The Uttarakhand Government has implemented the Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, to introduce necessary amendments to the UCC Act, 2024, following the approval of the Governor.

As per the release from the Chief Minister’s Office, the ordinance has been promulgated by the Governor of Uttarakhand, under Article 213 of the Constitution of India and has come into force with immediate effect.

It said that through this ordinance, procedural, administrative, and penal improvements have been made to various provisions of the Code to ensure its effective, transparent, and smooth implementation.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, along with promoting women’s empowerment, protecting children’s rights, and ensuring equality in civil rights, one of the UCC’s most significant contributions has been simplifying procedures.

Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation International (CETC) have signed a deal under a G2G framework on Tuesday to establish an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV-drone) manufacturing and assembly plant and technology transfer.

The agreement was signed at the Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan was present at the ceremony as the chief guest, said an ISPR media release.

Under the agreement, the Bangladesh Air Force and CETC International will jointly establish a state-of-the-art UAV manufacturing and assembly facility plant in Bangladesh.

Continuing with the principle of celebrating ordinary Indians making extraordinary contributions, this year’s Padma Awards recognise a wide spectrum of unsung heroes from across the length and breadth of India. According to information received from sources so far, the government has selected 54 people for the Padma Shri award. The list of Padma Shri awardees includes six individuals from West Bengal, followed by Tamil Nadu with five. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have four awardees each. Assam, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat account for three recipients each. Two Padma Shri awards each have been conferred on individuals from Telangana, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, Tripura, Puducherry, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Ladakh, Kerala, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh have one awardee each.

Using observations from the James Webb Space Telescope in a patch of the sky covering almost three times the area of the full moon, scientists have created the most detailed cosmic map to date of the mysterious substance called dark matter that accounts for most of the stuff that populates the universe.

Seen vs Unseen
Ordinary matter makes up stars, planets, people and everything else we can see. But it represents only about 15% of all the matter in the cosmos. The rest is dark matter, which does not emit or reflect light, making it invisible to the human eye and to telescopes.

Scientists infer its existence based on the gravitational effects it exerts on a large scale such as how quickly galaxies rotate, how galaxy clusters are held together and how light from distant objects bends as it passes through massive cosmic structures.

A new flowering plant species has been formally recorded from Arunachal Pradesh, adding to the Himalayan state’s growing biodiversity inventory and underlining the importance of continued botanical exploration in the region.

The species, Strobilanthes riteshii (family Acanthaceae), was discovered during recent floristic surveys at Chayangtajo in East Kameng district. The finding was made by researchers from the Botanical Survey of India Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre, in collaboration with the Agharkar Research Institute, Pune.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu acknowledged the discovery in a social media post, congratulating the research teams and calling it “a proud addition to Arunachal’s biodiversity legacy”.

According to the researchers, the plant is currently known only from its type locality at an elevation of around 1,600 metres. It grows along roadsides on open hill slopes, often near small waterfalls and streams within evergreen forest patches. Flowering has been observed between August and October, while fruiting occurs from September to December.

Newly raised Bhairav light commando battalion and Shaktiban Regiment, rocket launcher system 'Suryastra' with deep-strike capabilities, and key military assets, including indigenous platforms accompanied with personnel, rolling down the Kartavya Path in a "phased battle array formation" -- the 77th Republic Day Parade saw many firsts.

Double-humped Bactrian camels and Zanskar ponies were also part of the ceremonial event for the first time, adding an element of curiosity and excitement among the crowds.

Also, marking a first, the contingent members of the mounted 61 Cavalry were seen in battle gear during the parade.

Silambam exponent K. Pajanivel of Puducherry has been conferred with the Padma Shri, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to traditional martial arts.

Born on 30th January 1973 at Pooranankuppam in Puducherry, Pajanivel began his journey in Silambam under the guidance of Master Rajaram. With a career spanning several decades, he has played a key role in preserving, promoting, and popularising this ancient Tamil martial art, both in India and abroad.

A master practitioner and dedicated teacher, Shri Pajanivel has trained several students free of cost, ensuring the transmission of this traditional art form to future generations. He has also represented Silambam through performances, demonstrations, and competitions at national and international forums.

Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region and Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, today launched two Bamboo Projects of the North Eastern Region worth Rs. 82.5 crore in Guwahati.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Scindia said that the journey of the North Eastern region under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi turned from the frontier to the frontrunner of India. The Minister added that there has been a sea change in this region over the past 12 years.

A traditional bamboo artisans cluster will be set up to train over 4,400 youths, and two units will come up at Karbi Anglong in Assam and at Mokokchung in Nagaland for the promotion of Engineered Bamboo Products.

International Customs Day (ICD) is observed every year on January 26 to recognise the vital role played by customs administrations in facilitating global trade, protecting borders, and preventing illegal movement of goods. The day highlights how customs authorities ensure smooth cross-border trade, support revenue generation, and safeguard national security.

The observance traces its origins to 1953, when the first session of the Customs Cooperation Council was held in Brussels, Belgium. Today, the organisation is known as the World Customs Organization (WCO) and represents 183 member countries, working to strengthen customs systems worldwide.

Excavations which began on January 16 on the premises of the Kote Veerabhadreshwar temple in Lakkundi village of Gadag district have yielded relics dating back to the Neolithic period, giving a fillip to the push for its nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.

The yield of Neolithic relics came close on the heels of a “treasure” being found by a family in the village while digging to lay the foundation for a house.