The world famous Shri Jagannath Temple, located in Odisha’s Puri has been envisioned to undergo full proof security, better facilitation of the devotees, and crowd management measures.

The chief administrator of the temple Ranjan Das said that the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved the Special Security Battalion for Sri Jagannath Temple.

The temple has served as a centre of faith for Hindus drawing thousands of devotees every day.

In the post Covid period, the daily footfall of devotees was estimated to be about fifty thousand, whereas it doubled and tripled during the weekends and on important religious occasions.

Good Governance Day will be celebrated today on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The day is celebrated on the 25th of December every year to foster awareness among the people of the country about accountability in Governance and Government.

World record holder, world champion and 2020 Paralympic Games gold medalist Javelin thrower in the F64 category Sumit Antil, and recent Arjuna Awardee and double Asian Para Games gold medallist archer Sheetal Devi, won the coveted Best Male and Best Female athlete crowns at an award show held in Delhi on Saturday afternoon.

Sumit, who threw the Javelin 73.29 meters in the recent Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China for his world record mark and Sheetal Devi, who won two golds and a silver at the same Games in Compound Archery, were among 250 nominations received from as many as 20 federations in 23 award categories at the first-ever Radiant Differently Abled Sports Awards.

India's most valuable company, and Walt Disney signed a non-binding term sheet to merge their Indian media operations, the Economic Times reported on December 25, citing sources it did not name.

Under the merger Reliance would own 51 percent through a combination of shares and cash, with Disney holding the remaining 49 percent, giving more control to Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance group, the newspaper said.

The deal is likely to be completed by February, with Reliance aiming to finish the process by the end of January, subject to regulatory approvals, it said.

Christmas is being celebrated across the globe today. Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. On the occasion, people decorate their houses by putting on a Christmas tree, illuminated paper stars, and Holly wreaths and exchange gifts.

In Himachal Pradesh, a large number of tourists have arrived in Shimla and other destinations to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

It has been a productive three months for Chirag Sen of Indian Railways, beating higher-ranked players in International tournaments, starting with the Infosys International Challenge in Bengaluru where he reached the semifinals.

It was fitting that he ended the season on a high, winning the men’s singles title of the 85th Senior National badminton championships here on Sunday, with a 21-14, 13-21, 21-9 victory over Telangana’s M. Tharun, the fourth seed, in the men’s singles final.

Anmol Kharb of Haryana couldn’t have had it any easier. A thigh strain to her opponent and good friend Tanvi Sharma of Punjab midway in the match enabled the former to script a 15-21, 21-17, 16-8 (retd.) win in the women’s singles summit clash. Tanvi retired in the third game with Anmol leading 16-8.

In Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the 20th 'Neuro Update 2023' conference in Ahmedabad yesterday.

While speaking on the occasion of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit and Neurology Conference, the Chief Minister stated that the then Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi had started the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 20 years ago aiming for overall development in Gujarat. The advantages of this global summit are evident today across various sectors, encompassing health, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

This conference will feature discussions and speeches by renowned doctors in the field of neurology on the subject of the 'Pragmatic Approach in Neurology.'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the first series of eleven volumes of Collected Works of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in New Delhi today. The programme will be organised on the occasion of the 162nd birth anniversary of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. In Amrit Kaal, it has been the Prime Minister’s vision to bestow fitting recognition to freedom fighters who have contributed immensely to the service of the Nation. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah today paid tributes to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya on his birth anniversary. In a social media post, Mr. Modi said that the great man Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya ji, dedicated his life to India and Indianness. He added that his incomparable personality and work will continue to inspire every generation of the country.

In a social media post, the Home Minister said that Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya is an excellent example of how a person can dedicate his life for the better future of the nation, culture, and youth. Mr. Shah added that Malviya ji believed that building a strong nation was possible only by inculcating the values of nationalism among the youth. He further added that his contribution to the country's independence and strong education system has given him the title of 'Mahamana'.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the charismatic poet-politician who served as India’s 10th Prime Minister for three non-consecutive terms, remains a towering figure in the nation’s history.

Vajpayee passed away at the age of 93 on August 16, 2018. His health had been a growing concern after a stroke in 2009 impaired his speech and led to his reliance on a wheelchair. His condition worsened as reports indicated he struggled with recognizing people, battled dementia, and grappled with long-term diabetes. For several years, he withdrew from public life, rarely venturing out except for medical checkups at AIIMS. On June 11, 2018, he was hospitalized at AIIMS due to a severe kidney infection shortly after which he passed away. His demise marked the end of an era for Indian politics, leaving behind a legacy of statesmanship and leadership.