Noted space scientist and Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Dr K Radhakrishnan today assumed the office of Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Originally a graduate of Electrical Engineering from Kerala University and a management graduate from IIM, Banglore, Radhakrishnan started his career as an Avionics Engineer in 1971 at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. He was awarded PhD by IIT, Kharagpur in the year 2000. Dr. Radhakrishnan held several important position in ISRO and Department of Space including Project Director for Setting up Regional Remote Sensing Service Centres and Director of National Remote Sensing Agency.
He has been the key person in the Chandrayaan-1 mission, responsible for realisation of PSLV C-11 launch vehicle. Five successful launches of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) were realised and 20 spacecraft including Chandrayaan-1 were taken to the desired orbits precisely under his stewardship. He is also a member of the Space Commission since October 2008.

National Research Professors will now get enhanced honorarium and pension. The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Human Resource Development on Thursday for revision of rates of honorarium, pension and contingency allowances for National Research Professorship (NRP). They will be now entitled to get Rs. 75,000 as monthly honorarium instead of Rs. 25,000 and pension of Rs. 25,000 for NRP pensioners. This will be effective from 1st April 2009.
In the past Noble prize winner C.V. Raman, scientist S.N. Bose, film personality Satyajit Ray, Shahnai mastreo Ustad Bismillah Khan and eminent Sitar player Pandit Ravi Shankar, renowned cardiac surgeon M S Valiathan, litterateur Mahesveta Devi; and well-known theatre personality Habib Tanvir, had been appointed as NRPs. Recently scientist C.N.R. Rao, biologist Obaid Siddiqui and mathematician C.S. Seshadri were appointed as national research professors in recognition of their contributions.
It is notable that the Scheme of National Research Professorship was instituted in 1949, to honour distinguished academics and scholars in recognition of their contribution to knowledge. Persons of real eminence who have attained the age of 65 years and who have made outstanding contribution in their respective areas are considered for appointment as National Research Professors. The appointment is made initially for a period of 5 years.
These appointments are made on the recommendation of a committee set up under the National Research Professorship Scheme comprising the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Human Resource Development, Finance and Home Ministry.

Salman Khan, Sushmita Sen, Urmila Matondkar, Ranbir Kapoor, Katreena Kaif, Deepika Padukon… This is not star cast of any upcoming movie but the some of the names of Bollywood who walked on ramp during Wills India Fashion Week 2009, Delhi. Though some of the designers and fashion experts had clear stand on the issue that design is more important and not the faces but the increasing number of Bollywood faces show that these celebrities are equally important to provide glamour to the event. If go by the names of such Bollywood stars the list is long enough. The list include Abhay Deol, Jayaprada, Malvika Tiwari, Neha Dhupia, Riya Sen, Raima Sen, Sohail Khan and several others. Even Olympic winner and boxing champion Vijender too has been walked on ramp to add more punches in the Fashion Week.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said that Commonwealth Games in Delhi will be green Games as new infrastructure is being constructed as per concept of green building, which requires minimum use of energy resources. City like Delhi ought to set standards in this field. During her address to 9th Green Energy Summit she said that there is a need to bring change in the mindset of the people. It is time to encourage green energy including renewable energy.
She underlined the importance of green energy including renewable energy as energy resources from fossils fuel are not going to last longer and our energy requirements are galloping day-by-day. The Chief Minister also appealed the citizen of Delhi to make judicious and effective use of energy as the city has no natural resources. The city government has signed MoUs with TERI to give fillip to its conservation efforts.
There are numerous challenges from climate change which needs to be suitably met. Delhi is the first city in the world to shift its entire Public Transport System to CNG. While underlining importance of solar energy, Dikshit also mentioned Israel where every house is generating solar energy. Dikshit stated that her government has made mandatory use of solar water heaters in hotels, motels, institutes, hostels, big buildings and residential societies apart from this, use of CFL bulbs and electronic chokes. In government buildings the use of solar energy has also been incentivized and energy audit of big government buildings is being undertaken to find out ways of saving of electricity. Dikshit also exhorted manufactures to come out with energy efficient gadgets.

Students of prestigious colleges of Delhi University like Stephen’s, Lady Sri Ram (LSR), Miranda House, Hansraj, Hindu, Daulat Ram and several others today started relay hunger strike against the huge fee hike in the university and its colleges. Over 50 students of different colleges and faculties are participating in the 48-hour relay hunger strike. These students are demanding the university administration to withdraw the notification regarding the fee hike issued last month.
“There should be some justification about the hike”, says Harshita of Lady Sri Ram College. The University administration has increased the fee from 250% to 400% on many items, she says. The fee for revaluation of the paper has increased from rupees 200 per paper to 500. The researchers will have to submit Rs. 5000/- while the exiting charge is Rs. 2000/- says Rohit , a History (M.Phil) student.
“Now I have to pay rupees 48000/- per annum to stay in the hostel of Hansraj College while the existing rate is rupees 36000/-“, Ankit a PG student of History at Hansraj College, told http://fachcha.com . Rates of almost all examination related fee have been increased from 200% to 400% and it is unbearable for most of the students he adds.
Delhi University had issued a notification on 19th September 2009 regarding the fee hike for the examination. While the protesting students are demanding to withdraw the notification they also demand to make fees in the colleges reasonable as most of the colleges too have increased their fees under different items. These issues too need to be addressed, the students say, who are protesting under the banner of student outfit AISA.

On the other hand the university administration is non-committal on the issue. Gurmeet Singh, Proctor of Delhi University today met a delegation of agitating students but did not give any assurance. He said that the university administration would discuss the issue after the strike was over.