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GSAT-15 and GSAT-16 satellites to be launched by mid 2015
NEW DELHI: Two GSAT missions are expected to be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by mid 2015. GSAT-15 will be launched in FY 2014-15 while GSAT-16 will be launched by mid 2015, the c was informed by Minister of State for Department of Space Jitendra Singh.
The launches are expected to augment the communication facilities including the Ku-band and Upper Extended C-band.
The government has approved a budgetary support of Rs 859.5 crore including a foreign exchange component of Rs 622.5 crore for realisation of GSAT-15 spacecraft project including launch services and insurance. It has also approved a budgetary support of Rs 865.5 crore including a foreign exchange component of Rs 628 crores for realisation of GSAT-16 spacecraft project including launch services and insurance.
GSAT-15, which had been approved by the government on 17 July last year, will carry 24 Ku-band transponders and provide replacement for the Ku-band capacity of INSAT-3A and INSAT-4B spacecrafts to augment and support the existing DTH and VSAT services in the country. It will also carry a GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation) payload to meet the in-orbit redundancy requirement for safety of life (SOL) operations benefiting the civil aviation services in the country.
GSAT-16, also approved on 17 July last year, will carry 48 transponders in C-band, Ku-band and Upper Extended C-bands and provide replacement for the INSAT-3E spacecraft and augment the C and Upper Extended C-band capacity. The spacecraft will be utilised in augmenting and supporting the existing telecommunication, television, VSAT and other satellite based services in the country.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
