Latest news with #ex-IAF
New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
From flight to freefall: How TN based Archana Thiagarajan led India to glory
Until the 1960s, scientists believed that diving beyond 38 metres (around 125 feet), could kill a human. The pressure, they thought, would crush the lungs. But in 1952, an Italian diver Raimondo Bucher took a 39-metre-plunge and came back up, proving them wrong. Since then, freedivers have been going deeper. Some use ropes, some fins, some add weights, and one discipline has crossed the 200-metre mark. But the risk is real. Seawater is 840 times denser than air, and as you sink, the pressure builds quickly. The deeper you go, the heavier it gets. And yet, freedivers return for tranquility and slow fall. 'What draws me to freediving, is the calmness and stillness. It's just you and your body,' says Tamil Nadu-based Archana Thiagarajan. 'I usually close my eyes. It's like being in space, weightless, free-falling, neutrally buoyant.' A former squadron leader in the Indian Air Force, Archana, never expected to find a space in this world. But earlier this year, she made history. At the 34th AIDA Freediving World Championship in Wakayama, Japan (held from 28 June to 2 July, 2025), Archana became the first Indian woman to represent the country. In her debut appearance, she set four new national records across all pool disciplines (DYNB: 137m; DYN: 125m; DNF: 94m; STA: 4:22 Sec), bringing her total to ten (all in pool disciplines). A sabbatical in Indonesia in April 2024 with her husband (also ex-IAF), had sparked a casual interest in freediving after initially considering scuba. They had both retired from the IAF on 5 January, 2024 and planned a year of travel. Now, that spark has taken her to the world stage.
News18
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- News18
'10-Year-Old Cars Are Bad, But 40-Year-Old Jets Are Okay?': Ex-IAF Officer On Delhi Fuel Policy
Last Updated: Soon after the Delhi government had announced its fuel ban policy, intitally effective from July 1, ex-IAF officer Sanjeev Kapoor took to social media to criticise the measure A sweeping ban announced previously by the Delhi government on fuel sales to older vehicles had ignited a fierce public debate online, with a retired Indian Air Force officer questioning the very logic behind the move. The fuel ban, intitally effective from July 1, was aimed to prohibit petrol stations from selling fuel to cars older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years. Soon after, former IAF officer Sanjeev Kapoor took to social media to criticise the measure. 'We are still flying aircraft that are over 40 years old," Kapoor wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding, 'Many of our trains, buses, boats, ferries and commercial planes in daily use are more than three decades old. So why are restrictions being imposed only on personal vehicles?" Kapoor's post struck a chord with many online, sparking sharp reactions from Delhi residents already grappling with the policy's implications. With over 62 lakh vehicles in the national capital now falling under the ban, queues at scrapyards and registration offices have lengthened dramatically in recent days. The Delhi government had defended its move by citing air quality concerns. According to a November 2024 report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), vehicles contribute more than 51% of the city's emissions from local sources, making them the largest single contributor to pollution in the capital. Efforts like the CNG rollout, bans on older diesel buses, and the enforcement of Bharat Stage VI emission norms have been in place for years. Yet, the CSE report noted, Delhi's air quality continues to worsen, especially during winter months when crop burning, construction dust, and vehicle emissions combine to choke the city. This fuel ban, authorities claimed, was a bold attempt to stem the crisis. To enforce it, over 350 petrol pumps in Delhi had been equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. These cameras were linked to the central VAHAN database, and instantly flagged vehicles that were no longer eligible for fuel refills. However, the Delhi government on Thursday, July 3, urged the Centre's air quality panel to immediately suspend the fuel ban on overage vehicles and said it will make 'all out efforts" to resolve issues related to restrictions on the movement of end-of-life vehicles on city roads. In his letter to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) chairman Rajesh Verma, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the fuel ban is not feasible and cannot be implemented due to technological challenges. This move came three days after the ban came into effect in the national capital. No overage vehicle was impounded by the traffic police and transport department teams on Thursday. For many, however, the policy had appeared harsh and sudden, especially for those who relied on well-maintained personal vehicles that still function efficiently. 'Not everyone can afford an EV or a new car," said Rajeev Sharma, a south Delhi resident whose 12-year-old diesel SUV had become practically unusable according to the ban. Critics had also argued the ban disproportionately affected middle-class families and small business owners, while sparing commercial fleets and public transport systems running older vehicles.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Flying 40-year-old aircrafts, but old cars banned: Ex-IAF pilot questions Delhi Govt's move
Delhi's ban on refueling older vehicles, targeting those over 10 (diesel) and 15 (petrol) years, faces criticism from ex-IAF pilot Sanjeev Kapoor. He questions the policy's focus on personal vehicles while older aircraft, trains, and buses continue operating. Kapoor also warns of potential black markets arising from the fuel ban, raising concerns about unintended consequences. A former Indian Air Force pilot has questioned the Delhi government's latest crackdown on older vehicles in a social media post. Starting July 1, Delhi has enforced a ban on refueling diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, regardless of where they are registered. Delhi fuel ban for old vehicles: All you need to know Fuel stations in the city are now prohibited from refueling these vehicles as part of a broader campaign to tackle the capital's persistent air pollution. Fuel pump operators failing to comply could face action under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act . Vehicles found violating the rule risk being impounded and their owners prosecuted. MG Windsor Pro EV Review: More Range, Tech, Safety | TOI Auto by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo To ensure enforcement, fuel stations across the city are being equipped with Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to identify and block such vehicles in real-time. The restriction is currently limited to Delhi, but from November 1, it will also extend to neighbouring districts. Ex-IAF pilot raises concerns However, the policy has not gone unchallenged. In a post that gained wide attention on social media, ex-IAF pilot Sanjeev Kapoor questioned the selective targeting of personal vehicles while other aging modes of transport remain in use. "We are still flying aircraft that are over 40 years old and many of our trains, buses, boats, ferries and commercial planes in daily use are more than three decades old," he wrote. 'So why are restrictions being imposed only on personal vehicles?' Kapoor also expressed concern over the unintended consequences of the move. He warned that banning fuel for older vehicles may give rise to a black market or underground ecosystem to keep these vehicles running. 'That's my take,' he concluded.
