Kautilya

Air Version of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile Successfully Test-Fired from Sukhoi 30 MK-I Off Odisha Coast

Air version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from the supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30 MK-I at 1030 hrs from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on December 08, 2021. In this copy book flight, the missile launched from the aircraft followed the pre-planned trajectory meeting all mission objectives.

Ministry of Civil Aviation mandates Air Suvidha Portal for Ease of Travelling

To certify the needed prevention of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, the Exemption from Air Suvidha has been dropped, and mandatory filings for all passengers have been implemented. All international passengers arriving in India are instructed to announce their current health status before boarding on the Air Suvidha Portal along with the required documents: Copy of Passport, PCR Negative Certificate from a Test conducted within 72 hours of departure, and the Vaccination Certificate. For Immigration, the APHO counter has to verify the copy on the email.

IOC Renews Deal to Buy Up to 2 MT of Oil from Russia’s Rosneft

As stated by the Russian oil producer, the nation’s largest oil firm, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), renewed their deal to buy up to 2 million tonnes of crude oil in 2022 from Russia’s Rosneft. IOC signed a deal with Rosneft Oil Company in February 2020 to import up to 2 million tonnes of oil via the port of Novorossiysk. In 2021, IOC bought just one parcel or shipload when a supply of up to 1.7 million tonnes of crude oil was envisaged, as the cost of transporting the oil made it uneconomical when compared to alternatives.

Coronavirus Genomic Surveillance Mechanism Intensified

The consortium is focused on upscaling genomic surveillance as part of national efforts led by the INSACOG – Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected that the effort will aid in a rapid response to contain the spread of variants of concern.