वर्ष 2017 में भारतीय विज्ञान एक नए शिखर पर पहुंचा। हमारे वैज्ञानिकों और रिसर्चरों ने विभिन्न् क्षेत्रों में ऐसी कई उपलब्धियां हासिल की जो सिर्फ देश ही नहीं, बल्कि दुनिया में सराही गईं। ये ऐसी उपलब्धियां हैं जिन पर हर भारतीय को गर्व होना चाहिए। 2017 में शानदार उपलब्धियों की शुरुआत भारतीय अंतरिक्ष अनुसंधान संगठन (इसरो) ने फरवरी में एक ही रॉकेट से 104 उपग्रह छोड़कर की थी। यह अनोखा विश्व रिकॉर्ड है, जिसने दुनिया के समक्ष अंतरिक्ष प्रौद्योगिकी के क्षेत्र में भारत की बढ़ती काबिलियत का सिक्का जमाया। जून में इसरो ने अपने सबसे शक्तिशाली रॉकेट जीएसलवी मार्क3 का सफल प्रक्षेपण किया। इस 640 टन वजनी रॉकेट से जीसेट-19 नामक दूरसंचार उपग्रह को पृथ्वी की कक्षा में स्थापित किया गया। इस रॉकेट का उपयोग भविष्य में भारतीयों को अंतरिक्ष में पहुंचाने के लिए किया जा सकता है। उसी महीने अमेरिकी अंतरिक्ष एजेंसी ‘नासा ने तमिलनाडु के छात्रों द्वारा निर्मित 64 ग्राम के उपग्रह, कलामसेट को अंतरिक्ष में पहुंचाया। इस साल का समापन शानदार ढंग से करते हुए भारत ने 28 दिसंबर को शत्रु की मिसाइल को मिसाइल से नष्ट करने की क्षमता का सफल प्रदर्शन किया। भारत इस ‘स्टार्स वार्स जैसी टेक्नोलॉजी में दक्षता हासिल करने वाला दुनिया का चौथा देश बन गया है। यह स्वदेश में विकसित ‘एडवांस्ड एयर डिफेंस सुपरसोनिक इंटरसेप्टर मिसाइल का साल में तीसरा परीक्षण था। पिछले दिनों भारत ने स्वदेश में निर्मित सतह से हवा में मार करने वाली सुपरसोनिक आकाश मिसाइल के भी सफल परीक्षण किए।
पुणे स्थित इंटर यूनिवर्सिटी सेंटर ऑफ एस्ट्रोनॉमी एंड एस्ट्रोफिजिक्स (आईयूसीएए) और इंडियन इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ साइंस एजुकेशन एंड रिसर्च (आईआईएसईआर) के खगोल-विज्ञानियों ने जुलाई में आकाशगंगाओं के एक महाकुंज अथवा सुपरक्लस्टर की खोज की घोषणा की। इस सुपरक्लस्टर का नाम उन्होंने ‘सरस्वती' रखा। आकाशगंगाओं के एक झुंड या क्लस्टर में 1000 से लेकर 10000 आकाशगंगाएं हो सकती हैं, लेकिन एक एक सुपरक्लस्टर में 40 से 43 क्लस्टर हो सकते हैं। भारतीय रिसर्चरों ने बताया कि ‘सरस्वती सुपरक्लस्टर पृथ्वी से चार अरब प्रकाश वर्ष दूर है। चार अरब वर्ष पुराने सुपरक्लस्टर का अध्ययन करके वैज्ञानिक उस अतीत को देख सकते हैं, जब हमारा ब्रह्मांड काफी युवा था।
गुरुत्व तरंगों की खोज में भी भारतीय वैज्ञानिकों ने बहुत बड़ा योगदान किया है। इन तरंगों को ग्रेविटेशनल वेव्स भी कहा जाता है। पहली गुरुत्व तरंगों की खोज के बारे में प्रस्तुत रिसर्च पेपर के सह-लेखन में 37 भारतीय वैज्ञानिक शामिल थे। ध्यान रहे कि इस खोज में शामिल प्रमुख रिसर्चरों को 2017 के भौतिकी के नोबेल पुरस्कार से सम्मानित किया गया है। भारतीय रिसर्चरों का नेतृत्व आईयूसीएए के संजीव धुरंधर ने किया था, जो 30 वर्षों से इस विषय पर काम कर रहे हैं। करीब एक अरब वर्ष पहले अंतरिक्ष में दो ब्लैक होल आपस में टकराकर एक दूसरे में विलीन हो गए थे। इस प्रक्रिया में उत्पन्न् कंपन से गुरुत्व तरंगें निकलीं, जो अंतरिक्ष में भ्रमण करते हुए पृथ्वी पर पहुंचीं और सितंबर 2016 में वैज्ञानिकों ने पहली बार इन तरंगों की ‘चहक’ सुनी। इन तरंगों के अस्तित्व के बारे में पिछली एक सदी से अटकलें लगाई जा रही थीं। इनके अस्तित्व के बारे में सर्वप्रथम सैद्धांतिक परिकल्पना अल्बर्ट आइंस्टीन ने की थी। गुरुत्व तरंगों की खोज ब्रह्मांडीय भौतिकी और खगोल विज्ञान के लिए एक बहुत बड़ी उपलब्धि मानी जा रही है। वैसे गुरुत्व तरंगों पर अनुसंधान से भारत का संबंध बहुत पुराना है। पुणे में 1988 में आईयूसीएए की स्थापना के बाद उसके प्रथम अध्यक्ष प्रो. जयंत नार्लीकर और उनके सहयोगी धुरंधर ने भारत में गुरुत्व तरंगों पर अनुसंधान के लिए फंडिंग का प्रस्ताव रखा था, लेकिन वे अधिकारियों को इसके लिए राजी नहीं कर सके थे।
इस वर्ष भारतीय वैज्ञानिकों ने चिकित्सा विज्ञान के क्षेत्र में भी महत्वपूर्ण उपलब्धियां हासिल की हैं। पुणे के एक अस्पताल के डॉक्टरों ने देश में पहली बार गर्भाशय का प्रत्यारोपण किया। उन्होंने एक महिला के गर्भाशय को उसकी 21 वर्षीया पुत्री में सफलतापूर्वक प्रत्यारोपित किया, जो बच्चे को जन्म देने में असमर्थ थी। गत सितंबर में कोच्चि स्थित अमृता इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ मेडिकल साइंसेज के डॉक्टरों ने एक 19 वर्षीय छात्रा श्रेया सिद्दनागौड़ा के दो हाथों का प्रत्यारोपण किया। इस तरह का ऑपरेशन एशिया में पहली बार हुआ। श्रेया ने पिछले साल एक सड़क दुर्घटना में अपने दोनों हाथ गंवा दिए थे। अंगदाता एक 20 वर्षीय छात्र था, जिसे ब्रेनडेड घोषित किया गया था। डॉक्टरों के अनुसार अभी तक इस किस्म के सिर्फ नौ प्रत्यारोपण हुए हैं। पुणे की एक कंपनी ने 29 सितंबर को विश्व हृदय दिवस पर एक एक ऐसा उपकरण पेश किया, जो बिजली उपलब्ध न होने की स्थिति में भी कार्डियक अरेस्ट के मरीजों की जान बचा सकता है। डीफाइब्रिलेटर नामक इस उपकरण को हाथ से घुमाकर 12 सेकंड में चार्ज किया जा सकता है। आयातित इलेक्ट्रिक डीफाइब्रिलेटर की तुलना में इसकी लागत एक-चौथाई है। कंपनी को यह उपकरण विकसित करने में चार वर्ष लगे।
इसी तरह आईआईटी खड़गपुर के वैज्ञानिकों ने दक्षिण कोरिया की पोहांग यूनिवर्सिटी के रिसर्चरों के साथ मिलकर प्याज के छिलके से एक ऐसा सस्ता उपकरण बनाया है जो शरीर की हलचल से स्वच्छ ऊर्जा उत्पन्न् कर सकता है। इससे पेसमेकर, स्वास्थ्य पर नजर रखने वाली ‘स्मार्ट गोलियों और शरीर पर धारण योग्य इलेक्ट्रॉनिक उपकरणों को ऊर्जा मिल सकती है। रिसर्चरों का कहना है कि यह उपकरण प्याज के छिलके के उपयुक्त पीजोइलेक्ट्रिक गुणों का प्रयोग करता है। यह जैविक दृष्टि से स्वयं क्षरित हो जाता है और पर्यावरण के लिए अनुकूल है। पीजोइलेक्ट्रिक पदार्थ में रोजमर्रा की यांत्रिक हलचल की ऊर्जा को बिजली में बदलने की क्षमता होती है। आईआईटी खड़गपुर के प्रोफेसर भानु भूषण खटुआ का कहना है कि इस नायाब और किफायती उपकरण से आम आदमी भी किसी भी परिस्थिति में बिजली उत्पन्न् कर सकता है। तेजी से बढ़ रही आबादी, औद्योगीकरण तथा इलेक्ट्रॉनिक्स और वाहनों के अंधाधुंध उपयोग से पर्यावरण पर प्रतिकूल असर पड़ रहा है। रिसर्चरों का कहना है कि जीवाश्म-आधारित ईंधनों पर बढ़ते हुए बोझ और प्राकृतिक संसाधनों में गिरावट को देखते हुए स्वच्छ ऊर्जा उत्पादन के लिए वैकल्पिक टेक्नोलॉजी विकसित करना बहुत जरूरी हो गया है।
Achievements of Ministry of Defence during the Year 2017;
Another flagship event of the year was the first ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by all-women crew on Indian Navy sailing vessel INSV Tarini. The Tarini was flagged off on 10th September 2017 and is expected to return to Goa in April 2018. The expedition titled ‘Navika Sagar Parikarma’ is in consensus with the national policy to give women power to attain their full potential.
The search and rescue operation ‘Op Sahayam’ continues to bring succour to the fishing community and seafarers affected by the Ockhi cyclone.
INDIAN ARMY
- Internal Security Situation in J&K. The security situation in J&K despite a lot of challenges has been brought under control. Relentless operations by the Army both, along the Line of Control (LC) and in the hinterland have thwarted the designs of giving a fillip to the proxy war being waged against India. Army along with CAPF and JKP continues to put in pressure to bring back normalcy to the Kashmir Valley.
- Internal Security Situation in NE. Intelligence based operations have been launched along Indo-Myanmar border to maintain peace in the region and to effectively neutralise the terrorists. Indian Army has continued the people friendly operations to help the locals.
- Situation along LAC. Army is poised all along the LAC and status quo is being ensured.
TRAINING EVENTS & MILITARY EXERCISES
- Indo – Oman Joint Military Exercise. Second edition of ‘AL NAGAH’, the joint exercise between the Indian and Oman Armies was held at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh from 06 – 19 March 17.
- Indo – Nepal Joint Military Exercise. ‘SURYA KIRAN – XI’ was held from 07–20 March 17 at Pithoragarh. An infantry battalion of Indian Army and Durga Bahsh Battalion of Nepalese Army participated.
- Indo – Mongolian Joint Military Exercise. Twelfth edition of Indo – Mongolian Joint Military Exercise ‘NOMADIC ELEPHANT’ was held at Vairengte from 05 – 18 April 2017.Mongolian Army was represented by soldiers of the elite Special Forces Task Battalion while Indian Army was represented by a contingent of the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles.
- Indo – US Joint Military Exercise. As part of the ongoing Indo-US defence cooperation, a joint military training, Exercise ‘YUDH ABHYAS – 2017’ was conducted at Joint Base Lewis, McChord, Washington, USA from 14 – 27 September 17.
- Indo – Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise. The fifth Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Training Exercise ‘MITRA SHAKTI 2017’ was conducted at Aundh Military Station, Pune from 13- 26 October 2017.
- Indo – Russia Joint Tri Service Exercise. First ever tri service exercise ‘INDRA’ between India & Russia was conducted in Vladivostok, Russia from 19 – 29 October 2017.
- Indo – Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise. A fourteen day joint training exercise ‘PRABAL DOSTYK – 2017’ between the Indian Army and the Kazakhstan Army was conducted at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh from 02 – 15 November 17.
- Indo-Bangladesh Joint Military Exercise. Indo-Bangladesh Exercise ‘SAMPRITI’ was conducted at CIJW School, Vairengte from 06-18 November 2017.
- Indo – UK Joint Military Exercise. Indo – UK Exercise ‘AJEYA WARRIOR’ was conducted at Mahajan Field Firing Rangesin Bikaner, Rajasthan from 01 – 14 December 2017.
- Exercise ‘Pralay Sahayam’. The exercise was conceptualised as (HADR) exercise based on an urban flooding scenario in the twin cities of Hyderabad & Secunderabad.
- OTA Chennai Trains Afghan Lady Officers. As part of first military training being imparted by Indian Army to women officers from abroad, women officers of Afghan Army and Airforce were trained on basic military aspects including physical, weapon training, tactics, communication skills and leadership at OTA, Chennai from 04 – 24 December 2017.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RELIEF
- Rajasthan & Gujarat Floods (July 17). Army columns were deployed for rescue and relief operations during flash flood in Barmer, Pali and Jalore districts of Rajasthan.Army columns were also deployed for rescue and relief operations during flash flood in North Gujarat.
- Bihar & UP Floods (Aug 17). Army columns were deployed for rescue and relief operations in the devastated flood affected areas of Bihar’s Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Gopalganj and Muzzafarpur districts.
- Flag March, Sirsa. 18 Army columns were deployed for maintaining law & order during August 17.
SPORTS & ADVENTURE
- Gold Medal at the ISSF World Cup 2017. Subedar Jitu Rai along with Heena Sidhu brought laurels to the Nation by winning Gold Medal in the mixed team 10 meter Air Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup 2017.
- Race Around Austria (RAA). Lieutenant Colonel Bharat Kumar made the country and Indian Army proud by becoming the first Indian to finish the Race Around Austria (RAA), the toughest endurance cycling race in Europe in the month of August 2017.
INDIAN NAVY
Major Exercises
- Ex Taiyaar-17. Ex Taiyaar 17 was conducted in Jan 17. The exercise is an annual feature which allows the Naval Commands to fully prepare and exercise transition from a state of peace to one of hostilities and address any shortcomings that may be encountered. Various facets that were exercised included Op logistics, action stripping, Mine & War watching organisation, deployments by Fast Intercepter Crafts (FICs), acceleration of Refit etc.
- TROPEX-17. A Theatre Level Operational Exercise – TROPEX 17, was conducted on the Western Seaboard in Jan-Feb 17. Extensive participation of Army, Air force and the Coast Guard, including Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and Para Special Force (SF) was the highlight of this year’s exercise.
- Joint Amphibious Workup. Joint amphibious workup by IN and Indian Army was conducted from 19 – 31 Mar 17 off Karwar.IN ships Jalashwa and Gharial along with over 1000 personnel of 91 Infantry Brigade of Army participated in the exercise.
- Exercise PARIKSHAN. Western Naval Command conducted operational level Table Top Tri-Service wargame titled ‘Exercise PARIKSHAN’ from 07-09 Aug 17. Representatives from Naval Headquarters, and operational commands of the Army and Air Force in the region also participated in the wargame.
- DANX – 17. The Joint Services Exercise ‘Defence of Andaman and Nicobar Exercise’ (DANX-17) was conducted in Andaman & Nicobar Command from 20-25 Nov 17. IN/ICG Ships, IN/IAF/ICG aircraft and Army troops from ANC and other Commands of IN, IA & IAF participated in the exercise. The successful conduct of the exercise proved unparalleled synergy achieved at ANC between the three services.
Exercises with Foreign Navies
- VARUNA 17. The Western Fleet ships participated in bilateral exercise VARUNA 17 with French Navy in Apr 17 off Toulon, France. INS Trishul, Mumbai and Aditya along with integral helicopters, participated in the Exercise.
- KONKAN 17. INS Tarkash participated in bilateral Exercise Konkan 17 with Royal Navyin May 17 off UK.
- Exercise SIMBEX. Ex – SIMBEX, the annual bilateral exercise with Republic of Singapore Navy was conducted at Singapore from 12 – 21 May 17. IN ships Shivalik, Sahyadri,Kamorta and Jyoti participated in the exercise. The ships also participated in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition during the period.
- Exercise Indra 2017. Indo-Russia Joint Tri-Services Exercise INDRA-17 was conducted off Vladivostok, Russian Federation from 19-29 Oct 17. This was the first ever Tri-Services bilateral military exercise between the two countries. The Naval Operations of exercise were conducted off Vladivostok in the Sea of Japan (Peter the Great Bay).
- AUSINDEX 2017. The second edition of biennial Australia-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (AUSINDEX) was conducted at/ off Fremantle, Australia.
- SLINEX 17. The Eastern Naval Command hosted Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise, SLINEX 17, from 07-14 Sep 17.
Coastal Security and Anti-Piracy Operations
- Coastal Security Exercise ‘SagarKavach’. Coastal security exercises ‘SagarKavach’ were conducted throughout the year.
- Op Avloka. IN ships are being deployed for Op Avloka (off Gujarat and Maharashtra coast) for coastal surveillance during the monsoons since 2010, to undertake coastal surveillance.
- Op Avardhan. IN aircraft are deployed for Op Avardhan to maintain continuous aerial coastal surveillance of the West coast of India including L&M Islands. Similar sorties are also undertaken in the East coast and the A&N Islands to augment coastal surveillance along with IN ships.
- Anti-Piracy Patrol. As part of its wider role of providing security to shipping in the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Navy continues to deploy one ship for anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden.
Commissioning and Decommissioning
- Commissioning of INS Kiltan. INS Kiltan, the third ship of Project-28 Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette was commissioned by the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri on 16 Oct 17.
Achievements of Department of Atomic Energy during the Year 2017;
- The Second Unit (1000 MWe) of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) went into commercial operation on March 31, 2017. With this the installed nuclear power capacity has become 6780 MWe.
- The Government of India has accorded administrative approval and financial sanction for taking up construction of 10 indigenous PHWRs of 700 MWe in fleet mode and establishing 2 more reactors at Kudankulam. This initiative is expected to go a long way in reviving our sagging high technology industries by ensuring continuity of orders.
- The construction of KKNPP Units 3&4 has commenced with the First Pour of Concrete on the 29th of June 2017.
- In the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) front, after completion of construction, the commissioning activities are making steady progress while fulfilling all the safety requirements.
- India has signed Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with Bangladesh in April this year along with two more complementary Agreements. We are collaborating with our Russian and Bangladeshi partners on establishing Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh.
- A 4.6 Meter Ship Borne Terminal (SBT) developed by DAE was integrated on a ship and deployed in Deep Sea. The SBT successfully tracked the ISRO launch Vehicle PSLV-C38 during Cartosat-2E mission on 23rdJune, 2017.
- A 1000m3/ Water Treatment Plant at holy Shiv Ganga Pond of Baba Baidyanath Temple, Deoghar (Jharkhand) has been commissioned and inaugurated on July 9, 2017. The plant is providing water confirming to
standard for outdoor bathing as per IS 2296. - In the Cancer care sector, DAE has started major expansion by taking up construction/ up-gradation of 6 additional facilities throughout the country. This will help in doubling number of new patients treated from the present figure of 70,000 in the next 4 – 5 years.
- DAE has developed a low-cost handheld 12-channel Tele-ECG machine which records all 12 ECG channels simultaneously and sends the report generated to the mobile phone of a doctor for advice. The device is suited for diagnostic purposes at remote rural locations, saving crucial time normally required to shift the patient to a diagnostic centre.
- Recently, a litchi processing plant was established at ICAR-National Research Centre on Litchi (NRCL), Mushahari, Muzaffarpur for extension of shelf-life of this perishable, popular fruit. Demonstration of this technology has enthused the local bodies for taking forward the technology for the farmers in a big way. Extension of shelf life for this product will also encourage exports.
- In the frontier science area, DAE is establishing a small underground research laboratory in one of the uranium mines for pursuing research on dark matter. This will enthuse scientists from all generations.
- The Parliament standing committee on ‘Science & Technology, Environment and Forests’ had arranged the exhibition on “Science and Technology Innovations” at Parliament Annex Building, New Delhi during July 28 to August 12, 2017. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) participated in this event.
- There has been all round improvement of DAE’s PSUs and Industrial Units.
The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) achieved second highest production. This could be achieved in spite of many hurdles.
Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) has also given highest ever production of fuel elements, zirconium sponge, and other materials.
This year the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) has bagged record orders, especially due to election related equipment and fuses for Indian Army. Their turnover was also one of the highest.
Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) has achieved its highest ever sales turnover and has been able to supply the radio-isotopes to every corner of the country.
Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) has seen a turnaround from major losses to moderate profit during this year. Their turnover has also increased significantly during this period. This happened in spite of various constraints faced by them.
