Bengaluru: In a significant development for India's mineral resources, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh has announced about the discovery of Lithium deposits in the state's Mandya and Yadgir districts. The metal is predominately used in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles, reports IndiaToday.in.
Preliminary surveys and limited subsurface exploration conducted by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a unit of the Department of Atomic Energy, have identified around 1,600 tonnes of lithium resources in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district.
Dr. Singh revealed this information in a written response to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha. He highlighted that AMD is actively exploring potential geological domains for lithium in other parts of India, including Korba district in Chhattisgarh, as well as major mica belts in Rajasthan, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh, and pegmatite belts in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka.
In a related development, AMD's preliminary survey in Himachal Pradesh has identified surface uranium occurrences in Masanbal, Hamirpur district. However, Dr. Singh clarified that the Atomic Energy Commission has not conducted any studies to establish an atomic energy plant in Himachal Pradesh.
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Dr. Singh also addressed the Department of Atomic Energy's (DAE) interest in small modular reactors (SMRs). While the DAE is evaluating various technologies and designs of SMRs from different countries and foreign vendors, there are currently no proposals to collaborate with foreign entities. Additionally, no private players have shown interest in producing SMRs, although some have expressed interest in deploying small reactors at their captive sites.
Highlighting international cooperation, Dr. Singh noted that the Government of India and the Government of the Russian Federation have expressed mutual interest in expanding cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including in the field of SMRs.
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Paris, Sep 7: India's Navdeep Singh's silver medal was upgraded to gold after Iran's Beit Sayah Sadegh was disqualified following a dramatic men's javelin throw F41 final at the Paris Paralympics on Saturday.
This is India's first-ever gold medal in the men's javelin F41 category.
Starting the competition with a foul, the 23-year-old para-athlete from Haryana, who had finished fourth at the Tokyo Games three years ago, came up with a throw of 46.39 metres in his second attempt, propelling him to the second place. But it was his third throw that electrified the stadium.
With a monstrous throw of 47.32 metres, Navdeep shattered the Paralympic record and surged into lead, only for Sadegh to better the Indian's mark and clinch the gold with a record-breaking effort of 47.64 metres in his fifth attempt.
However, the Iranian was disqualified some time after the end of the final, leading to the Indian athlete taking the top spot.
The F41 category is for athletes, who are of short stature.