With a clear aim to boost shipping along the country's northern coast, Russia is building more nuclear icebreaker ships that can cut through the frozen Arctic Ocean. Top Officials of Russia's Nuclear power agency emphasised the need for more nuclear icebreakers, during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Atomflot, the Russian Government entity which maintains the world's only fleet of nuclear icebreaker ships.&nbsp;
The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is a shipping route along the northern coast of Russia, connecting Europe and Asia-Pacific regions via a shorter sea lane through the Arctic Ocean.&nbsp;
Recently, President Vladimir Putin visited the base of Atomflot in the northwestern Russian port city of Murmansk. His visit covered the Headquarters of Marine Operations of the Northern Sea Route General Administration and the Federal State Budgetary Institution (NSR General Administration FSBI).&nbsp;
According to the Russian Nuclear Power agency Rosatom, Putin was briefed about how 50 ships were navigating the waters of the Northern Sea Route (the NSR), with a group of nine nuclear and non-nuclear icebreaker ships. &ldquo;I would like to point out that the headquarters' operations are demonstrated using Russian software of a unified platform for digital services. Now, you can see satellite radar imagery being displayed on the screen. We have begun employing artificial intelligence to analyze these images," said Sergey Zybko, Director General of NSR General Administration FSBI.&nbsp;
Further, highlighting the need for more nuclear icebreaker ships, Zybko stated that the ice situation in the Arctic has been worsening in recent years. "Despite widespread discussion about global warming, the current research by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institutes does not prove it. According to these studies, no significant changes in ice cover are anticipated during winter and spring months until 2050," he added.&nbsp;
Presently, Russia is building nuclear icebreaker ships Chukotka, Leningrad, and Rossiya. Additionally, another nuclear icebreaker under project 22220, Stalingrad, is also to also be built. Alexey Likhachev, chief of Russia's Nuclear agency Rosatom stated that two more universal nuclear icebreakers are required to maintain steady operations along the Northern sea route. In 2018, the Russian Government appointed Rosatom as the Northern Sea Route infrastructure operator. Rosatom is responsible for overseeing the federal project "Development of the Northern Sea Route".
Apart from Russia, there are seven Arctic nations-Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, USA. Interestingly, all of these seven nations are part of the Western Military Alliance NATO. The Arctic is home to multiple NATO and Russian military sites. Both sides regularly conduct military patrols and exercises in the region. The Arctic region is also known to hold massive unexplored reserves of oil, natural gas, rare earth minerals, fish stocks.&nbsp;

World | Russia is building nuclear icebreaker ships Chukotka, Leningrad and Rossiya. Another nuclear icebreaker under project 22220, Stalingrad, is also to also be built

With a clear aim to boost shipping along the country's northern coast, Russia is building more nuclear icebreaker ships that can cut through the frozen Arctic Ocean. Top Officials of Russia's Nuclear power agency emphasised the need for more nuclear icebreakers, during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Atomflot, the Russian Government entity which maintains the world's only fleet of nuclear icebreaker ships. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is a shipping route along the northern coast of Russia, connecting Europe and Asia-Pacific regions via a shorter sea lane through the Arctic Ocean. Recently, President Vladimir Putin visited the base of Atomflot in the northwestern Russian port city of Murmansk. His visit covered the Headquarters of Marine Operations of the Northern Sea Route General Administration and the Federal State Budgetary Institution (NSR General Administration FSBI). According to the Russian Nuclear Power agency Rosatom, Putin was briefed about how 50 ships were navigating the waters of the Northern Sea Route (the NSR), with a group of nine nuclear and non-nuclear icebreaker ships. “I would like to point out that the headquarters' operations are demonstrated using Russian software of a unified platform for digital services. Now, you can see satellite radar imagery being displayed on the screen. We have begun employing artificial intelligence to analyze these images," said Sergey Zybko, Director General of NSR General Administration FSBI. Further, highlighting the need for more nuclear icebreaker ships, Zybko stated that the ice situation in the Arctic has been worsening in recent years. "Despite widespread discussion about global warming, the current research by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institutes does not prove it. According to these studies, no significant changes in ice cover are anticipated during winter and spring months until 2050," he added. Presently, Russia is building nuclear icebreaker ships Chukotka, Leningrad, and Rossiya. Additionally, another nuclear icebreaker under project 22220, Stalingrad, is also to also be built. Alexey Likhachev, chief of Russia's Nuclear agency Rosatom stated that two more universal nuclear icebreakers are required to maintain steady operations along the Northern sea route. In 2018, the Russian Government appointed Rosatom as the Northern Sea Route infrastructure operator. Rosatom is responsible for overseeing the federal project "Development of the Northern Sea Route". Apart from Russia, there are seven Arctic nations-Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, USA. Interestingly, all of these seven nations are part of the Western Military Alliance NATO. The Arctic is home to multiple NATO and Russian military sites. Both sides regularly conduct military patrols and exercises in the region. The Arctic region is also known to hold massive unexplored reserves of oil, natural gas, rare earth minerals, fish stocks.

Russia building more Nuclear icebreakers to cut 'worsening Arctic'

With the aim of increasing cargo flow multi-fold along the Arctic Northern Sea Route, Russia's Nuclear power agency Chief Alexey Likhachev has proposed the need to enhance the country's fleet of icebreaker vessels and cargo vessels.
The Northern Sea Route(NSR) is a shipping route along the northern coast of Russia, connecting Europe and Asia-Pacific regions via a shorter sea lane through the Arctic Ocean.&nbsp;
Speaking at a session titled 'Long-Term Development Model for the Northern Sea Route', Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, elaborated on the challenges that need to be addressed to increase shipping along the Arctic, an ocean that remains frozen for a significant part of the year.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-are-now-planning-to-grow-ice-and-refreeze-arctic-sea-764945">Scientists are now planning to 'grow' ice and 'refreeze' Arctic Sea</a>
At the event, India was represented by Venkat Naga Prasanna Telidevara, Joint Secretary of the Secretariat of the National Security Council of India.
In 2024, about 38million tons of cargo passed through the Northern Sea Route, supported by Russia's fleet of 11 icebreaker vessels that help cut through the Arctic ice. Given the abundance of resources that can be exported from the Russian Arctic regions, Likachev shared a vision for transporting 100-150 million tons of cargo via the Northern Sea Route. For this, he said that Russia must build six more icebreaker vessels.&nbsp;
Further, he stressed on the need to have more cargo-ferrying ships that can improve logistics in the Arctic and the need for increased cooperation with shipbuilding nations. "I understand that we do not have enough capacity to meet the demand for cargo vessels in advance, and this is where international cooperation is necessary. Now we are having discussions with several countries that are experts in shipbuilding. First of all, we need to develop a strategy for increasing capacity at our shipyards," Likachev added.&nbsp;
Vladimir Panov, Rosatom's Special Representative for Arctic Development, emphasized that Russia's collaboration with China and India on the Northern Sea Route has reached a systematic level. &ldquo; Under the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the highest level, intergovernmental partnership forms were established with the People&rsquo;s Republic of China and the Republic of India. This is systematic work which we continue doing this year,&rdquo; he said. He also added that regular container shipments between China and Russia via the NSR started two years ago, and the number of voyages has never stopped increasing.
In the year 2018, the Russian Government appointed Rosatom the NSR (Northern Sea Route) infrastructure operator. The corporation oversees the federal project "Development of the Northern Sea Route" also being involved in the plan for the development of the Northern Sea Route until 2035.
One of Rosatom's strategic goals is to make the Northern Sea Route an efficient transportation artery connecting Europe, Russia, and the Asia-Pacific region. &nbsp;Russia considers the comprehensive development of its Arctic region as a national strategic priority.

World: The Northern Sea Route(NSR) is a shipping route along the northern coast of Russia, connecting Europe and Asia-Pacific regions via a shorter sea lane through the Arctic Ocean.

With the aim of increasing cargo flow multi-fold along the Arctic Northern Sea Route, Russia's Nuclear power agency Chief Alexey Likhachev has proposed the need to enhance the country's fleet of icebreaker vessels and cargo vessels. The Northern Sea Route(NSR) is a shipping route along the northern coast of Russia, connecting Europe and Asia-Pacific regions via a shorter sea lane through the Arctic Ocean. Speaking at a session titled 'Long-Term Development Model for the Northern Sea Route', Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, elaborated on the challenges that need to be addressed to increase shipping along the Arctic, an ocean that remains frozen for a significant part of the year. Also read: Scientists are now planning to 'grow' ice and 'refreeze' Arctic Sea At the event, India was represented by Venkat Naga Prasanna Telidevara, Joint Secretary of the Secretariat of the National Security Council of India. In 2024, about 38million tons of cargo passed through the Northern Sea Route, supported by Russia's fleet of 11 icebreaker vessels that help cut through the Arctic ice. Given the abundance of resources that can be exported from the Russian Arctic regions, Likachev shared a vision for transporting 100-150 million tons of cargo via the Northern Sea Route. For this, he said that Russia must build six more icebreaker vessels. Further, he stressed on the need to have more cargo-ferrying ships that can improve logistics in the Arctic and the need for increased cooperation with shipbuilding nations. "I understand that we do not have enough capacity to meet the demand for cargo vessels in advance, and this is where international cooperation is necessary. Now we are having discussions with several countries that are experts in shipbuilding. First of all, we need to develop a strategy for increasing capacity at our shipyards," Likachev added. Vladimir Panov, Rosatom's Special Representative for Arctic Development, emphasized that Russia's collaboration with China and India on the Northern Sea Route has reached a systematic level. “ Under the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the highest level, intergovernmental partnership forms were established with the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India. This is systematic work which we continue doing this year,” he said. He also added that regular container shipments between China and Russia via the NSR started two years ago, and the number of voyages has never stopped increasing. In the year 2018, the Russian Government appointed Rosatom the NSR (Northern Sea Route) infrastructure operator. The corporation oversees the federal project "Development of the Northern Sea Route" also being involved in the plan for the development of the Northern Sea Route until 2035. One of Rosatom's strategic goals is to make the Northern Sea Route an efficient transportation artery connecting Europe, Russia, and the Asia-Pacific region. Russia considers the comprehensive development of its Arctic region as a national strategic priority.

Russia aims four-fold hike in Arctic shipping: Rosatom Chief

The Indian Space agency ISRO&rsquo;s earth-imaging satellite Cartosat-3 has captured the devastating impact of the 7.7 Richter scale magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday, 28 March 2025, at 06:20:54 (UTC), followed by a strong aftershock of magnitude 6.4. The epicentre of the quake was located near Mandalay, Myanmar&rsquo;s second-largest city, which experienced severe damage. This earthquake is said to be the worst to have struck Myanmar in more than a century.
The earthquake also rattled the capital, Naypyidaw, and other regions, resulting in the collapse of infrastructure, roads and residential buildings. The tremors were felt not only in Myanmar but also in neighbouring countries. The shockwaves were strong enough to be felt as far as Chiang Mai and northern parts of Thailand, where residents reported damages.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m8x0tquu-209f0z0k-eh097c01">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indian</a> earth-imaging satellite Carstosat-3 has captured before-after images of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Myanmarquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Myanmarquake</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MyanmarEarthquake2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MyanmarEarthquake2025</a> Widespread damage seen in Myanmarese cities of Mandalay and Sagaing. 1700lives lost &amp; Worst quake there in a century+ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISRO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#science</a> <a href="https://t.co/lctnujWRuc">pic.twitter.com/lctnujWRuc</a>
&mdash; Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1906671290091475355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
ISRO&rsquo;s satellite imagery depicts the extent of damage by showcasing before-after images of certain landmarks in the damaged cities.&nbsp;
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/myanmars-military-dropped-bombs-3-hours-after-quake-devastation-un-slams-junta-8907065" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Myanmar&rsquo;s military dropped bombs 3 hours after quake devastation; UN slams junta</a>
Mandalay University, Sky Villa, Phayani Pagoda, Mahamuni Pagoda, Ananda Pagoda, Ava Bridge, are among the structures that have been captured in significant detail by the Indian Cartosat-3 satellite.
Cartosat-3 is a third-generation earth observation satellite with high-resolution imaging capability. Nestled in an orbit that is 509 km above the earth, the satellite weighing 1.6 tonnes maintains a close watch along its orbital path. Catosat-3 imagery is originally meant for urban planning, monitoring rural resource and infrastructure development, keeping track of coastal land use and land cover.
The scale of the tragedy is captured by comparing images of these locations in the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing in Myanmar, clicked on 18th March 2025 (pre-earthquake) and those clicked on 29th March 2025(a day after the earthquake).
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firm-with-china-link-faces-inquiry-after-bangkok-skyscraper-collapse-in-quake-8907316">Firm with China link faces inquiry after Bangkok skyscraper collapse in quake</a>
Rescuers continue the search for survivors on Monday, 31st March, more than 72 hours after the tragedy struck. So far, over 1,700 lives have been lost in this tragedy and it is widely regarded that hopes are dimming for survivors who may be trapped under the rubble and debris. Typically, the first 72 hours are considered the crucial golden window to reach those who are buried alive under the rubble.
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, the Indian Government has launched &lsquo;Operation Brahma&rsquo; for rendering assistance to Myanmar. Under the direction of the Ministry of External Affairs, the Humanitarian aid and Disaster Relief efforts are progressing in conjunction with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and NDRF.

World: Mandalay University, Sky Villa, Phayani Pagoda, Mahamuni Pagoda, Ananda Pagoda, Ava Bridge, are among the structures that have been captured in significant detail by the Indian Cartosat-3 satellite.

The Indian Space agency ISRO’s earth-imaging satellite Cartosat-3 has captured the devastating impact of the 7.7 Richter scale magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday, 28 March 2025, at 06:20:54 (UTC), followed by a strong aftershock of magnitude 6.4. The epicentre of the quake was located near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, which experienced severe damage. This earthquake is said to be the worst to have struck Myanmar in more than a century. The earthquake also rattled the capital, Naypyidaw, and other regions, resulting in the collapse of infrastructure, roads and residential buildings. The tremors were felt not only in Myanmar but also in neighbouring countries. The shockwaves were strong enough to be felt as far as Chiang Mai and northern parts of Thailand, where residents reported damages. #Indian earth-imaging satellite Carstosat-3 has captured before-after images of the #Myanmarquake #MyanmarEarthquake2025 Widespread damage seen in Myanmarese cities of Mandalay and Sagaing. 1700lives lost & Worst quake there in a century+ #ISRO #space #tech #science pic.twitter.com/lctnujWRuc — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 31, 2025 ISRO’s satellite imagery depicts the extent of damage by showcasing before-after images of certain landmarks in the damaged cities. Also read | Myanmar’s military dropped bombs 3 hours after quake devastation; UN slams junta Mandalay University, Sky Villa, Phayani Pagoda, Mahamuni Pagoda, Ananda Pagoda, Ava Bridge, are among the structures that have been captured in significant detail by the Indian Cartosat-3 satellite. Cartosat-3 is a third-generation earth observation satellite with high-resolution imaging capability. Nestled in an orbit that is 509 km above the earth, the satellite weighing 1.6 tonnes maintains a close watch along its orbital path. Catosat-3 imagery is originally meant for urban planning, monitoring rural resource and infrastructure development, keeping track of coastal land use and land cover. The scale of the tragedy is captured by comparing images of these locations in the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing in Myanmar, clicked on 18th March 2025 (pre-earthquake) and those clicked on 29th March 2025(a day after the earthquake). Also Read | Firm with China link faces inquiry after Bangkok skyscraper collapse in quake Rescuers continue the search for survivors on Monday, 31st March, more than 72 hours after the tragedy struck. So far, over 1,700 lives have been lost in this tragedy and it is widely regarded that hopes are dimming for survivors who may be trapped under the rubble and debris. Typically, the first 72 hours are considered the crucial golden window to reach those who are buried alive under the rubble. In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, the Indian Government has launched ‘Operation Brahma’ for rendering assistance to Myanmar. Under the direction of the Ministry of External Affairs, the Humanitarian aid and Disaster Relief efforts are progressing in conjunction with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and NDRF.

ISRO shares satellite images of Myanmar quake’s deadly impact

<div class="x_elementToProof" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Till date, India has completed three lunar missions in the Chandrayaan (moon vehicle) series. Now the Indian Space agency ISRO is working on Chandrayaan-4, a mission to land on the moon, collect lunar samples and bring them back to the home planet. Meanwhile, the Indian Government has also approved the Chandrayaan-5 mission, which will be jointly conducted by the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA). This marks the first Indo-Japan collaborative effort in space exploration. Over the last few years, this Indo-Japan moon mission has been referred to as LUPEX - Lunar Polar Exploration Mission. However, the Indian government now refers to it as Chandrayaan-5.</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">"After Chandrayaan-3's successful lunar soft-landing, the first near the south pole, all nations began believing in India's capability and Japan's JAXA wanted a collaborative mission. The launch of this Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX mission will be carried out by a Japanese rocket, ISRO will build the lunar lander, while Japan will build the rover. This mission will feature a 350kg lunar rover, which is 10 times heavier than the 25kg Indian 'Pragyan' rover that was deployed as part of Chandrayaan-3," ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan told WION's Sidharth.M.P.</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">He added that the mission is meant to explore water and resource availability near the lunar south pole and quantify their availability. "Configuration studies for CHandrayaan-5/LUPEX have been completed, design teams are being formed and it'll be accomplished in three years."</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">H3- The rocket that will launch Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">According to JAXA, the H3 Launch Vehicle is Japan's new mainstay rocket. The three-stage vehicle stands 63meters tall and weighs 574tons. The rocket is powered by solid-fuels and cryogenic fuels (Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen). The H3 is built to reduce launch price by utilizing commercial-off-the-shelf products of other domestic industries such as the automobile industry rather than products exclusive to space use. Instead of following the build-to-order production approach, the industries follow something similar to the line production system which is used for general industrial products.&nbsp;</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">The H3 rocket carrying the LUPEX mission will be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC), the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan with a total area of about 9,700,000 square meters. The facility is located in the south of Kagoshima Prefecture, along the southeast coast of Tanegashima, it is widely regarded as the most beautiful rocket-launch complex in the world.</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">LUPEX and its specifications</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">LUPEX&rsquo;s objective is to collect data on the quantity and quality of water resources and its concentration principles in order to determine the extent lunar water resources can be used for future sustainable space exploration activities. The overall LUPEX craft would weigh 6,500kg approximately, and this includes a 350kg&nbsp; rover that measures 2.0m long, 1.8 wide and 3.3 tall. The rover being developed by JAXA will drive on its own to search for areas where water is likely to be present and sample the soil by digging into the ground with a drill. The plan is to acquire data by analyzing the collected samples in detail with observation equipment mounted on the rover. The mission is expected to live a little over 100days after the lunar landing, and it could live for a maximum of one year, as per JAXA.</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">Why is there a lot of interest in water on the moon ?</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">Water can be electrolyzed(split) to produce rocket fuel (oxygen and hydrogen). If there is enough water, it will be an important resource for future crewed space activities because it will eliminate the need to transport large quantities of fuel from the earth. For this reason, not only Japan but also space agencies around the world are now planning to investigate water (ice)resources in the polar regions of the Moon. LUPEX will land in an area where past remote sensing observations indicate the high possibility of existence of water (ice) . LUPEX rover will directly measure the water content by in-situ observation. In addition, by observing the distribution and existence of water resources and quantifying its amount, LUPEX will collect the basic data on the potential use of water resources and contribute to the Artemis Program, a proposed US-led effort to return astronauts to the moon and enable their long-term presence.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof"></div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">Scientific payloads that LUPEX will be carrying</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">According to JAXA, LUPEX will be carrying a total of 10 scientific payloads. These includes five payloads from JAXA, three payloads from ISRO, and one payloads each from the NASA and the European Space Agency.&nbsp;</div>
<div class="x_elementToProof">The payloads are Resource Investigating Water Analyzer (REIWA), Lunar Thermogravimetric Analyzer (LTGA), Triple-reflection Reflectron (TRITON), Aquatic Detector using Optical Resonance (ADORE), International Symposium of Antennas and Propagation (ISAP), Advanced Lunar Imaging Spectrometer (ALIS), Neutron Spectrometer, Ground Penetrating Radar, Exospheric Mass Spectrometer for LUPEX (EMS-L), Mid-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (MIR).&nbsp;</div>

India news: The H3 rocket carrying the LUPEX mission will be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC), the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan with a total area of about 9,700,000 square meters.

Till date, India has completed three lunar missions in the Chandrayaan (moon vehicle) series. Now the Indian Space agency ISRO is working on Chandrayaan-4, a mission to land on the moon, collect lunar samples and bring them back to the home planet. Meanwhile, the Indian Government has also approved the Chandrayaan-5 mission, which will be jointly conducted by the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA). This marks the first Indo-Japan collaborative effort in space exploration. Over the last few years, this Indo-Japan moon mission has been referred to as LUPEX - Lunar Polar Exploration Mission. However, the Indian government now refers to it as Chandrayaan-5. "After Chandrayaan-3's successful lunar soft-landing, the first near the south pole, all nations began believing in India's capability and Japan's JAXA wanted a collaborative mission. The launch of this Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX mission will be carried out by a Japanese rocket, ISRO will build the lunar lander, while Japan will build the rover. This mission will feature a 350kg lunar rover, which is 10 times heavier than the 25kg Indian 'Pragyan' rover that was deployed as part of Chandrayaan-3," ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan told WION's Sidharth.M.P. He added that the mission is meant to explore water and resource availability near the lunar south pole and quantify their availability. "Configuration studies for CHandrayaan-5/LUPEX have been completed, design teams are being formed and it'll be accomplished in three years." H3- The rocket that will launch Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX According to JAXA, the H3 Launch Vehicle is Japan's new mainstay rocket. The three-stage vehicle stands 63meters tall and weighs 574tons. The rocket is powered by solid-fuels and cryogenic fuels (Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen). The H3 is built to reduce launch price by utilizing commercial-off-the-shelf products of other domestic industries such as the automobile industry rather than products exclusive to space use. Instead of following the build-to-order production approach, the industries follow something similar to the line production system which is used for general industrial products. The H3 rocket carrying the LUPEX mission will be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC), the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan with a total area of about 9,700,000 square meters. The facility is located in the south of Kagoshima Prefecture, along the southeast coast of Tanegashima, it is widely regarded as the most beautiful rocket-launch complex in the world. LUPEX and its specifications LUPEX’s objective is to collect data on the quantity and quality of water resources and its concentration principles in order to determine the extent lunar water resources can be used for future sustainable space exploration activities. The overall LUPEX craft would weigh 6,500kg approximately, and this includes a 350kg rover that measures 2.0m long, 1.8 wide and 3.3 tall. The rover being developed by JAXA will drive on its own to search for areas where water is likely to be present and sample the soil by digging into the ground with a drill. The plan is to acquire data by analyzing the collected samples in detail with observation equipment mounted on the rover. The mission is expected to live a little over 100days after the lunar landing, and it could live for a maximum of one year, as per JAXA. Why is there a lot of interest in water on the moon ? Water can be electrolyzed(split) to produce rocket fuel (oxygen and hydrogen). If there is enough water, it will be an important resource for future crewed space activities because it will eliminate the need to transport large quantities of fuel from the earth. For this reason, not only Japan but also space agencies around the world are now planning to investigate water (ice)resources in the polar regions of the Moon. LUPEX will land in an area where past remote sensing observations indicate the high possibility of existence of water (ice) . LUPEX rover will directly measure the water content by in-situ observation. In addition, by observing the distribution and existence of water resources and quantifying its amount, LUPEX will collect the basic data on the potential use of water resources and contribute to the Artemis Program, a proposed US-led effort to return astronauts to the moon and enable their long-term presence. Scientific payloads that LUPEX will be carrying According to JAXA, LUPEX will be carrying a total of 10 scientific payloads. These includes five payloads from JAXA, three payloads from ISRO, and one payloads each from the NASA and the European Space Agency. The payloads are Resource Investigating Water Analyzer (REIWA), Lunar Thermogravimetric Analyzer (LTGA), Triple-reflection Reflectron (TRITON), Aquatic Detector using Optical Resonance (ADORE), International Symposium of Antennas and Propagation (ISAP), Advanced Lunar Imaging Spectrometer (ALIS), Neutron Spectrometer, Ground Penetrating Radar, Exospheric Mass Spectrometer for LUPEX (EMS-L), Mid-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (MIR).

Explained: How India and Japan will execute Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX Moon mission

After repeated delays that spanned nearly two years, American firm General Electric Aerospace has resumed delivery of the GE-F404 engines that power India's indigenous fighter jet Tejas and its variants. On Wednesday, 26th March, the firm announced the delivery of the first of 99 engines ordered by the Indian Government-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL), the builder of the Tejas jet. "Excited to deliver the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to our valued customer HAL for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A fight jet. It is an important milestone in our 40-year relationship with HAL," announced the firm.
This comes at a time when the Indian Air Force continues to grapple with a severe shortage of fighter jet squadrons. With 31 squadrons at present, the force is expected to decommission a few more aging squadrons of Soviet-era and European-origin aircraft in the coming years. These developments are really concerning, given that the force is required to have 42 squadrons of fighter jets to counter a two-front threat.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-confidence-in-hal-indian-air-force-chief-expresses-concern-over-delayed-deliveries-of-tejas-jet-8713489">&lsquo;No confidence in HAL&rsquo;: Indian Air Force chief expresses concern over delayed deliveries of Tejas jet</a>
India is now heavily relying on the rapid induction of the indigenously designed and developed Tejas aircraft variants to shore up the fleet numbers. However, various issues have caused delays in the induction of the Tejas series of fighter jets.
<h2>What led to the delay in jet engines?</h2>
Referring to the challenges in delivering the GEF04 engines for India, GE Aerospace said, by 2016 we fulfilled the commitment to HAL and delivered 65 F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas LCA. With no additional engine orders on the horizon, the production line for F404-IN20 was shut down. However, when HAL ordered an additional 99 engines in 2021 for the Tejas Mk1A LCA, our team began the complex task of restarting the F404-IN20 production line, which had been dormant for five years and re-engaging the engine&rsquo;s global supply chain.
"Restarting a jet engine production line is a challenging process. Restarting the F404-IN20 engine line during the COVID-19 pandemic was even more challenging. With a high focus on safety and quality and a remarkable commitment from our supply chain teams and our suppliers and partners, we have managed to restart the line. Today, we are working closely with our suppliers to ramp up production on parts and materials for the F404-IN20," read a statement from the firm.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-accuses-rjd-leader-tejashwi-yadav-of-stealing-sofa-sets-acs-upon-vacating-official-bungalow-765343">BJP accuses RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav of stealing sofa sets, ACs upon vacating official bungalow</a>
Earlier this year, the Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal AP Singh had lashed out at the slow-paced roll out of Tejas jets by the Government-run plane maker. He highlighted that the Air Force had received only 36 of the 40 jets that were ordered back in 2009-10. These comments came around the time that there were speculative videos circulating about China's 6th generation fighter aircraft being tested. India does not possess 5th generation fighter jets yet and India's own 5th generation fighter plane is about a decade away from being inducted.&nbsp;

India news: The firm announced the delivery of the first of 99 engines ordered by the Indian Government-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL)

After repeated delays that spanned nearly two years, American firm General Electric Aerospace has resumed delivery of the GE-F404 engines that power India's indigenous fighter jet Tejas and its variants. On Wednesday, 26th March, the firm announced the delivery of the first of 99 engines ordered by the Indian Government-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL), the builder of the Tejas jet. "Excited to deliver the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to our valued customer HAL for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A fight jet. It is an important milestone in our 40-year relationship with HAL," announced the firm. This comes at a time when the Indian Air Force continues to grapple with a severe shortage of fighter jet squadrons. With 31 squadrons at present, the force is expected to decommission a few more aging squadrons of Soviet-era and European-origin aircraft in the coming years. These developments are really concerning, given that the force is required to have 42 squadrons of fighter jets to counter a two-front threat. Also read: ‘No confidence in HAL’: Indian Air Force chief expresses concern over delayed deliveries of Tejas jet India is now heavily relying on the rapid induction of the indigenously designed and developed Tejas aircraft variants to shore up the fleet numbers. However, various issues have caused delays in the induction of the Tejas series of fighter jets. What led to the delay in jet engines? Referring to the challenges in delivering the GEF04 engines for India, GE Aerospace said, by 2016 we fulfilled the commitment to HAL and delivered 65 F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas LCA. With no additional engine orders on the horizon, the production line for F404-IN20 was shut down. However, when HAL ordered an additional 99 engines in 2021 for the Tejas Mk1A LCA, our team began the complex task of restarting the F404-IN20 production line, which had been dormant for five years and re-engaging the engine’s global supply chain. "Restarting a jet engine production line is a challenging process. Restarting the F404-IN20 engine line during the COVID-19 pandemic was even more challenging. With a high focus on safety and quality and a remarkable commitment from our supply chain teams and our suppliers and partners, we have managed to restart the line. Today, we are working closely with our suppliers to ramp up production on parts and materials for the F404-IN20," read a statement from the firm. Also read: BJP accuses RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav of stealing sofa sets, ACs upon vacating official bungalow Earlier this year, the Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal AP Singh had lashed out at the slow-paced roll out of Tejas jets by the Government-run plane maker. He highlighted that the Air Force had received only 36 of the 40 jets that were ordered back in 2009-10. These comments came around the time that there were speculative videos circulating about China's 6th generation fighter aircraft being tested. India does not possess 5th generation fighter jets yet and India's own 5th generation fighter plane is about a decade away from being inducted.

After delays, GE resumes engine delivery for India's Tejas fighter jets

Professional online gamers in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have approached the Madras High Court against the state government&rsquo;s ban on online gaming between 12 am and 5 am. This matter is likely to come up for hearing in the ongoing week. The Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA), under the state government, recently introduced a slew of regulations to curb addiction and ensure responsible online gaming. Comprising eight points, these regulations are referred to as the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (Real Money Games), Regulations, 2025.
The curbs brought in by the Tamil Nadu Government are aimed at &ldquo;online real money games&rdquo;, which are online games where a user makes a deposit in cash or kind with the expectation of winnings on that deposit. According to the regulations, minors under the age of 18 shall be prohibited from playing online real money games, Know Your Customer (KYC) verification shall be mandatory for creation of account to play online real money games, online game providers must ensure implementation of KYC verification process.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tamil-nadu-to-receive-heavy-rainfall-chennai-issues-orange-alert-8846064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tamil Nadu to receive heavy rainfall, Chennai issues orange alert</a>
Further, online game providers are required to display pop-up messages when a player plays continuously for longer than an hour, and such messages must appear every 30 minutes. Online gaming providers must provide facilities to fix daily, weekly, and monthly monetary limits for each player, caution messages such as &ldquo;Online Gaming is addictive in nature&rdquo; must be displayed on the login pages of these websites and apps.&nbsp; &ldquo;Blank hours shall be implemented for the real money games from 12 midnight to 5 am (based on Indian Standard Time). No login of the games shall be allowed during these restricted hours,&rdquo; reads the eighth and final point of the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority&rsquo;s latest set of regulations.
According to the petition filed by Vikram Kumar, a professional poker player, he relies exclusively on earnings from poker tournaments as his primary source of livelihood. His petition mentions that prohibiting login to online gaming portals between 12 am and 5 am is in clear violation of the fundamental right to practice any profession, trade, or business, as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution.&nbsp; &ldquo;Individuals who earn their livelihood through online skill gaming will be deprived of their means of sustenance, thereby violating their fundamental right to livelihood guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution,&rdquo; the petition adds.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chennai-traffic-police-to-use-air-conditioned-helmets-to-beat-the-heat-8884832">Chennai traffic police to use 'air-conditioned helmets' to beat the heat</a>
Further, it is mentioned that skill-based online gaming tournaments extend over long durations, and that the 12-5 am ban in Tamil Nadu would unfairly exclude players from the state from taking part in international online gaming tournaments. &ldquo;It feels like Tamil Nadu gamers are being unfairly singled out. The test of the country plays freely, and international tournaments take place at night. Why should we be forced to sit out when others can compete without restrictions?,&rdquo; Vikram asks.
For many competitive gamers, 12 am&ndash;5 am are prime playing hours, as they engage with top-tier global competitors and working professionals who participate in E-sports after their job commitments, maintains the Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA), which has also filed a legal challenge against the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority.
Arguing against then 12-5 am curbs, Vikram Kumar said that a major chunk of the prize money is up for grabs in the wee hours and missing that crucial period would adversely affect gamers. &ldquo;In most international tournaments, the games begin at 7 pm Indian time and go well past midnight. When there are curbs between the peak traffic hours of 12 am and 5 am, we cannot complete the tournament.&rdquo; He maintains that poker and chess are skilled sports and that many professionals are dependent on the same. &ldquo;We pay 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the game entry fee and 30 per cent tax is deducted at source on our earnings from the games. Gamers are taxed among the highest in India,&rdquo; Vikram said.
&ldquo;Restricting night-time gaming is akin to telling an athlete they cannot train during peak competition hours-&mdash;it simply does not make sense,&rdquo; says PS Rathanvel, an online chess player.

India News: Online game providers are required to display pop-up messages when a player plays continuously for longer than an hour, and such messages must appear every 30 minutes

Professional online gamers in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have approached the Madras High Court against the state government’s ban on online gaming between 12 am and 5 am. This matter is likely to come up for hearing in the ongoing week. The Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA), under the state government, recently introduced a slew of regulations to curb addiction and ensure responsible online gaming. Comprising eight points, these regulations are referred to as the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (Real Money Games), Regulations, 2025. The curbs brought in by the Tamil Nadu Government are aimed at “online real money games”, which are online games where a user makes a deposit in cash or kind with the expectation of winnings on that deposit. According to the regulations, minors under the age of 18 shall be prohibited from playing online real money games, Know Your Customer (KYC) verification shall be mandatory for creation of account to play online real money games, online game providers must ensure implementation of KYC verification process. Also read: Tamil Nadu to receive heavy rainfall, Chennai issues orange alert Further, online game providers are required to display pop-up messages when a player plays continuously for longer than an hour, and such messages must appear every 30 minutes. Online gaming providers must provide facilities to fix daily, weekly, and monthly monetary limits for each player, caution messages such as “Online Gaming is addictive in nature” must be displayed on the login pages of these websites and apps. “Blank hours shall be implemented for the real money games from 12 midnight to 5 am (based on Indian Standard Time). No login of the games shall be allowed during these restricted hours,” reads the eighth and final point of the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority’s latest set of regulations. According to the petition filed by Vikram Kumar, a professional poker player, he relies exclusively on earnings from poker tournaments as his primary source of livelihood. His petition mentions that prohibiting login to online gaming portals between 12 am and 5 am is in clear violation of the fundamental right to practice any profession, trade, or business, as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution. “Individuals who earn their livelihood through online skill gaming will be deprived of their means of sustenance, thereby violating their fundamental right to livelihood guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution,” the petition adds. Also Read | Chennai traffic police to use 'air-conditioned helmets' to beat the heat Further, it is mentioned that skill-based online gaming tournaments extend over long durations, and that the 12-5 am ban in Tamil Nadu would unfairly exclude players from the state from taking part in international online gaming tournaments. “It feels like Tamil Nadu gamers are being unfairly singled out. The test of the country plays freely, and international tournaments take place at night. Why should we be forced to sit out when others can compete without restrictions?,” Vikram asks. For many competitive gamers, 12 am–5 am are prime playing hours, as they engage with top-tier global competitors and working professionals who participate in E-sports after their job commitments, maintains the Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA), which has also filed a legal challenge against the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority. Arguing against then 12-5 am curbs, Vikram Kumar said that a major chunk of the prize money is up for grabs in the wee hours and missing that crucial period would adversely affect gamers. “In most international tournaments, the games begin at 7 pm Indian time and go well past midnight. When there are curbs between the peak traffic hours of 12 am and 5 am, we cannot complete the tournament.” He maintains that poker and chess are skilled sports and that many professionals are dependent on the same. “We pay 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the game entry fee and 30 per cent tax is deducted at source on our earnings from the games. Gamers are taxed among the highest in India,” Vikram said. “Restricting night-time gaming is akin to telling an athlete they cannot train during peak competition hours-—it simply does not make sense,” says PS Rathanvel, an online chess player.

Pro Gamers approach court against Tamil Nadu govt’s 12-5 am online gaming ban

India's fourth lunar mission Chandrayaan-4 would not just soft land on the Moon, it will collect lunar samples, vertically liftoff from the Moon, and carry the samples to our home planet. For this ambitious venture, ISRO is working towards building two crafts, each of which weighs around 4,750kg. Instead of launching one massive craft, ISRO would launch two of these crafts into space using two LVM3 rockets. Thereafter, these crafts would have to perform docking and undocking in space as part of the mission, ISRO Chief Dr V Narayanan told WION's Sidharth MP.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/astronomers-detect-oxygen-in-the-most-distant-galaxy-ever-found-i-was-astonished-8874868">Astronomers detect oxygen in the most distant galaxy ever found: 'I was astonished'</a>&nbsp;
The Indian Government has allocated Rs 2,104 crores (approx $240mn) for the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which is meant to collect and return samples from around the Moon's southern polar regions. According to India's Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, the target is to launch India's fourth lunar mission during October 2027.
<iframe width="560" height="314" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MJjc_ym13lc?si=kwrFfO3uPLR2PIqs" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
So far, only America, Russia, and China have executed Lunar sample return missions, with the most recent one being China's Chang'e-5 mission that returned samples from the dark side of the Moon. The dark side of the Moon is the region that is not visible from Earth. While multiple nations have attempted to land robotic crafts on the Moon to conduct in-situ studies, it must be emphasized that only limited equipment and sensors can be carried on the nearly 400,000km journey to the Moon, thus curbing the amount of studies that can be conducted there. Bringing back lunar samples to Earth can help test these samples in sophisticated and cutting-edge facilities, which can eventually offer a better understanding of the lunar samples, their characteristics and composition.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/starship-departs-for-mars-next-year-carrying-humanoid-robot-optimus-elon-musk-8857504">Starship to depart for Mars next year, carrying humanoid robot Optimus: Elon Musk</a>
On WION's query about ISRO having to perfect docking technology in Earth orbit and lunar orbit ahead of Chandrayaan-4, Dr Narayanan said that the SPADEX satellites performing docking and undocking recently are steps in that direction. "I am happy to report that SPADEX is a grand success. We are going step-by-step. We have loaded each of the twin SPADEX satellites with 5kg of fuel and each satellite has 3.5kg of fuel remaining. Therefore, we can perform multiple docking-undocking and related experiments over the years and deliver the result."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/asteroid-killed-dinosaurs-and-dying-stars-triggered-mass-extinction-on-earth-8875610">Interstellar murderers? Supernovae eerily close to Earth likely killed all life</a>
<h2>How Chandrayaan-4 will be executed&nbsp;</h2>
According to ISRO, The Chandrayaan-4 mission would comprise five modules(components) - Ascender Module (AM), Descender Module (DM), Re-entry Module (RM), Transfer Module (TM), and Propulsion Module (PM). The five modules&nbsp;are planned to be launched as two crafts- DM + AM as one craft, and TM + RM + PM as the second craft. Two LVM3 rockets would be used to launch these crafts into orbit.&nbsp;
After both launches&nbsp;are completed, the crafts will be docked together in an elliptical Earth orbit to form an integrated craft. Subsequent to docking, the Integrated craft will perform the first set of manoeuvres with the PM propulsion system. Once the PM is depleted, it gets jettisoned from the Integrated craft. The integrated craft (DM+AM+TM+RM) performs all the manoeuvres to achieve the lunar orbit. In the final lunar orbit, DM+AM gets separated from TM+RM, so that DM and AM then undergo powered descent to achieve soft landing on the lunar surface.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/human-population-on-earth-more-than-82-billion-people-8872274">Are there really 8.2 billion people on Earth? Study suggests there is a huge miscalculation</a>
After touchdown, a robotic arm, also called the Surface Sampling Robot mounted on the DM will scoop about 2 &ndash; 3 kg samples around the landing site and transfer it to a container on the AM. In addition, a drilling mechanism will collect sub-surface samples and transfer them to another container in the AM. The containers with samples will be sealed to prevent contamination and leakage during their journey to Earth. Various phases of sample collection operations will be monitored through video cameras. 
Once sample collection is completed, AM would ascend to the lunar orbit and dock with the parked TM+RM. Samples will be transferred from AM to RM. After sample transfer, the TM+RM will be undocked from AM. Later, the TM + RM will perform maneuvers to return to Earth. At a suitable entry corridor, RM would get separated from TM and perform ballistic re-entry into Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere and finally land onto Earth's landmass along with Lunar Sample.&nbsp;
The Chandrayaan-4 mission aims to be entirely self-reliant, with all critical technologies developed domestically. Surface sampling, drilling mechanism, sample storage cartridge, sample transfer and docking are some of the new technologies&nbsp;which would be demonstrated in this mission. Indian industries will play a pivotal role in realizing this mission, which is expected to promote skill development, create significant employment opportunities and drive technological advancements. Chandrayaan-4 will pave the way for India's future manned missions, lunar sample return, and scientific analysis. It will also develop and demonstrate technologies, algorithms and operations for a mission that returns from the Moon back to the Earth, eventually enabling the planning of a mission to land Gaganyatris(Indian astronauts) on the Moon&nbsp;and bring them back safely.&nbsp;

Science & Tech | India News | The Chandrayaan-4 mission aims to be entirely self-reliant, with all critical technologies developed domestically

India's fourth lunar mission Chandrayaan-4 would not just soft land on the Moon, it will collect lunar samples, vertically liftoff from the Moon, and carry the samples to our home planet. For this ambitious venture, ISRO is working towards building two crafts, each of which weighs around 4,750kg. Instead of launching one massive craft, ISRO would launch two of these crafts into space using two LVM3 rockets. Thereafter, these crafts would have to perform docking and undocking in space as part of the mission, ISRO Chief Dr V Narayanan told WION's Sidharth MP. Also read: Astronomers detect oxygen in the most distant galaxy ever found: 'I was astonished' The Indian Government has allocated Rs 2,104 crores (approx $240mn) for the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which is meant to collect and return samples from around the Moon's southern polar regions. According to India's Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, the target is to launch India's fourth lunar mission during October 2027. So far, only America, Russia, and China have executed Lunar sample return missions, with the most recent one being China's Chang'e-5 mission that returned samples from the dark side of the Moon. The dark side of the Moon is the region that is not visible from Earth. While multiple nations have attempted to land robotic crafts on the Moon to conduct in-situ studies, it must be emphasized that only limited equipment and sensors can be carried on the nearly 400,000km journey to the Moon, thus curbing the amount of studies that can be conducted there. Bringing back lunar samples to Earth can help test these samples in sophisticated and cutting-edge facilities, which can eventually offer a better understanding of the lunar samples, their characteristics and composition. Also read: Starship to depart for Mars next year, carrying humanoid robot Optimus: Elon Musk On WION's query about ISRO having to perfect docking technology in Earth orbit and lunar orbit ahead of Chandrayaan-4, Dr Narayanan said that the SPADEX satellites performing docking and undocking recently are steps in that direction. "I am happy to report that SPADEX is a grand success. We are going step-by-step. We have loaded each of the twin SPADEX satellites with 5kg of fuel and each satellite has 3.5kg of fuel remaining. Therefore, we can perform multiple docking-undocking and related experiments over the years and deliver the result." Also read: Interstellar murderers? Supernovae eerily close to Earth likely killed all life How Chandrayaan-4 will be executed According to ISRO, The Chandrayaan-4 mission would comprise five modules(components) - Ascender Module (AM), Descender Module (DM), Re-entry Module (RM), Transfer Module (TM), and Propulsion Module (PM). The five modules are planned to be launched as two crafts- DM + AM as one craft, and TM + RM + PM as the second craft. Two LVM3 rockets would be used to launch these crafts into orbit. After both launches are completed, the crafts will be docked together in an elliptical Earth orbit to form an integrated craft. Subsequent to docking, the Integrated craft will perform the first set of manoeuvres with the PM propulsion system. Once the PM is depleted, it gets jettisoned from the Integrated craft. The integrated craft (DM+AM+TM+RM) performs all the manoeuvres to achieve the lunar orbit. In the final lunar orbit, DM+AM gets separated from TM+RM, so that DM and AM then undergo powered descent to achieve soft landing on the lunar surface. Also read: Are there really 8.2 billion people on Earth? Study suggests there is a huge miscalculation After touchdown, a robotic arm, also called the Surface Sampling Robot mounted on the DM will scoop about 2 – 3 kg samples around the landing site and transfer it to a container on the AM. In addition, a drilling mechanism will collect sub-surface samples and transfer them to another container in the AM. The containers with samples will be sealed to prevent contamination and leakage during their journey to Earth. Various phases of sample collection operations will be monitored through video cameras. Once sample collection is completed, AM would ascend to the lunar orbit and dock with the parked TM+RM. Samples will be transferred from AM to RM. After sample transfer, the TM+RM will be undocked from AM. Later, the TM + RM will perform maneuvers to return to Earth. At a suitable entry corridor, RM would get separated from TM and perform ballistic re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere and finally land onto Earth's landmass along with Lunar Sample. The Chandrayaan-4 mission aims to be entirely self-reliant, with all critical technologies developed domestically. Surface sampling, drilling mechanism, sample storage cartridge, sample transfer and docking are some of the new technologies which would be demonstrated in this mission. Indian industries will play a pivotal role in realizing this mission, which is expected to promote skill development, create significant employment opportunities and drive technological advancements. Chandrayaan-4 will pave the way for India's future manned missions, lunar sample return, and scientific analysis. It will also develop and demonstrate technologies, algorithms and operations for a mission that returns from the Moon back to the Earth, eventually enabling the planning of a mission to land Gaganyatris(Indian astronauts) on the Moon and bring them back safely.

Explainer: How ISRO's Chandrayaan-4 will bring Moon samples to Earth

Inputs from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and action by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) led to the seizure of narcotics worth $3.8 million, or Rs. 33 crore. The seized narcotics were being smuggled via sea route from Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu in southern India to Male, Maldives. According to authorities, the seized contraband was confirmed to be Hashish oil, a concentrated cannabis extract. Hashish oil, or Hash oil, is known to have a significantly higher amount of psychoactive chemical THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) concentration than other cannabis products. Pictures show that the contraband was being smuggled in packets bearing markings of branded grocery items.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/2611-mastermind-tahawwur-ranas-plea-opposing-extradition-to-india-rejected-by-us-court-8833123">26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Rana's plea opposing extradition to India rejected by US court</a>
In the afternoon hours of Wednesday, 5th March, DRI had shared inputs about a possible drug consignment aboard the tugboat Shwe Lin Yone, which was towing a barge from Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu to Male in the Maldives. That night, two Indian Coast Guard vessels intercepted the suspected tugboat south of the Gulf of Mannar, the waters between southern coastal Tamil Nadu and Western Sri Lanka.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-canada-with-250pc-tariffs-on-dairy-slams-trudeaus-nation-for-cheating-us-farmers-8832659" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump threatens Canada with 250% tariffs on dairy, slams Trudeau's nation of 'cheating' US farmers</a>
A boarding team from the ICG ships apprehended the crew of the suspected vessel, following which the ICG ships escorted the apprehended vessels (tugboat and barge being towed) for 40 hours, finally bringing them to Tuticorin port for further procedures.&nbsp;
On Friday, 7th March afternoon, the nine crew members of the vessels were handed over to the DRI, and the contraband was confirmed to be 30 kg of Hashish oil. Further legal action is being undertaken in this matter, said authorities.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainians-built-up-trust-zelenskys-approval-rating-surges-to-68-per-cent-after-showdown-with-trump-8831282" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zelensky's approval rating surges to 68 per cent after showdown with Trump</a>

India News: The seized contraband was confirmed to be Hashish oil, a concentrated cannabis extract. Hashish oil has a significantly higher amount of psychoactive chemical THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) concentration than other cannabis products.

Inputs from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and action by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) led to the seizure of narcotics worth $3.8 million, or Rs. 33 crore. The seized narcotics were being smuggled via sea route from Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu in southern India to Male, Maldives. According to authorities, the seized contraband was confirmed to be Hashish oil, a concentrated cannabis extract. Hashish oil, or Hash oil, is known to have a significantly higher amount of psychoactive chemical THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) concentration than other cannabis products. Pictures show that the contraband was being smuggled in packets bearing markings of branded grocery items. Also Read | 26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Rana's plea opposing extradition to India rejected by US court In the afternoon hours of Wednesday, 5th March, DRI had shared inputs about a possible drug consignment aboard the tugboat Shwe Lin Yone, which was towing a barge from Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu to Male in the Maldives. That night, two Indian Coast Guard vessels intercepted the suspected tugboat south of the Gulf of Mannar, the waters between southern coastal Tamil Nadu and Western Sri Lanka. Also read | Trump threatens Canada with 250% tariffs on dairy, slams Trudeau's nation of 'cheating' US farmers A boarding team from the ICG ships apprehended the crew of the suspected vessel, following which the ICG ships escorted the apprehended vessels (tugboat and barge being towed) for 40 hours, finally bringing them to Tuticorin port for further procedures. On Friday, 7th March afternoon, the nine crew members of the vessels were handed over to the DRI, and the contraband was confirmed to be 30 kg of Hashish oil. Further legal action is being undertaken in this matter, said authorities. Also read | Zelensky's approval rating surges to 68 per cent after showdown with Trump

Narcotics worth $3.8mn seized on way to Maldives from Tamil Nadu

The Indian Space agency has announced the commencement of construction at the country's second spaceport, following a 'groundbreaking ceremony' this week. Meant to specifically launch India's smallest and newest rocket -the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle(SSLV), this facility is located in Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district. Thus far, the spaceport in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh is India's lone gateway to space.
The site is now ready for the commencement of the construction of the Upper Stage Assembly Facilities (UAF-I &amp; UAF-II) for the preparation of the second and third stages of the 3-staged SSLV vehicle along with a Launch Service Building (LSB), ISRO said.&nbsp;
The launch complex planned at Kulasekarapattinam is primarily to address the polar launches(launching towards the south pole) of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) which is capable of launching small satellites weighing up to 500kg. The SSLV rocket has had three flight so far and has completed what ISRO terms the 'development phase'. Henceforth, the vehicle will perform operational missions.&nbsp;
<h2>Why does India need a second spaceport?</h2>
While the existing spaceport at Sriharikota is ideal for launching heavier rockets towards the east(equatorial orbits), a major challenge crops up when launching ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle and similar rockets being built by startups. When a rocket travels towards the South Pole from Sriharikota, the rocket would have to overfly the island nation of Sri Lanka. Given the immense risk of overflying a country, India's rockets are programmed to perform a manoeuvre to avoid the Lankan landmass. So, instead of flying in a straight line, the rocket follows a curved path and takes a turn.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/radio-burst-travels-to-earth-from-other-side-of-the-universe-8829758" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'200 million light years': Radio burst reaches Earth from other side of the universe</a>
To perform this turn manoeuvre, the rocket burns a considerable amount of fuel. While larger rockets can perform this manoeuvre without much impact on the rocket's payload carrying capacity, smaller rockets such as SSLV would lose a lot of fuel doing so. Losing fuel for the turn manoeuvre would mean that the rocket's payload carrying capacity is reduced, thereby affecting its cost efficiency. Which is why India had been looking for a location from where the smaller rockets could be launched in a straight line, without the risk of overflying Lanka.&nbsp;
Situated in Tamil Nadu's southern region, Kulasekarapattinam's unique location helps SSLV-class rockets save on fuel and fly a straight approach towards the south pole. Given that smaller rockets are easier to build, assemble, and launch with less time in comparison to their larger counterparts, it is important for India to have a dedicated spaceport for such smaller rockets.&nbsp;

While the existing spaceport at Sriharikota is ideal for launching heavier rockets towards the east(equatorial orbits), a major challenge crops up when launching ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle | Science & Tech

The Indian Space agency has announced the commencement of construction at the country's second spaceport, following a 'groundbreaking ceremony' this week. Meant to specifically launch India's smallest and newest rocket -the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle(SSLV), this facility is located in Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district. Thus far, the spaceport in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh is India's lone gateway to space. The site is now ready for the commencement of the construction of the Upper Stage Assembly Facilities (UAF-I & UAF-II) for the preparation of the second and third stages of the 3-staged SSLV vehicle along with a Launch Service Building (LSB), ISRO said. The launch complex planned at Kulasekarapattinam is primarily to address the polar launches(launching towards the south pole) of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) which is capable of launching small satellites weighing up to 500kg. The SSLV rocket has had three flight so far and has completed what ISRO terms the 'development phase'. Henceforth, the vehicle will perform operational missions. Why does India need a second spaceport? While the existing spaceport at Sriharikota is ideal for launching heavier rockets towards the east(equatorial orbits), a major challenge crops up when launching ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle and similar rockets being built by startups. When a rocket travels towards the South Pole from Sriharikota, the rocket would have to overfly the island nation of Sri Lanka. Given the immense risk of overflying a country, India's rockets are programmed to perform a manoeuvre to avoid the Lankan landmass. So, instead of flying in a straight line, the rocket follows a curved path and takes a turn. Also Read: '200 million light years': Radio burst reaches Earth from other side of the universe To perform this turn manoeuvre, the rocket burns a considerable amount of fuel. While larger rockets can perform this manoeuvre without much impact on the rocket's payload carrying capacity, smaller rockets such as SSLV would lose a lot of fuel doing so. Losing fuel for the turn manoeuvre would mean that the rocket's payload carrying capacity is reduced, thereby affecting its cost efficiency. Which is why India had been looking for a location from where the smaller rockets could be launched in a straight line, without the risk of overflying Lanka. Situated in Tamil Nadu's southern region, Kulasekarapattinam's unique location helps SSLV-class rockets save on fuel and fly a straight approach towards the south pole. Given that smaller rockets are easier to build, assemble, and launch with less time in comparison to their larger counterparts, it is important for India to have a dedicated spaceport for such smaller rockets.

ISRO starts building 2nd spaceport; Why is it needed?

The Central Industrial Security Force which guards India's spaceport, nuclear power plants, airports, seaports, Parliament and similar vital facilities, has established a group of domain experts to counter rapidly-evolving challenges such as drones, cyber-attacks, aviation security threats, among others, said the agency's chief. Director General Rajwinder Singh Bhatti was speaking ahead of the CISF's 56th Raising Day, which falls on 7th March. Home Minister Amit Shah will be Chief Guest at the Raising Day event, which is being held in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu for the first time. CISF&nbsp;
Established under an Act of Parliament in the year 1968, Central Industrial Security Force started off with a little over 3,100 personnel. As on date, the force is 200,000 strong and is poised to recruit over 15,000 personnel every year.&nbsp;
Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-home-ministry-gives-orders-for-increased-anti-terror-operations-in-jk-to-make-the-region-terror-free-8828103" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank"> India: Home Ministry gives orders for increased anti-terror operations in J&amp;K to make the region terror free</a>
CISF is providing security to the strategic establishment, including the Indian Government's Department of Space, Department of Atomic Energy, Airports, Delhi Metro, seaports, historical monuments and facilities across energy and metals sector. According to the Government mandate, CISF provides security to the premises staff along with the security of property and establishments. CISF is also providing security to VVIPs, based on classifications such as Z Plus, Z, X, Y.
Speaking of the force's ongoing modernization efforts, Director General RS Bhatti said that CISF has established a group of domain experts in Information Technology(IT), Aviation security, counter drone technologies, fire management, weapons and tactics, considering the rapidly evolving operational environment and threats. He said that the force would work with leading institutions in India and abroad for advanced training in these sectors. He added that the domain experts would bring new knowledge and skills and tech into the organization, helping it develop better security protocols and strategies.
&nbsp;

Established under an Act of Parliament in the year 1968, Central Industrial Security Force started off with a little over 3,100 personnel India News.

The Central Industrial Security Force which guards India's spaceport, nuclear power plants, airports, seaports, Parliament and similar vital facilities, has established a group of domain experts to counter rapidly-evolving challenges such as drones, cyber-attacks, aviation security threats, among others, said the agency's chief. Director General Rajwinder Singh Bhatti was speaking ahead of the CISF's 56th Raising Day, which falls on 7th March. Home Minister Amit Shah will be Chief Guest at the Raising Day event, which is being held in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu for the first time. CISF Established under an Act of Parliament in the year 1968, Central Industrial Security Force started off with a little over 3,100 personnel. As on date, the force is 200,000 strong and is poised to recruit over 15,000 personnel every year. Also Read: India: Home Ministry gives orders for increased anti-terror operations in J&K to make the region terror free CISF is providing security to the strategic establishment, including the Indian Government's Department of Space, Department of Atomic Energy, Airports, Delhi Metro, seaports, historical monuments and facilities across energy and metals sector. According to the Government mandate, CISF provides security to the premises staff along with the security of property and establishments. CISF is also providing security to VVIPs, based on classifications such as Z Plus, Z, X, Y. Speaking of the force's ongoing modernization efforts, Director General RS Bhatti said that CISF has established a group of domain experts in Information Technology(IT), Aviation security, counter drone technologies, fire management, weapons and tactics, considering the rapidly evolving operational environment and threats. He said that the force would work with leading institutions in India and abroad for advanced training in these sectors. He added that the domain experts would bring new knowledge and skills and tech into the organization, helping it develop better security protocols and strategies.

We're evolving to counter cyber threats, drones: India's CISF Chief

Even the lowest denomination Indian currency notes- Rs.10 and Rs.20- can fetch you a hot beverage and a snack at Kolkata and Chennai airports in India, and more airports are soon to offer similar services. Inaugurating the country's second 'Udan Yatri Cafe' at the Chennai airport, Indian Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that the government is setting up 'UDAN Yatri Cafes' that sell water bottles or tea at Rs.10 and coffee or snacks at Rs.20, to ensure that no passenger goes hungry at an airport. Typically, a hot beverage and a snack at an airport eatery could cost upwards of Rs.150.&nbsp;
The Kolkata Cafe has been a resounding success, with travellers expressing high satisfaction with the quality, taste and cost of the offerings. Following immense passenger demand, the initiative is now being expanded nationwide, the minister said. He added that this initiative was undertaken following passenger feedback, especially given how people from across socio-economic strata are now preferring air travel.
Specific to the Chennai airport, the minister said that work is underway to build Terminal 2 Phase 2, which would further enhance the annual capacity of the airport from the existing 22 million to 35 million. He added that the 86,135 sq meter expansion of Terminal 2 is underway to enhance international operations. Further, the refurbishment of Terminals 1 and 4 is progressing with an investment of over ₹75 crore.
<h2>New airport in Chennai</h2>
On the proposed second airport for Chennai, the minister emphasized that the Central government was keen on building and developing more airports in the country, as it is directly linked to tourism, economic activity and progress. On the Parandur site where the new airport is proposed to be built, the minister clarified that the site selection is done by the state government, and the Centre had cleared it and offered in-principal approval, further consultations are to happen in the coming weeks and the due process would be followed. The Parandur airport project has been facing backlash from the agricultural land owners and farmers in the region.
Queried about the near-monopoly in India's airline sector, Naidu replied that the government wanted more airline operators in the country, but the main challenges are the massive investment required and the volatile nature of the business, which makes it hard to obtain support from banks. He assured that any airline wanting to enter the market would be handheld and supported by the government, as per process.
&nbsp;

The Kolkata Cafe has been a resounding success, with travellers expressing high satisfaction with the quality, taste and cost of the offerings.

Even the lowest denomination Indian currency notes- Rs.10 and Rs.20- can fetch you a hot beverage and a snack at Kolkata and Chennai airports in India, and more airports are soon to offer similar services. Inaugurating the country's second 'Udan Yatri Cafe' at the Chennai airport, Indian Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that the government is setting up 'UDAN Yatri Cafes' that sell water bottles or tea at Rs.10 and coffee or snacks at Rs.20, to ensure that no passenger goes hungry at an airport. Typically, a hot beverage and a snack at an airport eatery could cost upwards of Rs.150. The Kolkata Cafe has been a resounding success, with travellers expressing high satisfaction with the quality, taste and cost of the offerings. Following immense passenger demand, the initiative is now being expanded nationwide, the minister said. He added that this initiative was undertaken following passenger feedback, especially given how people from across socio-economic strata are now preferring air travel. Specific to the Chennai airport, the minister said that work is underway to build Terminal 2 Phase 2, which would further enhance the annual capacity of the airport from the existing 22 million to 35 million. He added that the 86,135 sq meter expansion of Terminal 2 is underway to enhance international operations. Further, the refurbishment of Terminals 1 and 4 is progressing with an investment of over ₹75 crore. New airport in Chennai On the proposed second airport for Chennai, the minister emphasized that the Central government was keen on building and developing more airports in the country, as it is directly linked to tourism, economic activity and progress. On the Parandur site where the new airport is proposed to be built, the minister clarified that the site selection is done by the state government, and the Centre had cleared it and offered in-principal approval, further consultations are to happen in the coming weeks and the due process would be followed. The Parandur airport project has been facing backlash from the agricultural land owners and farmers in the region. Queried about the near-monopoly in India's airline sector, Naidu replied that the government wanted more airline operators in the country, but the main challenges are the massive investment required and the volatile nature of the business, which makes it hard to obtain support from banks. He assured that any airline wanting to enter the market would be handheld and supported by the government, as per process.

Get tea, snacks for Rs 20 at airports: Indian Aviation Minister

In the presence of political strategist-turned politician Prashant Kishore (referred to as PK), actor-politician Joseph Vijay lashed out at India&rsquo;s ruling BJP and its rival party Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s ruling DMK while addressing his fledgling political party&rsquo;s first anniversary celebration in Mamallapuram. &ldquo;We are an emerging primary political force in Tamil Nadu politics, with a firm commitment to create history in the 2026 state assembly polls, just like it had happened in 1967 and 1977 here,&rdquo; Vijay said.
In his usual style, without naming the respective parties, Vijay took on the BJP and DMK, while referring to the ongoing row between them over the National Education Policy and the Hindi imposition debate. He stated that granting funds for education was the central government&rsquo;s (BJP) duty, while fighting for the rights is the state government&rsquo;s (DMK) duty. Vijay claimed that the recent hashtag wars between the DMK and BJP were &ldquo;pre-planned&rdquo; and that the two ruling parties were fighting in a &ldquo;silly manner&rdquo; over a serious issue.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-20-civil-service-employees-resigned-from-trumps-doge-in-protest-8758303" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Over 20 civil service employees resigned from Trump&rsquo;s DOGE in protest</a>
Vijay also emphasised the importance of booth-level agents who work at the grassroots level and reach out to the masses. He said that his budding party would strengthen its booth-level presence and showcase its strength in the political arena.
<h2>TVK has roped in PK to take on DMK and BJP?</h2>
Prashant Kishore, the political strategist-turned politician, was the &lsquo;chief guest&rsquo; at the anniversary event, where he spoke highly of Vijay and his political party. Interestingly, PK has earlier worked as a political and election strategist with major Indian political parties such as the BJP, Congress, DMK, TMC, and YSRCP, among others.
&ldquo;Vijay&rsquo;s party TVK is a movement of millions who want to see a new political order, this is a time for change, and your party represents change and hope. I am here because of shared values, ideals, ideologies, goals, and desires,&rdquo; PK said of Vijay&rsquo;s party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Kishore also alleged that Tamil Nadu is the most politically corrupt state in India.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m7m1erqv-2ktnq4vr-bbowfm3g">
"I have to become the most popular Bihari in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a>..so, i have to compete with MS Dhoni, who makes IPL team CSK win..I'll make <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TVK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TVK</a> under your leaders win, that's why I'm here" political strategist Prashant Kishore Is this a joke or genuine confidence?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vijay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vijay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TVKVijay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TVKVijay</a> <a href="https://t.co/jKXB19HhbV">pic.twitter.com/jKXB19HhbV</a>
&mdash; Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1894742464889786550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
 In what is being widely seen as boastfulness, PK also claimed that by making Vijay&rsquo;s party win the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, he could end up becoming more popular in the state than his fellow Bihari and former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni, who plays for the local Chennai Super Kings IPL team. &ldquo;I will make TVK under your leader win, that is why I am here,&rdquo; PK claimed.&nbsp;
PK added that he would return to Tamil Nadu in 2026 to deliver a &lsquo;thank you speech&rsquo; to the people of the state after the victory of the TVK party.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-gaza-number-one-us-president-shares-his-vision-of-post-war-region-with-netanyahu-chilling-by-pool-8758822" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&lsquo;Trump Gaza number one&rsquo;: US president shares his vision of post-war region, with Netanyahu chilling by pool</a>

India News | Entertainment: “We are an emerging primary political force in Tamil Nadu politics, with a firm commitment to create history in the 2026 state assembly polls, just like it had happened in 1967 and 1977 here,” Vijay said.

In the presence of political strategist-turned politician Prashant Kishore (referred to as PK), actor-politician Joseph Vijay lashed out at India’s ruling BJP and its rival party Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK while addressing his fledgling political party’s first anniversary celebration in Mamallapuram. “We are an emerging primary political force in Tamil Nadu politics, with a firm commitment to create history in the 2026 state assembly polls, just like it had happened in 1967 and 1977 here,” Vijay said. In his usual style, without naming the respective parties, Vijay took on the BJP and DMK, while referring to the ongoing row between them over the National Education Policy and the Hindi imposition debate. He stated that granting funds for education was the central government’s (BJP) duty, while fighting for the rights is the state government’s (DMK) duty. Vijay claimed that the recent hashtag wars between the DMK and BJP were “pre-planned” and that the two ruling parties were fighting in a “silly manner” over a serious issue. Also read: Over 20 civil service employees resigned from Trump’s DOGE in protest Vijay also emphasised the importance of booth-level agents who work at the grassroots level and reach out to the masses. He said that his budding party would strengthen its booth-level presence and showcase its strength in the political arena. TVK has roped in PK to take on DMK and BJP? Prashant Kishore, the political strategist-turned politician, was the ‘chief guest’ at the anniversary event, where he spoke highly of Vijay and his political party. Interestingly, PK has earlier worked as a political and election strategist with major Indian political parties such as the BJP, Congress, DMK, TMC, and YSRCP, among others. “Vijay’s party TVK is a movement of millions who want to see a new political order, this is a time for change, and your party represents change and hope. I am here because of shared values, ideals, ideologies, goals, and desires,” PK said of Vijay’s party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Kishore also alleged that Tamil Nadu is the most politically corrupt state in India. "I have to become the most popular Bihari in #TamilNadu..so, i have to compete with MS Dhoni, who makes IPL team CSK win..I'll make #TVK under your leaders win, that's why I'm here" political strategist Prashant Kishore Is this a joke or genuine confidence?? #Vijay #TVKVijay pic.twitter.com/jKXB19HhbV — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) February 26, 2025 In what is being widely seen as boastfulness, PK also claimed that by making Vijay’s party win the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, he could end up becoming more popular in the state than his fellow Bihari and former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni, who plays for the local Chennai Super Kings IPL team. “I will make TVK under your leader win, that is why I am here,” PK claimed. PK added that he would return to Tamil Nadu in 2026 to deliver a ‘thank you speech’ to the people of the state after the victory of the TVK party. Also read: ‘Trump Gaza number one’: US president shares his vision of post-war region, with Netanyahu chilling by pool

Actor Vijay’s TVK teams up with PK to attack DMK and BJP

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Sidharth MP

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.