PANAJI, Oct 2: In a remarkable display of courage and determination, two Indian Navy officers, Lt Commander Dilna K and Lt Commander Roopa A, embarked on an ambitious expedition to circumnavigate the globe. The duo set sail on Wednesday from the Naval Ocean Sailing Node, INS Mandovi near Panaji, Goa, aboard the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini. Their voyage, covering 21,600 nautical miles over an eight-month period, will take them through some of the world’s most challenging waters. The officers are expected to return in May 2025.

This historic journey was flagged off by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi in the presence of Vice Admiral V Srinivas, Chief of the Southern Naval Command, and other dignitaries. Speaking after the ceremony, Admiral Tripathi expressed immense pride in the Indian Navy and praised the two women officers for their fearlessness, sense of adventure, and ability to tackle difficult situations. “It is a proud moment for all of us in the Indian Navy that two sailors will be demonstrating the skills, sense of adventure, fearlessness and focus, and ability to fight the tough situations,” said Admiral Tripathi. He assured that the Navy would be closely monitoring their expedition and wished them success.

The two officers will navigate through perilous waters, including the formidable Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and Cape of Good Hope, relying solely on wind power, without any external assistance. This double-handed mission will also be monitored by the Indian Naval Sailing Association, based in New Delhi, and the Ocean Sailing Node in Goa, in coordination with international maritime agencies and authorities.

Lt Commander Dilna K, from Calicut, and Lt Commander Roopa A, from Puducherry, are no strangers to tough expeditions. Last year, as part of a six-member crew, they participated in a trans-oceanic expedition from Goa to Rio de Janeiro via Cape Town and back. Following that, they completed several challenging voyages, including a double-handed sailing expedition from Goa to Port Blair and back, and another from Goa to Port Louis, Mauritius. Their journey marks the second edition of the Navika Sagar Parikrama, the inaugural circumnavigation by an all-women crew of six officers in 2017.

This current mission holds special significance, as the officers aim to be the first Indians to circumnavigate the globe in a double-handed mode. The Indian Navy conceptualized the expedition to not only showcase India’s naval capabilities but also to inspire future generations.

The families of the officers also shared their feelings of both pride and concern. Alagirisamy GP, father of Lt Commander Roopa A and an ex-serviceman from the Indian Air Force, expressed his mixed emotions at the event. “When she broke the news about the voyage, I was happy as an ex-serviceman. But as a father, I was a little worried,” he said.

The circumnavigation will stand as a testament to the officers’ determination and the Indian Navy’s commitment to fostering excellence in all aspects of maritime operations.

This historic expedition is expected to further elevate India’s stature in global maritime endeavors, particularly in terms of women empowerment in naval services.

New Delhi, Oct 2: In response to urgent situations where the state forest department lacks technical expertise, the Union Environment Ministry has allowed other government departments to carry out forestry activities in forests. This decision aims to prevent or manage natural disasters effectively in forest areas, ensuring prompt action during emergencies.

On Tuesday, the Ministry issued new guidelines that outline preventive measures for dealing with natural disasters in forests. This move followed a request from Uttarakhand’s Chief Secretary, who urged the Ministry and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to develop effective strategies for regions prone to frequent forest fires. The letter highlighted the need for mock drills to prepare forest staff before fire seasons and suggested that other government departments should be allowed to conduct soil and water conservation activities in forest areas.

The matter was discussed during the Forest Advisory Committee meeting on August 27. Based on the deliberations, the Ministry addressed the states and Union territories, emphasizing that under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and related guidelines, specific forestry activities are permitted in emergencies to protect wildlife, human lives, and property.

These permitted activities include creating and maintaining fire lines and constructing structures for soil and water conservation, such as check dams, water tanks, trenches, and pipelines. However, the Ministry clarified that in exceptional cases, where technical expertise is unavailable within the state forest department, other government departments may be authorized to implement these forestry activities to mitigate disaster risks. This authorization ensures efficient and effective preparatory work to avert natural disasters.

The Ministry reiterated that these activities must align with the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and the working plan approved by the central government. Moreover, permission from the state forest department, under the Indian Forest Act of 1927, is required before any such work begins.

For all projects, the design and layout must be approved by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), who will also supervise the work. The Ministry has stressed that these activities must not harm any plant or animal life, and cutting down trees is strictly prohibited, except for pruning or clearing bushes when absolutely necessary.

The guidelines further state that the government department undertaking the forestry activities will be responsible for covering all associated costs. Importantly, the legal status of the forest will remain unchanged, and any structures constructed will continue to be owned by the forest department.

These steps reflect a proactive approach by the government in managing and preventing natural disasters in forest areas while ensuring the protection of biodiversity and forest integrity. The guidelines are expected to enhance the preparedness of the forest departments and other government entities in mitigating the impact of natural disasters, such as forest fires, while maintaining strict oversight and adherence to legal and environmental standards.

New Delhi, Oct 2: The Supreme Court is set to announce its verdict on Thursday regarding a plea that highlights caste-based discrimination in the prison manuals of certain states. According to the court’s cause list for October 3, the judgement will be delivered by a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

The plea argues that some state prison manuals encourage discrimination by allocating prison work based on caste. In January, the apex court had sought responses from the Union government and 11 states, including Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, regarding these allegations.

The petitioner’s counsel had pointed out that jail manuals in several states discriminate against inmates by assigning tasks and deciding living arrangements based on their caste. The petition refers to the Kerala Prison Rules, which differentiate between habitual and reconvicted convicts, stating that those with a history of crimes such as robbery or dacoity should be separated from other prisoners.

Additionally, the plea cites the West Bengal Jail Code, which mandates that work inside prisons be designated according to caste. For instance, dominant castes are assigned to cooking duties, while sweeping work is reserved for individuals from certain marginalized castes.

In response to these claims, the court issued notices to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the relevant state governments. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was asked to assist the court in addressing the issues presented in the plea filed by Sukanya Shantha, a resident of Kalyan in Maharashtra.

The bench acknowledged the petitioner’s argument that despite amendments made to state prison manuals to align with the Union Home Ministry’s model prison manual, caste discrimination persists across various prisons.

The plea, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, aims to bring attention to the ongoing caste-based discrimination and to seek directions for the abolition of such practices. It stresses that these prison manuals are not only unconstitutional but also violate basic human rights, calling for them to be revised to reflect the principles of equality and dignity for all citizens.

The Supreme Court’s ruling will likely have significant implications for prison reforms and could set a precedent for ending caste-based discrimination within India’s criminal justice system.

New Delhi, Oct 1: Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin made history by being appointed as the Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) on Tuesday, becoming the first woman officer to assume the prestigious post, as per an official press release.

Before taking over as the 46th DGAFMS, Vice Admiral Sarin held various prominent roles including Director General of Medical Services in the Navy, Director General of Medical Services in the Air Force, and Director and Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune.

An alumna of AFMC, Pune, Vice Admiral Sarin was commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services in December 1985. She holds an MD in Radiodiagnosis from AFMC, Pune, a Diplomate of National Board in Radiation Oncology from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and has received specialized training in Gamma Knife Surgery from the University of Pittsburgh.

Over her 38-year career, Vice Admiral Sarin has held numerous academic and administrative positions, such as Professor and Head of Radiation Oncology at Army Hospital (R&R) and AFMC Pune, and Commanding Officer at INHS Asvini. She has also served in leadership roles in the Indian Navy’s Southern and Western Naval Commands.

Remarkably, she has the rare distinction of serving in all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces—rising from Lieutenant to Captain in the Indian Army, Surgeon Lieutenant to Surgeon Vice Admiral in the Indian Navy, and as an Air Marshal in the Indian Air Force.

Her contributions to patient care and military medicine have been widely recognized. She was awarded the Ati Vishist Seva Medal in 2024 and the Vishist Seva Medal in 2021. Additionally, she has received multiple commendations from the Chiefs of Army and Naval Staff as well as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

Vice Admiral Sarin was recently appointed by the Supreme Court to the National Task Force aimed at ensuring safe working conditions and protocols for medical professionals.

As DGAFMS, she will be responsible for advising the Ministry of Defence on all medical policies pertaining to the Indian Armed Forces.

New Delhi, Oct 1: Iconic actor Rajinikanth was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai on Monday night, according to sources. The 73-year-old is scheduled to undergo an elective medical procedure on Tuesday. Sources have confirmed that his condition remains stable.

As of now, there has been no official statement from either Rajinikanth’s family or the hospital regarding the details of his health or the procedure. Fans await further updates.