Category: National

The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, on January 31 inaugurated the 39th Surajkund International Atmanirbhar Crafts Mela at Surajkund, Faridabad, Haryana. The internationally acclaimed fair brings together artisans, craftspeople and cultural practitioners from India and abroad, celebrating the country’s rich artistic heritage and reinforcing the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat through traditional crafts, handlooms and folk art. Referring to the theme States—Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya, the Vice-President said that Read More …

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, which will come into force from April 1, 2026, replacing the existing SWM Rules, 2016. The new rules overhaul the solid waste management framework for urban and rural local bodies, with a strong emphasis on reduction, reuse, recycling and at-source processing of waste, and a clear move away from dependence on Read More …

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has entered into an agreement with Russia’s Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) for the production of the SuperJet 100 (SJ100) aircraft. The announcement coincided with the four-day civil aviation show at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad, where the SJ-100 regional jet emerged as a major attraction. About the Aircraft: Strategic Significance for HAL: Relevance for Indian Aviation:

The Supreme Court on 28 January 2026 extended the tenure of its all-women committee of three former High Court judges, constituted to monitor rehabilitation efforts in violence-affected Manipur, by another six months. The committee was originally set up in August 2023. Composition of the CommitteeThe panel is headed by Justice Gita Mittal, former Chief Justice of a High Court, and includes Justice Shalini Phansalkar Joshi, a retired judge of the Read More …

On 28 January, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting of Parliament at the commencement of the Budget Session, outlining the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat. Her address highlighted key achievements and priorities across social justice, economic growth, infrastructure development, national security, and India’s global engagement. Constitutional Provisions: Articles 86 and 87 Nature and Purpose of the President’s Address

The Beating Retreat ceremony, marking the culmination of the 77th Republic Day celebrations, was held on 29 January at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi. The event formally brought the Republic Day festivities to a close. About the Beating Retreat CeremonyBeating Retreat is a traditional ceremony that signifies the end of Republic Day celebrations in India. It is held every year on the evening of January 29, three days after Republic Day, Read More …

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on 29 January 2026 issued a notice to the Rajasthan government in connection with protests by the Kalbelia community in Barmer district. The protests were triggered by the community’s demand for a designated burial ground for their deceased members. Burial Practices of the Kalbelia CommunityKalbelias follow the Nath tradition, under which the dead are buried rather than cremated. However, unlike other communities that have Read More …

Meghalaya has taken a major step towards global recognition of its unique living heritage with India formally submitting the nomination dossier of the State’s Living Root Bridges to UNESCO for consideration under the 2026–27 World Heritage evaluation cycle.The dossier, titled “Jingkieng Jri / Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape”, was submitted by India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Vishal V. Sharma, to the Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, Lazare Assomo Read More …

The Government of India has notified coking coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). It has been included in Part D, which lists minerals of critical and strategic importance for the country. Implications for Mining and InvestmentThe inclusion of coking coal in this category is expected to enable faster regulatory approvals, improve ease of doing business, and accelerate Read More …

NITI Aayog on January 28 launched Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0, a three-month nationwide campaign aimed at achieving saturation of critical development indicators in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks across the country. Launch and Duration The campaign was launched by the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog and will run until April 14, 2026. It builds upon the momentum and outcomes of the Sampoornata Abhiyan 2024, which demonstrated significant progress in targeted Read More …

The results for the Best Marching Contingents and Best Tableaux of the Republic Day Parade 2026 have been officially announced, recognising excellence across States and Union Territories, the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and Central Ministries. Best Tableaux: States and Union Territories In the States and Union Territories category, Best Marching Contingents Among the three Services, the Indian Navy was adjudged the Best Marching Contingent.In the category of Read More …

Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the 25th edition of the Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) at the National School of Drama (NSD), Mandi House, marking the silver jubilee of the world’s largest international theatre festival. A major highlight of the inaugural ceremony was the launch of NSD’s new digital initiatives — the app-based radio station “Rang Akash” and the OTT platform “Naatyam”. The Culture Minister formally unveiled both Read More …

On the eve of the 77th Republic Day, the Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj launched the PESA Rankings of States for 2024–25. Among the 10 States with Fifth Schedule Areas where the PESA Act is applicable, Maharashtra secured the first position in implementation, followed by Madhya Pradesh in second place and Himachal Pradesh in third. Objective of the RankingsThe PESA Rankings aim to motivate PESA States to strengthen Read More …

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj on 25 January 2026, on the eve of Republic Day, launched PANCHAM – Panchayat Assistance & Messaging Chatbot as a flagship digital initiative aimed at empowering Panchayat Elected Representatives and Functionaries across the country. A Digital Companion for PanchayatsPANCHAM has been designed as a digital companion for Panchayats, offering timely and contextual guidance, simplified workflows, and easy access to information to support day-to-day governance and Read More …

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) showcased several advanced indigenous defence technologies during the 77th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path, underscoring India’s growing self-reliance in critical military systems. LR-AShM Takes Centre StageAmong the highlights was the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM), displayed along with its launcher. The missile represents a major milestone in India’s hypersonic weapons programme and is designed to meet the coastal battery requirements of Read More …