Daily GK Update 29th Aug, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India signed an agreement with ADB to improve water supply in Himachal Pradesh: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Indian government has signed a $96.3 million loan agreement to provide safe drinking water and to improve water supply and sanitation in Himachal Pradesh. The project is aligned with the objectives of the government of India’s Jal Jeevan Mission which aims to provide piped water to all rural households by 2024 and it will upgrade water supply infrastructure and strengthen institutional capacity to ensure safe, sustainable, and inclusive rural water supply and sanitation services.

More than 90 percent of the state’s rural population have access to drinking water, but the water supply infrastructure needs revamping, to result in efficient and improved service quality. The ADB project will connect 75,800 households to the service, providing uninterrupted water supply to about 3,70,000 residents across 10 districts.

Note: ASIAN Development Bank (ADB) Headquarters: Manila, Philippines; President: Masatsugu Asakawa; Director of ADB for India: Takeo Konishi

 

2. Karnataka govt and Isha Foundation inked an MoU to promote agriculture: According to its founder Jaggi Vasudev (Sadhguru), the Isha Foundation will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government to enhance soil health, as part of its “Save Soil” campaign. In addition to other ministers, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be visiting the Palace Grounds on Sunday to sign an MoU on “Save Soil.” Key Points:

a)      As part of his 100-day motorbike trip for the “Save Soil” campaign, Sadhguru (Jagadish Vasudev) arrived in Bengaluru, Karnataka for Isha Foundation.

b)      Jagadish Vasudev (Sadhguru) claimed that the effort of Isha Foundation, which had its beginnings in London, had now made it to Cauvery. They are now in Karnataka.

c)       Sadhguru continued by saying that he completed 27,278 km of the course and participated in 593 events over the course of the last 94 days for Isha Foundation before coming to Karnataka.

d)      The spiritual leader, Sadhguru said that his group had created unique “save soil” programmes for 193 countries based on the characteristics of each nation and had given those documents to those governments.

e)      Jagadish Vasudev (Sadhguru) stated that the nations took those documents seriously and that 74 countries have signed the MoU and promised to follow the recommendations.

Note: Karnataka Chief Minister: Basavaraj Somappa Bommai; Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru

 

3. Fourth Edition of India’s Clean Air Summit Begins in Bangalore: The fourth edition of India’s Clean Air Summit (ICAS) took place in Bangalore with global experts. With the help of India’s Clean Air Summit, global experts are set to discuss an integrated approach to resolving air pollution and increasing climate change. The Centre for Air Pollution Studies (CAPS) and the Centre for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP), think-tanks have organized the summit. Key Points Related to India’s Clean Air Summit (ICAS):

a)      The event is four days long and will see policymakers, scientists, technologists, and people affected by the changing climate sharing their experiences and statistics. The partnership with different communities will help in implementing on-ground solutions related to the summit.

b)      The officials and speakers of CSTEP have shown their concerns over the increase in climate change and air pollution.

c)       The summit aims to examine solutions using the finest technology and science.

d)      The event will also be attended by Government officials from state and central pollution boards.

e)      India’s Clean Air Summit (ICAS) aims to dig into measures to improve the implementation of the National Clean Air Programme and build a partnership with different communities.

 

4. All 23 AIIMS to be named after Local Heroes, Monuments, Geographical Identities: The government of India has approved a proposal to give specific names to all the AIIMS, based on regional heroes, freedom fighters, historical events or monuments of the area, or their distinct geographical identity. The majority of the 23 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has submitted a list of names. All the AIIMS are known by its generic name and distinguished only by their location. Under the latest proposal, all AIIMS institutes — fully functional, partially operational or under construction — are to be renamed.

Key Points: Six new AIIMS — Bihar (Patna), Chhattisgarh (Raipur), Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal), Odisha (Bhubaneswar), Rajasthan (Jodhpur), and Uttarakhand (Rishikesh) were approved in Phase 1 of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) and are fully functional.

Out of the 16 AIIMS established between 2015 and 2022, MBBS classes and outpatient department services have been started in 10 institutes, while only MBBS classes have been started in another two. The remaining four institutes are at different stages of development.

 

5. National Sports Day: 29th August: The National Sports Day or Rashtriya Khel Divas is celebrated on 29th August in India as a tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand who was born on this date in 1905. It was 2012 when the day was first designated and celebrated as India’s National Sports Day. The nation celebrates the day honouring our sports stars. Rashtriya Khel Diwas OR National Sports Day’s primary motto is to promote awareness about the importance of sports and being physically active in the daily life of all the citizens: older or younger.

National Sports Day History: In 1979, the Indian Postal Department paid tribute to Major Dhyan Chand after his death and renamed the National Stadium of Delhi as Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Delhi. In 2012, it was announced that a day must be celebrated as National Sports Day with the motive of spreading awareness about the spirit of sportsmanship and propagating the message of various sports. And for this again a tribute was given to Major Dhayan Chand on his birth anniversary and announced on 29th August as National Sports Day in India.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India signed an MoU with Iran for smooth movement of seafarers: India has signed an MoU with Iran to smoothen the movement of seafarers between the two countries. The MoU was signed between Union Minister of Ports & Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal & his Iranian counterpart Rostam Ghasemi. The Iranian government is ready to conclude a long-term contract with India, prioritizing the development of transit of goods through the Chabahar Port. The contract will also aim at ramping up activities of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Note:  Iran Capital: Tehran; Currency: Rial; President: Ebrahim Raisi

 

2. James Webb Space Telescope captured Beautiful new Jupiter photos: The James Webb Space Telescope recently captured new beautiful photos of Jupiter. The James Webb Space Telescope, which was launched in December 2021, has already captured amazing photographs of colourful galaxies, gorgeous nebulae, and other breathtaking celestial bodies in the furthest reaches of the universe. The photos by The James Webb Space Telescope have to be created by mapping the infrared light data—which the camera received from Jupiter but the human eye cannot see—onto the visible spectrum. Key Points:

a)      The two new images of Jupiter were released this week by NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency by the James Webb Space Telescope.

b)      They were both taken by the telescope’s Near-Infrared Camera, which can see through space dust to reveal details that the human eye cannot see.

c)       Despite the fact that we do know a lot about Jupiter, According to NASA, Jupiter’s quick rotation makes it challenging to work with near-infrared data from the planet.

d)      Currently, researchers are analysing the Webb data and photographs in an effort to discover even more; at the same time, NASA’s Juno orbiter is also keeping an eye on the planet.

 

3. International Day against Nuclear Tests: 29th August: International Day against Nuclear Tests is observed on 29th August to raise awareness about the devastating effects of testing nuclear weapons. This year marks the thirteenth anniversary of the event. On this day, the United Nations organises an event that creates public awareness regarding the effects of nuclear weapons tests, and detonations and further highlights the requirement for cessation of such nuclear tests.

International Day against Nuclear Tests History: On 2 December 2009, the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 August the International Day against Nuclear Tests through the unanimous adoption of its resolution 64/35. The Preamble of the resolution emphasizes that “every effort should be made to end nuclear tests in order to avert devastating and harmful effects on the lives and health of people” and that “the end of nuclear tests is one of the key means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.”

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Neeraj Chopra wins Lausanne Diamond League with 89.08m throw: Olympic champion and javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra scripted history as he became the first Indian to clinch a Lausanne Diamond League. In his first attempt, he hurled the spear 89.08m to seal his victory in his own style. His 89.08m throw was his third career-best effort, followed by a second throw measuring 85.18m. Meanwhile, Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch finished second with a best throw of 85.88m, followed by USA’s Curtis Thompson was third with a best effort of 83.72m.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Mastercard partnered with BASIX to create an agri-tech platform for farmers: Mastercard has partnered with livelihood promotion institution BASIX Social Enterprise Group to launch an agritech platform BASIX Farmers’ Market (BFM) to integrate farmers into the digital economy. The digital platform will address fundamental challenges for small farmers related to price discovery, market reach, payments, and credit access.

Note: Mastercard Founded: 16 December 1966; Headquarters: New York, United States; CEO: Michael Miebach; Executive Chairman: Ajay Banga

 

2. IDFC named Mahendra Shah as MD & CEO: The IDFC Ltd board has approved the appointment of Mahendra N Shah as managing director-designate of the company with effect from October 1, 2022, till September 30, 2023, subject to the approval of the shareholders. The term of Sunil Kakar as managing director & CEO of the company will end on 30 September 2022. Mahendra N Shah was the group company secretary & group chief compliance officer of IDFC First Bank and has been the group head of governance, compliance & secretarial and senior advisor of taxation at IDFC for more than a decade.

Note: IDFC Ltd Headquarters: Mumbai; IDFC Ltd CEO: V. Vaidyanathan (19 Dec 2018–); IDFC Ltd Founded: October 2015.

 

3. Sivakumar Gopalan, Gopal Jain appointed as non-executive directors of RBL Bank: The private sector lender RBL Bank has appointed Gopal Jain and Dr Sivakumar Gopalan as the non-executive directors. RBL Bank has been working on adding a diverse set of leaders with relevant experience to accelerate its 2.0 strategy. With the new additions, the bank’s board will have 14 members. The board of RBL Bank approved raising up to Rs 3,000 crores through the issue of debt securities on a private placement basis, on a “time-to-time basis”.

Note: RBL BANK Founded: 1943; RBL BANK Headquarters: Mumbai; RBL BANK MD & CEO: R Subramaniakumar; RBL BANK Tagline: Apno ka Bank.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Hero Electric Partners with Jio-BP for Charging & Battery swapping: Hero Electric, an Indian electric scooter maker announces a partnership with Jio-BP to provide EV charging and battery swapping solutions in India. The partnership between Hero electric and Jio-BP will allow the automaker’s customers access to the latter’s charging and battery swapping infrastructure. In 2020, a joint venture between Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries and British oil giant BP, called Jio-BP. The statement issued by Hero Electric informs that in addition to creating solutions for seamless customer journey on Hero Electric and Jio-BP apps, the companies will bring the best of their Global learning in electrification and apply them to the Indian market to create a differentiated customer experience that delights the customer.

The Jio-BP under the Jio-BP pulse brand has currently set up charging and swapping stations across the country. Customers can find any nearby station using the Jio-BP pulse app. Hero Electric currently has a sale of over 750 and service Outlets across the country. Hero has also sold more than 4.5 lakh electric two-wheeler. Hero Electric aims to deliver the best EVs in India to its customers and to transform the e-mobility sector in India.

 

2. Royal Enfield tie-up with UNESCO to promote cultural heritage of India: Royal Enfield has partnered with UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to promote and safeguard the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of India, beginning with the Himalayas. The programme is curated as an experiential and creative showcase of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) practices in the Western Himalayas and the North Eastern region. This includes an exhibition, panel discussions, film screenings, performances and lecture demonstrations. The four-day programme will see eminent artists, designers, chefs, mixologists, musicians, actors, photographers and luminaries of the social development sector such as Adil Hussain, Peter D’Ascoli, Sonam Dubal, Rita Banerji, Mallika Virdi and Tsewang Namgail, Yangdup Lama, Nilza Wangmo and Anumitra Ghosh.

As part of its ongoing programme globally and in India:

a)      UNESCO has been spearheading the movement to identify, document and preserve the Intangible Cultural Heritage of India, which is one of the 178 countries to have adopted the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), for decades.

b)      Both parties also state that the Intangible cultural heritage is directly linked to livelihoods. For instance, large numbers of women in rural India are engaged in weaving and the production of handicrafts, and India’s handloom and crafts sector have emerged as one of the country’s largest employers and facilitators for income generation in rural areas.

Note: Royal Enfield CEO: B. Govindarajan (18 Aug 2021–); Royal Enfield Headquarters: Chennai; Royal Enfield Founded: 1955; Managing Director and CEO of Eicher Motors: Siddhartha Lal; Royal Enfield Parent organization: Eicher Motors.

Daily GK Update- 28th Aug, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. South Delhi’s Anang Tal site to be centrally protected: Recently, the Anang Tal Lake in South Delhi has been declared a monument of national importance through a gazette notification by the Ministry of Culture. The Anang Tal lake in South Delhi is believed to have been built a thousand years ago. As per the website of the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities, Tradition ascribes this tank to a Tomar King, Anang Pal II, the builder of Lal Kot.

The Archaeological Survey of India gave a two-month notice for its intention to declare the site to be of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. According to the notification, the total area of the site was 10.599 acres which was primarily owned by the Delhi government. Located near the Qutub Minar complex and Sanjay Van, the protected area would be 42,894 square metres.

Monuments of National Importance: The Monuments of National Importance are designated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The union government of India is authorised to maintain, protect and promote the Monuments of National Importance.  Once declared to be of national importance, the site would be protected by the ASI and incur restrictions on construction activity in its vicinity. It is said to have been a place of a general resort but now it is dried up and used for cultivation.

Note: Archaeological Survey of India Director General: V. Vidyavathi; Archaeological Survey of India Founder: Alexander Cunningham; Archaeological Survey of India Founded: 1861; Archaeological Survey of India Headquarters: 24 Tilak Marg, New Delhi.

 

2. India’s 1st 3D Printed Post Office to soon come up in Karnataka: India’s first 3D-printed post office is slated to come up in Bengaluru, Karnataka and will cost around one-fourth of the amount spent on a traditional building. The new post office building in Cambridge Layout in Halasuru, Bengaluru will be built using 3D printing and is likely to be completed within the next month. The Post Office building is being constructed by Larsen & Toubro, which is the only company currently in India utilising 3D printing technology for construction.

3D printing can significantly reduce the cost and expedite construction which would otherwise take months to complete. 3D printing of the new post office which will be a three-storied building has been given clearance by the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and IIT-Madras.

 

3. EAC-PM to launch the India@100 roadmap: The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) on the 30th of this month in New Delhi will be unveiling the Competitiveness Roadmap for India@100. The India@100 document by the EAC-PM serves as a roadmap for India’s ascent to its centenary year and will inform and direct the country’s path to higher income status by 2047. Key Points:

a)      The EAC-PM in order to further move India’s economy toward sustainability and resilience, rooted in social progress and shared prosperity, recommends policy goals, concepts, and methodologies in India@100.

b)      The EAC-PM document (India@100) will be made public in the presence of Sherpa G-20 Amitabh Kant, Member EAC-PM Sanjeev Sanyal, and Chairman EAC-PM Dr. Bibek Debroy.

c)       The Institute for Competitiveness, led by Dr. Amit Kapoor, Professor Michael E. Porter, and Dr. Christian Ketels from Harvard Business School collaborated to create “The Competitiveness Roadmap.”

Note: EAC- PM Chairman: Dr Bibek Debroy

 

4. J&K Govt announce Village Defense Guards Program, 2022: Village Defence Guards Scheme 2022 (VDGS-2022), is a programme with a defence component that was only recently introduced for the state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). The Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav has already started a number of initiatives, and this programme was also introduced at that time with the primary objective of enhancing security in Jammu’s border regions. Key Points:

a)      On August 14, a new programme, Village Defence Guards Scheme 2022 in the field of defence was unveiled for the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

b)      According to the authorities, starting on August 15th, the village defence card will be responsible for securing communal installations and infrastructure facilities inside the boundaries of their village as per Village Defence Guards Scheme 2022.

c)       The people who will be subject to the system day and night for the sole purpose of protecting their areas from terrorists in particular are the chosen ones.

d)      The J&K Police will separate VDGs (as in Village Defence Guards Scheme 2022) into two groups: those with valid arms licences and weapons, and those with valid licences and weapons or who are prepared to buy guns on their own, as described in Village Defence Guards Scheme 2022.

 

5. Indian scientist Samir V Kamat appointed as DRDO Chairman: According to a Personnel Ministry order, distinguished scientist Samir V Kamat was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Kamat, who is Director General, Naval Systems & Materials, at the DRDO will succeed G Satheesh Reddy who has been named as scientific adviser to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The ACC also approved the appointment of Reddy as scientific adviser to the defence minister. Reddy was appointed as DRDO chief in August 2018 for two years. He was given two years extension in the post in August 2020.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. South Korea breaks its own record for the world’s lowest fertility rate: South Korea has once again shattered its own record for the world’s lowest fertility rate. South Korean women were estimated, based on 2021 data, to have an average of just 0.81 children over their lifetimes, down from 0.84 a year earlier. The number of newborns declined in 2021 to 260,600, which equates to about 0.5% of the population.

According to the United Nations’ global population projections and World Bank’s data, the report further stated that Korea is the world’s fastest-ageing nation among economies with a per capita GDP of at least $30,000. By 2100, its population will fall by 53% to 24 million, up from a 43% decline forecast in 2019.

In fact, Korea is behind all OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) member countries in fertility rates at 0.8 babies per woman. The report reveals that a reducing workforce is one of the major factors impacting its growth rate. The working-age population maxed out at 37.3 million in 2020 and is now expected to drop by almost half by 2070, according to Statistics Korea.

Note: South Korea Capital: Seoul; South Korea Currency: South Korean Won; South Korea Prime Minister: Han Duck-soo; South Korea President: Yoon Seok-youl.

 

2. GoI named former CEA K Subramanian as Executive Director for India at IMF: Former Chief Economic Adviser, KV Subramanian was appointed as the Executive Director for India at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). His term will begin from November and will continue for a period of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier, by curtailing the tenure of eminent economist Surjit S Bhalla as ED (India), IMF up to 31 October 2022.

Note: IMF Formation: 27 December 1945; IMF Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States; IMF Member Countries: 190; IMF MD: Kristalina Georgieva.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. 14th Asian U-18 Championship: Indian men’s volleyball team won bronze medal: Indian men’s volleyball team has won the bronze medal by defeating Korea 3-2 in the 14th Asian U-18 Championship in Tehran, Iran. In the preliminary league match too, India defeated Korea but lost to Iran in the semifinal. The Indian U-18 team has qualified for the FIVB World U-19 Men’s Volleyball Championship. Japan clinched the gold after beating Iran in the final match. China finished fifth and Chinese Taipei was placed sixth at the end of the competition.

 

2. Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi wins 28th Abu Dhabi Masters: In the 28th Abu Dhabi, Masters Chess Tournament Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi defeated David Anton Guijarro from Spain in the ninth and final round. Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi won the 28th Dhabi Masters Chess Tournament with 7.5 points. Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi is in the third position in the live rating list and has gained an impressive 35 Elo rating points after the recent Chess Olympiad in India. In the 28th Dhabi, Masters Chess Tournament Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi won six matches and drew three other games. The third place was taken by Dutchman Jorden Van Forest, followed by Ray Robson from the USA, Nihal Sarin was in 6th place, and players including Sethuraman, Karthikeyan Murali, Samant, and Aryan Chopra are in the top 10.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI Report: Bank credit rise expedites 14.2% in the June 2022 quarter: The Bank credit growth increased from 6% in the quarter that ended in June 2021 to 14.2% in the quarter that concluded in June 2022 as per the data released by the Reserve Bank of India. The Bank credit has increased by 10.8% in the three months that ended in March 2022. The last five quarters have seen a consistent 9.5 to 10.2% annual growth in aggregate deposits.

Highlights of the RBI Report:

a)      The “Quarterly Statistics on Deposits and Credit of SCBs for June 2022” were published by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI Report).

b)      All scheduled commercial banks (SCBs), including small financing banks (SFBs), regional rural banks (RRBs), and payments banks, provide this information (PBs).

c)       The last five quarters have seen a consistent 9.5 to 10.2% annual growth in aggregate deposits.

d)      Metropolitan branches continue to account for more than half of all bank deposits, and during the past year, their share has slightly increased.

e)      The statistics of RBI Report showed that the credit-deposit (C-D) ratio has increased as credit growth has recently outpaced deposit growth.

f)        In June 2022, the C-D ratio for all of India was 73.5% (up from 70.5% the year before), and it was 86.2% for metropolitan bank branches (up from 84.3% the year before), according to the RBI Report.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. MCA accepts the merger of BPCL and Bharat Gas: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) the 100% subsidiary, Bharat Gas Resources Ltd (BGRL), has merged with the parent company. The Corporate Affairs Ministry (MCA) issued the decree authorising this merger. According to the terms of the merger proposal, the authorised share capital of BOCL is combined with the authorised share capital of BGRL. Key Points:

a)      Bharat Gas Resources Ltd (BGRL)’s principal line of business is gas sourcing and selling. In order to simplify the corporate structure and combine the assets and liabilities of Bharat Gas Resources Ltd (BGRL) and BPCL, it was created to develop city gas distribution networks in various geographic locations.

b)      There is no listing of Bharat Gas Resources Ltd (BGRL)’s equity shares on any stock exchanges.

c)       The total authorised share capital of Bharat Gas Resources Ltd (BGRL) as of today is amalgamated with the authorised share capital of BPCL per the conditions of the merger plan of BPCL and Bharat Gas Resources Ltd (BGRL).

 

DEFENCE

 

1. INS Vikrant to be commissioned on Sept. 2: The first indigenous carrier which has been constructed by Cochin Shipyard Ltd, will soon be commissioned as INS Vikrant on 2^nd September. The warship will play the role of ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The aircraft landing trials on board INS Vikrant will begin in November and will be completed by mid-2023. INS Vikrant will be commissioned in Cochin in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Adding the equipment for the aircraft carrier has been manufactured in 18 states and union territories.

Need of the Aircraft Carrier: The Navy has been pitching for three aircraft carriers to deal with China’s growing influence over the Indian Ocean. At present, India has only one aircraft carrier — INS Vikramaditya — which was bought from Russia in 2014. Alongside INS Vikramditya, the Navy will then operate two 44,000-tonne carriers. The Navy is in the process of procuring 26 deck-based aircraft and it has narrowed down on Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and French aerospace major Dassault Aviation’s Rafale aircraft. With the construction of ‘Vikrant’, India has joined a select group of nations such as the US, the UK, Russia, China and France, having the niche capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier.

Key Things about Vikrant:

a)      The INS Vikrant has over 2,200 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1,600 people, including specialised cabins to accommodate women officers.

b)      Vikrant has a top speed of around 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles.

c)       The warship is 262 metres long, 62 metres wide and it has a height of 59 metres. Its construction began in 2009.

d)      The Navy said the ship is powered by four gas turbines totalling 88 MW power.

 

2. DRDO Successfully Tests Pinaka Extended Range Rocket in Pokharan: The Pinaka extended range rocket trials developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) were carried out in firing ranges of Pokhran, Rajasthan. Multiple successful Pinaka extended range rocket trials firings were conducted in Pokhran. The Pinaka extended range is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization, DRDO, and is produced by a private sector firm. The trials were conducted in the presence of Army officials and DRDO officials. The 15 feet long missile of Advance Navigation and Control System destroyed the target as per the standard.