Satellites dock in space, ISRO gets a boost for Moon & beyond

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) docked two satellites in space, demonstrating a capability that is critical to executing the more ambitious future missions like the building of a permanent space station or landing humans on the Moon. With the successful docking of the two satellites - Chaser and Target - as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), India has become the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to accomplish the feat.

Nearly 2 of 3 seats vacant, MTech enrolment drops to lowest in 7 yrs

There's a declining interest in India's MTech courses. The latest data from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) shows that nearly two of every three MTech seats in India's engineering colleges lie vacant - a pattern that has persisted even as total post-graduate seats have shrunk by a third since 2017-18. Seven years ago, post-graduate engineering and technology programmes across the country had 1.85 lakh seats, of which only 68,677 were filled, leaving 63% vacant. In 2023- 24, despite total MTech seats shrinking by 33% to 1.24 lakh in response to declining demand, the vacancy rate has inched up to 64%, with just 45,047 students pursuing the degree.

Cabinet OKS setting up of 8th Pay Commission 

A year before the end of the 7th Pay Commission, the government has approved the setting up of the 8th Pay Commission in 2026. The minister informed that the chairman and two members of the commission will be appointed soon. The 7th Pay Commission was set up in 2016. The Pay Commission is constituted by the Central government once every decade to revise the salary structures of its employees. Additionally, the panel also decides on pension payments.

Singapore President says ties with India on 'new trajectory'

India and Singapore are cooperating in critical sectors such as advanced manufacturing and semi- conductors as the relations are on a "new trajectory" of growth, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said. Shanmugaratnam, on a five-day visit to India, held separate talks with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a broad focus on expansion of bilateral ties.

"We are exploring new initiatives going beyond the existing active relationship that we have. We are cooperating in advanced manufacturing and semiconductors," he said. Shanmugaratnam said both sides are also working on new "generation and net zero" industrial parks besides focusing on skilling for new industries.

Govt nod for third launch pad as ISRO reaches docking milestone

As the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed a historic docking experiment, the Union Cabinet approved the setting up of a third launch pad at India's only spaceport in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota. India has become the fourth country to demonstrate space docking capability after successfully docking two satellites launched under SpaDeX. The new launch pad will help the space agency be future-ready for heavier rocket Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), which is currently being developed. The NGLV, along with facilities to launch it, will be essential for India's plan of setting up the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035, and sending a human to the Moon by 2040. The third launch pad and all associated facilities, such as vehicle assembly, satellite preparation, and fuelling, will be set up at a cost of 3984.86 crore. It is expected to come up within four years, and will be realised with maximum industry participation, a government statement said.

A faraway peace

Though fragile and temporary, the cessation of active hostilities in the Israel-Hamas war is a welcome development. This is the first sign of hope since the brief pause in November 2023 that saw the release of 41 Israeli hostages in return for the freedom of 300 Palestinian prisoners. Out of the 251 Israelis taken hostage by Hamas in October 2023, Israel says that 94 are yet to be returned, of which 34 are presumed dead. Since October 2023, various national and international bodies, including the United Nations, have been working for a ceasefire. The main parties to the conflict – Hamas and Netanyahu are not easy customers. Though unpopular and severely condemned, Netanyahu's militant approach has damaged and weakened Israel's other adversaries – Hezbollah, Iran and Syria – silencing several of his critics.

THE ISRO MODEL

The Indian Space Research Organisation has added another feather to its cap with the Spadex mission, successfully docking two satellites in space. Docking is a critical capability without which India's future space projects, including the setting up of a permanent station in space or landing of human beings on the Moon, would not be possible. The immediate utilisation of this capability would be required in the Chandrayaan-4 mission which is supposed to bring back samples from the Moon. Artificial Intelligence, quantum systems, clean energy are some of the other technologies that are likely to decide a country's fate and wellbeing in the immediate future. Unlike space, however, the gap between India's capabilities and the front-runners in these technology domains is significantly large.

ATMANIRBHAR AT SEA

In a symbolically significant ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated three frontline naval platforms to the nation in Mumbai. A major destroyer, a frigate and a submarine were commissioned on the same day and this is unprecedented. The three platforms - the destroyer INS Surat, frigate INS Nilgiri and submarine INS Vagsheer-have been built in India at the Mazagon Docks and will burnish the current focus on "atmanirbharta". India is not at the same level of shipbuilding technology and manufacturing competence but it has to invest in this sector and improve efficiency levels if it is to realise the Modi maritime vision. Concurrently a reality check about the quality of indigenisation is imperative. For instance, the 75 per cent indigenisation figure claimed for INS Surat masks the fact that most of the critical ordnance package that makes the vessel a potent warship is obtained from foreign suppliers.

These laws passed in silence

The release of the draft rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) for public consultation, more than 16 months after the Act was passed, has restarted discussions on the importance of public participation in lawmaking, particularly for pieces of legislation that significantly impact individual rights. Given its implications for privacy and digital governance, the delay in consulting the public on the implementation of the DPDP Act has drawn scrutiny. In 2014, PLCP was formulated by the Ministry of Law and Justice. The policy is supposed to be followed by all departments and ministries before any legislative proposal is submitted for consideration. It has been a decade since the PLCP has come into effect

New QS future skills report ranks India 2nd in job market readiness, 25th overall

India was ranked second in terms of preparedness for jobs of the future including artificial intelligence (Al) and green skills, only behind the United States, as per the QS World Future Skills Index 2025. Overall though, India ranked 25th across all indicators, which also include the alignment between skills and employer needs, academic readiness, and economic transformation. India's overall ranking puts it as a "future skills contender," as per the report. Countries like the USA, UK, Germany, Australia, and Canada, among others in the top ten have been categorised as "future skills pioneers".

How ISRO achieved space 'docking', and why it matters

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the success of its SpaDeX "space docking" mission, or the joining together of two spacecraft, a complex manoeuvre that requires great precision and advanced scientific capabilities. India is now the fourth country after the United States, Russia, and China to demonstrate this capability, a critical step towards achieving several future goals bringing back a lunar sample, setting up a space station, and sending a human to the Moon. Docking is the process by which two fastmoving spacecraft are brought to the same orbit, closer to each other either manually or autonomously, and finally joined together. This capability is necessary for carrying out missions that require heavy spacecraft that a single launch vehicle may not be able to lift into space in one go.

HOW FTI-TTP WILL ENSURE FASTER, SMOOTHER IMMIGRATION CLEARANCE

Union Home Minister inaugurated the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FII-TIP) at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. FTI-TTP was first introduced at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi last June. It has since been implemented at the airports in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kochi. The program seeks to simplify international travel by accelerating the immigration pathway by using automated gates. It will eventually be implemented in 21 airports across India. The Bureau of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the nodal agency for the program, which is currently available free of cost for passengers.

Unpacking Israel-Hamas deal

During a 42-day first phase beginning, Hamas will release 33 hostages and Israel will release between 900 and 1,650 Palestinian detainees, including all of those detained since October 7, 2023. An agreement very similar to the one that has been agreed upon now has been on the table at least since May 2024. That so-called "Biden Plan" too, was three-phased, began with a 42-day cessation of hostilities, and committed Hamas to releasing 33 Israeli hostages in the first stage. The deal was reportedly accepted by Hamas on May 7, but Israel rejected it-saying Hamas had insisted on unacceptable last-minute amendments, even as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) struck Rafah.

150 years of IMD: What the weather agency has planned for the future

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) celebrated its 150th anniversary. The IMD's overall forecast accuracy has improved by 40% over the last decade, thanks to an overall strengthening of its meteorological observation network across land, sea, and space. The number of doppler weather radars went up from 15 in 2014 to 39 in 2024, while the number of automatic weather stations increased from 675 to 1,208. The IMD went from having 19 high wind speed recorders in 2014 to 37 in 2024. The IMD's Vision Document 2047 provides a detailed roadmap for making the country climate smart and weather ready by 2047, the centenary year of India's independence. The document has chalked out elaborate plans for upgrading the IMD's capabilities over the next two, five, 10, and 22 years (till 2047).