Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: November 22, 2016

India becomes member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN)

• India became an associate member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), the world’s largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory. In this regard, an agreement was signed by Dr. Sekhar Basu, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and CERN Director General Dr. Fabiola Gianotti in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Highlights:

• As an associate member, India can now take part in meetings of the CERN Council and its committees (Scientific Policy Committee and Finance Committee). It will open-up new avenues for Indian scientists to engage with their counterparts in front line research in physics and engineering.
• It will help to boost India’s science credentials and give access to high end scientific technology. It will also make Indian scientists eligible for staff appointments in CERN.
• Besides, the Indian industry will also be entitled to bid for CERN contracts, thus, it will open up opportunities for industrial collaboration in areas of advanced technology.
• India will also has to contribute a certain amount of money for research activities including annual contribution of 11.5 million swiss frank to CERN.

About European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN)

• CERN is the world’s largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory. It is situated in North West suburbs of Geneva on France-Swiss Border. It was established in 1954.

• Members: It has 22 member states, four associate member states, and four states and three International Organisations have observer status.

• Functions: The laboratory helps scientists and engineers probing fundamental structure of universe using the most sophisticated scientific instruments and advanced computing systems. It also provides necessary infrastructure needed for high-energy physics research including particle accelerators.

‘Made in India’ warship INS Chennai commissioned in the Indian Navy

• INS Chennai, a Kolkata-class stealth guided missile destroyer ship was commissioned in the Indian Navy on November 21, 2016. It is the largest ever warship to be made in India. It was commissioned under the Project 15A.
• INS Chennai has been named after the iconic port city of Chennai. It is 164 metres long with a displacement of over 7,500 tonnes.
• It has been built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai under the strategic Project 15A. It can sail at a top speed of over 30 knots (around 55 kms) per hour and is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration.
• The ship has enhanced stealth features resulting in a reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) and uses radar transparent materials on exposed decks.
• It is armed with Barak-8 Long Rang Surface-to-Air missiles and supersonic surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles. INS Chennai is fitted with ‘Kavach’ chaff decoy system for defence against enemy missiles and ‘Mareech’ torpedo decoy system for protection from enemy torpedoes.
• Its undersea warfare capability includes indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, hull-mounted sonar HUMSA-NG, towed array sonar capability, heavyweight torpedo tube launchers and rocket launchers.
• The ship is truly classified as a ‘Network of Networks’ as it is equipped with sophisticated digital networks, such as ATM based Integrated Ship Data Network (AISDN), Automatic Power Management System (APMS), Auxiliary Control System (ACS) and Combat Management System (CMS).

About Project 15A

• Under this project, Kolkata class of stealth guided missile destroyers have been built for Indian Navy. The class comprises of three ships and are the largest destroyers to be operated by the Indian Navy. The first ship of this class named INS Kolkata was commissioned in August 2014 followed by INS Kochi commissioned in September 2015. These destroyers are follow-on of the legendary Project 15 ‘Delhi’ class destroyers which had entered service in the late 1990s.

Twin trial of Prithvi-II conducted successfully

• The twin trial of surface-to-surface nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile was conducted by the India Army at a test range at Chandipur in Odisha During the test, two Prithvi-II missiles in salvo mode were successfully test-fired in quick succession from a mobile launcher.

• Range: It is surface-to-surface medium range ballistic missile with a strike range capability of 350 km.

• Warheads: It can carry 500 kg to 1000 kg of conventional as well as nuclear warheads.

• Fuel and stages: It is single-stage liquid-fuelled and it uses advanced inertial guidance system along with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target precisely.
•  Variants: Prithvi-I for the Indian Army, Prithvi-II for the Indian Air Force, and Dhanush Missile for Indian Navy.