1 India’s first National Highway steel slag road section on NH-66 Mumbai-Goa National Highway inaugurated
Dr. V.K., Member of NITI Aayog , Science and Technology (S&T). Saraswat inaugurated India’s first National Highway steel slag road section on NH – 66 Mumbai – Goa National Highway . Dr. Saraswat said that the steel slag road technology developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) ( CSIR-CRRI) is converting the waste of steel industries into wealth and is being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). NHAI is helping in building strong and environment friendly highways in the country. JSW Steel, under CSIR-CRRI technical guidance, has constructed 1 km long four lane steel slag road section on Indapur-Panvel section of NH-66 Mumbai-Goa. For the construction of this road, approximately 80,000 tonnes of CONARC steel slag was converted into steel slag aggregates processed at JSW Steel Dolvi, Raigarh plant. Processed steel slag aggregates are superior to natural aggregates in various mechanical properties and steel slag is used in place of natural aggregates in all layers of road construction.
2 AI-supported state-of-the-art telemedicine mobile clinic launched in Udhampur for remote hilly areas
Central Science and Technology (Independent Charge); Dr. Jitendra Singh , Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, launched Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled state-of-the-art telemedicine mobile clinic “ Arogya-Doctors on” for the remote hilly areas of Ramnagar in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. Wheels ” introduced. This mobile medical unit has been started under the Prime Minister’s Digital Health Mission . It aims to provide expert medical consultation to people at their doorstep. This ambulance named Doctor on Wheels has been installed with modern technology and system through which people can consult senior doctors across the country. This facility will be of special benefit to the people living in remote areas of Ramnagar tehsil who lack health care facilities.
3 Value Stream 2.0: UGC’s new directive for moral education in India
In a significant step to promote ethical practices in higher education , the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India has introduced Value Stream 2.0 . This new guideline comes as a response to surveys that had highlighted unethical practices such as favoritism, sexual harassment and gender discrimination within various educational organizations.
4 Navy gets first indigenous Starliner drone ‘Drishti 10’
The Indian Navy has recently acquired its first indigenous medium-altitude-long-endurance (MALE) drone , the Drishti 10 Starliner unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) . It marks a significant development in enhancing the Navy’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities . Drishti 10 Starliner Drone is indigenously manufactured. It has been developed indigenously by Adani Defense and Aerospace with the help of Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems . 70 percent of its equipment is made indigenously . Adani Aerospace has handed over this drone to the Navy within 10 months under the agreement. This drone has also received STANAG 4671 certificate . Due to this, it can also operate in the airspace of NATO members . Starliner drone ‘Drishti-10’ will be deployed at Porbandar Naval Base next month. It has been approved to fly in both civil and isolated airspace.
5 INS Cheetah, Guldar and Kumbhir decommissioned after 40 years of distinguished service
Indian Navy warships Cheetah, Guldar and Kumbhir were decommissioned on January 12, 2024, after serving four decades of glorious service to the nation . The decommissioning ceremony of these ships was conducted in a traditional ceremony at Port Blair , in which the National Flag, Naval Ensign and the decommissioning emblem of the three ships were lowered for the last time at sunset. INS Cheetah, Guldar and Kumbhir were built at the Gdynia Shipyard in Poland as Polnokny class ships that could deliver tanks, vehicles, cargo and troops directly to the low-lying coastline without the need to dock. These warships were commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Shri SK Arora (Cheetah and Guldar) and Shri AK Das (Kumbhir), the then Ambassador of India to Poland in 1984, 1985 and 1986 respectively. Commander VB Mishra, Lieutenant Commander SK Singh and Lieutenant Commander J Banerjee were deployed as the commanding officers of the three ships respectively. During its initial years, INS Cheetah was stationed at Kochi and Chennai for some time and INS Kumbhir and Guldar were serving at Visakhapatnam. Later these ships were deployed in Andaman and Nicobar Command, where they served till their decommissioning.
6 Commissioning of 25T Bollard Pull Tug, Bheeshma at M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited, Kolkata
Superintendent of Warship Production (Kolkata) Commodore S. Sreekumar launched 25t bollard pull (BP) tug, Bheeshma on 14 Jan 24 at M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (M/s TRSL), Kolkata . This tug is the proud flag bearer of the ” Make in India ” initiative of the Government of India. Contract concluded with M/s TRSL, Kolkata for construction and delivery of six 25T BP Tugs in line with “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative of Government of India . These tugs are being constructed under the classification rules of the Indian Shipping Register (IRS). The availability of the tug will accelerate IN’s operational commitments by facilitating assistance to naval ships and submarines during berthing and un-berthing, turning and maneuvering in confined waters. The tugs will also provide firefighting support to ships at anchor and will have the capability to conduct limited search and rescue operations.
7 Denmark turned a page in its history and made Crown Prince Frederick the Tenth the King of Denmark.
Denmark turned a page in its history and made Crown Prince Frederick the Tenth the King of Denmark . He succeeds his mother, Queen Margaret II , who formally abdicated the throne after 52 years. Thousands of citizens of the country came to Copenhagen to witness this historic event despite the bitter cold.
8 Rear Admiral Upal Kundu becomes Chief of Staff of Southern Naval Command
Rear Admiral Upal Kundu , a distinguished alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy, has recently taken over as the Chief of Staff at the Southern Naval Command (SNC) . They have special experience and expertise in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW).
9 NPCI launches UPI-PayNow linkage for cross border remittances between India and Singapore
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched the UPI-PayNow linkage , facilitating direct remittances between India and Singapore . The collaboration is a result of close coordination between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) , aimed at enhancing financial inclusion and convenience in cross-border transactions.
10 Platinum Certification to NICMAR Hyderabad under IGBC Green Campus Rating
National Institute of Construction Management and Research (NICMAR) located in Hyderabad has recently been awarded the prestigious Platinum Certification by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) under its Green Campus Rating Programme . This achievement highlights NICMAR Hyderabad’s commitment towards sustainability and environment-friendly practices in its campus operations and infrastructure.
11 Savita Kanswal Posthumous Tenzing Norgay Award
President Draupadi Murmu posthumously presented the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award to brave mountaineer Savita Kanswal of Lothru village in Uttarkashi district . This award given to her father Radheshyam Kanswal is a testimony to Savita’s extraordinary achievements in the field of mountaineering. Savita Kanswal created history by becoming the first Indian woman mountaineer to scale both Mount Everest (8848 m) and Mount Makalu (8485 m) within an astonishing period of 16 days . This remarkable feat demonstrated not only his physical strength but also his unwavering determination to achieve greatness at the young age of 25.
12 Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav released the book titled ‘Modi: Energizing a Green Future’
Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, who heads the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), recently unveiled a practical book titled “ Modi: Energizing a Green Future ”. An important addition to the environmental literature, this book is published by Pentagon Press in collaboration with Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee Research Foundation . The central theme of the book revolves around Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and actions for a sustainable and eco-friendly future.
13 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurates Malkangiri Airport
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday inaugurated the new airport in Malkangiri . Spread over an area of 233 acres, the airport is located at Katlaguda in Goudaguda Panchayat area. It has been developed at a cost of Rs 70 crore and its runway is 1620 meters long and 30 meters wide. He said that in the first phase, nine-seater aircraft are likely to operate from this airport. With this the number of operational airports in the state has increased to seven. The other six are located in Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda, Jeypore in Koraput, Utkela in Kalahandi, Rourkela in Sundergarh and Rangailunda in Ganjam.
14 Asian Winter Games slogans, mascots, emblems unveiled
The 9th Asian Winter Games , set to light up the winter sports landscape in 2025 , has officially entered an exciting phase with the unveiling of its main symbols – slogan, emblem and mascot. The grand spectacle, held in the capital of China’s Heilongjiang province , is a significant achievement as the Games approach. Embracing the spirit of unity and sportsmanship, the official slogan “ Dream of Winter, Love among Asia ” resonates deeply with the ethos of the Games. The heart and soul of the Games are expressed in its mascots, “ Binbin ” and “ Nini ”, two adorable Siberian tiger cubs . Inspired by real tiger cubs born in the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park, these mascots symbolize the vitality and spirit of the Games.
15 Madhya Pradesh became champion in the first Beach Games held in Diu
India’s first multi-sports Beach Games “The Beach Games 2024” was held at the Blue Flag certified Ghoghla Beach in Diu . In these games, landlocked Madhya Pradesh emerged as the champion . Madhya Pradesh topped the medal tally with a total of 18 medals including 7 gold . This achievement not only showcased the sporting ability of the Madhya Pradesh team but also highlighted the depth of talent developing within the state. Maharashtra won 14 medals, including 3 gold , while Tamil Nadu , Uttarakhand and hosts Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Diu and Daman won 12 medals each. Assam won 8 medals, of which 5 were gold medals.
16 India’s Yogesh Singh won the gold medal in the men’s standard pistol event at the Asian Championships 2024 in Indonesia.
India’s Yogesh Singh has won the gold medal in the men ‘s standard pistol event at the Asian Shooting Championship 2024 in Jakarta , Indonesia . With the same score, Mongolia ‘s target eagle Davakhu Enkhtaivan won the silver medal. The Indian shooters scored seventeen as compared to the Indian shooters’ seven scores. Nikita Chiryukin of Kazakhstan won the bronze medal with 568 points. Nikita won the gold medal in the men’s rapid fire pistol event by defeating Indian shooter Vijayveer Sidhu.
17 Famous poet Munawwar Rana passes away
Famous poet Munawwar Rana passed away in Lucknow . He was 71 years old and was admitted in SGPGI for a long time. He was ill for a long time. Munawwar Rana, born on 26 November 1952 in Rae Bareli , is a big name in Urdu literature . He has also been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 . However, he returned the award after about a year citing rising social intolerance. His other achievements include Amir Khusro Award, Mir Taqi Mir Award, Ghalib Award, Dr. Zakir Hussain Award and Saraswati Samaj Award. His works have been translated into many languages.
