Nikita Malhotra, a Squadron Leader of the Indian Air Force (IAF), was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for Gallantry on the 75th Republic Day.

She was also part of the Tangail formation of fighters during the flypast over the Kartavya Path on Friday.

She was piloting a Dornier aircraft of the formation which included one Dakota aircraft and two Dorniers.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya virtually inaugurated a Super Specialty Block at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, an official statement said.

He also laid the foundation stone for an All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) Satellite Centre in Kanpur.

Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh; SP Singh Baghel and Bharati Pravin Pawar, Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare, Union Health Ministry; Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Health, Health Education, Family Welfare and Mother and Child Care, Uttar Pradesh; Devendra Singh Bhole, Member of Parliament from Akbarpur, Kanpur and Neelima Katiyar, Member of Legislative Assembly from Kalyanpur, Kanpur were also present on the occasion.

Sri Lankan Parliament on Wednesday approved with amendments the controversial Online Safety Bill that seeks to regulate online content amid criticism from the opposition that claimed it will stifle freedom of speech.

As many as 108 parliamentarians voted for it while 62 voted against the bill that was passed after a two-day debate.

The new legislation would lead to the establishment of the Online Safety Commission which is empowered to make punitive rulings on offenses.

The Odisha Government on January 24 announced to establish a melanistic tiger safari — a first of its kind in the world.

The safari will be established near Baripada, district headquarter town of Mayurbhanj. An area of 200 hectares adjoining National Highway-18 has been identified for the purpose. About 100 ha will be the display area and the balance area shall be utilised for creation of veterinary care facilities, including rescue centre, staff infrastructure and visitor amenities.

“Glad to announce that Odisha is setting up an exclusive melanistic tiger safari near Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj. Tourists and visitors can now have a glimpse of the rare and majestic species found only in Odisha,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced on social platform site ‘X’.

The launch of ‘Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge, LSAM 19 (Yard 129)’, 5th Barge of 11 x ACTCM Barge Project, built by MSME Shipyard, M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane for Indian Navy, was undertaken on 24 Jan 24 at M/s Suryadipta Project Pvt Ltd (Launch site of M/s SPPL). The launching Ceremony was presided over by Cmde V Pravin, AWPS(Mbi).

The contract for building 11 X ACTCM Barge was signed between MoD and M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane on 05 Mar 21. The availability of these Barges would provide impetus to operational commitments of IN by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles/ ammunition to IN Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.

These Barges are indigenously designed and built under relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping. The model testing of the Barge during design stage was undertaken at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam. These Barges are proud flag bearers of Make in India initiative of Government of India (GoI).

The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited today for the acquisition of 14 Fast Patrol Vessels for the Indian Coast Guard. The value of the contract is over one thousand crore rupees. These multi-role Fast Patrol Vessels will be indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and will be delivered in a total of 63 months.

According to the Defence Ministry, these FPVs will be equipped with multipurpose drones, wirelessly controlled remote water rescue craft lifebuoy and Artificial Intelligence capability enabling greater flexibility and operational edge. These modern Fast Patrol Vessels will play a critical role in enhancing fisheries protection and monitoring, control and surveillance, anti-smuggling operations, and search and rescue operations.

Secretary, DARE, and DG, ICAR, Dr. Himanshu Pathak inaugurated the 3-Day Kisan Mela, Herbal Expo, and Farmers Training at ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (ICAR-DMAPR), Anand, Gujarat.

Dr. Pathak highlighted the pivotal role of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in doubling farmers’ income, emphasizing the industry’s rapid growth.

Over 2000 farmers, including 500 school children, participated, exploring 30 exhibition stalls. The event featured MoUs, training programs, and an exposure visit showcasing live MAP cultivation. Dignitaries urged continued collaboration for the sector’s prosperity.

The government on Wednesday approved a proposal to sign a protocol for setting up a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) between India and Caribbean nation Dominican Republic.

A decision in this regard was taken in a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

The joint committee, an official statement said, will provide a platform for the exchange of information between various authorities and their counterparts.

"This would help in facilitating trade of goods and services and consequentially help in better employment opportunities for professionals in both the countries," it said.

The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India and the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology of Oman.

According to a Cabinet press release, the MoU, inked on December 15 last year, aims to foster collaboration and cooperation in the field of Information Technology (IT).

The comprehensive cooperation outlined in the MoU covers a spectrum of activities, including mutual support, sharing of technologies, information exchange, and investments in the IT sector.

The CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre (CSIR-HRDC), Ghaziabad (UP) signed a collaborative Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI), Capital Goods & Strategic Skill Council (CGSSC), Hydrocarbon Sector Skill Council (HSSC) and Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council (LSSSDC). The MoU envisages to create an enabling environment for CSIR and Indian industry.

CSIR launched a national-level unique Program “CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative” in 2016 to equip young minds with the necessary technological skills through exposure to CSIR laboratories and address the critical needs for the technical gap created by the enormous usage of advanced technology.

Beneficiaries from this initiative includes school dropouts, farmers, ITI diploma holders, graduates and doctorates. CSIR has so far trained over 1.50 lakh individuals, under this Initiative, through 4500+ skill-based trainings, including special programs for rural citizens and women. Under this programme, Biological, Chemical, Engineering, Information and Physical Sciences of broad scientific clusters of CSIR are covered.