Tamil Nadu

Education & Knowledge Infrastructure

• Inauguration of ‘Periyar Arivulagam’ in Coimbatore:
  • Event: A major library and science centre, Periyar Arivulagam, was inaugurated at Gandhipuram in Coimbatore.
  • Key Infrastructure:
    • Houses 80 lakh books, a 356-seat auditorium, a 90-seat planetarium with a space-travel lift, a children’s library, and a specialized section for persons with disabilities.
    • Features an astronomical observatory (100-seat capacity) on the top floor, an entrepreneurship centre, a digital library, and dedicated floors for competitive examination preparation.

National

Defence & Indigenous Shipbuilding

• Commissioning of INS Samarthak:
  • The Indian Navy commissioned INS Samarthak, the first of two multi-purpose vessels built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at Karwar, Karnataka.
  • Significance & Features: Built with over 75% indigenous content, the vessel serves as a specialized platform for testing, evaluating, and validating indigenously developed naval sensors and weapon systems prior to fleet-wide deployment, alongside offshore patrolling, maritime surveillance, and disaster relief.