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India launches its heftiest satellite yet
SRIHARIKOTA: India just flexed its space muscles. On 2 November, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) hurled its heaviest communications satellite ever into orbit from home soil—a 4,400 kg behemoth called CMS-03 that will keep the navy’s ships, submarines and aircraft chattering across the Indian Ocean. The launch from Sriharikota at 5:26 pm marked the end of an embarrassing era: no longer must India send its bulkiest satellites abroad for a lift.
The rocket doing the heavy lifting was LVM3, ISRO’s most powerful launcher and now nicknamed “Bahubali” for its Herculean payload capacity. This souped-up version sports a beefier cryogenic upper stage—the C32, carrying 32,000kg of fuel and belching 22 tonnes of thrust, a 10 per cent upgrade on the previous model. It can now haul 4,000kg to geosynchronous orbit and 8,000kg to low Earth orbit without breaking a sweat.
Until now, India’s chunkier satellites hitched rides with foreigners. France’s Arianespace launched the 5,854kg GSAT-11 and 4,181kg GSAT-24. Elon Musk’s SpaceX ferried the 4,700kg GSAT-20. No more. Isro chairman V Narayanan crowed about the mission being “a shining example of Atmanirbhar Bharat”—self-reliant India, in case the point wasn’t clear enough.
The CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, isn’t just heavy; it’s clever. Bristling with indigenous components, the multiband satellite will provide encrypted voice, data and video links for 15 years, giving the Indian Navy real-time situational awareness across a vast oceanic region. The navy called it a testament to national self-sufficiency in maritime defence.
This was LVM3’s eighth consecutive successful launch, following triumphs like Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 (which made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole), and OneWeb satellite deployments. The upgraded rocket also feeds directly into Isro’s Gaganyaan programme, which aims to send astronauts into space. Three uncrewed missions are planned first, including one carrying Vyommitra, a robotic astronaut, later this year.
Narayanan said the space organisation is eyeing seven more launches by March 2026, with another LVM3 mission slated for December. India’s space sector, he declared, is “soaring high.
With launches this meaty, it’s hard to argue.
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.
