Apple has confirmed plans to open its first company-run retail store in India's financial hub of Mumbai. Apple products have been sold in India for years on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart and through resellers.

Apple set to open its first official retail store in India

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (April 6) lashed out at the Opposition as he addressed the party workers on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s 44th Foundation Day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PM Modi said that the BJP represents a new culture of taking everyone along as he slammed people with a "baadshahi" mindset for insulting the poor and backwards.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian prime minister said that the BJP was committed to taking tough steps to rid India of corruption, nepotism and law and order challenges and also stressed that his party is focusing on the idea of "Nation First".&nbsp;</p>

<p>PM Modi even warned his own party workers and said that complacency must not prevail. He stressed that it is already said that no one can defeat it in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said, "Despite being the world's biggest political party, we don't have to be complacent. People have already said that no one can defeat the BJP in 2024. This is true but as BJP workers we have to win the heart of every country's citizen."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch his address:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">भाजपा के स्थापना दिवस पर सभी कार्यकर्ताओं को बधाई। पार्टी को खून-पसीने से सींचने वाले कार्यकर्ताओं के कारण ही हमें देश सेवा का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ है। <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BJP4India</a> <a href="https://t.co/SK9HYAwf77">https://t.co/SK9HYAwf77</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1643832693631729667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Modi accused the Indian National Congress and other political parties of being tied to nepotism, dynasty, casteism and regionalism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said that the BJP represents a new culture of taking everyone along. He also said they have been battling an existential crisis and resorting to levelling allegations and conspiracies against the ruling party, with any direct reference to various allegations levelled by these parties against his government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PM Modi said that the opposition is full of hate and frustration, and also added: "Today, they have become so desperate that they have openly started saying 'Modi teri kabar khudegi' (your grave will be dug)".&nbsp;</p>

<p>PM Modi said that the support of the poor, tribals, backward, Dalits and women among others would continue to protect 'lotus' and help it bloom. Lotus is BJP's election symbol.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (April 6) lashed out at the Opposition as he addressed the party workers on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s 44th Foundation Day.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (April 6) lashed out at the Opposition as he addressed the party workers on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s 44th Foundation Day. PM Modi said that the BJP represents a new culture of taking everyone along as he slammed people with a "baadshahi" mindset for insulting the poor and backwards. The Indian prime minister said that the BJP was committed to taking tough steps to rid India of corruption, nepotism and law and order challenges and also stressed that his party is focusing on the idea of "Nation First". PM Modi even warned his own party workers and said that complacency must not prevail. He stressed that it is already said that no one can defeat it in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He said, "Despite being the world's biggest political party, we don't have to be complacent. People have already said that no one can defeat the BJP in 2024. This is true but as BJP workers we have to win the heart of every country's citizen." Watch his address: भाजपा के स्थापना दिवस पर सभी कार्यकर्ताओं को बधाई। पार्टी को खून-पसीने से सींचने वाले कार्यकर्ताओं के कारण ही हमें देश सेवा का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ है। @BJP4India https://t.co/SK9HYAwf77 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2023 × Modi accused the Indian National Congress and other political parties of being tied to nepotism, dynasty, casteism and regionalism. He said that the BJP represents a new culture of taking everyone along. He also said they have been battling an existential crisis and resorting to levelling allegations and conspiracies against the ruling party, with any direct reference to various allegations levelled by these parties against his government. PM Modi said that the opposition is full of hate and frustration, and also added: "Today, they have become so desperate that they have openly started saying 'Modi teri kabar khudegi' (your grave will be dug)". PM Modi said that the support of the poor, tribals, backward, Dalits and women among others would continue to protect 'lotus' and help it bloom. Lotus is BJP's election symbol. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

PM Modi accuses opposition of nepotism, dynasty, casteism and regionalism

India's Central Bank, Reserve Bank of India (RBI),decided to keep the interest rates unchanged contrary to market expectations for a 0.25% hike. The RBI left its key lending rate on hold at 6.5%.

India's Central Bank pauses on rate hikes; RBI on standby mode | India News | WION

<p>Skyroot Aerospace, the Indian firm that launched the country's first privately-built rocket has now announced a new milestone - the test firing of a 3-D printed Cryogenic Engine for a duration of 200 seconds. Cryogenic engines are among the most sophisticated engineering feats in rocketry and only a few nations and private firms possess this technology.</p>

<p>Cryogenic engines are highly-efficient and powerful and enable rockets to carry heavier payloads to space. WION spoke to Pawan K Chandana, Co-Founder, Skyroot Aerospace to understand the significance of the test.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chatgpt-can-propel-four-day-work-week-heres-what-nobel-prize-winning-economist-says-579621">ChatGPT can propel four-day work-week? Here's what Nobel Prize-winning economist says</a></p>

<p>Cryogenic engines are powered by super-cooled fuels, that are stored at temperatures below -150 degrees centigrade. The most common cryogenic fuel combination is liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. However, Skyroot's latest engine known as 'Dhawan-II' is powered by Liquified Natural Gas(comprising more than 90%methane) and Liquid oxygen.</p>

<p>The engine has been named so, as a tribute to Prof. Satish Dhawan, an pioneer who made great contributions to India's space programme.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-us-south-korea-drills-driving-tensions-in-korean-peninsula-to-brink-of-nuclear-war-579606">North Korea says US-South Korea drills driving tensions in Korean Peninsula to 'brink of nuclear war'</a></p>

<p>Queried about the rationale behind going for a Methane-Liquid oxygen fuel combination, Pawan explained to WION that using alternative cryogenic or semi-cryogenic fuels such as liquid hydrogen or kerosene had certain limitations. "Liquid hydrogen is a very complex fuel to store and handle.</p>

<p>It is also highly explosive in nature and it is expensive as well. Kerosene is not a clean burning fuel like methane and leaves behind carbon soot deposits" he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In November 2022, Skyroot had launched 'Vikram-S', an upper-atmospheric research rocket. However, this doesn't qualify as a spacefaring rocket. It is to develop their own spacefaring rockets that the firm has been developing and testing engines such as 'Dhawan-II'.</p>

<p>The firm is developing two spacefaring rockets Vikram-1 and Vikram-2, both of which are four-stage rockets, with three solid-fuel stages and a liquid-fuelled upper stage. While Vikram-1 uses earth-storable fuels in its upper stage, Vikram-2 will be using a cryogenic upper stage, thus helping it carry more payloads to space.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Gravitas: Is India emerging as a space leader?</strong></p>

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<p>"Vikram-1 is meant to carry 290kg to low earth orbit, whereas Vikram-2 with its Cryogenic(methane-liquid oxygen) engine can carry upto 400kg to the same orbit. This new engine offers a 40percent increase in payload carrying" Pawan said.</p>

<p>He also explained that methane was the most preferred fuel choice, as it was denser than hydrogen and could be stored in smaller tanks. He added that burning of methane released very less carbon and that it is even possible to generate green methane from renewable energy.</p>

<p>Having methane-powered engines given the firm confidence to test and build re-usable rockets as well.</p>

<p>According to the firm, the 'Dhawan-II' cryogenic engine delivers a thrust of 3.5 Kilo Newton, a significant upgrade over the 1.0 Kilo Newton thrust 'Dhawan-I' cryogenic engine that they had test fired in 2021. The firm is looking to launch their maiden spacefaring rocket Vikram-1, by the end of 2023, Pawan told WION.</p>

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Skyroot Aerospace, the Indian firm that launched the country's first privately-built rocket has now announced a new milestone - the test firing of a 3-D printed Cryogenic Engine for a duration of 200 seconds.

Skyroot Aerospace, the Indian firm that launched the country's first privately-built rocket has now announced a new milestone - the test firing of a 3-D printed Cryogenic Engine for a duration of 200 seconds. Cryogenic engines are among the most sophisticated engineering feats in rocketry and only a few nations and private firms possess this technology. Cryogenic engines are highly-efficient and powerful and enable rockets to carry heavier payloads to space. WION spoke to Pawan K Chandana, Co-Founder, Skyroot Aerospace to understand the significance of the test. Also Read | ChatGPT can propel four-day work-week? Here's what Nobel Prize-winning economist says Cryogenic engines are powered by super-cooled fuels, that are stored at temperatures below -150 degrees centigrade. The most common cryogenic fuel combination is liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. However, Skyroot's latest engine known as 'Dhawan-II' is powered by Liquified Natural Gas(comprising more than 90%methane) and Liquid oxygen. The engine has been named so, as a tribute to Prof. Satish Dhawan, an pioneer who made great contributions to India's space programme. Also Read | North Korea says US-South Korea drills driving tensions in Korean Peninsula to 'brink of nuclear war' Queried about the rationale behind going for a Methane-Liquid oxygen fuel combination, Pawan explained to WION that using alternative cryogenic or semi-cryogenic fuels such as liquid hydrogen or kerosene had certain limitations. "Liquid hydrogen is a very complex fuel to store and handle. It is also highly explosive in nature and it is expensive as well. Kerosene is not a clean burning fuel like methane and leaves behind carbon soot deposits" he said. In November 2022, Skyroot had launched 'Vikram-S', an upper-atmospheric research rocket. However, this doesn't qualify as a spacefaring rocket. It is to develop their own spacefaring rockets that the firm has been developing and testing engines such as 'Dhawan-II'. The firm is developing two spacefaring rockets Vikram-1 and Vikram-2, both of which are four-stage rockets, with three solid-fuel stages and a liquid-fuelled upper stage. While Vikram-1 uses earth-storable fuels in its upper stage, Vikram-2 will be using a cryogenic upper stage, thus helping it carry more payloads to space. Watch | Gravitas: Is India emerging as a space leader? × "Vikram-1 is meant to carry 290kg to low earth orbit, whereas Vikram-2 with its Cryogenic(methane-liquid oxygen) engine can carry upto 400kg to the same orbit. This new engine offers a 40percent increase in payload carrying" Pawan said. He also explained that methane was the most preferred fuel choice, as it was denser than hydrogen and could be stored in smaller tanks. He added that burning of methane released very less carbon and that it is even possible to generate green methane from renewable energy. Having methane-powered engines given the firm confidence to test and build re-usable rockets as well. According to the firm, the 'Dhawan-II' cryogenic engine delivers a thrust of 3.5 Kilo Newton, a significant upgrade over the 1.0 Kilo Newton thrust 'Dhawan-I' cryogenic engine that they had test fired in 2021. The firm is looking to launch their maiden spacefaring rocket Vikram-1, by the end of 2023, Pawan told WION. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian firm test fires 3-D printed cryogenic engine; spacefaring rocket launch by 2023 end

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<p>In what comes as a horrific incident, a man in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand beat his wife to death after she stopped him from drinking. The deceased woman is said to be the 12th wife of the culprit and the murder took place in the Tarapur village of Bokaro district.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ram Chandra Turi, an alcoholic, married Savitri Devi almost two decades ago and the couple had four children together. On the day of the fateful accident, Turi's&nbsp;children had gone to a wedding function leaving the couple alone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a Hindustan Times report, Turi returned home in a drunken state and immediately started gulping down alcoholic drinks again. When Devi attempted to stop him, he started beating her with a stick. Even after Devi fainted, Turi did not stop and continued beating her till she died.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/delhi-crimes-gruesome-cases-that-shocked-the-indian-national-capital-534837"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;'Delhi crimes': Gruesome cases that shocked the Indian national capital</strong></a></p>

<p>When the children returned, they found their mother lying in a pool of blood and screamed for help. The neighbours, hearing the deathly shrieks of the children, quickly converged, and informed the police about the awful incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The police officers from Gawan police station reached the stop and nabbed the inebriated culprit - sending him to custody for interrogation and further legal course of action.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-seven-killed-many-trapped-in-avalanche-in-indias-sikkim-state-579064"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India: Seven killed, many trapped in avalanche in India’s Sikkim state</strong></a></p>

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<p>According to Tarapur ward member Vinay Saav, the incipient transpired on Monday and the entire community is in shock.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The villagers stated that&nbsp;Turi had been married to 11 women previously who all left him due to his alcoholic nature and excessive&nbsp;physical violence.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-police-arrest-five-over-decapitating-woman-at-temple-as-sacrifice-in-2019-579428" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | India: Police arrest five over decapitating woman at temple as sacrifice in 2019</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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In what comes as a horrific incident, a man in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand beat his wife to death after she stopped him from drinking. The deceased woman is said to be the 12th wife of the culprit and the murder took place in the Tarapur village of Bokaro district.

In what comes as a horrific incident, a man in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand beat his wife to death after she stopped him from drinking. The deceased woman is said to be the 12th wife of the culprit and the murder took place in the Tarapur village of Bokaro district. Ram Chandra Turi, an alcoholic, married Savitri Devi almost two decades ago and the couple had four children together. On the day of the fateful accident, Turi's children had gone to a wedding function leaving the couple alone. According to a Hindustan Times report, Turi returned home in a drunken state and immediately started gulping down alcoholic drinks again. When Devi attempted to stop him, he started beating her with a stick. Even after Devi fainted, Turi did not stop and continued beating her till she died. ALSO READ | 'Delhi crimes': Gruesome cases that shocked the Indian national capital When the children returned, they found their mother lying in a pool of blood and screamed for help. The neighbours, hearing the deathly shrieks of the children, quickly converged, and informed the police about the awful incident. The police officers from Gawan police station reached the stop and nabbed the inebriated culprit - sending him to custody for interrogation and further legal course of action. WATCH | India: Seven killed, many trapped in avalanche in India’s Sikkim state × According to Tarapur ward member Vinay Saav, the incipient transpired on Monday and the entire community is in shock. The villagers stated that Turi had been married to 11 women previously who all left him due to his alcoholic nature and excessive physical violence. ALSO READ | India: Police arrest five over decapitating woman at temple as sacrifice in 2019 (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian man kills his 12th wife after being stopped from drinking: Reports

<p dir="ltr">Even as globally, layoffs dominate the spectrum in the Information Technology industry, the Indian government is pushing for the adoption of open-source software (OOS). OOS is expected to become a $350-400 billion business by 2025 and helps to cut costs, improve security, and enhance the reliability of business software. The government's Information Technology bill requires government agencies to prioritise open-source software (OSS) solutions in procurement and increase the security and reliability of business software.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The IT bill, introduced in the Indian parliament in late 2022, seeks to promote the use of open-source software in all aspects of government and business. The bill requires government agencies to prefer open-source software solutions in procurement and encourages using open standards for data exchange. India is one of the top five&nbsp;global economies, which naturally provides opportunities for OSS.</p>

<p dir="ltr">As per the Indian Government’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)’s 2021 policy titled “Adoption of Open-Source Software for Government of India”, organisations worldwide have adopted innovative alternative solutions to optimise costs by exploring avenues of OSS.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Industries and organisations big and small have now started to understand the reliability of open-source platforms to fulfil most of their business needs. Companies such as SUSE, headquartered in Germany but are now investing heavily in bringing new technologies and solutions to businesses in India.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Manu Dhir, General Manager of SUSE India, emphasises the need for India to promote an open-source economy by incentivising developers and organisations to develop a sustainable, home-grown OSS innovation. He told WION, "India must now promote an open-source economy by rolling out incentives for developers and organisations to develop an open-source software ecosystem. The incentivization to the developers will also aid the government’s flagship Digital India programme and help India become a major tech-oriented economy in the world."</p>

<p dir="ltr">Many other Indian businesses are beginning to adopt open-source solutions. One of the cases of the use has been Indian banks that have been successfully using OSS for their core banking systems for several years, which has helped banks reduce their IT costs and improve security and reliability. Another case of a government authority using OSS is of Kerala Police- the state's law enforcement agency, which incorporated SUSE’s solutions as a base for all its software requirements.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Even as many Indians in the IT sector have been laid off by global giants like Amazon, Meta, and Accenture due to apparent over-hiring during the pandemic, OOS can be another option or many would say, a lifesaver. According to a news report, global IT giants fired 38,000 employees in March 2023, including many Indians. But companies like SUSE intend to continue hiring in India to fuel its growth and innovation as a global open-source innovator. "We intend to continue hiring in India to fuel our growth and innovation, i.e. we did not over-hire during the pandemic," said Manu Dhir.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Last year the company opened its ‘Centre of Excellence’ in Bengaluru, India to leverage Indian talent. "Our CoE incorporates all functions at SUSE and significantly focuses on Engineering and Technical Support. We intend to continue hiring in India to fuel our growth and innovation," explained Manu Dhir. Clearly, India's bet on open-source software could be the answer to boosting its tech industry amid layoffs by global giants.</p>

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Even as globally, layoffs dominate the spectrum in the Information Technology industry, the Indian government is pushing for the adoption of open-source software (OOS).

Even as globally, layoffs dominate the spectrum in the Information Technology industry, the Indian government is pushing for the adoption of open-source software (OOS). OOS is expected to become a $350-400 billion business by 2025 and helps to cut costs, improve security, and enhance the reliability of business software. The government's Information Technology bill requires government agencies to prioritise open-source software (OSS) solutions in procurement and increase the security and reliability of business software. The IT bill, introduced in the Indian parliament in late 2022, seeks to promote the use of open-source software in all aspects of government and business. The bill requires government agencies to prefer open-source software solutions in procurement and encourages using open standards for data exchange. India is one of the top five global economies, which naturally provides opportunities for OSS. As per the Indian Government’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)’s 2021 policy titled “Adoption of Open-Source Software for Government of India”, organisations worldwide have adopted innovative alternative solutions to optimise costs by exploring avenues of OSS. Industries and organisations big and small have now started to understand the reliability of open-source platforms to fulfil most of their business needs. Companies such as SUSE, headquartered in Germany but are now investing heavily in bringing new technologies and solutions to businesses in India. Manu Dhir, General Manager of SUSE India, emphasises the need for India to promote an open-source economy by incentivising developers and organisations to develop a sustainable, home-grown OSS innovation. He told WION, "India must now promote an open-source economy by rolling out incentives for developers and organisations to develop an open-source software ecosystem. The incentivization to the developers will also aid the government’s flagship Digital India programme and help India become a major tech-oriented economy in the world." Many other Indian businesses are beginning to adopt open-source solutions. One of the cases of the use has been Indian banks that have been successfully using OSS for their core banking systems for several years, which has helped banks reduce their IT costs and improve security and reliability. Another case of a government authority using OSS is of Kerala Police- the state's law enforcement agency, which incorporated SUSE’s solutions as a base for all its software requirements. Even as many Indians in the IT sector have been laid off by global giants like Amazon, Meta, and Accenture due to apparent over-hiring during the pandemic, OOS can be another option or many would say, a lifesaver. According to a news report, global IT giants fired 38,000 employees in March 2023, including many Indians. But companies like SUSE intend to continue hiring in India to fuel its growth and innovation as a global open-source innovator. "We intend to continue hiring in India to fuel our growth and innovation, i.e. we did not over-hire during the pandemic," said Manu Dhir. Last year the company opened its ‘Centre of Excellence’ in Bengaluru, India to leverage Indian talent. "Our CoE incorporates all functions at SUSE and significantly focuses on Engineering and Technical Support. We intend to continue hiring in India to fuel our growth and innovation," explained Manu Dhir. Clearly, India's bet on open-source software could be the answer to boosting its tech industry amid layoffs by global giants. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India embraces open-source software to boost tech industry amid layoffs

<p>A home theatre music system, which was received as a gift at a wedding reception, turned out to be a bomb that killed two and injured five in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The incident reportedly happened earlier this week in Chamari village of Kabirdham district.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chhattisgarh Police claimed that they have solved the case as they revealed that the music system had explosives which blew&nbsp;up when it was plugged into power.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The police said that the victim has been identified as Hemendra Meravi, who got married to Lalita Marwari (22). The wedding ceremony was organised in Chamari village on April 2.</p>

<p>A day after the function, police said that the family members started unwrapping the gifts they had received.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to ASP Manisha Thakur, who is the investigating officer, said: "As soon as Meravi tried to connect the music system to an electronic socket and switched it on, an explosion occurred, killing him on the spot."&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by media reports, Thakur revealed that the suspect, identified as Sarju Markam, was detained on Tuesday. Markam is reported to be a resident of Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The investigating officer also said, "During the&nbsp;questioning, the accused confessed to having planted explosives in the music system and gifting it to the newlyweds. We are yet to ascertain from where he got explosives and other details of the case."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some reports have mentioned that Markam was Lalita's ex-boyfriend. The police also said that during the questioning, it was found that Meravi's wife was in constant touch with Markam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The officer said that Meravi's brother succumbed to injuries during treatment in the hospital. The other injured people of the same family were rushed to a nearby hospital and are under treatment. "Condition of those injured in the explosion is said to be stable," the ASP added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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A home theatre music system, which was received as a gift at a wedding reception, turned out to be a bomb that killed two and injured five in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

A home theatre music system, which was received as a gift at a wedding reception, turned out to be a bomb that killed two and injured five in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The incident reportedly happened earlier this week in Chamari village of Kabirdham district. Chhattisgarh Police claimed that they have solved the case as they revealed that the music system had explosives which blew up when it was plugged into power. The police said that the victim has been identified as Hemendra Meravi, who got married to Lalita Marwari (22). The wedding ceremony was organised in Chamari village on April 2. A day after the function, police said that the family members started unwrapping the gifts they had received. According to ASP Manisha Thakur, who is the investigating officer, said: "As soon as Meravi tried to connect the music system to an electronic socket and switched it on, an explosion occurred, killing him on the spot." As quoted by media reports, Thakur revealed that the suspect, identified as Sarju Markam, was detained on Tuesday. Markam is reported to be a resident of Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district. The investigating officer also said, "During the questioning, the accused confessed to having planted explosives in the music system and gifting it to the newlyweds. We are yet to ascertain from where he got explosives and other details of the case." Some reports have mentioned that Markam was Lalita's ex-boyfriend. The police also said that during the questioning, it was found that Meravi's wife was in constant touch with Markam. The officer said that Meravi's brother succumbed to injuries during treatment in the hospital. The other injured people of the same family were rushed to a nearby hospital and are under treatment. "Condition of those injured in the explosion is said to be stable," the ASP added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Groom dies after bride's ex-lover gives explosive-filled 'home theatre system' as wedding gift

India has reported 4,435 Covid cases & 15 deaths in the last 24 hours. Should this spike in cases worry you? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: India reports 4,435 Covid cases in last 24 hours

The Indian documentary film, 'The Elephant Whisperers' shot to fame when after it won the Oscars for the best documentary short film. The film's protagonist couple have been successfully raising orphaned baby elephants. However, in a sad turn of events, they are now mourning the loss of a baby elephant.

Baby elephant of 'The Elephant Whisperers' dies, failed to respond to treatment

<p dir="ltr">After the guns went silent on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan in Kashmir due to the ceasefire agreement between the two countries, the Indian Army has opened the famous Kaman Aman Setu Bridge for the tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The Indian Army is now promoting the famous areas close to LoC such as Kaman Post in Uri sector of Baramulla district as a tourist spot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kaman Aman Setu is a bridge that connects India to Pakistan and was opened for the historic cross-LoC Karawan-e-Aman bus service. This bridge connected the divided families from both the countries and had become a symbol of Peace.</p>

<p>Now, the Indian Army has opened it for the tourists coming to the Valley. The step taken by the Indian army is to help the people living in the areas close to Line of Control.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In some area's Indian army is also helping people with opening homestays and guest houses. ''It's a great step that the Indian army has opened the Kaman Post for the tourists to visit. It will open up local tourism to areas like the Uri sector.</p>

<p>Now, that the Kaman Post has been opened, we wish that areas like Rustum which is a beautiful place should also be opened for tourists. It will help the people of Uri a lot. There are many people who are wanting to see the two main power projects in the area as well. It will benefit the local shopkeepers, restaurant owners, etc as well, '' said a local official.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The initiative has been taken to boost the economy of these areas and help the youngsters in these bordering villages with jobs and business opportunities.</p>

<p>Along with that it is also to make aware the citizens of the country about the history as well as the sacrifices made by the soldiers. The busts of soldiers who laid down their lives fighting the enemy have been put up and are called the ‘Veer Path'. The motive is to inspire the young generation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>''The Upgradation done by the Indian army is commendable. It just made us so happy to see the Kaman Post. We are locals and we invite all the country to visit us and learn about the history of this place. The army has also put up the history about all those soldiers who have laid down their lives in various wars at this place”, said Karim Ahmad, a&nbsp;local student.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The gate of Kaman Aman Setu has not opened for years as the Government suspended the Srinagar Muzaffarabad Bus service. The Indian army at the same location had thrown open the first cafe near to LoC.</p>

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After the guns went silent on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan in Kashmir due to the ceasefire agreement between the two countries, the Indian Army has opened the famous Kaman Aman Setu Bridge for the tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir.

After the guns went silent on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan in Kashmir due to the ceasefire agreement between the two countries, the Indian Army has opened the famous Kaman Aman Setu Bridge for the tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army is now promoting the famous areas close to LoC such as Kaman Post in Uri sector of Baramulla district as a tourist spot. Kaman Aman Setu is a bridge that connects India to Pakistan and was opened for the historic cross-LoC Karawan-e-Aman bus service. This bridge connected the divided families from both the countries and had become a symbol of Peace. Now, the Indian Army has opened it for the tourists coming to the Valley. The step taken by the Indian army is to help the people living in the areas close to Line of Control. In some area's Indian army is also helping people with opening homestays and guest houses. ''It's a great step that the Indian army has opened the Kaman Post for the tourists to visit. It will open up local tourism to areas like the Uri sector. Now, that the Kaman Post has been opened, we wish that areas like Rustum which is a beautiful place should also be opened for tourists. It will help the people of Uri a lot. There are many people who are wanting to see the two main power projects in the area as well. It will benefit the local shopkeepers, restaurant owners, etc as well, '' said a local official. The initiative has been taken to boost the economy of these areas and help the youngsters in these bordering villages with jobs and business opportunities. Along with that it is also to make aware the citizens of the country about the history as well as the sacrifices made by the soldiers. The busts of soldiers who laid down their lives fighting the enemy have been put up and are called the ‘Veer Path'. The motive is to inspire the young generation. ''The Upgradation done by the Indian army is commendable. It just made us so happy to see the Kaman Post. We are locals and we invite all the country to visit us and learn about the history of this place. The army has also put up the history about all those soldiers who have laid down their lives in various wars at this place”, said Karim Ahmad, a local student. The gate of Kaman Aman Setu has not opened for years as the Government suspended the Srinagar Muzaffarabad Bus service. The Indian army at the same location had thrown open the first cafe near to LoC. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian Army opens Kaman Post at LoC for tourists visiting Kashmir

China responded positively to Russia's new foreign policy concept, saying Beijing, Moscow and New Delhi are emerging major powers. China also added that it was ready to boost ties with India and Russia.

China backs Putin's new foreign policy, says ready to boost ties with India and Russia

India takes a step closer to green energy. The country has opposed diluting the definition of green hydrogen -- saying fuel produced from low carbon energy cannot be called green energy --- as proposed by some developed nations in G20 meetings. Erik Njoka brings you the report.

India takes step towards green future

Ahead of EAM Jaishankar's visit to Dominican Republic, the country's Ambassador to India David Puig has said that visit will give "big boost" in ties between the 2 countries. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Ambassador Puig said, "we are preparing for a historical visit in the month end, end of April... Shows relationship is growing". Trade between Dominican republic and India at $1bn in 2021. Terming the visit historic he pointed that India opened its mission in Dominican republic last year which "shows India is betting seriously on Dominican republic, on the potential of the relation and on the growth of the relation and we are sure minister's visit will give big boost to the relationship between the 2 countries."

'EAM Jaishankar's visit to Dominican Republic to boost bilateral ties,' says Ambassador David Puig

Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is likely to embark on a state visit to India before mid-April. However no date has been finalised between the two sides, sources in Kathmandu and New Delhi.

Nepal's Prime Minister likely to visit India in mid April

India will offer its currency as an alternative for trade to countries that are facing a shortage of dollars in the wake of the sharpest tightening in monetary policy by the US Federal Reserve in decades.

India offers Rupee Trade option to Nations facing Dollar crunch

<p>Tsongmo, a well-known tourist spot in Sikkim, close to Nathula Pass&nbsp;has been hit by a major avalanche on Tuesday. According to&nbsp;PTI, seven&nbsp;people, including a child have&nbsp;died as a result of the natural disaster.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"By 3 PM, 14 persons were rescued and taken to nearby Army medical facility. However, seven persons succumbed. The other seven persons were administered first aid and returned to Gangtok," said the Army.</p>

<p>As per&nbsp;an Army statement, it is estimated that five to six vehicles and 20 to 30&nbsp;visitors who were travelling to Nathu La got stuck in the snow.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sikkim | 22 tourists rescued after avalanche strikes at 14th mile on Jawaharlal Nehru road connecting Gangtok with Nathula; rescue operation underway, says BRO.<br />
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350 stranded tourists and 80 vehicles were rescued after snow clearance from the road. <a href="https://t.co/xJAnNR09Bv">pic.twitter.com/xJAnNR09Bv</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1643195395923931136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>At least 150 visitors were in the region when the avalanche occurred at 12:15 pm on the 15th Mile of the Jawaharlal Nehru Road between Gangtok and Nathu La.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted saying "all possible assistance is being provided to those affected" and that he was distressed by the tragedy.</p>

<p>"Distressed by the avalanche in Sikkim. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I hope the injured recover soon. Rescue ops are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected," tweeted the Prime Minister.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Distressed by the avalanche in Sikkim. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I hope the injured recover soon. Rescue ops are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected: PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a></p>
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1643237480265654272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Nathu La Pass is a popular tourist site and is located on the border with China at a height of 4,310 metres (14,140 feet) above sea level.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Centre was closely monitoring the situation.</p>

<p>"My sincerest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the tragic avalanche in Sikkim. We are closely monitoring the situation and the teams of NDRF will reach the affected area soon. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," he tweeted.</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer:&nbsp;WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.</strong></em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In a tragic incident, at least 6 tourists died after massive avalanche hit road connecting Sikkim 's capital Gangtok with Nathulapass on China border.<br />
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350 stranded tourists &amp; 80 vehicles were rescued after snow clearance from the road. Evacuation ongoing<a href="https://t.co/S6HOXUAVkI">pic.twitter.com/S6HOXUAVkI</a></p>
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghUpdates/status/1643212339171438592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Videos taken from the scene showed the magnitude of the tragedy. The rescue effort and efforts to rescue those who are trapped were being carried out by dozens of personnel.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Tsongmo, a well-known tourist spot in Sikkim, close to Nathula Pass has been hit by a major avalanche on Tuesday. According to PTI, seven people, including a child have died as a result of the natural disaster.

Tsongmo, a well-known tourist spot in Sikkim, close to Nathula Pass has been hit by a major avalanche on Tuesday. According to PTI, seven people, including a child have died as a result of the natural disaster. "By 3 PM, 14 persons were rescued and taken to nearby Army medical facility. However, seven persons succumbed. The other seven persons were administered first aid and returned to Gangtok," said the Army. As per an Army statement, it is estimated that five to six vehicles and 20 to 30 visitors who were travelling to Nathu La got stuck in the snow. Sikkim | 22 tourists rescued after avalanche strikes at 14th mile on Jawaharlal Nehru road connecting Gangtok with Nathula; rescue operation underway, says BRO. 350 stranded tourists and 80 vehicles were rescued after snow clearance from the road. pic.twitter.com/xJAnNR09Bv — ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2023 × At least 150 visitors were in the region when the avalanche occurred at 12:15 pm on the 15th Mile of the Jawaharlal Nehru Road between Gangtok and Nathu La. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted saying "all possible assistance is being provided to those affected" and that he was distressed by the tragedy. "Distressed by the avalanche in Sikkim. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I hope the injured recover soon. Rescue ops are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected," tweeted the Prime Minister. Distressed by the avalanche in Sikkim. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I hope the injured recover soon. Rescue ops are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 4, 2023 × The Nathu La Pass is a popular tourist site and is located on the border with China at a height of 4,310 metres (14,140 feet) above sea level. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Centre was closely monitoring the situation. "My sincerest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the tragic avalanche in Sikkim. We are closely monitoring the situation and the teams of NDRF will reach the affected area soon. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," he tweeted. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. In a tragic incident, at least 6 tourists died after massive avalanche hit road connecting Sikkim 's capital Gangtok with Nathulapass on China border. 350 stranded tourists & 80 vehicles were rescued after snow clearance from the road. Evacuation ongoingpic.twitter.com/S6HOXUAVkI — Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) April 4, 2023 × Videos taken from the scene showed the magnitude of the tragedy. The rescue effort and efforts to rescue those who are trapped were being carried out by dozens of personnel. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Avalanche in India's Sikkim: Seven tourists including one child dead, several feared trapped

<p dir="ltr">Spaceplanes are highly sophisticated aerospace vehicles - while within the earth's atmosphere, they can glide and land on an airstrip like a plane and while in space, they can manoeuvre like a spacecraft. The most common spaceplanes are the 1980s-era American-origin Space Shuttle and the Soviet-origin Buran. But neither of these giant astronaut-ferrying spaceplanes are in operation. In 2023, only the US and China are known to operate autonomous and reusable spaceplanes. India could soon be the third entrant into this exclusive club, thanks to its indigenous spaceplane known as 'Reusable Launch Vehicle - Technology Demonstrator' (RLV-TD). This prototype has been developed by the Indian space agency ISRO and its testing is being carried out with the support of Indian Defence lab DRDO and the Indian Air Force.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What a wow moment, a 20yr old dream becomes a reality for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> 🇮🇳🇮🇳🚀🚀🚀<br />
<br />
Here’s the RLV-TD <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indian</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> plane autonomously coming in to land and touching down at speeds close to 350kmph… it was a flawless landing and the plane is in impeccable condition <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> <a href="https://t.co/kuIDo2GqqP">pic.twitter.com/kuIDo2GqqP</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1642392331860213761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>America has been operating the 'Boeing X-37B' spaceplane for nearly a decade and the plane has proven its ability to remain in space for more than 900days, in a single trip. As per reports, China is widely regarded to operate its own spaceplane, but details are very sketchy. Given that spaceplanes have both civil and military applications, it is certain that no country would ever reveal the real intent and nature of operations being carried out by these autonomous aerospace vehicles.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>How do Spaceplanes reach Earth orbit and return ?</strong></h2>

<p dir="ltr">Spaceplanes are not standalone vehicles, they ride piggyback on a large rocket during their onward journey . It is the rocket which actually carries the spaceplane to an orbit around the earth. Once in earth orbit, the spaceplane is on its own. It performs its mission and then de-orbits(manoeuvres to re-enter the earth) and gets drawn by earth's gravitational pull and re-enters the earth's atmosphere, where it encounters temperatures close to 2000degrees Celsius. As the plane descends into the denser layers of the earth's atmosphere, it uses its control surfaces (rudder, aileron, elevator) to glide and make a runway landing.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>How far has India come ? What is India's reusable vehicle like ?</strong></h2>

<p dir="ltr">On April 2,&nbsp;2023, the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) demonstrated the precise runway landing of an unmanned, fully autonomous, indigenous space plane. The space plane was dropped mid-air from an altitude of 4.5 kms, by an Indian Air Force 'Chinook' tandem-rotor helicopter. After being dropped, the space plane glided down and covered a distance of nearly 4.6kms, while performing autonomous navigation, guidance and control calculations. Finally, the plane manoeuvred deftly and landed precisely on a runway at a high-speeds of 350kmph. Top ISRO officials leading the project had told WION that the plane landed just as planned, perfectly along the runway centreline. The landing was so perfect that the spaceplane is said&nbsp;to be in impeccable condition, at the Aeronautical Test Range tarmac in Chitradurga, Karnataka.</p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-a00feaf4-7fff-7695-a152-df232b39ad50">I</b>n a first in the world, a winged body has been carried to an altitude of 4.5 kms by a helicopter and released for carrying out an autonomous landing on a runway. RLV is essentially a space plane with a low lift-to-drag-ratio requiring an approach at high glide angles that necessitated a landing at high velocities of 350 kmph" said the Indian Space agency, ISRO. The Indian spaceplane prototype weighs 1.6tons(similar to that of a SUV), and&nbsp;measures 6.5meters in length and 3.6meters in breadth. The idea for ISRO's spaceplane was born nearly two decades ago and development work has been going on for more than ten years. The recent unmanned landing is a validation of how far ISRO has come in mastering sophisticated autonomous technologies and the avionics, computing systems that make it possible.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Explaining the progress of 'RLV-TD' testing to WION, ISRO, VSSC Director, Dr&nbsp;S. Unnikrishnan Nair said that the same RLV-TD vehicle had earlier(in 2016) successfully been carried to 65kms altitude by a rocket. From there, the vehicle re-entered the denser parts of the atmospshere at Hypersonic speeds, almost five times the speed of sound (hypersonic speed or Mach5) and finally made a splashdown landing in the Bay of Bengal(simulated runway). However, the ocean landing was a preliminary step and the precise runway landing is a really sophisticated and technologically complex feat that takes forward the progress of making the spaceplane a reality, he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-348a7e35-7fff-cd81-da1e-a7a9eb2dddfe">What's next for 'RLV-TD' ?&nbsp;</b></h2>

<p dir="ltr">So far, the RLV has shown that it can be flown to the upper atmopshere on a rocket and can come back and make a precise, autonomous runway landing. What remains to be done is, for the RLV to reach space(on a rocket), orbit the earth, carry out experiments, de-orbit, re-enter the earth's atmopshere.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">ISRO Chairman, Dr&nbsp;S. Somanath said that the RLV-TD is a great opportunity for India to develop an 'ORV'(orbital landing experiment) and that this work was already progressing. 'ORV' is an experiment where the space plane is flown to space atop a rocket and then brought back to land on a runway, completely autonomously. "This RLV landing is taking us closer to developing a reusable rocket/landing craft for very specific mission goals" he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Dr&nbsp;Unnikrishnan Nair told WION that the present 'RLV-TD' vehicle was meant for demonstration purpose and the actual vehicle would be about 1.6times larger in size. The actual RLV plane is meant to be launched to space atop a modified-GSLV&nbsp;rocket, he said. It is envisioned that the spaceplane would be able to sustain in orbit for almost a month, he added.</p>

<p dir="ltr">On the recent test and the homegrown systems for the same, ISRO said "The runway landing experiment (LEX) utilised several indigenous systems. Localized Navigation systems based on pseudolite systems, instrumentation, and sensor systems, etc. were developed by ISRO. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the landing site with a Ka-band Radar Altimeter provided accurate altitude information". The RLV LEX demanded several state-of-the-art technologies including accurate Navigation hardware and software, Pseudolite system, Ka-band Radar Altimeter, NavIC receiver, indigenous Landing Gear, Aerofoil honey-comb fins and brake parachute system, the Indian space agency added.</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a8ba8c31-7fff-c78b-f173-9a032ec064ca">Advantages of Autonomous Reusable spaceplanes&nbsp;</b></h2>

<p dir="ltr">The Space shuttle was a reusable space plane, but it cost a huge deal of money to operate. The main role of the space shuttle was to ferry cargo and astronauts to the International space station and bring them back. The shuttle also performed a variety of roles such as placing satellites in orbit, constructing and servicing the International Space station, carrying out space science experiments etc. While the shuttle did render great service to international space missions and transported cargo and astronauts to low earth orbit, it was prohibitively expensive as the per flight cost is estimated at $1.6bn. The shuttle's ferrying role has been replaced by SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets and Crew dragon capsules.</p>

<p dir="ltr">It must also be noted that there were two catastrophic disasters involving the shuttle, which led to the loss of 14 crew members in total and billions of dollars worth of equipment. When it comes to unmanned and autonomous solutions, the cost is much lower and so are risks. Putting humans on-board an aerospace vehicle makes the mission much more complicated, heavy and expensive, as hundreds of technologies have to be developed and installed for the safe travel and return of the humans.</p>

<p dir="ltr">With an unmanned platform, it is possible to carry out civilian and military experiments in space and bring the plane back. Even in case of a mission failure, there is no loss of precious human life and trained scientific talent. The development of reusable rockets that are capable of vertical landing (as demonstrated by SpaceX), also complements the existence of spaceplanes that can land on a runway. Having such a combination of reusable rocket and reusable space plane can even help perform space missions without leaving behind space debris.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr"><br />
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Spaceplanes are highly sophisticated aerospace vehicles - while within the earth's atmosphere, they can glide and land on an airstrip like a plane and while in space, they can manoeuvre like a spacecraft.

Spaceplanes are highly sophisticated aerospace vehicles - while within the earth's atmosphere, they can glide and land on an airstrip like a plane and while in space, they can manoeuvre like a spacecraft. The most common spaceplanes are the 1980s-era American-origin Space Shuttle and the Soviet-origin Buran. But neither of these giant astronaut-ferrying spaceplanes are in operation. In 2023, only the US and China are known to operate autonomous and reusable spaceplanes. India could soon be the third entrant into this exclusive club, thanks to its indigenous spaceplane known as 'Reusable Launch Vehicle - Technology Demonstrator' (RLV-TD). This prototype has been developed by the Indian space agency ISRO and its testing is being carried out with the support of Indian Defence lab DRDO and the Indian Air Force. What a wow moment, a 20yr old dream becomes a reality for #isro #india 🇮🇳🇮🇳🚀🚀🚀 Here’s the RLV-TD #indian #space plane autonomously coming in to land and touching down at speeds close to 350kmph… it was a flawless landing and the plane is in impeccable condition @isro pic.twitter.com/kuIDo2GqqP — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) April 2, 2023 × America has been operating the 'Boeing X-37B' spaceplane for nearly a decade and the plane has proven its ability to remain in space for more than 900days, in a single trip. As per reports, China is widely regarded to operate its own spaceplane, but details are very sketchy. Given that spaceplanes have both civil and military applications, it is certain that no country would ever reveal the real intent and nature of operations being carried out by these autonomous aerospace vehicles. How do Spaceplanes reach Earth orbit and return ? Spaceplanes are not standalone vehicles, they ride piggyback on a large rocket during their onward journey . It is the rocket which actually carries the spaceplane to an orbit around the earth. Once in earth orbit, the spaceplane is on its own. It performs its mission and then de-orbits(manoeuvres to re-enter the earth) and gets drawn by earth's gravitational pull and re-enters the earth's atmosphere, where it encounters temperatures close to 2000degrees Celsius. As the plane descends into the denser layers of the earth's atmosphere, it uses its control surfaces (rudder, aileron, elevator) to glide and make a runway landing. How far has India come ? What is India's reusable vehicle like ? On April 2, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) demonstrated the precise runway landing of an unmanned, fully autonomous, indigenous space plane. The space plane was dropped mid-air from an altitude of 4.5 kms, by an Indian Air Force 'Chinook' tandem-rotor helicopter. After being dropped, the space plane glided down and covered a distance of nearly 4.6kms, while performing autonomous navigation, guidance and control calculations. Finally, the plane manoeuvred deftly and landed precisely on a runway at a high-speeds of 350kmph. Top ISRO officials leading the project had told WION that the plane landed just as planned, perfectly along the runway centreline. The landing was so perfect that the spaceplane is said to be in impeccable condition, at the Aeronautical Test Range tarmac in Chitradurga, Karnataka. In a first in the world, a winged body has been carried to an altitude of 4.5 kms by a helicopter and released for carrying out an autonomous landing on a runway. RLV is essentially a space plane with a low lift-to-drag-ratio requiring an approach at high glide angles that necessitated a landing at high velocities of 350 kmph" said the Indian Space agency, ISRO. The Indian spaceplane prototype weighs 1.6tons(similar to that of a SUV), and measures 6.5meters in length and 3.6meters in breadth. The idea for ISRO's spaceplane was born nearly two decades ago and development work has been going on for more than ten years. The recent unmanned landing is a validation of how far ISRO has come in mastering sophisticated autonomous technologies and the avionics, computing systems that make it possible. Explaining the progress of 'RLV-TD' testing to WION, ISRO, VSSC Director, Dr S. Unnikrishnan Nair said that the same RLV-TD vehicle had earlier(in 2016) successfully been carried to 65kms altitude by a rocket. From there, the vehicle re-entered the denser parts of the atmospshere at Hypersonic speeds, almost five times the speed of sound (hypersonic speed or Mach5) and finally made a splashdown landing in the Bay of Bengal(simulated runway). However, the ocean landing was a preliminary step and the precise runway landing is a really sophisticated and technologically complex feat that takes forward the progress of making the spaceplane a reality, he added. What's next for 'RLV-TD' ? So far, the RLV has shown that it can be flown to the upper atmopshere on a rocket and can come back and make a precise, autonomous runway landing. What remains to be done is, for the RLV to reach space(on a rocket), orbit the earth, carry out experiments, de-orbit, re-enter the earth's atmopshere. ISRO Chairman, Dr S. Somanath said that the RLV-TD is a great opportunity for India to develop an 'ORV'(orbital landing experiment) and that this work was already progressing. 'ORV' is an experiment where the space plane is flown to space atop a rocket and then brought back to land on a runway, completely autonomously. "This RLV landing is taking us closer to developing a reusable rocket/landing craft for very specific mission goals" he said. Dr Unnikrishnan Nair told WION that the present 'RLV-TD' vehicle was meant for demonstration purpose and the actual vehicle would be about 1.6times larger in size. The actual RLV plane is meant to be launched to space atop a modified-GSLV rocket, he said. It is envisioned that the spaceplane would be able to sustain in orbit for almost a month, he added. On the recent test and the homegrown systems for the same, ISRO said "The runway landing experiment (LEX) utilised several indigenous systems. Localized Navigation systems based on pseudolite systems, instrumentation, and sensor systems, etc. were developed by ISRO. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the landing site with a Ka-band Radar Altimeter provided accurate altitude information". The RLV LEX demanded several state-of-the-art technologies including accurate Navigation hardware and software, Pseudolite system, Ka-band Radar Altimeter, NavIC receiver, indigenous Landing Gear, Aerofoil honey-comb fins and brake parachute system, the Indian space agency added. Advantages of Autonomous Reusable spaceplanes The Space shuttle was a reusable space plane, but it cost a huge deal of money to operate. The main role of the space shuttle was to ferry cargo and astronauts to the International space station and bring them back. The shuttle also performed a variety of roles such as placing satellites in orbit, constructing and servicing the International Space station, carrying out space science experiments etc. While the shuttle did render great service to international space missions and transported cargo and astronauts to low earth orbit, it was prohibitively expensive as the per flight cost is estimated at $1.6bn. The shuttle's ferrying role has been replaced by SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets and Crew dragon capsules. It must also be noted that there were two catastrophic disasters involving the shuttle, which led to the loss of 14 crew members in total and billions of dollars worth of equipment. When it comes to unmanned and autonomous solutions, the cost is much lower and so are risks. Putting humans on-board an aerospace vehicle makes the mission much more complicated, heavy and expensive, as hundreds of technologies have to be developed and installed for the safe travel and return of the humans. With an unmanned platform, it is possible to carry out civilian and military experiments in space and bring the plane back. Even in case of a mission failure, there is no loss of precious human life and trained scientific talent. The development of reusable rockets that are capable of vertical landing (as demonstrated by SpaceX), also complements the existence of spaceplanes that can land on a runway. Having such a combination of reusable rocket and reusable space plane can even help perform space missions without leaving behind space debris. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained: Why India's fully-autonomous, re-usable spaceplane is a significant aerospace tech leap

Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is on a 3-day visit to India. On Tuesday, he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What is this visit all about? Molly Gambhir reports.

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China is on a diplomatic blitz to win friends. Its leaders & diplomats are travelling globally to strike new alliances. Molly Gambhir reports.

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The Indo-China tensions over the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh are on the rise. In a move seen as a reiteration of China's claim over Arunachal Pradesh, China has released a third set of names of 11 cities in the state. China calls the Indian state “Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet”.

China provokes India by ‘renaming’ 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh

The Indian government has provided some respite to the crude oil industry. The government has slashed windfall gains tax on domestic crude oil to nil from Rs 3,500 per tonne. The government also halved the tax on diesel exports to 50 paise per litre. The levies on the export of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and petrol continue to be nil.

Why has India slashed the windfall tax on crude oil to zero?

China has renamed 11 places in the northeast Indian state Arunachal Pradesh that it says are part of South Tibet. This was the third time China has unilaterally renamed places in Arunachal Pradesh, having done it in April 2017, and in December 2021.

China renames places in India's Arunachal Pradesh state

The talks on Tuesday between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck covered entire gamut of bilateral ties including issues of respective national interests.

India: PM Modi holds talks with Bhutan King; focus on bilateral ties

An avalanche in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim has killed at least seven people, injured 11, and trapped an unknown number of tourists. All seven killed on Tuesday were tourists and people are feared trapped in the snow, rescue officials said.

India: Seven killed, many trapped in avalanche in India’s Sikkim state

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