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The Andaman & Nicobar Command marked the 40th anniversary of INAS 318 and International Women’s Day with a historic all-women maritime surveillance mission. The crew, consisting of Lt Cdr Shubhangi Swaroop, Lt Cdr Divya Sharma, and Lt Vaishali Mishra, showcased women’s pivotal role in the Naval Air Arm. The event emphasized gender equality, as women officers handled pre-flight briefing, meteorological briefing, medical check-up, and Air Traffic Control. The mission’s success reaffirms women’s capability in executing independent operational tasks, reinforcing their crucial contributions to national defense.

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Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, launched the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) program in Chandigarh. Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra commended the initiative, emphasizing its potential to balance sports and studies. KIRTI, part of the Khelo India mission, targets athletes aged nine to 18 in schools nationwide. The program plans 20 lakh assessments annually through Talent Assessment Centres, utilizing IT tools to identify and showcase talent, reflecting India’s commitment to global sports excellence.

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India successfully conducted the inaugural flight test of the Agni-5 nuclear ballistic missile on March 11, 2024, as part of the Make in India initiative by DRDO. The indigenously developed missile incorporates MIRV technology, allowing a single missile to deploy multiple warheads across different locations. Referred to as ‘Mission Divyastra’ by PM Modi, Agni-5 marks a significant advancement as it can simultaneously target multiple locations, in contrast to conventional missiles with a single warhead for a solitary target.

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The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers introduced the Revamped Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (RPTUAS). The initiative provides quality-based subsidies to pharmaceutical companies for achieving Revised Schedule M and WHO-GMP certifications. The scheme aims to elevate the pharmaceutical industry’s standards, promoting adherence to Revised Schedule-M and WHO-GMP guidelines, thereby enhancing the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products manufactured in the country.

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The Karnataka government has banned artificial colors in ‘Gobi Manchurian’ and cotton candy due to health concerns. Among 171 Gobi Manchurian samples, 107 contained unsafe colors like tartrazine and sunset yellow. 25 cotton candy samples revealed 15 with unsafe colors including carcinogenic Rhodamine-B. The minister emphasized the danger, particularly to children, urging strict enforcement against the illegal use of such colors, highlighting Rhodamine-B’s cancer-causing potential.