If India can make rocket sensors, it can also make car sensors: ISRO chief Somanath
Bengaluru, Nov 20: ISRO Chairman S Somanath on Wednesday highlighted the need to manufacture car sensors domestically instead of relying on imports.
Speaking at a session on space technology and defence during the Bengaluru Tech Summit, which also saw the launch of the Draft Karnataka Space Tech Policy, Somanath emphasised the importance of cost-effective production.
He pointed out that while India invests significantly in producing rocket sensors, the high production cost of car sensors makes domestic manufacturing less viable.
“For car sensors, viability is achievable only if production costs are low and manufacturing is scaled up,” he said.
Somanath called for greater industry collaboration to address this challenge and noted that policy interventions like those unveiled at the summit could provide a solution.
He praised the 2020 space sector reforms and the Space Policy of 2023 for creating an ecosystem conducive to private sector growth.
“There is a lot of interest in the sector. I hear from many aspiring to build the next SpaceX in India,” he added.
Highlighting progress, Somanath mentioned that five companies are currently building satellites, with many enhancing their capacity to develop subsystems for rockets and satellites. However, he identified a lack of major players and insufficient investment in upstream space capabilities as key challenges.
“To address this, we are focusing on developing downstream capabilities, which can generate demand and eventually attract upstream investments. I believe this model will work well for the nation,” he explained.
Somanath also stressed the role of technology transfer in enabling private sector participation, saying, “Many technologies developed within ISRO are now accessible to industries for further development into products, services, or software.”
The session featured other notable speakers, including B K Das, Director General of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), and Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States.
Priyank Kharge, Karnataka’s Minister for IT, Biotechnology, Science and Technology, and Ekroop Caur, Secretary to the Government, Department of Electronics, IT, and Biotechnology, also participated.
Kharge stated that the draft policy envisions Karnataka capturing 50 per cent of the national space market and establishing itself as a global hub for space technologies.
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TN teacher fatally stabbed in school, assailant detained
Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu), Nov 20: In a shocking incident, a woman teacher was fatally stabbed on government school premises in Mallipattinam in the district by a youth, leading to some tense moments in the educational institution, police said on Wednesday.
The youth, who was later detained, repeatedly stabbed the teacher in full view of her colleagues at the school’s staff room, they said.
The incident evoked the spontaneous ire of the locals and Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi strongly condemned the attack on the teacher Ramani, of Mallipattanam Government Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur district.
"Violence against teachers cannot be tolerated. Strict legal action will be taken against the attacker. We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, students and fellow teachers of teacher Ramani," the minister said on the social media platform 'X', shortly after the incident occurred.
The police claimed personal reason to be the motive behind the murderous attack.
The teacher was rushed to the government hospital here, but was declared brought dead by the doctors.
Describing her death as a "huge loss" for the teaching community, Poyyamozhi told reporters in Chennai that the man responsible for her murder has been arrested.
Chief Minister M K Stalin has asked him to visit Thanjavur and console the bereaved family, the minister said.
"I have asked the district collector to declare a holiday for the school today and take steps to provide counselling to the students," Poyyamozhi said.
Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami condemned the murder and said the incident had exposed that government teachers and doctors lacked safety and security at their workplaces.
"The DMK government has failed to maintain law and order. Murders and other crimes have become very common in Tamil Nadu. At least now the Chief Minister should devote his attention to maintaining law and order in the state," Palaniswami said in a post on social media platform 'X'.
Assuring stringent action as per law on the assailant, Chief Minister M K Stalin said the death of M Ramani, 26, who devoted herself to education in rural areas, was "an irreparable loss to the school education department, her colleagues and students."
Expressing his deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family, the chief minister said in a release that he had directed the officials to provide a solatium of Rs 5 lakh to the affected family from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.
தஞ்சாவூர் மாவட்டம் மல்லிப்பட்டினம் அரசுப் பள்ளியில் பணிபுரிந்த ஆசிரியர் ரமணி அவர்களின் மீதான தாக்குதலை வன்மையாக கண்டிக்கின்றோம்.
— Anbil Mahesh (@Anbil_Mahesh) November 20, 2024
ஆசிரியர்கள் மீதான வன்முறையை துளியும் சகித்துக் கொள்ள முடியாது. தாக்குதலை நடத்தியவர் மீது கடுமையான சட்ட நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ளப்படும்.
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