Defence Ministry signs contract with GRSE for four survey vessels for Indian Navy

  • The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Limited, Kolkata, for four Survey Vessels for the Indian Navy.
  • The 110-metre-long survey vessels are capable of full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic survey of ports and harbours, approaches and determination of navigational channels or routes.
  • In their secondary role, these vessels will be capable of performing limited search and rescue, and limited ocean research. They will also be able to operate as hospital ship/casualty holding ships.

Train 18 is India’s first engineless train

  • India’s first engineless train, ‘Train 18’, is meant to be a successor to the Shatabdi Express.
  • Train 18 has been developed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and was unveiled by Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani.
  • The Rs.100 crore train is the first long-distance train without a separate engine.
  • The 16-coach train can run at a speed of 160 kmph and will cut journey time by 15% over the 30-year old Shatabdi Express.

October 31st is National Unity Day, birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

  • National Unity day (also known as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) is celebrated on October 31st.
  • It is the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
  • One the occasion this year, PM Modi unveiled the Statue of Unity, which is the tallest statue in the world.
  • National Unity Day was introduced by the Government of India in 2014.

Harvard University to honour Malala Yousafzai with Gleitsman Award 2018

  • Nobel Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai will be honored by Harvard University with the 2018 Gleitsman Award.
  • Malala will receive the award for her work promoting girls’ education.
  • Now 20 years old, Yousafzai is a student at Oxford University in England.
  • The Gleitsman Award provides 125,000 US dollars for activism that has improved quality of life around the world.

Seychelles launches world’s first Sovereign Blue Bond

  • The Republic of Seychelles launched the world’s first Sovereign Blue Bond.
  • This bond is a financial instrument designed to support sustainable marine and fisheries projects.
  • The bond raised USD 15 million from international investors.

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