Latest news with #Kaveri
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First Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
This Week in Explainers: Why did monsoon arrive in May in India?
India has reported an early onset of monsoon this year. Kerala and Mumbai were lashed by heavy rainfall that brought life to a standstill. But what is behind these monsoon rains in May? All this and more in our weekly wrap read more Monsoon has arrived in India. Heavy rains lashed Kerala and Maharashtra, which have witnessed the early arrival of monsoon. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and his party are at loggerheads. His recent remarks abroad have further put a spotlight on the divide between him and the Grand Old Party, sparking speculations about whether he will finally call it quits. Language has become an emotive topic in India. Actor Kamal Haasan is facing flak for saying that Kannada 'was born out of Tamil'. His comments have also generated interest in the language's origin. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here's all this and more in our weekly roundup from India. 1. Many parts of India have reported an early arrival of the southwest monsoon. Heavy showers hit Maharashtra, Kerala and other parts of the country this week. Incessant rains brought Mumbai to a standstill, affecting flight operations and leading to waterlogging at railway tracks and multiple low-lying areas. This is the earliest onset of monsoon in Mumbai in 35 years, with the city recording its wettest May. The monsoon rains also covered Lakshadweep, the south Arabian Sea, parts of the west-central and east-central Arabian Sea, and Karnataka. The southwest monsoon has also advanced to Goa and areas in the west-central and northern Bay of Bengal. It also reached parts of Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. But what is behind the early onset of monsoon this time? We explain here . 2. A 'rift' between Shashi Tharoor and the Congress is out in the open. The Thiruvananthapuram MP has irked his party with his recent remarks abroad. Tharoor is heading one of the seven multi-party delegations that is keeping India's stand on terrorism on the global stage. Shashi Tharoor's rift with the Congress has come out in public. File Photo/PTI Tharoor's recent comments that India crossed the Line of Control (LoC) for the first time in September 2016 under the BJP-led Centre have angered the Grand Old Party, which has countered his statements. But the friction between the former diplomat and the Congress is not new. Will the party's public reprisal of Tharoor finally push him to leave? Read our report to find out. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 3. India is carrying out trials of the indigenous Kaveri jet engine in Russia. Developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the engine could be used to power the long-range Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). The Kaveri engine was initially developed to power the Tejas fighter aircraft. Image Courtesy: DRDO The Kaveri engine is a low-bypass, twin-spool turbofan engine with 80 kilonewtons (kN) thrust. It was originally developed for the fighter aircraft Tejas. Here's why the engine is a big boost for India's defence. 4. A huge drama has engulfed RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's family ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. His son Tej Pratap's alleged relationship has come to light, prompting the former Bihar chief minister to take action against his son. It all began when a post from Tej Pratap's social media account was uploaded claiming that he had been in a relationship with Anushka Yadav for 12 years. Soon after, Lalu Prasad expelled him from the RJD for six years for 'irresponsible behaviour'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD निजी जीवन में नैतिक मूल्यों की अवहेलना करना हमारे सामाजिक न्याय के लिए सामूहिक संघर्ष को कमज़ोर करता है। ज्येष्ठ पुत्र की गतिविधि, लोक आचरण तथा गैर जिम्मेदाराना व्यवहार हमारे पारिवारिक मूल्यों और संस्कारों के अनुरूप नहीं है। अतएव उपरोक्त परिस्थितियों के चलते उसे पार्टी और परिवार… — Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) May 25, 2025 Tej Pratap's estranged wife, Aishwarya Rai , also reacted to the development, calling it 'drama'. Tej Pratap has responded to the controversy. But who is Anushka Yadav, his alleged partner? Read our story to find out. 5. Actor and politician Kamal Haasan sparked a major row after claiming that Kannada 'was born out of Tamil' during a public event in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His comments drew criticism from pro-Kannada groups and politicians in Karnataka. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kamal Haasan's remarks on Kannada's origin have sparked a major row. File Photo/PTI Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra dubbed the actor's remarks as 'uncultured' and 'insulting' to Kannada and its 6.5 crore speakers. He also called for an apology from Haasan. Some pro-Kannada groups resorted to violence, tearing down posters of his upcoming movie Thug Life in Bengaluru and threatening a statewide ban on the film. But what exactly did Haasan say and is his claim true? We take a look here . 6. Did Akbar not marry Jodha Bai? Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade has claimed that the Mughal ruler was not married to the Rajput princess but a daughter of a maid of King Bharmal. 'The British changed the history of our heroes. They did not write it properly and their version of history was initially accepted. Later, some Indians wrote history, but it was still influenced by the British,' he said. A modified version of Persian painting named 'Glory of Faith' having inscription 'Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar with Mariam-uz-Zamani begum' dated to be of Akbar's era. Wikimedia Commons Movies and TV shows have romanticised the marriage of Akbar and Jodha Bai. Historians say that the Rajput princess' name was not Jodha but Harkha Bai. She was the third wife of Akbar, who lived as a queen inside the Agra Fort. However, there are contrasting accounts about Akbar's Rajput wife and their love story. We delve into the history here . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 7. Seven years after an English professor killed the relatives of his colleague in Odisha, he has been sentenced to a life term. Justice has finally been delivered in the 'wedding bomb' case. Punjilal Meher, 56, sent a parcel bomb, disguised as a wedding gift, to Soumya Sekhar Sahu, a 26-year-old software engineer, and his 22-year-old wife, Reema, on February 23, 2018. The parcel exploded as soon as Soumya opened it, killing him and his 85-year-old great-aunt Jemamani Sahu. But why did Meher murder them? And how did the police crack the case? Read our story to find out. 8. India and Pakistan tensions have led to some sweet shops in Rajasthan's Jaipur changing the names of their popular sweets — dropping the word 'Pak' to replace it with 'Shree'. If you ask for Mysore Pak and Moti Shree in Jaipur, you might find Mysore Shree and Moti Pak instead. This comes after several men vandalised Karachi Bakery in Hyderabad and raised 'anti-Pakistan' slogans. However, the name change of the sweets has not been received well in several quarters. So, does Mysore Pak have any connection to the neighbouring nation? We explain here . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is all we have for you this week. If you like how we explain news, you can bookmark this page .
India.com
3 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Bad news for Pakistan China, Turkey as India is developing not only stealth fighter jet but 5th generation...
Bad news for Pakistan China, Turkey as India is developing not only stealth fighter jet but 5th generation.... The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is currently testing the Kaveri jet engine in Russia. Defence officials have told news agency ANI that the testing of this jet engine is in its final stages. Plan To Use The Engine In UCAV As per reports, only 25 hours of testing of the engine is left. The engine will be ready after the Russian authorities give it the green signal following all the tests. Officials told ANI that India is planning to use the Kaveri engine in its long-range Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). HAL Is Preparing CATS Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is developing the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior. It is a 5th-generation unmanned wingman drone which is designed to work in conjunction with fighter jets. This drone is designed to perform a variety of tasks during combat missions. Will Keep Aircraft Pilots Away From Dangers The Indian Air Force's CATS system is designed to protect its aircraft and pilots by enabling the targeting and neutralisation of enemy air defences. The Mission Will Be Accomplished In Collaboration With AMCA The Combat Air Teaming System will carry out missions in coordination with the indigenously built 5th-generation stealth fighter plane AMCA. These CATS warriors will play a crucial role in eliminating the enemy's radar systems and missile launchers.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
HUL MD Rohit Jawa's total remuneration rises 3.7% to Rs 23 cr in FY25
HUL Managing Director Rohit Jawa's total remuneration in FY25 has witnessed an increase of 3.75 per cent to Rs 23.23 crore, according to the latest annual report of the FMCG salary was at Rs 3.65 crore along with allowances of 11.45 crore, a bonus of Rs 3.78 crore and a perquisite long-term incentives of Rs 2.76 annual report said that Jawa's remuneration was 146.47 times more than the median remuneration of FY24, Jawa's remuneration was 153.03 time more than median remuneration of employees. ALSO READ: HUL, Kaveri Seeds among 5 stock picks this monsoon; check upside potentialInterestingly, the annual report also highlighted a fall of 8.46 per cent in the total number of permanent to the report, HUL has 6,604 permanent employees on the rolls of the company as on March 31, 2025. However, a year before HUL had 7,215 permanent employees on the rolls of the company as on March 31, percentage increase in the median remuneration of employees for the financial year 2024-25 was 8.39 per cent."Average increase made in the salaries of employees other than the managerial personnel in the financial year was 4.62 per cent and does not include increase on account of promotions. Increase every year is an outcome of Company's market competitiveness as against its peer group companies as well as financial performance," the report while addressing the shareholders of the company, said in FY'25 HUL witnessed moderation in urban demand and gradual recovery of rural consumption."Against this backdrop, we remained focussed on driving volume growth and strengthening competitiveness for the business," he HUL chairman Nitin Paranjpe said the business witnessed a challenging operating environment with uneven weather patterns, volatile commodity prices and muted consumer demand. ALSO READ: Emami, HUL, ITC: Is early monsoon good news for FMCG stocks? Analysts weighHe further said India is "well-poised to deliver strong and consistent growth with rising affluence, a burgeoning middle class, a vibrant young working population empowered by a strong public digital backbone and growth-oriented policies"."Economic development, technological advancements and a better quality of life have fuelled the aspirations of our consumers. These new dynamics present a significant opportunity for the FMCG sector," he company is witnessing a rapid evolution of the Indian consumer with increased digital penetration and access to information."We are building a robust portfolio for future growth, by sharpening our where to play' choices. In line with this, we announced the acquisition of premium science-backed beauty brand, Minimalist. This acquisition is in line with our vision to become the beauty shapers of India," Paranjpe FY'25, HUL divested its water business, Pureit, and announced the decision to demerge its ice cream business, which consists of brands - Kwality Wall's, Cornetto and which owns popular brands such as Rin, Lux, Surf Excel, Pond's, Dove, Horlicks, Bru, Lipton, etc had a turnover of Rs 60,680 crore and its profit after tax was at Rs 10,644 crore.
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First Post
5 days ago
- First Post
Why Kaveri jet engine's trials in Russia are a big boost for India's defence
The trials of the indigenous Kaveri jet engine are reportedly underway in Russia. Developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it is a low bypass, twin spool turbofan engine. Originally meant for the fighter aircraft Tejas, it has been repurposed to power the long-range Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) read more India is carrying out trials of the indigenous Kaveri jet engine in Russia. Reports on Tuesday (May 27) said that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was conducting the trials of the engine that could be used to power the long-range Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). Initially planned for the fighter aircraft Tejas, the Kaveri engine will now power Made in India UCAVs. There has also been a renewed interest in the public about the homegrown engines in the wake of Operation Sindoor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Let's take a closer look. What's Kaveri engine? The Kaveri engine is a low-bypass, twin-spool turbofan engine. Developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the engine has 80 kilonewtons (kN) thrust. The Kaveri project kick-started in the 1980s to power the domestic fighter aircraft Tejas. The engine has a flat-rated design to minimise thrust drop due to high-speed and high-temperature conditions. 'Twin lane full authority digital engine control with an adequate manual backup is a salient design feature of the Kaveri engine,' as per the DRDO. From Tejas to Ghatak The Kaveri engine could not be used for India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas due to various challenges, including the engine's inability to reach the required thrust-to-weight ratio. There were also problems in high-temperature metallurgy and afterburner performance and reliability. International sanctions on India after the 1998 nuclear tests also hit the project. After Kaveri failed to power Tejas Mk1, India had to resort to the American-made GE F404 engine for the fighter jet. India also lacked testing facilities for such engines and had to rely on Russia, which led to scheduling delays and restricted flexibility, as per News18. The project appeared to be abandoned by 2014. However, a collaboration with the French firm Safran in 2016 breathed life into the engines again. The Kaveri engine has 80 kilonewtons (kN) thrust. Image Courtesy: DRDO The Kaveri engine has been repurposed for Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles, like the Ghatak stealth drone. As per a EurAsian Times report, the latest Kaveri engines feature advanced materials, aerodynamics, and cooling technologies for enhanced performance. It is likely to generate 48 kN of dry thrust, while DRDO plans to incorporate an afterburner to raise thrust to 73–75 kN if needed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Kaveri core engine – Kabini – has a high-pressure compressor, combustor and high pressure turbine for 'demonstrating hot end parts technology and study the aero-mechanical behaviour of high-pressure spool' of the engine, according to DRDO. It is classified as a fifth-generation engine. Why Kaveri engine's trials matter India 's premier defence research agency is conducting trials of the Kaveri engine in Russia, ANI reported, citing defence officials. The trials will showcase the performance of the engine in real flight conditions, including its reliability, endurance, and integration with aircraft systems, as per Mathrubhumi. About 25 hours of testing remained, with dependency on the slots provided by Russian authorities. On whether the Kaveri engine will power the LCA, the officials told the news agency that it could be used to power an LCA aircraft to see its capabilities. Recently, X users have been calling on the government to allocate more funds and resources for the Kaveri engine, with 'Fund Kaveri Engine' becoming the top trend on X Monday (May 26). This comes against the backdrop of India's tensions with Pakistan post-Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last December, GTRE announced that the Kaveri engine had been cleared for in-flight testing. The development happened after rigorous testing of the engine, including high-altitude simulations in Russia. The Kaveri engine is a big boost to India's push for self-reliance in defence technology. It will reduce the country's reliance on foreign engine suppliers and support its aerospace ambitions. With inputs from agencies
The Print
5 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Fund Kaveri Engine campaign is more than a hashtag. India needs control over its fighter jets
Notwithstanding the above, we are at an inflection point. The recent experience of force application during Operation Sindoor has revealed the inescapable necessity of sovereign control over our weapon systems. The success of the Tejas programme, including Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), now hinges on our ability to field an engine that not only performs exceptionally well, but also isn't entirely reliant on foreign suppliers. The proposed deliveries from General Electric (GE) Aerospace of the GE F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A programme have already been delayed by over two years, and more delays are likely. GE has cited supply chain constraints, including disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and shortage of critical components, as reasons for delays. It has also apportioned part of the blame toward us by mentioning that the delay was primarily caused due to delayed orders from India. Since GE's F404 production line had been dormant for several years, the process of reactivating it takes considerable time and resources. The 'Fund Kaveri Engine' campaign is currently trending on X. The hashtag is being promoted by aviation enthusiasts, defence reporters, strategic experts, and some popular figures on social media. At the heart of the campaign lies the grim realisation that our current aerospace dreams, especially in relation to developing a modern contemporary fighter aircraft, are hostage to foreign engine suppliers. This article delves into the Kaveri programme's timeline, financial investments, current status, bottlenecks, and evaluates whether co-producing a new engine with an established original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or pursuing an independent programme is the better path. The timeline The Kaveri engine project, launched in 1989 by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), intended to power the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) with an indigenous low-bypass turbofan engine delivering 80 kN of thrust with afterburner. The early 1990s saw the development of the 'Kabini' core module, with the first prototype running in 1995 and all five ground-test prototypes tested by 1998. Flight tests were planned for 1999, and integration into the Tejas airframe was planned for 2000. However, the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests triggered international sanctions, limiting access to critical technologies and delaying progress. In the meantime, LCA, rechristened as Tejas, made its first flight in January 2001. The Tejas was powered by a GE 404 engine. The first high-altitude tests in Russia in 2004 revealed certain deficiencies, ending the hopes of equipping the first production variant of the Tejas aircraft with the Kaveri engine. In 2005, it was decided to procure 40 GE F404 engines for the Tejas. It was also decided to seek collaboration with France's Snecma for resolving issues with Kaveri. However, negotiations with Snecma collapsed in 2013 over technology transfer disputes. In 2008, the Kaveri was delinked from Tejas due to its inability to achieve the required performance targets. However, the development of the Kaveri by GTRE was allowed to continue for other future applications. Along the route, there were couple of hits and misses including the damning Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report published in 2011. On the good side, the Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE), a non-afterburner (dry) variant, was found suitable for the Ghatak UAV. Recently, BrahMos Aerospace's efforts have led to significant improvements in afterburner regime, leading to almost 80 kN of wet thrust. On the marine front, the Kaveri Marine Gas Turbine (KMGT) for naval applications has been tested and found suitable for smaller warships. Investment The Kaveri engine project has seen significant financial investment since its sanction in 1989. As per a government press release dated 29 November 2021, Rs 2,035.5 crore had been spent on the Kaveri programme by that date against the allotted amount of Rs 2,105 crore. This amount in USD terms would be approximately 300 million. The exact expenditure incurred on the programme post 2021 is not readily available, however, going by the progress of the project, it could safely be assumed to be around $ 400 million to date. In isolation, these appear to be large sums; however, when compared with the investment poured in by other successful engine manufacturers, it is significantly lower. The Kaveri engine, with approximately $400 million invested over 35 years, lags behind the $2–5 billion budgets of Safran, Rolls-Royce, and GE. The exact figures are not easily available, however, one could gauge the scale of investment from Safran's 2016 offer to invest €1 billion ($1.1 billion in 2016, approximately $1.3 billion in 2025) to revive the Kaveri programme, revealing the scale of funding required for advanced engine development. Current status As of May 2025, the Kaveri programme has gained a little momentum, fuelled by the increased awareness among the citizenry at large and aided by campaigns like 'Fund Kaveri Engine'. On 30 April 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced increased funding to accelerate the Kaveri engine programme, while speaking at a defence industry conclave in New Delhi. The KDE, designed for the Ghatak UAV, delivers aprox 50 kN and is set for in-flight testing in 2025, with limited series production planned for 2025–2026. The engine's weight has been reduced to 1,180 kg from 1,423.78 kg, though it remains above the 1,000 kg target. The KMGT has met Navy specifications and now awaits testing for full validation. Challenges It is important to study in detail the challenges in the past so that we can address them in the future. The issues were largely related to money, material, management, manpower, and managing expectations. Money: Sporadic and insufficient funding denied the programme the necessary momentum. Material: Sanctions imposed in 1998 restricted access to critical materials, such as high-performance alloys, essential for jet engine efficiency. Some of those sanctions were subsequently lifted however, the access remains restricted. Manpower: Most of our high performers, including IIT graduates, seek employment in the West. It was always a challenge to find talent on a government salary. Besides low inductions, the attrition rate of skilled manpower was high. Management of expectation: Early expectations to integrate Kaveri with Tejas without intermediate platform testing were overly ambitious. More realistic timelines would have emerged if the project leadership had considered factors like the non-availability of testing infrastructure, including a high-altitude test bed and flight-test bed. We should have also anticipated delays in developing advanced subsystems like single-crystal turbine blades and aerothermal systems owing to our limited prior expertise. Also read: Lessons for airpower from Operation Sindoor—unified command to tech advancements The way forward The Kaveri experience is a story of a glass more than half full. We have developed a functional engine and accrued in the process a plethora of data points and experience, at a relatively low cost. The stage is now set to leverage this knowledge to build better. However, I would like to add a word of caution here. Kaveri is a fully mature engine now. The possibility of improvement in performance and weight, in the same design, from hereon is very limited. Even if we consider an optimistic scenario, we would achieve 55 kN in dry and 85 kN in wet thrust regimes. However, we would need an engine that produces 100kN plus for our AMCA and Tejas Mk2. We would need to develop a separate engine, which we could call Kaveri 2.0, that addresses the critical shortfall in Kaveri 1.0. The lessons learnt so far would definitely be useful. In essence, the campaign, or call to action, should be: Fund Indigenous Engine. In that regard, we will have a choice to make: either we develop one on our own, or we seek external help from existing manufacturers. Developing an engine of our own offers obvious advantages of complete ownership of intellectual property. We would have the strategic flexibility in terms of exports and building ancillary engine applications. The downside could be measured in terms of time and treasure. It would likely take 10-15 years and over $ 2 billion. There is also the possibility of time and cost overruns. Alternatively, we could partner with a proven OEM like Safran, GE, or Rolls-Royce. The selected OEM could provide access to advanced technologies, such as single-crystal blades, advanced cooling systems, and advanced digital engine controls, which we currently lack. In such a scenario, the risk of failure is low, although the cost concerns remain. The choice of the OEM would depend on a lot of factors, including cost, degree of ToT, and other strategic concerns. A partnership with an OEM like Safran, which has expressed interest in co-developing a 110–130 kN engine for the AMCA, could bridge critical gaps in materials, testing, and manufacturing while allowing India to retain significant IP rights. Such a collaboration could deliver a production-ready engine within 7–10 years, aligning with the production timelines of Tejas Mk2 and AMCA, while building domestic expertise for future independent programs. The bottom line would be the degree of sovereign control we would be able to exercise over the finished product in terms of development, testing, upgrading, and selling. As long as the industry partner is unable to throttle our access and ability to manage our product as we see fit, it should be acceptable to co-develop an engine with a foreign OEM. Take the case of Tejas, for example. There are various systems and subsystems besides the engine that we import for our aircraft ( Elta radar, Martin Baker ejection seat, Cobham inflight refuelling probe, Russian and Israeli-made air-to-air missiles, certain avionics, Line Replaceable Unit (LRUs), and so on). However, none of these equipment suppliers acting alone or even in concert can cause prolonged grounding of the fleet. We retain adequate spare depth and alternative options, including indigenous alternatives, to tide us over a potential supply restriction. In sum, we retain adequate sovereign control over our aircraft, but for the want of an engine, which remains a critical dependency. Conclusion The 'Fund Kaveri Engine' campaign has created awareness and galvanised widespread support among the experts as well as concerned citizens. Recent experiences from Operation Sindoor have revealed to us the strategic imperative of a robust indigenous defence ecosystem. The need for an indigenous aero engine has now become an urgent national demand. The political, scientific, and military leadership is aware of this crucial requirement. All we need now is sustained funding, international collaboration, and public momentum to see this mission reach a logical conclusion. Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat (Retd) is a former IAF fighter pilot. He tweets @Ahlawat2012. Views are personal. (Edited by Ratan Priya)
