A.V. Girija Kumar appointed Chairman of IRDAI Reinsurance Advisory Committee.
[Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)]
Key Updates:
- A.V. Girija Kumar, former Chairman and Managing Director of Oriental Insurance Company Ltd., was appointed Chairman of the reconstituted Reinsurance Advisory Committee (RAC) by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
- The reconstituted RAC includes Praveen Vashishta, former CEO and Managing Director of Howden Insurance Brokers India Pvt. Ltd.; Roopam Asthana, former CEO of Liberty General Insurance; and T.L. Alamelu, former Whole-Time Member of IRDAI.
- The committee has been constituted for a tenure of three years under Section 101B of the Insurance Act, 1938.
- The Deputy General Manager (Reinsurance) at IRDAI will function as Secretary to the RAC.
Similar Coverage
- Narayan Ramachandran, former country head and CEO of Morgan Stanley India, chairs the SAARG committee formed by PFRDA.
- The committee includes former whole-time member Ananth Narayan, Motilal Oswal Co-founder Raamdeo Agrawal, DSP Mutual Fund MD & CEO Kalpen Parekh, and First Global Founder & CMD Devina Mehra.
- PFRDA mandates the SAARG committee to review and modernise the National Pension System (NPS) investment framework within 9 months.
- The panel will benchmark NPS guidelines against leading global pension systems and the evolving Indian investment ecosystem.
- Sahaj Insurance Services Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Sahaj Retail Ltd, received a corporate agency licence from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
- The company aims to sell about 10 crore insurance policies in its first year of operation.
- Sahaj Retail Ltd operates a network of about 4.5 lakh digitally enabled rural centres serving over 70 crore people.
- The insurance portfolio includes life, health, accident, crop, livestock and micro-insurance products developed in partnership with leading insurers.
- Services will integrate government-backed insurance and social-security schemes to deepen financial inclusion.
- Sahaj is active in states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, North East and Odisha.
- The Union Cabinet approved a bill to raise Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the insurance sector to 100 per cent.
- The proposed legislation is the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the proposal in the Union Budget this year.
- The insurance sector has attracted around Rs 82,000 crore in foreign investment.
- The bill proposes amendments to the Insurance Act, 1938, allowing up to 100 per cent FDI.
- It permits mergers between insurance and non-insurance companies.
- The bill creates a dedicated policyholders’ fund.
- A requirement mandates that at least one key management position, such as chairman, managing director or CEO, must be held by an Indian citizen.
- Existing net worth requirements for insurers will remain unchanged.
- Amendments are also proposed to the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) Act, 1956.
- Changes to the LIC Act would empower its board to take operational decisions such as branch expansion and recruitment.
- Amendments are also proposed to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) Act, 1999.
- The Union Cabinet approved the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025 to revamp India’s insurance framework.
- The Bill raises the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in Indian insurance companies from 74% to 100%.
- It reduces the Net Owned Funds requirement for foreign reinsurers from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 1,000 crore.
- IRDAI gets enhanced enforcement powers, including authority to disgorge wrongful gains made by insurers or intermediaries.
- LIC is empowered to set up new zonal offices without prior government approval and to align overseas operations with host-country laws.
Kota Ravi recommended as CMD of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)]
Key Updates:
- 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.
Similar Coverage
- Ganesh Lakshminarayanan has been named CEO-designate of Tata Communications and will take over as Managing Director & CEO after regulatory approvals.
- He will succeed AS Lakshminarayanan, who is retiring on April 13, 2026.
- Ganesh previously served as Managing Director and Group Vice President for ServiceNow India & SAARC.
- Earlier, he was CEO of Airtel Business in India and led the enterprise business unit to 50% growth over three years.
- Shashwat Sharma has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel India for a five-year term, subject to shareholder approval.
- Gopal Vittal has been appointed as Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel for a five-year term, subject to shareholder approval.
- Soumen Ray has been appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer of Bharti Airtel.
- Akhil Garg has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Airtel India.
- Rohit Krishan Puri has been appointed as Company Secretary and Compliance Officer of Bharti Airtel.
- 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.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) files supplementary prosecution complaint against Unnati Fortune Holdings Limited in Rs 126 crore money laundering case.
[Enforcement Directorate (ED), Unnati Fortune Holdings Limited]
Key Updates:
- The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Lucknow Zonal Office, filed the complaint under Sections 44 and 45 read with Sections 3, 4 and 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
- The complaint was filed before the Court of the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, CBI, Ghaziabad.
- The case involves the real estate company M/s Unnati Fortune Holdings Limited and its promoters.
Similar Coverage
- Sebi has doubled the monetary threshold for the simplified documentation process for issuing duplicate securities to ₹10 lakh from ₹5 lakh.
- Investors holding securities valued up to ₹10 lakh will now be required to submit fewer documents.
- Notarisation of the Affidavit-cum-Indemnity Bond will no longer be required where the value of securities is up to ₹10,000.
- Sebi has prescribed a standardised Affidavit-cum-Indemnity Bond format and rationalised documentation for securities valued above ₹10 lakh.
- Listed companies and RTAs must process requests strictly in line with the revised procedure, and investors who have already submitted documents under the old framework will not be required to resubmit them.
- The Reserve Bank of India has strengthened the review mechanism within regulated entities before they reject or partially resolve a customer complaint.
- All complaints that are partially resolved or wholly rejected by the internal grievance redress mechanism shall be auto escalated to the office of the internal ombudsman for a review.
- An internal ombudsman shall either be a retired or serving officer, in the rank equivalent to a general manager in the regulated entity, appointed for a three-year period and must be below 70 before completion of tenure.
- The internal ombudsman shall report to the competent authority of the entity administratively, and to the customer service committee of the board, and shall be designated as a permanent invitee to the meetings of the customer service committee of the board.
- The directions apply to commercial banks, small finance banks, payments banks, non-banking finance companies, non-bank prepaid payment instrument issuers and credit information companies.
- Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented supplementary demands for grants of Rs 24,496.97 crore for FY2025-26.
- The supplementary budget allocates Rs 18,369.30 crore for revenue expenditure and Rs 6,127.68 crore for capital expenditure.
- Key allocations include Rs 4,874 crore for industrial development, Rs 4,521 crore for the power sector, Rs 3,500 crore for health and family welfare, Rs 1,758.56 crore for urban development, and Rs 639.96 crore for technical education.
- Additional provisions include Rs 535 crore for women and child development, Rs 500 crore for UPNEDA (solar and renewable energy), Rs 423.80 crore for medical education, and Rs 400 crore for the sugarcane and sugar mill sector.
- After accounting for the central share of Rs 2,197.24 crore for centrally sponsored schemes, the net additional burden on the state’s consolidated fund will be Rs 22,299.74 crore.
- All complaints wholly rejected or partially resolved by regulated entities must be auto-escalated to the Internal Ombudsman for review.
- Regulated entities must ensure that no complaint is closed by the same branch or touch point that handled it.
- Compensation may be offered for material loss, loss of time, expenses, and mental agony suffered by complainants.
- Internal Ombudsman shall be a retired or serving officer of rank equivalent to General Manager, appointed for three years and below 70 years of age at tenure end.
- Internal Ombudsman reports administratively to the competent authority and functionally to the Customer Service Committee of the Board.
- Internal Ombudsman shall be a permanent invitee to Customer Service Committee meetings to ensure board oversight.
- Internal Ombudsman shall not handle complaints received directly from the public, only those escalated after internal review.
- Decisions by Internal Ombudsman or Deputy Internal Ombudsman must be submitted to the RBI Ombudsman.
- The directions apply to commercial banks, small finance banks, payments banks, NBFCs, prepaid payment instrument issuers, and credit information companies.
- Housing finance companies, core investment companies, infrastructure debt fund-NBFCs, NBFC-infrastructure finance companies, non-operative financial holding companies, primary dealers, and mortgage guarantee companies are excluded.
Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd (APL) and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) sign MoU for ₹1,200 Crore e-Methanol plant
[Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd (APL), Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Gujarat]
Key Updates:
- Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd (APL) and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a 150 Tonnes Per Day (TPD) e-Methanol plant at Kandla Port in Gujarat.
- The project involves a capital investment of more than ₹1,200 crores and is expected to generate approximately 3,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities.
- Under the agreement, DPA will provide pipeline connectivity, storage, and fuel-handling infrastructure, while APL will establish the green methanol production facility within the port area.
- The plant will produce e-methanol using green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide powered by renewable electricity to support India’s Maritime Decarbonisation roadmap.
- Kandla Port is being developed as a Green Hydrogen Hub under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to produce and export 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen over the next 5 to 6 years.
- The facility is intended to position Kandla Port as a major green fuel supply point for international maritime trade routes, including the Singapore–Rotterdam corridor.
- The initiative contributes to India’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
Similar Coverage
- GAIL signed an MoU with the Chhattisgarh government to undertake detailed techno-economic studies for a greenfield gas-based fertiliser project.
- The project includes a 12.7 lakh metric tonne urea plant proposed along GAIL’s Mumbai–Nagpur–Jharsuguda natural gas pipeline corridor.
- The state government will support feasibility studies, land identification and allocation, statutory approvals, and enabling infrastructure.
- The Union Cabinet approved a new brownfield ammonia-urea plant of Assam Valley Fertiliser and Chemical Company Ltd (AVFCCL) within the existing premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corp Ltd (BVFCL) in Namrup, Dibrugarh district, Assam.
- The project cost is ₹10,601 crore and the plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 2030 with an annual urea production capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes.
- AVFCCL is a joint venture among the Assam government, Oil India, National Fertilisers Ltd (NFL), Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd (HURL) and BVFCL.
- ONGC subscribes to 2,00,000 equity shares of ₹100 each in Bharat Ethane One IFSC Private Limited and Bharat Ethane Two IFSC Private Limited.
- Each joint venture company will own and operate one Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC) under the Indian flag.
- The vessels will transport ethane from the United States to ONGC Petro additions Limited (OPaL), a subsidiary of ONGC.
- MoU signed between Engineers India (EIL) and NMDC Energy to cooperate on onshore projects in Saudi Arabia covering Oil and Gas Processing, Refineries, Petrochemicals, Pipelines, Storage Terminals, and Energy Transition
- MoU signed on the sidelines of ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi
- Collaboration aims at joint tendering and executing EPC projects leveraging NMDC’s Ras Al Khair fabrication facilities and EIL’s Al Khobar design center
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Paysharp Payment Aggregator-Physical licence
[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]
Key Updates:
- Chennai-based fintech Paysharp received RBI Payment Aggregator-Physical (PA-P) licence on 21 January 2026.
- Paysharp had earlier obtained RBI Payment Aggregator-Online (PA-O) licence in August 2024.
- The company follows a flat-pricing model for merchants across government, B2B enterprises, NBFCs and e-commerce sectors.
- Paysharp has raised ₹23.5 crore across two funding rounds for product development, regulatory compliance and payments infrastructure expansion.
Similar Coverage
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Innoviti Technologies received RBI Certificate of Authorization to operate as a Payment Aggregator under the Payments and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
- The authorization now covers both online and physical in-store payment transactions.
- Innoviti already processes over ₹80,000 crore annually across 2,000+ cities and 50,000+ merchants.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves Punjab & Sind Bank branch at GIFT City
[Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Punjab & Sind Bank, GIFT City]
Key Updates:
- Punjab & Sind Bank has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to open a branch at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in GIFT City, Gandhinagar.
- The branch will enable the bank to strengthen its capabilities in foreign currency lending, trade finance, treasury operations, and international banking.
- Swarup Kumar Saha, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Punjab & Sind Bank, stated that this move aligns with the bank’s long-term vision of entering the international market and supporting India’s ambition of becoming a global financial powerhouse.
Similar Coverage
- Bank of Baroda (BoB) received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to transfer its existing bank primary dealer authorization to a proposed wholly-owned subsidiary.
- The new subsidiary will undertake Standalone Primary Dealer (SPD) business to enhance liquidity and price discovery in the government securities (G-Sec) market.
- The RBI introduced the Primary Dealers (PDs) system in 1995 to strengthen G-Sec market infrastructure and underwriting capabilities.
- Commercial banks were permitted to conduct PD business departmentally starting from the 2006-07 period.
- The Indian banking sector currently features 7 Standalone Primary Dealers and 14 Bank Primary Dealers.
- Current Bank PDs include BoB, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, and IDBI Bank.
- The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a resolution declaring Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district, Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda and the Galiara area around the Golden Temple in Amritsar as holy cities.
- There will be a complete ban on sale and consumption of liquor, meat and tobacco items at these places, according to the resolution.
- The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a special session of the Punjab Assembly convened to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
- Bank of Baroda (BoB) received the 'Best Bank in India' title from The Banker, a Financial Times publication, at the 2025 Asia-Pacific awards.
- BoB operates phygital branches that allow customers to obtain statements, generate income tax payment certificates, update nominees and receive financial advice over video calls.
- BoB has opened 184 new branches across India to expand reach.
- BoB's Smart OD product provides small businesses quick working capital within 24 hours based on transaction history.
- BoB offers liquid fixed deposits with higher interest rates and anytime withdrawal without loss of earnings.
- Bank of Baroda and SIDBI signed an MoU 'to jointly enhance credit flow to small businesses and startups' and will 'provide joint finance for micro, small and medium enterprises'.
- RBL Bank launched two premium credit cards—‘Lumiere’ and ‘Nova’—carrying 'membership fees of up to Rs 50,000 per year'.
- Axis Bank introduced 'a corporate salary solution aimed at startups' that bundles 'financial, lifestyle, and wellness offerings'.
- The Standard opened a new Global Capability Centre in Pune and 'appointed Mohua Sengupta as the country head'.
PAIMANA Portal Launched for Monitoring Central Sector Infrastructure Projects
[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)]
Key Updates:
- 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.
Similar Coverage
- The Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has sanctioned two MSME Technology Centres for Himachal Pradesh, as part of a larger approval of 13 such centres across the country.
- The two centres for the state would be established in the industrial areas of Parwanoo in Solan district and Pandoga in Una district.
- The Technology Centre at Pandoga Industrial Area in the Haroli Assembly segment would be set up in the Community Centre building at a cost of Rs 10 crore.
- MSME Technology Centres are set up by the Centre to provide micro, small and medium enterprises with access to advanced technology, skilled manpower and specialised technical services.
- These centres aim to enhance competitiveness, modernisation and growth in manufacturing sectors such as engineering, plastics and automation.
- Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the Samikshya portal at Lok Seva Bhawan alongside receiving the 6th State Finance Commission (SFC) report.
- The portal provides real-time updates on implementation and progress of projects funded under grants of the SFC and the Central Finance Commission (CFC).
- Projects covered include roads, drinking water supply, sanitation, street lighting, parks and other public utilities across rural and urban local bodies.
- Citizens, elected representatives and stakeholders can access the portal at https://samikshya.odisha.gov.in to track development works and strengthen accountability.
- 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.
- The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched on 25 December 2000 to ensure all-weather connectivity to previously unconnected rural habitations.
- Under PMGSY Phase – IV (2024), a total road length of 62,500 kilometres is proposed to be constructed during the implementation period from FY 2024–25 to 2028–29, with an overall financial outlay of ₹70,125 crore.
- Phase IV of the scheme aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to 25,000 unconnected rural habitations based on Census 2011 population criteria.
- For the financial year 2025–26, the programme under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has been allocated ₹19,000 crore.
- The Online Management, Monitoring, and Accounting System (OMMAS) enables real-time monitoring of all works under the PMGSY, ensuring physical and financial progress remains aligned with targets.
- The Electronic Maintenance of PMGSY Roads (e-MARG) platform ensures systematic monitoring of road maintenance for a period of five years from the date of completion.
- The Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) covers 44 most severely affected districts across nine States including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
- A mandatory GPS-enabled Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) has been enforced since May 2022 on all vehicles and machinery deployed for PMGSY-III works to ensure transparency and quality standards.
Andhra Pradesh Signs MoU with FICCI-FLO to Establish 30-Acre Industrial Park for Women Entrepreneurs
[Andhra Pradesh, FICCI-FLO]
Key Updates:
- The Andhra Pradesh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry – Ladies Organisation (FICCI-FLO) to establish an exclusive industrial park for women entrepreneurs.
- The agreement involves the development of a 30-acre industrial park in Amaravati under the state policy for private industrial parks with plug-and-play industrial infrastructure (4.0) for the period 2024-29.
- The proposed park is dedicated to women entrepreneurs who are members of FICCI-FLO to promote enterprise creation, economic self-reliance, and employment generation.
- The initiative aligns with the state government plan to establish 175 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) parks, with one situated in each assembly constituency.
- The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) will facilitate land allotment, statutory approvals, and infrastructure development for the project.
- The MoU was signed by the Minister for Industries and Commerce and Food Processing, TG Bharath, and FICCI-FLO National President, Poonam Sharma.
- The budget outlay for the industrial park is not specified in the article.
- The specific launch date for the commencement of the park is not specified in the article.
Similar Coverage
- The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) celebrated seven years of its Womaniya initiative, a program aimed at bolstering the participation of women-led Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in public procurement.
- According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI), over two lakh women-led MSEs are registered on the GeM portal.
- Since its launch on January 14, 2019, these enterprises have secured public procurement orders over Rs 80,000 crore, accounting for 4.7% of the total order value on GeM.
- The initiative provides a transparent, digital interface, reducing entry hurdles and eliminating intermediaries to foster gender-inclusive economic growth.
- A new partnership with the Women's Collective Forum aims to enhance support for women entrepreneurs and improve market access.
- Every year on November 19 , the global observance known as Women’s Entrepreneurship Day honors the vision, creativity, and achievements of women who launch and lead businesses, innovate, and drive economic and social change.
- Founded in 2014 by Wendy Diamond through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO), the day seeks to spotlight the contributions of female entrepreneurs worldwide, support their journeys, and help remove barriers they face.
- The idea emerged as a response to the fact that although women perform a large share of work globally, they often have less access to economic opportunities, leadership roles, and capital.
- Wendy Diamond launched the inaugural Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in November 2014, with events held in 144 nations on that first year.
- Over time the day has grown into a movement supported by events, awards (such as the WEDO Pioneer Awards), and advocacy for policies, funding, and networks that help women-owned businesses thrive.
- Celebrating Women’s Entrepreneurship Day matters because empowering women entrepreneurs has far-reaching benefits—not only for the individuals themselves, but also for economies, communities, and innovation.
- It also draws attention to ongoing barriers such as unequal access to finance, fewer mentorship opportunities, social norms, and digital divides—highlighting the need for action and systemic change.
- The Ministry of Textiles (MoT) and the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) conducted a stakeholder consultation for three upcoming PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model.
- "DPRs worth ₹5,567 crore have been finalised for the three PPP-mode parks" located in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Kalaburagi (Karnataka), and Navsari (Gujarat).
- The PM MITRA Parks are "inspired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s 5F vision—Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign" to create fully integrated, end-to-end textile value chains.
- "Investor interest across the three states has crossed ₹20,054 crore, driven largely by the composite textile segment."
- Seven PM MITRA Parks have been announced across Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
- The projected impact of the scheme includes "₹70,000 crore in industry investments" and "10 lakh employment opportunities per park."
- The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UN Women.
- The partnership aims to integrate more women entrepreneurs from the informal sector into India’s public procurement ecosystem.
- The MoU was signed at GeM’s headquarters in the Jeevan Bharti Building, New Delhi.
- The MoU places a strong emphasis on advancing GeM’s Womaniya initiative.
- The Womaniya initiative is designed to increase procurement from women-led enterprises and expand government market access for women entrepreneurs and SHGs.
- Smt. Kanta Singh, Country Representative, UN Women India, and Shri Ajit B. Chavan, Additional CEO, GeM, officially signed the MoU.
- GeM serves as the national online procurement portal for Central Government Ministries, State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and Autonomous bodies.
- UN Women will contribute strategic expertise and global best practices by designing training tools and recommending global models of gender-responsive procurement.
- GeM will complement these efforts through capacity-building training for women-led enterprises and sensitisation workshops for government buyers.
- The MoU directly contributes to SDG 5: Gender Equality and Empowerment of All Women and Girls.
- The initiative also aligns with the Government of India's broader missions, including Skill India, Startup India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Digital India.
- The GeM–UN Women MoU marks a transformative step toward building an inclusive, equitable and gender-responsive public procurement ecosystem in India.
United States Smithsonian Museum to return three ancient bronze sculptures to India
[United States, Smithsonian Museum]
Key Updates:
- 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.
Similar Coverage
- Karnataka’s Department of Archaeology, Museum and Heritage classified the gold ornaments recovered from a copper pot at Lakkundi in Gadag district as a treasure.
- The ornaments weighed around 500 g and included rings, bracelet and a bangle.
- Director Dr Shejeshwar R stated the ornaments are definitely more than 100 years old and thus qualify as antique treasure.
- The department will recommend financial compensation equal to one-fifth of the treasure’s value to Ganagavva Basavaraja Ritti’s family who unearthed the pot during house modification.
- Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) senior archaeologist Ramesh Mulimani had earlier said the ornaments were unlikely to be centuries-old buried treasure and suspected recent ancestral burial.
- 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.
- 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.
- The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), operating under the Ministry of Culture, was honored with two PRSI National Awards 2025 by the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI).
- NCSM received the awards in the categories of 'Best Use of Social Media in a Corporate Campaign' for the Har Ghar Museum initiative and 'Special/Prestige Publication Category' for the Waste to Art publication.
- The awards were presented during the 47th All India Public Relations Conference held from December 13 to 15, 2025, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
- The theme of the conference was “Empowering Growth, Preserving Roots – The PR Vision for 2047”.
- Shri Rajib Nath, Director (Hqrs.) of NCSM, and Shri Satyajit N. Singh, Public Relations Officer of NCSM, received the awards on behalf of the organization.
- The award-winning Waste to Art initiative involved repurposing over 1,250 kg of waste, including metal scrap and discarded electronics, into art installations and science exhibits.
- The Har Ghar Museum campaign achieved significant digital outreach, recording over 10 million views across platforms and engaging more than 1 million individuals.
European Union designates Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as terrorist organisation
[European Union (EU), Iran]
Key Updates:
- The European Union (EU) foreign ministers agreed to add Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the bloc’s terrorist list on 29 January 2026.
- EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the designation on social media platform X.
- The sanctions target the IRGC, Iranian officials, and entities responsible for internet censorship.
- The IRGC is currently led by General Mohammad Pakpour, appointed after his predecessor Hossein Salami was killed in an Israeli strike during the 12-day war in June 2025.
- Protests in Iran began on 28 December 2025 after a sharp fall in the currency value and spread nationwide.
- The US-based Human Rights Activists Network reported nearly 6,000 civilians killed in the crackdown.
- Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi criticised the EU move on social media platform X, accusing Europe of fanning the flames of conflict in the Middle East.
Similar Coverage
- On January 16, 1979, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi boarded a plane and left Iran, marking the end of the monarchy.
- Ruhollah Khomeini – the charismatic clerical leader returned from exile in February 1979 – became the symbol of the revolution.
- After Khomeini’s death in 1989, Iran’s leadership passed to Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had served as president from 1981–89.
- The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated by President Hassan Rouhani’s administration had Iran curb its uranium enrichment in return for sanctions relief.
- In September 2025, Britain, France, and Germany formally triggered the JCPOA’s ‘snap-back’ mechanism, restoring United Nations (UN) sanctions on Iran’s nuclear and missile activities.
- The new round of protests began on December 28, 2025, and by early January 2026 had spread across Iran.
- Ayatollah Khamenei cultivated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a personal power base, shaping it into an instrument of control and regional influence.
- Reuters cited December 2025 inflation at 42.5% (year-on-year), and the British Parliament briefing reports food price inflation above 70% in 2025.
- The 27 EU member states formally adopted a regulation to phase out imports of Russian pipeline gas and LNG.
- The regulation serves as a key milestone in achieving the REPowerEU objective of ending the EU reliance on Russian energy.
- The ban will start to apply six weeks after the regulation enters into force, with a full ban on LNG imports by the beginning of 2027 and pipeline gas by autumn 2027.
- Non-compliance with the new rules may result in maximum penalties of at least €2.5 million for individuals and at least €40 million for companies.
- Companies may face penalties of at least 3.5% of their total worldwide annual turnover or 300% of the estimated transaction turnover for violations.
- EU member states must verify the production country of gas imports and submit national diversification plans by 1 March 2026.
- The European Commission (EC) is authorised to suspend the import ban for up to four weeks if the security of supply is seriously threatened.
- Following the Versailles Declaration of March 2022, Russian gas imports fell to 13% of EU imports by 2025, valued at over €15 billion annually.
- The EC plans to propose further legislation to phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2027.
- Michael Damianos, the Minister for Energy, Commerce and Industry of Cyprus, stated that the move is a step towards an autonomous Energy Union.
- India link not mentioned in the article.
- Senior Indian diplomat DB Venkatesh Varma has been nominated by the UN Secretary General to chair the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters for the 2026–27 term.
- This marks the first time an Indian will hold the position of chair of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters.
- The Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters was established in 1978 pursuant to paragraph 124 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly.
- The Board advises the Secretary-General on issues related to arms limitation and disarmament, including studies and research carried out under the auspices of the United Nations or institutions within the UN system.
- The Board also serves as the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.
- Members of the Advisory Board are chosen by the Secretary General from all regions of the world based on their knowledge and experience in disarmament and international security.
- HM Treasury imposed an asset freeze and director disqualification on British Sikh businessman Gurpreet Singh Rehal under the Counter-Terrorism (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
- The sanctions also freeze all UK funds and economic resources of Babbar Akali Lehar, assessed as promoting the proscribed Babbar Khalsa.
- UK persons or firms must obtain a Treasury licence before dealing with any funds or providing financial services to Rehal or Babbar Akali Lehar.
Indian Army and Shield AI Sign Deal for V-BAT Unmanned Aerial Systems
[Shield AI, United States]
Key Updates:
- The Indian Army signed an agreement with the United States (US) defence technology company Shield AI for the procurement of the V-BAT unmanned aerial system (UAS).
- The V-BAT is a Group 3 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) without the requirement for runways or launch infrastructure.
- Powered by a heavy-fuel engine, the aircraft has an endurance of more than 12 hours and can operate in environments where Global Positioning System (GPS) signals are disrupted.
- The drones will be equipped with Hivemind, an artificial intelligence (AI) autonomy software platform that enables beyond-visual-range operations with limited human input.
- Shield AI has partnered with India-based JSW Defence to establish a manufacturing facility at EMC Maheshwaram in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- The 90 million US Dollar investment will enable large-scale production of V-BATs in India to serve the Indian Armed Forces and function as a global production hub.
- Construction of the Hyderabad manufacturing facility by JSW Defence commenced in December 2025.
- The V-BAT drones have been utilised in the Ukraine conflict to identify air defence systems, military headquarters, and drone control sites.
- In 2025, the drones executed more than 35 missions and identified over 200 Russian targets in the Ukraine warzone.
- Shield AI previously signed a deal with the Japanese Navy on 22 January 2026 for regional deterrence efforts in the Indo-Pacific.
- The company was founded in 2015 by Brandon Tseng, a former US Navy SEAL, along with Ryan Tseng and Andrew Reiter.
- Other customers of the V-BAT system include the US Coast Guard, US Marines, and several foreign militaries.
- The company's first product, an autonomous quadcopter called Nova, was used by Israeli forces in October 2023 to explore tunnel networks in the Gaza Strip.
- Shield AI has a reported valuation of 5.6 billion US Dollars as of 2025.
Similar Coverage
- UMEX and SimTEX 2026 is taking place from 20 to 22 January at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
- ADNEC Group, a Modon company, delivered a comprehensive showcase of commercial and civilian unmanned and autonomous systems at the event.
- Joby Aviation is showcasing its all-electric air taxi set to begin first operations within the UAE in 2026.
- LODD Autonomous is demonstrating a hybrid heavy-lift cargo drone capable of carrying up to 250 kg of cargo.
- The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority is presenting drone technology, autonomous systems, and agricultural robots to transform farming.
- Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) is the Regulatory Mobility Partner and launched the 'Future of Autonomy x ITC' platform with panel sessions and workshops on 21-22 January.
- The ‘Michelangelo Dome’ is designed to protect critical European infrastructure against evolving security threats, including hypersonic missiles and drone swarms.
- Italian defence company Leonardo has unveiled plans for a shield powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to protect cities and critical infrastructure.
- The shield was developed to protect critical infrastructure, sensitive urban areas, and assets of national and European strategic importance.
- The Michelangelo Dome integrates next-generation sensors across land, naval, air, and space domains, as well as cyber defence platforms, command-and-control systems, and AI.
- This system creates a security umbrella that can detect, track, and neutralise a wide variety of threats, including hypersonic missiles, drone swarms, surface and subsurface maritime attacks, and hostile ground forces.
- It uses multiple sensors and predictive algorithms to anticipate hostile activity and automatically coordinate which countermeasures will be most effective.
- Europe announced a Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) aimed at enhancing the continent’s protection from aerial threats.
- Pune-based Bharat Forge (BF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Germany-headquartered Agile Robots (AR) to explore a strategic collaboration in artificial intelligence-driven robotics and industrial automation.
- The partnership will focus on co-developing intelligent automation and robotic solutions for civilian manufacturing applications, including automotive, consumer electronics, healthcare, industrial goods and logistics.
- The two companies plan to jointly develop and deploy vision- and AI-based robotic systems, including solutions that support highly autonomous manufacturing environments, often referred to as “dark factories”.
- The collaboration is aimed at India and Southeast Asia markets and will not extend to defence-related applications.
- BF will contribute its manufacturing and sectoral expertise, while AR will bring its capabilities in AI-enabled robotics and automation.
- Indian Army signed an MoU with Indian Institute of Science (IISc)-Bangalore to develop a fully indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) system for military use.
- The collaboration targets AI-driven real-time data processing, predictive analytics and decision-support tools tailored to modern warfare requirements.
- IISc-Bangalore will contribute expertise in AI, machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing and autonomous systems.
- The project aligns with Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 and the national Atmanirbhar Bharat push for self-reliant defence R&D.
- Industry partners such as Tata Advanced Systems, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and iDEX scheme startups are expected to support hardware and software integration.
- The initiative aims to reduce dependence on foreign vendors and strengthen India’s position against adversaries’ AI-integrated warfare systems.
- Funding may draw from the Army’s Technology Development Fund and the newly announced INR 1 lakh crore Defence R&D corpus.
- Ethical safeguards include robust data governance, bias mitigation and cybersecurity protocols to protect sensitive military datasets.
- Successful prototypes could undergo trials at the Army’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) before induction within 3-5 years.
- The partnership may extend AI interoperability to the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, embedding AI as a tri-service force multiplier.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) launches Pragya-AIX unifying 26+ AI apps to boost oil and gas output
[Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)]
Key Updates:
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has gone live with Pragya-AIX, its Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Exchange.
- Pragya-AIX integrates over 26 intelligent applications into a single unified digital platform.
- The platform centralises AI solutions for seismic analytics, production optimisation, and smart field monitoring.
- Pragya-AIX aims to transform data into strategic decisions, improving safety, cost efficiency, and process optimisation across the hydrocarbon value chain.
- The deployment positions ONGC to support India’s energy security and self-reliance goals through scaled AI-driven upstream operations.
Similar Coverage
- Indian Army signed an MoU with Indian Institute of Science (IISc)-Bangalore to develop a fully indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) system for military use.
- The collaboration targets AI-driven real-time data processing, predictive analytics and decision-support tools tailored to modern warfare requirements.
- IISc-Bangalore will contribute expertise in AI, machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing and autonomous systems.
- The project aligns with Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 and the national Atmanirbhar Bharat push for self-reliant defence R&D.
- Industry partners such as Tata Advanced Systems, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and iDEX scheme startups are expected to support hardware and software integration.
- The initiative aims to reduce dependence on foreign vendors and strengthen India’s position against adversaries’ AI-integrated warfare systems.
- Funding may draw from the Army’s Technology Development Fund and the newly announced INR 1 lakh crore Defence R&D corpus.
- Ethical safeguards include robust data governance, bias mitigation and cybersecurity protocols to protect sensitive military datasets.
- Successful prototypes could undergo trials at the Army’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) before induction within 3-5 years.
- The partnership may extend AI interoperability to the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, embedding AI as a tri-service force multiplier.
- 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.
- OpenAI has come to terms on a massive 7-year, $38 billion deal with Amazon Web Services.
- The deal is to secure cloud computing capabilities needed to power its suite of advanced AI tools such as ChatGPT and Sora.
- OpenAI will gain access to hundreds of thousands of Nvidia chips housed in Amazon’s global data centers.
- Full capacity from the agreement is slated to come online by the end of 2026, with expansion continuing through 2027 and beyond.
- OpenAI will use Amazon’s UltraServer clusters — racks of Nvidia GB200 and GB300 processors — to train and run its models, process ChatGPT queries, and expand its “agentic AI” systems.
- The partnership marks the first time OpenAI has turned to Amazon for infrastructure, breaking years of exclusive reliance on Microsoft’s Azure cloud.
- OpenAI restructured its ownership to gain more freedom in financing and operations, which removed Microsoft’s right of first refusal to supply cloud services.
- OpenAI has now committed nearly $600 billion in new cloud contracts across Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle, and Google to solve “severe computing shortages”.
- The platform, MStarTM Global AI Connect, will form a national digital backbone linking schools with mentors, incubators, research institutions, accelerators and industry.
- It will support virtual Atal Tinkering Labs and virtual incubation centres linked to physical facilities.
- The collaboration will provide workflows for ideation-to-pilot projects, readiness-level tracking and challenge grants.
- Analytics generated by the platform will aid policy decisions at the Centre and State levels.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Reschedules Artemis II Moon Mission Launch
[National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)]
Key Updates:
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) delayed the Artemis II moon mission launch to no earlier than 8 February 2026, following a delay in the fueling test due to a cold snap in Florida.
- The mission will utilise the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to transport a four-member crew on a nine-day flight around the moon and back.
- The Artemis II crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
- NASA is preparing the Crew 12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to replace the Crew 11 team that returned on 15 January.
- The Crew 12 mission includes Commander Jessica Meir, pilot Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and cosmonaut Andrey Fedaev.
- During the wet dress rehearsal at Launch Complex 39B of the Kennedy Space Center, the SLS rocket will be loaded with over 750,000 gallons of supercold hydrogen and liquid oxygen (LOX).
- The Artemis II flight represents the first crewed lunar mission in 54 years and serves as a precursor to a planned landing near the moon south pole in 2028.
- Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson confirmed that the Artemis II vehicle incorporates upgrades based on data learned from the unpiloted Artemis I test flight in 2022.
Similar Coverage
- The Artemis 2 crewed mission is scheduled to launch on February 5, 2026, carrying Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a historic lunar flyby.
- The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which produces 8.8 million pounds of thrust, will launch the mission from the Kennedy Space Center.
- The Orion spacecraft will carry the crew on a 10-day mission following a free-return lunar trajectory that passes 5,000+ nautical miles beyond the lunar far side.
- The crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
- Mission objectives include the validation of Orion life support systems and the execution of biomedical research investigating radiation exposure and immune system function.
- The Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) will execute translunar injection maneuvers to propel the spacecraft toward the lunar vicinity.
- 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.
- The PSLV-C62 mission lifted off at 10:18:30 IST from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- ISRO acknowledged 'a deviation of sort in the flight path' after the end of the third stage and is analysing the data.
- The 44.4-metre-tall four-stage PSLV-C62 carried the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites.
- The rocket was to inject payloads into a Sun Synchronous Orbit at an altitude of around 511 km.
- The fourth stage (PS4) was planned to restart for a controlled de-boost manoeuvre to re-enter and splash down the Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator (KID) capsule in the South Pacific Ocean.
- EOS-N1 is an Earth observation satellite for environmental monitoring, resource mapping, and disaster management support.
- KID, developed by a Spanish startup, is a small-scale re-entry vehicle prototype for technology demonstration.
- The mission is the 64th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the ninth dedicated commercial mission executed by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
- The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year.
- The solstice will fall on Sunday, Dec. 21.
- The winter solstice marks the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) to develop space-based AI data centres
[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), China]
Key Updates:
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced plans to construct gigawatt-class space digital-intelligence infrastructure over the next five years.
- The project aims to create an industrial-scale Space Cloud by 2030 by integrating space-based solar power with artificial intelligence (AI) computing.
- The initiative is identified as a core pillar of China's 15th Five Year Plan, which serves as the national economic development roadmap.
- The space data centres will integrate cloud, edge, and terminal device capabilities to enable data from Earth to be processed directly in orbit.
- SpaceX plans to launch solar-powered AI data centre satellites within the next two to three years, utilizing orbital solar panels that produce five times more power than terrestrial ones.
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) aims to commence flight operations for suborbital space tourism and develop orbital space tourism within five years.
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) inaugurated the School of Interstellar Navigation to focus on frontier fields including interstellar propulsion and deep space navigation.
- China achieved a record 93 space launches last year as part of its strategic goal to become a world-leading space power by 2045.
- India link not mentioned in the article.
Similar Coverage
- Jio will launch a people-first artificial intelligence platform built in India, for India, and the world.
- In Jamnagar, we are building India's largest artificial intelligence-ready data centre with a single goal -- affordable AI for every Indian.
- At Jamnagar, we are building the world's largest integrated clean energy ecosystem, spanning solar, battery energy storage, green hydrogen, green fertilizer, sustainable aviation fuel, and maritime fuels, and advanced materials.
- Our multi-gigawatt utility scale solar project, among the world's largest, will deliver round-the-clock clean power through advanced storage and modern grid integration.
- Jamnagar, once the largest hydrocarbon energy exporter, will in the coming years become India's largest exporter of green energy and material, from Gujarat.
- The Sharadchandra Pawar Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence has been established under Vidya Pratishthan, Baramati, Maharashtra with funding from Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani.
- An MoU has been formally signed between Adani Group and Vidya Pratishthan to enhance AI collaboration.
- This partnership is a commitment to build applied technological capability, where AI research, engineering, and execution move together in an integrated fashion.
- Indian Army signed an MoU with Indian Institute of Science (IISc)-Bangalore to develop a fully indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) system for military use.
- The collaboration targets AI-driven real-time data processing, predictive analytics and decision-support tools tailored to modern warfare requirements.
- IISc-Bangalore will contribute expertise in AI, machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing and autonomous systems.
- The project aligns with Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 and the national Atmanirbhar Bharat push for self-reliant defence R&D.
- Industry partners such as Tata Advanced Systems, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and iDEX scheme startups are expected to support hardware and software integration.
- The initiative aims to reduce dependence on foreign vendors and strengthen India’s position against adversaries’ AI-integrated warfare systems.
- Funding may draw from the Army’s Technology Development Fund and the newly announced INR 1 lakh crore Defence R&D corpus.
- Ethical safeguards include robust data governance, bias mitigation and cybersecurity protocols to protect sensitive military datasets.
- Successful prototypes could undergo trials at the Army’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) before induction within 3-5 years.
- The partnership may extend AI interoperability to the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, embedding AI as a tri-service force multiplier.
- Google is reportedly planning a major AI data centre on Australia's Christmas Island.
- The plan is linked to a cloud computing agreement signed with the Australian Department of Defence.
- Military experts view the facility as a crucial strategic asset for monitoring Indian Ocean activity and enabling advanced AI-driven command and control, especially with uncrewed systems.
- Google applied for Australian environmental approvals to build the first subsea cable connecting Christmas Island to the northern Australian city of Darwin.
- The data centre is partly to allow AI-enabled command and control, particularly when relying on uncrewed systems for surveillance missions and targeting missions.
- The cable link for Google will be installed by US company SubCom, which also previously connected the U.S./UK military base of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day observed on 30 January
[World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day]
Key Updates:
- World Health Organisation (WHO) designated 30 January as World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day at the 74th World Health Assembly on 31 May 2021.
- The date commemorates the adoption of the London Declaration on NTDs on 30 January 2012.
- WHO’s 2030 targets include 90% reduction in people needing treatment for NTDs and 75% reduction in years of life lost due to NTDs.
- By 1 January 2026, 58 countries had eradicated at least one NTD.
- Global financial aid for NTDs fell by 41% between 2018 and 2023.
- USAID’s dismantling and the United States withdrawal from WHO have suspended 47 treatment campaigns affecting 143 million people worldwide.
- ANRS MIE, responsible for monitoring emerging infectious diseases, prioritises dengue and chikungunya under its Emergence epidemic response system.
- ANRS MIE funds projects including LSDengue, ARBOGEN, DENGAGE, DENGAFRICA, and LEISHNEW targeting dengue, chikungunya, and leishmaniasis.
- ANRS MIE co-directs Global Health EDCTP3 and serves as one of nine international coordination centres for the STRIVE network linking over 300 clinical trials in 40 countries.
Similar Coverage
- World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week (WAAW) is observed from 18 – 24 November. (Proof: "This week (18 – 24 November) marks World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week (WAAW)")
- It is a WHO-led initiative. (Proof: "a WHO-led initiative")
- The initiative aims to improve understanding of antimicrobial resistance and promote best practices that help prevent the further emergence and spread of resistant infections. (Proof: "to improve understanding of antimicrobial resistance and promote best practices that help prevent the further emergence and spread of resistant infections.")
- The WHO theme for 2025 is “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.” (Proof: "The WHO theme for 2025 is “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,”")
- The theme emphasizes the urgent need for coordinated, cross-sector action as AMR continues to impact health systems, food production, the environment, and global economies. (Proof: "emphasising the urgent need for coordinated, cross-sector action as AMR continues to impact health systems, food production, the environment, and global economies.")
- The WHO calls on governments, healthcare professionals, civil society, veterinarians, farmers, environmental sectors and the public to turn commitments into concrete, measurable action. (Proof: "The WHO calls on governments, healthcare professionals, civil society, veterinarians, farmers, environmental sectors and the public to turn commitments into concrete, measurable action.")
- Theme 2025: “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,”
- World AIDS Day is the first global day dedicated to a health issue.
- World AIDS Day was created by the World Health Organization in 1988.
- The U.S. has marked World AIDS Day since 1988.
- President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was launched in 2003.
- International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is observed annually on December 27.
- The United Nations General Assembly officially designated this day in December 2020 through Resolution 75/27.
- The initiative was spearheaded by Vietnam and supported by several other nations.
- The first observance took place on December 27, 2020.
- Tuberculosis, or TB, remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, claiming over 1.2 million lives and affecting an estimated 10.7 million people last year.
- Cases are on a downward trajectory for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.
- Global funding for TB has stagnated since 2020, with just $5.9 billion available in 2024 – far below the $22 billion annual target for 2027.
- Between 2023 and 2024, the global rate of people falling ill with TB declined by nearly two per cent, while deaths fell by three per cent.
- As of last year, over half of the population worldwide is covered by rapid testing, 54 per cent up from 48 per cent in 2023.
- Additionally, treatment saw a success rate of 88 per cent, according to the report.
- Between 2015 and 2024, the WHO African Region managed to reduce the indecent rate by 28 per cent and deaths from the illness went down by 46 per cent.