National Florence Nightingale Awards:-

The National Florence Nightingale Awards are given by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals in the country.

Navy phases out Sea Harrier aircraft, inducts MiG 29k/Kub into INAS 300

The Indian Navy bid adieu to the illustrious British-built Sea Harrier as it inducted the MiG 29k/Kub aircraft into the INAS 300 naval aviation squadron.

The White Tigers or INAS 300 who stand for excellence, determination and aggressive spirit, heralded the era of carrier borne aviation into the Indian Navy. Almost six decades ago the squadron was commissioned at RNAS Brawdy with its distinctive ‘White Tiger’ logo and equipped with the Sea Hawk aircraft. After providing yeoman service for over two decades, the squadron was subsequently reincarnated with Sea Harriers in 1983. This premier carrier borne fighter squadron achieved iconic status in the Indian Navy with its distinguished service, receiving numerous gallantry awards which include one Maha Vir Chakra, four Vir Chakras and one Nau Sena Medal.

From the time the white tigers came into being, ‘Three Hundred’ as the squadron is colloquially called, brought about transformational change in concept of naval operations. INAS 300 with its potent sea harriers formed the teeth of naval combat power and consequently was the center piece of naval operational strategy. With their professionalism, the White Tigers assured control of these as by ensuring air dominance for the Carrier Battle Group and were a force to reckon with, with their combat skills appreciated by many which included foreign navies as well as the Indian Air Force.

After 33 years sterling service, the sea harriers were being de-inducted from the Navy and under took its last flight today. To continue the proud ‘White Tiger’ legacy, the squadron has been re-equipped with the new and more lethal MiG 29Ks. INAS 300 would thus be re-equipped with the new swing role air dominance fighter giving the squadron enhanced combat power and offensive capability. For the versatile White Tigers, this resurrection also marks a full cycle from commissioning ‘Tail Hooking Sea Hawks’ to the ‘Vectored Thrust’ Sea Harrier era; and now with the induction of the MiG-29k to this elite squadron, marks the return of the ‘Tail Hookers’.

Creation of landslide compendium

Landslides are a common geomorphic hazards in the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.  In all these three Himalayan states landslides are generally triggered by heavy rainfall almost every year and also often by major earthquakes in this active Himalayan Fold-Thrust-Belt.

Available landslide susceptibility and inventory maps along important pilgrimage routes, road-corridors, river basins and site-specific large scale (1:2000 or larger) landslide maps have already revealed that within these Himalayan states, many parts of mountainous tracts and locations are highly vulnerable and susceptible to landslides.

GSI has launched a two-year project to create a landslide compendium for north western Himalayas in 2014

National Technology Day

National Technology is being celebrated on May 11 across India.

Key facts:

• National Technology Day is a very special day for Indian Technology since 1999. The event is marked with great pride as the country achieved a huge technological progression on this particular day.
• It was on this day that the first, indigenous aircraft “Hansa-3” was test flown at Bangalore.
• India also performed successful test firing of the Trishul missile on the same day, May 11 and executed three successful nuclear tests, carried out at Pokhran, in Rajasthan – Buddha Smiling.
• The theme for this year’s Technology Day is ‘Technology enablers of Startup India’.
• On this day, the President of India gives National Technology Award to companies and also to individuals for their great contributions to science.

Few Facts:-

1. Fearing Chinese support in the unrest at Tawang, the government has decided not to go ahead with the planned hydroelectric projects in the district without consulting the local people and the monks, who have been protesting against the dams.It was at the forefront of Indo-China war in 1962.
   • Tawang is a town on India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh.The area is historically part of Tibet and is claimed by both the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan). It is inhabited by the Monpa people. Visitors to Tawang district require a special Inner Line Permit from the government. The district has two main rivers, the Tawang Chhu and the Naymjang Chhu, that together have 10 main tributaries. These two rivers meet each other before exiting the district in a southwesterly direction. There are two major religious festivals of the Monpas viz “LOSAR” and “TORGYA“. Both festivals are celebrated once annually. The LOSAR is celebrated to the commencement of New year. Every third year of Torgya, the festival of Dungyur is celebrated.