Category Archives: Amazing Feats

INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTUR: Shabana Azmi to be honoured with ‘Freedom of the City of London Award’ at the UK Asian Film Festival, May 2024

On Tuesday 7th May at Somerville College, Oxford will celebrate the actress’s industry milestone following a screening at Phoenix Picturehouse of her pioneering film, Fire (1996).

Veteran Indian actress Shabana Azmi, will be honoured with the Freedom of City of London Award by the City of London Corporation, in recognition of her prolific contribution to Indian cinema and as a campaigner for women’s rights. The award presentation will be a part of the celebrations to mark her 50 years in the industry at this year’s UK Asian Film Festival – the world’s longest-running South Asian film festival outside the Subcontinent. The ceremony will take place on Friday 10th May at Guildhall, City of London.

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade. As well as being nominated or applied for, the Freedom is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life or to celebrate a very significant achievement. Other recent high-profile recipients include theatre entrepreneurs, Dame Rosemary Squire, Sir Howard Panter and Sir Cameron Mackintosh; former England and Arsenal footballer, Ian Wright; double Olympic gold medallist Tom Dean, MBE; and the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty.

Boasting an illustrious career that spans over 160 films and stretches across independent, parallel and mainstream Hindi cinema as well as international projects, Azmi is the daughter of renowned poet, Kaifi Azmi, and stage actress. Shaukat Azmi. She graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in 1973 and made her debut with Shyam Benegal’s debut social drama Ankur in 1974, which won her the National Award for Best Actress.

Between 1983 and 1985 for three consecutive years, Azmi won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her performances in Arth, Khandhar and Paar. In subsequent years, she continued to soar to the heights of critical and commercial success, becoming one of the leading ladies of Indian parallel cinema, a new-wave movement of arthouse films recognised for their authentic and realistic storyline, treatment and sensibility.

Even when it came to mainstream films, Azmi dared to traverse beyond the glossy and stereotypical portrayals of women with impactful realistic performances in films like Masoom and Arth, pushing the boundaries further and inviting audiences to re-imagine the off-screen societal norms that dictated the on-screen representations of a housewife, mother and woman in an evolving Indian society.

Azmi is the winner of five National Film Awards and several international accolades and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1998 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012 by the Government of India for her outstanding contribution to cinema. Unlike many of her peers who confined themselves to on-screen activism, throughout much of her life, Azmi has remained committed to fighting injustices, lending her powerful voice and on-screen persona to critical issues such as AIDS ostracism and child mortality amongst other causes. She has worked extensively with slum dwellers in Mumbai and was the President of Nivara Hakk, a housing rights NGO that provided houses for free to 50,000 people in Mumbai who were evicted from their homes. She heads the NGO, Mijwan Welfare Society (MWS), founded by her father, which works for the upliftment of rural India with a focus on the girl child and women. She has fought relentlessly against religious fundamentalism of all hues and is highly respected as a moderate, liberal Muslim voice.

Azmi’s remarkable contributions have been recognised on numerous prestigious platforms. She was awarded the Gandhi International Peace Prize at the House of Lords by Vanessa Redgrave and honoured at the Bicentennial celebrations of International Human Rights in Paris, alongside Mother Theresa, by President Mitterand of France. Additionally, Azmi received the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum, with Mohammed Ali and Michael Douglas. She holds five Doctorates from renowned national and international universities and has been conferred with the prestigious Martin Luther King, Rosa Park, and Chavez Awards. Her recent nomination as Global Leadership Ambassador for Women in Public Service Project, initiated by Hillary Clinton, further underscores her global impact and commitment to fostering positive change. She has also been chosen by Time Magazine as one of 25 Asian heroes and is the only woman among four Indians who has made a difference.

Shabana Azmi says, “In anticipation of the esteemed Freedom of the City of London Award, I am deeply honoured. This recognition not only celebrates my contribution to cinema but also emphasises the intrinsic link between art and activism. I am humbled by this distinction and eagerly anticipate the chance to continue advocating for social causes through storytelling.”

UK Asian Film Festival Creative Director, Samir Bhamra says, “It is an honour to acknowledge the remarkable contributions of Shabana Azmi. From her pivotal role in inaugurating our festival in London to inspiring our celebration of her 50-year journey, Shabana Azmi epitomises resilience, advocacy and artistic brilliance. We stand proudly alongside her, recognising her unwavering dedication and support. Her upcoming recognition with the Freedom of the City of London award is a testament to her extraordinary achievements. UKAFF’s instrumental role in instigating this prestigious award underscores Shabana Azmi’s profound impact on the arts and society at large.”

As part of the festival programme, Celebrating The Golden Girl: Shabana Azmi on Tuesday 7th May at Somerville College, Oxford will celebrate the actress’s industry milestone following a screening at Phoenix Picturehouse of her pioneering film, Fire (India, 1996; Dir: Deepa Mehta; Language: English). The event and dinner will help raise funds to support the scholarship programme at The Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development. Continuing the festival celebrations, the actress will be in conversation onstage following screenings of some of her cult and contemporary classics: Ankur (India, 1974; Dir: Shyam Benegal; Language: Hindi with English subtitles) on Wednesday 8th May at Khalil Lecture Room, SOAS, London; Mandi (India, 1983; Dir: Shyam Benegal; Language: Hindi with English subtitles) on Thursday 9th May at Phoenix, Leicester; and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (Idia, 2023; Dir: Karan Johar; Language: Hindi with English subtitles) on Thursday 9th May at Phoenix, Leicester.

Now in its 26th year, the UK Asian Film Festival, for which Azmi is a Patron, has historically championed South Asian female-centric cinema and women in film – both behind and in front of the camera.  Its programmes have annually sought to disrupt the patriarchal status quo and initiate challenging conversations in its mission to advocate and promote gender equality in cinema.

Running at venues across London, Leicester and Oxford from Thursday 2nd – Sunday 12th May, the UK Asian Film Festival is presented by Tongues on Fire and is supported by the BFI, awarding funds from the BFI Audience Projects Fund. UK Asian Film Festival is powered by broadcast partners, SONY TV and Lyca Radio. TV Partner for the UKAFF Short Film Competition is Shorts TV.

source/content: cineblitz.in (headline edited)

NATIONAL: PATENTS: Mahindra & Mahindra receives a record 674 patents in FY24

Mahindra & Mahindra has received a record 674 patents in FY24, the most of any Indian 4-wheeler automobile/farm equipment manufacturer. This is a 380% increase in the number of patents issued to M&M over FY23.

The company said, “M&M is constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation by investing in research and the use of cutting-edge technology. Our strategy of prioritizing R&D has helped us to come up with futuristic automotive brands with world-class features. We firmly believe that by staying at the forefront of technology, we can deliver the loftiest expectations of our customers.

So far, we have been conferred 1185 patents across multiple geographies, and we currently have 193 applications awaiting patent approval, as of 31st March 2024. Cumulatively, we have filed 2212 patent applications to date. The patent portfolio also includes fillings of M&M’s subsidiary, Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd. In addition to our patents, we have also got 115 designs registered and 178 new applications filed. This record-breaking achievement is a testament to our cutting-edge research prowess.”

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source/content: business-standard.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: INDIAN NAVY : WOMEN POWER IN SAILING: Indian Navy’s female duo completes historic transoceanic sortie ahead of solo circumnavigation

Two women officers are in the fray for the Navy’s ambitious voyage yet — the Sagar Parikrama IV, a circumnavigation mission.

Lieutenant commanders Dilna K and Roopa Alagirisamy, the two women officers handpicked as potential candidates for the upcoming Sagar Parikrama IV, the Navy’s most ambitious voyage yet, have successfully completed their ‘final examination’ on the seas.

The so-called test entailed undertaking a transoceanic sortie aboard INSV Tarini from Goa to Port Louis in Mauritius, and back. This nearly 5,000 nautical mile journey in double-handed mode was the first-of-its-kind by Indian women, thus marking a significant milestone for the Navy.

The women duo recorded ‘full marks’ when Tarini was flagged in by the who’s who of INS Mandovi at the boat pool in Goa on Sunday. It concluded a two-month expedition that began on February 28 and also involved a series of events to strengthen bilateral ties during the stopover in Mauritius.

“The expedition was particularly challenging as each leg of the journey was a continuous voyage of about 2,700 nautical miles without breaks. Besides demanding to settle into a rhythm at sea, the journey also threw various weather conditions,” says Cdr Abhilash Tomy (retd), the officers’ mentor and only Indian to circumnavigate the world twice.

Each leg of the journey took nearly three weeks and saw the two women officers battle heavy winds and rough seas. “The two officers are used to being on the water by now. They have been training for nearly three years, undertaking regular sorties,” a Navy source tells TNIE. 

Indeed, both Lt Cdr Dilna and Lt Cdr Roopa have over 25,000 nautical miles to their names. According to Cdr Abhilash, the two are “quite well prepared.”

In November 2023, the two officers had sailed from Goa to Port Blair and back — nearly the same distance as from Goa to Mauritius. “Though that voyage too was in double-handed mode, they were still sailing on Indian waters. This time, they crossed into the ocean,” the source elaborates.

Even crossing oceans isn’t new. This time last year, they embarked on an expedition to Rio De Janeiro and back on the same vessel with a six-member crew. However, the upcoming Sagar Parikrama mission will be unlike the voyages they’ve been on. It will see a woman officer sail around the world, solo and unassisted.

“Of the two officers, only one will make this journey. This transoceanic voyage was their final test. We will now evaluate and decide who will undertake the circumnavigation mission,” the source says. According to him, both of them have a good chance of qualifying.

Though India has eight circumnavigators, only two have done it solo — Captain Dilip Donde (retd) and Cdr Abhilash. Their voyages, in 2010 and 2013, respectively, were the first two iterations of the Sagar Parikrama series. Interestingly, the two are also the first Indian male pair to undertake a transoceanic sortie (in 2009).

The third Sagar Parikrama mission in 2017 saw Lt Cdr Joshi Vartika lead a six-member crew across the world’s oceans. To see an Indian woman sail around the world solo and unassisted was the longtime dream of the late VAdm M P Awati, considered the father of Indian circumnavigation missions.

Now, only months remain for this dream to be fulfilled. Sagar Parikrama IV is set to commence in September.

Lt Cdr Dilna K

  • Hails from Kozhikode, Kerala
  • Joined the Navy as a logistics officer in 2014
  • Is a renowned shooter; have won several medals in national competitions
  • Big enthusiast of cricket; have represented the Kerala state team
  • Won YAI’s Admiral Ramdas Trophy last year

Lt Cdr Roopa A

  • Hails from Puducherry
  • Joined the Navy into the naval armament inspection cadre in 2017
  • Is an aeronautical engineering graduate; had a stint with National Aerospace Laboratories
  • Her father, Alagirisamy G P, is a former Indian Air Force pilot
  • Won YAI’s Admiral Ramdas Trophy last year yearAdmiral Ramdas Trophy,

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: AVIATION / AIRPORTS: Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport among Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World. At no. 1 is…

Data shared by the ACI on Monday showed that the IGI airport in the capital handled 7.22 crore passengers annually.

The Airports Council International (ACI) World, a global organisation which measures and assesses airport standards– on Monday ranked Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport as the tenth busiest airport in the world in 2023.

The IGI Airport was ranked 9th in 2022, 13th in 2021, and as the 17th busiest airport in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.

Data shared by the ACI on Monday showed that the IGI airport in the capital handled 7.22 crore passengers annually. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States held the top rank with 10.46 crore passengers.

From the top 10 rankings for total passenger traffic, five of the airports are in the United States. The biggest jump in the rankings is recorded for Tokyo’s Haneda airport, which leaped from 16th position in 2022 to the 5th spot in 2023.

Top 10 airports in the world in 2023

RankingAirport
1Atlanta  (USA)
2Dubai (UAE)
3Dallas/Fort Worth (USA)
4London (UK)
5Tokyo (Japan)
6Denver (USA)
7Istanbul (Turkey)
8Los Angeles (USA)
9Chicago (USA)
10New Delhi (India)

According to the ACI report, the top 10 airports representing close to 10% of global traffic, witnessed a gain of 19.8% from 2022 or a gain of 0.7% from 2019.

The organisation said that the global total passenger forecast for 2023 stands close to 8.5 billion, reflecting a remarkable recovery of 93.8% from pre-pandemic levels.

“Global air travel in 2023 was chiefly fuelled by the international segment, propelled by several factors. Among these were the anticipated benefits from China’s reopening and a growing inclination towards travel despite macroeconomic conditions,” ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said.

He added,“While perennial leaders from the US continue to dominate the top 10 busiest airports for passengers, notably Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retaining its number one position, there are notable shifts. Dubai International Airport jumped to second rank for the first time, while Tokyo Haneda International Airport witnessed a remarkable ascent from 16th position in 2022 to 5th in 2023. Additionally, the unwavering strength of Istanbul and New Delhi airports keep them in top ranks, marking significant progress over 2019.”

The latest ACI’s airport rankings are based on data gathered from over 2,600 airports across more than 180 countries and territories globally.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headlines edited)

NATIONAL: HEALTH & MEDICAL: RESEARCH: The Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) in Lucknow, Develops Oral Pill to Cure Fractures

The Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) in Lucknow has developed an oral pill that will help in healing fracture in lesser time.

The phase-1 clinical trials of CDRI-1,500 molecule will begin soon.

CDRI’s senior principal scientist Divya Singh, said, “As accident rate in India is among the highest in the world, which leads to significant morbidity and mortality, development of this medicine which gives quick relief, has no side-effects and can heal fractures at a faster rate is much needed.”

She further said, “CDRI is presently working on two novel bone healing entities CDRI-1500 and CDRI-399. We have received all the required approvals from drug regulatory bodies and are ready for the phase-1 clinical trial of CDRI-1500.”

The scientist said CDRI-1500 is a first-in-class orally active fracture healing synthetic molecule. Currently, there is no orally active fracture healing synthetic molecule available nationally or internationally.

So far BMP2 molecule has been approved for fractures suffered by children and adults by the Food and Drug Administration. However, the use of BMP2 is restricted as it leads to numerous clinical complications and involves a very high cost, she added.

On the other hand, CDRI-1500 will not only be safe and economical but intake of this tablet will provide a quicker relief from pain as it promotes the expression of genes involved in bone regeneration and repair.

The main advantage of CDRI-1500 is that even its low dose has been found to be effective in healing fractures, she said.

“In our experiments, we found that the molecule promoted fracture healing in Sprague Dawley rats and New Zealand white rabbits at a very low dose given orally to rats and rabbits. We have received an Indian and US patent for the CDRI 1500 molecule,” Divya Singh added.

source/content: bhaskarlive.in / IANS (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL : NATIONAL: Pin Code Mh-1718: Story Of A Post Office In Antarctica With Indian Address

India’s two research bases on Antarctica, Maitri and Bharati, are part of the Goa postal division.

Pin Code Mh-1718: India set up its first post office in Antarctica’s Dakshi Gangotri in the year 1984. Within a year more than 10,000 letters and mail had been posted and ‘cancelled’ at the post office. however, in 1988-89, Dakshin Gangotri submerged in ice and was subsequently decommissioned. Another branch was set up at Maitri research station in Antarctica on January 26, 1990.

Since then philatelists, collectors and hobbyists send letters and postcards in blank envelopes to the Maitri post office for ‘cancellation’ and this practice continued for over 35 years. Notably, stamp impression, “Maitri North Goa,” from the Antarctic research base, has become a renowned “collector’s item.”

Nearly 40 years later, the Department of Posts is opening the second branch of the post office and giving the letters a new pin code MH-1718. Officials noted that the code currently allocated is “experimental,” as is customary when a new branch commences operations.

Now India has two bases in Antarctica, Maitri and Bharati, and fall under the jurisdiction of the Goa postal division.

“In practice, the letters meant for the post office in Antarctica are sent to the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), the nodal agency for India’s polar expeditions, in Goa. When a scientific expedition to the continent leaves from the NCPOR, a researcher is usually tasked with carrying the consignment of letters. At the research base, the letters are ‘cancelled’, brought back, and returned via post,” said an official from the Department of Posts.

The authorities have clarified that the term ‘cancellation’ pertains to the mark placed on a stamp or postal stationery to render it useless for reuse. Usually, letters marked as ‘cancelled’ denote the location and date of the originating post office. These markings hold high value for enthusiasts, giving critical insights about the worth of the stamps.

M Sudhakar, an ex-scientist at NCPOR, further shed light on the unique role that the post office plays, especially recognising Antarctic’s governance under the Antarctic Treaty. This treaty neutralizes any territorial claims by nations, bans military operations and nuclear tests, and strongly advocates for the continent’s use exclusively for scientific discovery.

“Typically, an Indian post office can only be in the jurisdiction of Indian land. Antarctica gives a unique opportunity to have an Indian post office in a land which is foreign and does not belong to us. So, it serves a strategic purpose in terms of asserting presence on the continent,” he said.

On the occasion, Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra circle, K K Sharma requested scientists in Antarctica to continue to post letters to their loved ones.

“There is always a lot of excitement about these post offices (in remote locations). Nowadays with WhatsApp and Twitter, all this (technology) has taken over. But, nothing can beat the written word. Particularly, when you are sitting so far from your family. I would request that you please make use of this fantastic opportunity, and write letters to your loved ones… You can create memories and they will stay with you in physical form. All these e-formats get erased fast, but you can look at a letter years later and it will take you back to those memories,” said Sharma.

In India, it’s typically philately enthusiasts and stamp collectors who mostly send mail to Antarctic post office branches.

R P Patil, Director, Postal Services, Goa region, said, “Collectors of postage stamps see it as a rare opportunity to collect the ‘impression’ of a stamp from a remote post-office location. There is always a high demand from philatelists for cancellation of letters.”

source/content: india.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: INDIAs FIRST : GREEN ENERGY: Adani Green Energy (AGEL) becomes India’s First to surpass 10,000 MW renewable energy; Gautam Adani says proud to be India’s first ‘das hazari’

AGEL’s 10,934 MW operational portfolio will power more than 5.8 million homes and avoid about 21 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, the company said.

Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) on Wednesday announced that it has surpassed 10,000 megawatts (MW) of operational portfolio, delivering reliable, affordable, and clean power to the national grid. AGEL’s operational portfolio consists of 7,393 MW solar, 1,401 MW wind and 2,140 MW wind-solar hybrid capacity. “The milestone is a testament to AGEL and its development partners firmly moving towards the goal of 45,000 GW renewable energy by 2030,” the company said in a regulatory filing. 

AGEL’s 10,934 MW operational portfolio will power more than 5.8 million homes and avoid about 21 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, it said. 

“We are proud to be India’s first das hazari in the renewables space,” said Gautam Adani , Chairman of the Adani Group . “In less than a decade, Adani Green Engergy has not just envisioned a greener future but has actualised it, growing from a mere idea to explore clean energy to achieving a phenomenal 10,000 MW in installed capacity. This achievement is a demonstration of the rapidity and scale at which the Adani Group aims to facilitate India’s transition to clean, reliable and affordable energy. In our drive towards 45,000 MW by 2030, we are building the world’s largest renewable energy plant in Khavda — a 30,000 MW project unparalleled on the global stage. AGEL is not just setting benchmarks for the world but redefining them.”

Sumant Sinha-promoted ReNew has also crossed 10,000 MW of operational renewable energy capacity as of March 31 this year, according to sources in the company.

Tata Power Renewable Energy’s (TPREL) operational capacity is 4,471 MW, which includes 3,444 MW solar and 1,027 MW wind capacity. The total renewables capacity of TPREL has reached 9,018 MW (PPA capacity is 7,632 MW), including 4,547 MW projects under various stages of implementation, the company said recently.

AGEL’s operating portfolio is certified ‘single-use plastic free’, ‘zero waste-to-landfill’ and ‘water positive for plants with more than 200 MW capacity’.

In terms of its contribution to India’s renewable energy goals, AGEL is working on greenfield expansion in the sector, represents about 11 per cent of the country’s installed utility-scale solar and wind capacity, contributes to over 15 per cent of India’s utility-scale solar installations, and has created over 3,200 direct green jobs.

(With Inputs from Raghavendra Kamath, Financial Express)

source/content: financialexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL: SPACE & TECHNOLOGY: Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) announces successful deployment of sub-metre resolution optical satellite TSAT-1A from Kennedy Space Centre, Florida

TSAT-1A was launched from Kennedy Space centre aboard the Bandwagon-1 mission by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) announced the successful deployment in space of its sub-metre resolution optical satellite, TSAT-1A, by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The satellite was placed in space as part of the Bandwagon-1 mission and was launched from Kennedy Space centre, Florida, U.S., at 11:16 p.m. UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) on April 7.

“This achievement follows the collaboration signed between TASL and Satellogic in November 2023, leveraging Satellogic’s expertise to develop and integrate an advanced earth observation satellite in India and TASL’s capability to undertake complex system integration,” it said in a statement. “TSAT-1A will deliver high-resolution optical satellite images with increased collection capacity, dynamic range, and low-latency delivery through its multispectral and hyperspectral capabilities.”

The statement said that TSAT-1A was assembled in TASL’s Assembly, Integration and Testing plant at its Vemagal facility in Karnataka. “This milestone shows TASL’s commitment to the space sector. This is a first step. Our partnership with Satellogic has enabled us to deliver an assembled-and-tested-in-India, best-in-class, sub-metre optical satellite which was launched by SpaceX,” Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, TASL said in the statement.

Emiliano Kargieman, CEO of Satellogic said this illustrates the flexibility of Satellogic’s space systems programme, offering governments and enterprises the ability to tailor a proven satellite model for their specific needs, and reach orbit within a favourable timeframe.

On the Bandwagon-1 mission, SpaceX said that it was its first dedicated rideshare mission launched into a mid-inclination orbit. “While our Transporter rideshare missions launch to a sun-synchronous orbit, launching to a mid-inclination orbit fills in the gaps for our customers that wish to expand their coverage or complete unique objectives,” it said on social media platform ‘X’. “Mid-inclination orbit offers a higher revisit rate, meaning the time between flyovers of the same point is faster than what is seen with other orbits.”

In addition to TSAT-1A, the Bandwagon-1 mission also had 11 other spacecraft. These include Korea’s 425Sat, HawkEye 360’s Clusters 8 & 9, Tyvak International’s CENTAURI-6, iQPS’s QPS-SAR-7 TSUKUYOMI-II and Capella Space’s Capella-14, according to SpaceX.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL / KARANTAKA: BUSINESS & ECONOMY : Ramesh Kunhikannan, Founder of Kaynes Technololgy Makes It To Forbes List Of Billionaires 2024

He is the Founder of Mysuru’s Kaynes Technology that supplied power systems for the Chandrayaan-3’s lander and rover.

India reached a huge milestone last year, as the country became the first nation to land a spacecraft near the unexplored south pole of the moon.

Ramesh Kunhikannan, whose company contributed largely to the historic space mission, was named on the Forbes Billionaires List 2024 for the first time this year, thanks to the historic space mission. He is presently placed among the richest people across the globe along with Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mukesh Ambani with a whopping 1.2 billion US Dollars (approx. Rs. 10,011 crore) net worth.

Ramesh Kunhikannan is the Founder and Managing Director of Kaynes Technology India, headquartered in Mysuru.

The company is famous for manufacturing electronic products. The 60-year-old billionaire graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the National Institute of Engineering (NIE), Mysuru.

He started his company in 1988 as a contract electronics manufacturer. His spouse and current company Chairperson, Savitha Ramesh, joined the company in 1996. The company presently hold a market capitalisation of Rs. 17,156 crore with its stocks priced at around Rs. 2,700, according  to Value Search.

The 36-year-old company mainly supplies electronic systems and design services to automobile industries, aerospace, medical and defence. Kaynes’ services are mainly used for electronic controls in EVs, railway signals, etc.

The shares of the company have given a return of about 234 percent since its debut. The company assembles printed circuit boards and has eight factories in India.

Kaynes supplies 350 clients across the globe in the auto, aerospace and medical industries.

It is also one of the multiple companies which largely contributed to the achievement of Chandrayan 3. The company provided power systems for the Chandrayaan-3’s lander and rover. Following the successful completion of the mission, Kaynes Technology India’s shares skyrocketed from Rs. 1,719 in August 2022 to Rs. 2683.85 as of today.

Presently, Kunhikannan holds 64 percent of the company which is around 1.1 billion US Dollars (approximately Rs. 8.3 thousand crores) to his net worth.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: DEFENCE : SPAIN: C-295 Aircraft order could increase to over 100 units, says Spanish Ambassador

These aircraft, which will be delivered as a part of the Indian Air Force’s Rs 21,935 crore deal with Spain will replace IAF’s ageing Avro-748 fleet.

The second C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space, which is expected to be delivered shortly, is a part of Spain’s commitment to deliver 56 such aircraft to the Indian Air Force, after a deal worth Rs 21,935 crore was signed.

Spain’s Ambassador to India, Jose Maria Ridao, in an exclusive interaction with this newspaper said that this order could be increased upto 100 units or more.

“We are happy to collaborate with India on this project and as you may recall that the first aircraft was delivered in September last year. The first 16 will be built in Seville and the remaining 40 in Vadodara. However, I am optimistic that this order will increase upto 100 units or more,’’ Ambassador Ridao told this newspaper.

These aircrafts will replace IAF’s ageing Avro-748 fleet.

Spain is also pitching for an order of submarines and has invited Indian naval officials to Spain. It may be recalled that in July 2023, Spanish company Navantia and engineering major Larsen and Tubro signed a teaming agreement for submitting techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s P75 submarine programme.

“The Indian navy officials, when they visit Spain, can see for themselves the technological advancement of the submarines,’’ said Ambassador Ridao.

Project 75 requires the Indian bidder to tie up with a foreign collaborator and execute the delivery of six conventional submarines equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) while achieving targeted indigenous content. Expected to be valued at Euro 4.8 billion (Rs 43,000 crore), this will be amongst India’s largest defence projects.

Meanwhile, Spain is India’s sixth largest trading partner in the European Union. India’s exports to Spain in 2023 were Euro 5.847 million while Spain’s export to India were Euro 1.7779 million

“There are over 250 Spanish companies in India, and we have bilateral trade visits with India. These include delegations from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, while Punjab and Gujarat too are likely to send their delegations for possible collaborations,’’ the Ambassador added.

Speaking about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India, Ambassador Ridao said that being a democracy is the extraordinary value that India holds.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)