Daily Current Affairs: 4 February 2026

Analysis for 04 February 2026

M Anitha (IRS) appointed Director in Department of Defence.

[Defence Department (India), Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)]

Key Updates:

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of M Anitha, IRS (Income Tax: 2007), as Director in the Department of Defence under the Central Staffing Scheme.
The Civil Services Board (CSB) recommended her lateral shift from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), where she is currently Director.
Her tenure in the Department of Defence will last up to 26 September 2026, the balance period of her five-year deputation at the Director level, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The appointment takes effect from the date she assumes charge of the post.

Similar Coverage

Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor appointed Director General of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) (End of January) ▼

Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, former Haryana Director General of Police, was appointed as Director General of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Praveen Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre and then DG of ITBP, was appointed as Director General of Border Security Force (BSF).
Rakesh Aggarwal, a 1994-batch IPS officer and then Special DG of National Investigation Agency (NIA), was appointed as Director General of NIA.

Air Marshal Tejbir Singh assumes charge as Director General Inspection & Safety (Start of December) ▼

Air Marshal Tejbir Singh has assumed charge as Director General Inspection & Safety at Air Headquarters of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
He takes over from Air Marshal Makarand Bhaskar Ranade, who superannuated on 30 November 2025.
Air Marshal Tejbir Singh is an alumnus of the Royal College of Defence Studies, UK.
Air Marshal Tejbir Singh has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal 2010 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal 2018.

Lav Aggarwal appointed as Director General of Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) (Start of January) ▼

Lav Aggarwal, previously Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, appointed as Director General of DGFT.
Rabindra Kumar Agarwal appointed to head Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Srikant Nagulapalli assigned role in Ministry of Petroleum.

Rakesh Aggarwal appointed Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) (Mid of January) ▼

Rakesh Aggarwal, a 1994 batch IPS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the regular Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA).
He had been serving as interim head of NIA after the premature repatriation of incumbent Sadanand Date.
Praveen Kumar, a 1993 batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, has taken over as Director General of Border Security Force (BSF).
He was earlier serving as ITBP DG while also holding additional charge as BSF DG.
Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, a 1990 batch IPS officer and former DGP of Haryana, has been appointed as Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

Nivedita Dubey assumes charge as Member (HR) at Airports Authority of India (AAI).

[Airports Authority of India (AAI)]

Key Updates:

Nivedita Dubey assumed charge as Member (Human Resources) at the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
She became the first woman to serve on the Board of AAI.
Her previous role within AAI was Regional Executive Director for the Eastern Region.
She brings over 30 years of experience spanning airport operations, administration, and people management.

Similar Coverage

Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais makes history as first woman to lead UN Tourism (Mid of November) ▼

Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais has made history as the first woman to lead UN Tourism.
Her four-year term begins in January 2026, marking a significant achievement for the UAE and its commitment to women's empowerment and global leadership in the sector.
Her nomination was confirmed during the 123rd UN Tourism Executive Council session held in Segovia, Spain, where she secured a majority vote.
Shaikha Al Nowais becomes the first woman to lead the organization since its establishment 50 years ago in 1975.
Key positions that prepared her for this historic role include Corporate Vice President at Rotana Hotels and Chair of the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s Tourism Working Group.
She has articulated a comprehensive Five-Pillar Vision designed to transform the tourism sector: Responsible Tourism, Capacity Building, Technology for Good, Innovative Financing, and Smart Governance.

Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty elected first woman President of Press Club of India (PCI) (Mid of December) ▼

Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty secured 1,019 votes to become the first woman President of PCI.
Her team swept all office-bearers and managing committee positions, winning 21-0 in the elections.
Afzal Imam was elected Secretary General with 948 votes, defeating Gyan Prakash who got 290 votes.
Jatin Gandhi won the vice-president post with 1,029 votes, defeating Prahlad Singh Rajput by over 900 votes.
Aditi Rajput (Treasurer) and PR Sunil (Joint Secretary) were elected unopposed.
The 16-member managing committee was led by Niraj Kumar with 932 votes.

Anu Garg appointed as Chief Secretary of Odisha (End of December) ▼

Anu Garg has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of Odisha, becoming the first woman to hold the post.
She succeeds Manoj Ahuja, who superannuated on December 31.
Garg, a 1991-batch IAS officer, was serving as Development Commissioner of Odisha prior to the appointment.

Manali Makarand Kshirsagar appointed as first woman Vice-Chancellor of Nagpur University (NU). (Start of December) ▼

Manali Makarand Kshirsagar is an NU alumna with a PhD in computer science.
She holds an MBA in finance and marketing.
She is currently director-technical and adviser at Nagpur’s Yeshwantrao Chavan College of Engineering.
Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat made the announcement of her appointment.
Her tenure will be for five years.

Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment as Deposed Prime Minister of Bangladesh

[Bangladesh]

Key Updates:

The Dhaka Special Judge's Court sentenced 79-year-old deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in absentia across two corruption cases.
The sentencing involves alleged irregularities in the allocation of residential plots under the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachol.
The court sentenced Hasina's nieces, Tulip Siddiq (United Kingdom (UK) Labour Member of Parliament (MP) and former British minister) and Azaman Siddiq, and her nephew, Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in absentia.
Other accused individuals, including a former junior minister for housing, a former secretary of the ministry, and a former Rajuk Chairman, were sentenced to five years of imprisonment.
Khurshid Alam, a senior official of Rajuk, was the only individual among the 16 accused who was tried in person and present during the verdict.
Sheikh Hasina was previously sentenced to 21 years' imprisonment on 27 November following a complaint by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Her children, Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul, were each handed five-year prison sentences in a separate case involving Rajuk plots.
A special tribunal earlier sentenced the former Prime Minister, currently in exile in India, to death for crimes against humanity during the July Uprising on 5 August 2024.

Similar Coverage

Sheikh Hasina sentenced to 21 years in prison in corruption cases (End of November) ▼

Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to 21 years in prison in three separate corruption cases related to land allocations in the Purbachal New Town project.
Her son Sajeeb Wazed and daughter Saima Wazed were each sentenced to five years in prison in one of the cases.
A court last week sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death by hanging for crimes against humanity linked to ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising.
Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, and is currently residing in India.
Bangladesh has requested India to extradite Sheikh Hasina, and New Delhi is said to be studying the request.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus heads the interim government in Bangladesh, with new elections planned in February 2026.

Split verdict on Section 17A prior-approval clause in Prevention of Corruption Act (Mid of January) ▼

Section 17A inserted by 2018 amendment mandates prior approval before probing a public servant for acts done in discharge of his official functions or duties.
Justice B V Nagarathna: unconstitutional and ought to be struck down protects the corrupt.
Justice K V Viswanathan: valid provided the sanction is decided by the Lokpal or the Lokayukta.

Malaysian PM announces 10-year term limit for Prime Minister (Start of January) ▼

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he would introduce legislation to limit the term of Prime Minister to 10 years or two full terms.
Anwar stated, 'We will table a bill to limit the term of the prime minister, not exceeding 10 years or two full terms.'
There is currently no term limit in Malaysia for Prime Ministers.

Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death by Bangladesh tribunal over 2024 protest crackdown (Mid of November) ▼

A special International Crimes Tribunal 1 (ICT) in Dhaka found Sheikh Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced her to death.
Hasina was tried in absentia; she is currently in exile in India.
The tribunal issued three categories of punishment across five charges: two death sentences and one imprisonment until natural death.
Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was also sentenced to death; former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun received five years in prison.
The court directed the government to pay compensation to protesters killed or wounded in the July 2024 movement.
Hasina called the verdict 'politically motivated' and said it was delivered by 'a rigged tribunal established and presided over by an unelected government'.
The ICT was originally set up by Hasina herself in 2010 to investigate 1971 war crimes.
Human Rights Watch and other critics have previously raised concerns about fair-trial standards and the use of the death penalty by the tribunal.
India has not responded to extradition requests; analysts say India is unlikely to extradite Hasina.
The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, made prosecuting Hasina a key promise.

Vinay Muralidhar Tonse Appointed as MD & CEO of YES Bank

[YES Bank]

Key Updates:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of YES Bank.
The appointment is for a tenure of three years, effective from the date he assumes charge.
The appointment is subject to the approval of the shareholders of the bank.
Tonse will succeed Prashant Kumar, whose current extended tenure as the MD & CEO is scheduled to end on April 5, 2026.
Tonse previously served as the Managing Director (Retail Business & Operations) at the State Bank of India (SBI) until November 30, 2025.
The bank confirmed that Tonse is not debarred from holding the office of a director by any order of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) or any other authority.

Similar Coverage

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves re-appointment of Ratan Kumar Kesh as Bandhan Bank executive director. (End of December) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the re-appointment of Ratan Kumar Kesh as executive director of Bandhan Bank Limited.
The re-appointment is effective from March 31, 2026, for an additional three-year term.
Kesh also serves as the chief operating officer and a key managerial personnel of the bank.
The approval was communicated via an RBI letter dated December 26, 2025.
The re-appointment is contingent upon the approval of the bank's shareholders and Kesh will remain subject to retirement by rotation.
Bandhan Bank confirmed that Kesh has no relations with other directors of the bank and is not debarred or disqualified from holding a directorship by any order from the Securities and Exchange Board of India or any other relevant authority.

Seven Executive Directors Appointed in Public Sector Banks (End of November) ▼

Seven Executive Directors have been appointed to the Boards of various Public Sector Banks.
The Department of Financial Services (DFS) formally notified these appointments.
The appointed Executive Directors include Amit Kumar Srivastava for Punjab National Bank, E. Ratan Kumar for Central Bank of India, Amresh Prasad for Union Bank of India, Pramod Kumar Dwibedi for Bank of India, Sunil Kumar Chugh for Canara Bank, Mini T M for Indian Bank, and Prabhat Kiran for Bank of Maharashtra.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the proposal for these appointments.
The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) conducted the selection process, recommending 11 candidates, from which seven officers received postings.

CA Usha Janakiraman appointed Executive Director of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) (Start of December) ▼

CA Usha Janakiraman appointed Executive Director of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with effect from December 1, 2025.
Prior to the promotion, Usha Janakiraman served as Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Department of Regulation, Central Office, Mumbai.
Usha Janakiraman has experience of over three decades in the RBI in areas of regulation, external investment and operations, banking supervision, public debt management, currency management and other areas.
As Executive Director, Usha Janakiraman will look after the Department of Supervision (Risk, Analytics and Vulnerability Assessment).
Usha Janakiraman is a Chartered Accountant.

RBI approves S Krishnan's appointment as J&K Bank Chairman (Mid of November) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of S Krishnan as part-time chairman of J&K Bank.
His appointment is effective from November 13, 2025, till March 26, 2028.
Krishnan previously served as MD & CEO of Punjab & Sind Bank.
He also held the top position as MD & CEO of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank in September 2022.
Krishnan is currently an independent director on the board of Srinagar-headquartered bank.

Yumnam Khemchand set to become Chief Minister of Manipur.

[Manipur]

Key Updates:

Yumnam Khemchand was elected as the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislative party.
Nemcha Kipgen is likely to become the Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur.
Khemchand belongs to the Meitei community and Kipgen belongs to the Kuki community.
The BJP has 37 MLAs in the Manipur assembly, supported by Naga People’s Front (5) and Janata Dal (United) (1).
Khemchand previously served as Speaker of the Manipur assembly from 2017 to 2022 and as a cabinet minister in 2022.
He was elected from the Singjamei constituency in the 2017 and 2022 Manipur Legislative Assembly elections.

Similar Coverage

Kota Ravi recommended as CMD of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). (End of January) ▼

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) recommended Shri Kota Ravi for the post of Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited during PESB Meeting No. 8/2026.
Shri Kota Ravi is currently serving as Director (Operations) at HAL.
The PESB recommendation will now be placed before the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval.

Asim Munir appointed first Chief of Defence Forces (Start of December) ▼

Field Marshal Asim Munir was formally appointed as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a period of five years.
The newly created Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) role replaces the abolished office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
General Sahir Shamshad Mirza was the last Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
Field Marshal Asim Munir assumes a dual role, serving simultaneously as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, Chief of Air Staff, received a two-year service extension.

Government Appoints New Secretary-Rank Officers (End of November) ▼

Govt appointed seven new secretary-rank officers, including the new heads for oil, telecom and agriculture ministries.
Neeraj Mittal, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, [was appointed] as petroleum secretary, replacing Pankaj Jain.
Amit Agrawal moves to the Department of Telecom.
Manoj Joshi... will move to pharmaceuticals from the department of land resources.
V Vidyarthi will move from tourism to the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Srivatsa Krishna [will replace V Vidyarthi] in tourism.
Atish Chandra... has been named officer on special duty in the department of agriculture and farmers welfare, and will take over as secretary at the end of Feb, when Devesh Chaturvedi retires.
Pankaj Jain, who was named member secretary of the Eighth Pay Commission.
Chennai Port Trust chairman Sunil Paliwal has been named chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.

SP Venkatesh Passes Away as Veteran Music Director

Key Updates:

Veteran music director SP Venkatesh passed away at the age of 70 at his residence in Chennai following a cardiac arrest.
He began his film career in 1971 as a guitarist and later served as an assistant music director in Kannada cinema in 1975.
He made his debut as an independent artist in 1981 with the Telugu film Prema Yuddham.
He won the Kerala State Film Award for best music director in 1993 for the films Paithrukam and Janam.
His notable works in Malayalam cinema include Rajavinte Makan, Kilukkam, Minnaram, Johnnie Walker, Dhruvam, Valsalyam, Sphadikam, Mannar Mathai Speaking, and Manthrikam.
He was also known for his background scores in films such as Devasuram, Mahayanam, No. 20 Madras Mail, Appu, Sopanam, and Highway.

Similar Coverage

Ex-Murugappa Group Chairman Arunachalam Vellayan passes away (Mid of November) ▼

Arunachalam Vellayan, former Chairman of the Murugappa Group and Chairman Emeritus of Coromandel International, died on Monday after a prolonged illness.
He served as Chairman of Coromandel International Ltd and EID Parry Ltd, and on the boards of Kanoria Chemicals & Industries Ltd, EXIM Bank and Indian Overseas Bank.
He led industry bodies such as the Southern India Chamber of Commerce, Fertiliser Association of India, Indian Sugar Mills Association, and All India Cycle Manufacturers Association, and was Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIM-Kozhikode.

Agnivesh Agarwal dies as Vedanta Group director (Start of January) ▼

Agnivesh Agarwal, son of metals tycoon Anil Agarwal, passed away at the age of 49 following a cardiac arrest after a skiing accident in the US.
He had been recovering at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York before the sudden cardiac arrest.
He was the chairman of Talwandi Sabo Power (TSPL), a subsidiary of Vedanta.
He previously served as chairman of Hindustan Zinc from November 2005 to February 2019.
He studied at Mayo College in Ajmer and later set up Fujairah Gold, a metal refinery in the UAE.

Ram Vilas Vedanti passes away as former Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament (Mid of December) ▼

Ram Vilas Vedanti died of a heart attack in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
He was admitted to the Superspecialty Hospital attached to Shyam Shah Medical College with blood poisoning and kidney failure.
Vedanti served as executive president of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust and was earlier elected to the Lok Sabha from Pratapgarh and Machhali Shahar in Uttar Pradesh.
His last rites will be performed in Ayodhya.

Super-100 of Veer Gatha 5.0 felicitated by Raksha Rajya Mantri and Minister of State for Education. (End of January) ▼

Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth and Minister of State for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (I/C) Shri Jayant Chaudhary felicitated the Super-100 winners of Veer Gatha 5.0 in New Delhi on 24 January 2026.
Veer Gatha 5.0 recorded over 1.92 crore student participants from more than two lakh schools, including 28,005 international students from CBSE schools abroad.
Among the 100 national winners, 64 are girls.
Each Super-100 awardee received ₹10,000 cash, a medal and a certificate, and will attend the Republic Day Parade 2026 at Kartavya Path on 26 January 2026.
Senior attendees included Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Secretary Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare) Ms Sukirti Lekhi, and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat.

India-EU Free Trade Agreement secures expanded market access across 144 sub-sectors for Indian service providers.

[European Union (EU)]

Key Updates:

The European Union (EU) has committed to expanded and commercially significant access across 144 sub-sectors including IT/ITeS, professional services, other business services and education services.
National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) stated the FTA will ease cross-border delivery for India’s IT exporters and strengthen digital trade while ensuring safeguards for privacy, security and public policy.
Nasscom expects the agreement to drive higher European investment into India’s IT ecosystem and enable joint ventures and R&D partnerships in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, clean technologies and startups.
Rohit Jain, Managing Partner at Singhania & Co, said the FTA provides Intellectual Property (IP) certainty that encourages European MNCs to shift core technology development to their Indian Global Capability Centres (GCCs).
Alignment between India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) could reduce regulatory friction and enable seamless real-time integration between European headquarters and Indian GCCs.

Similar Coverage

India allows European Union (EU) banks to open 15 branches over four years under FTA (End of January) ▼

India has agreed to allow European Union (EU) banks to open 15 branches over four years under the free trade agreement.
European banks currently operating in India include Deutsche Bank (Germany), BNP Paribas (France), and Societe Generale (France).
India has provided 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments in the insurance sector and 74 per cent for banking services.
The India-EU free trade agreement is expected to be signed and implemented this year.
The trade pact includes a bilateral safeguard mechanism allowing India to raise duty to most favoured nation (MFN) level if imports from the EU surge due to tariff liberalisation.
Bilateral safeguard measures under the mechanism cannot exceed four years, with an initial two-year period extendable by another two years upon review.
India has taken carve-outs for national security and reserved policy space in sectors like legal services.
The agreement includes an insufficient production clause specifying that packaging, labelling, minor assembly, or peeling do not confer origin status.
India has no obligation under the Intellectual Property Chapter to change or modify any of its intellectual property laws.
The trade deal mandates a general review by the joint committee within five years of entry into force and every five years thereafter.

India and European Union adopt Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda at 16th summit (End of January) ▼

India and the European Union (EU) endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda during the 16th India-EU summit held in New Delhi.
The agenda covers five pillars: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, connectivity and global challenges, and enabling factors such as skills, mobility, business and people-to-people ties.
Both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Comprehensive Framework on Co-operation on Mobility to boost mobility of Indians to Europe.
They agreed to conclude an Investment Protection Agreement to provide high, predictable standards of protection for investors and promote investment in high-growth sectors.
An Agreement on Geographical Indications will be concluded to ensure effective protection of iconic products and boost trade opportunities.
The Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will expand discussions on economic security to include research security and protection of sensitive technologies.
The EU-India Semiconductor Memorandum of Understanding will be implemented to strengthen supply chains and promote collaboration in chip design, heterogeneous integration, sustainable semiconductor technologies and manufacturing technology development.
An EU-India Business Forum will be established to meet regularly and provide business perspectives to inform policymaking across TTC work strands.
India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership cooperation will cover energy technologies, smart grids, storage, electricity sector regulation and energy and climate diplomacy.
Collaborative research will focus on artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, advanced semiconductors, clean tech and biotech under the technology and innovation pillar.
India-EU Innovation Hubs will be set up to support dialogue, knowledge exchange and joint projects in critical emerging technologies.
An India-EU Startup Partnership will be established to deepen cooperation in innovation.
Cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy will be promoted under the India-Euratom agreement.
Under the security and defence pillar, both sides will consult on respective initiatives, exchange on defence industry-related matters and explore cooperation aligned with mutual security priorities.

India and Germany sign Joint Declaration of Intent on Telecommunications Cooperation (Mid of January) ▼

India and Germany signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Telecommunications Cooperation during German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s official visit to India.
The JDI was signed by Telecom Secretary Amit Agrawal and German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann.
The declaration was concluded between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation.
Both sides agreed to promote collaboration in emerging and future technologies, policy and regulatory frameworks, manufacturing, and ease of doing business in telecom and ICT sectors.
The pact establishes a framework for regular consultations, high-level annual meetings, and multi-stakeholder engagement involving government, industry, academia, and research institutions.
India and Germany will jointly develop a work plan outlining specific goals and areas of mutual interest aligned with national priorities.
Both countries will work together in international fora to promote common understanding on telecommunications and digital development.

India to cut EU car import tariff to 40% under planned free-trade pact (End of January) ▼

India will immediately lower customs duty on EU cars priced above €15,000 from up to 110% to 40%.
The tariff is set to drop further to 10% over time for these vehicles.
The reduction will apply to an annual quota of about 200,000 combustion-engine cars.
Battery electric vehicles are excluded from duty cuts for the first five years to safeguard domestic firms Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors.
European carmakers Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Renault and Stellantis are expected to benefit from the lower tariffs.
EU carmakers currently hold less than 4% share in India’s 4.4 million units a year car market.
The India-EU free trade agreement could be announced as early as Tuesday and has been dubbed the "mother of all deals".

Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), and port authorities form Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) with ₹15,000 crore joint funding.

[Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Container Corporation of India (CONCOR)]

Key Updates:

Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA), Chennai Port Authority, and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) signed an agreement on Tuesday to form Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL).
The agreement provides for joint funding of up to ₹15,000 crore for eligible projects aimed at port capacity expansion under the Sagarmala Programme and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
India will place orders for 15 domestically manufactured container vessels through BCSL during fiscal 2026-27 as part of a strategy to procure 51 vessels in the next five years under phase one.
The initiative is aligned with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS) announced in Union Budget 2026-27.

Similar Coverage

Indian Navy Signs Contract with MSME Shipyard for Construction of Three 200-tonne Barges on 16 January 2026 (End of January) ▼

The Indian Navy (IN) concluded a contract for the construction and delivery of three 200-tonne Bottom Opening Non-Propelled Barges with M/s Suryadipta Projects Private Limited, Thane, an MSME shipyard, on 16 January 2026.
The barges will be designed and constructed entirely in India under the Classification Rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), reinforcing the Navy’s commitment to quality, safety and national maritime standards.
The project stands as a strong endorsement of the Government of India’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, showcasing the growing capability of Indian MSME shipyards to deliver specialised naval auxiliary platforms.
The initiative contributes directly to the strengthening of India’s domestic shipbuilding ecosystem, in alignment with the goals of the Maritime India Vision 2030, which emphasises self-reliance, innovation, and capacity building.

India and Germany sign bilateral logistics cooperation agreement (Mid of January) ▼

India and Germany have signed a bilateral agreement to enhance cooperation in postal, express, and logistics services focusing on cross-border e-commerce and time-definite deliveries.
The collaboration aims to boost Indian export volumes, improve service quality, and integrate Indian businesses into global value chains.
During a key ceremony in Ahmedabad on January 12, 2026, attended by Germany's Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, two important instruments were exchanged, detailing joint international express products and expanding last-mile reach through cooperation between India Post and Deutsche Post–DHL Group.

India and European Union sign new security and defence partnership (End of January) ▼

India and the European Union (EU) have signed a security and defence partnership pact focusing on maritime domain cooperation and Indo-Pacific engagements.
The partnership will facilitate stronger participation of the Indian defence industry in the European market.
An industry-led India-EU Defence Industry Forum will be established with official participation as observers and associating EU member states.
A dedicated annual EU-India Security and Defence Dialogue has been announced.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the Indian defence industry can contribute meaningfully to the EU's 'ReArm initiative' aimed at diversifying suppliers and de-risking dependencies.

Walmart becomes first traditional retailer to achieve $1 trillion market valuation

[Walmart]

Key Updates:

Walmart has become the first traditional retailer to reach a market valuation of $1 trillion (£730 billion).
The company transitioned its stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to the Nasdaq to reinforce its position as a digital and technology-driven firm.
Walmart recorded a 28% increase in e-commerce sales in the United States (US) during the three months ending 31 October.
The retailer announced a partnership with OpenAI in October to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) for meal planning and product discovery.
The company joins an elite group of firms with valuations exceeding $1 trillion, including Nvidia, Alphabet, Amazon, and Berkshire Hathaway.
John Furner reached the $1 trillion milestone during his first week as the Chief Executive (CE) of the company.
John David Rainey serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the retail giant.
India link not mentioned in the article.

Similar Coverage

Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. in $82.7 billion deal, combining streaming giant with century-old studio (Start of December) ▼

Netflix said it is buying Warner Bros. in a deal valued at $82.7 billion.
Netflix will buy Warner Bros. for $27.75 per share, giving the deal an equity value of $72 billion and a total enterprise value of $82.7 billion.
The transaction is expected to close in 12 to 18 months.
Netflix pledged to honor any contractual agreements for releasing Warner Bros.' studio films.

Delaware Supreme Court Overturns Ruling Increasing Elon Musk Net Worth to $749 Billion (End of December) ▼

Tesla CEO Elon Musk became the first person to cross the $700 billion mark, reaching a record net worth of $749 billion.
The Delaware Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that had voided Tesla stock options worth $139 billion.
Musk owns 12 per cent of Tesla common stock worth $199 billion, bringing his total Tesla holdings to $338 billion.
Musk holds a 42 per cent stake in SpaceX, which is targeting an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2026 with a valuation of $1.5 trillion.
Google co-founder Larry Page is the second-richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $253 billion.
Tesla awarded Musk a separate pay package in November that could provide up to $1 trillion in additional stock if performance milestones are met.

Elon Musk became first person to reach net worth of 600 billion dollars (Mid of December) ▼

Elon Musk holds an estimated 42 per cent stake in SpaceX.
SpaceX could go public with a valuation of 800 billion dollars.
SpaceX is expected to go public next year.
Musk’s 12 per cent stake in Tesla is currently worth 197 billion dollars.
Tesla shareholders approved a 1 trillion dollar compensation plan for Musk.

Doug McMillon to retire as Walmart CEO; John Furner named successor (Mid of November) ▼

Doug McMillon will step down as Walmart CEO on Jan. 31 and remain on the board until the annual shareholders' meeting.
John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. since 2019, will become CEO on Feb. 1.
McMillon started at Walmart in 1984 as an hourly warehouse associate and has been CEO since 2014.

United States (US) cuts reciprocal tariff on Indian goods from 25% to 18%.

[United States]

Key Updates:

The United States (US) reduced the reciprocal tariff on imports from India from 25% to 18% effective immediately.
India agreed to cut its tariffs and non-tariff barriers on US goods to zero.
US President Donald Trump announced the trade deal after a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India committed to stop buying Russian oil and increase purchases from the United States and potentially Venezuela.
The White House stated the additional 25% tariff imposed over Russian oil purchases will be dropped.
WTI crude oil futures fell more than 4.5% to around $62.2 a barrel on Monday.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is visiting Washington for discussions on critical minerals.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal stated negotiations for closing the trade deal are progressing quickly.

Similar Coverage

India to cut EU car import tariff to 40% under planned free-trade pact (End of January) ▼

India will immediately lower customs duty on EU cars priced above €15,000 from up to 110% to 40%.
The tariff is set to drop further to 10% over time for these vehicles.
The reduction will apply to an annual quota of about 200,000 combustion-engine cars.
Battery electric vehicles are excluded from duty cuts for the first five years to safeguard domestic firms Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors.
European carmakers Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Renault and Stellantis are expected to benefit from the lower tariffs.
EU carmakers currently hold less than 4% share in India’s 4.4 million units a year car market.
The India-EU free trade agreement could be announced as early as Tuesday and has been dubbed the "mother of all deals".

United States Warns India of Higher Tariffs Over Continued Russian Oil Imports (Start of January) ▼

United States (U.S.) president Donald Trump warned on January 4 that Washington could raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi does not stop buying Russian oil.
At present, Indian shipments face a cumulative 50% import tariff, with half of that directly linked to India’s continued purchases of Russian crude.
U.S. senator Lindsey Graham is pushing legislation that would impose sweeping secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas if Moscow refuses to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine within 50 days.
Indian exports to the U.S. fell 20.7% between May and November 2025, and a further escalation in tariffs could deepen the decline.
As tariff threats harden into policy, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) says India can no longer afford strategic ambiguity.

Government sources assess minimal impact of US tariff on Iran partners for India (Mid of January) ▼

India's trade with Iran stood at USD 1.6 billion, approximately 0.15% of India's total trade.
Iran does not figure in India's top 50 global trading partners.
India's share in Iran's total imports is USD 1.2 billion, accounting for 2.3%.
US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran.
FIEO CEO stated Indian industry and banks deal with Iran only in goods outside US OFAC sanctions.
KRBL exported approximately 250,000 tonnes of basmati rice to Iran when trade was fully open.

India and European Union sign Free Trade Agreement conclusion document during 16th Summit in New Delhi (End of January) ▼

India and the European Union (EU) formally signed the conclusion document for their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 27 January 2026.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chaired the 16th India–EU Summit in New Delhi with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The EU leaders served as the Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day of India, marking the first time EU leaders have held this position.
A military contingent representing the European Union Military Staff and EU Naval Operations ATALANTA and ASPIDES participated in the Republic Day Parade for the first time.
Under the FTA, India will reduce car import tariffs from 110% to 10% and phase out duties on auto components over a period of 5 to 10 years.
The leaders adopted the Towards 2030: India–EU Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda to guide cooperation in prosperity, technology, security, connectivity, and people-to-people ties.
The India–EU Security and Defence Partnership was signed as the first overarching framework to enhance cooperation in maritime security, cyber threats, and counter-terrorism.
Both parties agreed to launch negotiations on a Security of Information Agreement to facilitate the exchange of classified information.
The India–EU Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation was renewed until 2030, with talks beginning on India’s association with the Horizon Europe research programme.
New initiatives established include the India–EU Task Force on Green Hydrogen and the India-EU Wind Business Summit scheduled for 2026.
The two sides signed an Administrative Arrangement on Disaster Risk Management to enhance coordination in disaster preparedness and response.
A pilot European Legal Gateway Office will be launched to support the movement of workers, initially focusing on the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
The leaders agreed to launch an Education and Skills Dialogue in 2026 to facilitate the recognition of qualifications and promote vocational education.
The 17th India–EU Summit is scheduled to take place in Brussels in 2027.

Punjab National Bank (PNB) launches LUXURA Metal Credit Card on Visa Infinite platform

[Punjab National Bank (PNB), Visa]

Key Updates:

Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched its LUXURA Metal Credit Card on the Visa Infinite platform, expanding its premium credit card portfolio and increasing the card’s global acceptance.
The LUXURA Metal Credit Card is now available on both RuPay and Visa networks, allowing wider international usability for cardholders.
The card provides 4 reward points for every ₹100 spent, with higher rewards for travel and dining purchases.
Customers are eligible for bonus reward points upon reaching specified annual spending thresholds.
The card includes zero foreign currency mark-up on international transactions and complimentary access to domestic and international airport lounges.
Cardholders can access benefits under the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection, which may include complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, late check-out and food and beverage credits, subject to availability.
Additional dining benefits are offered under the Visa Dine & Save programme at select restaurants.
Travel-related benefits include discounts on flight and hotel bookings through third-party platforms such as Ixigo, Agoda, Expedia and Trip.com.
The card provides lifestyle benefits such as movie ticket offers, grocery discounts, and a fuel surcharge waiver of up to ₹350 per billing cycle.
PNB has integrated 24x7 Visa Concierge Services with the card, covering assistance for travel, dining, healthcare, entertainment and shopping.
The joining fee for the PNB LUXURA Metal Credit Card is ₹4,999 plus GST, while the annual fee is ₹1,999 plus GST.

Similar Coverage

IDFC FIRST Bank launches Zero-Forex Diamond Reserve Credit Card for international travelers. (Start of January) ▼

IDFC FIRST Bank introduces the Zero-Forex Diamond Reserve Credit Card with zero foreign exchange markup on international transactions.
The card offers reward points on travel and regular spending, with higher earn rates on hotel and flight bookings made through the bank’s platform.
Cardholders receive airport lounge access in India and overseas, complimentary golf sessions, selected hotel stay offers, and entertainment-related discounts.
Travel-related insurance covers include baggage loss, flight delays, trip cancellation, accident insurance, personal accident, and air accident cover.
Reward points carry lifetime validity with no cap on accumulation and flexible redemption across online purchases.
Annual fee is ₹3,000 plus GST, with a waiver from the second year for customers meeting a specified annual spending threshold.
The card is available through digital channels for eligible customers.

Punjab National Bank (PNB) launches RuPay metal credit card 'Luxura' targeting premium segment. (Start of December) ▼

Punjab National Bank (PNB) introduced the RuPay metal credit card named 'Luxura' aimed at premium customers.
The card features a rewards programme offering welcome and milestone points linked to specific spending thresholds.
Cardholders receive hotel- and dining-related benefits through partner networks.
PNB appointed Indian women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur as its first female brand ambassador during the launch event in New Delhi.
Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju stated the product adds depth to PNB’s offerings for customers seeking premium features.
PNB Managing Director & CEO Ashok Chandra expects the partnership to support the bank’s ongoing brand-building initiatives.

IDFC FIRST Bank Launches Gaj: Metal Credit Card for Private Banking Customers (End of December) ▼

IDFC FIRST Bank has launched 'Gaj:', an invitation-only premium metal credit card designed for high-net-worth individuals (HNI).
The card represents the final installment of the Bank's Ashva- Mayura- Gaj: trilogy of premium metal credit cards.
The card carries a joining and annual fee of ₹12,500 plus GST, with the annual fee waived on annual spends of ₹10 lakh.
The offering includes 12,500 invitation Reward Points, where 1 Reward Point equals ₹1 for travel bookings.
Key features of the card include 0% foreign exchange markup and interest-free global ATM cash access.
The card provides a ₹50,000 Trip Cancellation Cover and offers up to 50X rewards on hotels and 25X on flights via the bank's ecosystem.
As of September 30, 2025, IDFC FIRST Bank serves 35 million customers with a total business value of ₹5,35,673 crore ($60.4 billion).
The bank's customer deposits grew 23.4% year-on-year to ₹2,69,094 crore, while loans and advances grew 19.7% to ₹2,66,579 crore.
IDFC FIRST Bank operates 1,041 branches and reaches over 60,000 cities, towns, and villages across India.
The bank has impacted over 40 million lives through social initiatives, including financing 3.6 million women entrepreneurs and 300,000+ SMEs.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Payoneer India in-principle PA-CB approval (End of January) ▼

Payoneer India has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border (PA-CB).
The RBI has already fully authorised 19 entities with a PA-CB licence.
Payoneer Global claims to support customers in more than 190 countries and territories.
Over the trailing 12 months as of the third quarter of 2025, Payoneer Global served nearly two million active customers and processed over $80 billion in transaction volume.

Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB) launches first co-branded RuPay Credit Card among Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).

[Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB), RuPay]

Key Updates:

Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB) launched its first-ever co-branded RuPay Credit Card in collaboration with sponsor bank Punjab National Bank (PNB).
TGB becomes the first RRB among the eight RRBs sponsored by PNB and the first in India to roll out a co-branded RuPay Credit Card.
The bank operates through 150 full-fledged branches and 12 ultra-small branches across Tripura.
The launch event was attended by Rakhi Biswas, Director (Small Savings, Group Insurance & Institutional Finance), TGB Chairman Satyendra Singh, and Deepak Kumar, General Manager, Punjab National Bank (Head Office).
TGB is celebrating its Golden Jubilee year of establishment.
The initiative aims to enable customers in rural and semi-urban areas to access modern credit facilities within the RuPay ecosystem.

Similar Coverage

Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) operationalised under RBI Governor (Start of January) ▼

The Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) held its first meeting in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Reserve Bank of India governor Sanjay Malhotra.
The board reviewed the functions of RBI's department of payment and settlement systems.
Key focus areas across domestic and global payment systems were discussed during the meeting.

Tripura Gramin Bank Deploys India’s First Solar-Powered ATM Van (Mid of January) ▼

Tripura Gramin Bank has introduced India’s first solar-powered ATM van, strengthening rural financial inclusion.
The initiative earned the bank the SKOCH Silver Award for excellence in governance and innovation.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the pioneering ATM van on July 21, 2023.
Currently, three solar-powered ATM vans provide eco-friendly, uninterrupted banking services in areas with limited electricity supply.

South Indian Bank (SIB) launches RuPay Contactless SIB Paytag Sticker for tap-and-pay transactions. (End of December) ▼

South Indian Bank (SIB) introduces the RuPay Contactless SIB Paytag Sticker, an NFC-enabled payment instrument.
The compact NFC sticker can be affixed to mobile phones, wallets, or cardholders.
Customers can make tap-and-pay transactions at contactless POS terminals without carrying a physical debit card.
No PIN is required for purchases up to ₹5,000; PIN authentication is mandatory for transactions above ₹5,000.
SIB Paytag can be used at all contactless POS terminals.
Online e-commerce payments are possible by viewing card details through the SIB Mirror+ app.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Razorpay Payment Aggregator–Physical licence (End of January) ▼

Razorpay POS received the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Payment Aggregator–Physical (PA-P) licence to process in-store transactions.
Razorpay now holds RBI licences PA-O, PA-P and PA-CB, the last obtained in December 2025.
The PA-P licence allows Razorpay to aggregate offline payments for large retail chains and SMEs.

Assam Govt announces Rs 50 Cr grant to preserve Darrang Koch dynasty heritage

[Assam]

Key Updates:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a Rs 50 crore grant for preserving the heritage of the Darrang kings of the Koch dynasty.
The grant was announced during the 516th Biswa Mahabir Chilarai Divas celebrations held at Pipora Dookan in Darrang district.
The Chief Minister directed the Darrang district administration and the Public Works Department to immediately implement the heritage preservation project.
A 37-foot-high statue of 8th century Koch king Maharaj Krishnanarayan was unveiled at the event.
Chilarai Bhawans at Mangaldoi and Golaghat were virtually inaugurated during the programme.
Land allotment and construction of an office for the All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani at Amingaon were also announced.

Similar Coverage

Atal Vichal Agragami Assam scheme announces Rs 25,000 monthly financial assistance for research scholars (End of January) ▼

Under the 'Atal Vichal Agragami Assam scheme', the state government will provide monthly financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to research scholars.
Divyang research scholars will receive enhanced support of Rs 40,000 per month.
The scheme is scheduled to be formally launched on February 11, 2026.

Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Launched with ₹6,957-Crore Outlay (Mid of January) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Rs 6,957-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor in Assam.
The corridor is aimed at ensuring safe wildlife movement across the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and reducing road accidents on National Highway-715.
The project is intended to boost ecotourism while generating local employment opportunities.
Two Amrit Bharat trains were virtually flagged off in the Nagaon district of Assam.
The foundation stone for the project was laid on 18 Jan 2026.

Assam Satra Preservation and Development Commission Bill to Protect Satra Lands (End of November) ▼

The Assam government tabled a bill to create the Assam Satra Preservation and Development Commission, a quasi-judicial body to preserve satras and regulate their lands.
The commission will have civil-court powers under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and exclusive jurisdiction over matters it is empowered to determine.
An Assam Satra Preservation and Development Fund is established, with mandatory annual budgeting, audit by the Accountant General (Audit), Assam, and officials deployed on deputation.

Assam Government launches monthly financial aid for celibate monks of satras (Start of January) ▼

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a scheme to provide a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to celibate monks residing in ‘satras’.
At least 620 ‘Udasin Bhakats’ (celibate monks) will benefit from the welfare initiative.
The initiative reaffirms the Assam government’s commitment to dignity, care and respect for those who uphold Assam’s civilisational heritage.

Kamakhya Ropeway Project: ₹213.24 Crore for Guwahati Pilgrim Mobility

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) proposed a ₹213.24 crore ropeway to connect Kamakhya Railway Station with Kamakhya Temple atop Nilachal Hill in Guwahati.
The 1.43-kilometre ropeway will cut travel time from 20 minutes to six minutes.
It will use 18 modern gondolas to ferry 16,500 passengers.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the project aligns with the ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’ theme to boost sacred journeys.

Similar Coverage

Indian Lighthouse Festival promotes coastal tourism and women-led enterprise (Mid of January) ▼

The 3rd Indian Lighthouse Festival was inaugurated at MGM Park, Visakhapatnam, by former Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) is developing 75 lighthouses across 10 states and Union Territories with modern tourist facilities under Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
Andhra Pradesh has already opened 10 of its 17 lighthouses for tourism, generating livelihoods through SHG-run stalls.

PM Modi launches projects worth over ₹11,000 crore in West Bengal and Assam (Mid of January) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal and Assam to inaugurate, lay foundation stones and flag off rail, road, port and inland water transport projects worth more than ₹11,000 crore.
The projects include India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati, new Amrit Bharat Express services, highway works and port-linked infrastructure.
In West Bengal, projects worth more than ₹3,250 crore include a new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, and rail electrification works on the New Coochbehar–Bamanhat and New Coochbehar–Boxirhat sections.
In Assam, the ₹6,950-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project involves four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715, including a 35 km elevated wildlife corridor through Kaziranga National Park.

PM-DevINE scheme and Ashtalakshmi vision drive ₹365 crore projects in Tripura (End of January) ▼

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia laid the foundation stone for eight development projects worth ₹365 crore in Tripura.
Five completed projects worth ₹270 crore were inaugurated, including the 13.775 km Jatanbari-Mandirghat via Tirathmukh Road and the 28.90 km improvement of KA Road from Erarpar to Ambassa.
The 8.00 km Gandacherra-Raishyabari-Narikel Kunja Road will connect tribal habitations to district headquarters.
The Amarpur (Fatiksagar) to Chabimura connectivity project will boost Tripura’s heritage and tourism potential.
Under the PM-DevINE scheme, a Solar Micro Grid project will provide clean electricity in remote areas to strengthen education, healthcare and livelihoods.
Foundation stones were laid for three new road projects costing ₹95 crore: Kowaifung (Panjirai) to Karbook Road (9.10 km), Jampui (PMGSY Point) to Kangrai Road, and Burighat to Sermun-II Road.
Over the last 12 years, the Central Government has invested more than ₹6.5 lakh crore in the Northeast, with every Central Ministry spending 10 per cent of its budget in the Northeastern States.

Goa and Madhya Pradesh Partnership for Tourism Promotion (Start of November) ▼

**Parties Involved:** The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, and senior officials from the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
**Objective:** To explore collaborative opportunities in tourism, with a special focus on heritage, wildlife, and cultural experiences.
**Specific Purpose:** To promote two-way tourism, encouraging travellers from Madhya Pradesh to discover Goa’s diverse offerings while inspiring Goans to experience Madhya Pradesh’s rich heritage and wildlife destinations.
**Key Initiative:** Madhya Pradesh has invited the Director of Tourism, Government of Goa, along with tourism trade stakeholders, to visit Madhya Pradesh for further discussions, and Goa will host tourism trade representatives from Madhya Pradesh.
**Shared Vision:** To promote sustainable tourism, celebrate cultural heritage, and create new domestic travel circuits that benefit local communities and travellers alike.

NeophyteID App launched for invasive plant detection in Kerala

[Kerala]

Key Updates:

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched the NeophyteID app at the Kerala Science Congress.
The Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences (MBGIPS) developed the AI-powered mobile application to identify invasive plant species across Kerala.
The app uses the YOLOv11 machine learning model for image recognition and geospatial tracking to detect and map invasive neophyte plants from camera or gallery images.
NeophyteID operates in English and Malayalam and targets local communities, students, and ecologists for community-based biodiversity management.
Each user identification updates a real-time distribution map to support research and conservation efforts.
The app currently includes data on 98 invasive plant species.
Developer N Aleem Yoosuf conceived the idea during an invasive plant eradication drive with tribal communities at Sughandagiri Tribal Eco Village, Wayanad.
Zameel Hassan collaborated on the web application component of NeophyteID.

Similar Coverage

New orchid species Diplozentrum papillosum discovered in Kerala’s Idukki district (Start of February) ▼

The orchid was found in Kanthalloor, Marayoor, in Idukki district, located in the southern ranges of the Western Ghats.
The species belongs to the Diplozentrum genus, which is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, and has been scientifically named Diplozentrum papillosum.
The orchid grows on rocks and tree branches, using strong roots to anchor itself and withstand high wind conditions in its natural habitat.
It is characterised by unbranched flower clusters, pink and white fragrant blooms, and uniquely shaped petals that distinguish it from other Diplozentrum species.
The discovery highlights the ecological richness and endemic plant diversity of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.

Nagaland University Researchers Discover New Plant Species Hoya nagaensis in Phek District (End of January) ▼

Researchers from Nagaland University (NU) have discovered a new plant species named Hoya nagaensis in the Phek district of Nagaland.
The species was identified in the Kavünhou Community Reserved Forest, a high-altitude community-protected area in the Eastern Himalaya.
The research team was led by Principal Investigator Gyati Yam from the Department of Forestry at NU, alongside researchers Vieneite-o Koza and Joynath Pegu.
The findings regarding the new species were published in the Kew Bulletin, a peer-reviewed international journal for plant and fungal taxonomy.
Hoya nagaensis has been provisionally assessed as critically endangered due to its restricted distribution and threats from shifting cultivation and forest disturbance.
The discovery highlights the effectiveness of traditional forest stewardship practiced by local Naga communities in conserving biodiversity.

7th India International Seaweed Expo and Summit | January 29-30 (Start of December) ▼

The 7th India International Seaweed Expo and Summit 2026 will be hosted by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute.
Jointly organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), CMFRI, and the CSIR–Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI).
Expects participation from countries including Brazil, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands.
Key feature will be the 'Seaweed 2030' panel presenting a national roadmap.

Tamil Nadu secures GI tags for five products (Start of December) ▼

Tamil Nadu has added five new products to its Geographical Indication list, including Woraiyur cotton sarees, Ambasamudram wooden toys, Thooyamalli rice, Namakkal soapstone utensils, and Kavindapadi country sugar.
The initiative was led by the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation (Poompuhar) and the Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board along with NGOs and weavers societies.
The GI recognition aims to protect the geographical uniqueness of these products and support the livelihoods of artisans and farmers.

SAKSHAM 2026 launched to promote petroleum and natural gas conservation.

Key Updates:

SAKSHAM 2026 is a fortnight-long awareness campaign organised by the oil industry.
The campaign commenced on 1 February 2026 in Chandigarh.
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria inaugurated the campaign and emphasised conserving petroleum and natural gas.
Finance Secretary Diprava Lakra underlined the role of individuals and industries in adopting fuel-saving practices.
State-level coordinators from major oil companies outlined activities for transport and agriculture sectors.
Awareness activities include street plays, pledges, and mobile vans across Punjab and Chandigarh.

Similar Coverage

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and Akasa Air sign letter of intent to explore sustainable aviation fuel supply (Start of February) ▼

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) signed a letter of intent with Akasa Air at Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad to explore future sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply.
The agreement sets a framework to assess SAF volumes, feedstocks and logistics without committing to firm timelines or quantities.
IOCL and Akasa Air will evaluate feasibility of SAF supply to support the airline’s sustainability targets.
SAF is used as a lower-emission alternative to conventional jet fuel to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from air travel.

International Day of Clean Energy observed on 26 January (End of January) ▼

The International Day of Clean Energy is observed annually on 26 January.
The date marks the anniversary of the founding of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in 2009.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially proclaimed 26 January as the International Day of Clean Energy in 2023.
The theme for 2026 focuses on accelerating the global transition to renewable, affordable, and sustainable energy for all.
The observance aims to raise awareness for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), specifically Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.
India link not mentioned in the article.

Supriya Sahu wins United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Champions of the Earth 2025 award (Mid of December) ▼

Supriya Sahu received the Champions of the Earth 2025 award in the Inspiration and Action category for her subnational climate leadership in Tamil Nadu.
She spearheaded the Cool Roof initiative that lowers classroom temperatures by five to eight degrees using solar-reflective paint.
She led the Green Tamil Nadu mission, resulting in the planting of more than 100 million trees across the state.
She guided the Tamil Nadu mangrove mission, achieving new plantings across 4,300 hectares and restoration across 2,200 hectares with local community participation.

India’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Blending Mandate for International Flights (Start of December) ▼

The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced indicative SAF blending targets of 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028 and 5% by 2030 for international flights.
Public sector oil marketing companies are actively engaged in achieving the stated blending targets.
Indian Oil Corp became the first Indian firm to obtain ISCC CORSIA certification for commercial SAF production at its Panipat Refinery.

GatiShakti programme and Tech Vision 2035 roadmap presented at India Digital Conclave 2026

Key Updates:

Kamlesh Gosai, Executive Director - Traffic Commercial (General), Ministry of Railways, shared insights into the GatiShakti programme and the Tech Vision 2035 roadmap at the India Digital Conclave 2026.
The initiatives highlight integrated infrastructure planning, ambitious connectivity goals, AI-enabled optimization of freight and passenger movement, and reduced logistics costs.
Digital planning tools are used to accelerate execution across rail, road, and waterways.

Similar Coverage

ASEAN and India reaffirm shared commitment to strengthen regional digital cooperation (Mid of January) ▼

The 6th ASEAN-India Digital Ministers Meeting was held virtually under the theme Adaptive ASEAN: From Connectivity to Connected Intelligence.
The meeting was co-chaired by Telecom Secretary Amit Agrawal and Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung.
The ASEAN-India Digital Work Plan 2026 was approved, covering ICT training, the India-ASEAN Regulators’ Conference and telecom ICT solutions deployment.
A special ASEAN-India Fund for the Digital Future was operationalised.
India highlighted its Digital Public Infrastructure such as Aadhaar, UPI and DigiLocker, and the Sanchar Saathi initiative for telecom user protection and fraud prevention.
India underlined cooperation in Artificial Intelligence through the IndiaAI Mission, emphasising safe and trusted AI.

IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026 to spotlight population-scale AI deployment and governance (Start of February) ▼

The IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026 will be held in New Delhi and positions India as a leader in real-world AI deployment rather than model development.
Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), CEO of IndiaAI Mission, and Director General of National Informatics Centre (NIC), oversees the summit.
GPUs under the IndiaAI Mission are available at ₹65 per GPU hour to democratise access to high-performance computing.
About twelve foundational models are under development and some will be launched ahead of the summit.
The Bhashini initiative provides speech-to-speech and speech-to-text APIs to address India’s linguistic diversity.
The summit features flagship challenges AI for All, AI for Her, and YUVAi, with participation from 136 countries.
YUVAi programme has reached nearly 100,000 students within two weeks and targets over one million learners by the summit.
Stanford AI Index ranked India as the third-largest AI ecosystem globally, up from seventh two years earlier.
Global firms Nvidia, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, Qualcomm, Intel, and Schneider Electric, plus academics from Stanford, will attend the summit.
NIC is deploying AI in judicial systems, agriculture, healthcare, and education integrated with India’s digital public infrastructure.

Election Commission of India (ECI) to host inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 from January 21 to 23, 2026 (End of January) ▼

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 from January 21 to 23, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The theme for the conference is ‘Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient, and sustainable world’.
The 3-day international conference is being organised by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) under the aegis of the ECI.
Almost three dozen member states of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) will participate, including the United States (US), Mauritius, Brazil, and South Africa.
The event will feature 42 Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from across the world and more than 90 international delegates.
The summit will include 36 thematic groups covering 11 modern international electoral standards and 25 best practices, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in elections.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, will hold over 40 bilateral meetings with international delegates.

Smart India Hackathon 2025 Grand Finale: 8,160 students code across 60 centres (Mid of December) ▼

The eighth edition of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025 Grand Finale is being held simultaneously at 60 nodal centres—42 software hubs and 18 hardware hubs.
A total of 72,165 ideas were submitted by 68,766 student teams, out of which 1,360 teams comprising 8,160 students qualified for the 36-hour national coding and prototyping marathon.
Among the finalists, 2,993 are female students including 53 all-women teams, highlighting the initiative’s commitment to women-led innovation.

Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0: Tripura ranks first in grassroots governance

[Tripura]

Key Updates:

Tripura has secured the top position in the national Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 for its performance in local self-governance and village-level administration.
Jugal Kishore Nagar Village Committee in the Sepahijala district of Tripura ranked first nationwide with a score of 88.44 among nearly 2.5 lakh gram panchayats.
South Nalchar gram panchayat in Sepahijala district secured the third rank with a score of 88.14, while Chesrimai gram panchayat followed in fourth place with a score of 87.85.
For the financial year 2023-24, all 1,176 gram panchayats in Tripura achieved 100% data submission and verification across all administrative levels.
Ministry: Not specified in the article.
Budget Outlay: Not specified in the article.
Target Beneficiaries: Gram panchayats and village committees across India.
Launch Date: Not specified in the article.

Similar Coverage

NITI Aayog launches Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 to saturate 5 KPIs in Aspirational Districts and 6 KPIs in Aspirational Blocks (End of January) ▼

NITI Aayog launched the 3-month Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 campaign running from 28 January to 14 April 2026.
The campaign targets saturation of 5 Key Performance Indicators in 112 Aspirational Districts and 6 Key Performance Indicators in 513 Aspirational Blocks.
Shri B.V.R Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog, inaugurated the campaign in the presence of Shri Rohit Kumar, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme, NITI Aayog.
Aspirational Blocks will focus on indicators including percentage of children aged 6 months to 6 years receiving Supplementary Nutrition under ICDS, measurement efficiency of Anganwadi-enrolled children, functional toilets and drinking water in operational Anganwadi Centres, adequate girls' toilet facilities in schools, and percentage of bovine animals vaccinated against Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
Aspirational Districts will prioritise indicators such as proportion of live births weighed at birth, Tuberculosis case notification rate, conduct of Village or Urban Health Sanitation & Nutrition Days, functional girls' toilets in schools, and percentage of animals vaccinated.
Districts and Blocks will prepare a 3-month Action Plan, track monthly progress, run awareness and behaviour change campaigns, and conduct concurrent monitoring field visits.
NITI Aayog will collaborate with relevant Central Ministries, States, and Union Territories to improve planning, implementation, capacity building, and sustainable service delivery.

PANCHAM Chatbot and Rural Governance Initiatives Launched by MoPR (End of January) ▼

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) will launch the PANCHAM – Panchayat Assistance and Messaging Chatbot, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
MoPR will release the 17th issue of Gramoday Sankalp magazine and the Compendium of Basic Statistics on Panchayati Raj Institutions–2025.
The Ministry will introduce the Expert Committee Report on Service Delivery at the Panchayat Level and the PESA Performance and Implementation Rank Indicators.
Around 240 panchayat heads, including Sarpanches, Mukhiyas, and Gram Pradhans, will be felicitated for achieving saturation in flagship Central Government schemes.
The MoPR tableau for the Republic Day Parade 2026 is themed SVAMITVA Scheme: Aatmanirbhar Panchayat se Samriddh evam Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Nearly 450 special guests, including heads of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rural Local Bodies (RLBs), will attend the Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path.
Prizes and certificates will be awarded to winners of the Know Your Constitution Quiz and Essay Competition organised as part of Constitution Day–2025.

Kerala Retains Top Achiever Status in National Ease of Doing Business Rankings 2024 (Mid of November) ▼

Scheme Name: Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) 2024 national Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) ratings released by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Union Government of India
Kerala’s Achievement: State secured “Top Achiever” position in the “Fast Movers” category with 99.1 per cent reform implementation score, up from 91 per cent last year
Evaluation Weightage: 70 per cent weightage to investor feedback and 30 per cent to reform completion
Implementing Coordination: 22 government departments and agencies led by Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC)

Tripura to host 2nd Prabashi Tripurabasi Summit 2025-26 (End of December) ▼

Tripura is scheduled to host the second Prabashi Tripurabasi Summit 2025-26 to reconnect with natives of the state residing beyond its borders.
The summit is organized by the Tripura Institution for Transformation (TIFT).
The initiative aims to nurture emotional, cultural, and developmental bonds with Prabashi Tripurabasi, who are individuals originally from Tripura now spread across India and abroad.
The gathering seeks to foster dialogue, collaboration, and shared participation in the progress of Tripura by integrating the diaspora into the state's social, economic, and cultural advancement framework.

Census 2027 Digital-First System With New Training And Coding Framework

Key Updates:

Census 2027 will operate on a fully digital backbone using mobile applications for data collection, Self-Enumeration, Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) and Housing Listing Block Creation (HLBC) web portals and real-time data transmission.
A new nationwide location coding structure assigns structured identifiers from states down to enumeration blocks to ensure uniform digital mapping.
Urban wards will be numbered in continuous sequence beginning from '0001', and outgrowth settlements adjoining towns will receive incremental codes linked to their parent units.
The training framework introduces a standardised cascade model: national trainers prepare master trainers who train field trainers responsible for enumerators and supervisors.
Nationwide training is scheduled between April and September 2026, with all enumerator and supervisor training to be completed at least one week before field operations begin.
Training attendance and progress will be tracked digitally through the CMMS portal.

Similar Coverage

National Statistics Office (NSO) proposes Survey on Migration for July 2026-June 2027 (Start of February) ▼

National Statistics Office (NSO) will conduct a Survey on Migration during July 2026-June 2027 to update migration data.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2020-21 recorded an all-India migration rate of 28.9 percent.
PLFS 2020-21 showed male migration rate at 10.7 percent and female migration rate at 47.9 percent.
Marriage accounted for 86.8 percent of female migration while 22.8 percent of male migration was for employment or better employment.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) organises migration surveys to inform policy on urban planning, housing, transportation, employment, social security and skill development.

Census 2026 boosts Home Ministry budget; Intelligence Bureau allocation jumps 74% (Start of February) ▼

The Union government allocated ₹5,762 crore for Census 2026 set to begin on 1 April.
The overall internal security budget rose by 9.5% to ₹2.55 lakh crore.
Central police forces CRPF, BSF, ITBP and CISF will receive the bulk of the funds.
Intelligence Bureau (IB) allocation surged 74% from ₹3,893.35 crore to ₹6,782.43 crore.

NeSDA Way Forward December 2025 Report: 24,090 e-services across States/UTs (End of January) ▼

Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) released the 32nd NeSDA Way Forward monthly report for December 2025.
24,090 e-services are provided across States/UTs.
8,656 e-services relate to Local Governance & Utility Services.
156 new e-services were added by States/UTs in November 2025.
21 States/UTs achieved over 90% saturation of 59 mandatory e-services: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
Portals providing 100% services are Assam (Sewa Setu), Jammu & Kashmir (e-UNNAT), Karnataka (Seva Sindhu), Odisha (Odisha One), Madhya Pradesh (MP e-Service), Uttarakhand (Apuni Sarkar) and Kerala (e-Sevanam).
Over 90% of services are provided by 4 States/UTs through their Unified Service Delivery Portals: e-District Chandigarh, e-District Delhi, Saral Haryana and e-Mitra (Rajasthan).
National Digital Library of India (NDLI) and Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) are highlighted as best-practice portals of Central Government Ministries/Departments.
City-level digital platforms of Puducherry and Guwahati Municipalities are showcased as best practices.

Census 2027 (Census-as-a-Service) Approved Budget ₹11,718 Cr for Two-Phase Digital Rollout (Mid of December) ▼

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved ₹11,718.24 crore for conducting Census 2027.
Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases: house listing and housing census from April to September 2026, and population enumeration in February 2027.
This is the first Census by digital means in the country using mobile apps for Android and iOS and the Census Management & Monitoring System (CMMS) portal.

National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) 2.0 unveiled to widen student and citizen participation.

Key Updates:

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) launched upgraded NYPS 2.0 web portal on 02 February 2026.
Portal opened for all educational institutions, groups, and individual citizens across India regardless of gender, caste, creed, religion, race, region or place.
From 11 September 2024 to 27 January 2026, 44,32 institutions, 586 groups and 19 individuals registered; 95,319 students/citizens participated in 1,536 events organising 52,283 Youth Parliament Sittings (YPS).
MoPA wrote to all State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, State/UT Legislatures and boards CBSE and CISCE for awareness; publicity video aired on Sansad TV.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Dr L. Murugan provided the information in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 02 February 2026.

Similar Coverage

UMEED Portal gets Survey and Waqf Property Lease Modules for digital Waqf governance (Start of February) ▼

Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) launched Survey Module and Waqf Property Lease Module on UMEED Central Portal.
Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary of MoMA, inaugurated the modules in New Delhi.
Survey Module enables systematic digital recording and updating of Waqf property details.
Waqf Property Lease Management Module provides end-to-end monitoring of lease periods and amounts.
Initial UMEED portal was launched by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in June 2025 under the 1995 Waqf Act.
Portal features geo-tagging, GIS mapping integration, and online grievance redressal.

NeSDA Way Forward December 2025 Report: 24,090 e-services across States/UTs (End of January) ▼

Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) released the 32nd NeSDA Way Forward monthly report for December 2025.
24,090 e-services are provided across States/UTs.
8,656 e-services relate to Local Governance & Utility Services.
156 new e-services were added by States/UTs in November 2025.
21 States/UTs achieved over 90% saturation of 59 mandatory e-services: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
Portals providing 100% services are Assam (Sewa Setu), Jammu & Kashmir (e-UNNAT), Karnataka (Seva Sindhu), Odisha (Odisha One), Madhya Pradesh (MP e-Service), Uttarakhand (Apuni Sarkar) and Kerala (e-Sevanam).
Over 90% of services are provided by 4 States/UTs through their Unified Service Delivery Portals: e-District Chandigarh, e-District Delhi, Saral Haryana and e-Mitra (Rajasthan).
National Digital Library of India (NDLI) and Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) are highlighted as best-practice portals of Central Government Ministries/Departments.
City-level digital platforms of Puducherry and Guwahati Municipalities are showcased as best practices.

PAIMANA Portal Launched for Monitoring Central Sector Infrastructure Projects (End of January) ▼

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) operationalised PAIMANA (Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring & Analytics for Nation-building) portal to monitor central sector infrastructure projects worth Rs 150 crore and above, replacing OCMS-2006.
As of December 2025, 1,392 ongoing projects with a revised cost of Rs 35.10 lakh crore are reported on PAIMANA portal.
Cumulative cost overrun for these projects is Rs 5.42 lakh crore, with revised cost at Rs 35,10,920 crore against original cost of Rs 29,68,248 crore.
Out of 1,392 projects, 585 are 'mega' projects (Rs 1,000 crore and above) with revised cost of Rs 31.44 lakh crore, and 807 are 'major' projects (Rs 150 crore to Rs 1,000 crore) amounting to Rs 3.66 lakh crore.
Transport & Logistics sector accounts for 896 projects with revised estimates of Rs 17.70 lakh crore.
469 projects have achieved over 80 percent physical progress and 221 projects have crossed 80 percent financial completion.
PAIMANA is integrated with DPIIT's Integrated Project Monitoring Portal (IPMP/IIG-PMG), enabling automatic information sharing and reducing manual data entry with about 60 percent of projects updated automatically.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants final Payment Aggregator licence to Mswipe Technologies. (End of December) ▼

The licence covers both online and physical payment acceptance modes.
Mswipe serves merchants through MPOS, Smart PoS terminals, QR soundboxes, payment gateways, and embedded digital payment services.
Mswipe’s payments business turned adjusted profitable in the most recent financial year, recording over ₹275 crore in revenue in FY24.
Total payment volume more than doubled year on year.

PM-SETU Programme gets $830 million World Bank loan to upgrade ITIs

[World Bank]

Key Updates:

World Bank approved $830 million loan for PM-SETU to revamp Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
PM-SETU targets training over 1 million skilled workers annually and mobilising at least $680 million in private investment.
Programme adopts hub-and-spoke model: 200 advanced hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs district-wide.
Loan has 19.5-year final maturity including 4-year grace period.
Curricula will be updated and at least 25% of ITI students will be women.
Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with anchor firms will manage government-owned but industry-run operations.
Focus sectors include manufacturing, electric vehicles (EVs), artificial intelligence (AI), green energy, textiles, and construction.

Similar Coverage

World Bank Group and India launch Country Partnership Framework with USD 8-10 billion annual financing (Start of February) ▼

The World Bank Group (WBG) and India announced a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) envisaging USD 8-10 billion in annual financing over the next five years.
The CPF is aligned with India's Viksit Bharat vision to become a developed economy by 2047 and was discussed between Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and WBG President Ajay Banga.
The partnership prioritises private sector-led job creation to accommodate the approximately 12 million young people entering India's labour market each year.
The strategy focuses on five key sectors for job creation: infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, health care, tourism, and value-added manufacturing.
The framework targets four strategic outcomes: boosting rural prosperity, supporting urban transformation, investing in energy security and core infrastructure, and strengthening resilience.
India is the largest client of the WBG, with International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) commitments of USD 20 billion across 79 projects.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) holds commitments of USD 16.72 billion across 174 projects in India.
The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has provided USD 618 million in guarantees for Indian projects.

Union Cabinet clears ₹5,000 crore equity infusion into Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to boost MSME credit. (End of January) ▼

The equity capital will be infused by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in a phased manner over three years.
Of the total amount, ₹3,000 crore will be infused in FY26 at a book value of ₹568.65 per share as on March 31, 2025.
The remaining ₹2,000 crore will be infused in two equal tranches of ₹1,000 crore each in FY27 and FY28 at the book value as on March 31 of the respective preceding financial years.
The number of MSMEs receiving financial assistance is projected to rise from 76.26 lakh at the end of FY25 to about 1.02 crore by the end of FY28.
The additional MSMEs supported by SIDBI are estimated to generate employment for about 1.12 crore people by the end of FY28.
The equity infusion will help SIDBI maintain a Capital to Risk-weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) above 10.5 per cent even under high-stress scenarios and above 14.5 per cent under Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 norms over the next three years.

Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) sign over $800 million in development loans across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat (Start of December) ▼

ADB signs $500 million loan for Maharashtra Power Distribution Enhancement Programme.
ADB signs ¥27,147,200,000 ($190.6 million) loan for Indore Metro Rail Project in Madhya Pradesh.
ADB signs $109.97 million loan for Gujarat Skills Development Programme.
ADB finalizes $1 million Technical Assistance grant for Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation Project in Assam.

Bank of India and State Bank of India (SBI) sign MoU to establish Centre of Excellence for Strategic Leadership in Project Financing Across India (Start of December) ▼

Bank of India and State Bank of India (SBI) collaborate on co-financing, capacity building, and co-branded initiatives.
The MoU provides a framework for the two banks to collaborate on multiple fronts.
The partnership addresses structured project financing in infrastructure, energy, and industrial development sectors.
State Bank of India (SBI) offers retail banking, corporate banking, treasury operations, and international banking.
Bank of India focuses on corporate banking, project financing, and trade services.

Miniratna Category-I status granted to Yantra India Limited (YIL)

[Yantra India]

Key Updates:

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved Miniratna Category-I status for Yantra India Limited (YIL).
YIL can now incur capital expenditure up to ₹500 crore without government approval.
YIL's sales grew from ₹956.32 crore in 2021-22 (H2) to ₹3,108.79 crore in FY 2024-25.
YIL's exports rose from NIL in FY 2021-22 (H2) to ₹321.77 crore in FY 2024-25.
YIL was formed on 1 October 2021 from the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).
YIL is a Schedule 'A' Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under the Department of Defence Production.

Similar Coverage

Andhra Pradesh launches Rythanna Meekosam to promote Panchasutra-based farming practices (End of November) ▼

Andhra Pradesh government is set to roll out a new five-day programme titled ‘Rythanna Meekosam’ from November 24 to 29.
Public representatives and officials will visit farmers to explain the benefits of implementing Panchasutras in cultivation.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu conducted a teleconference with nearly 10,000 officials and staff from the Agriculture, Allied, and Marketing departments.
Workshops are scheduled on December 3 at Rythu Seva Kendras across the state.

President approves gallantry and service medals for Indian Coast Guard personnel on 77th Republic Day (End of January) ▼

President of India approved Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for ADG Donny Michael, PTM, TM.
DIG KS Sitaram received the Vishisht Seva Medal.
P/Nvk ME Saumyaranjan Behera was awarded the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak.
IG Iqbal Singh Chauhan and IG Datwinder Singh Saini received the President's Tatrakshak Medal for Distinguished Service.
Late Comdt Rakesh Kumar Rana, Late Comdt JG Vipin Babu and Late P/Nvk RP Karan Singh were posthumously conferred the Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry).
Comdt JG Shailendra Singh Bisht, P/Nvk RP Gautam Yadav and P/Nvk RP Banti Kumar received the Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry).
Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious Service) was awarded to DIG Vinod Kumar Parmar, DIG Arun Kumar Bhardwaj, DIG Sudhakar Patil, Comdt Indu P and Adh RO Tapas Kumar Banerjee.

SHANTI Bill, 2025: India targets 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047 (End of December) ▼

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, allows private players to enter the operations side of the tightly-governed nuclear power sector.
The law replaces two key legislations: the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 (AE Act) and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLNDA).
The legislation is a key step towards achieving India’s target of 100 gigawatt of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
The new law allows public and private companies to set up nuclear power plants and undertake activities related to the transport, storage, import and export of nuclear fuel, technology, equipment and minerals.
The Bill grants statutory status to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to ensure its independence from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
The law adopts graded liability caps for nuclear power operators based on their size of installation and removes the 'right of recourse' against suppliers for defects in equipment or sub-standard services.
It provides for the establishment of the Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council and a Nuclear Damage Claims Commission to handle grievances and severe nuclear damage cases.

President Droupadi Murmu conferred Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards-2025 on 30 individuals. (End of January) ▼

President Droupadi Murmu approved the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak for six persons.
Six persons received the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak.
Eighteen persons were awarded the Jeevan Raksha Padak.
Six of the 30 awardees are being honoured posthumously.
The awards recognise meritorious acts of human nature in saving a life.

India and Kyrgyzstan to hold 13th edition of Exercise Khanjar in Assam

[Kyrgyzstan]

Key Updates:

The 13th edition of the India–Kyrgyzstan joint military exercise Khanjar will be conducted in Misamari, Assam from 4 to 17 February.
Exercise Khanjar, initiated in 2011, is an annual training event with venues alternating between India and Kyrgyzstan.
The previous edition of Exercise Khanjar was held in Kyrgyzstan in March 2025.
The exercise aims to enhance interoperability between the special forces of India and Kyrgyzstan with focus on urban warfare and counter-terrorism under United Nations mandate.

Similar Coverage

Atal Vichal Agragami Assam scheme announces Rs 25,000 monthly financial assistance for research scholars (End of January) ▼

Under the 'Atal Vichal Agragami Assam scheme', the state government will provide monthly financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to research scholars.
Divyang research scholars will receive enhanced support of Rs 40,000 per month.
The scheme is scheduled to be formally launched on February 11, 2026.

Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Launched with ₹6,957-Crore Outlay (Mid of January) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Rs 6,957-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor in Assam.
The corridor is aimed at ensuring safe wildlife movement across the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and reducing road accidents on National Highway-715.
The project is intended to boost ecotourism while generating local employment opportunities.
Two Amrit Bharat trains were virtually flagged off in the Nagaon district of Assam.
The foundation stone for the project was laid on 18 Jan 2026.

Assam Satra Preservation and Development Commission Bill to Protect Satra Lands (End of November) ▼

The Assam government tabled a bill to create the Assam Satra Preservation and Development Commission, a quasi-judicial body to preserve satras and regulate their lands.
The commission will have civil-court powers under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and exclusive jurisdiction over matters it is empowered to determine.
An Assam Satra Preservation and Development Fund is established, with mandatory annual budgeting, audit by the Accountant General (Audit), Assam, and officials deployed on deputation.

Assam Government launches monthly financial aid for celibate monks of satras (Start of January) ▼

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a scheme to provide a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to celibate monks residing in ‘satras’.
At least 620 ‘Udasin Bhakats’ (celibate monks) will benefit from the welfare initiative.
The initiative reaffirms the Assam government’s commitment to dignity, care and respect for those who uphold Assam’s civilisational heritage.

World Governments Summit 2026 commences in Dubai with participation from over 150 nations

[World Governments Summit 2026, Dubai]

Key Updates:

The World Governments Summit 2026 is being held in Dubai from 3 to 5 February under the theme 'Shaping Future Governments'.
More than 6,000 participants, including over 35 heads of state and government and over 500 ministers, are attending the summit.
Leaders confirmed to attend include King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, President Guy Parmelin of Switzerland, President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, President Alar Karis of Estonia, and President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova of North Macedonia.
Prime Ministers of Spain, Albania, Georgia, Egypt, and Bhutan are among the heads of government participating.
The summit features 24 specialised global forums, more than 35 ministerial and high-level meetings, and over 320 sessions with more than 450 global figures.
Over 100 international and regional organisations are participating, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank, OPEC Fund, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
India Today anchors will moderate four sessions: 'Are Governments Building Systems or Buying Products?' on 4 February, 'Carbon Costs: Preparing for the Next Trade Barrier', 'Building The Next Economic Systems: Lessons from Emerging Market Founders', and 'Design Digital Lifestyles: From Infrastructure to Experience' on 5 February.
The summit will issue 36 strategic reports and present four global awards for innovation, reform, sustainability, and educational leadership.

Similar Coverage

World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 annual meeting concludes in Davos (End of January) ▼

The 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting concluded in Davos on 23 January 2026.
U.S. President Donald Trump dominated the agenda with his claim to Greenland, prompting strong European resistance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew in for talks as a U.S.–Russia discussion on Ukraine continued; Russian Presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev held talks at the USA House, the first Russian official to visit Davos since 2022.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told a panel that global oil production needs to more than double to meet rising energy demand and criticised Europe and California for overspending on green energy.
Elon Musk stated the U.S. could meet all electricity needs via solar from a small area of Utah, Nevada or New Mexico but noted high tariff barriers hamper deployment.
Trump discussed a secret sonic weapon allegedly used in the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and predicted increased U.S. and European defence spending.

India participates as first-ever partner country at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai from January 26 to 30, 2026 (End of January) ▼

Gulfood 2026, the world's largest annual food and beverage event, is being held from January 26 to 30, 2026, in Dubai.
India is participating as the partner country for the first time in the history of the global exhibition.
The event is the first exhibition to operate simultaneously across two venues, the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the newly expanded Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai.
The DEC hosts the World Food Hall, Pulses, Grains and Cereals Hall, and Gulfood Green, while the DWTC hosts the Beverage Hall and the Startup Hall.
India's participation includes 161 exhibitors showcasing the country's agri-food ecosystem, with the Indian pavilion doubling in size compared to the previous year.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) launched the Bharati Pavilion to promote export-ready agri-food and agri-tech startups.
The Bharati Pavilion, located in the Startup Zone at the DWTC, features eight high-potential Indian startups selected from more than 100 applicants.
The exhibition recorded a 100 per cent expansion in a single year, featuring more than 8,500 exhibitors showcasing 1.5 million products from 195 countries.
Major participating markets include India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United States, with 40 per cent being first-time exhibitors.

India and UAE to co-chair 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi (End of January) ▼

The 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be held in New Delhi on Saturday, co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Foreign ministers of 20 Arab League member states and the Arab League Secretary-General will participate in the meeting.
The first India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in Bahrain in 2016, and the current meeting occurs after a 10-year gap.
The 2016 meeting identified five priority cooperation verticals: economy, energy, education, media and culture.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin urged increased Indian participation in Gaza reconstruction and continued support to UNRWA for Palestinian refugees.
India has supported Palestinian education through schools in the West Bank and higher education centres in Gaza, some of which were destroyed in the last two years.
The Gaza peace plan and regional peace and stability are expected agenda items at the meeting.

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to Lead Indian Delegation to Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha (Start of November) ▼

The Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD-2) will be held in Doha, Qatar.
The summit is scheduled from 4–6 November 2025.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, will lead the Indian delegation.
World leaders will adopt the Doha Political Declaration during the summit.
A side event hosted by NITI Aayog on “Pathways Out of Poverty: India’s Experience in Empowering the Last Mile” is scheduled for 5 November 2025.
The NITI Aayog side event will feature interventions from international partners, including Brazil, Maldives, and the ILO.
The Union Minister will participate in the ILO-sponsored Ministerial Event on the Global Coalition for Social Justice.
Bilateral meetings are planned with Ministers from Qatar, Romania, Mauritius, and the European Union, as well as with the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and senior UN officials.
The Minister will attend an event on the National Career Service (NCS) Portal, jointly organised by the Ministry of Labour & Employment and the Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC).

India to Send Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha to Sri Lanka for Public Exposition from 4 February 2026

[Sri Lanka]

Key Updates:

The Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha, currently enshrined at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, will be taken to Sri Lanka for a public exposition in Colombo from 4 to 10 February 2026.
The relics will be transported with full state honours aboard a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
A high-level Indian delegation led by the Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, and the Deputy Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghavi, will accompany the sacred relics.
The relics will be enshrined for public veneration at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, a significant Buddhist institution in Sri Lanka.
The Devnimori Relics originate from an archaeological site near Shamlaji in the Aravalli district of Gujarat, first explored in 1957 by Prof. S N Chowdhry.
The relic casket is made of green schist and features inscriptions in Brahmi Script and Sanskrit language reading dashabala sharira nilaya, meaning the abode of the Buddha’s bodily relic.
The casket contains a copper box with organic material including holy ashes, silk cloth, and beads.
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), India has previously conducted similar expositions in Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, the Russian Federation, and Bhutan.

Similar Coverage

United States Smithsonian Museum to return three ancient bronze sculptures to India (End of January) ▼

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) in Washington DC announced the return of three ancient bronze sculptures to the Government of India after provenance research confirmed they were illegally removed.
The three artefacts include a Shiva Nataraja from the Chola period (dated circa 990), a Somaskanda from the Chola period (12th century), and Saint Sundarar with Paravai from the Vijayanagar period (16th century).
The Shiva Nataraja originally belonged to the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple in Tirutturaippundi taluk of Tanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.
The Somaskanda sculpture was identified from the Visvanatha Temple in Alattur village, Mannarkudi taluk, while the Saint Sundarar with Paravai was from the Shiva Temple in Veerasolapuram village, Kallakuruchchi taluk.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) reviewed the findings and concluded that the sculptures were removed in violation of Indian law.
The Indian government has agreed to place the Shiva Nataraja on a long-term loan to the NMAA to be displayed in the exhibition titled The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas.
The provenance investigation was supported by the Photo Archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry, which provided photographic evidence of the sculptures in their original temples between 1956 and 1959.
The NMAA is working with the Embassy of India to finalise the arrangements for the return and the loan agreement.

Indian ambassador to Bhutan explores Odisha’s ancient Buddhist heritage (Start of January) ▼

India’s ambassador to Bhutan, Sandeep Arya, visited the historic Buddhist sites of Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri, known as the ‘Diamond Triangle’ in Jajpur district.
At the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) museum in Ratnagiri, Arya explored a vast collection of 3,535 Buddhist antiquities, with 244 items on display across four galleries.
During his visit to the museum at Lalitgiri, the ambassador paid respect to the relic of Lord Buddha kept in a casket in the museum.

Karnataka to notify 44 temples and wells in Lakkundi as State-protected monuments (End of January) ▼

Tourism Minister HK Patil announced that eight more temples and stepwells in Lakkundi will be notified as State-protected monuments by end-February, raising the total protected sites to 44.
The Lakkundi Heritage Area Development Authority has been directed to submit a proposal within a month to include another 20 temples and wells under protection.
Special excavation drives will begin by March to identify and restore buried temples, with public cooperation sought through compensation or mutual consent.
Government sanctioned Rs 1.65 crore for an open-air museum in Lakkundi; land registration to finish before Republic Day.
Rs 10 crore released for comprehensive development of five selected temples and one ancient well; work orders to be issued in February.
Prajwal Ritti, who handed over a recent gold hoard found in Lakkundi, will receive government employment and a house; official orders to be issued on Republic Day.

India External Affairs Minister Jaishankar visits Sri Lanka to follow up on Cyclone Ditwah reconstruction efforts (End of December) ▼

External affairs minister S Jaishankar travelled to Sri Lanka as a special envoy of the Prime Minister for meetings with the leadership in Colombo to follow up on relief and reconstruction efforts in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah.
India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28 and delivered hundreds of tonnes of relief supplies and critical early-recovery capabilities across Sri Lanka.
Within the first three days of Cyclone Ditwah, 53 tonnes of emergency relief materials were delivered by Indian Navy warships and heavy-lift aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
An IAF C-17 Globemaster airlifted a modular Indian Army field hospital, including ambulances, trauma care units, operating theatres, and 73 personnel, on December 2.
On December 6, another 997 tonnes of dry rations and other relief materials were transported by warships from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka.
India was the first country to deploy trained disaster responders in Sri Lanka, and more than 450 people were rescued and assisted by these teams.
The Indian Army’s field hospital, located in the Badulla district, has treated nearly 3,400 people.

Spain announces social media ban for children under 16 at World Government Summit

[Spain, World Government Summit]

Key Updates:

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a ban on social media platforms for children under the age of 16 at the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai.
The Spanish government will require platforms to implement age verification systems and introduce a bill to hold social media executives accountable for illegal and hateful content.
Australia implemented a world-first social media ban for children under 16 on 10 December, leading to the removal of approximately 4.7 million accounts.
French lawmakers approved a bill banning social media for children under 15, which is scheduled for discussion in the Senate.
The United Kingdom (UK) and Denmark are also considering legislative measures to restrict social media access for children.

Similar Coverage

French National Assembly approves social media ban for children below 15 years (End of January) ▼

The French National Assembly passed a bill banning children below 15 years from social media by 130 votes to 21.
The bill mandates age-verification mechanisms compliant with European Union law to enforce the ban.
President Emmanuel Macron aims to implement the ban before the start of the next academic year in September.
Social media platforms must deactivate non-compliant accounts by 31 December.
The legislation extends the existing smartphone ban in junior and middle schools to high schools.
Australia was the first country to ban children below 16 from social media platforms in December.
The United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, and Greece are also considering similar bans.
A 2024 Harris Interactive survey showed 73 percent of the French public supported the ban for those below 15 years.

Goa considers social media ban for users under 16 (End of January) ▼

Goa’s Minister for Information Technology, Rohan Khaunte, announced on 26 January that the state government is studying the Australian model to ban social media for children below 16.
The proposed ban would target platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X.
The Australian law requires social media companies to take reasonable steps to prevent minors from holding accounts, with significant fines for non-compliance.
The Goa government is examining whether a state-wide restriction is legally viable under India’s central IT laws.
The proposal will be discussed with Goa’s Chief Minister before any final decision is made.

France Social Media Ban for Under-15s to Protect Children (Start of January) ▼

France will ban social media use for children under 15 starting September 2026.
The ban also prohibits mobile phones in high schools for students aged 15 to 18.
The draft bill has been completed and will be submitted to France’s Conseil d’État for legal review.

Denmark Social Media Ban for Under-15s (Mid of December) ▼

The Danish government announced last month that it had secured an agreement by three governing coalition and two opposition parties in parliament to ban access to social media for anyone under the age of 15.
The proposed measure would give some parents the right to let their children access social media from age 13, local media reported.
Danish authorities have said that despite the restrictions, around 98% of Danish children under age 13 have profiles on at least one social media platform.
A new 'digital evidence' app, announced by the Digital Affairs Ministry last month and expected to launch next spring, will display an age certificate to ensure users comply with social media age limits.

Vast Space to launch world's first private space station Haven-1 in 2027

[Vast Space]

Key Updates:

Vast Space is scheduled to launch Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the first quarter of 2027.
Vast Space Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Max Haot confirmed the timeline, stating the station relies on existing hardware to avoid development delays.
The station is designed as a compact, modular outpost capable of being launched as a single unit.
Haven-1 will integrate with the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to provide essential life-support functions, including oxygen and power.
The project follows the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plan to deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) around 2030.
Vast Space has completed the primary structure of the station and plans to conduct a full test campaign with NASA by the end of 2026.
NASA intends to transition to privately owned outposts and does not plan to own the next generation of space stations.

Similar Coverage

Science and Technology Minister Arjunbhai Modhwadia Lays Foundation Stone for Azista Space Electro-Optical Payload Factory in Sanand (End of January) ▼

Science and Technology Minister Arjunbhai Modhwadia laid the foundation stone for the Electro-Optical Payload Factory of Azista Space Limited in Sanand, Gujarat.
The facility is being constructed at Plot Nos. K-19 to K-24/1 in the Khoraaj Industrial Estate, Sanand.
Azista Space Limited has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth over ₹500 crore with the Gujarat government for this project.
The plant is designed to be India’s first integrated private-sector satellite manufacturing facility, covering design, development, and testing under one roof.
The company has received technical guidance from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Space Applications Centre (SAC).
The facility has already developed complex systems such as silicon carbide mirrors domestically using indigenous technology.
The project aligns with the Gujarat Space Technology Policy and the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to strengthen national security and strategic preparedness.

Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu confirms new spaceport at Hope Island for private launch missions (End of January) ▼

The new spaceport at Hope Island is expected to primarily support private launch providers, adding to India’s expanding launch infrastructure.
India will have three spaceports: the existing Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) at Sriharikota, the upcoming SSLV Launch Complex at Kulasekharapatnam, and the proposed Hope Island facility.
The Hope Island spaceport is being planned with commercial launches in mind, complementing ISRO’s existing facilities.
Launch sites closer to the equator benefit from Earth’s rotation, reducing fuel requirements for eastward launches.
Launches into polar orbits from Sriharikota require a ‘dog-leg’ manoeuvre to avoid flying over Sri Lanka, costing energy—especially significant for smaller rockets like SSLV, Vikram-1, and Agnibaan.
ISRO is building the SSLV launch complex at Kulasekharapatnam, expected to be ready by 2027, to focus on polar orbit missions and support both ISRO and private players.

IN-SPACe and SVCL Sign Agreement to Operationalise Rs 1,000 Crore Spacetech VC Fund (Mid of November) ▼

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and the Small Industries Development Bank of India Venture Capital Ltd (SVCL) signed a contribution agreement.
The agreement is to operationalise a Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund for the Indian space sector.
SVCL is a 100% subsidiary of SIDBI.
The fund received SEBI approval on Oct 31.
The Union cabinet approved the VC fund for the space sector in Oct 2024.
In March 2025, SIDBI was appointed as the fund manager.
The fund is designed to provide critical early-stage and growth capital to startups working across launch technologies, satellites, payload systems, in-space services, earth observation, communication platforms, and downstream applications.

Tidco to set up space propellant park near Isro launch centre in Kulasekarapattinam (Mid of November) ▼

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) has earmarked around 3,000 acres of land in Kulasekarapattinam and surrounding areas in Tuticorin district for the development of aerospace-related industries.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is developing a launchpad in Kulasekarapattinam.
Tidco is going to set up a space propellant park at least 25 km away from Isro's launch centre.
The new site in Kulasekarapattinam is uniquely strategic for Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) launches, as it allows for a direct southward trajectory over the sea, reducing the fuel-intensive 'dogleg' manoeuvre required for launches from the existing Sriharikota site.
Launches from Kulasekarapattinam are expected to be 30% cheaper than those from Sriharikota.
Adjacent to the Isro facility, the state is developing two specialised industrial parks -- one for propellant manufacturing and another for general space industries -- including a common facility centre with a sanctioned Rs 100crore budget.
2,000 acres of land have been earmarked for the propellant park and 1,000 acres for the common facility centre at Allikulam in Tuticorin district.

India to host World Seafood Congress 2026 in Chennai

[Chennai]

Key Updates:

Chennai will host the World Seafood Congress (WSC) 2026, marking India’s first time hosting the biennial forum.
The Congress is jointly organised by the International Association of Fish Inspectors (IAFI), PDA Ventures, and the National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad.
Co-organisers include the Department of Fisheries with support from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and NITI Aayog – Government of India.
Technical partners are the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and WorldFish.
Supporting industry bodies include Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Foundation for Aquaculture Innovation & Technology Transfer (FAITT), Indian Marine Ingredients Association (IMIA), and National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training (NIFPHATT).
The inaugural session will feature addresses from Dr Manuel Barange (FAO), Mr Alejandro Rivera Rojas (UNIDO), Dr Jörn O Schmidt (WorldFish), Dr K N Raghavan (SEAI), Mr G Pawan Kumar (SEAI), Mr Dodda Venkata Swamy (MPEDA), and Dr Ian Goulding (IAFI).
Keynote address titled 'Netting Aqua Potentials for Nutrition Security and Economic Prosperity' will be delivered by Dr Tarun Shridhar, Former Secretary of Fisheries and Chairman of the WSC 2026 International Advisory Committee.
The Congress agenda includes plenary sessions, expert panels, technical workshops, and thematic discussions on sustainable seafood trade, inspection standards, market access, and inclusive growth.
The WSC 2026 exhibition will showcase innovations in processing, packaging, quality control, logistics, certification, digital systems, and cold-chain solutions.
Winners of the 2026 Peter Howgate Award are Ms Harini Ravi from the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship, India, and Ms Riza Jane Banicod from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Republic of the Philippines.

Similar Coverage

2nd Khelo India Beach Games set to begin at Ghoghla Beach in Diu (Mid of January) ▼

More than 2,100 athletes will participate in eight different sports of the Beach Games.
The games will be held between the 5th and 10th of January under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India and national sports federations.
The six medal sports will be – Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Beach Sepak Takraw, Beach Kabaddi, Pencak Silat and Open water swimming.
Mallakhamb and Tug of War will be non-medal events.

India launches first open-sea marine fish farming project in Andaman Sea (Mid of January) ▼

The pilot project focuses on the open-sea cultivation of marine finfish and seaweed under natural ocean conditions, combining scientific innovation with livelihood generation.
The project is being implemented through a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, its technical arm the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the Union Territory Administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Under the marine flora component, seaweed seeds were handed over to local fishing communities to encourage deep-water seaweed cultivation in the open sea.
Under the marine fauna component, finfish seeds were provided for cage-based farming, using NIOT-developed open-sea cages specifically designed to operate in natural oceanic environments.

Union Budget 2026-27: New Initiatives for Livestock, Fisheries, and High-Value Agriculture (Start of February) ▼

Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman announced a loan-linked capital subsidy scheme to increase the availability of veterinary professionals by more than 20,000.
The veterinary scheme will support the establishment of private colleges, veterinary hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and breeding facilities.
The government will undertake the integrated development of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars to strengthen the fisheries value chain.
Fisheries development will be enabled through market linkages involving startups, women-led groups, and Fish Farmers Producer Organisations (FFPOs).
A credit-linked subsidy programme will be launched for animal husbandry entrepreneurship development and the modernisation of livestock enterprises.
The Coconut Promotion Scheme aims to replace old and non-productive trees with new varieties in major coconut-growing states.
A dedicated programme for Indian cashew and cocoa aims to achieve self-reliance and transform them into premium global brands by 2030.
The government will partner with states to promote sandalwood cultivation and post-harvest processing to restore the Indian sandalwood ecosystem.
A dedicated programme for hilly regions will support the rejuvenation of old orchards and high-density cultivation of walnuts, almonds, and pine nuts.

India and Israel sign Joint Ministerial Declaration to deepen fisheries and aquaculture cooperation (Mid of January) ▼

India and Israel signed a Joint Ministerial Declaration of Intent on 14 January 2026 to strengthen cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture.
The Indian delegation was led by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; and Panchayati Raj, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
The Declaration was signed during the Second Global Summit on 'Blue Food Security: Sea the Future 2026' held in Eilat, Israel.
Key cooperation areas include Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Biofloc systems, Cage culture, Aquaponics, and Aquarium systems.
Both countries will explore the establishment of new Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

India and European Union (EU) Sign Administrative Arrangement on Advanced Electronic Signatures on 27 January 2026

[European Union (EU)]

Key Updates:

India and the EU signed an Administrative Arrangement on Advanced Electronic Signatures and Seals on 27 January 2026 to enable secure cross-border digital transactions.
The agreement was formalised between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Directorate-General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) of the European Commission.
Implementation on the Indian side will be managed by MeitY through the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) under the framework of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The arrangement establishes a structured framework for cooperation on the interoperability of electronic signatures, electronic seals, and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) systems.
Both parties intend to link their trusted lists of recognised service providers to facilitate the validation of digital signatures and seals issued in India and the EU.
The pact is designed to benefit Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and exporters by reducing transaction costs, time, and verification efforts in cross-border trade.

Similar Coverage

Passport Verification Record on DigiLocker enables secure digital access and sharing (Start of December) ▼

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has made Passport Verification Record (PVR) available on DigiLocker to reduce reliance on physical records.
Upon successful verification, citizens can fetch their PVR in the 'Issued Documents' section of their DigiLocker account.
PVRs on DigiLocker are secure, tamper-proof, and digitally verifiable, allowing instant, consent-based sharing with authorised agencies without physical submissions.

India allows European Union (EU) banks to open 15 branches over four years under FTA (End of January) ▼

India has agreed to allow European Union (EU) banks to open 15 branches over four years under the free trade agreement.
European banks currently operating in India include Deutsche Bank (Germany), BNP Paribas (France), and Societe Generale (France).
India has provided 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments in the insurance sector and 74 per cent for banking services.
The India-EU free trade agreement is expected to be signed and implemented this year.
The trade pact includes a bilateral safeguard mechanism allowing India to raise duty to most favoured nation (MFN) level if imports from the EU surge due to tariff liberalisation.
Bilateral safeguard measures under the mechanism cannot exceed four years, with an initial two-year period extendable by another two years upon review.
India has taken carve-outs for national security and reserved policy space in sectors like legal services.
The agreement includes an insufficient production clause specifying that packaging, labelling, minor assembly, or peeling do not confer origin status.
India has no obligation under the Intellectual Property Chapter to change or modify any of its intellectual property laws.
The trade deal mandates a general review by the joint committee within five years of entry into force and every five years thereafter.

India and Germany sign Joint Declaration of Intent on Telecommunications Cooperation (Mid of January) ▼

India and Germany signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Telecommunications Cooperation during German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s official visit to India.
The JDI was signed by Telecom Secretary Amit Agrawal and German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann.
The declaration was concluded between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation.
Both sides agreed to promote collaboration in emerging and future technologies, policy and regulatory frameworks, manufacturing, and ease of doing business in telecom and ICT sectors.
The pact establishes a framework for regular consultations, high-level annual meetings, and multi-stakeholder engagement involving government, industry, academia, and research institutions.
India and Germany will jointly develop a work plan outlining specific goals and areas of mutual interest aligned with national priorities.
Both countries will work together in international fora to promote common understanding on telecommunications and digital development.

Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) approves 22 projects with Rs 41,863 crore investment (Start of January) ▼

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) approved 22 proposals under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) with projected investments of Rs 41,863 crore and estimated production of Rs 2.58 lakh crore.
The approved proposals include applications from Dixon, Samsung Display Noida Pvt Ltd, Foxconn’s Yuzhan Technology India Pvt Ltd, Hindalco Industries, Tata Electronics, Amara Raja-ATL, Motherson and Vital Electronics, among others.
Together, the projects are expected to generate 33,791 direct jobs.
The Union Cabinet approved the scheme in March 2025 with an outlay of Rs 22,919 crore as part of the government’s broader push to make India self-reliant in electronics manufacturing and reach $500 billion in electronics production by 2030-31.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tests Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology

[Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)]

Key Updates:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on February 3, 2026.
The SFDR was developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, and the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune.
The SFDR is an advanced air-breathing propulsion system where a solid fuel gas generator produces fuel-rich gases that mix with incoming air and burn in a ramjet combustor.
Unlike conventional rockets, the SFDR does not carry an oxidiser, making the system lighter and more efficient while providing sustained thrust and thrust modulation during flight.
The flight test validated several subsystems including a nozzle-less booster, SFDR motor, and fuel flow controller after the system was initially propelled by a ground booster motor to the desired Mach number.
The technology is critical for the development of long-range air-to-air missiles capable of intercepting aerial threats at supersonic speeds over very long ranges.
The use of solid fuel instead of liquid fuel in the SFDR system makes it simpler, safer, and easier to store and transport.

Similar Coverage

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) debuts Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) at 77th Republic Day Parade (End of January) ▼

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) displayed the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) for the first time at the 77th Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path.
The LR-AShM is designed to meet the coastal battery requirements of the Indian Navy and can engage static and moving targets within a range of around 1,500 kilometers.
The missile follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory, starts at hypersonic speed of Mach 10, maintains an average speed of Mach 5, and uses a two-stage solid propulsion rocket motor system.
After Stage-II burnout, the vehicle performs an unpowered glide with manoeuvres in the atmosphere, making detection by enemy radars difficult due to low-altitude, high-speed flight.
Versions with ranges up to 3,500 kilometers are under development and the missile is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy in two to three years.
The LR-AShM draws key components from the submarine-launched ballistic missile Sagarika (K-15) and the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile.
DRDO successfully tested the missile on 16 November 2024 from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
DRDO also achieved a ground test run of over 12 minutes with its Actively Cooled Scramjet Full Scale Combustor earlier this month, building on a subscale test of more than 1,000 seconds conducted on 25 April last year.
In September 2020, DRDO demonstrated hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology with the Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle flight test from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Launch Complex.

Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully flight-tests man portable anti-tank guided missile (Mid of January) ▼

The third generation fire and forget man portable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) with top attack capability was flight-tested successfully against a moving target in KK Ranges, Ahilya Nagar.
The test-firing was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The warhead is capable of defeating modern main battle tanks.
The missile can be launched from a tripod or military vehicle launcher.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented the DRDO and the industry partners for the successful test-firing of the missile.

DRDL conducts 12-minute ground test of actively-cooled scramjet combustor (Mid of January) ▼

Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) successfully ran the full-scale combustor for over 12 minutes at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test Facility.
The test validated the design of the actively-cooled scramjet combustor for hypersonic cruise missiles.
Hypersonic cruise missiles exceed five times the speed of sound (over 6,100 kmph) for extended periods.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrates 68th Foundation Day with record AoN worth Rs 1.30 lakh crore (Start of January) ▼

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 68th Foundation Day on January 01, 2026.
22 Acceptance of Necessity accorded by Defence Acquisition Council & Services Procurement Board for DRDO systems worth approx. Rs 1.30 lakh crore to be manufactured by Indian Industries in 2025, highest in any single year in history.
11 contracts for acquisitions valued at Rs 26,000 crore signed with DRDO production partners.
Notable systems for which AoN accorded: Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS), Conventional Ballistic Missile System, Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile System ‘Anant Shastra’, Long Range Air to Surface Supersonic Cruise Missile (LRASSCM), Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDDIS) MK II, Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) Astra Mk-II, Anti-Tank NAG Missile System (Tracked) Mk-2, Advanced Light Weight Torpedo, Processor-based Moored Mine – Next Generation (PBMM NG), Air-borne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Mk-1A, Mountain Radars, Full Mission Simulator for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A.
Contracts signed for Nag Missile System, Ashwini Low Level Transportable Radar, Air Defence Fire Control Radar (ADFCR), Electronic Warfare Suite for Mi-17 V5 Helicopter, Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type-1, High Explosive Pre-Fragmented (HEPF) Mk-I (Enhanced) for Pinaka MLRS, Infantry Foot Bridge Floating, Wargaming System, Automatic Chemical Agent Detector & Alarm (ACADA), Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS).

Moltbook: AI-only social network launched via open-source OpenClaw agents

[Moltbook, OpenClaw]

Key Updates:

Moltbook, created by Octane AI head Matt Schlicht, is a social network where only AI agents post, comment and form 'submolts'.
The platform claims 1.5 million members but researchers dispute the figure, noting half a million originate from one address.
It runs on open-source agentic AI tool OpenClaw (formerly Moltbot) that users install locally to let bots interact autonomously.
Security experts warn OpenClaw's access to emails and files risks privacy, with ESET advisor Jake Moore cautioning that efficiency is being prioritised over security.

Similar Coverage

Wikimedia Enterprise signs Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Perplexity, and Mistral AI to paid high-volume API access deals (Mid of January) ▼

Wikimedia Enterprise sells high-speed API access to Wikipedia’s 65 million articles at higher speeds and volumes than the free public APIs provide.
Bandwidth used for downloading multimedia content had grown 50 percent since January 2024, with bots accounting for 65 percent of the most expensive requests to core infrastructure.
Human traffic to Wikipedia had fallen approximately 8 percent year over year after the organization updated its bot-detection systems and discovered that much of what appeared to be human visitors were actually automated scrapers built to evade detection.

UNDP report warns AI could widen gaps between rich and poor nations (Start of December) ▼

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report likens AI situation to the 'Great Divergence' of the industrial revolution.
AI can lift productivity, spark new industries, and help latecomers catch up.
AI offers better advice on farming, analysis of X-rays within seconds, faster medical diagnoses, more effective weather forecasts and damage assessments.
AI systems that analyse poverty, health, and disaster risks enable faster, fairer, and more transparent decisions.
Data centres may devour too large a share of electricity and water.
Ramping up power generation to meet higher demand may hinder progress in limiting emissions of carbon from burning fossil fuels.
Hackers use AI to automate portions of cyberattacks.
Deepfakes can misinform or facilitate criminal activity.
Asian nations including China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore are well placed to take advantage of AI tools.
Afghanistan, the Maldives and Myanmar lack skills, reliable power and other resources needed to tap into AI.
About a quarter of the Asia-Pacific region lacks online access.

All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) and CAYEIT partner for AI-driven innovation (End of January) ▼

The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), an apex institution under the Ministry of AYUSH, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Ayurveda Education, Innovation & Technology (CAYEIT) in New Delhi.
The partnership aims to modernise Ayurveda through Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) enabled data analysis, and digital-first education models.
The collaboration focuses on developing personalised, Prakriti-based treatment models and utilising network pharmacology to provide scientific evidence for Ayurvedic formulations.
The MoU was signed by Prof. (Vd.) P. K. Prajapati, Director of AIIA, and Prof. Dr. Abhimanyu Kumar, Chairman and CEO of CAYEIT.
Following this agreement, AIIA now maintains a total of 74 national and 20 international collaborations.

Coforge launches EvolveOps.AI for autonomous IT operations (End of December) ▼

Coforge has introduced EvolveOps.AI, an agentic AI platform built to push enterprises into AI-first operations across hybrid cloud.
The platform uses a mix of fine-tuned Small Language Models (SLMs) and deterministic models for reliability and cost control.
Coforge has built 28 agent personas-covering SRE, Infrastructure, Cloud, Network, Kubernetes, Command Center, Service Management, and FinOps-so the system can analyze, reason, decide, and act across real IT scenarios.
Reported outcomes from early adopters include a 25% reduction in system downtime and a 40% reduction in IT operational expenses.
Mission Zero-Zero Disruption, Zero Touch, Zero Friction-anchors Coforge's approach.

Sun unleashes strongest 2026 flare—X8.3 blast from sunspot 4366 triggers R3 radio blackout

Key Updates:

An X8.3-class solar flare erupted from sunspot region 4366, the most powerful flare recorded in 2026.
The flare peaked at 6:57 pm EST on 1 February 2026.
At least 18 M-class and three X-class flares occurred in the past 24-hour period.
X-class flares are the most intense explosions the Sun can produce; each letter step (A, B, C, M, X) represents a tenfold energy increase.
The blast released strong ultraviolet and X-ray radiation that disturbed Earth’s upper atmosphere and caused R3-level radio blackouts across parts of the South Pacific.
Shortwave radio signals were disrupted in eastern Australia and New Zealand, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center.
Early assessments suggest most ejected solar material from the X8.3 flare is likely to miss Earth, with only a slight chance of geomagnetic impact around 5 February 2026 that could enhance high-latitude auroras.
Sunspot 4366 continues to grow rapidly and is rotating more directly toward Earth, with further solar activity expected.

Similar Coverage

Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) to implement three telescopes and one planetarium projects (Start of February) ▼

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced plans to establish and upgrade four major astronomy facilities.
The projects include the National Large Solar Telescope (NLST), the National Large Optical-Infrared Telescope (NLOT), an upgrade to the Himalayan Chandra Telescope, and the Cosmos-2 planetarium.
Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) director Prof Annapurni Subramaniam confirmed that IIA will implement all projects from its Bengaluru headquarters.
The NLST will be located near Pangong Lake in Ladakh and will study the Sun’s magnetic fields and solar flares.
The NLOT will be a 10-12 metre optical and infrared telescope planned for the Hanle region of Ladakh.
The Himalayan Chandra Telescope, operational since 2000 in Hanle, will receive an upgrade under the Budget proposal.
Cosmos-2, a planetarium and education centre, will be built in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, with digital projection and interactive exhibits.
IIA has signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government for implementing Cosmos-2.
IIA is completing Cosmos-1, an 8K resolution LED dome planetarium and research training centre in Mysuru, Karnataka.

X-class solar flare triggers severe G4 geomagnetic storm and red aurora over Hanle, Ladakh (End of January) ▼

An X-class solar flare erupted on 18 January 2026, launching a Coronal Mass Ejection that hit Earth in about 25 hours and produced a G4-level severe geomagnetic storm.
The storm generated an S4-level solar radiation event, the most intense since 2003, and forced astronauts on the International Space Station to shelter in shielded areas.
Indian Astronomical Observatory’s all-sky camera at Hanle, Ladakh, inside the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, recorded the resulting red aurora on 19 and 20 January 2026.
ISRO’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft, stationed at the L1 Lagrange point 1.5 million km from Earth, provided early warning of the Coronal Mass Ejection.
During the storm, Earth’s magnetosphere was compressed so much that geostationary satellites were briefly exposed to direct solar wind, risking communication, GPS and banking services.

Severe S4 Solar Radiation Storm Triggers Global Aurora and Tech Alerts (End of January) ▼

Earth experienced its strongest solar radiation storm in over 20 years, rated S4 (“severe”) on the official space weather scale.
The storm was driven by a vast eruption of charged particles from the solar atmosphere that slammed into Earth’s magnetosphere.
Brilliant aurorae appeared far from polar regions, with skywatchers in far-southern U.S. states witnessing curtains of coloured light.
Airliners flying near the poles were re-routed to lower latitudes to protect passengers and crew from increased radiation.
Satellite operators placed spacecraft in safe modes to avoid damaging electronics from the storm’s energetic particles.
India’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft, positioned at the L1 Lagrange point, continuously monitors the Sun’s magnetic fields and particle emissions.
ISRO states that space weather caused by solar activity can affect satellites, communication, navigation services, and power grid infrastructure on Earth.

NASA Confirms Strongest Geomagnetic Storm of the Year (G5 Event) (Start of November) ▼

NASA confirmed Earth is experiencing its strongest geomagnetic storm of the year, identified as a G5 event.
The storm was caused by multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) launched in quick succession from the Sun, which merged into a massive solar plasma wave.
According to NASA and NOAA’s joint reports, the current geomagnetic storm reached a G5 level, the highest on the geomagnetic scale.
The event made auroras visible at lower latitudes than usual, including parts of northern Europe, Canada, the United States, the UK, Tasmania, and southern New Zealand.
Technological impacts included temporary communication dropouts for satellite operators and rerouted polar flights by airlines to avoid high radiation exposure.
NASA scientists stress that better forecasting models and improved space-weather monitoring are vital to protect modern infrastructure.
Experts warn that as the Sun approaches its peak in the current 11-year solar cycle, more eruptions are expected, potentially leading to stronger or more frequent geomagnetic storms.

Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) Researchers Develop Sunlight-Powered Supercapacitor

[Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS)]

Key Updates:

Researchers at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a photo-rechargeable supercapacitor that captures and stores solar energy in a single integrated system.
The technology utilises binder-free nickel–cobalt oxide (NiCo₂O₄) nanowires grown directly on nickel foam through an in situ hydrothermal process to act simultaneously as a solar harvester and an electrode.
Under illumination, the electrode demonstrated a 54 per cent increase in capacitance, rising from 570 to 880 millifarads per square centimetre at a current density of 15 milliamperes per square centimetre.
The electrode exhibited high durability by retaining 85 per cent of its original capacity after 10,000 charge–discharge cycles.
An asymmetric photo-supercapacitor using activated carbon as the negative electrode delivered a stable output voltage of 1.2 volts and maintained 88 per cent capacitance retention after 1,000 photo-charging cycles.
The study, published in the journal Sustainable Energy & Fuels, revealed that nickel substitution narrows the band gap to approximately 1.67 eV and induces half metallic behaviour for faster charge transport.
The device is designed to function in remote regions without electrical grid access, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and conventional batteries.

Similar Coverage

Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) develops sunlight-powered photo-supercapacitor integrating energy capture and storage. (Start of February) ▼

Scientists at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, created a photo-rechargeable supercapacitor using binder-free nickel–cobalt oxide (NiCo₂O₄) nanowires on nickel foam.
Under illumination the electrode capacitance rose by 54% from 570 to 880 millifarads per square centimetre at 15 milliamperes per square centimetre current density.
The electrode retained 85% of its original capacity after 10,000 charge–discharge cycles.
An asymmetric device with activated carbon negative and NiCo₂O₄ nanowire positive electrodes delivered a stable 1.2 volt output and 88% capacitance retention after 1,000 photo-charging cycles.
Nickel substitution narrows the band gap to about 1.67 eV and induces half-metallic behaviour, enabling faster charge transport for photo-assisted storage.
The integrated system can function without an electrical grid, supporting India’s clean-energy goals.

India's First MWh-Scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Inaugurated at NTPC NETRA (Mid of November) ▼

India’s largest and first MWh-scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system was inaugurated.
The VRFB system has a capacity of 3 MWh.
The system was inaugurated at NETRA, the R&D Centre of NTPC at Greater Noida.
This project aims to provide long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions, enhancing renewable energy integration and grid resilience.
The Vanadium Redox Flow Battery is described as a contemporary technology with the potential to emerge as an alternative for more traditional lithium ion-based batteries.
The inauguration was performed by Shri Manohar Lal, Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs.
NTPC NETRA is also engaged in pioneering R&D work in Carbon Capture, Green Hydrogen, Energy Storage and Waste-to-Energy Technologies.

Texas A&M University team uses molybdenum-disulfide nanoflowers to trigger mitochondria transfer and revive aging cells (Start of December) ▼

Researchers at Texas A&M University used nanoflowers made from molybdenum disulfide to scavenge reactive oxygen species and stimulate stem cells to produce surplus mitochondria.
The surplus mitochondria were naturally transferred to old, damaged neighboring cells, restoring energy levels without genetic manipulation.
In lab tests, mitochondria transfer rates doubled, heart smooth-muscle cell numbers rose three-to-four-fold, and chemotherapy-damaged heart cells showed significantly higher survival.

India Inaugurates First 3 MWh Vanadium Flow Battery at NTPC NETRA (Mid of November) ▼

India’s largest Vanadium Redox Flow Battery system was inaugurated at NTPC NETRA, Greater Noida.
The 3 MWh system represents India’s largest vanadium flow battery installation and was developed in-house by NTPC NETRA.
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, vanadium flow batteries use liquid electrolytes, allowing them to store energy for extended durations with enhanced safety, longer life cycles, and scalability.
The project marks a major step forward in the nation’s journey towards long-duration energy storage solutions, enhancing renewable energy integration and grid resilience.
The adoption of vanadium flow battery technology aims to diversify India’s energy storage materials beyond lithium and strengthen supply chain resilience by reducing dependence on imported components.
NTPC NETRA has positioned itself at the forefront of India’s long-duration energy storage innovation.
NTPC Ltd.’s clean energy research portfolio now spans green hydrogen, carbon capture, waste-to-energy, and energy storage technologies, in alignment with India’s target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.

Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) and National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) Partner for Highway Cybersecurity

[Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU)]

Key Updates:

Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) to strengthen cybersecurity and digital forensics for national highway infrastructure.
The collaboration provides technical guidance for establishing advanced laboratories dedicated to CCTV analysis, multimedia examination, and cyber forensics.
The partnership covers key highway technologies including Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling, Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS), and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).
The agreement also focuses on Traffic Management Systems (TMS), Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) solutions, and the establishment of Security Operations Centre (SOC) services.
The MoU is valid for three years and involves joint research, development, and consultancy projects to improve institutional capacity and adopt global best practices.
The signing ceremony was attended by Santosh Kumar Yadav, Chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and Vishal Chauhan, Chairman and Managing Director of IHMCL.
The MoU was signed by A R Chitranshi, Chief Operating Officer of IHMCL, and Dr S O Junare, Campus Director of NFSU Gandhinagar.
The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to build a secure digital ecosystem for India’s expanding national highway network.

Similar Coverage

Indian Air Force Software Development Institute and IIT Madras sign MoU for indigenous airborne communication system (End of December) ▼

The IAF's Software Development Institute (SDI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT-Madras for the joint design and development of an indigenous digital communication system for airborne applications.
The MoU was signed by Air Vice Marshal R Guruhari, Commandant, SDI; Prof V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras and Dr M J Shankar Raman, CEO, Pravartak Technologies Foundation.
The collaboration aims to develop advanced algorithms for networking and encryption critical for secure, reliable, and high-performance data exchange in dynamic airborne environments.
Key focus areas include advanced encryption protocols, secure data transmission, resilience against threats, scalability for airborne networks, and integration with existing defence systems.

Andhra Pradesh and WEF to establish Centre for Energy and Cyber Resilience (Mid of November) ▼

Andhra Pradesh government and World Economic Forum signed agreement to set up a centre for energy and cyber resilience
Centre aims to protect electricity infrastructure in the state
CM Chandrababu Naidu stated target to generate 160 GW of green energy in Andhra Pradesh
AI-driven technologies to be used to reduce power transmission losses and supply costs
State quickly implemented solar rooftop power generation under PM Surya Ghar scheme

NHAI partners Reliance Jio to deploy telecom-based highway safety alert system (Start of December) ▼

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed an MoU with Reliance Jio to roll-out a telecom network-driven highway safety alert system.
Using Jio’s existing 4G and 5G network, travellers receive advance warnings on mobile phones as they approach risk locations such as accident-prone stretches, stray-cattle zones, fog-affected areas and emergency diversions.
Alerts will be sent through SMS, WhatsApp, and high-priority calls to national highway users.
The automated system works for all Jio mobile users on or near national highways without requiring additional roadside hardware.

Cyber Security Innovation Challenge (CSIC) 1.0 launched to build India’s homegrown cyber resilience (End of November) ▼

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched CSIC 1.0 under the Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) project.
CSIC 1.0 invites students and researchers to solve real-world cyber challenges and develop product-oriented solutions.
The initiative adopts a 'whole-of-nation' approach, uniting MeitY, CERT-In, NSCS, AICTE, C-DAC, DSCI, academia and industry.

Indian-origin Scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan Awarded Crafoord Prize for Climate Research

Key Updates:

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Crafoord Prize to Veerabhadran Ramanathan, a distinguished research professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego).
The prize, worth 8 million Swedish krona (approximately $900,000), recognises his work in expanding the understanding of how humankind affects the atmosphere, climate, and air quality.
Ramanathan discovered in 1975 that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are potent greenhouse gases, with one molecule having the same warming effect as up to 10,000 molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2).
His research in 1985 concluded that trace gases such as methane and nitrous oxide are potentially as important as CO2 for long-term global warming.
The scientist's findings on the greenhouse effect of CFCs provided the scientific basis for the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which banned the use of these chemicals.
He identified and measured atmospheric brown clouds, a 3-kilometre thick layer of air pollution covering much of the Indian subcontinent, which masks some effects of global warming.
Ramanathan served as a council member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) from 2012, advising three consecutive popes on climate change policy.
Before moving to the United States (US), Ramanathan studied engineering in Bengaluru, India, and worked at a refrigeration company.
His research also demonstrated for the first time that clouds have a cooling effect on the planet and that water vapour can amplify the warming effects of CO2.

Similar Coverage

C.V. Raman Jayanti celebrated on November 7: Birth anniversary of Nobel laureate who discovered the Raman Effect (Start of November) ▼

C.V. Raman Jayanti is celebrated every year on November 7, his birth anniversary, to inspire young minds to explore the wonders of science and innovation.
He was the first Asian and first non-white scientist to win the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for the discovery of the Raman Effect.
Raman founded the Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru in 1948, which continues to promote scientific research today.

Supriya Sahu wins United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Champions of the Earth 2025 award (Mid of December) ▼

Supriya Sahu received the Champions of the Earth 2025 award in the Inspiration and Action category for her subnational climate leadership in Tamil Nadu.
She spearheaded the Cool Roof initiative that lowers classroom temperatures by five to eight degrees using solar-reflective paint.
She led the Green Tamil Nadu mission, resulting in the planting of more than 100 million trees across the state.
She guided the Tamil Nadu mangrove mission, achieving new plantings across 4,300 hectares and restoration across 2,200 hectares with local community participation.

Sai Gautam Gopalakrishnan receives Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award 2025 (Start of November) ▼

Sai Gautam Gopalakrishnan, an associate professor of materials engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been announced for the third edition of the Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award 2025.
He leads a research group in computational materials science at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
The award carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, which is the highest in science and technology in the country.
Gopalakrishnan was selected after an intense scrutiny by an expert committee headed by Anil Kakodkar.
The award will be presented at Manohar Parrikar Vigyan Mahotsav in Dec.

India improves to 9th in 30-year global Climate Risk Index, reporting 80,000 deaths and $170 bn loss (Mid of November) ▼

India’s long-term Climate Risk Index rank improved from 8th (1994-2023) to 9th (1995-2024), while its single-year rank improved from 10th in 2023 to 15th in 2024
Germanwatch environmental think-tank released the 2023 edition of the CRI report on the sidelines of COP30 in Belem
India recorded over 80,000 fatalities and nearly $170 billion in economic losses from 430 extreme weather events between 1995 and 2024
Cyclones Hudhud (2014) and Amphan (2020) and the 2013 Uttarakhand floods were specifically cited as high-impact events
Recurring heat waves with temperatures around 50 °C in 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2015 were highlighted as major climate-related mortality drivers

Haryana Thunders defeat Delhi Dangal Warriors to win Pro Wrestling League 2026

[Haryana, Delhi]

Key Updates:

Haryana Thunders won the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 title by defeating Delhi Dangal Warriors 5-4 in the final at Noida Indoor Stadium.
The final bout was decided in the women's 62 kg clash where Paris Olympic silver medallist Iryna Koliadenko secured a 16-0 technical superiority win.
Haryana Thunders received ₹1.5 crore prize money while runners-up Delhi Dangal Warriors got ₹75 lakh.
Turan Bayramov of Delhi Dangal Warriors won the Player of the Tournament award worth ₹2.5 lakh for winning all 7 of his bouts in the 57 kg men's category.
Neha Sangwan of Haryana Thunders was named Player of the Match for keeping the final alive till the last bout.
Ronak of Delhi Dangal Warriors won Fighter of the Match for his performance in the men's 125 kg category.
Akshay Dhere of Haryana Thunders claimed the Impact Player of the Match award for strong performance in the 57 kg men's category.

Similar Coverage

Vinesh Phogat announces comeback targeting LA 2028 Olympics (Mid of December) ▼

Vinesh Phogat scrapped her retirement plans and set her sights firmly on the LA 2028 Olympics.
She revealed the decision via her X account: 'So, here I am, stepping back toward LA28 with a heart that’s unafraid and a spirit that refuses to bow.'
Her Paris 2024 campaign ended in disqualification from the 50 kg freestyle final for weighing slightly over the permissible limit on the morning of the bout.

John Cena retired after final WWE match (Mid of December) ▼

John Cena's in-ring career ended at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., after more than 20 years in WWE.
Cena tapped out to Gunther in his final match, a nearly 24-minute contest at the 2025 Saturday Night Main Event.
The WWE locker room, along with Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, The Undertaker, CM Punk, and Cody Rhodes, gathered to honor Cena after the match.

Jammu to host first International Dangal for Rustam-e-Jammu Kashmir title (Mid of December) ▼

The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council in collaboration with the J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association is organising the first International Dangal at Maulana Azad Stadium, Jammu.
The Rustam-e-Jammu Kashmir title bout will be open to wrestlers above 85 kg; the winner receives ₹50,000 along with the traditional Gurj and Patta.
Over 100 wrestlers from India and abroad, including Iran, will compete in open-category matches.

GS Delhi Aces ousts Yash Mumbai Eagles to lift maiden Tennis Premier League title (Mid of December) ▼

GS Delhi Aces clinched its maiden Tennis Premier League title, beating Yash Mumbai Eagles in the final.
GS Delhi Aces sealed a dominant 51–36 overall victory.
The final was held at the Gujarat University Tennis Stadium.

India hosts Asian Championship Rifle/Pistol 2026 in New Delhi

Key Updates:

The Asian Championship Rifle/Pistol 2026 is being held at the Dr. Karni Singh shooting range in New Delhi from 4 February to 13 February 2026.
A total of 311 athletes from 20 countries are participating in the 10-day continental competition across junior, senior, and youth categories.
India has fielded the largest squad of 118 athletes, while Kazakhstan has the second-largest contingent with 35 athletes.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is organising the event with support from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The competition features 30 medal sets and serves as an assessment for the upcoming Asian Games and the World Championships.
All finals of the championship are available for live streaming on the FanCode Over-The-Top (OTT) platform.

Similar Coverage

Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police conduct joint exercise Agni Pariksha in Arunachal Pradesh (Start of February) ▼

The Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) conducted a six-day joint training exercise named Agni Pariksha from 19 to 24 January.
The exercise was held at Sigar in the East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh to enhance inter-force combat synergy and operational integration.
Spearhead gunners under the Spear Corps led the training for personnel from infantry regiments and the ITBP.
The primary objective of the exercise was to familiarise non-artillery personnel with artillery procedures, coordination mechanisms, and the execution of firing missions.
Infantry and ITBP personnel were trained to independently conduct multiple artillery firing drills under the supervision of experienced gunners.
The initiative represents the first phase of a collaborative firepower training programme aimed at developing integrated combat capabilities for future battlefields.

India-Sri Lanka conduct 11th 'Mitra Shakti' joint military exercise in Belagavi, Karnataka (Mid of November) ▼

Exercise Name: Mitra Shakti (11th edition)
Location: Belagavi, Karnataka
Participating Forces: Indian Army (170 personnel, mainly Rajput Regiment), Indian Air Force (20 personnel); Sri Lankan Army (135 personnel, Gajaba Regiment), Sri Lankan Air Force (10 personnel)
Key Focus: Enhancing interoperability and joint responses during counter-terrorist operations
Activities: Raid, search and destroy missions, heliborne operations, employment of drones, counter unmanned aerial systems, and helicopters

Indian Army conducts 'Exercise Brahmashira' in Rann and Creek Sector under Tri-Service Exercise Trishul (Mid of November) ▼

Exercise Brahmashira held in Rann and Creek Sector as part of Tri-Service Exercise Trishul
Participants: Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, BSF, civil administration
Key features: Joint Task Forces, Joint Control Centre, multi-domain operations, Military-Civil Fusion
Exercise TRISHUL validates full-spectrum land-sea-air integration under mantra JAI - Jointness, Atmanirbharta, Innovation
Southern Command formations also conduct Exercises MaruJwala and Akhand Prahaar in Thar Desert for combined arms and joint fire integration

India and United Arab Emirates conduct second edition of Exercise Desert Cyclone in Abu Dhabi (Mid of December) ▼

Exercise Desert Cyclone-II is scheduled from December 18-30 in Abu Dhabi.
The Indian contingent comprises 45 personnel, primarily from a battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment.
The UAE Land Forces contingent is represented by the 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion.
The exercise focuses on sub-conventional operations under a United Nations mandate, including peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and stability operations.
Tactical drills include fighting in built-up areas, heliborne operations, mission planning, and integration of UAS and counter-UAS techniques.

India participates in 2026 Badminton Asia Team Championships

[Badminton Asia Team Championships 2026]

Key Updates:

The 2026 Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) is a biennial continental event scheduled to be held in Qingdao, China.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) confirmed that PV Sindhu withdrew from the women's team due to medical concerns.
The Indian women's team is the defending champion, having won the gold medal in the previous edition of the BATC held in Malaysia.
India's women's team is placed in Group Y alongside Myanmar and Thailand, while the men's team is in Group C with Singapore and Japan.
The men's squad includes Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Tharun Mannepalli, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy, Sai Pratheek K, and Hariharan Amsakarunan.
The women's squad features Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj, Malvika Bansod, Surya Charisma Tamiri, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, and Tanisha Crasto.
The tournament matches will be live-streamed on the Sony Sports Network and the official YouTube channel of Badminton Asia.

Similar Coverage

Satwik-Chirag touted as India’s strongest medal hope at India Open (Mid of January) ▼

Satwik and Chirag have reached two finals in the last four editions and won the title in 2022.
Their 2025 season underlined their elite status — runners-up at the Hong Kong Open and China Masters, bronze at the World Championships and a knockout-stage finish at the World Tour Finals.
The tournament is being held in the iconic badminton hall of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

Zheng/Huang defeats Kim/Jeong to win Paris 2024 Mixed Doubles Gold (End of December) ▼

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals 2025 will be held in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China, from 17-21 December 2025.
The series finale features the top eight eligible players or pairs in the BWF World Ranking across five categories including singles and doubles.
In the women's singles, World No.1 and Paris 2024 Olympic champion An Se Young is aiming for a record 11th title.
The 2025 world gold and silver medallists in men's singles, Shi Yu Qi of China and Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn, are participants in the tournament.
In the Paris 2024 Mixed Doubles Finals, Zheng/Huang claimed the gold medal with a 2:0 victory over Kim/Jeong.

Australian Open Badminton 2025 set to feature top global talent (End of November) ▼

The Australian Open Badminton 2025 is scheduled to take place from July 1-6, 2025, at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
The tournament will include men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competitions.
Athletes such as Kento Momota, PV Sindhu, and Chen Long are anticipated to compete.

Indo-Thai pair Poonacha-Isaro defeats Nakagawa-Kusuhara to win Asia-Pacific wild card play-off final (End of November) ▼

Indo-Thai pair Niki Poonacha and Pruchya Isaro beat Japan’s Shunsuke Nakagawa and Yusuke Kusuhara 6-4, 6-3 in the Asia-Pacific wild card play-off final.
The final was held at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre in Chengdu, China.
The victory secures the pair a men’s doubles main-draw spot in the Australian Open 2026.

Yuki Bhambri becomes first Indian after Rohan Bopanna to enter ATP doubles Top 20

Key Updates:

Yuki Bhambri climbed to a career-high world No. 20 in the latest ATP doubles rankings.
He moved up from No. 22 after strong performances including reaching the Australian Open third round with partner Andre Goransson.
In 2025 he reached the US Open semifinals alongside Michael Venus.
He won his first ATP 500 title at the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships with Alexei Popyrin.
Bhambri ended Rohan Bopanna’s long reign to become India’s No. 1 doubles player in 2025.

Similar Coverage

India’s Unnati Hooda and Kiran George clinch singles titles at Odisha Masters (Mid of December) ▼

The Odisha Masters 2025, a Super 100 event, was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Cuttack.
Unnati Hooda (India) claimed the women’s singles title, defeating compatriot Isharani Baruah 21-17, 21-10.
Hooda is set to enter the top 25 in BWF World Rankings, reaching a career best 23.
She reached the semifinals at the Hylo Open and the Syed Modi International, and the Taipei Open semifinal earlier in the year.
Hooda also secured a win against PV Sindhu at the China Open Super 1000 in the round of 16.
Kiran George (India) clinched the men’s singles title, prevailing over Indonesia’s Muhamad Yusuf in a three-game battle, with scores of 21-14, [Yusuf leveled], 21-16.
This was George’s first title on the circuit since 2023.
Marwan Faza and Aisyah Pranata (Indonesia) won the mixed doubles title, defeating compatriots Dejan Ferdinansyah and Bernadine Wardana 21-15, 21-10.
Ali Faathir Rayhan and Devin Artha Wahyudi (Indonesia) secured the men’s doubles crown, rallying past Malaysia’s Khang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai 15-21, 21-12, 21-16.
Top seeds Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva (Bulgaria) won the women’s doubles title, overcoming Malaysia’s Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting 21-19, 21-14.

Satwik-Chirag touted as India’s strongest medal hope at India Open (Mid of January) ▼

Satwik and Chirag have reached two finals in the last four editions and won the title in 2022.
Their 2025 season underlined their elite status — runners-up at the Hong Kong Open and China Masters, bronze at the World Championships and a knockout-stage finish at the World Tour Finals.
The tournament is being held in the iconic badminton hall of the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

India to host Silver-Level Continental Tour event in Bhubaneswar next year (End of November) ▼

India is set to host its first-ever Silver-Level Continental Tour event next year in Bhubaneswar, the Athletics Federation of India announced on Tuesday.
The Silver-Level event will be held on August 22 at the Kalinga Stadium.
The Athletics Federation of India will replace the Indian Grand Prix series with the Indian Athletics Series, to be held across 16 cities with the final in New Delhi.
The National Indoor Athletics Championships will be introduced for the first time in India at the Kalinga indoor stadium in Bhubaneshwar.

Indo-Thai pair Poonacha-Isaro defeats Nakagawa-Kusuhara to win Asia-Pacific wild card play-off final (End of November) ▼

Indo-Thai pair Niki Poonacha and Pruchya Isaro beat Japan’s Shunsuke Nakagawa and Yusuke Kusuhara 6-4, 6-3 in the Asia-Pacific wild card play-off final.
The final was held at the Sichuan International Tennis Centre in Chengdu, China.
The victory secures the pair a men’s doubles main-draw spot in the Australian Open 2026.

Anahat Singh wins maiden PSA bronze-level title and enters World Top 20

Key Updates:

Anahat Singh became the youngest Asian to enter the PSA World Top 20 after winning her first PSA bronze-level title in Washington.
She defeated world number 10 Georgina Kennedy of England in the final in straight games 12-10, 11-5, 11-7.
Anahat jumped 12 places in the PSA rankings following the victory.
The 15-year-old has now won 15 PSA Tour titles in 26 tournaments.
She had earlier defeated world number 17 in the quarterfinal and world number 23 in the semifinal of the Fire Open.

Similar Coverage

Vidarbha defeats Saurashtra to win maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy (Mid of January) ▼

Vidarbha secured their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title by defeating Saurashtra by 38 runs in the final held in Bengaluru.
Atharva Taide scored 128 runs off 97 balls, marking his first List A hundred in five years, to help Vidarbha reach a total of 317/8.
Yash Thakur took 4 wickets for 50 runs to bowl out Saurashtra for 279 and secure the victory.
For Saurashtra, Prerak Mankad top-scored with 88 runs and Chirag Jani made 64, while bowler Ankur Panwar took 4 wickets for 65 runs.
This win marks the first senior white-ball title for Vidarbha in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) domestic circuit.

ISSF World Championships: Gurpreet Singh loses world title on inner 10s, India finish third (Mid of November) ▼

Gurpreet Singh narrowly missed world championship gold in the 25m Centre Fire Pistol, securing a silver medal on inner-10 count.
He had to settle for silver, losing the gold to Ukraine's Pavlo Korostylov on inner-10 count after both shooters finished with identical totals at the Olympic Shooting Range.
This is Gurpreet's second individual World Championships medal, his previous being a silver in the 2018 25m Standard Pistol event.
France's Yann Pierre Louis Fridrici secured the bronze.
India wrapped up the World Championships in third place with 13 medals — three gold, six silver and four bronze.
China dominated the overall standings with 12 gold, while South Korea finished second with seven gold.
Gurpreet delivered a spirited comeback over the two-day competition, producing a superb 296-10x (98, 99, 99) in the rapid section after finishing ninth in the precision stage with 288-8x (95, 97, 96).
Korostylov won gold thanks to 29 inner 10s and a flawless 100 in the final rapid series.
India's Harpreet Singh, second after the precision round (291-10x), slipped to ninth overall after a disappointing rapid score of 286-6x.
India's medal haul featured gold from Samrat Rana (10m Air Pistol) and Ravinder Singh (50m Standard Pistol).

S G Roshini wins gold at 29th All India National Martial Arts’ Championship 2026 (End of January) ▼

S G Roshini, a Class IX student from Vedavalli Vidyalaya, NPS Senior Secondary School in Ranipet (TN), won the gold medal at the 29th All India National Martial Arts’ Championship 2026.
The championship was held in Goa on January 25.
The event selected promising talent in traditional Indian martial arts including silambam.

Arshi Gupta becomes India’s first female National Karting Champion (Mid of November) ▼

Arshi Gupta becomes India’s first female to win a National Karting Championship title.
Arshi clinched the 2025 FMSCI Indian Rotax Max National Karting Championship at the Meco Kartopia circuit in Bengaluru.
Arshi competed in the Micro Max class in a mixed grid of boys and girls.
Arshi races under Leapfrog Racing.
Arshi made her National debut in karting in early 2024.
She also has a record in her name in the India Book of Records as the youngest female to receive the National Karting License.
In September 2025, she was selected by FMSCI to be a part of Team India for the Asia Pacific Motorsports Championships in Sri Lanka.
She finished fourth in the Karting Sprint event in the Mini category for 8 to 12-year-olds.

Kabak Yano summits Mount Aconcagua in Argentina

[Arunachal Pradesh, Argentina]

Key Updates:

Indian mountaineer Kabak Yano from Arunachal Pradesh successfully summited Mount Aconcagua in Argentina.
Mount Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America and the Western Hemisphere at 22,831 feet above sea level.
The summit was part of her 7-Summit Mountaineering Expedition flagged off on 28th July last year by Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lieutenant General K.T. Parnaik (Retd).
Arunachal Pradesh Governor congratulated 27-year-old Yano on her achievement, praising her as an inspiration to the state's youth.

Similar Coverage

Aritra Roy summited Mt. Aconcagua in HAL-sponsored solo expedition. (Mid of January) ▼

Aritra Roy is a HAL-sponsored Indian mountaineer.
He summited Mt. Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside Asia, standing at 6,967.15 metres above mean sea level.
The solo expedition was fully sponsored by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Roy reached the summit on January 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM local time.
He completed a 44-kilometre trek and faced temperatures plunging to minus 40 degrees Celsius, snowstorms and blizzards.
HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr D K Sunil congratulated Roy on the achievement.
Roy dedicated the summit to those who aspire to dream big and pursue their goals with perseverance.

Indian Army achieves first-ever successful ascent of Mount Kangto on December 6, 2025 (Start of December) ▼

an Indian Army mountaineering team from Eastern Command has successfully summited Mount Kangto 7,042-metre--the highest and hitherto unconquered sentinel peak of Arunachal Pradesh--approaching from the challenging Southern route.
This accomplishment marks the first recorded successful ascent of the formidable Mount Kangto, long regarded as an unclimbed guardian of the Kameng Himalayas.
The expedition team was 'Flagged In' by Lt Gen RC Tiwari, Army Commander, Eastern Command, who lauded the mountaineers for their courage, professionalism and perseverance.
Flagged Off on November 3 from a forward base by the General Officer Commanding, Gajraj Corps, the 18-member team undertook a gruelling expedition across rugged Himalayan terrain.
Braving extremely rarefied air, harsh sub-zero conditions, treacherous icy ridgelines, deep crevasses, and near-vertical ice walls, the climbers showcased the hallmark attributes of the Indian Army--unmatched grit, discipline, teamwork and an indomitable spirit.

Kavita Chand Scales Mount Vinson (Mid of December) ▼

Kavita Chand conquered Mount Vinson in Antarctica, the highest peak in that continent, that has a height of 4,892 meters above the sea level.
She had previously conquered Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe.
Kavita Chand won the Delhi and Mumbai HYROX 2025 competitions in her age group.
She has also completed three of the six marathons in the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Challenge.

Gyaneshwari Yadav and Chandani Sahu receive Chhattisgarh’s top sports awards (Start of November) ▼

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan presented the Gundadhur Samman to international weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav and the Maharaja Pravir Chandra Bhanj Deo Samman to archer Chandani Sahu.
Gyaneshwari Yadav secured fifth place in the World Weightlifting Championship held in Manama, Bahrain.
Chandani Sahu won a silver medal for Chhattisgarh in the team event at the 38th National Games and was part of the four-member Chhattisgarh team that won a bronze medal in the team archery event.

Volcán de Fuego eruption sends ash up to 15,000 feet on February 1, 2026

[Guatemala]

Key Updates:

Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala erupted on February 1, 2026, producing ash plumes reaching 14,000 to 16,000 feet.
Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH) confirmed the heightened eruptive activity.
Ashfall was reported in communities including Panimache, Morelia, and Santa Sofia.
Volcanic Ash Advisories were issued by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Washington.

Similar Coverage

Guatemala declares state of emergency after prison riots and police killings (Mid of January) ▼

President Bernardo Arevalo issued a 30-day state-of-emergency order on Sunday.
The order restricts civil liberties and allows arrests without prior court approval.
Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) were designated as 'foreign terrorist organizations' by the United States in September.
Aldo Duppie, imprisoned leader of Guatemala’s Barrio 18 gang, is also known by the nickname El Lobo.

X-class solar flare triggers severe G4 geomagnetic storm and red aurora over Hanle, Ladakh (End of January) ▼

An X-class solar flare erupted on 18 January 2026, launching a Coronal Mass Ejection that hit Earth in about 25 hours and produced a G4-level severe geomagnetic storm.
The storm generated an S4-level solar radiation event, the most intense since 2003, and forced astronauts on the International Space Station to shelter in shielded areas.
Indian Astronomical Observatory’s all-sky camera at Hanle, Ladakh, inside the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, recorded the resulting red aurora on 19 and 20 January 2026.
ISRO’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft, stationed at the L1 Lagrange point 1.5 million km from Earth, provided early warning of the Coronal Mass Ejection.
During the storm, Earth’s magnetosphere was compressed so much that geostationary satellites were briefly exposed to direct solar wind, risking communication, GPS and banking services.

Tropical Storm Nokaen (Ada) Increases Lahar Risk Near Mayon Volcano (Mid of January) ▼

The state weather bureau, PAGASA, reported that tropical storm Nokaen is packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 80 kilometers per hour.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that intense rainfall may generate syn-eruption lahars on major channels draining the southern to eastern slopes of Mayon Volcano.
Phivolcs cautioned that older, erodible eruption deposits on the southwestern slopes of Mayon could be remobilized as non-eruption lahars.
The storm is projected to bring heavy to intense rainfall of 100 to 200 millimeters to areas surrounding the volcano in Albay province.
Phivolcs warned that hot lahars could cause scalding upon contact, potentially leading to severe and life-threatening injuries.

Long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano erupts in northern Ethiopia (End of November) ▼

A satellite image shows ash rising from the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in the Afar region of Ethiopia erupted for several hours on Sunday morning.
The eruption sent thick plumes of smoke up to 14km into the sky.
Ash clouds reached Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre.
The nearby village of Afdera was covered in ash.
There were no casualties from the eruption.
The volcano erupted for the first time in 12,000 years.
The volcano sits within the Rift Valley, a zone of intense geological activity.

Gandhi statue theft in Rowville, Melbourne on Feb 3, 2026

Key Updates:

India condemned the vandalism and removal of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne, Victoria.
The bronze statue, weighing around 420 kg, was unveiled on 12 November 2021 by then Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to mark 75 years of Indian independence.
The statue was gifted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Victoria Police are investigating the theft for possible motives including scrap metal value, deliberate vandalism, or intimidation.
This was the second attack on the statue; it was previously vandalised less than 24 hours after its inauguration in November 2021.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India has strongly raised the matter with Australian authorities and urged immediate action to recover the statue and hold culprits accountable.

Similar Coverage

Lionel Messi returns to India for GOAT India Tour 2025 (Mid of December) ▼

Messi’s four-city tour of India is scheduled to begin in Kolkata on December 13.
The tour will include stops in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, concluding on December 15.
In Kolkata, Messi will attend a meet-and-greet at a luxury hotel and visit Salt Lake Stadium for a dance programme and felicitation ceremony.
A 70-foot statue of Messi will be unveiled in Lake Town, though it is unclear if he will attend in person.
On December 14, Mumbai will host the ‘Padel GOAT Cup’ featuring Messi alongside athletes like Sachin Tendulkar and M S Dhoni.
The tour will conclude in Delhi on December 15, where Messi is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Lost, Looted and Recovered Firearm database launched to strengthen anti-terror crime effort (End of December) ▼

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the 'Lost, Looted and Recovered Firearm' database prepared by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The database will centrally record government-owned weapons that are looted, stolen, lost, or recovered from state police forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
It will be accessible to all state police forces, paramilitary units, and law enforcement agencies for tracing weapon origin, movement, and recovery patterns.

Historic Hindu Temple in Durban Faces Financial Crisis Amid Fraud Allegations (End of January) ▼

The 151-year-old Umbilo Shree Ambalavaanar Alayam temple in Durban is a national monument.
The temple faces potential discontinuation of civic services due to an unpaid bill exceeding half a million rand.
Allegations of misuse of funds have surfaced, with claims that donations were channeled to private accounts instead of the temple's.
The South African Hindu Maha Sabha has rallied community support to preserve the temple's integrity.

United States Smithsonian Museum to return three ancient bronze sculptures to India (End of January) ▼

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) in Washington DC announced the return of three ancient bronze sculptures to the Government of India after provenance research confirmed they were illegally removed.
The three artefacts include a Shiva Nataraja from the Chola period (dated circa 990), a Somaskanda from the Chola period (12th century), and Saint Sundarar with Paravai from the Vijayanagar period (16th century).
The Shiva Nataraja originally belonged to the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple in Tirutturaippundi taluk of Tanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.
The Somaskanda sculpture was identified from the Visvanatha Temple in Alattur village, Mannarkudi taluk, while the Saint Sundarar with Paravai was from the Shiva Temple in Veerasolapuram village, Kallakuruchchi taluk.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) reviewed the findings and concluded that the sculptures were removed in violation of Indian law.
The Indian government has agreed to place the Shiva Nataraja on a long-term loan to the NMAA to be displayed in the exhibition titled The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas.
The provenance investigation was supported by the Photo Archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry, which provided photographic evidence of the sculptures in their original temples between 1956 and 1959.
The NMAA is working with the Embassy of India to finalise the arrangements for the return and the loan agreement.

PM Narendra Modi visits Dera Sach Khand Ballan on 1 February

[Punjab]

Key Updates:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Dera Sach Khand Ballan, the spiritual headquarters of the Ravidassia community, in Jalandhar on 1 February 2026.
The Ravidassia community and other backward classes comprise approximately one-third of the total population of Punjab.
The visit is highlighted as a symbol of the fulfilment of the vision of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar for a society providing equal opportunities for backward classes.
Satnam Singh Sandhu, a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha, described the outreach as a boost to social inclusion and investment sentiment in the border state.

Similar Coverage

Bharat Parv 2026 closing ceremony on 31 January at Red Fort (Start of February) ▼

Bharat Parv 2026 is organised by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and runs from 26 to 31 January at the Lawns and Gyan Path in front of the Red Fort.
The closing ceremony on 31 January at 5:30 p.m. will have Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan as the chief guest.
Punjabi Folk Orchestra and Qalandri Dhamal will perform on 31 January, showcasing traditional instruments like Dhol, Dholki, Taal-Koze, Tansari, Flute, Nagara, Chimta, Sap, Kara, and Vanjli.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated Bharat Parv 2026 and described it as a vibrant expression of India’s soul and a reminder of constitutional values.

PM Modi launches projects worth over ₹11,000 crore in West Bengal and Assam (Mid of January) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal and Assam to inaugurate, lay foundation stones and flag off rail, road, port and inland water transport projects worth more than ₹11,000 crore.
The projects include India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati, new Amrit Bharat Express services, highway works and port-linked infrastructure.
In West Bengal, projects worth more than ₹3,250 crore include a new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, and rail electrification works on the New Coochbehar–Bamanhat and New Coochbehar–Boxirhat sections.
In Assam, the ₹6,950-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project involves four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715, including a 35 km elevated wildlife corridor through Kaziranga National Park.

PM Modi Tamil Nadu Visit LIVE Updates: Natural Farming Summit, PM-KISAN release, Stalin’s Metro row (End of November) ▼

PM Modi will inaugurate the South India Natural Farming Summit in Coimbatore.
PM Modi will release over Rs 18,000 crore to farmers under the 21st instalment of PM-KISAN, benefiting 9 crore farmers nationwide.
PM Modi will arrive in Coimbatore at 1:30 pm from Puttaparthi after attending the centenary celebrations of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
The summit will promote natural and regenerative farming, strengthen market linkages for FPOs and rural entrepreneurs, and showcase innovations in organic inputs, agro-processing, eco-friendly packaging, and indigenous technologies.
More than 50,000 farmers, experts, and stakeholders from Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states are expected to attend the summit.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin accused the Centre of denying Metro rail projects to Madurai and Coimbatore, calling it “political revenge” against an Opposition-ruled state.
Stalin wrote an open letter to the PM seeking urgent support for the state’s bumper harvest and monsoon-related needs ahead of Modi’s Coimbatore visit.
The Tamil Nadu BJP launched the “#VanakkamModi” campaign, calling PM Modi “a true friend of every farmer.”
IMD has issued fresh alerts for thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy showers through the week in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal.
Chennai could see heavier rain forecast for Saturday and Sunday, with parents advised to stay in touch with schools for updates.

Prime Minister inaugurates Panchjanya and attends Shaheedi Diwas event in Kurukshetra (End of November) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly built ‘Panchjanya,’ a structure dedicated to the sacred conch of Lord Krishna.
He will visit the Mahabharata Anubhav Kendra, an immersive centre showcasing key events from the Mahabharata.
PM Modi will take part in a special programme marking the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur and release a commemorative coin and stamp in his honour.
He will offer Darshan and perform Pooja at the sacred Brahma Sarovar, associated with the divine revelation of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
His visit coincides with the ongoing International Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra.

World Cancer Day 2026 observed on February 4 with theme 'United by Unique'

Key Updates:

World Cancer Day is observed on February 4 every year.
The theme for World Cancer Day 2026 is 'United by Unique'.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer-related deaths globally in 2022.
India reported over 15 lakh cancer cases in 2024, up from 13.5 lakh in 2019.
Cancer cases in India rose from 13.9 lakh in 2020 to 14.2 lakh in 2021, 14.6 lakh in 2022, and 14.9 lakh in 2023.

Similar Coverage

Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day observed on February 2 (Start of February) ▼

Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day is observed every year on February 2.
It was established in 2013 by the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation (RPF), the first nonprofit created specifically to represent people living with RA.
The date marks the birthday of RPF founder Kelly Young, widely known as RA Warrior.

National Cancer Awareness Day observed on 7 November: Theme 2025-2027 - "United by Unique" (Start of November) ▼

India observes National Cancer Awareness Day on 7 November.
The date was chosen to commemorate the birth anniversary of Marie Curie, whose research on radioactivity laid the foundational work for cancer therapy.
The initiative was launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under the leadership of then-Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.
The global theme for 2025-2027 is "United by Unique", which places people at the centre of cancer care.

World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day observed as countries accelerate action (Mid of November) ▼

November 17 marks the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day – mandated by the World Health Assembly.
The Day supports the core pillars of the WHO’s global elimination strategy: vaccinating 90% of girls against human papillomavirus (HPV), screening 70% of women, and treating 90% of those with pre-cancer and invasive cancer.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and its partners estimate that the ambitious goal to reach 86 million girls by the end of 2025 has been met.

Specialised Training Program in Cancer Care for BIMSTEC Countries launched to strengthen oncology capacity (Start of January) ▼

The second phase of the Specialised Training Program in Cancer Care for BIMSTEC Countries was formally launched at the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Visakhapatnam.
The program brings together participants from BIMSTEC countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal.
The initiative was announced by the Prime Minister of India at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and is being implemented by the Tata Memorial Centre with support from the External Affairs Ministry.

International Day of Human Fraternity observed on 4 February 2026

Key Updates:

International Day of Human Fraternity is observed on 4 February 2026.
The 2026 message was delivered by the UN Secretary-General.
The day celebrates equality, dignity and mutual understanding.
The Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together declaration was co-authored by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb.

Similar Coverage

International Day of Education observed on January 24 with theme The power of youth in co-creating education (End of January) ▼

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) will celebrate the International Day of Education 2026 on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
The theme for the International Day of Education 2026 is The power of youth in co-creating education.
UNESCO will host key activities and hybrid events for the observance at its headquarters in Paris, France.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution 73/25 on December 3, 2018, proclaiming January 24 as the International Day of Education.
The first observance of the International Day of Education took place on January 24, 2019.
The day aims to promote Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all.
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore is the only Indian institute to feature in the global top 100 of the Times Higher Education (THE) Subject Rankings 2026.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories (UTs) as part of its 2025 achievements.

International Human Solidarity Day observed on 20 December 2025 with theme 'Solidarity for Sustainable Development: Uniting Communities for a Shared Future' (End of December) ▼

International Human Solidarity Day is celebrated annually on 20 December to mark the core value of solidarity in international relations and a driving force to achieve sustainable development and social justice.
The theme for 2025 is 'Solidarity for Sustainable Development: Uniting Communities for a Shared Future.'
On 22 December 2005, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 20 December as International Human Solidarity Day, recognizing solidarity as a universal value for the 21st century.

World Kindness Day 2025 observed on November 13: History and Significance (Mid of November) ▼

World Kindness Day is celebrated annually on November 13 as part of the Global Kindness Movement.
World Kindness Day 2025 falls on a Thursday, November 13, 2025.
The observance was established in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a global alliance of organisations that promotes goodwill and mutual respect.

International Volunteer Day observed on 5 December with theme 'Every Contribution Matters' (Start of December) ▼

International Volunteer Day (IVD) is celebrated on 5 December every year.
It started as an international observance mandated by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1985.
The theme for International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 is “Every Contribution Matters.”
International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2025 marks the official global launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026).
The International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026) will be globally launched on 5 December at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Hall in New York.
United Nations (UN) General Assembly Resolution A/RES/78/127 calls for a worldwide movement to recognize the vital role of volunteers in accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme recognizes shared universal values underpinning volunteerism, including free will, commitment, equity, engagement, solidarity, compassion, empathy, and respect for others.
The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) is a flagship United Nations (UN) publication produced every three years.
The latest edition of the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) is titled 'Building Equal and Inclusive Societies'.
There are an estimated 1 billion volunteers worldwide, with around 70% volunteering informally and 30% engaging through formal organizations.
International Year of Volunteers was observed in 2001.