Exercise Desert Flag
Indian Air Force is participating in Exercise Desert Flag-10.
- Multinational Air Combat Drill hosted by the UAE Air Force
- Involves air forces from India, the US, UK, France, Germany, Australia, and other nations.
- Indian Air Force Participation – India has deployed MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft to enhance interoperability and combat readiness.
- Objective – Focuses on complex fighter engagements, operational knowledge exchange, and best practices among participating air forces
Aryabhatta Satellite
Aryabhata completed 50 years.
- India’s 1st Satellite – Launched on April 19, 1975, Aryabhata was India’s first indigenously built satellite, marking a milestone in space exploration.
- Conducted experiments in X-ray astronomy, aeronomics, and solar physics, but suffered a power failure after five days.
- Built by ISRO and launched by the Soviet Union from Kapustin Yar using a Kosmos-3M rocket.
- Legacy – The satellite’s image was featured on Indian two-rupee banknotes between 1976 and 1997, symbolizing India’s space ambition
Scarborough Shoals
China alleged intrusion by the Philippines in the contentious Scarborough Shoal waters
- Disputed Territory – Located in the South China Sea, claimed by both China and the Philippines, leading to ongoing territorial disputes.
- The shoal is 220 km west of Luzon, Philippines, and is considered within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
- Since 2012, China has maintained a coast guard presence, effectively controlling the shoal despite international legal challenges
Trademark Building in India
Arts College building of Osmania University (OU), Hyderabad, Telangana, has become the third structure in India to receive a trademark for its exterior design.
- Trademark protection is granted under the Indian Trademarks Act, 1999, ensuring exclusivity for commercial use.
- 1st Trademarked Building – The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai became India’s first trademarked building in 2017, protecting its architectural identity.
- Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) – In 2018, the BSE building also received trademark protection, restricting commercial use of its image.
- Global Precedents – Similar trademarks exist for Empire State Building (US), Eiffel Tower (France), and Sydney Opera House (Australia)
Comprehensive Remote Sensing Observation on Crop Progress (CROP)
ISRO satellite CROP estimated wheat Crop Area and production in India.
- A semi-automated, scalable framework, developed by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC)/ISRO.
- Enables the near real-time monitoring of crop sowing and harvesting during the Rabi season across India.
- Uses Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) remote sensing datasets from EOS-04 (RISAT-1A), EOS-06 (Oceansat-3) and Resourcesat-2A, for the Rabi season, 2024-25