Latest news with #Vikramaditya
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
This Word Means: Aircraft carrier
Why now? Addressing officers and sailors onboard INS Vikrant off the coast of Goa, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday (May 30) said that Pakistan would have split into four parts if the Navy had come into 'full form' during Operation Sindoor. INS Vikrant is one of two aircraft carriers in the fleet of the Indian Navy, the other being the flagship INS Vikramaditya. It is the Navy's most potent weapon as well as its most strategic asset, one that Pakistan simply has no answer for. As the name suggests, an aircraft carrier is a warship meant to serve as a seagoing airbase, one that allows for both the deployment and recovery of aircraft. A carrier typically comes with a functional flight deck from and on which fighter jets, helicopters, and small military transport planes can take off and land, as well as a hangar to park these aircraft. Its main offensive weapon are fighter aircraft, which can ensure air superiority even in places far away from home. But aircraft carriers are also massive, multi-billion floating targets for enemies. This is why they seldom travel alone, and generally lead what is known as a 'carrier strike/battle group' comprising destroyers, missile cruisers, frigates, submarines, and supply ships. These other ships both protect the carrier and add to its offensive capabilities. Carriers came into their own during World War II, by which time fighter aircraft had become advanced and reliable enough to become more capable than the naval guns as offensive weapons. Aircraft carriers could strike much deeper into enemy territory than any other ship, and do so with a level of unprecedented accuracy. Today, a carrier is considered the most potent marine military asset for any nation, and essential for any 'blue water navy', that is, a navy with the capacity to project power in the high seas. But only a very select group of nations possesses an aircraft carrier, fewer possess more than one carrier, and fewer still possess the capability to build one. INS Vikrant was the first indigenously-built aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. Vikramaditya is a modified Russian Kiev-class carrier. The Navy plans to add a third carrier into its fleet over the next decade or so. With a displacement of 45,000 tonnes, INS Vikrant is the largest warship to have ever been built in India. The Navy claims that roughly 76% of the ship comprises indigenous content, including 23,000 tonnes of steel, 2,500 km of electric cables, 150 km of pipes, 2,000 valves, and a wide range of finished products including rigid hull boats, galley equipment, air-conditioning and refrigeration plants, and steering gear. Vikrant can carry up to 34 aircraft, with Russian-made MiG 29K fighter jets being its primary offensive weapon. It is operated by a crew of 1,600, and effectively operates like a small town in the high seas, one that has its own hospital with two operation theatres and an ICU, workshop for mechanics, and three galleys which can feed 600 people at a time.
Business Standard
30-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
When DFS Secretary Nagaraju played the role of King Vikramaditya
Legend has it that King Vikramaditya of the Gupta Dynasty frequently disguised himself as a commoner to assess the wellbeing and conditions of his subjects. Recently, the secretary in the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, played the role of Vikramaditya to check how banks were serving their customers. Of course, unlike the ruler of Ujjain, he was not in disguise. On April 8, after lunch, M Nagaraju, a 1993-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, left North Block, which houses the finance ministry, and drove down to the Parliament Street branch of a large public-sector bank. Posing as a customer, he wanted to say hello to the branch manager. The secretary was directed to an officer by the head of the branch who was too busy talking on his mobile phone. Even the second banker didn't care much to talk to him. At that point, Nagaraju politely revealed that he was the boss of the bank's boss. Even that did not cut the ice, as name-dropping is not uncommon in Delhi culture. ALSO READ: Policy lessons from data gaps in Covid death toll and Maha Kumbh mumbers Neither the branch manager, holding the rank of an assistant general manager (AGM), nor the other executive, was willing to talk to the 'customer', who had walked in after office hours. In the public-sector banking industry, an AGM rank is part of the senior management grade, typically a Scale-V officer. Deputy general managers, general managers and chief general managers form the top management grade.
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
New Congress chief in Himachal shouldn't be a rubber stamp: Minister Vikramaditya Singh
Himachal Pradesh Cabinet Minister Vikramaditya Singh Monday said that the next state Congress chief should not be a 'rubber stamp' but a strong, mass leader with clout in at least three to four districts. 'The decision lies with the high command, but in my view, the next party chief must be a tall leader who commands respect and influence on his own. The Congress in Himachal Pradesh needs young blood and a leadership which is not just symbolic. The new party chief shouldn't be remote-controlled,' Vikramaditya said. The remarks come days after Vikramaditya termed Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri as 'one of the tallest Congress leaders who never lost from his Haroli seat in Una'. Vikramaditya had then reacted to a Facebook post by Agnihotri wherein the Deputy CM had said, 'Times of conspiracies are on while falsehood doesn't hold ground'. According to party insiders, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is pitching for new party chief of his choice. Interacting with the media persons at his office, Vikramaditya expressed concerns over 'delay' in the reconstitution of disbanded party units. 'Incumbent party chief Pratibha Singh has taken up this issue with the high command several times,' he said. The son of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh, Vikramaditya recalled that his mother Pratibha Singh was appointed party president in a challenging political situation in 2021. To a specific query, Vikramaditya said only the party high command can decide if Pratibha Singh would continue as party state chief or a new president will be appointed. The PWD minister further said he would speak to the central leadership for early appointment of the state party chief. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge had on November 6, 2024 dissolved the Pradesh Congress Committee in Himachal Pradesh along with the district and block units with immediate effect, but allowed Pratibha Singh to continue as party president till further orders. A section of Congress leaders is said to be unhappy with the working of the state government — an issue that Pratibha Singh too had flagged earlier asking for a better coordination with party unit and its dispensation. Pratibha Singh had also several times in the past sought posts for hardworking and loyal party workers. Talking about development issues, Vikramaditya said, 'A comprehensive strategy is being implemented to accelerate projects under the Public Works and Urban Development departments. A recent high-level meeting reviewed the progress of schemes under Phase IV of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Himachal is leading the country in uploading DPRs and aims to construct 1,500 km of roads, but a delay in the availability of land could reduce the target to 400-500 km'. He said a performance index is being introduced in the PWD divisions to evaluate work efficiency. 'To ensure accountability, PWD divisions have been classified into red, yellow, green and non-performing zones. Strict action, including blacklisting and chargesheets, will be taken against underperformers,' the PWD minister said. Vikramaditya also spoke on the trade and tourism boycott of Turkey for their support of Pakistan in the conflict with India. 'I would also speak to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to ban Turkey-based companies and joint ventures as Turkey had openly supported Pakistan during the recent war between India and Pakistan,' he said.
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Business Standard
18-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
When DFS Secretary Nagaraju played the role of King Vikramaditya
Customer service and excellence are buzzwords in the Indian financial system now. Both the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are writing a new chapter in Indian banking Tamal Bandyopadhyay Listen to This Article Legend has it that King Vikramaditya of the Gupta Dynasty frequently disguised himself as a commoner to assess the wellbeing and conditions of his subjects. Recently, the secretary in the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, played the role of Vikramaditya to check how banks were serving their customers. Of course, unlike the ruler of Ujjain, he was not in disguise. On April 8, after lunch, M Nagaraju, a 1993-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, left North Block, which houses the finance ministry, and drove down to the Parliament Street branch of a large public-sector bank. Posing as a
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Shimla's Tutu gets 3-storey parking
Himachal public works minister Vikramaditya Singh on Friday inaugurated a three-storey parking constructed at a cost of ₹6.5 crore at Tutu, a suburb of Shimla city. Vikramaditya said the facility can accommodate 80 to 100 vehicles. He said that efforts were made by former chief minister Virbhadra Singh to bring Shimla and Dharamshala under the Smart City mission, and the foundation stone of this facility was laid during his tenure. The minister said that in the fourth phase of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, all remote areas of the state will be connected by roads. He said process is underway to construct ropeways from various places of Shimla at the cost of ₹1,600 crore.
