In Uttar Pradesh, the state government has decided to establish state-of-the-art digital libraries in Gram Panchayat Secretariats, with a target to complete the procurement of IT equipment in all districts by January 30. Efforts are underway to complete the procurement of furniture for these libraries by January 26, after which the digital libraries will be fully ready for operation.

Akashvani’s correspondent reports that Panchayati Raj Director Amit Kumar Singh informed that the digital libraries will be equipped with Wi-Fi, LED screens, CCTV cameras, computer systems, along with a rich collection of books and digital learning resources. Through e-books, video and audio lectures, quizzes and a vast repository of digital educational material, students will be able to pursue high-quality preparation while staying in their villages.

Digital libraries are being established in Gram Panchayats across every district. An amount of approximately Rs 4 lakh will be spent on each library. This includes Rs 2 lakh for books, Rs 1.30 lakh for IT equipment and Rs 70,000 for modern furniture.

Guntur District Collector A Tamim Ansaria on Sunday inspected arrangements for the upcoming SARAS (Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society) exhibition, accompanied by Municipal Commissioner Puli Srinivasulu and Superintendent of Police Vakul Jindal.

The Collector explained that SARAS, also known as the All-India DWCRA Bazaar, is a national-level event where self-help group members from across the country will showcase and sell their products. The exhibition will run from January 6 to 18 at the venue opposite Reddy College on Narasaraopet Road. Officials said nearly 300 stalls are being set up, with 150 from Andhra Pradesh and 150 from other states.

Exhibits will feature handlooms, handicrafts, sarees, shawls, carpets, bed sheets, bamboo and metal works, jewellery, home décor items, glassware, and traditional and organic foods. Facilities including a welcome lounge, control room, cultural stage and children’s park are also being arranged.

Pakistani archaeologists found rare decorative stones and coins while excavating a UNESCO-listed site near the historic city of Takshashila, providing a rare view of the earliest urban settlement of the extensive ancient civilisation.

The discoveries were made at the ancient Bhir Mound, where experts unearthed decorative stones dating to the 6th century BC and coins from the 2nd century AD.

Dawn reported that officials hailed the discovery as the most significant at the site in a decade.

India has introduced an e-Production Investment Business Visa called e-B-4 Visa that Chinese businessmen can apply for to travel to India for specific business activities, including installation and commissioning of equipment.

A latest advisory on the Indian Embassy website in Beijing said the e-B-4 Visa, which was introduced on January 1, can be applied online without visiting the embassy or agents.

The new visa will be issued in about 45 to 50 days, with permission to stay in India for up to six months.

With just months to go for the Assembly election, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday announced the ‘Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS)’ for state government employees and teachers, guaranteeing a pension equal to 50% of their last-drawn monthly salary. Employee unions that had threatened to launch an indefinite strike from January 6 have now withdrawn their protest after the announcement.

As per TAPS, which comes after the 23-year struggle of government staff for restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), the employees will contribute 10% of their basic salary to the pension corpus and the state will bear the rest. Under OPS, the government was bearing the entire pension fund contribution.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a portable water desalination gadget to meet the drinking water requirements of a small group of soldiers in the field.

Christened Sea Water Desalination System (SWaDeS), it can be operated manually or run by an engine. Developed by the Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur, in response to the requirements projected by the Tri-command services, it can also be used by the civil sector in fresh water stressed areas.

According to scientists, the system is suitable for naval operations and coastal installations for purifying seawater as well as for inland use in areas like the Pangong Tso, a huge saline water lake in Ladakh near the border with China where a sizable troop concentration is maintained.

Sanskaar Shaala, a programme designed for children aged 4 to 14, was inaugurated on Sunday at the Lohia Lions Auditorium in Guwahati by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya.

Addressing the people assembled on the occasion, the Governor said that goodwill and good wishes are integral to India's cultural ethos and value system.

Quoting "Sanskarah hi gunanam moolam", he stated that values are the foundation of all virtues and play a crucial role in shaping both individual personality and societal harmony.

The government has removed the condition of three-year existence for deep-tech startups to avail recognition under DSIR’s Industrial Research and Development Promotion Program.

Addressing the 41st Foundation Day event of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) in New Delhi, Science and Technology Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, said that the removal of the three-year condition is a significant incentive to help deep-tech startups scale faster, even before they are fully on their own. He said the reform reflects the Government’s trust in the country’s innovators and its confidence in their sustainability and intent.

Dr Singh added that the government has taken several path-breaking decisions under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, including the opening up of the nuclear sector and space sector to private players. He said that to gear up for these new domains, the government would accelerate their initiative.

A team of scientists from Mizoram, in collaboration with Russian, German and Vietnamese researchers, has identified a new species of reed snake.

The new species has been named Calamaria Mizoramensis, after the state. The discovery has corrected a longstanding misidentification and expanded India's known reptile diversity.

The findings, published in Zootaxa, are based on extensive morphological and DNA analysis.

According to HT Lalremsanga, a professor at the Mizoram University's Zoology Department and the research lead, specimens were first collected in 2008 but were previously considered part of a widely distributed Southeast Asian species.

Hyderabad has now become the home to India’s first commercial-scale tropical Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS)-based Rainbow Trout farm and research institute.

The facility, established by Smart Green Aquaculture Ltd at Kandukur Mandal in Ranga Reddy District, Telangana, shows that high-value cold-water species can be farmed year-round in tropical climates using precision engineering and advanced water recirculation technologies, an official statement said.