- India’s First Dark Sky Park: The Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has been designated as India’s first Dark Sky Park and the fifth in Asia, protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution. The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra is India’s first Dark Sky Park within a tiger reserve for earmarking areas around the park that restrict light pollution for stargazers to access pristine dark skies.Dark Sky Place certification focuses on lighting policy, dark sky-friendly retrofits, outreach and education, and monitoring the night sky.
This designation positions PTR as a sanctuary where tourists can witness celestial spectacles, shielded from the intrusion of artificial light pollution. PTR became the fifth such park in Asia. The certification was given by the International Dark-Sky Association, a global dark-sky movement to promote astronomy.
- New Generation Akash missile: It is surface-to-air new generation missile. The missile intercepted the high-speed unmanned aerial vehicle at a very low altitude. The test has validated the functioning of the complete weapon system consisting of a missile with an indigenously developed radio frequency seeker, launcher, multi-function radar and command, control and communication system.
This was the first trial of the missile against a live target, which was successfully intercepted and destroyed. It is a new generation state-of-the-art surface-to-air missile (SAM) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to destroy high manoeuvring low radar cross section agile aerial threats. This advanced variant comes with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) multi-function radar that features all three functions – search, track and fire control in one platform. It can defend an area 10 times better compared to any short-range SAM and is capable of engaging up to 10 targets simultaneously. It can strike targets up to 40 km as against the earlier variant’s maximum range of 30 km.
- ANUBHAV Awards: It recognizes the contribution made by Retired Officials to Nation building while working in Government and to document the administrative history of India by written narratives. The ANUBHAV Portal, established in March 2015, serves as an online platform for retiring and retired government employees to share their experiences. The portal was launched by the Government of India, Ministry of personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Pension & Pensioners’ welfare. It aims to create a database of significant suggestions and work experiences. It channels the human resource of retiring employees for nation building.
Enable Ministries/ Departments to take crucial steps while considering useful and replicable suggestions. It is to participate in the scheme, retiring Central Government, employees/pensioners are required to submit their Anubhav write ups, 8 months prior to retirement and up to 1 year after their retirement. Thereafter, the write-ups will be published after assessment by concerned Ministries/Departments. The published write-ups will be shortlisted for Anubhav Awards and Jury Certificates.
Each ANUBHAV Awardees will be felicitated with a medal and certificate and a Prize of 10,000 rupees, whereas a Jury certificate Winner will be presented with a medal and a certificate. Till date, 54 ANUBHAV awards have been conferred from 2016 to 2023.
