Communications and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw have expressed confidence that 80 percent of the country would be covered by 5G services within a span of 24 to 36 months. He said, 5G services will be rolled out by the state-owned telecom operator BSNL by next year.

In an exclusive interview with AIR News, Mr. Vaishnaw said, 5G services have already been started in 50 cities across the country, and every week almost five thousand new sites are being added. He said, 5G services will make a huge difference in the field of education, healthcare, agriculture, and logistics.

Data is today the world’s most valuable resource and is essential for nuanced and effective policymaking. Stating this, Amitabh Kant, India's G-20 Sherpa and former CEO of Niti Aayog, said India in its G20 presidency,  will call for modernisation of data systems and advance principles of transparency to better use of data for development. In an article in a newspaper, he said as India step into techade, data must be accessible to all and we must adopt a multisectoral approach to collecting, integrating and interpreting data.
 
Amitabh Kant said that in the dense forests of Maharashtra, a novel data collection tool is changing the lives of children with malnutrition. However, he said, in the last few years, the Integrated Child Development Services have been able to contain and bring down malnutrition rates with the help of the Poshan Tracker application.

Srinagar, 26 December 2022. The first ever batch of ‘AGNIVEERS’ selected under the Government of India sponsored AGNIPATH scheme from UT of J&K joined Indian Army for training as AGNIVEER General Duty, AGNIVEER Technical, AGNIVEER Clerk/ Storekeeper Technical and AGNIVEER Tradesmen.

Approximately 200 candidates selected after rigorous tests including physical tests, medical tests, written examination and document verification, were despatched from Army Recruiting Office, Srinagar to about 30 training centres of various Regiments of the Indian Army on 24 December 2022.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), a British consultancy, has said India's will become third largest economy by 2035 from the current fifth spot. In its annual World Economic League Table, the Centre for Economics and Business Research said that over the next five years, India's annual rate of GDP growth is expected to average 6.4 percent after which growth is expected to average 6.5 percent in the subsequent nine years.

CEBR also adds that by 2037, world gross domestic product will be doubled as developing economies will catch up with the richer ones. The shifting balance of power will see the East Asia and Pacific region account for over a third of global output by 2037, while Europe's share shrinks to less than a fifth.

Nepal celebrates 161st Birth Anniversary of Bharat Ratna Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya in Green House in Kathmandu. Vice-President of Nepal Nanda Bahadur Pun Pasang Pandit graced the occasion as chief guest of the program organised by Mahamana Malviya Mission, Nepal. In the program there was talk on shrimad Bhagwad Geeta and Malviya Thought in Today’s Context.

Madan Mohan Malaviya was born on 25th December,1861 in Allahabad. He was a great Indian educationist and freedom fighter, distinguished from others for his significant role in Indian independence and his support of Hindu nationalism. In his later life, he was addressed as a Mahamana for his great works. He became the Indian National Congress President four times. He is remembered in the world as the founder of Asia’s largest residential university at Varanasi, the Banaras Hindu University in 1916. The University has around 12,000 students all across the field such as the arts, sciences, engineering and technology. He was the Vice Chancellor of BHU from 1919 to 1938. He was also the founder of Scouting in India as well as a highly influential English newspaper, “The Leader” which was published from Allahabad in 1909.

Home Minister Amit Shah has said that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's patriotism, dutifulness and dedication will always inspire people to serve the nation.

Mr Shah on Sunday paid tributes to Vajpayee on his Birth Anniversary at the Sadaiv Atal Memorial in New Delhi. He said, the life of Vajpayee is the pinnacle of Indian politics and was dedicated to taking the country back to its ultimate glory. Mr Shah said, he made the world aware of India's potential and instilled a sense of national pride in the public.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on being elected as the Prime Minister of Nepal. 

In a tweet, Mr. Modi said, the unique relationship between India and Nepal is based on deep cultural connect and warm people-to-people ties. Mr. Modi said, he is looking forward to working together with the Nepalese Prime Minister to further strengthen this friendship.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a historic programme marking Veer Bal Diwas at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi today. On the day of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh on 9th January this year, Prime Minister had announced that 26th December will be observed as Veer Bal Diwas to mark the martyrdom of Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s sons Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh. 

During the programme, the Prime Minister will attend a Shabad Kirtan performed by about three hundred Baal Kirtanis. Our Correspondent reports that Mr Modi will also flag off a march-past by about three thousand children in Delhi.

Culture Ministry is organizing an essay writing competition with an aim of introducing children to the historical acts of courage and patriotism of Sahibzaades and inspiring them. It has invited citizens to submit their essay on the topic "Bravery and martyrdom of Guru Gobind ji's sons" in English, Hindi, and Punjabi language within limit of 500 words. The last date of submission of essay is 5th of next month.

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has won Data Security Council of India's (DSCI) Best Security Practices in Government Sector award.

The award was given to UIDAI during DSCI's three-day Annual Information Security Summit (AISS) in New Delhi for its significant role in securing national critical Aadhaar infrastructure that provides digital identity-based welfare services to residents. Speaking at the inaugural session of the summit, UIDAI CEO Dr. Saurabh Garg said that several economies are reaching out to UIDAI for consultation on digital identity programs and the country can play a lead role in guiding them through the Digital Public Goods. He also invited start-ups and tech companies to collaborate and to do research on indigenized digital technology products with UIDAI.