Rising sea surface temperature, extreme weather events and plastic contamination: Three big challenges for Indian Ocean
Indian weather scientists have earlier shown how the Indian Ocean is warming at a rapid pace and how marine heatwaves have become common nowadays.
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India Today
35 minutes ago
- India Today
Test pilot, combat leader, astronaut: The fearless flight path of Shubhanshu Shukla
The year was 2006, a young cadet was about to step out of the haloed halls of the Air Force Academy (AFA) to sortie his way into the skies, but without any idea that one day his bold manoeuvring capabilities, the aptitude to cope with any cockpit he gets thrown into, and the skills to make split-second decisions will take him beyond the Indian Air Force pilot is about to soar into the heavens as an astronaut. Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla is ready for his boldest sortie. He will launch to the International Space Station (ISS), piloting the Dragon spacecraft, on June 10, before becoming an astronaut, he is a fighter pilot par excellence and a test pilot who pushed never-before-flown aircraft to their limits, exposed their vulnerabilities, shredded their weaknesses and strengthened the Indian skies. Shubhanshu Shukla was given the astronaut wings by PM Narendra Modi. We look at how his past life as a fighter test pilot prepared him to be India's first astronaut headed to the Space Station. BECOMING A TEST PILOTadvertisementBecoming a test pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF) is one of the most elite and demanding roles available to military selection process is rigorous and begins with internal screening of serving officers from the Flying Branch, usually of Squadron Leader rank or higher, with a strong operational track record and a minimum of around 1,500 flying become a test pilot, however, the officer must volunteer on his own first. Candidates must be medically fit (Category A1G1) and possess strong technical and analytical shortlisted undergo pre-selection evaluations at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in Bengaluru, where they face a battery of written technical tests, simulator evaluations, and flying assessments designed to measure their ability to adapt to unfamiliar aircraft and tests are followed by interviews and psychometric evaluations to assess mental resilience, problem-solving ability, and motivation—critical traits for handling high-stakes flight selected, candidates undertake an intensive 48-week training course at ASTE, home to the IAF Test Pilots School, one of the few such institutions in the curriculum is divided into academic, flying, and technical reporting modules, covering advanced aerodynamics, aircraft performance, avionics, flight mechanics, and systems integration. Trainee test pilots fly a wide variety of aircraft types, often outside their primary specialisation, and perform highly structured test sorties under closely monitored conditions. They learn to plan, execute, and analyse complex test missions and must produce detailed technical reports on flight characteristics and system graduation, test pilots are typically posted to ASTE or similar units, where they play a vital role in evaluating new aircraft, systems, and weaponry—both indigenous and imported. Their work directly influences India's air combat capabilities, making them central figures in the nation's aerospace UPThe most challenging bit is to develop the adaptability to cope with an unfamiliar cockpit, and Shubhanshu Shukla did that flawlessly with the fixed-wing flew SuU-30 MKI, Dornier, AN-32, Mig-21, and MiG-29 among several aircraft during his test pilot tenure, logging over 2,000 hours of flying under his tenure that lasted for 2-3 years at one stretch required him to develop adaptability in a short timeframe and to act and react to the systems as and when required. "Fighter flying is highly dynamic, so is a space mission that requires you to think on your feet and make split-second decisions, build strong instincts and have the courage to mitigate issues no matter the situation. The Air Force Test Pilot School has prepared Shubhanshu for it well. Therefore, he was one of the first to volunteer for the Gaganyaaan Mission to become an astronaut when the news came," a retired IAF Air Marshal told Shukla now prepares to fly to space on his 14-day mission that will take him through the skies, nearly 400 kilometres above the planet, the learnings from his test pilot missions will come in handy and propel him into a league of his own where only a handful have walked.
India Today
35 minutes ago
- India Today
Housefull 5 box office Day 2: Akshay's film off to a flyer, crosses Rs 50 crore
'Housefull 5' is off to a flying start at the Indian box office. Featuring a powerhouse cast including Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, and Sanjay Dutt, the comedy entertainer has already outperformed its previous instalments, according to early estimates. Released on June 6, the film opened with a strong Rs 24 crore. However, it's the Day 2 numbers that truly turned to industry tracker 'Housefull 5' earned approximately Rs 30 crore nett on Day 2, marking a significant 25 percent jump from its opening day collections. With this, the film's total earnings have surged past Rs 50 crore, currently standing at an estimated Rs 54 crore. In comparison, its predecessor, 'Housefull 4' crossed the Rs 50-crore milestone only on its third Day 2, the film recorded an overall Hindi occupancy rate of 37.97 percent, with the highest footfall observed during the night shows. 'Housefull 5' also outperformed Akshay Kumar's January release 'Sky Force' (Rs 11.50 crore nett) and last year's Bollywood blockbuster 'Fighter' (Rs 22.50 crore nett) in terms of opening day by Sajid Nadiadwala's banner, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the film boasts an ensemble cast featuring Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Today Digital's review of 'Housefull 5' notes, 'The good thing about 'Housefull 5' is that it looks like a nice commercial entertaining package. But, it's not for everyone's taste. The cringe comedy, where creepy men are lusting over women's bodies and making jokes out of beating birds and monkeys, does not make for very heartening humour. It also feels artificial at one point, as if the audience is being forced to throw a chuckle here and there.' IN THIS STORY#Akshay Kumar#Abhishek Bachchan#Riteish Deshmukh#Sanjay Dutt
News18
42 minutes ago
- News18
Docu-film exploring Ayurveda to hit screens on June 11
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 8 (PTI) A documentary delving deep into the traditional Indian system of Ayurveda and showcasing its immense potential and hidden prospects is all set to premiere in New Delhi on June 11. Titled 'Ayurveda – The double helix of life", the 90-minutes-long English documentary would be released by Minister of State for Ayush and Health and Family welfare Prataprao Jadhav at the Film Division Theatre, New Delhi, it's makers said here. National award-winning filmmaker Vinod Mankara, who helmed the docu-film, said its main objective is to show how the rare virtues of Ayurveda are utilised in modern medical treatment to counter the misinformation against the ancient treatment system. He said the documentary is highly engaging and presents Ayurveda as a 'sastra" with legitimacy, rather than merely romanticising its antiquity. 'It offers a comprehensive view of the manufacturing sector, major hospitals, ongoing research, and clinical innovations in areas such as infertility, renal stones, and diabetic neuropathy," the director said. The documentary highlights aspects like the technology transfer in the development of Rejuran (skin rejuvenation treatment) and sustained-release dressing pads, Mankara, who also penned the script of the film, said. Beginning with the basics of manufacturing, the film traces the evolution of Ayurvedic medicines from traditional formulations to more user-friendly contemporary dosage forms. The research segment is showcasing groundbreaking advancements in both fundamental and translational research, the director said adding that clinical innovations and the immense potential of integrative medicine are also discussed in depth in the docu-film. 'The docu-film discusses various significant aspects regarding Ayurveda like how Parkinson disease is treated in Germany by integrating the traditional Indian treatment system," he explained. The documentary has been produced by Dr A V Anoop under the banner of A V A productions. The Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI) also was also a partner in its production. It features insights from 52 people, including doctors and medical scientists from India and various foreign countries. Experts from the World Health Organisation have also contributed to the documentary, which the director said would be screened in various countries. Besides the union minister, Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush is also expected to attend the June 11 premier along with other significant personalities. PTI LGK ROH First Published: June 08, 2025, 10:15 IST
