Mazagon Dock Limited is gearing up for the sea trials of the submarine, INS Karanj. This submarine is the third of six Scorpene submarines being constructed at the state-run Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, in collaboration with DCNS, France. These submarines are part of the prestigious Project-75 initiated by the Indian Navy.
About Project-75
Project-75 is a significant programme by the Indian Navy that involves the construction of six Scorpene Class attack submarines. The project started with the INS Kalvari, which was commissioned into the Navy on December 14, 2017. The second submarine, ‘Khanderi,’ is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2018, while the fourth Scorpene, ‘Vela,’ is yet to be launched.
Scorpene Class Submarines
The P75 Scorpene Class submarines are equipped with conventional diesel-electric propulsion systems. The Scorpene is considered one of the most advanced submarines and can handle diverse missions such as anti-surface ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and area surveillance. A few of these submarines are also expected to carry air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology developed by DRDO. This technology significantly enhances the submarines’ long-range and extended endurance capabilities underwater.
Mazagon Docks Shipbuilders
Mazagon Docks Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) is a leading shipbuilding yard and the only submarine builder in India. After being incorporated as a Public Limited Company in 1934, it was nationalised in 1960. It now operates as a Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India. MDL manufactures various maritime vessels, such as warships and submarines for the Indian Navy, offshore platforms, support vessels for offshore oil drilling, tankers, cargo bulk carriers, passenger ships, and ferries.
Pondicherry Shark
The Pondicherry Shark, listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List, was recently spotted in the East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem. This small shark, which does not grow longer than approximately 3 feet, is protected under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972. Once prevalent in Indo-Pacific coastal waters and known to enter freshwater, zoologists have been trying to trace it elsewhere in the country since 1979.
eCourts Mission Mode Project
The eCourts Mission Mode Project aims at ICT enablement of district and subordinate courts across the country. The establishment of a Wide Area Network (WAN) that connects all district and subordinate court complexes forms a crucial component of this project. The objectives of the project include universal computerisation of district and subordinate courts, upgradation of ICT infrastructure of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and providing designated services to litigants, lawyers, and the judiciary.
Sukanya Samriddhi Account
The recent amendment in the rules governing the Sukanya Samriddhi Account led to a reduction in the minimum amount required to open an account under the scheme. The Sukanya Samriddhi Account, a social welfare scheme launched in 2014, aims to promote the welfare of the girl child and provide financial support for her education and marriage.
Leptospirosis Outbreak in Kerala
In the wake of the floods, Kerala is contending with an outbreak of leptospirosis, commonly known as ‘rat fever.’ This zoonotic disease, which has been frequently reported in Kerala since the 1980s, is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. Leptospirosis is commonly spread via water contaminated by urine from infected animals, or through contaminated food or soil. Symptoms can range from mild flu-like symptoms to severe manifestations such as kidney damage, liver failure, respiratory distress, meningitis, and even death. The Health Ministry has implemented a protocol called the ‘Programme for Prevention and Control of Leptospirosis’ since 2015 to tackle this disease effectively.
