Why in News?

ISRO successfully launched the NVS-03 navigation satellite on GSLV-F18 on 30 October 2026. It is the third second-generation NavIC satellite, and the launch is seen as a step in ISRO’s recovery after two rocket failures.

Key Points: The Mission

• Launch: GSLV-F18 lifted off at 23:51 IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, and placed NVS-03 in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• Next steps: The first orbit manoeuvre was completed on 31 October. More manoeuvres will place the satellite in its slot at 111.75° East, using its Liquid Apogee Motor.
• GSLV flight: The 20th flight of the GSLV. The vehicle is about 50 m tall with a lift-off mass of about 420 tonnes, and NVS-03 weighs about 2,250 kg.
• Payload: Navigation signals in the L1, L5 and S bands, with coverage over India and about 1,500 km beyond. It carries an indigenous atomic clock alongside procured clocks.
• Series: NVS-03 is the third of five second-generation satellites. NVS-01 (29 May 2023) carries an indigenous rubidium clock built by the Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad. NVS-02 (29 January 2025) could not reach its slot because its oxidiser valves did not open. NVS-04 and NVS-05 are in the pipeline.
• Why it matters: The launch should restore base-level positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services, which supports transport, maritime and aviation use, disaster management, precision agriculture and strategic needs.

Background

• NavIC: India’s regional navigation system, earlier called IRNSS, designed with seven satellites: three in geostationary orbit and four in inclined geosynchronous orbit.
• Two services: The open Standard Positioning Service, interoperable with GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, and an encrypted Restricted Service for strategic users.
• GTO: A satellite bound for geosynchronous orbit is first placed in an elliptical orbit with a low perigee and a high apogee of about 35,786 km. Near the apogee, an apogee motor fires to raise the perigee and circularise the orbit.
• GSLV: A three-stage vehicle with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, which replaced the Russian-supplied stage. Its strap-on boosters (L-40) use liquid propellants.

Why in News?

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given in-principle approval to the Navy’s Project 18A next-generation destroyers, a programme estimated at about ₹80,000 crore, as China and Pakistan strengthen their underwater warfare capabilities.

Key Points

• The ships: Stealth guided-missile destroyers with advanced weapons and sensors, larger than the Visakhapatnam-class, designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
• Indigenous content: About 75%, with public and private shipyards eligible to bid.
• Timeline: Delivery is expected five to ten years after the contract is signed.
• Expected strengths: Better air defence, surveillance sensors and anti-submarine warfare.
• Current destroyers: The Delhi-class, Kolkata-class and Visakhapatnam-class, about 12 or 13 in all, armed with BrahMos missiles.

Why in News?

A day after taking charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, the new Air Chief outlined four priorities for strengthening and modernising the Indian Air Force (IAF), summed up in the word “VAYU”.

Key Points

• V for Vigilance: Every squadron, radar and air defence unit must be ready at a moment’s notice, and the foremost task is restoring combat strength towards the sanctioned level.
• A for Aatmanirbharta: Priority to the Tejas Mk1 and Mk1A, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and Indian-made weapons and sensors.
• Y for Yukti (ingenuity): Innovation in doctrine and technology, including AI-enabled command and control, layered counter-drone defence and use of near-space.
• U for Unity of effort: Under the JAI vision (Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation), the IAF will plan and fight as one with the Army, Navy and national agencies.
• The challenge: Fighter strength is well below the sanctioned 42 squadrons. MiG-21 squadrons have been phased out, more are due to go by 2029-30, and the Tejas induction is delayed.

Background

• Chief of the Air Staff: The head of the IAF, a four-star officer, who works under the Defence Minister.
• IAF: Raised on 8 October 1932, with headquarters in New Delhi.

Why in News?

India marked the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on 31 October 2026, observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day).

About Sardar Patel

• Born: 31 October 1875 at Nadiad, Gujarat. Died: 15 December 1950, Bombay.
• Early career: A barrister who built a leading criminal law practice in Ahmedabad. He joined the Gandhian movement around 1917.
• Municipal work: Member of the Ahmedabad Municipality (1917) and its President (1924 to 1928).
• Titles: “Sardar” (given after the Bardoli Satyagraha), “Iron Man of India”, and “Patron Saint of India’s civil servants”.
• Honours: Bharat Ratna (posthumously, 1991).

Contribution to the Freedom Struggle

• Kheda Satyagraha (1918): Led the peasants of Kheda, Gujarat, in refusing land revenue after crop failure. Gandhi supported it, and the government agreed to suspend the tax and return confiscated property.
• Nagpur Flag Satyagraha (1923): He led it against a law banning the hoisting of the Indian flag.
• Bardoli Satyagraha (1928): Led a no-tax campaign against a steep 22% rise in land revenue. The women of Bardoli gave him the title “Sardar”, and the government reduced the increase.
• Civil Disobedience (1930): Arrested during the Salt Satyagraha period.
• Karachi Session (1931): President of the 46th session of the Indian National Congress, held days after the execution of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. It adopted the resolution on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Programme, and endorsed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
• Quit India (1942): Imprisoned during the movement.

Contribution to Constitution-Making

• Constituent Assembly: Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights, Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas, and of the Provincial Constitution Committee.

Contribution after Independence

• Offices: First Deputy Prime Minister and first Home Minister from 15 August 1947, also in charge of the States Department and Information and Broadcasting.
• Integration of princely states: The States Department was formed in June 1947, with V.P. Menon as Secretary. About 562 princely states acceded through the Instrument of Accession and merger agreements.
• Junagadh: The Nawab acceded to Pakistan on 15 September 1947. After the Indian government intervened, a plebiscite in February 1948 went overwhelmingly in favour of India.
• Hyderabad: The Nizam resisted accession. The Army moved in under Operation Polo on 13 September 1948, and the Nizam announced a ceasefire on 17 September.
• All India Services: He is regarded as the “Father of the All India Services” (IAS and IPS).
• Somnath: He initiated the reconstruction of the Somnath temple in 1947.