Today's Brief 13-14/05/2025

1 . Akash Missile system:

an indigenously developed short-to-medium range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, serves as a crucial component of India's air defense, safeguarding vulnerable areas from aerial threats.

With a range extending from 4.5 km to 25-30 km (and a longer reach of 70-80 km in its next-generation variant, Akash-NG), it can engage targets at altitudes between 100 meters and 18-20 km, traveling at supersonic speeds of Mach 2.5 to 3.5. Armed with a 60 kg high-explosive warhead and guided by a command system coupled with the "Rajendra" PESA radar (with newer variants incorporating active radar seekers),

the Akash system can simultaneously track up to 64 targets and engage multiple threats, including fighter jets, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones.

Its effectiveness was recently demonstrated in Operation Sindoor in May 2025 against Pakistani aerial threats. The system has evolved through variants like Akash Mk-1, Akash-1S, Akash Prime, and the upcoming Akash-NG, each featuring enhancements in range and accuracy.

2 .National Technology Day 2025 was observed across India on Sunday, May 11, 2025, with the theme "YANTRA – Yugantar for Advancing New Technology, Research & Acceleration." 

This theme, unveiled by the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), blends India's rich scientific heritage ("YANTRA," symbolizing systems, synergy, and scalable solutions) with the nation's current transition towards global technology leadership ("Yugantar," meaning epochal transformation).

The significance of National Technology Day, celebrated annually on May 11th since 1999, lies in commemorating India's technological prowess and achievements.

 The date specifically marks the anniversary of the successful Pokhran-II nuclear tests of 1998 (Operation Shakti), which positioned India as a nuclear-weapon state.

 Additionally, May 11th, 1998, witnessed the first test flight of Hansa-3, India's indigenous light aircraft, and the successful test-firing of the Trishul missile by the DRDO, further highlighting the nation's advancements in aerospace and defense technologies.

3 .Buddha Purnima, also known as Buddha Jayanti or Vesak, was celebrated on Monday, May 12, 2025, marking the 2587th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha.

This auspicious day, observed on the full moon of the Vaishakha month in the Hindu calendar, commemorates not only the birth but also the enlightenment and the passing away (Mahaparinirvana) of Lord Buddha.

The Purnima Tithi began at 8:01 PM on Sunday, May 11th, and concluded at 10:25 PM on Monday, May 12th.

Bodh Gaya, the place where Buddha attained enlightenment, along with other significant Buddhist sites like Sarnath and Kushinagar, witnessed large gatherings of devotees. Special prayers were organized under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, and temples were adorned with colorful flags and flowers.

4 .Tapti River: also known as the Tapi, is a significant west-flowing river in peninsular India. Originating in the Satpura Range near Multai in the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh at an elevation of about 752 meters,

it flows westward for approximately 724 kilometers before emptying into the Arabian Sea via the Gulf of Cambay (Gulf of Khambhat).

It is the second-largest west-draining river in the peninsula, after the Narmada, and is considered its "twin" or "handmaid.

The Tapti River holds religious and economic importance. In Hindu mythology, it is considered the daughter of Surya (the Sun God) and is revered as the "Tapti Ganga." Several ancient temples and pilgrimage sites are located along its banks, particularly at its origin in Multai.

Economically, the river and its tributaries support agriculture and irrigation in the states it traverses, with major crops including cotton, soybeans, and sugarcane.

Important projects like the Ukai Dam in Gujarat and the Hathnur Dam in Maharashtra provide water for irrigation and other uses. in May 2025, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra signed an MoU for the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project, aiming to enhance groundwater levels and ensure optimal utilization of the river's water resources for irrigation in both states.