Latest news with #78thIndependenceDay
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's return to India likely by mid-August, grand reception planned
After a historic 18-day sojourn to the International Space Station (ISS), astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is likely to return to India during the week when the nation will celebrate the 78th Independence Day. Shukla, who piloted the Axiom-4 mission, and his three crew mates : mission commander Peggy Whitson, and mission specialists Tibor Kapu and Slawosz Uznanski, returned to Earth on Wednesday. Following a picture-perfect splashdown off the California coast, the crew were ferried on a chopper to Houston for medical examination, mission debriefing and other procedures. The Indian Express has learned from reliable sources at the Department of Space (DoS) that Group Captain Shukla is expected to arrive on August 14 or two-three days later. 'He is expected to arrive in New Delhi. There are plans to arrange a grand reception for Group Captain Shukla in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,' an official said. On Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi had put out congratulatory messages to Shukla on social media platform 'X', welcoming him back to Earth after the successful mission. Meanwhile, Uznanski of Poland representing the European Space Agency (ESA) reached Cologne Bonn in Germany on Thursday. He will undergo post-space mission debriefing and other mandatory activities in the next few days. Meanwhile, Union minister Jitendra Singh said Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is expected to arrive in India by August 17 following a series of post-mission procedures. 'There are certain SOPs to be followed… His rehabilitation, debriefing sessions and a series of discussions with Team ISRO. We might expect him in Delhi by August 17,' Singh told PTI video. Calling the mission 'unprecedented', Singh said the experiments conducted by Shukla during his stay in the orbital laboratory were closely linked to human survival and life in microgravity. 'These experiments will be useful not just for Indians, but for all of humanity,' he said. 'It is a moment of immense joy for India,' he said. (With PTI inputs)
India Today
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna to lead largest India Day parade in New York
Actors Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna have been announced as the Grand Marshals, who will lead this year's world's largest India Day parade in New York in August. They will take part in the events on August 15 and walk the Madison Avenue route on August 17. This will be their first joint appearance in several years amid their relationship Friday, the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) launched the countdown to the 43rd India Day Parade in New York. An event was conducted in the city began with a tribute to the victims in the Pahalgam terror attack and the Ahemedabad plane association announced that Vijay and Rashmika will be leading this year's parade. A video with their pre-recorded messages confirming their presence at the event was played at the event, held at the Consulate General of India in New York. Wishing everyone a happy 78th Independence Day in advance, Vijay Deverakonda, in his video message, said, "I am honoured and excited to be the grand marshal at the India Day parade happening on August 17 in New York City. I will also be part of the festivities organised on August 15. I am looking forward to celebrating this day with all of you and pay tributes to our motherland." advertisementRashmika Mandanna greeted her fans in multiple languages in the video and said, "I am honoured and excited to be the grand marshal at the largest India Day parade happening on August 17 in New York City. Let's come together to celebrate this festival with pride and pray tribute to our motherland."The two began their video message with the phrase, 'Sarve Bhavanthu Sukina' and ended with 'Jai Hind'.Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda have been making headlines after reports of their relationship surfaced. Recently, the couple, who are known to avoid joint appearances in public, were seen at the Mumbai presence at the India Day Parade will mark their first joint public appearance in several years.- EndsMust Watch
India.com
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- India.com
FASTag annual pass is not valid for two expressways, one is Meerut Expressway, other is…; how will 200 trips be counted in Rs 3000, know calculation here
(File) In a major move to make commuting on national highways easier and more pocket-friendly, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways recently announced the 'FASTag Annual Pass', which would be valid for one year or a maximum of 200 trips, whichever is earlier, for just Rs 3,000. The FASTag annual pass will be launched on August 15, 2024, on the occasion of India's 78th Independence Day, and will enable hassle-free travel for commuters on national highways and NHAI expressways across the country by eliminating the need to repeatedly pay toll at toll booths. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the annual FASTag will be valid only for non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans. How to avail and activate the FASTag annual pass? The FasTAG annual pass can be availed, activated, and renewed on Rajmarg Yatra App, NHAI website and the Ministry of Transport website, according to the Ministry. 'A dedicated link for activation and renewal will soon be made available on the Rajmarg Yatra App as well as on the official websites of NHAI and MoRTH,' Union Minister Nitin Gadkari wrote on X. Making the announcement, Gadkari said the FASTag annual pass aims to deliver a smoother and hassle-free travel experience private vehicle owners across the country. 'This policy addresses long-standing concerns regarding toll plazas located within a 60 km range and simplifies toll payments through a single, affordable transaction. By reducing wait times, easing congestion, and minimizing disputes at toll plazas, the Annual Pass aims to deliver a faster and smoother travel experience for millions of private vehicle owners,' he said. The Minister noted that the annual passe will make travel on national highways and expressways pocket-friendly, as toll charges on national highways that came to about Rs 10,000 earlier will now come to Rs 3,000 with the annual pass, which means a single toll crossing would cost just Rs 15 on average, from the current Rs 50. FASTag annual pass won't be valid for THESE highways/expressways Notably, the FASTag annual pass will only be valid on toll booths located on the National Highways and Expressways operated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), such as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. But it won't work on expressways or highways operated by state governments, like Yamuna Expressway, the Meerut Expressway, the Agra-Lucknow expressway, and the Purvanchal Expressway, among others. The toll booths on these expressways and highways will only accept already existing regular FASTag system, as per officials. How FASTag pass will work? According to details, the FASTag pass will be linked to the RFID-based FASTag system, and will be automatically activated at all toll plazas within a radius of 60 kilometres, opening the the gates after the FASTag is scanned. The pass will be valid only for vehicles with a registered FASTag on the windshield. It is non-transferable and will deactivate if used on another vehicle. Separate vehicles require separate FASTag registration. The annual cannot be issued on FASTag registered vehicles who only have a chassis number. Car owners will need to update the Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) to activate the Annual Pass.
Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Defence Ministry announces essay-writing competition on Operation Sindoor. The prize is…
The Union Ministry of Defence has announced a national essay writing competition themed on Operation Sindoor from June 1 to June 30. The Ministry said that the top three winners will be awarded cash prizes of Rs 10,000 each and be given an opportunity to attend the 78th Independence Day celebration at the Red Fort, New Delhi. 'Ministry of Defence invites young minds to make their voices heard! Participate in the MoD & @mygovindia bilingual essay contest on #OperationSindoor – Redefining India's Policy Against #Terrorism,' the ministry wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 📢 Ministry of Defence invites young minds to make their voices heard! 🇮🇳✍️ Participate in the MoD & @mygovindia bilingual essay contest on#OperationSindoor – Redefining India's Policy Against #Terrorism. 🏆 Top 3 winners will receive Rs 10,000 each and get an exclusive chance… — Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) June 1, 2025 The Indian Armed Forces conducted Operation Sindoor in the intervening night between May 6 and May 7, targeting terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians. Pakistan responded with cross-border shelling in Jammu and Kashmir and a series of drone attacks targeting military establishments and civilian areas, a majority of which were thwarted by Indian air defence systems. India also struck Pakistani airbases, including the Nur Khan airbase in Islamabad. Hostilities lasted till May 10, when the two countries declared a ceasefire. During his address on May 12, PM Narendra Modi drew a 'new red line' while articulating India's redefined doctrine against cross-border terrorism. He said acts of terror will be met with a befitting response, adding that India will not distinguish between terrorists and state-sponsors of terror. Currently, India has sent seven multi-party delegations — three of which are led by opposition leaders, including Congress's Shashi Tharoor — to rally global support for India's war against terror.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Essay contest on Operation Sindoor: Top 3 winners to get Rs 10,000, invitation to attend Independence Day
New Delhi: The defence ministry has announced an essay competition on the theme of Operation Sindoor , scheduled to run from June 1-30. The top three winners will receive a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each and an exclusive invitation to attend the 78th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort. "Ministry of defence invites young minds to make their voices heard! Participate in the MoD & @mygovindia bilingual essay contest on #OperationSindoor - Redefining India's Policy Against #Terrorism," the ministry said in a post on X. "Top 3 winners will receive Rs 10,000 each and get an exclusive chance to attend the 78th #IndependenceDay celebrations at #RedFort, Delhi!" it added. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 to target nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. The operation continued to serve as the framework for all subsequent counter-actions against Pakistani aggression. The PM Narendra Modi-led central government has set new benchmarks in tackling terrorism, with Operation Sindoor marking a shift in India's counter-terrorism approach. The government has said that India has drawn a 'new red line' and established a 'new normal' in responding to both domestic and cross-border terror threats. The announcement further added: "Competition Dates: June 1–30, 2025. One entry per person | In Hindi or English. Participants can submit their entries via ."
