A successful validation flight at Bhogapuram International Airport marks a crucial operational milestone ahead of its formal commissioning.
The aircraft, operated by Air India, landed on the newly built 3.8-kilometre runway, confirming the runway’s readiness for commercial operations.
The presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu and Vizianagaram MP Kalisetti Appala Naidu underscores the project’s national and regional importance.
The water salute symbolizes aviation clearance and ceremonial recognition of the airport’s readiness.
Senior district officials and GMR Group representatives participated, reflecting coordination between government and private stakeholders.
The Minister described the event as historic for India’s aviation sector, particularly for North Andhra Pradesh, signaling expectations of regional economic growth.
The airport is expected to act as a catalyst for trade, tourism, employment, and infrastructure development in Vizianagaram and nearby districts.
Confidence was expressed that the June 30 deadline for full-scale operations will be met, indicating advanced project readiness.
Government initiatives to widen access roads highlight efforts to ensure supporting infrastructure connectivity.
The airport is a greenfield project being developed by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Ltd. (GVIAL).
Located about 50 km from Visakhapatnam, it is designed to decongest the existing Visakhapatnam airport and serve future demand.
The project spans 2,200 acres and involves an investment of ₹4,725 crore, reflecting its large-scale economic significance.
With 96% of construction completed, the airport is in its final phase before operational launch.
Once operational, it will have the capacity to handle 200 flights per day, indicating potential as a major regional aviation hub.
The airport will also support cargo operations of up to 20,000 tonnes annually, enhancing export potential.
A dedicated cargo terminal is under construction to facilitate agricultural and industrial exports.
Overall, the validation flight confirms the airport’s technical readiness and reinforces its role as a strategic infrastructure asset for regional development and economic integration.
Samudra Pratap
Event & Leadership
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will commission the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Samudra Pratap in Goa.
The commissioning marks a significant addition to India’s maritime environmental protection fleet.
Vessel Significance
Samudra Pratap is the first of two Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs) being inducted into the Indian Coast Guard.
It represents a major upgrade in India’s capability to respond to marine pollution incidents.
Primary Role
Designed for pollution response operations, particularly oil spill detection and mitigation.
Capable of operating within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and beyond, extending India’s maritime environmental reach.
Advanced Capabilities
Equipped with state-of-the-art oil spill detection systems.
Can conduct high-precision pollution control operations.
Able to:
Recover pollutants from viscous oil spills
Analyse contaminants
Separate oil from contaminated water, aiding effective clean-up efforts
Technical Specifications
Length: 114.5 metres
Displacement: 4,200 tonnes
Maximum speed: Over 22 knots
Operational endurance: 6,000 nautical miles
Strategic Impact
Enhances the ICG’s:
Marine pollution response
Fire-fighting capabilities
Maritime security operations
Strengthens India’s preparedness against environmental disasters at sea and supports sustainable maritime governance.
Overall Importance
The induction of Samudra Pratap underscores India’s commitment to protecting marine ecosystems, ensuring environmental safety, and bolstering coastal and offshore security.
Funding of Deep-Tech Start-ups under Industrial Research and Development Promotion Programme (IRDPP)
Policy Announcement
The Central Government has relaxed eligibility norms for deep-tech start-ups to receive financial assistance from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).
The announcement was made by Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, during the 42nd Foundation Day celebrations of DSIR.
Key Policy Change
The three-year viability/sustainability requirement for start-ups has been removed.
Earlier, start-ups had to prove at least three years of operational sustainability to qualify for support.
Financial Assistance Details
Eligible deep-tech start-ups can receive financial assistance of up to ₹1 crore.
Support is provided under the Industrial Research and Development Promotion Programme (IRDPP) of DSIR.
Objective of the Relaxation
Aimed at accelerating innovation and scaling deep-tech start-ups faster.
Designed to support start-ups at early stages, even before they become fully self-sustaining.
Rationale Behind the Move
Deep-tech ventures typically require longer gestation periods and high upfront R&D investment.
Removing the time-based criterion allows promising technologies to access funding based on merit rather than age.
Continued Safeguards
Despite the relaxation, start-ups must meet evaluation standards linked to technological maturity.
Ensures accountability, quality control, and effective use of public funds.
Broader Significance
Strengthens India’s start-up and innovation ecosystem, especially in advanced technologies.
Reflects the government’s intent to promote research-driven entrepreneurship and indigenous technological development.
Overall Impact
Expected to boost early-stage deep-tech innovation, reduce funding barriers, and help India build a stronger science- and technology-led economy.
SAMPANN: Transforming Pension Administration for DoT Pensioners
What is SAMPANN?
SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) is a fully integrated, online pension management system.
Developed for Department of Telecommunications (DoT) pensioners.
Core Objective
To create a single digital platform for:
Processing pension cases
Sanctioning pension
Disbursing pension directly to pensioners’ bank accounts
Key Features
End-to-end digital pension management
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of pension payments
Online grievance redressal mechanism
Digital profile management for pensioners
Access to transaction history and records
Benefits to Pensioners
Enhances transparency, efficiency, and accountability
Reduces paperwork and delays
Improves ease of access and user convenience for telecom retirees
Integration with DigiLocker
Key pension-related documents are now available digitally through DigiLocker, including:
Gratuity Payment Orders
Pension Certificates / ePPOs
Pension Commutation Payment Orders
Form 16
Enables secure access, storage, and retrieval of official documents anytime and anywhere
Governance and Digital India Alignment
Supports the Government’s vision of:
Digital governance
Paperless service delivery
Long-term digital preservation of records
Ensures authenticity and security of pension documents
Overall Impact
SAMPANN modernizes pension administration for DoT pensioners by combining automation, transparency, and digital integration, significantly improving service delivery and trust in public systems.
