The Ministry of Defence has signed a Rs 1,560.52 crore contract with the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) for the procurement of 47 T-72 Bridge Laying Tanks (BLTs).

The move, according to the MoD, aims to improve the Army's operational capabilities. Further, as per the MoD's statement, the acquisition is expected to strengthen the Army's mechanised forces by providing essential bridging support during both offensive and defensive operations, ensuring greater mobility and tactical flexibility.

The contract was formalised by senior officials from the MoD and HVF, AVNL, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, the official statement added.

In a crucial milestone in the development of next-generation hypersonic munitions, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully demonstrated a cutting-edge active cooled scramjet combustor ground test for 120 seconds for the first time in India. This is part of the efforts to develop a long-duration supersonic combustion ramjet or scramjet powered hypersonic technology.

The key to hypersonic vehicles is scramjets, which are air breathing engines capable of sustaining combustion at supersonic speeds without using any moving parts, DRDO noted in a statement. “The ground test of scramjet combustor showcased several notable achievements, demonstrating its potential for operational use in hypersonic vehicles, like successful ignition and stable combustion,” it stated.

The Commerce and Industry Minister of India, Shri Piyush Goyal, met with the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, and Foreign Trade, Mr. Bernard Quintin, in Brussels today to discuss strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties. The meeting reinforced the longstanding relationship between India and Belgium, built on shared values of democracy, rule of law and independent judiciary. The two leaders discussed ways to expand economic cooperation, and explored new avenues to advance this partnership. It may be noted that India-Belgium trade is estimated at over US$ 15.07 billion in 2023-2024 while Foreign Direct Investments from Belgium into India was estimated at over US$ 3.94 billion.

During the discussions, both leaders acknowledged Belgium’s significant reliance on foreign trade and India’s dynamic, growing economy as key factors for leveraging mutual opportunities. Recognizing the potential of trade as a cornerstone of their partnership, they emphasized the importance of diversifying trade relations and deepening economic diplomacy to achieve sustainable growth.

The leaders also discussed the progress of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and enphasized the importance of prioritizing trade issues to streamline negotiations and strengthen economic ties.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh will inaugurate the Livestock Conclave in Shillong, Meghalaya, on Thursday. The two-day conclave organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying will focus on the holistic development of the livestock sector in Northeast India to boost investment and promote sustainable farming practices.

The conclave will bring together the key stakeholders to discuss strategies. It also aims to assess the present status and challenges and explore opportunities for growth and development through value chain strengthening, technological interventions, and policy support. The conclave will facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building among stakeholders, including farmers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, and promote sustainable and inclusive farming practices in alignment with the One Health approach.

Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Prof. S.P Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying and Minority Affairs, George Kurian, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma and ministers of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development departments from North East Region (NER) States will attend the event.

Maharashtra has signed multiple MoUs worth 38,750 crore rupees at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The maiden MoU, signed between the Government of Maharashtra and the Kalyani Group, covers the defence, steel, and electric vehicle sectors.

This agreement is expected to attract an investment of 5,250 crore rupees and generate 4,000 jobs in Gadchiroli. The second MoU, worth 16,500 crore rupees, was signed between the Government of Maharashtra and Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. in the defence sector and is expected to create 2,450 job opportunities. The third MoU signed with Balasore Alloys Ltd. is worth 17,000 crore rupees and focuses on the steel and metals industry and will create 3,200 jobs.

Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs will organize the National Conference of DMs on PM JANMAN at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey also attend the conference. The focus of the conference will be on six core areas under the Abhiyan, including Rural Development (Awas and Roads), Hostels (schools), Drinking Water, Operationalization of Anganwadis, and the operationalization of Multi-Purpose Centers.

The conference aims to share best practices and facilitate progress in districts that have significant potential for improvement. It will also work to ensure the objectives of the Mission are expedited, ensuring that the intended benefits reach the last mile, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has informed that a total of 88 districts from 18 states will engage in discussions and share insights, drawing out an action plan for the implementation of PM JANMAN. Through this conference, the Ministry aims to bridge the gap between policy and grassroots, significantly expediting the implementation of PM JANMAN, and ensuring its benefits reach every corner of the participating states.

India’s securities market regulator is considering steps to formalize trading in initial public offerings where bidding has closed, but the shares are yet to be listed.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India may allow investors who get allotment, to trade the entitlement of those shares prior to the listing, according to Madhabi Puri Buch, chairperson.

Through this mechanism, SEBI wants to curb the “black market”, where such shares are traded unofficially ahead of their official debut, Buch told reporters in Mumbai.

While such a facility may help reduce unregulated trading in IPO shares for a certain period, it does not impact the unofficial market that comes alive as soon as a company files for going public.

India will celebrate Parakram Diwas 2025 to honour the legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on the occasion of his 128th birth anniversary on Thursday. In commemoration of this celebration, a three-day event will be organised by the Ministry of Culture at Cuttack, Odisha, the birthplace of Netaji and the city that shaped his early sensibilities. The event will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi.

On the occasion, several dignitaries will pay homage to Netaji and hoist the national flag at the house where Netaji was born, which has now been converted to a museum dedicated to him.

Subsequently, the Parakram Diwas celebration at Barabati Fort will begin with a video message by the Prime Minister and will feature a book, photo, and archival exhibition focused on Netaji’s life, showcasing rare photographs, letters, and documents from his remarkable journey.

The 7th India-France Maritime Cooperation Dialogue held in New Delhi focused on discussions on enhancing cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region and reaffirmed both countries shared vision for maritime security.

The dialogue held on January 14 co-chaired by Pavan Kapoor, Deputy National Security Advisor, National Security Council Secretariat, India, and Alice Rufo, Director General for International Relations and Strategy, Ministry for the Armed Forces, France, according to an official release from Ministry of External Affairs.

According to the release, both countries discussed enhancing their cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region and reaffirmed their shared vision for maritime security, a key element of the India-France Strategic Partnership.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, delivered the keynote address at the Special Ministerial Session of the 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Circularity, organized by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in New Delhi today. Themed ‘Nature Positive Recycling’, the conference brought together key stakeholders from the automotive industry to discuss sustainable development and circularity.

In his opening remarks, Shri Yadav commended SIAM for initiating discussions on circularity amidst the rapid growth of India’s automotive sector, now the third-largest market globally in passenger vehicle sales. He emphasized the importance of aligning this growth with environmental sustainability, drawing inspiration from nature's efficient recycling systems. Emphasizing on ‘Nature Positive Recycling’, the Minister stated that “Nobody recycles like Nature”. He further noted, “We can ever match the scale of production when it comes to Nature and yet there is zero waste. As we take pride in our manufacturing abilities, let us also take a humbling lesson from Mother Nature in managing waste”. The Minister called upon the august gathering to make Nature their ideal when recycling strategies are planned.