suppliers for defects in equipment or sub-standard services.
- It provides for the establishment of the Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council and a Nuclear Damage Claims Commission to handle grievances and severe nuclear damage cases.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Completes Drogue Parachute Qualification Tests for Gaganyaan Mission
[Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]
Key Updates:
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed a series of qualification tests for drogue parachutes developed for the Gaganyaan mission's Crew Module.
- The tests were conducted at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility in Chandigarh on 18 and 19 December.
- The parachute-based deceleration system of the Gaganyaan Crew Module consists of ten parachutes of four different types to ensure a controlled and safe descent.
- The deployment sequence involves two apex cover separation parachutes, followed by two drogue parachutes, three pilot parachutes, and three main parachutes.
- Drogue parachutes are designed to stabilise the Crew Module and significantly reduce its velocity during atmospheric re-entry.
- The tests were carried out with participation from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), DRDO, and the TBRL.
Similar / Past Coverage
- ISRO validated the Gaganyaan crew module’s parachute system under an asymmetric two-main-chute scenario released from an IAF IL-76 at 2.5 km altitude over Babina Field Firing Range, Uttar Pradesh.
- The 7.2-tonne capsule mass simulator demonstrated structural integrity and stable descent when only two of the three main parachutes were intentionally deployed.
- Gaganyaan’s parachute suite comprises 10 chutes: two for heat-shield separation, two drogue chutes, three pilot chutes, and three main chutes—only two of which need to function for safe landing.
- The test specifically examined load distribution during asymmetric disreefing, described by ISRO as “one of the most critical load scenarios expected during an actual mission descent.”
- Three uncrewed test flights will follow, each carrying the half-humanoid robot Vyomitra (“space friend”) to gather data ahead of the first crewed mission targeted for early 2027.
- Samudrayaan consists of a sphere capable of plunging to a depth of 6,000 metres into the ocean.
- National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, leads the Samudrayaan project and has built a steel replica of the submersible as a simulator.
- Syntactic foam cladding gives the submersible buoyancy and allows it to float.
- Syntactic foam is developed in France and being tested in Norway.
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is making two titanium hulls for NIOT.
- Final titanium hull will be tested in Russia for pressure at 6,000 metres.
- Mission aims to collect soil and rock samples pivotal to India’s plans to mine precious metals from the high seas.
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system.
- The test was conducted at the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh.
- The test validated canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and complete aircrew recovery.
- The test was conducted in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- The complex dynamic test placed 'India in an elite club of nations with advanced in-house escape system testing capability'.
- Defence minister Rajnath Singh hailed the test as a significant milestone in India’s indigenous defence capability and a step forward towards self-reliance.
- CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) developed the Hansa-3 NG as India's first all-composite airframe two-seater trainer aircraft for PPL and CPL training.
- Industry partner M/s Pioneer Clean Amps is setting up a facility at Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, to produce up to 100 Hansa-3 NG aircraft annually.
- CSIR-NAL is developing the 19-seater SARAS Mk-2 Light Transport Aircraft with pressurised cabin, digital avionics, glass cockpit, autopilot, and command-by-wire flight controls.
- Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Iron Bird Facility for SARAS Mk-2 for full-system integration and ground testing of aircraft subsystems.
- CSIR-NAL inaugurated a manufacturing facility for High Altitude Platforms (HAPs), solar-powered unmanned aircraft capable of flying above 20 km altitude.
- CSIR-NAL's subscale HAP vehicle achieved 7.5 km altitude and over 10 hours endurance, with full-scale flight to 20 km targeted for 2027.
- CSIR-NAL collaborated with M/s Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd for 150-kg class Loitering Munition UAV powered by NAL’s certified Wankel engine.
- The Loitering Munition UAV features 900 km range, 6–9 hours endurance, 5 km service ceiling, GPS-denied navigation, low radar cross-section, and AI-enabled target identification.