The NCC Republic Day (RD) Camp-2025 commenced at the Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi Cantt on Monday, with a “Sarva Dharm Pooja” ceremony.

This year’s camp has seen record participation from girl cadets, with 917 girls out of a total of 2,361 cadets, making it the largest representation of female cadets in the camp’s history.

Cadets from all 28 states and 8 Union Territories are attending the month-long event.

The camp also includes 114 cadets from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and 178 cadets from the North East Region, showcasing a “Mini India.”

Additionally, cadets and officers from 14 Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs) will participate as part of the Youth Exchange Programme (YEP), fostering international camaraderie.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay researchers have identified bacteria that can consume toxic pollutants in the soil and produce helpful nutrients as a byproduct, as per the official release.

The researchers from the IIT Bombay have been studying bacteria that feed on toxic chemicals and pollutants as a solution for the ever-increasing pollution of our natural resources.

In a recent study published in the journal Environmental Technology and Innovation, the researchers have used the power of specific bacterial species to remove organic pollutants from soil.

Moreover, these bacteria were also found to help boost the growth hormones of the plants, inhibit the growth of harmful fungi, and help in making essential nutrients readily available to plants, as per the IIT-B.

Vietnam’s capital Hanoi has been covered in thick smog over recent weeks, putting it at the top of a list of the world’s most polluted cities, as the government said it would push for more electric vehicles (EVs) to alleviate the problem.

Levels of hazardous small particles, known as PM2.5, were measured at 266 micrograms per cubic metre in Hanoi early on Friday, the highest reading among a list of most-polluted cities, according to AirVisual, which provides independent global air pollution information via a phone app.

The Southeast Asian country, a regional manufacturing hub with one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, has reported severe air pollution in its major cities for years, particularly in Hanoi.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions saw an 8 per cent month-on-month increase in volume to 16.73 billion in December, the highest volume for the digital system since it became operational in April 2016. The value also increased by 8 per cent to Rs 23.25 trillion, up from Rs 21.55 trillion in November.

According to data from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), for the year 2024, the volume increased by 46 per cent to around 172 billion transactions against 118 billion in 2023. In value terms, transactions increased by 35 per cent to around Rs 247 trillion during the entire year compared with Rs 183 trillion in 2023.

The transactions increased during the year due to a rise in person-to-merchant transactions (for buying goods or services). In October, UPI recorded 16.58 billion transactions worth Rs 23.5 trillion, its previous high in terms of volume and highest so far in value. In September, the volume was 15.04 billion, and the value stood at Rs 20.64 trillion.

Pakistan began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on January 1, 2025, with Ambassador Munir Akram saying that the Pakistani delegation will play an “active and constructive” role in addressing key challenges facing the world.

“Our presence will be felt in the Security Council,” Ambassador Akram, Pakistan’s top diplomat at the United Nations (UN), told state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.

From Wednesday (January 1, 2025), Pakistan will sit in the Security Council for the 2025-26 term as a non-permanent member — the eighth time that the country has had a seat on the 15-member body’s horseshoe table.

In June, Pakistan was elected to the council with a massive majority as a non-permanent member, polling 182 votes in the 193-member General Assembly — far more than the required 124 votes representing a two-thirds majority.

Quick-commerce company Blinkit is launching a 10-minute ambulance service in Gurugram, with plans to expand the service to other cities in India in the next two years, announced Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa on X on January 2.

Dhindsa said that the ambulances would have medical equipment such as oxygen cylinders, AEDs (Automated External Defibrillator), stretchers, monitors, suction machines, emergency medicines, and injections. The ambulance will come with a paramedic, an assistant, and a trained driver.

While the first five ambulances will immediately take to the roads of Gurugram, more users will be able to book a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance through the Blinkit app.

N Space Tech, a defense and aerospace startup, has successfully launched and communicated with its first payload, SwetchaSAT-V0, aboard ISRO’s PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-4) as part of the SPADEX Mission.

The SwetchaSAT-V0 payload is designed to test an indigenously developed ultra-high frequency (UHF) communication system, paving the way for faster and more reliable communication across various applications.

The hardware for this mission was entirely designed and manufactured by N Space Tech, reflecting the company's commitment to advancing homegrown space technology.

Dr. AK Dwivedi, a renowned senior homeopathic physician and a prominent figure in the medical community, recently presented his new book, Homeopathy for Anemia, to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. The formal handover took place during an event in Indore, where Dr. Dwivedi shared insights from the book and discussed its potential impact on both patients and medical professionals.

Dr. Dwivedi, who holds key positions such as a member of the Executive Council at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore, and the Board of Studies for Homeopathy under the Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University, as well as the Central Homeopathy Research Council under the Ministry of AYUSH, emphasised the book's focus on successfully treating aplastic anaemia—a severe condition often considered more critical than cancer—through homeopathy.

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav expressed admiration for Dr. Dwivedi’s contributions, acknowledging the book as a valuable resource for the healthcare community in understanding and managing life-threatening forms of anemia. He commended Dr. Dwivedi for his ongoing efforts to advance homeopathic treatments and urged him to continue his pioneering work.

The Indian Research Space Organisation (ISRO) is reportedly planning to launch an American communications satellite this year that will allow phone calls using direct connectivity from space.

This satellite will enable users to make calls directly from space using their smartphones.

“In February or March we will be launching a US satellite for mobile communication, this satellite will enable voice communication on mobile phones. It will be an interesting mission," an NDTV report quoted as saying Dr Jitendra Singh, the minister of science and technology.

The Delhi Government on Tuesday announced the official launch of the registration process for the 'Pujari Granthi Samman' scheme, aimed at financially supporting Gurudwara priests.

An announcement regarding the launch of the scheme was made by former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Monday, December 30.

The scheme offers a monthly grant of Rs 18,000 to every temple and Gurudwara priest in Delhi.

"Today, the scheme was launched by Arvind Kejriwal at the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place. The registration process for the scheme also began today at Sant Sujan Singh ji Maharaj's Gurdwara," Delhi Chief Minister Atishi told reporters.