A day after a made-in-India howitzer gun, the ATAGS, was used for the first time in the ceremonial 21-gun salute during the Independence Day celebrations, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday handed over several new defence systems, including the F-INSAS, the Nipun mines, the Landing Craft Assault (LCA), to the Army.

India is celebrating its 76th Independence Day today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in celebrating the Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort by hoisting the National Flag. The Tricolour received a ‘Rashtriya Salute’. The hoisting of the National Flag was synchronised with the 21 Gun Salute fired by the valiant gunners of the elite 8711 Field Battery (Ceremonial).

The Prime Minister exuded pride that after 75 years, people heard the proud sound of a Made-in-India weapon in the Independence Day gun salute. In his ceremonial address, the Prime Minister said that this Day is being celebrated not just in India, but in every corner of the world the Tiranga is flying with pride and honour.

More than five crore tiranga selfies have been uploaded on the Har Ghar Tiranga website. The Union government had recently announced the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign and asked people to exhibit the Tiranga at their homes to mark the country’s 75th independence day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a call on 22nd of last month to join the Har Ghar Tiranga movement by hoisting or displaying the national flag at homes.

Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said that five crores Tiranga selfies reflect the collective commitment of duty-bound Indians to keep the Nation first and always first. He said, this is indeed a special moment of outpouring of the collective expressions of love and connection for the motherland.

Space Kidz India unfurled the Indian flag about 30 kilometres above the planet on Independence Day yesterday. The flag was sent to an altitude of 1 lakh 6 thousand feet above the planet on a balloon that unfurled it. The event was part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav slogan and under the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate the historic anniversary.

Space Kidz India is an organization creating 'young scientists for the country and spreading awareness among children for a borderless world.' The organization recently launched a satellite into Low Earth Orbit. AzadiSAT was developed by 750 girl students from across India to mark the 75 years of Independence.

The nation is remembering Bharat Ratna, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his fourth death anniversary today. He passed away on this day in 2018. Born on 25th December 1924 in Gwalior, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's contribution towards public life and India’s development will always be cherished.

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, former President Ram Nath Kovind, BJP President J P Nadda and other senior leaders visited Atal Bihari Vajpayee's memorial, Sadaiv Atal in the national capital this morning and paid their floral tributes.

Today is Navroz or the Parsi New Year. It is the most widely celebrated festival of the Parsi community. This is  seen as a harbinger of peace and prosperity. In Mumbai and its suburbs, which host a considerable population of Parsi community, the festival is celebrated with grand lunch and dinner with the best and finest variety of Parsi cuisine.

Parisis see this festival as the great occasion to get together, eat and mingle. On this day, the Parsis visit the Agyaris or the fire temples to offer prayers. They feed the poor on this day, as the new year has to start on a good note. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar have greeted the people on the occasion.

Ministry of Railways has said that a fictitious message is being circulated in media regarding recruitment for nine thousand posts for Constable in Railway Protection Force, RPF. It said, no such notification has been issued by RPF or the Ministry of Railways on their official websites or through any print or electronic media.

The Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation for 2022 has been awarded to 151 Police personnel. This medal was constituted in 2018, with the objective to promote high professional standards of investigation of crime and to recognize such Excellence in Investigation.

Among the personnel receiving these awards, 15 are from CBI, 11 are from Maharashtra Police, 10 each are from Madhya Pradesh police and Uttar Pradesh Police, and 8 each are from Kerala Police, Rajasthan Police, and West Bengal Police, and the remaining from the other States, UTs, Organizations. These include twenty-eight women police officers.

Today is World Elephant Day. The day was launched to bring attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants. The elephant is loved, revered and respected by people and cultures around the world, yet we balance on the brink of seeing the last of this magnificent creature.

The escalation of poaching, habitat loss, human-elephant conflict and mistreatment in captivity are just some of the threats to both African and Asian elephants. Working towards better protection for wild elephants, improving enforcement policies to prevent the illegal poaching and trade of ivory, conserving elephant habitats, better treatment for captive elephants and, when appropriate, reintroducing captive elephants into natural, protected sanctuaries are the goals that numerous elephant conservation organizations are focusing on around the world.

Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar today launched the 'SMILE: Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise' initiative in New Delhi. The Initiative aims to make cities, towns and municipal areas begging-free and make a strategy for comprehensive rehabilitation of the persons engaged in the act of begging through the coordinated action of various stakeholders.

The Ministry has allocated a total budget of a hundred crore rupees for the project till 2025-26. Through the project, the Ministry envisions developing a support mechanism for holistic rehabilitation of those engaged in the act of begging and building an India where no person is forced to beg in order to survive and fulfill their basic needs.