New Delhi Municipal Council bags top position in cleanest city awards among cities with population of up to 3 lakh
Meanwhile, Noida has emerged as the cleanest city with a population of 3-10 lakh in the same category. On the other hand, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) secured 31st position in the 'Medium Cities' category.
The Swachh Survekshan Awards, now in their ninth edition, are based on the results of the world's largest urban sanitation survey. The survey, conducted under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), assesses cities across the country on their cleanliness, waste management systems, and overall urban hygiene.
President Droupadi Murmu and union minister for housing and urban affairs Manohar Lal presented the awards at the ceremony held in New Delhi.
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NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
MiG-21's Final Flight: Why Training, Not The Jet, Failed Air Force Pilots
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing to retire its fleet of Russian-origin MiG-21 fighter jets in September. The aircraft, which played a key role in India's military campaigns, including the 1971 war against Pakistan, has been both celebrated as a formidable war machine and stigmatised as the "flying coffin" due to its high accident rate. With just two months until the final flight on September 19, historian and Indian Air Force expert Anchit Gupta joined NDTV to provide a detailed perspective on the MiG-21's legacy, dissecting its triumphs, challenges, and the reasons behind its controversial nickname. Introduced to the IAF in 1963, the MiG-21 was initially acquired for a specific role: as a high-altitude interceptor designed to counter aircraft like the American U-2 spy plane. Mr Gupta, whose father flew the MiG-21 during his service, recalled the aircraft's distinct roar as a morning alarm at airbases. "The MiG-21 is extremely close to my heart. And I saw my father fly it. We used to live at the bases. That was our alarm in the morning to wake up. I remember 1986 Operation Brasstacks. My father was in Bhuj, going into the trenches and counting the aircraft coming back to the base. So there is an emotion to MiG-21 for all of us," Mr Gupta told NDTV. MiG-21F-13, designated Type 74 from 1963 The IAF operated around 800 to 1,000 MiG-21s over six decades, a scale unmatched by most air forces. Of these, approximately 300 were lost in accidents. "That is a very sobering statistic. But there's no time lapse to that statistic, and therefore, people struggle to make sense of it. I think the answer very much lies in what we did with the aircraft. The aircraft was acquired for a very, very limited role, to be honest. It was a high-altitude interceptor. The original design of the MIG was to intercept the U-2," Mr Gupta said. The aircraft's role evolved far beyond its original design, encompassing ground attack, fighter reconnaissance, air defence, and, critically, jet training -- a role, Mr Gupta said, it was never intended to fulfil. "Flying Coffin" Label: A Misnomer? The MiG-21's reputation as a "flying coffin" stems from its high crash rate. Mr Gupta challenged this label, arguing that the aircraft's accident record is less about inherent flaws and more about systemic issues in pilot training and aircraft acquisition. "It's very much linked to our procurement. Our combat squadron strength went from eight squadrons in 1947 to nearly 40 squadrons in 1965. Now you have sanctioned it, how do you acquire? And so we were huffing and puffing to acquire more aircraft, and MiG-21 came out of nowhere with the USSR saying, 'Listen, I'll do technology transfer, you manufacture it locally.' It was something that really fell into our laps," Mr Gupta told NDTV. The MiG-21 When the MiG-21 entered service, only the IAF's most experienced pilots were assigned to it due to its demanding flight characteristics. The aircraft's small size, limited cockpit visibility, and high landing speed of over 300 km/h made it unforgiving, particularly for novices. The MiG-21U trainer variant was ill-suited for training. The IAF relied on subsonic trainers like the Kiran and Iskra, which were inadequate for preparing pilots for the MiG-21's supersonic performance. The gap between basic trainers and the MiG-21 widened as the fleet expanded from eight squadrons in 1963 to nearly half the IAF's strength by the 1980s. "The biggest difference is speed. The speed at which you are performing the manoeuvres, the actions that you are doing, dramatically changes. That is the biggest difference, whether it is mid-air manoeuvres, whether it is landing or whether it is taking off,' Mr Gupta said. The "Human Error" Factor The IAF's attribution of many MiG-21 crashes to "human error" has often been misunderstood, he added. Mr Gupta explained that human error, in aviation terms, does not necessarily blame the pilot. "Air Force doesn't mean 'human error' in the way people interpret it," Mr Gupta said. "In the simplest form it means that when you've done an accident investigation, you've realised that the accident happened because the pilot in control made a mistake. Now that mistake has a cause behind it. That cause could be training. You have not trained the pilot appropriately. That cause could be inexperience. "That cause could be psychological, that cause could be disorientation, tons of causes behind it." For young pilots transitioning from subsonic trainers to the MiG-21, the lack of adequate preparation was a significant contributor. The stigma of "human error" often compounds the pain for families, who perceive it as blaming the pilot rather than acknowledging systemic issues. "I haven't met a single MiG-21 pilot who said he didn't love the jet," Mr Gupta said. "It's a big regret. They love the aircraft, but they love their colleagues more. And every life lost is a story that remains etched on the psyche forever. I think the human element is actually made worse off by how we categorise the loss. To the family or to a civilian, it sounds like we're blaming the pilot, and then the emotion comes out. The guy had barely started flying. This is an unforgiving aircraft, the aircraft has problems, and now you have the audacity to blame the pilot and say 'human error,'" he added. The MiG-21's Combat Record Despite its challenges, the MiG-21's combat record is formidable. During the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the MiG-21FL (Type 77) earned the moniker "runway buster" for its ground attack role, with 240 units manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The aircraft was instrumental in India's victory. In 1999, during the Kargil conflict, MiG-21s performed admirably, though the war also saw the loss of Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja in a crash. Post-Kargil, Squadron Leader Prashant Kumar Bundela shot down a Pakistani Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft. In 2019, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, flying a MiG-21 Bison, engaged Pakistani aircraft during the Balakot operation, downing an F-16 despite facing advanced adversaries like AMRAAM-armed F-16s and JF-17s. The Bison variant, introduced in the early 2000s, remains contemporary, equipped with an Israeli jammer, Russian R-77 and R-73 missiles, a partial glass cockpit, and a helmet-mounted sight. Its short scramble time makes it ideal for forward bases like Srinagar, where it outperformed alternatives like the MiG-29. "There's a very interesting point around the 2019 incident. You know, there's a lens people wear which says, 'Why was the MiG-21 there? Why didn't we have the MiG-29? Why didn't we have the Su-30?' People don't know that there was no other aircraft capable of being at Srinagar at that time other than the MiG-21. It has the shortest scramble time to date," Mr Gupta said. The MiG-29 "We have replaced it with a MiG-29 in Srinagar. I hate to say this, but it is not ideal for Srinagar, even today. A MiG-21 today is more ideal than the units we have there because you don't have a gyro, you have a single engine, light it, off you go, and therefore even today in the last 8 to 10 years or longer, MIG-21 has been our Operational Readiness Platform (ORP) guardian. It is the jet that scrambles. You put small detachments across all our forward bases. Imagine with the MIG-21 going away, who's supposed to fill that shoe? Who is supposed to fill that shoe? It's supposed to be the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). It is supposed to be the LCA. I hope it does," he added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Watch: IAF shares rare Kargil war photos with untold stories from 1999, a tribute you can't miss
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday paid a heartfelt tribute to the brave soldiers of the 1999 Kargil War, marking the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas. The day honours the courage, sacrifice and unwavering spirit of the armed forces who fought to defend India. To commemorate the occasion, the IAF shared an emotional video over two minutes long on social media. It highlighted the bravery of its personnel and included rare photographs from the war, titled "The War Diary in Photographs." Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Technology Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence Healthcare Management Leadership Digital Marketing Operations Management Project Management Finance MCA Data Science Data Science healthcare Degree others Data Analytics CXO Public Policy Others Product Management MBA PGDM Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks MIT xPRO CERT-MIT XPRO Building AI Prod India Starts on undefined Get Details On platform X (formerly Twitter), the IAF wrote: "The Indian Air Force pays heartfelt tribute to the valiant Warriors of the Kargil War. Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering resolve continue to inspire a nation united in gratitude." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo — IAF_MCC (@IAF_MCC) Leaders Pay Respect Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid his respects and said the sacrifices made by the soldiers would inspire generations. Live Events 'Heartfelt greetings to the countrymen on Kargil Vijay Diwas. This occasion reminds us of the unmatched bravery of those brave sons of Mother India who gave their lives to protect the nation's honour,' he posted. President Droupadi Murmu too expressed her admiration: 'On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, I pay my heartfelt tribute to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the motherland. Their dedication and supreme sacrifice will forever inspire the citizens of our country.' Families Honour Fallen Soldiers On Friday, family members of soldiers who died in the Kargil War gathered at Lamochen Viewpoint in Drass to remember their loved ones. The event was filled with emotion as people shared memories and paid tribute to the heroes. Rajesh, the brother of a soldier who died at Tiger Hill, shared a touching story: 'We wrote a letter to my brother during the war, and he replied saying he was not in danger. But after his death, we found his diary, which he had given to a friend. In it, he wrote that he didn't think he'd return from the mission.' Surekha Shinde, who lost her brother in the war, said: 'He had served in the army for five years before the war. I feel proud to be here today and thank the army for inviting us.' What Is Kargil Vijay Diwas? Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed every year on 26 July. It marks India's victory in the 1999 Kargil War when Indian soldiers successfully reclaimed mountain peaks in the Kargil-Siachen region that had been secretly captured by Pakistani troops. The war lasted more than 60 days and ended with Operation Vijay, a major military campaign. India showed great political and military restraint by keeping the war limited to the region. IAF's Role in the Kargil War The Indian Air Force played a crucial role under Operation Safed Sagar. Launched on 26 May 1999, it was the first time since 1971 that India used air power in Kashmir. The IAF carried out high-altitude bombing missions without crossing international borders, showing how effective air power could be in a limited conflict. According to the IAF, the operation proved that the use of air forces could change the course of a war while staying within strategic limits. Inputs from ANI
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Bandhwari landfill to get ₹96 lakh green makeover
Gurugram: The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has floated a tender worth ₹96lakh to beautify the Bandhwari landfill's front-facing stretch along the Gurugram-Faridabad Road. The initiative, which is a part of a larger ₹2.45 crore revamp, aims to mitigate the visual and environmental impact of the landfill through a mix of landscaping, fencing and plantation, officials aware of the matter, said. To enhance the aesthetic appeal of the Bandhwari landfill stretch, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has initiated a beautification drive along its periphery to shield the massive garbage dump from public view in Gurugram. (PARVEEN KUMAR/HT) MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya said the project tender includes planting trees and shrubs, erecting fences, installing tree guards, and surface turfing alongside newly constructed view cutters. 'Administrative and technical approvals were already granted. The tender will be opened on July 29,' he added. 'This is not just about hiding a landfill. It is about setting a new standard in how civic bodies deal with legacy waste sites. The beautification is part of a broader vision for ecological restoration and urban cleanliness. A long-term plan is also being drafted, and a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be prepared by the end of September after appointing a consultant. The aim is to develop a sustainable solution,' Dahiya said. The MCG chief, along with additional commissioner Ravinder Yadav and Swachh Bharat Mission joint commissioner Dr Preetpal Singh, conducted a site inspection on Wednesday. The officials reviewed ongoing work at the site including the installation of view cutters, construction of an RCC drain, and preparations for the beautification project. As part of the makeover, a 15-metre-wide and 400-metre-long cement concrete (CC) road will be built along the view cutters. A boundary wall, stormwater drain, and a second weighbridge to improve garbage truck movement are also part of the plan. Installation of jersey barriers between the road and view cutters is already in progress. A commuter, Manoj Sharma, who is a resident of Sector 56 and works in Faridabad welcomed the move: 'For years, we have driven past the landfill holding our breath. It's unpleasant and embarrassing. If this makeover brings greenery and hides the garbage, it's a win for everyone.' Meanwhile, work on constructing view cutters, a boundary wall, and a stormwater drain worth ₹2 crore has already begun on July 14. According to MCG officials, view cutters are being installed to block direct sight of the landfill from the main road. Leachate and waste that had spread to the road outside the site have been cleaned and transferred inside, clearing the road and creating a dedicated internal route for garbage trucks—reducing traffic disruptions and improving hygiene. In addition, a ₹2.45-crore proposal was floated on July 18 (tender to be opened on July 29), which includes construction of a 15-metre-wide, 400-metre-long cement concrete road alongside view cutters. An RCC drain has also been proposed. To avoid traffic delays due to garbage trucks queuing outside, the civic body has planned to install a second weighbridge to streamline entry and exit. A diesel generator has already been set up to ensure continuous power supply for these operations, allowing round-the-clock work at the site. With these steps, MCG aims to make the Bandhwari landfill a model for sustainable and citizen-friendly waste management.
