DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY
A look back at 2017's best moments that left us joyous, proud, and hopeful for the future
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- Dec 31, 2017, 01:30 AM IST
A look back at 2017's best moments that left us joyous, proud, and hopeful for the future
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1/13
Scorpene power for the Indian Navy
PM Narendra Modi commissioned India’s first Scorpene class submarine, the INS Kalvari, in Mumbai on December 14. The Scorpene submarine is a class of diesel-electric attack submarines designed by French naval defence and energy company DCNS and is being manufactured by Mazagon Dock Ltd in Mumbai. The submarine can undertake multiple missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance.
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2/13
Looking up
International rating agency Moody’s Investor Services, on November 17, lifted India’s sovereign rating by a notch to BAA2 from BAA3 after 13 years. The rating agency said recent reforms had reduced India’s risk of sharp rise in debt, “even in potential downside scenario”.
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3/13
A ‘young’ leap for KalamSat
India, on June 22, created history after NASA launched the world’s smallest satellite KalamSat, weighing around 64 grams. It was named after former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and developed by 18-year old Tamil Nadu student Rifath Sharook and his team. KalamSat was carried by a NASA sounding rocket from Wallops Island.
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4/13
RERA: More power to home buyers
On May 1, the much-awaited Real Estate Regulation Act came into force. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2016, was passed last year. The consumer-centric laws are serious about under-construction residential projects, prescribe compulsory registration of all ongoing and upcoming projects, as well as penalties and punitive measures against developers who delay their projects.
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5/13
Women say #MeToo
The two-word hashtag, #MeToo, became a movement on Twitter after actress Alyssa Milano tweeted about the campaign -- first started by activist Tarana Burke back in 2010 -- on October 16, in the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein sex abuse scandal. The movement saw countless women coming forward and speaking about experiences of sexual assault and harassment. From Hollywood, the movement has slowly spread all over the world and to other professions.
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6/13
Making diplomatic strides
India on June 9 became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ending an administrative process that began two years ago. India’s membership at the SCO was announced by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, at the SCO Astana Summit. He also welcomed Pakistan as a new member of the organisation.
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7/13
Desi girl on topof the world
India’s Manushi Chhillar earned the coveted title of Miss World 2017 at a star-studded event in China on November 18, 17 years after Priyanka Chopra won the prestigious title in 2000. Hailing from Haryana, Chhillar competed against 108 contestants from various countries.
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8/13
A second home, maybe
Astronomers discovered seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a nearby star – TRAPPIST-1 – and the possibility that these new exoplanets could hold alien life. This cluster of planets is less than 40 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius, according to NASA and the Belgian research team, who announced the discovery on February 22. Researchers said that at least three of the seven planets orbiting around the cool, small star might hold liquid water.
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9/13
Virat’s 10 tons as captain
Virat Kohli scored his 19th Test century and 12th as captain on November 26. With his 213 in 267 balls against Sri Lanka in the second Test, he went past Sunil Gavaskar (11) for most Test hundreds by an Indian captain. He also notched up his 50th international century (18 in Tests and 32 in ODIs) on the fifth and final day of the Test against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 20.
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10/13
For the first time, a womb became a gift
In May, a 24-year-old woman from Solapur, born without a uterus, got a shot at motherhood as a dozen surgeons performed an operation for over 12 hours in which her mother’s uterus was removed through a laparoscopic surgery and transplanted into her body. Three years of preparation, practice on cadavers and permissions from the Directorate of Health Services in the state finally made the landmark procedure possible. With the procedure, India joined one of the few countries, such as the US and Sweden, which have successfully carried out the procedure.
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11/13
Ramnath Kovind elected President
On July 20, Ram Nath Kovind, NDA candidate was elected India’s President after he secured 65.65 per cent of the total electoral college votes. Opposition candidate Meira Kumar got the rest 34.35 per cent votes. His oath-taking ceremony was held amid full grandeur on July 25. Kovind is the first person from BJP to hold the office since Independence.
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12/13
Sardar Sarovar Dam becomes reality
PM Narendra Modi dedicated the Sardar Sarovar dam to the nation on September 17. It is India’s largest and the world’s second largest concrete dam after Grand Coulee in the US. The PM called the dam on the Narmada river an engineering miracle, whose inauguration coincided with his 67th birthday.
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13/13
Mumbai’s lifeline gets a cool makeover
The much awaited AC local finally commenced its services in Mumbai on December 25. The country’s first such train concluded its maiden ride from Borivali to Churchgate with at least 580 passengers. The service is expected to be fully operational from January 1 and will be extended till Virar.
