Published on: April 30, 2025
Snippets : 30 APRIL 2025
Snippets : 30 APRIL 2025
- Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is set to become India’s second astronaut in space after Rakesh Sharma, as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission launching on May 29 from Kennedy Space Centre, Florida. Shukla will serve as the mission pilot alongside an international crew: Poland’s Sławosz Uznanski (ESA astronaut), Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, and the USA’s Peggy Whitson, who holds the U.S. record for the longest time in space. For the first time in over 40 years, Poland and Hungary are sending government-backed astronauts to the ISS. As part of this mission, ISRO is conducting 7 experiments, including 3 related to food and 2 related to astronaut health. A key focus is developing Indian dietary options and studying the feasibility of space farming. Notably, ISRO will study the sprouting behavior of moong and methi in microgravity through the “Sprouting Salad Seeds in Space” experiment, designed by the University of Agricultural Sciences and IIT Dharwad. Another experiment involves exposing various crop seeds to microgravity and testing their yield potential on Earth over generations. The Ax-4 crew will stay for up to 14 days aboard the International Space Station.
- According to the 2nd edition (2025) of the CareEdge Ratings State Ranking Report, Karnataka ranked 3rd among larger Indian states (Group A), following Maharashtra (1st) and Gujarat (2nd). The rankings, based on 50 parameters across economic, fiscal, and social pillars, aim to assess sustainable and equitable growth and help gauge states’ investment attractiveness. Western states performed strongly in fiscal and economic aspects, while southern states excelled in environment and governance. In Group B (North-East, Hilly, and Small States), Goa topped the list due to its performance across financial, infrastructure, social, and economic indicators. Union Territories were excluded from the analysis. The report, published by CareEdge Ratings under Chief Economist Rajani Sinha, is not comparable to the previous 2023 edition due to methodological changes.
- India has recently expanded its maritime claim in the Central Arabian Sea by nearly 10,000 square kilometers, carefully modifying its earlier submission to avoid triggering maritime disputes with Pakistan. In April 2025, India submitted its revised documentation to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). Under international law, coastal countries enjoy exclusive rights to explore and exploit marine resources within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), extending up to 200 nautical miles from their coastlines. Beyond this, a country can also claim an Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) if it proves the seabed is a natural extension of its landmass, thus gaining rights to extract valuable minerals, oil, and polymetallic nodules. The continental shelf itself is the submerged edge of a continent, formed over millions of years from sediment accumulation, and supports diverse marine ecosystems due to its nutrient-rich and sunlit waters. India’s new claim not only enhances its access to valuable seabed resources but also strengthens its strategic and economic influence in the Arabian Sea while avoiding direct conflict with Pakistan.
- In April 2025, India expanded its claim in the Central Arabian Sea by nearly 10,000 sq. km, modifying an earlier submission to avoid maritime boundary disputes with Pakistan. The documents were submitted to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). This move enhances India’s strategic and economic rights in the region by securing rights to explore and exploit natural seabed resources like minerals and oil beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which already grants mining and fishing rights up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. The claim leverages the concept of an Extended Continental Shelf (ECS), where coastal states can claim seabed territory beyond 200 nautical miles by proving it’s a natural extension of their landmass. The continental shelf itself is a submerged extension of a continent, rich in biodiversity and formed by the accumulation of organic and inorganic materials over millions of years. These seabeds host vital ecosystems and economically valuable deposits, and India’s new claim aims to assert its influence in the Arabian Sea without heightening tension with Pakistan.
