Category: National

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) on 8 January launched PANKHUDI, an integrated digital portal aimed at strengthening Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and partnership initiatives in the areas of women and child development. Purpose and ScopePANKHUDI is designed to consolidate contributions and collaborations from a wide range of stakeholders, including: The portal focuses on critical sectors such as nutrition, health, early childhood care and education, child welfare Read More …

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has unveiled a new resident-facing Aadhaar mascot named ‘Udai’, aimed at simplifying communication and enhancing public understanding of Aadhaar-related services. Role of the MascotAccording to UIDAI, Udai will act as a relatable communication companion, helping citizens easily navigate key aspects of Aadhaar such as: The initiative is part of UIDAI’s efforts to make Aadhaar services more accessible and user-friendly. Selected Through National CompetitionThe Read More …

A Division Bench of the Madras High Court, on January 6, settled the long-standing dispute over the lighting of the ceremonial Karthigai Deepam lamp at a stone pillar on Thiruparankundram hill near Madurai. The court held that the ritual may be performed, but without public participation, balancing religious practice with heritage protection. About Thiruparankundram HillRising about 1,050 feet on the outskirts of Madurai, Thiruparankundram hill is a site of multi-religious Read More …

The Centre has officially granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Nagauri Ashwagandha, positioning Nagaur district of Rajasthan as a new agricultural brand on the global map. The recognition marks a historic milestone for farmers of the Marwar region, especially those engaged in medicinal crop cultivation. Second Major GI Achievement for Rajasthan AgricultureAfter Sojat Mehendi, Nagauri Ashwagandha becomes Rajasthan’s second major GI-tagged product in the agricultural category, strengthening the state’s Read More …

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for road construction, marking a major breakthrough in sustainable infrastructure development. Announcement at CSIR Technology Transfer CeremonyAddressing the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi, the Minister congratulated the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for achieving this landmark innovation. He described bio-bitumen as a transformative Read More …

Under emergency procurement powers, the Indian Army has signed a ₹293 crore contract with private defence manufacturer NIBE Limited, in collaboration with Israel, for the supply of an advanced long-range rocket launcher system. ‘Suryastra’ to Enhance Deep-Strike CapabilityThe system, named Suryastra, is India’s first indigenously developed universal multi-calibre rocket launcher. It will significantly enhance the Army’s deep-strike artillery firepower and operational reach, with strike capabilities of 150 km and 300 Read More …

The 79th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) was celebrated in New Delhi on January 6, 2026, marking nearly eight decades of BIS’s contribution to strengthening India’s quality and standards ecosystem. BIS functions as India’s National Standards Body under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. Strengthening Quality and Standards EcosystemWith over 23,300 Indian Standards currently in force, BIS plays a Read More …

The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) will undertake a Long Range Training Deployment to Southeast Asia as part of the training curriculum of the 110th Integrated Officers’ Training Course (IOTC). Ships Participating in the DeploymentThe deployment will comprise INS Tir, INS Shardul and INS Sujata of the Indian Navy, along with Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sarathi. The squadron will sail to Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. Objectives of the Read More …

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, on January 5, 2026, inaugurated India’s first Integrated Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) trout farm set up by SmartGreen Aquaculture at Ranga Reddy district, Hyderabad. Path-Breaking Milestone for Fisheries SectorAddressing the gathering, the Union Minister described the project as a path-breaking milestone for the fisheries sector, stating that it “goes beyond imagination” and showcases the transformative role of advanced Read More …

Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh on January 5, 2026, commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Samudra Pratap in Goa. Built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), the vessel is the first of two Pollution Control Vessels being constructed for the Indian Coast Guard. First Indigenous Design, Largest in ICG FleetWith over 60% indigenous content, ICGS Samudra Pratap is India’s first indigenously designed pollution control vessel. It is also the largest ship Read More …

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently shared an Op-Ed marking 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath temple in 1026 AD. He underlined that despite repeated assaults over centuries, Somnath continues to stand tall as a symbol of India’s resilience and civilisational continuity. The Prime Minister wrote that Somnath’s story is not just about a temple, but about the unbreakable courage of countless children of Bharat Mata who protected Read More …

The Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, on 3 January 2026, inaugurated the 9th Siddha Day celebrations at Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai, highlighting the growing relevance of Siddha medicine as a comprehensive, preventive and sustainable healthcare system in the modern world. Traditional Medicine as Living Knowledge SystemsAddressing the gathering, the Vice President said that India’s traditional systems of medicine—including Siddha, Ayurveda, Yoga and other AYUSH disciplines—are not relics of Read More …

The Prime Minister’s flagship platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) has achieved a major milestone with the successful conduct of its 50th meeting. Launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PRAGATI has emerged as a key instrument for real-time monitoring and resolution of critical infrastructure projects and public grievances through direct Prime Ministerial oversight. Cabinet Secretary Briefs Media on OutcomesOn 2 January, the Cabinet Secretary and senior Read More …

President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu on January 1, 2026, launched the #SkilltheNation challenge under the SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), marking a major push towards preparing India’s workforce for the age of artificial intelligence. What is the SOAR Initiative?The Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme is a strategic national initiative aimed at integrating artificial intelligence competencies into India’s skilling Read More …

Haryana has registered a significant improvement in its Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), which rose to 923 in 2025, marking a 13-point increase from 910 in 2024. This is the highest SRB recorded by the state in the last five years, according to official data. Crackdown on Sex-Selective Practices Pays OffState officials have attributed the improvement to strict measures against prenatal sex determination and illegal abortions. Key interventions include intensified Read More …