INSAT-3D Satellite Successfully Placed in Geosynchronous Orbit

India’s advanced weather satellite INSAT-3D, launched in the early hours of July 26, 2013 from Kourou, French Guyana, has successfully been placed in Geosynchronous orbit after three orbit raising manoeuvres commanded from ISRO`s Master Control Facility at Hassan.

The Orbital parameters of INSAT-3D are:

• Apogee (farthest point to Earth) – 35,799 km
• Perigee (nearest point to Earth) – 35,469 km
• Inclination (of the orbit with respect to the equator)- 0.23 deg
• Orbital period – 23 hr 48 min

Smt. Anita Kaul is the new Secretary of Justice Department in the Ministry of Law & Justice.

 Anita Kaul, a 1979 batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, is appointed as the
Secretary, Department of Justice in the Ministry of Law & Justice. She had earlier
served as Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India.  Prior to this appointment  Smt. Kaul was the Principal Secretary Planning in the Programme Implementation Department of the Govt. of Karnataka

Willem-Alexander sworn in as new Dutch king

Willem-Alexander of the House of Orange-Nassau became the Netherlands’ first king in 123 years as his mother, Queen Beatrix, ended a 33-year reign.

She signed the act of abdication in an ornate chamber at the palace.

The Dutch monarch is sworn in before a joint session of the Houses of Parliament in the deconsecrated church, rather than crowned, because church and royalty are separated in the Netherlands

Sajjan Kumar acquitted in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case

Congress leader Sajjan Kumar of all charges in the murder of five Sikhs in the Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case by a sessions court.

Among the five other accused, former Municipal Corporation of Delhi councillor Balwan Khokhar, Captain Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal were held guilty of murder and rioting charges, while the former MLA, Mahender Yadav, and Balwan’s brother, Krishan Khokhar, were held guilty of rioting charges.

Additional Solicitor-General Haren Raval resigned

Additional Solicitor General Haren Raval, who sparked a controversy by telling the Supreme Court that CBI status report on Coalgate was not shared with the government, resigned from his post.

Extra Charges for preferred air seats, check-in-luggage & meals

The Civil Aviation Ministry allowed airlines to charge extra money from passengers for preferred seats, check-in baggage and meals. This is similar the U.S. model of imposing extra fee on air passengers.

The services include snacks, drinks (barring drinking water), use of airline lounges, and transport of sports equipment, musical instruments and valuable baggage which have higher carrier liability.

Air Marshal Herikudru Babu Rajaram conferred AVSM

Air Marshal Herikudru Babu Rajaram was conferred the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) at the recently held Defence investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Air Marshal Rajaram was commissioned in the administrative branch of the IAF in 1977 and has held various appointments which include Senior Air Traffic Control Officer (SATCO) and Chief GCA Controller at fighter bases, Chief Administrative Officer at a fighter base and Chief Personal Staff Officer of an Operational Command. He has also commanded an equipment depot. He took over as the Air Officer administration in February this year. He was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2011.