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Environment

Global Climate Resilience Fund

Hillary Clinton (Former US secretary of state) announced a Global Climate Resilience Fund of 50 million dollars for women to fight climate change in association with the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) founded by late activist Ela Bhatt.

About

• The fund will empower women and communities to fight climate change and help provide new livelihood resources and education
• Climate change-related heat poses an additional challenge to women workers in informal sectors and the Global Climate Resilience Fund will assist in addressing this challenge.
• Hillary Clinton visited salt pan workers in the Little Rann of Kutch near Kuda village in Gujarat's Surendranagar district and learnt from them the process of salt production and hardships faced by them.

Science & Technology

HAL’s helicopter manufacturing factory in Karnataka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the helicopter factory by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at Karnataka’s Tumakuru.

• A light utility helicopter which was made in the latest helicopter factory was also unveiled.

About

• It is India's largest such factory — in Karnataka's Tumakuru.
• The greenfield helicopter factory of the defence PSU has been planned to become “a one-stop solution” for all helicopter requirement of the country.
• This helicopter factory is Asia's largest helicopter manufacturing facility and will initially produce the Light Utility Helicopters (LUH).

Science & Technology

In a first, Naval LCA lands on INS Vikrant

A prototype of the Naval variant of the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) undertook its maiden landing on board aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, in a feat described by the Indian Navy as a 'historical milestone' for India's self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Landing and take-off of the LCA

• The landing and take-off of the LCA prototype and MiG-29K aircraft came as part of flight trials on board the aircraft carrier.
• The Indian Navy currently operates over 40 MiG-29K jets.
• The air wing of INS Vikrant will be able to carry 30 MiG-29K fighter jets, according to officials.

About INS Vikrant

• INS Vikrant is the country's first indigenous aircraft carrier.
• The carrier has a top speed of around 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles.
• It is 262 metres long, 62 metres wide and has a height of 59 metres. Its construction began in 2009.