Third IAF AN-32 crash in 10 years: All about the Soviet-origin military transport aircraft
Distilled Policy Brief
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has reported its third AN-32 crash in the past decade, highlighting ongoing safety concerns with the Soviet-origin military transport aircraft.
- The IAF has a total of 80 AN-32 transport aircraft in its fleet, with a total of over 10 billion rupees spent on acquiring and maintaining these aircraft since 1984.
- The IAF plans to replace the AN-32 fleet with the C-130J Super Hercules and C-295 aircraft, with the first C-295 aircraft expected to be inducted into service by the end of 2024.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the bilateral research and industrial cooperation engagements between India and Germany, consider the following statements: 1. Roundtables held with German research organizations, such as the Fraunhofer Institutes, prioritized key fields including microelectronics, power electronics, and smart manufacturing. 2. Expanding industry-academia innovation networks and collaboration in battery technologies form key components of the enhanced strategic cooperation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Both statements are correct. High-level roundtables with German research institutes, including Fraunhofer Institutes, focused on microelectronics, power electronics, smart manufacturing, battery technologies, and logistics. Furthermore, the engagement emphasized strengthening industry-academia innovation networks, science and technology cooperation, and advanced manufacturing capabilities between India and Germany.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.