Latest news with #Shukla
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Applications invited from Intermediate pass students for Central scholarship scheme
The Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) on Friday notified Principals of junior colleges across Andhra Pradesh about the opening of applications for the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students under the Department of Higher Education. The scheme is now available on the National Scholarship Portal ( for the academic year 2025–26. In a statement, BIE Secretary Kritika Shukla said that fresh applications from students who passed the Intermediate Public Examination in 2025 must be submitted by October 10, 2025. Students who were selected in previous years for the scholarship can renew their applications until October 31, 2025. Ms. Shukla instructed department officials to ensure that Principals of junior colleges actively inform eligible students — especially those in the top 20 percentile — to apply online at the scholarship portal. She added that the relevant student data has been made available on the official BIE portal ( to facilitate the application process.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
No immediate health concerns for Shubhanshu Shukla: ISRO
New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) on Thursday said initial health assessments of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla , who returned to Earth after a 20-day space mission, indicated that he was in stable condition with no immediate concerns. Shukla returned to Earth on June 15 when the Dragon Grace spacecraft carrying him and three other astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission splashed down off San Diego coast in California. Preliminary health checks were carried out on the astronauts on the recovery ship soon after they exited the spacecraft. Later, the astronauts were airlifted by helicopter from the recovery ship to the mainland for further medical evaluations and debriefing sessions. Later, Shukla was flown to Houston for a week-long rehabilitation program to mitigate any adverse effects of microgravity. "This is being administered by Axiom's flight surgeon and ISRO's flight surgeon is also participating in this program," ISRO said. The rehabilitation programme includes a series of medical checks, especially cardiovascular assessments, musculoskeletal tests and psychological debriefing. The rehabilitation activities also focus on monitoring physical and mental health, addressing any effects of microgravity, and preparing him for a return to normal activities. During the 20-day mission, Shukla spent 18 days on the International Space Station , conducting microgravity experiments designed by ISRO as also by NASA. The astronauts orbited the earth 320 times and travelled over 135.18 lakh kms during their stay in space
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Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Over 22,000 narcotic smugglers held in Punjab's anti drug campaign
Over 22,000 narcotic smugglers have been arrested so far under a state-level campaign against drugs, officials said on Friday. Under the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' (war against drugs) campaign, Punjab Police on Thursday arrested 113 drug smugglers and recovered 1.5 kg heroin, 5 kg opium, and 31,237 intoxicant pills from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested in 138 days of the campaign has reached 22,377. Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla stated that over 180 police teams, comprising more than 1,300 police personnel, under the supervision of 93 gazetted officers, conducted raids at as many as 433 locations across the state on Thursday. The operation led to the registration of 81 FIRs across the state, Shukla said, adding police teams also checked as many as 483 suspicious persons in the exercise. The state government has also constituted a five-member cabinet subcommittee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs. The state government has implemented a three-pronged strategy Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP) to eradicate drugs from the state, the DGP added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
News18
10 hours ago
- Science
- News18
Opinion: India's Space Odyssey Under PM Narendra Modi
Last Updated: India's space missions symbolise our determination to push boundaries and be at the forefront of space exploration India's space programme achieved a historic milestone with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's participation in Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), marking a significant step in the nation's human spaceflight journey. Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilot, became the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma. This achievement, 41 years after Sharma's flight, underscores India's growing prowess in space exploration and its strategic use of international partnerships to advance its ambitions, under the aegis of the Modi government. Selected as one of the four astronauts for ISRO's Gaganyaan mission, India's first indigenous human spaceflight programme, Shukla underwent rigorous training at Russia's Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. During his 18-day stay on the ISS, Shukla conducted over 60 scientific experiments, including seven designated by ISRO. A key experiment, Myogenesis, conducted at the Life Sciences Glovebox, explored skeletal muscle degradation in microgravity, aiming to develop therapies for astronauts and patients with muscle-degenerative diseases on Earth. These experiments will bolster India's microgravity research ecosystem, enhancing its scientific capabilities. Shukla also engaged in public outreach, including a live videoconference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ham radio sessions with students, inspiring the next generation to pursue STEM fields. For India, Ax-4 was a strategic step toward the Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for 2027, which aims to send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit using indigenous technology. The Ax-4 mission, costing approximately Rs 548 crore, solidified India's position as an emerging space power, inspiring millions and paving the way for future endeavors, including a planned space station by 2035 and a lunar mission by 2040. Remember, even before the Axiom mission, India witnessed history being created on August 23, 2023, as part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. With the soft landing on the lunar south pole, on the dark side of the moon, India became the 1st country to land on the lunar south pole and only the 4th country in the world, after the United States, Russia, and China, to have achieved the magnificent feat of landing on the moon. India's Space economy is expected to be worth over $13 billion by 2025, endorsing PM Modi's ambitious Space-oriented plans. The Chandrayaan-2 mission cost India Rs 978 crore. But the Chandrayaan-3 project cost was much lower at Rs 615 crore. Again, India's first solar mission, Aditya-L1, came at a cost of merely Rs 378 crore, to study the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona). In 2017, ISRO launched a record 104 satellites aboard PSLV-C37 from Sriharikota, of which 101 belonged to international customers, signifying India's increasing presence in the global Space industry. There was a time when India was denied cryogenic rocket technology. But the scientists of India not only developed indigenous technology but today with its help, dozens of satellites are being sent to Space simultaneously. Space, the final frontier, has captivated our imagination since time immemorial. The call of the cosmos and the curiosity to know more about our origin, is the driving force for Space explorations. But venturing into Space is costly and dangerous. India's Chandrayaan-2 mission encountered a setback in 2019 when the lander Vikram failed to achieve a soft landing on the moon's surface. However, from this failure, India learned valuable lessons. PM Modi did not flinch even for a moment and like a true leader, he stood in solidarity with India's scientific community. The Chandrayaan-2 mission served as a catalyst for innovation, prompting the scientific community to analyse and rectify the challenges faced. In fact, it is the orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 which has been providing key inputs in real-time, to help its successor Chandrayaan-3 which eventually made a flawless landing on the moon on August 23, 2023. Indian Space forays under the Modi government are helping in sectors such as agriculture, railways, smart cities, water-mapping, robotic surgery and defence. PM Modi's unwavering support for ISRO and his endorsement of cost-effective Space missions aligns with the nation's ethos of frugality, allowing India to achieve remarkable feats without burdening its economy. Moreover, Modi's emphasis on the practical applications of Space technology in agriculture, disaster management and national security underscore his commitment to harnessing Space capabilities for the betterment of Indian society. India's space missions symbolise our determination to push boundaries and be at the forefront of space exploration. ISRO operates on a modest budget; the Mars orbiter, Mangalyaan, for example, had a price tag of just $75 million, less than the cost of an average Hollywood blockbuster like say Interstellar which had a far higher budget of $165 million. As India continues its journey into the unknown, exploring the moon and beyond, it inspires and instills hope for a brighter future. Well, India's tryst with the dark side of the moon showcases how a leap of faith is sometimes, all that it takes to leapfrog a million years ahead. India has launched about 557 satellites, including 431 foreign satellites for 34 countries as of July 30, 2023, primarily through ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), formerly Antrix. This includes a record-breaking launch of 104 satellites in a single mission in 2017, with 101 being foreign satellites. Total satellites launched under the aegis of PM Modi are 450, both Indian and foreign. Out of the 431 foreign satellites launched by India until 2023, over 389 were launched between 2014 and 2023 itself, endorsing that a significant portion of foreign launches occurred under Modi's leadership. ISRO, for instance, conducted 58 launch vehicle missions between 2014 and 2025, a 38% increase from the 42 missions before 2014. Clearly, India's Space Odyssey under the Modi government is set to conquer many milestones, with the just concluded Axiom Mission 4, being just the tip of the iceberg. Sanju Verma is an Economist, National Spokesperson for BJP, and Bestselling Author of 'The Modi Gambit'. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
11 hours ago
- Science
- Hans India
Shubhanshu adjusting to life on Earth, says father
Lucknow: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian astronaut who along with three others returned recently from a successful space mission, is in Houston in the US, as he readjusts to life on Earth, his father said on Thursday. Shukla, or 'Shux', his call sign among colleagues and nickname for friends, splashed down on Earth on Tuesday after 18 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). He is the first Indian on the ISS and the second after legendary Rakesh Sharma to venture into space. Right now, he is in Houston. His wife Kamna, and their six-year-old son, Kiash, are already there. Accord-ing to an official statement quoting Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Shukla and the three other astronauts of the mission will remain in quarantine until July 23 to complete medical and re-adaptation procedures. 'From the 24th, they will begin discussions with ISRO. Debriefings with Axiom and NASA will follow,' he added. 'He (Shubhanshu) said he is under excellent care; (it) is required for him to readjust to life on Earth. His wife and son are there too,' Shambhu Dayal, Shukla's father, told PTI in Lucknow. 'During our telephonic conversation, Shubhanshu appeared excited at the accomplishment that means so much for the country.' Shukla's wife, Kamna Shukla, said, 'We are in Houston and we have already met him. He is with us. 'Homecoming has happened.'' Shukla's father said the family in Lucknow was overwhelmed by the public response to Shubhanshu's achievement and they are eager to welcome him. 'It will take a while (to come to Lucknow)...but, of course, whenever he comes there would be big celebration,' he said. 'But to tell you the truth. These days every moment is celebration time for us; the entire locality is rejoic-ing with us. He is the toast of the nation. And his arrival here would only accentuate our happiness in-dex,' he added, his pride unmistakable. The excitement is equally palpable at Shukla's alma mater, City Montessori School (CMS), where stu-dents and staff are preparing to honour their star alumnus. 'I am like super motivated now for a career as an astronaut. I think space is going to be the latest fad among young, all thanks to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, our illustrious senior,' Aarav Singh Chauhan, a Class XII student at CMS, told PTI. CMS Communications Head Rishi Khanna said the entire school community was proud of the astro-naut's historic journey.
