• IED is a type of unconventional explosive weapon that can take any form and be activated in a variety of ways.
• An IED is basically a home-made bomb because they are improvised.
• IEDs can come in many forms, ranging from a small pipe bomb to a sophisticated device capable of causing massive damage and loss of life.
• They can be deployed using a vehicle, carried, placed, or thrown by a person, delivered in a package, or concealed on the roadside.
• While they have been in used for over a century, the term “IED” first entered common usage during the United States’ Iraq invasion (beginning in 2003), where such bombs were commonly used against US forces.
• Components
  • Each IED comprises a few basic components, which can come in various forms, depending on resources available to the bomb-maker.
  • These include an initiator or a triggering mechanism, (which sets the explosion off), a switch (which arms the explosive), a main charge (which causes the explosion), a power source (since most IEDs contain an electric initiator, they require an electronic power source), and a container.
  • Additionally, IEDs may be packed with additional materials or “enhancements” such as nails, glass, or metal fragments designed to increase the amount of shrapnel released by the explosion — and thus the damage it causes.
  • Enhancement may also include hazardous materials such as toxic chemicals, or radio-active circumstances — an IED packed with, say, depleted Uranium will be colloquially called a “dirty bomb”
• Some common materials used to build IEDs include fertilisers such as ammonium nitrate and urea nitrate, gunpowder, and hydrogen peroxide.

• Enhancements – Nails, glass, or metal fragments to increase the amount of shrapnel released and thus the damage it causes.
• It may also include hazardous toxic chemicals, or radio-active substances.

The colloquial name of an IED packed with depleted Uranium is dirty bomb.

• Materials used – It include fertilisers such as ammonium nitrate and urea nitrate, gunpowder, and hydrogen peroxide.
• Damages – The extent of damage depends on its size, construction and placement.

Notable instances of IEDs usage in India include the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, the 2008 Jaipur blasts, the 2006 Jama Masjid bombings, and the 2013 Bodh Gaya bombings. It have also been commonly used by Maoist insurgents, and Kashmiri militants.

MILAN 2024

The 12^th edition of Milan exercise held recently in Visakhapatnam, the city of Destiny in 2024.

• Aim – To enhance professional interaction between friendly navies and gain experience in multilateral large force operations at sea.
• Theme – ‘Camaraderie, Cohesion, and Collaboration’.
• The Harbour Phase – It will have Table Top Exercise, Interactions of Young Officers, Outstation Cultural visits and International City Parade.
• The Sea Phase – Indian Navy ships, aircraft and submarines led by Indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and 20-25 Foreign Naval Units will participate.
• It includes advanced air defence operations, Anti-Submarine warfare, Anti Surface warfare operation and War at Sea.
• Significance – An opportunity to share operational insights in harbour, hone skills at sea, enhance camaraderie on the sports fields, and gain an exposure to Indian culture.
• Strengthens Southeast Asian countries – Security of vital sea lines of communication (SLOCs) in the Indian Ocean is important for energy and trade interests.
• It helps to expand their naval engagements beyond their traditional geographical neighbourhood.
  • Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand since 1995, Malaysia in 1997, Myanmar in 2003, and Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Vietnam in 2012.

Malacca Strait links the Andaman Sea of the Eastern Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and serves as a transit for over 40% of global commodities.The Philippines and Indonesia are the largest and 3^rd largest suppliers of seafarers, respectively.

Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport

The Rohini Sounding Rocket was launched from the mobile launch pad to mark the commencement of physical work on the Kulasekarapattinam spaceport.

• Geographical location – Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.

Kulasekaranpattinam, better known for its Dussehra celebrations at Sri Mutharamman Temple.

• Role – It is ISRO’s 2^nd satellite launch facility, would be completed within 2 years to launch SSLVs in order.
• It would have the capacity to launch 24 satellites per year.
• Need – The rockets launched from ISRO’s Sriharikota facility in Andhra Pradesh 1^st heads east, and then turn south to avoid the Sri Lanka’s airspace, costing more fuel and reduce payload’s capacity.
• Geographical advantages – It can head straight in the southern direction without a dogleg manoeuvre and closer to equator than Sriharikota thereby reducing time and fuel wastage.

• Economic significance– It is relatively closer to the ISRO Propulsion Research Complex located in Mahendragiri, in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.
• It makes it easier to transport the rocket components safely in shorter time, thus reducing the costs involved.
• Safety considerations – Proximity to the eastern coastline of India are safer, as any failure of launches allow the debris to fall harmlessly in Bay of Bengal or Indian Ocean.
• Promotes development – A number of allied industries will come up in the neighbourhood that will create 1000s of jobs.

Early Life and Political Ascent

• Born on April 24, 1941, in Bhopal, Aziz Qureshi embarked on his political journey with a strong foundation rooted in his dedication to public service. His early foray into politics saw him being elected as an MLA from the Sehore seat in Madhya Pradesh in 1972, marking the beginning of a long and illustrious career.

Contributions and Leadership

• Aziz Qureshi’s political acumen led him to serve in various high-profile roles across the Indian states. Notably, he held the gubernatorial positions in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh (additional charge), and Mizoram, where his leadership and vision contributed significantly to the states’ governance.In addition to his role as a governor, Qureshi also made his mark as a cabinet minister in Madhya Pradesh in 1973, further solidifying his reputation as a dedicated public servant. His political journey also saw him winning the Lok Sabha elections from the Satna constituency of Madhya Pradesh in 1984, showcasing his widespread appeal and commitment to the nation.

Legacy and Later Years

• Beyond his political roles, Aziz Qureshi was appointed the President of the Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy by the then Kamal Nath government on January 24, 2020. This position allowed him to contribute to the promotion of Urdu language and literature, reflecting his diverse interests and commitment to cultural preservation.

Anurag Agarwal Appointed as Head of Parliament Security

In a significant move to bolster the security of India’s parliamentary complex, IPS officer Anurag Agarwal has been appointed as the new head of Parliament security. This decision comes at a crucial juncture, following recent security breaches that have underscored the need for stringent protective measures within one of the nation’s most critical infrastructures.

Background of Anurag Agarwal

• Anurag Agarwal, a seasoned officer from the 1998 batch of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, has been serving as an inspector general in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). With his extensive experience in law enforcement and internal security, Agarwal brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role as the joint secretary (security) of the Parliament House complex.

Appointment Details

• The appointment of Mr. Agarwal was officially confirmed through an order issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, marking the culmination of a search for a suitable candidate to fill the vacancy left since October 20. The position had been empty following the departure of the previous joint secretary, Raghubir Lal, who returned to his cadre. The role of JS (Security) is a pivotal one, traditionally occupied by an IPS officer, tasked with overseeing the comprehensive security framework of the Parliament.

Challenges and Responsibilities

• Mr. Agarwal assumes his responsibilities at a time when the security of the Parliament House complex is under scrutiny. This follows an incident on December 13, where two individuals managed to breach security protocols, entering the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery and releasing a can of yellow smoke. The event has highlighted the imperative for a thorough overhaul of security measures to prevent any such occurrences in the future.

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