Latest news with #IN
The Diplomat
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Diplomat
Nudging Indigenization: Competition in India's AIP Submarine Program
Project-76 (P-76) is aimed at developing six indigenous air independent propulsion (AIP) fitted conventional submarines (SSKs), an endeavor that represents India's naval technological leapfrogging. Reflecting motivated competition within the Narendra Modi administration's Atmanirbhar Bharat ('Self-Reliant India') mission, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) on March 18 revealed that the company's in-house team is crafting a design to compete with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) proposal for P-76. With its decades-long submarine building know-how, MDL is in talks with the Indian Navy (IN) to ensure that its design is in sync with IN's requirements. The design phase, intended to be completed by 2028, would be ready around the same time as DRDO's, meaning that both designs will compete for the contract. While DRDO awaits Cabinet Committee on Security approval for its proposal, this 'double-barreled approach' could prove a boon for the IN. The IN would have two options from which to select the best fit. This presents the IN with an alternative if one of the projects faces delays, which remains a constant feature in India's naval procurement. More importantly, competition between the two Ministry of Defense administered entities for P-76 could work as a driver of innovation, eventually resulting in the growth of India's submarine industrial base, while aligning with Delhi's objective on self-reliance in defense. This case reflects the significance of competition between defense contractors. For example, in the U.S., major American defense corporations such as Newport News Shipbuilding Co. and General Dynamics have been known to contend for similar U.S. Navy submarine contracts, a dynamic that eventually led to the construction of technically advanced and cost-effective platforms, including the Los Angeles- and Virginia-class submarines. Naturally, the U.S. Congress and successive presidential administrations have long viewed the existence of economic competition within the defense industry as an important policy priority. India's Ministry of Defense and the IN could benefit from competition-induced innovation and cost-related silver linings. Another factor that reflects MDL's involvement in P-76 and comes at an opportune moment is attributed to the Defense Ministry's approval of the joint bid of MDL and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to construct six SSKs under Project-75 India (P-75I). With commercial negotiations left before the contract is formalized, P-75I and P-76 are likely to progress almost in parallel. If the P-76 materializes as planned, and commercial talks for P-75I do not witness significant differences over cost, it could benefit MDL's indigenous design and development for P-76 by transfer of technology through P-75I. The Ministry of Defense's strategic logic at the inception of the submarine development program in 1999 was that India would conceive an indigenous SSK design by integrating both the design philosophies of P-75 and its technologically advanced successor P-75I. While the latter is yet to start, the logic not only remains but has been reinforced with the advent of advanced technologies like AIP, lithium-ion batteries, vertical launch and electronic warfare systems. Naturally, the IN's core objective now is to integrate the latest technologies of P-75I with indigenous SSK construction, which makes the MDL an ideal player for P-76. The first submarine to be constructed under the P-75I will have at least 45 percent indigenous content, which would progressively be increased to 60 percent by the sixth platform. Moreover, the argument that MDL's involvement (in addition to DRDO) will stretch available resources remains superficial. MDL has not planned any project-specific additional funding from the Ministry of Defense and is reliant on its existing budgetary support. The company's portfolio and facilities for submarine construction, besides the workforce, exemplify MDL as the most viable industrial option. First, MDL has been involved in building submarines since 1984. It possesses a distinctive legacy as the only yard to build (in foreign collaboration) two different types of submarines – the Shishumar class and Kalvari class. The collaboration between MDL and its German partner Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in the 1980s to build six Shishumar-class submarines, wherein four submarines were constructed in MDL's yard, laid the foundation of India's indigenous submarine construction journey. Notwithstanding the corruption allegations by HDW, the partnership was a major milestone as it provided MDL with the required exposure to the technical aspects of submarine construction. Today, with the P-75I, MLD-TKMS collaboration represents a more substantive joint venture. All six submarines would be constructed indigenously, with India gaining full transfer of technology of the hull design and AIP technology. This collaboration would not only boost MDL's technical and industrial capabilities for developing SSKs but also supplement IN's standing as a 'builder's navy.' Second, MDL's status as a submarine construction hub is undergirded by its specialized facilities. MDL houses several specialized workshops, including for series construction and sub-section assembly, besides a weapon integration facility for submarine construction. It is also in the process of setting up a state-of-the-art design and engineering center for the design of submarines, which would be indispensable for the indigenous design of SSKs going forward. With its augmented infrastructure, the construction capacity of MDL has increased from 6 to 11 submarines with parallel construction lines. The submarine assembly workshop, in addition to the various infrastructure facilities created under the Mazdock Modernization Project, makes MDL a reliable partner for meeting the IN's long-term needs of submarine construction. Third, lessons have been learned from the suspension of the Shishumar program, resulting in the loss of knowledge and skills. In recent years, MDL has made conscious efforts toward effective utilization and retention of the indispensable hard-acquired submarine construction skills of the workforce. To preserve the capabilities gained during the construction of the Kalvari-class submarine, MDL has gainfully employed the workforce on similar jobs to the extent feasible. That factor also underpins MDL's involvement in P-76. The writing was on the wall for MDL to enter the fray of P-76. For a project that aims for 90 to 95 percent indigenous content, the competition generated by MDL's entry is welcome news for the growth of India's indigenous defense industry, and a much-needed impetus to the laggard procurement.
NDTV
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Exclusive: Jitendra Kumar On "Removed" Panchayat 4 Kissing Scene, "Didn't Have Reservations But..."
Jitendra Kumar AKA Sachivji has finally confessed his love to Rinki (Sanvikaa) in the fourth instalment of the Amazon Prime original Panchayat. But their "pending" kiss has grabbed the headlines. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Jitendra Kumar talks about what went behind the scene, his take on the mixed reception of the fourth season and how he came on board as "beloved" Sachivji. The Kissing Scene In a recent interview, Sanvikaa revealed that she refused to kiss Jiendra Kumar on screen as she felt the family audience of Panchayat might not take it in the right spirit. NDTV asks Jitendra Kumar if he was consulted before the scene. Jitendra says, "I think Sanvikaa's comment was taken out of context. When the scene was proposed to me first, I told the makers to ask Sanvikaa first. Her consent was essential. We wanted to make the scene awkwardly funny. They are going to kiss and the light goes off - something on this note. Later, we shot it differently." View this post on Instagram A post shared by prime video IN (@primevideoin) "I kissed Ayushmann Khurrana in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. I had kissed actresses on screen earlier. As an actor, I don't have reservations about an on-screen kiss. But, whether it's a kissing scene or any other acitivity, it has to support the script. Kahani mein maza aana chahiye, audience se connect karna chahiye," Jitendra Kumar tells us. On The "Mixed" Reception To Panchayat 4 From Season 3 onwards, there has been a shift in tonality of the storytelling in Panchayat. The series, which came as a breath of fresh air in the stifling ambience of the pandemic (the first season released in April 2020), deviated from the path of innocence, according to critics and a large section of the Internet. View this post on Instagram A post shared by prime video IN (@primevideoin) When we ask Jitendra Kumar if he's aware of the mixed responses Season 4 is getting, Jitendra tells NDTV, "I had full conviction in the script. I felt it was going towards the right direction. When I saw the end-product on screen, I felt our hard work paid off." "Yes, there are mixed reactions. I don't know why. But I feel the audience has given the final verdict. I was a bit tense when the first two-three reviews came out. But when the audience showered their love on us, I felt we were right," Jitendra Kumar tells NDTV. How Jitendra Kumar Became Sachivji Jitendra Kumar takes us back to how Panchayat came to life - from script to the screen. "It's an old story. Back then, I had already done shows like Permanent Roommates, TVF Pitchers, Kota Factory with TVF [The Viral Factory, the production company which produced Panchayat ]. We used to discuss ideas. I was always a part of the process. We wanted to make something around village. Our reference point was Malgudi Days. We wanted to recreate the nostalgia of the show. Then we thought the show could revolve around a village panchayat. Because, panchayat is a place where you can talk about school, anganwadi workers... everyone," a nostalgic Jitendra Kumar recalls. But there was a roadblock. TVF had built an urban fanbase through their shows. If a show was out-and-out based in a village, would the urban audience get distanced? "Then Sachivji's character came to our mind. A character from outside the village would come in, and the story would be narrated from his perspective. The whole team unanimously chose me as Sachivji, and the rest is history," Jitendra tells us. When we ask him to choose between Jeetu Bhaiya (Kota Factory) and Sachivji, the answer is obvious. But the reason was not, "Both are close to my heart. Unnis-bees ka fark hai. But Sachivji is closer as I can get a tour of a village. That opportunity doesn't come often," signs off Jitendra Kumar.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
X blocks Reuters accounts in India
The main Reuters news account, as well as the Reuters World account, have apparently been inaccessible to X users in India since Saturday evening. Reuters reports that Indian users attempting to view the @Reuters account — which has 25 million followers — instead see a message stating that the account 'has been withheld in IN (India) in response to a legal demand.' However, an Indian government spokesperson told Reuters that no government agency has made such a demand. A Reuters spokesperson said the news agency is 'working with X to resolve this matter.' Reuters also says its social media team previously received a notification from X in May stating that the company was withholding content at the Indian government's request, though the notification did not specify which agency made the request or which content was being targeted. The social media platform formerly known as Twitter (which recently merged with another Elon Musk company, xAI) has criticized the Indian government over demands that it block certain accounts and posts. It even sued the government in March, claiming that a new website allows 'unrestrained censorship of information in India' by unlawfully enabling 'countless' public officials to take down content or block accounts. The government said the website only allowed it to notify companies about harmful online content. Last year, X also engaged in a protracted battle with Brazil's Supreme Court, which saw the service shut down operations in the country, then get banned for more than a month. TechCrunch has reached out to X for comment.
TechCrunch
06-07-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
X blocks Reuters accounts in India
The main Reuters news account, as well as the Reuters World account, have apparently been inaccessible to X users in India since Saturday evening. Reuters reports that Indian users attempting to view the @Reuters account — which has 25 million followers — instead see a message stating that the account 'has been withheld in IN (India) in response to a legal demand.' However, an Indian government spokesperson told Reuters that no government agency has made such a demand. A Reuters spokesperson said the news agency is 'working with X to resolve this matter.' Reuters also says its social media team previously received a notification from X in May stating that the company was withholding content at the Indian government's request, though the notification did not specify which agency made the request or which content was being targeted. The social media platform formerly known as Twitter (which recently merged with another Elon Musk company, xAI) has criticized the Indian government over demands that it block certain accounts and posts. It even sued the government in March, claiming that a new website allows 'unrestrained censorship of information in India' by unlawfully enabling 'countless' public officials to take down content or block accounts. The government said the website only allowed it to notify companies about harmful online content. Last year, X also engaged in a protracted battle with Brazil's Supreme Court, which saw the service shut down operations in the country, then get banned for more than a month. Techcrunch event Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW TechCrunch has reached out to X for comment.
Scottish Sun
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘Jack The Flipper' killer dolphin on loose off UK coast after slaying a baby dolphin and then a SHARK
Both of his killings were caught on camera by Dolphin watcher Sarah Michelle Wyer, who had previously named him Anakin after the Star Wars character SOMEFIN IN THE WATER? 'Jack The Flipper' killer dolphin on loose off UK coast after slaying a baby dolphin and then a SHARK A KILLER dolphin is on the loose after being caught on video slaying one of its own kind — and then a shark. The bottlenose dolphin, dubbed Jack the Flipper, targeted a smooth-hound shark last week having previously attacked a juvenile common dolphin three months ago. 3 The killer bottlenose dolphin was caught slaying one if its own kind Credit: Jam Press/Sarah Michelle Wyer 3 'Jack The Flipper' also killed a smooth-hound shark last week Credit: Jam Press/Sarah Michelle Wyer He is part of a pod in Cardigan Bay, off the coast of Mid Wales, and had actually been named Anakin, after the Star Wars character, by dolphin watcher Sarah Michelle Wyer. She told The Sun: 'I've not seen a dolphin throw a shark out in the eight years I've been watching them. 'One of the skippers has seen them throw topes, which is another small member of the shark family, but not smooth-hounds. 'But when Anakin killed the young common dolphin, it was the first recorded instance of this behaviour happening in Cardigan Bay. It is unknown why this dolphin chose to do it — as it would have been of no threat. Bottlenose dolphins are highly intelligent creatures and are capable of many unusual behaviours. 'They are not 'friendly flipper'. This particular dolphin seems to have a very unusual personality. 'Despite the name, common dolphins aren't common around here. And we now think this could be because of the bottlenose dolphins.' Smooth-hounds can grow up to 4ft in length — while bottlenose dolphins can reach up to 12ft. Dolphin Spotting Boat Trips, who Sarah works with, added: 'We were very surprised when one of our local dolphins, Anakin, brought what we originally thought was a large salmon past the boat and then threw the fish out the water. 'To our surprise, it was not a salmon but a member of the shark family called a smooth-hound. 'We aren't sure if there are many records of smooth-hounds being part of a bottlenose dolphin's diet. Inside the dark world of randy sex pest dolphins who terrorise swimmers & try to ROMP with humans 'Bottlenose dolphins are opportunistic feeders and have a varied diet of fish, squid and crustaceans. 'Anakin's dolphinality is a very unusual one to say the least.'
