Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has inaugurated the Incubation Centre at the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) in New Delhi. The  Centre will provide multi-pronged support to StartUps. Dr Singh noted that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of 'StartUp India, NRDC had reoriented itself to become the only National level PSU, which is providing its services for taking the lab scale technologies developed by Public Funded Research Institutes to industry.

Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya today, December 31, said that the number of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras has crossed 9,000 (Nine thousand) in the country.

In a tweet, the Minister said, these centers were started with the goal of providing cheap and good medicine to the people. He added that today, these centers are proving benefits to lakhs of people in every district of the country.

Jan Aushadhi Scheme’ was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, in November 2008. To give further impetus to the scheme, it was again renamed as ‘Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana’ (PMBJP) in 2016.

Anil Kumar Lahoti has taken over the charge of new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Railway Board. The appointments committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Anil Kumar Lahoti. Prior to this, Mr. Lahoti has worked as Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board. During his more than 36 years of career in railways, he has worked in various capacities over Central, Northern, North Central, Western and West Central Railways and in Railway Board.

Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh has stressed on research related to science and technology reaching the local level to make the country a global hub of research and innovation during this Amrit Kaal. Briefing the media today in New Delhi Dr. Singh said that 2023 Science Vision will define India in 2047. The Minister also encouraged the citizens to think out-of-the box and said the future belongs to those with innovative ideas. He also discussed several outlines set by various science and technology departments for this year and said Indian Space Research Organisation is focusing on “Gaganyan'' program which will land an Indian on the surface of the Moon.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur expressed happiness that Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava is being marked by Serbia through a specially designed postal stamp. In a tweet, Mr. Thakur called it a reflection of the global recognition and expanding Indian soft power.

Indian Air Force today successfully fired the Extended Range Version of Brahmos Air Launched missile against a Ship Target from a SU-30MKI aircraft. The missile achieved the desired mission objectives in the Bay of Bengal region. Our correspondent reports that with this, IAF has achieved a significant capability boost to carry out precision strikes from SU-30MKI aircraft against land and sea targets over very long ranges.

The extended range capability of the missile coupled with the high performance of the SU-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF a strategic reach and allows it to dominate future battlefields.  The dedicated and synergetic efforts of the IAF, Indian Navy, DRDO, BAPL and HAL have been instrumental in achieving this feat. 

Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the security of the border can be ensured only when the border villages are populated. He said, along with the deployment of Jawans on the borders, only the patriotic citizens living in the village can provide permanent security. Mr Shah said this while launching the Mobile App ‘Prahari’ and Manual of Border Security Force in New Delhi today.

He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently started the Vibrant Village programme. He urged all the Border Security Forces that through the Vibrant Village program, they should make efforts towards increasing tourism in the village, making the village self-sufficient with complete facilities. The Minister said that the security of the borders of the country cannot be ensured by pillars or fencing, but by the bravery, patriotism and alertness of the soldiers standing on that border.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Goa's new Zuari bridge yesterday. The bridge is an important link between North and South Goa.

This 13.20-kilometer eight-lane bridge costing 2530 Crores across Zuari river from Bambolim to Verna will have significant benefits for transport from North Goa to South Goa. It will reduce travel time between North Goa to South Goa by 30 minutes by strengthening connectivity for Mormugao Port Trust.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu for forming the government in Israel. In his message, Mr Modi said he is looking forward to working together with the Israeli Prime Minister to strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Israel. 

India and Cyprus have signed a number of agreements in various areas including on Defence and Military Cooperation between the two countries.

A Letter of Intent on Migration and Mobility Partnership was also signed to provide a common framework of arrangement and cooperation to facilitate the mobility of students, academics, business people and professionals. It will also help in combating irregular migration.

The agreements were signed following talks between External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of Cyprus. Dr Jaishankar is on an official visit to Cyprus and Austria from today till 3rd of next month.