Current Affairs 27th March 2025

The Union Budget, 2018-19, has proposed to treat school education holistically without segmentation from pre-nursery to Class 12. Samagra Shiksha – an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class 12 has been, therefore, prepared with the broader goal of improving school effectiveness measured in terms of equal opportunities for schooling and equitable learning outcomes. It subsumes the three erstwhile Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education

(TE) This sector-wide development programme/scheme would also help harmonise the implementation mechanisms and transaction costs at all levels, particularly in using state, district, and sub-district level systems and resources, besides envisaging one comprehensive strategic plan for the development of school education at the district level The major objectives of the Scheme are provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students; Bridging Social and Gender Gaps in School Education; Ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education; Ensuring minimum standards in schooling provisions; Promoting Vocationalisation of education; Support States in implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE)

Act, 2009; and Strengthening and upgradation of SCERTs/State Institutes of Education and DIET as a nodal agencies for teacher training. The main outcomes of the Scheme are envisaged as Universal Access, Equity and Quality, promoting Vocationalisation of Education and strengthening of Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs ) Vertically-Launched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VLSRSAM) Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy conducted the successful flight-test of indigenously-developed VerticallyLaunched Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VLSRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha at about 1200 hrs on March 26, 2025. The Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile, or VL-SRSAM, is a quick reaction surface-to-air missile developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). During mid-course flight, the rocket uses a fibreoptic gyroscope-based inertial guidance mechanism, while in terminal phase, it uses active radar homing. A fibre-optic gyroscope (FOG) senses changes in orientation using the Sagnac effect, thus performing the function of a mechanical gyroscope. The Sagnac effect manifests itself in a setup called a ring interferometer or Sagnac interferometer. A beam of light is split, and the two beams are made to follow the same path but in opposite directions. With lock-on before launch (LOBL) and lock-on after launch (LOAL) capability, the missile receives mid-course update via datalink. ● VL-SRSAM is intended to replace the older Barak 1 surface-to-air missile system onboard Indian Navy warships. It will also be used as a short-range air defence system for the Indian Air Force General Electric Aerospace and Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Engine Delivery and Production

🚀 First Engine Delivery: General Electric Aerospace has successfully delivered the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mark-1A.

📅 Delivery Timeline: A total of 12 engines are scheduled for delivery this year, with the inaugural engine having arrived in India in April.

🛩 Production Challenges: The production line for the F404-IN20 engine was inactive for five years. Restarting it during the COVID pandemic presented significant challenges.

🔄 Manufacturing Stabilization: GE Aerospace has stabilized the manufacturing

📈 IAF Needs: The Indian Air Force (IAF) requires 35-40 new fighter jets each year to address shortages. HAL has committed to producing 24 Tejas Mark-1A jets next year.

🛠 Committee Recommendations: A highlevel committee has been established to enhance IAF capabilities, offering recommendations for short, medium, and long-term implementation. Summary: GE Aerospace has begun delivering F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas Mk1A, overcoming production challenges and aligning with the IAF’s demand for new fighter jets