The Women Science Congress was inaugurated at the ongoing Indian Science Congress in Bengaluru today. DRDO Aeronautical Systems Director General Dr.Tessy Thomas who is known as Missile Woman of India graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Recalling the contribution of women in different spheres, she said, the status of women in the country is changing as their growing presence is seen in many areas of expertise. 

Speaking about the contribution of Science and Technology, Dr. Thomas said, they are an essential tool for the rapid development and effective means to growth and socio-economic development of the country. She said that technology development has a profound and long term impact on the economic growth and security of the country. 

Young Indian paddler Manav Thakkar today became world no.1 in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings in the Under-21 men's singles category. With this, Thakkar became the fourth Indian to achieve the feat after Harmeet Desai, G Sathiyan and Soumyajit Ghosh. 

Among other Indians, G. Sathiyan has managed to retain his 30th spot in the senior category. Achanta Sharath Kamal has climbed a spot to 33rd position. Top woman paddler, Manika Batra was static at the 61st position.

The 19-year-old  Manav Thakkar achieved the top spot after clinching the Under-21 men's singles title at the ITTF Challenge Plus Benemax-Virgo North American Open in Markham, Canada in December last year. Thakkar was also world no. 1 in the Under-18 category in February 2018. He was part of the Indian men's team which won a bronze medal in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

The world Braille Day is being celebrated today. The day is marked remembering the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, the inventor of Braille - for people with visual disabilities. Louis Braille was born on 4th January 1809 in the town of Coupvray in northern France. 

At the age of just 3, he lost both his eyes in an accident. This resulted in the invention of the language of 6 dots- which is popularly known as braille.

As a part of World Braille Day Celebration, Regional News Unit of All India Radio Ahmedabad has organized the special live Braille News reading by a visually impaired person. Shri Yahaya Sapatvala - a visually impaired teacher will read the 7.10 PM evening regional news bulletin of All India Radio Ahmedabad through Braille Script.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today unveils the second tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the world at Ahmedabad this morning.

50 feet tall bronze statue with the weight of 70 thousand kilograms has been unveiled at the Sardardham campus near Vaishnodevi circle in Ahmedabad. It has become the second highest statue of India’s first home home minister after the Statue of Unity of the legendary leader situated at Kevadiya in Narmada district of Central Gujarat.

AIR Ahmedabad correspondent reports that the 50 feet tall statue of Sardar Patel has also been designed by Padma Bhusan Ram V. Sutar, the same sculptor who had designed the Statue of Unity. After unveiling the statue Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that it was a matter of pride for Gujarat that both the highest and second highest statue of Sardar Patel, the architect of united India are situated in his home state.

Human Resources Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal will inaugurate the 28th edition of annual New Delhi World Book Fair on Saturday at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

The book fair organised by National Book Trust (NBT) will be held from January 4 to 12 in the national capital.

Eminent Gandhian scholar Girishwar Mishra  will be the chief guest on the occasion.

As part of Mahatma Gandhiji's 150 birth anniversary celebrations, the theme of this year is Gandhi:The Writers' Writer said Professor Govind Prasad Sharma, Chairman , NBT.

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been appointed the new chancellor of Queen's University in Belfast, Ireland. Clinton, who has been a regular visitor to Northern Ireland going back to the first visit of President Bill Clinton in 1995, becomes the university's first female chancellor.

She will serve as chancellor for a five-year term, The Irish Times reported after quoting a statement issued by the varsity today. The position of chancellor has been vacant since the death in 2018 of Thomas J Moran, chairman, president, and chief executive of Mutual of America Life Insurance Company.

The Reserve Bank has launched a mobile application for aiding visually impaired persons to identify the denomination of Indian Banknotes.

In a press release issued from Mumbai, RBI said the “Mobile Aided Note Identifier - MANI” is capable of identifying the denominations of Mahatma Gandhi Series and Mahatma Gandhi (New) series banknote by checking front or reverse side of the notes, including half folded notes under broad range of light conditions.

Jeremy Lalrinnunga, who became the first Indian to win a gold at the Youth Olympic Games on 29th Dec, is now preparing for a berth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

The 17-year-old weightlifter from Mizoram has been making it to the headlines as he recently clinched a silver medal in men's 67 kg weightlifting category at the 6th International Qatar Cup with the total lift of 306 kg that broke 27 records in total.

Jeremy from Aizawl has been the recent talk among the public for his outstanding performance in sports, who won gold in the first and second edition of the Khelo India Games and the athlete competed in the 62kg and 67kg categories in both the editions respectively. 

The Indian Railways has integrated its helpline numbers into a single number -- 139 for quick grievance redressal and enquiries by passengers during their train journeys.

The new helpline number 139 will take over all the existing helpline numbers. It will be easy for passengers to remember this number and connect with Railways for all their needs during train travel.

The Helpline 139 will be available in twelve languages. It will be based on Interactive Voice Response System. A call can be made on this number from any mobile phone and not just smart phones, thus, providing easy access to all mobile users. 

The 5th Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) National Ice Hockey Championship -2020 has begun in Leh today. In the inaugural match in Under-20 Boys category between Chandigarh and Haryana, the contest ended in a draw with 4 goals each.

Similarly, the second match between Ladakh Scouts Regiment Centre and Delhi also ended in a draw with 2 goals each. 

Later in the afternoon Under-20 Girls match will be played between home team Ladakh and Maharashtra.

The tournament will continue till 7th January in Karzoo Ice Hockey Rink in Leh, where the Army, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra and home team Ladakh are fighting for the championship in U-20 boys category.