Made in India weapon systems highlight of Indian Armys Exercise Topchi (GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- Indigenously manufactured weapon systems were the highlight of the Indian Army's ‘Exercise Topchi’.
- It isan annual firepower demonstration and training exercise conducted at the School of Artillery in Devlali.
Key Highlights:
- This edition of "Exercise Topchi" showcased the integrated employment of firepower and surveillance assets to include guns, mortars, rockets, drones, and aviation assets.
- In line with the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', the highlight of the exercise was display and firing by indigenously manufactured artillery equipment viz K-9 Vajra, Dhanush, Indian field gun (IFG)/ light field gun (LFG) system and Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers.
- The SWATHI radar system, remotely-piloted vehicles have been made in India and it is on par with any such system across the world
Self-reliance:
- The event shows the capability of the Indian artillery.
- It stressed on 'Atmanirbharata' (self-reliance).
Indian Railways commence metal barrier fencing to curb cattle runovers
(GS Paper 3, Infrastructure)
Why in news?
- The Railways has initiated the construction of metal beam fencing for curbing the incidents of cattle runover in the busy Mumbai - Ahmedabad section.
- The metal barrier fencing will cover a length of about 622 km, between Mumbai to Ahmedabad and will be undertaken at approximately Rs 245.26 crore.
Key Highlights:
- The fencing will be of guard rails made of metal.
- The fencing is very robust as it consists of two W-beams. A W-beam type stands for broad flanges, which are thicker, that aid in resisting bend stress.
- Such fencings are used in highways and expressways, especially accident-prone areas to provide protection to vehicles as well as pedestrians.
Way Forward:
- The work is expected to be completed by the end of May 2023.
- The Western Railway further appealed to the cattle owners/cattle grazers to not let their cattle come near the railway land/tracks.
UK’s House of Commons defence panel calls for expansion of AUKUS to include India, Japan
(GS Paper 2,International Organisation)
Why in news?
- Reflecting the need for increased global security cooperation, the United Kingdom’s House of Commons defence select committee has called for the expansion of the AUKUS trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK, and the United States to include India and Japan.
- Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Commons defence select committee, suggested including India and Japan in the AUKUS given their significance to the Indo-Pacific region. The committee oversees the functioning of the UK’s Ministry of Defence and its affiliate bodies.
What including India and Japan translates?
- India is already a part of the Quad or the Quadrilateral Dialogue comprising India, the US, Japan, and Australia.
- Some analysts argue that the proposal to include India and Japan in the AUKUS is an attempt by the UK to engineer a ‘Quad + Britain’ framework.
- The formation of AUKUS had also led to questions over the purpose of the Quad, with speculation that the Quad would limit itself to a non-security focus.
- However, the proposal to include India and Japan in AUKUS points to a larger security framework emerging in the Indo-Pacific that incorporates all like-minded stakeholders.
About AUKUS:
- Announced in September 2021, the AUKUS was initially supposed to be a programme for developing a new class of nuclear-powered submarines for Australia. However, it has since expanded its scope to focus on security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
- AUKUS also looks at cooperation on artificial intelligence, undersea technologies, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic weaponry, and electronic and information warfare.
- However, in September 2021, shortly after the AUKUS was announced, the US stated that no other country including India and Japan could be a part of the security pact.
