Astra missile test from Tejas fighter aircraft:
- The indigenously developed Astra missile was successfully test-fired from another indigenously developed Tejas light combat aircraft.
- The Astra missile, which can fly over 100 km from the air and hit targets in the air, was designed and manufactured by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
- The missile has advanced guidance and navigation systems.
- These ensure that the targets are hit and destroyed with great precision.
- The Astra missile, which can be used on the Tejas LCA Mk1A fighter aircraft, was tested in the Chandigarh sea area of
SpaDeX project: ISRO
- ISRO has announced the successful launch of twin spacecraft integrated into space under the SpaDeX project.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to launch the Bharatiya Antariksh Station in space by 2035.
- As a prelude to that, ISRO decided to conduct an experiment to launch spacecraft into space under the SPADEX program.
- For this, twin spacecraft, SPADEX A and SPADEX B, weighing 220 kg each, were specially designed.
- Both the spacecraft were launched from the launch pad in Sriharikota on December 30 last year by the PSLV C-60 rocket and were safely positioned.
- India became the fourth country to carry out the ‘space docking’ technology.
- The ‘SpaDeX spacecraft have been successfully separated.
- This has laid the foundation for the country’s future plans, including the ‘Gaganyaan’ mission to send humans to space, ‘Chandrayaan-4’ to explore the moon, and the establishment of a space station.
March 14: International Rivers Day.
- Every year on March 14, International Rivers Day is celebrated.
- It is celebrated to raise voices for the protection of rivers and to demand improvements in river policies.
Important Facts:
- A study has revealed that women make up only 20 percent of India’s unorganized (blue-collar) jobs.
- Morgan Stanley, a leading financial services company in the United States, has predicted that India will be the third largest economy by 2028.
- The budget statement of the Tamil Nadu government for the next financial year (2025-26) was presented in the Legislative Assembly.
- Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presented the budget statement.
- Karur District, Pugazhur Paper Mill Pulp Plantation Cultivation Farmlands TNPL has launched a mobile application called ‘Farmers’ Contact’ to easily learn about the technologies under the scheme.
- The Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Science Conference for selected science and mathematics teachers working in government schools will be held in Namakkal, Madurai, Pudukkottai and Vellore districts, divided into 4 zones.
- India has sent emergency medicines to the country at the request of the Sri Lankan government.
- More than 1000 trees have been cut down in the Amazon forests for the upcoming climate summit in Brazil, which has led to strong protests.
- The central government has expressed dissatisfaction over the use of ‘Rs’ instead of ‘₹’ in the Tamil Nadu budget symbol.