Shashi Tharoor confirms Opposition to skip special discussion on Shubhanshu Shukla
Tharoor lauded the unique value of Shukla's experience in orbit, stressing that 'Isro gained invaluable hands-on experience and data that cannot be replicated in simulations. His first-hand observations on pre-launch procedures, spacecraft systems, and the psychological, physiological effects of microgravity are crucial for de-risking and refining the Gaganyaan mission.' He further elaborated that Shukla's stay on the ISS enabled Indian engineers and scientists to test domestic systems and protocols in a real space environment for the first time. 'The numerous scientific experiments conducted—including studies on human health in space and plant growth—provide technological and scientific validation. These findings will directly inform the design of advanced life-support and medical systems for Gaganyaan,' Tharoor highlighted.The Congress MP also applauded the mission's broader diplomatic significance, noting its success in partnership with international agencies. 'Shukla's historic mission reinforced India's role in global space diplomacy and demonstrates our capability to engage in multilateral efforts, opening the door for future joint research and investment,' he said.Tharoor declared, 'Shukla's flight serves as a powerful symbol of India's ambitions in human spaceflight. It has captured the nation's imagination, inspiring a new generation to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and space. That is essential for sustaining India's long-term aspirations in space. Well done!'With the opposition set to not participate in the special discussion, Tharoor's post becomes the defining moment of the session.The Indian astronaut is later set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and brief him on his maiden mission to the International Space Station.- EndsMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
18 minutes ago
- India.com
Trump will be unhappy with this 200 number as India makes things easier for China, takes this big step to...
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has invited trouble without any effort. His move to put pressure on India seems to be backfiring. The whole game has suddenly changed with India and China coming closer in the tariff war. Now India has done something that can hurt Trump a lot. The government is making it easier for China to invest money in India. This is a big sign of improvement in the relations between the two countries. All this is happening at a time when Trump has imposed an additional tariff of 25% on India. This will increase the tariff on Indian goods in America to 50% from August 27. Trump has imposed this tariff due to buying Russian oil. What is the government doing to settle the Chinese FDI? The government is preparing to quickly settle the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) proposals coming from Chinese companies. For this, the government has given instructions to simplify the approval process. According to sources, the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) headed by the Home Secretary will now work on these proposals expeditiously. A meeting of the IMC was also held last week. A senior official said, 'We have clear instructions. Reduce the time taken to process applications.' According to sources, proposals from non-critical sectors like renewable energy, manufacturing and electronics are still being considered. Dixon Technologies' FDI proposal is also under review. It includes two Chinese partners. 200 FDI proposals are awaiting approval Under Press Note 3, about 200 FDI proposals from China are pending. According to this rule, approval has to be taken from the government before investing in countries sharing a land border with India. The government can dispose of them quickly after getting approval from the IMC and the Cabinet Secretariat. Many Chinese companies have been waiting for their proposals to be approved for a long time. However, officials have also made it clear that this move should not be seen as India's soft stance towards China. A source said, 'India's engagement with Chinese FDI should not be seen through the prism of its relations with the US.'
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
Peter Navarro to India: Act like a US partner or pay the price
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro on Monday criticised India's crude oil imports from Russia, calling the move "opportunistic" and warning that if India "wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one". In an opinion piece in the Financial Times, Navarro alleged that India was "now cosying up to both Russia and China" and argued that New Delhi's Russian crude purchases must stop as they were financing Moscow's war in Ukraine. His comments come ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, even as Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visits New Delhi for talks on the disputed border. "This two-pronged policy will hit India where it hurts-its access to US markets - even as it seeks to cut off the financial lifeline it has extended to Russia's war effort," Navarro wrote. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Crossout 2.0: Supercharged Crossout Play Now Undo He said India's reliance on Russian crude was "opportunistic and deeply corrosive of global efforts to isolate Putin's war economy". The remarks assume significance as US trade negotiators have postponed their planned August 25-29 visit for the sixth round of Bilateral Trade Agreement talks , the first tranche of which is targeted for conclusion by autumn. Live Events Trump has already imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, including a 25% penal levy for continued purchases of Russian oil, despite the external affairs ministry's assertion that India is being unfairly singled out while the US and EU continue to source energy from Moscow. While the 25% tariff on Indian goods entering the US took effect on August 7, the additional 25%, announced as penalty for crude and defence imports from Russia, will kick in on August 27. "India acts as a global clearing house for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs," Navarro wrote, adding that it was risky to transfer cutting-edge US military capabilities to a country "cosying up to both Russia and China".
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
Opposition VS BJP over Bihar's SIR drive: INDIA bloc mulls motion to impeach CEC over 'bias and irregularity'
The parliamentary floor leaders of the INDIA bloc on Monday discussed the option of submitting a notice for an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging bias and irregularity in his conduct of elections, especially the special intensive revision (SIR) in Bihar. The notice proposal was made at the INDIA bloc leaders' meeting by Congress chief whip Jairam Ramesh and some of his colleagues and is being seen by many Opposition leaders as a Congress response to CEC's aggressive rebuff at a press conference of the leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi 's 'vote theft' charge and his dismissal of the Opposition's grouse against the SIR-drive in Bihar. While the Opposition can easily arrange the required signatures for submitting the notice, their project faces uncertainty in getting past the Chair's scrutiny given the strict conditions, defying reasons, laid out to accept such notices against the CEC or the Chief Justice of India. On the possibility of the Opposition bringing a notice for the impeachment motion, Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said, "There was a discussion about it with a larger unity. We will take the appropriate decision at the appropriate time." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like NRIs Living In Croatia Are Eligible For INR 2 Lakh Monthly Pension. Invest 18K/Month Get Offer Undo Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD said, "We are keeping all parliamentary and legal options open." Even if the Opposition brings the notice in the coming days, the issue is unlikely to take off in the remaining days of this Parliament session. "The CEC offered no comment or clarification on why the Bihar SIR was being conducted in such a hasty, ill-prepared and ad hoc manner," said a joint statement issued by a group of INDIA bloc MPs at a presser. Live Events They also said that the CEC didn't make any clarification on Gandhi's charges of fake voters in a Karnataka assembly constituency or reason for not probing the matter. "ECI has completely failed in discharging its constitutional duty of ensuring a free and fair electoral system in the country," they alleged.
