 "ISRO will launch the earth observation satellite EOS-08 on August 16. X/@isro")
Independence Day celebrations are over. Before the weekend arrives, Friday is going to witness several key developments.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to the earth observation satellite EOS-08 onboard the third development flight of its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold a candlelight march to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kolkata to protest against the vandalism at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the wee hours of Thursday night.
Here’s all this and more that is expected to make headlines throughout the day.
ISRO’s satellite launch
The Indian space agency will use the final developmental flight of SSLV to launch the 175-kg EOS-08.
The earth observation satellite will carry three instruments. The Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR) will click images in mid-wave and long-wave infra-red during day and night. The data can help in satellite-based surveillance, disaster and environmental monitoring, fire detection, volcanic activity, and so on.
The second payload is Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) is capable of examining ocean surface wind and soil moisture, conducting cryosphere studies over the Himalayan region, and flood and inland waterbody detection.
The other payload SiC UV Dosimeter “monitors UV irradiance at the viewport of the Crew Module in the Gaganyaan Mission and serves as a high-dose alarm sensor for gamma radiation,” according to ISRO.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe mission, which aims to place the satellite in a Circular Low Earth Orbit at a 475 km altitude and an inclination of 37.4 degrees, will take place at Satish Dhawan Space Centre spaceport.
BJP’s march to Bengal CM’s house
The women’s wing of the BJP will hold a candlelight rally from Hazra crossing to Banerjee’s south Kolkata residence at Kalighat to protest against violence and vandalism at the Bengal capital’s RG Kar hospital .
A 31-year-old junior doctor was brutally raped and murdered at the state-run hospital last week. Doctors have led protests against the heinous crime across India. Amid protests, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital saw violence in the wee hours of August 15 as a mob barged into the emergency building, damaging medical equipment, and breaking lights, fans and computers.
The police have arrested nine people in connection with the vandalism.
The BJP has demanded the resignation of CM Banerjee over the incident. The saffron party has decided to hold protests across the state and block roads.
Manish Sisodia’s ‘padyatra’
Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia will kickstart his ‘padyatra’ from Friday. He was earlier scheduled to launch it on Independence Day. However, the plan had to be deferred following the Delhi Police’s security advice.
The AAP leader was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court after over 17 months in jail.
Senior AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said it was probably “nature’s” plan that the foot march will begin on August 16, which is chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s birthday.
“According to the Hindi calendar, his birthday is on Janmashtami but according to English calendar, it falls on August 16. Whatever happens happens for good. Maybe it was nature’s plan that the padyatra begins on Kejriwal’s birthday,” he reportedly said.
Foxconn chief may meet Karnataka CM
Young Liu, the chairman of Taiwan-based Hon Hai Technology Group, also known as Foxconn , will visit Karnataka. He is expected to meet CM Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries MB Patil.
“Liu will hold discussions with the CM and Industries Minister. He will also visit Foxconn’s under-construction manufacturing plant near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, where work is progressing. It’s unclear if any new investments will be announced, but if there are, it will be a bonus for us,” a source told Moneycontrol.
The Foxconn chief met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on August 14. “I highlighted the wonderful opportunities India offers in futuristic sectors. We also had excellent discussions on their investment plans in India in states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh,” Modi said in a post on X.
Drive against fake GST registrations
Tax officers will begin a two-month-long special drive against fake GST registrations, according to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
This will be the second such initiative. As per PTI, the first special drive was conducted last May when nearly 22,000 fake registrations involving suspected GST evasion of over Rs 24,000 crore were discovered.
With inputs from agencies