Indian Institute of Skills (IIS)

♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) in Mumbai via video conference on 9 October 2024. It aims to cultivate an industry-ready workforce for Industry 4.0, equipped with cutting-edge technology and hands-on training across a range of trades including factory automation, digital manufacturing, mechatronics, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and additive manufacturing catering to both the services and manufacturing sectors, as well as other emerging businesses. 

♦ It was established through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the institute is a collaboration between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India and Tata IIS (a section 8 company under Tata Trusts).

Asias largest imaging Cherenkov telescope

♦ Asia's largest imaging Cherenkov telescope, located at an altitude of almost 4,300 metres was inaugurated at Ladakh's Hanle on 9 October 2024. The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) observatory, the highest of its kind of telescope in the world, has been indigenously built by the Mumbai-based Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) with support from the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) and other Indian industry partners. 

♦ The MACE observatory is touted to place India at the forefront of cosmic ray research globally by allowing scientists to study high-energy gamma rays. 

♦ MACE is 21 metres in diameter, 175 tonnes heavy, has reflector area of 356 sqm and 1,424 diamond-turned metallic mirror facets, 712 actuators, 1,088 photo-multiplier tubes, and 68 camera modules.

Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)

♦ India has successfully conducted three flight tests of the indigenously developed Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles at the Pokhran firing ranges in Rajasthan on 5 October 2024. 

♦ The tests, carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), were part of development trials aimed at enhancing the Indian Armed Forces’ ability to counter aerial threats, including enemy aircraft, drones, and other short-range targets.

♦ VSHORADS is a man-portable air defence system designed and developed indigenously by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners.