Car servicing startup Gomechanic is getting ready to roll out dedicated electric vehicle workshops across key metro cities in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, amongst others, in the near future. This venture is being undertaken with the intention of capitalising on the growing demand for electric vehicle servicing that is being driven by the rapid adoption of electric mobility in India.
Although the firm did not reveal the precise date of the launch, it did state that it intends to stage one hundred workshops centred on electric vehicles (EVs) by the end of the fiscal year 2024-25 and to double the number of workshops by the end of the fiscal year 2026.
GoMechanic Plans to Service 10,000 EVs by March 2025
Muskan Kakkarb, the cofounder of GoMechanic, noted that these workshops will be equipped with cutting-edge technology, such as real-time diagnostics, battery health monitoring, and AI-powered predictive maintenance. This will ensure that electric vehicle customers receive the greatest possible level of service.
Hinamshu Aroira, another cofounder, stated that the company’s objective is to not just broaden its service network but also to establish itself as a reliable partner for fleet operators and individual owners of electric vehicles. This will be accomplished by providing solutions that are both cost-effective and efficient, and they will be adapted exclusively for electric vehicles.
In December of the previous year, GoMechanic launched an electric vehicle (EV) service for fleet operators. This service was made possible through a partnership with MoEVing, a fleet operator that focusses on electric mobility. In the past, it has offered its services to key electric vehicle (EV) players such as BluSmart, MoEVing, Zypp Electric, and Evera in both their three-wheeler and four-wheeler markets.
Financial dynamics of GoMechanic
It is noteworthy that in March of the previous year, Lifelong Group’s Servizzy purchased GoMechanic after the company had been experiencing financial issues and was under inspection from authorities. The business has been trying to get its operations back on track ever since, and in the first quarter of FY25, it was able to produce an EBITDA profit. A revenue of INR 85 Cr was reportedly recorded by GoMechnanic during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, according to the company officials.
The company raised a healthy amount of $6 million in November 2023 through a round of funding that was led by an unidentified family office and also included involvement from other existing investors, including Stride Ventures. In addition, the car service company is increasing the number of product lines it offers. During the fiscal year 24 (FY24), it opened eleven Luxe boutiques that provided maintenance services for premium automobiles.
Rishabh Pant, an Indian cricketer, has made an investment in TechJockey.com, which is a rapidly expanding online marketplace for software solutions.
In exchange for INR 7.40 crore, Pant purchased a 2% ownership in the company, which resulted in the company being valued at INR 370 crore (about USD 44.17 million).
TechJockey’s founders, Akash Nangia, a former vice president at Zomato, and Arjun Mittal, a former executive at McKinsey, established the company in 2017 with the purpose of connecting software sellers with small enterprises all throughout India. Beginning of 2024, the company expanded its activities into the United States, as part of its global expansion plan.
Pant’s Vision Behind the Expansion
When Pant made the decision to invest in TechJockey, his previous expertise in professional sports had a significant role. Having the appropriate technology for live streaming, commentary, and DRS is absolutely necessary in the sport of cricket. When you have the appropriate tools, it is easier to make intelligent decisions. Pant added that because he had witnessed the efficient growth that software can bring to organisations, it made perfect sense for him to invest in TechJockey.
Pant’s participation was enthusiastically welcomed by the leadership of the company, with Nangia emphasising the value of having a cricketer of Pant’s calibre on board. Nangia stated that it is not simply about Pant’s popularity, he has a profound understanding of business.
Company’s Current Revenue and Expansion Plans
With the new capital, TechJockey intends to increase the number of global merchants on its platform, as well as scale up its marketing activities and grow its footprint in the United States. According to Nangia, who has noticed the development and potential of SaaS companies, the TechJockey is well-positioned for expansion thanks to its SaaS-based approach.
A revenue of INR 125 crore was reported by TechJockey for the fiscal year 2024, with ad sales contributing between INR 7 and 10 crore. During the fiscal year 25 (FY25), the firm intends to achieve a revenue of INR 170-180 crore, which would be driven by Pant’s investment and the global expansion strategy.
Cricketers Putting Their Money Into Startup Sector
Rishabh Pant is the latest addition to the rising number of Indian sports personalities who have invested in startup sector. KL Rahul, an Indian cricketer, made an investment in the D2C men’s lifestyle firm Metaman just a month ago. In July, South African cricketer AB De Villiers supported the Indian supplement brand Supply6. A cricket player named Shreyas Iyer made an investment in the health technology platform known as Curelo earlier this year.
In the year 2023, a number of other notable players, including Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, and Hardik Pandya, made financial contributions to a number of other Indian companies. This exemplifies a larger trend in which athletes are increasingly moving to business ownership and investments.
The appeal that SpiceJet filed against an order issued by the Delhi High Court, which forced the cash-strapped airline to ground three engines that were leased from Team France 01 SAS and Sunbird France 02 SAS due to unpaid dues, was denied by the Supreme Court on 20 September 2024.
SpiceJet violated a consent order with the lessors, as determined by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, which upheld the high court’s orders. The court stated that it was unwilling to interfere and that it believed the judgment handed down by the high court to be correct.
Supreme Court Remained Firm on Its Rejection
In response to a motion from SpiceJet’s senior lawyer Amit Sibal for further time to comply with the grounding order, the Supreme Court declined to grant the request. Sibal stated that the airline had previously paid the lessors more than eight million dollars, and that negotiations for a resolution were taking place in Singapore about the matter. He asked for respite until an agreement could be made, but the court declined to have any involvement in the matter.
In addition, Sibal stated to the court that although two of the three engines had previously been grounded, SpiceJet required specialised stands in order to properly ground the engines before releasing them to the lessors. He also asked for additional time. As a reaction, the Supreme Court strongly suggested that SpiceJet contact the Delhi High Court in order to provide an explanation for its situation.
While SpiceJet was still operating the engines, senior attorney Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was representing the lessors, argued that the company had repeatedly breached the consent order. This was despite the fact that SpiceJet had made 18 court appearances and was facing two orders from the high court. In accordance with the consent order, Singhvi pointed out that SpiceJet was obligated to return the engines within a period of fifteen days in the event that it failed to make payments.
What Next?
Since the airline has used all of its legal options to prevent this from happening, it is now required to ground the engines. In light of the most recent judgment, the financially struggling airline is under even more pressure. The airline SpiceJet stated in court that it maintains a fleet of 21 aircraft and that if the engines were grounded, it would result in the grounding of two flights, which would impair the airline’s operations.
SpiceJet, on the other hand, has issued a statement stating that it is now in negotiations with the aircraft lessor in order to negotiate a mutually agreeable settlement. Additionally, it is essential to take notice that two of the three engines in question have already been grounded, and that its activities continue to go in a manner that is fully normal and unaffected.
After around 30,000 machinists went on strike recently, Boeing said on September 18 that it would temporarily furlough tens of thousands of employees. This decision was made in response to the strike, which halted manufacturing of Boeing’s best-selling 737 MAX and other airplanes.
In an email sent to staff, CEO Kelly Ortberg announced that the company will be implementing temporary furloughs over the next few days. These furloughs will affect a significant number of executives, managers, and employees residing in the United States. During the strike, “we intend to implement a rolling furlough policy in which those employees who have been selected will get one week of leave every four weeks,” Ortberg said.
The strike, which is Boeing’s first since 2008, is added to an already turbulent year for the aircraft manufacturer, which began in January when a door panel on a brand-new 737 MAX jet blew apart while it was in the air.
Additionally, Ortberg stated that he and other officials at Boeing “will take a commensurate pay reduction for the duration of the strike.”
During two days, conversations were held between Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Federal mediators were present during these discussions. After expressing its dissatisfaction with the first day of mediation, the union said that it had ended yet another day of negotiations with “no meaningful progress.”
Boeing’s Trouble Will Continue
The widespread furloughs are evidence that Ortberg is getting the firm ready to endure an extended strike, the ire of which is likely to make a quick resolution quite unlikely.
A prolonged labor dispute might end up costing Boeing several billion dollars, which would put more strain on the company’s finances and put its credit rating in danger.
Ben Tsocanos, the aerospace director at S&P Global Ratings, stated that it is highly improbable that the savings will be able to completely compensate for the expenses that stem from a lengthy strike.
In its first complete contract negotiations with Boeing in sixteen years, the union has been pressing for a raise of 40 percent over a period of four years. This is far more than the offer of 25 percent that the planemaker made, which was resoundingly rejected.
However, these actions, which included furloughs and a reduction in salary, amounted to “smoke and mirrors,” considering that the corporation had previously spent money on bonuses and remuneration for top executives.
To provide the impression that the company is attempting to cut costs, this is merely a component of their overall strategy.
Disruptions in Production
As a result of the strike, Boeing’s manufacturing of 737 MAX narrowbody jets, as well as its widebody aircraft, the 777 and 767, has been halted, which has caused delays in the delivery of these aircraft to airlines.
A prominent Chinese lessor, on the other hand, has reportedly stated that it placed a new order recently for 50 MAX airplanes, with delivery dates ranging from 2028 to 2031. This is an indication that the demand for Boeing aircraft over the longer term is still present.
Due to the fact that the manufacturer’s balance sheet is already loaded with $60 billion of debt, the factory said that it would be freezing recruiting in order to cut costs.
As a further measure that will be detrimental to its suppliers, the corporation has also ceased placing the majority of its orders for parts for all Boeing jet programmes, with the exception of the 787 Dreamliner.
A senior supplier referred to the most recent announcement as “panic mode” and stated that it highlighted the fact that Boeing has little room for maneuvering due to the fact that its balance sheet is already under a lot of strain.
In order to avoid incurring substantial fines in accordance with its hallmark digital antitrust regulations, the European Union has issued a warning to Apple Inc., urging the company to make its highly guarded operating systems for the iPhone and iPad easily accessible to competing technology.
In accordance with the Digital Markets Act of the European Union, the watchdogs of the EU have announced that the company based in Cupertino, California is required to comply with stringent new restrictions regarding the integration of operating systems with other technologies. Six months were given to the corporation by the authority based in Brussels to comply, or else they would be subject to potential penalties in the future.
EU Aims to Compel Apple to Re-Engineer Its Services
Despite the fact that the announcement is not yet an official inquiry, the European Union intends to force Apple to redesign its offerings in order to grant competitors an access to the operating systems of the iPhone and iPad.
According to a statement released by the Deputy Commissioner for Competition of the European Union, Margrethe Vestager, it marks the first time that specification proceedings under the DMA have been used to steer Apple towards effective compliance with its interoperability requirements. An significant factor in this is the presence of effective interoperability, which can be seen, for instance, in smartphones and the operating systems that they use.
Reasons and Repercussions if Apple Doesn’t Agree to the Norm
Assuring that other developers have access to essential Apple capabilities, such as Siri voice commands and the payments chip, is one of the goals of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
In the case that Apple does not comply with the DMA, the European Union may decide to initiate a formal investigation at a later time. This might ultimately result in significant fines of up to 10% of the company’s yearly sales worldwide. It has already been subjected to a parallel inquiry examining the restrictions that it has established for developers within its App Store, which may also result in significant penalties.
The latest version of Apple’s flagship gadget, the iPhone 16, was introduced earlier this month. The company is hoping that it will be able to attract customers with relatively minor hardware enhancements and artificial intelligence technology that is still in the development stage.
On the other hand, the American company announced in June that certain services, such as Apple Intelligence, iPhone Mirroring, and SharePlay Screen Sharing, would not be available in the European Union. This was owing to the criteria that the DMA places on OS systems in order for them to be compatible with third-party applications.
MeraCars, an innovative automobile tech startup, is rapidly solidifying its position as a key player in Kerala’s used car market. Launched by TeamTech, the company has quickly gained traction through its MeraCars Partners app, which has already onboarded over 200 dealers during its pre-release phase. This significant milestone underscores the growing demand for MeraCars’ unique auction-based business model in the Indian automobile industry.
The MeraCars Partners app provides dealers with an unprecedented level of convenience and trust. With just a few clicks, dealers can procure cars from anywhere in India, thanks to the app’s user-friendly interface and extensive network. What truly sets MeraCars apart is the in-depth inspection reports provided for each vehicle, meticulously prepared by highly qualified car inspectors. Dealers can confidently participate in auctions, fully trusting the MeraCars inspection reports. This trust is not just a selling point; it is the foundation upon which MeraCars has built its business, helping hundreds of pre-owned car dealers across the country increase their revenue.
Sanu KP, the CEO of MeraCars and TeamTech, expressed his satisfaction with the progress made so far. He emphasized the overwhelmingly positive feedback from dealers, particularly in Kerala, one of India’s leading markets for used cars. “We are thrilled with the 100% satisfaction rate among dealers using the MeraCars Partner app,” Sanu said. “The response from the Kerala market has been phenomenal, and it gives us immense confidence as we prepare to expand our operations across India.”
MeraCars’ success in Kerala is the result of careful planning, innovative thinking, and a deep understanding of the market. The company’s technology-driven approach resonates with dealers who seek reliable, efficient, and trustworthy ways to source pre-owned vehicles. By focusing on transparency and ease of use, MeraCars has built a strong community of satisfied dealers who are eager to continue using the platform.
In a conversation with MeraCars’ COO, Akhil, and CMO, Jithin, they shared their excitement about the company’s future plans. “We are constantly innovating and looking for ways to improve our platform,” said Akhil. “Our goal is to make MeraCars the go-to platform for all used car dealers in India, and we are confident that we have the right team and technology to achieve this.”
Jithin added, “We have something big planned for the entire Indian used car market. While we can’t reveal all the details just yet, we are working on new features and partnerships that will take MeraCars to the next level. Our focus has always been on providing value to our dealers, and we believe that what we’re working on will significantly enhance their experience.”
As MeraCars continues to expand its operations, the company remains committed to maintaining the high standards that have earned it such a strong reputation in Kerala. The combination of a robust technological foundation, a customer-centric approach, and a dedicated team ensures that MeraCars is well-positioned to become a leader in the Indian used car market.
The early success of MeraCars in Kerala is just the beginning. With the ambitious plans laid out by the company’s leadership, it is clear that MeraCars is on track to revolutionize the way used cars are bought and sold in India. Dealers across the country should keep a close eye on this innovative platform as it continues to set new standards for trust, transparency, and efficiency in the used car market.
India, September 20’ 2024: Physics Wallah Private Limited (PW), India’s leading education company, has closed its Series B funding round, raising USD 210 million. This investment brings the company’s post-money valuation to an impressive USD 2.8 billion, a 2.5x jump over its last valuation of USD 1.1 billion. The funding round was led by Hornbill Capital, with significant participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, alongside the continued support of its existing investors, GSV and WestBridge.
Physics Wallah’s funding round serves as a beacon of optimism amidst challenging times for the EdTech sector, showcasing the unwavering confidence of both existing and new investors in Physics Wallah’s growth and its mission to democratize education across India. The remarkable interest from both new and existing investors underscores the strong belief in PW’s ability to deliver quality education to Bharat’s next generation.
Alakh Pandey, Founder, and CEO of Physics Wallah, expressed his gratitude, stating, “This investment is not just a validation of our efforts to democratize education and make quality education accessible to every student in India, but also a testament to the impact we have created over the years. Prateek and I are excited to partner with Hornbill Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners in this journey, and we deeply appreciate the continued trust from WestBridge and GSV.”
Prateek Maheshwari, Co-founder of Physics Wallah, added, “Our focus has always been on creating value for our students and ensuring their success. This new round of funding will enable us to expand our reach, enhance our technological capabilities, and continue delivering unparalleled learning experiences. This comes on the back of strong sustainable y-o-y growth – in fact FY25 is going to be the year of the largest absolute EBITDA profitability for the PW Group. There are no good or bad markets but only good or bad stories – and ours is a great impact story!”
Physics Wallah produces 9,500 hours of educational content every week with a student base across 18,808 pin codes, accounting for almost 98% of pin codes in India. This funding will bolster its already significant cash reserves to support its future growth plans. PW’s expansion from school education to skilling is integral to the strategic vision, designed to support students at every stage of their journey and solidify its role as a trusted, comprehensive partner in education and career advancement.
The funds raised will be strategically utilized to scale operations, with a key focus on consolidation in the education market. Physics Wallah plans to pursue inorganic expansion, enter the K-12 formal education segment, enhance its content and publication offerings, and explore mergers with community-driven education platforms across categories. As PW moves forward, it remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering students and helping them achieve their academic aspirations through these strategic initiatives.
Here’s what the key stakeholders have to say about Physics Wallah’s latest milestone and its continued journey toward transforming education in India:
Speaking about Hornbill’s investment in PW, Dubai-based Manoj Thakur, Founder of Hornbill Capital, remarked, “Physics Wallah is a rare combination of vision, execution, and impact with a thriving 3C model– Content, Community, and Commerce. We are excited to see PW’s use of AI not only to help improve students’ outcomes but also their emotional well-being. We are thrilled to lead this round of investment and support PW in its mission to provide quality education at affordable prices through the use of cutting-edge technology.”
“We are excited to partner with Alakh and Prateek to support their mission to bring quality education to every student in India. The community of students built over years of painstaking creation of quality educational videos, as well as reasonably priced offerings for online and offline courses, has made Physics Wallah a familiar brand name across the breadth and width of India and across all socioeconomic groups,”said Dev Khare, partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Sandeep Singhal,Co-founder and Managing Partner at WestBridge, shared his enthusiasm, “Our decision to double down on Physics Wallah is driven by the company’s exceptional growth, strong execution, and long-term vision. We believe in the leadership of Alakh and Prateek and their ability to solve one of India’s stickiest problems, which is to provide world-class education at super low cost and at a population scale. In that, PW is probably one of the highest social impact enterprises that I have ever seen.”
Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner at GSV Ventures, echoed these sentiments, stating, “The impact that Physics Wallah has had on students across Bharat is incredibly inspiring. Our investment in PW, the largest commitment we’ve made to date, reflects our strong belief in the company’s commitment to quality and accessibility. The PW team has a unique ability to democratize education on a global scale, delivering high-quality learning at an affordable cost. The positive outcomes achieved by PW students align perfectly with our investment philosophy, and we are excited to further strengthen our partnership.”
About PW:
Physics Wallah (PW), India’s leading EdTech unicorn, was founded in 2020 by Alakh Pandey (Founder & CEO) and Prateek Maheshwari (Co-Founder). Headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, PW is democratizing education at scale across India through online, offline, and hybrid platforms, and has reached 98% of the country’s pin codes. Initially launched as a YouTube channel in 2014, PW has been growing exponentially, now offering free quality education to over 4.6+ crore students through its 112+ YouTube channels in 5 vernacular languages. The PW app has been downloaded 3+ crore times, and the company has over 55+ lakh paid students.
PW is creating the biggest hybrid education ecosystem in the country by establishing tech-enabled offline and hybrid centers in 105 cities nationwide. As a lifelong learning partner, PW’s offerings span various educational segments, including 2 Gurukulam Schools, test preparation in 43 categories, a skilling vertical, higher education, and study abroad. Additionally, the company also has an Institute of Innovation (IOI) that provides world-class 4-year residential job-ready programs.
About Lightspeed
Lightspeed is a global multi-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovations and trends in the Enterprise, Consumer, Health, and Fintech sectors. Over the past two decades, the Lightspeed team has backed hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped build more than 500 companies globally including Affirm, Acceldata, Carta, Cato Networks, Darwinbox Epic Games, Faire, Innovaccer, Guardant Health, Mulesoft, Navan, Netskope, Nutanix, Rubrik, Sharechat, Snap, OYO Ultima Genomics and more. Lightspeed and its global team currently manage $25B in AUM across the Lightspeed platform, with investment professionals and advisors in the U.S., Europe, India, Israel, and Southeast Asia.
About WestBridge Capital
WestBridge Capital is a leading investment firm that focuses on partnering with high-growth companies in India and Southeast Asia. With a deep commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent, WestBridge has built a robust portfolio across various sectors including technology, financial services, consumer goods, and healthcare. The firm manages assets worth over $7 billion and brings a value-driven, long-term approach to its investments. WestBridge Capital is renowned for its ability to support businesses from the early stages through to late-stage growth, providing both capital and strategic insights to help companies scale sustainably.
About GSV
GSV Ventures, a multi-stage venture capital firm focused on the $7+ trillion global education and workforce skills sector, manages and invests from GSV Ventures Fund III. GSV has invested $600M+ in innovators across “Pre-K to Gray” learning, including ClassDojo, Coursera, Coursehero, Degreed, Guild, Lead School, Physics Wallah, Photomath, Quizizz and Classplus.
About Hornbill Capital
Hornbill Capital, founded by Manoj Thakur, specializes in the internet and digital technology, consumer and healthcare sectors. Hornbill Capital has expertise in long-short investment strategies and growth-stage private equity investments. The fund advised by Hornbill Capital was an anchor investor in the IPOs of IndiaMART, Affle, Nazara Technologies, Latent View, Star Health, Supriya Lifescience, PropEquity, eMudhra Limited and Honasa Consumer Limited. The investment manager has a deep understanding of the internet and digital technology space based on its investments across public and private companies in these sectors.
After having a tremendously successful run in North America, where he generated an astounding revenue of INR 234 crore, Diljit Dosanjh is getting ready to launch the Indian leg of his Dil-Luminati tour.
This year, the Punjabi singer-actor has been one of the most successful artists in the world, not only because of his music but also because of his performance in the film Amar Singh Chamkila, which was released on Netflix. Diljit has remained in the public eye as a result of his outstanding performances, which include his appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and at the pre-wedding party of Anant Ambani. It is now his Dil-Luminati tour that is continuing to garner media attention.
In a recent interview with Connect Cine, Diljit’s manager Sonali Singh discussed the success of the tour and provided some observations concerning its performance. As a demonstration of the enormous demand for his performances, she disclosed that ticket resellers were offering concert tickets for as much as $64,000 (INR 54 lakh) and $55,000 (INR 46 lakh). Even though these were not official rates, Sonali said that the practice of reselling tickets has grown increasingly widespread at events that are in high demand.
UK Calling for More Shows
Even though Diljit is getting ready for the European and Indian legs of the tour, the demand for his performances in the United Kingdom has already been quite high. Because there are still 80,000 followers waiting in the queue, the team is looking into adding additional events. The tickets for his first play in the United Kingdom were sold out in just a few hours.
In addition to his tour of India, Diljit will also be performing in Abu Dhabi, where he has already sold 30,000 tickets, which is a record for any singer or musician from India. The tickets for his performances in India went on sale not too long ago, and they ended up being completely sold out.
Dil-Luminati Tour India
On the 12th of September, tickets for the Indian leg of the Dil-Luminati tour became available for purchase, and they were purchased in a record-breaking period.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi will serve as the venue for the beginning of the Dil-Luminati Tour (India) on October 26. The tour will then proceed to Hyderabad on November 15, Ahmedabad on November 17, Lucknow on November 22, Pune on November 24, Kolkata on November 30, Bengaluru on December 6, Indore on December 8, and Chandigarh on December 14. At the end of the journey, on December 29th, Diljit will arrive in Guwahati.
The prices of tickets for the concerts varied from INR 1,499 for the Silver Area to INR 12,999 for the fan pits available for purchase.
The Chandrayaan-4 expedition to the moon has been given the go-ahead by the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project’s objective is to acquire and show the technologies necessary to successfully return to Earth after landing effectively on the moon. Furthermore, the mission will collect lunar samples and examine them on Earth. Chandrayaan-4 will finally attain the core technological capabilities necessary for an Indian landing on the moon, which is scheduled to take place by the year 2040, and will also safely return to Earth.
During the Amrit Kaal, the Government of India presented an expanded vision for the Indian space program. This vision envisions the establishment of an Indian Space Station (Bharatiya Antariksh Station) by the year 2035 and the landing of an Indian spacecraft on the moon by the year 2040 simultaneously. Several follow-on missions such as Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan are planned to be carried out to bring this vision into reality. These missions will include the development of capabilities related to space transportation and infrastructure. The Chandrayaan-3 Lander successfully proved a safe and gentle landing on the surface of the moon, which has resulted in the establishment of critical technologies and the display of capabilities that are only possessed by selected nations.
ISRO Will Be in the Driving Seat Again
ISRO will be in charge of the development of spacecraft as well as the launch of new spacecraft. In accordance with the established procedures that are now in place at ISRO, the Project will be handled and monitored in an efficient manner. With the cooperation of both the business world and academic institutions, it is anticipated that the mission will be finished within a period of 36 months after it has been approved.
It is anticipated that all of the essential technologies will be created entirely within the country. A number of different industries will be utilised in order to accomplish the task, and it is anticipated that there will be a significant employment potential as well as technology that will be transferred to other areas of the economy.
The Financial Dynamics of the Program
The total amount of money that is required for the technology demonstration mission known as “Chandrayaan-4” is INR 2104.06 crore. The cost encompasses the development and realisation of spacecraft, two launch vehicle missions of LVM3, support from an external deep space network, and the execution of special tests for design validation. This will ultimately result in the mission of landing on the moon’s surface and safely returning to Earth along with the lunar sample that will be collected.
The mission would make it possible for India to achieve self-sufficiency in essential fundamental technologies for manned missions, the return of lunar samples, and the scientific analysis of lunar samples. A considerable amount of Indian industry will be involved in the process of bringing this vision into reality. The Chandrayaan-4 science meetups and seminars have already been created as part of the plan to bring together the academic community in India.
The creation of the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), which will be a crucial step towards the Government’s aim of exploring and studying Venus has been approved by the Union Cabinet, which is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Venus, the planet that is nearest to Earth and is thought to have evolved under conditions that were similar to those of Earth, provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to gain an understanding of how the habitats of various planets can change in quite different ways.
As part of the “Venus Orbiter Mission,” which is going to be carried out by the Department of Space, a scientific spacecraft is going to be placed in orbit around the planet Venus. The purpose of this mission is to gain a deeper understanding of the surface and subsurface of Venus, as well as the atmospheric processes and the influence of the Sun on the atmosphere of Venus. The investigation of the factors that led to the transition of Venus, which is thought to have been livable at one point in time and was relatively comparable to Earth, would be of great assistance in understanding the development of the two worlds that are considered to be sister planets, namely Venus and Earth.
ISRO is going to be in charge of both the development of spacecraft and the launch of those spacecraft. With the established procedures that are now in place at ISRO, the Project will be handled and monitored efficiently. Through the use of the procedures that are already in place, the data that is created during the mission will be distributed to the scientific community.
The mission would make it possible for India to achieve self-sufficiency in essential fundamental technologies for manned missions, the return of lunar samples, and the scientific analysis of lunar samples. A considerable amount of Indian industry will be involved in the process of bringing this vision into reality. The Chandrayaan-4 science meetups and seminars have already been created as part of the plan to bring together the academic community in India.
The Mission Will Reveal the Secrets of Venus
The mission is anticipated to be completed in March 2028. It is anticipated that the Indian Venus mission will provide answers to a number of the currently unanswered scientific questions, which will lead to a variety of scientific results.
It is anticipated that this will result in a significant increase in employment opportunities and the spread of technology to other areas of the economy.
Mission’s Cost
There is a total of INR 1236 crore that has been granted for the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), and out of that amount, INR 824 crore will be spent on the development of the spacecraft.
In addition to the cost of the launch vehicle, the cost comprises the creation and realisation of the spacecraft, which includes its particular payloads and technological components. Additionally, the cost accounts for the cost of global ground station assistance for navigation and network.
Mission Will Promote Indigenisation
With the completion of this mission, India would be ready to conduct future planetary missions with greater payloads and more efficient orbit insertion strategies. During the process of developing the spacecraft and launch vehicle, there will be a considerable engagement of the Indian industry. The participation of a number of educational institutions and the provision of training to students during the pre-launch phase, which encompasses design, development, testing, test data reduction, calibration, and other related activities, is also envisioned.
Through the use of its one-of-a-kind equipment, the mission provides the Indian scientific community with fresh and significant scientific data, hence presenting prospects that are both emergent and novel.
Prithvi Durai
