Latest news with #India-led
Mint
15-07-2025
- Science
- Mint
Watch: Shubhanshu Shukla smiles, waves as he exits SpaceX Dragon capsule after return to Earth from ISS
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth after an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), in SpaceX Dragon capsule which splashed down in California on Tuesday. He was seen waving and smiling as he exited the capsule. Group Captain Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, completed his maiden space voyage as part of the Axiom-4 mission, a commercial spaceflight supported by ISRO and NASA, and operated by Axiom Space. The journey marked a milestone for India: Shukla is the first Indian to step aboard the ISS and only the second Indian to go into space, following Rakesh Sharma's iconic flight in 1984. On board the ISS, Shukla was the pilot on the Axiom-4 mission, alongside commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Together, they not only conducted science experiments but also engaged in outreach to students and space communities across the globe. Shukla conducted seven India-led microgravity experiments across diverse domains of life sciences, agriculture, space biotechnology, and cognitive research. A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying the four-member team parachuted into the sea off the coast of California at around 2:30 a.m. PDT (0930 GMT) following a fiery reentry through Earth's atmosphere that capped a 22-hour descent from orbit. The return flight concluded the fourth ISS mission organised by Texas-based startup Axiom Space in collaboration with SpaceX, the private rocket venture of billionaire Elon Musk headquartered near Los Angeles. The mission finale, return flight was carried live by a joint SpaceX-Axiom webcast. Two sets of parachutes, visible through the darkness with infrared cameras, were expected to slow the capsule's final descent to about 15 mph (24 kph) moments before its splashdown off San Diego. Minutes earlier, the spacecraft had been streaking like a mechanical meteor through Earth's lower atmosphere, generating enough frictional heat to send temperatures outside the capsule soaring to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,927 degrees Celsius). The astronauts' flight suits are designed to keep them cool as the cabin heats up. (With inputs from agencies)
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Why Global Biofuels Alliance and CDRI Matter for UPSC Prep
Take a look at the essential concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up on your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on India's led alliance and initiatives. (Relevance: India-led initiatives are important from the exam perspective. In the UPSC Prelims of 2016, a question was asked on the International Solar Alliance (do check it in the post-read question). Also, these India-led global initiatives showcase India's stature on the international platform, which can be used in your Mains answer writing across the General Studies papers.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Namibia on Wednesday (9th July), the last stop of the 5-nation tour (Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, and Brazil) that started on July 2. This was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the resource-rich southern African nation in almost three decades. PM Modi and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah meeting ended with the announcements on launching the Digital Payment System in Namibia later this year, setting up an Entrepreneurship Development Center in Namibia, and the entry of Namibia to the global initiatives led by India, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the Global Bio Fuel Alliance. In today's knowledge nugget, let's learn about these two India-led initiatives – CDRI and Global Bio Fuel Alliance. 1. On the sidelines of the G20 summit hosted by India in 2023, the Global Bio Fuel Alliance was launched. The alliance is aimed at facilitating international cooperation and intensifying the use of sustainable biofuels, along with facilitating global biofuels trade and technical support for national biofuel programmes. 2. The GBA, the effort for which was spearheaded by India, the United States, and Brazil, was launched with nine initiating members–India, the US, Brazil, Argentina, Bangladesh, Italy, Mauritius, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates–while Canada and Singapore are observer countries. According to the official site of the Global Bio Fuel Alliance, as of July 2025, there are 29 countries and 14 international organisations that are members of this alliance. 3. Biofuels refer to renewable fuels derived from biomass, from plants or agricultural, animal, domestic, and industrial biowaste. Biofuels are significantly cleaner than conventional fossil fuels. The two most common types of biofuels in use today are ethanol and biodiesel, both of which represent the first generation of biofuel technology. 4. A whitepaper was published by the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) in February 2025 on the global non-grain-based (NGB) biofuels market, which is creating an attractive opportunity for the Indian NGB biofuels sector. 'NGB biofuels are defined based on feedstock, and refer to biofuels produced from lignocellulosic feedstocks (e.g., agricultural and forestry residues), industrial wastes and residue streams, and other feedstocks which do not compete with food crops for land use,' mentions the paper. 5. According to the International Energy Agency's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE), sustainable biofuels play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector, along with electric vehicles, more efficient engines, changes in transport modes and other clean fuels such as hydrogen. 6. The CDRI is an international organisation launched by PM Modi at the U.N. Climate Action Summit in September 2019. It is a partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and knowledge institutions that aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks in support of sustainable development. 7. In simple words, CDRI is an attempt to bring countries together to share and learn from the experiences of one another to protect their key infrastructure — highways, railways, power stations, communication lines, water channels, even housing — against disasters. It promotes the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development. 8. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, the mission is to drive US$10 trillion of new and existing infrastructure investments and services to be resilient to natural hazards and climate change, and overall well-being for more than 3 billion people worldwide by 2050. 9. The ten major initiatives as outlined by the CDRI focus on: Small Island Developing States; enhancing data and early warning systems; urban resilience; finance and governance, critical and social infrastructure; mountain regions; Africa; major events; research; and capacity building. 10. The Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) was launched by PM Modi under CDRI during the COP26 held in 2021. Climate change and extreme weather events such as sea level rise, coastal flooding and erosion, tsunamis, and storm surges have made the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) highly prone to disasters. IRIS aims to equip SIDS with the knowledge, tools, and partnerships needed to achieve disaster and climate-resilient infrastructure. These are some of the important India-led initiatives that have been at the forefront. 1. International Solar Alliance (ISA): It was established following the Paris Declaration at the UN Climate Change Conference on November 30, 2015. It was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then French President Francois Hollande. It aimed at uniting efforts to combat climate change by implementing solar energy solutions. Its mission is to unlock $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 while reducing technology and financing costs. As of July 2025, 106 countries are members of the ISA. 2. International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA): Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the IBCA in April 2023 during the 50th year celebrations of Project Tiger. It is an India-led initiative to focus on global conservation of seven big cats —the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah. On June 16, the first Assembly of the IBCA was held in New Delhi. It aims 'to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise and replicating them in range countries.' 3. Green Credits Initiative: It was launched by PM Modi on the sidelines of COP 28 as an initiative within the government's Lifestyle for Environment or LIFE movement. It focuses on generating Green Credits through the plantation on degraded wasteland. It encourages taking voluntary environment-positive actions that result in the issuance of green credits. It is independent of the carbon credit under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme 2023. Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2016) 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (Source: Modi, President Ndaitwah hold talks: Namibia to roll out UPI, World Biofuel Day – All you need to know for UPSC Prelims and Mains, Why is Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) important for UPSC exam?, UPSC Special- How India's biofuel potential complements its leadership in sustainable aviation fuel) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India-Namibia relations deepen: From Project Cheetah to defence, trade and beyond
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic state visit to Namibia, the first by an Indian PM in 27 years elevated bilateral ties with key agreements on digital payments (UPI), defense, health, critical minerals, and climate collaboration. Namibia joined India-led global platforms like the Global Biofuel Alliance and CDRI, as both nations pledged deeper cooperation for the Global South and reaffirmed shared democratic and environmental values. Show more Show less
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
India's goal in Africa is to ‘build together', PM says in Namibia
Continuing his diplomacy focused on the Global South, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (July 9, 2025) highlighted India's support to Namibia's decolonisation, 'not just in words, but in action'. Addressing a special session of the Namibian Parliament, Mr. Modi congratulated the African nation for adopting India's UPI digital payment system. The Prime Minister also highlighted the country's wider Africa policy, emphasising that India does not aspire to 'compete' with anyone in the African continent, but rather seeks to 'build together'. 'India is proud to have stood with Namibia – not just in words, but in action. Like the tough and elegant plants of Namibia, our friendship has stood the test of time. And, just like your national plant Welwitschia mirabilis, it only grows stronger with age and time,' Mr. Modi told the joint session of the Parliament of Namibia, highlighting the historic support that India extended to Namibia's freedom from the 1940s. According to the records of the Ministry of External Affairs, India was among the first countries to raise the cause of Namibia's independence at the United Nations in 1946. Cooperation, not competition Africa should not just be a source of raw materials and minerals, but should 'lead in value creation and sustainable growth', the Prime Minister said. 'With Africa, we seek not to compete, but to cooperate. Our goal is to build together. Not to take, but to grow together,' he added. Mr. Modi met with Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and signed several agreements, including MoUs to set up an Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Namibia and to cooperate in the field of health and medicine. Namibia also completed the formalities to join the India-led Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Global Biofuel Alliance. The launch of a digital payments system in Namibia later this year was also announced as an outcome of the UPI technology licensing agreement signed between the National Payments Corporation of India and the Bank of Namibia in April 2024. Mr. Nandi-Ndaitwah also conferred Mr. Modi with the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis, Namibia's highest civilian award. Earlier, Mr. Modi paid homage to the hero of Namibia's freedom movement Sam Nujoma, describing him as 'a great friend of India'. He recollected Dr. Nujoma's role during the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Namibia in 1986. The first diplomatic mission of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) was established in India, which provided the organisation with material support as it led the efforts for the liberation of Namibia. India's support to SWAPO is remembered fondly, the Prime Minister said.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Common goals: On India and a five-nation tour
On his way to Brazil to attend the ongoing BRICS summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made back-to-back bilateral visits to Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Argentina. Each stop was with a view to enhancing bilateral cooperation in fields which included some common themes on pharmaceuticals and vaccines, digital technology, food security and critical minerals. In Accra, India-Ghana ties were upgraded to a comprehensive partnership, with discussions on helping Ghana become a 'vaccine hub' for West Africa. In the Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, there was a major MoU on 'Indian pharmacopeia', to improve access to quality and affordable generic medicines from India. In Buenos Aires, President Javier Milei agreed to enhance cooperation on critical minerals as well as Argentina's vast reserves of shale gas and oil, while India pitched its pharma to Argentina. The three stops were in countries of the 'developing world' or the Global South, and the onward journey to Brazil, and then to Namibia, also highlight India's commitment to building alternative economic mechanisms to the 'developed world' or Global North. India's offer of cooperation for low-cost solutions to global challenges includes the promotion of India-led international organisations such as the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to these countries. Mr. Modi also made his signature pitch to the Indian diaspora — his speech in the Port of Spain, where Indian labour was brought by British colonial ventures since 1845, is one to note. Referring to the Indian ancestry of President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Mr. Modi said that the 35 million Indian diaspora worldwide were India's 'pride'. It is also impossible to escape the deep connections between India and the five nations in terms of political history. Each country shares a bond — colonies that suffered under British, Spanish, Portuguese and German forces — and why some of them joined the Non-Aligned Movement. They have all, at various points, committed to building South-South cooperation, and India and Brazil's role in founding the BRIC mechanism, along with Russia and China, and IBSA with South Africa, was an outcome, strongly pitching the interests of the Global South. None of the countries on the tour can be called 'anti-West', and New Delhi has had some differences with them over specific conflicts (Ukraine and Gaza). The motivating force behind the ties, however, and consequently Mr. Modi's nine-day itinerary, is more about a common desire to look beyond the present global order to one that is more equal, representative, and sensitive to the needs of developing and under-developed nations.
