The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the second developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV-D2) from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh this morning. The launch took place at 9.18 am. The SSLV-D2 successfully put into their intended orbit Earth Observation Satellite, Janus-1 and Chennai-based space startup SpaceKidz's AzaadiSAT-2.

The 34-metre tall SSLV-D2 weighing 120 ton took off from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The three staged SSLV-D2 powered by solid fuel also has a velocity trimming module powered by liquid fuel for precise injection of satellites.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated Lahari Bai, 27-year-old tribal woman from Madhya Pradesh's Dindori becoming the brand ambassador of millets. She has preserved more than 150 varieties of millet seeds. Mr Modi said he is proud of Lahari Bai, who has shown remarkable enthusiasm towards Shree Ann. Prime Minister said her efforts will motivate many others.

Minister of State for Communications  Devusinh Chauhan has said that 5G services have been started in 238 cities distributed across all licensed service areas till January this year.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister said that telecom  Service Providers have started providing 5G services in the country from the 1st of October last year. He said, the Government has established a road map to make 5G services available in different parts of the country through rollout obligations. The Minister informed that as per the Notice Inviting Application for the auction of spectrum and the license conditions, the rollout obligations are required to be met over a period of five years, in a phased manner. He added that further expansion of mobile networks beyond the mandatory rollout obligations depends on the techno-commercial consideration of the Telecom Service Providers.

President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the National Convention on ‘Women as Foundation of Value-based Society’ at the Om Shanti Retreat Centre in Gurugram on 9th Feb 2023. She will also launch an all-India awareness campaign ‘Empowering the Family’.

India to send one more C-17 planeloads of relief material, equipment & personnel to the earthquake-hit Turkiye under Operation Dost  .

India will send one more C-17 planeload of relief material, equipment and personnel to the earthquake that hit Turkiye under Operation Dost.  Earlier, four such planes with relief materials have already landed in that country.  Another C-130 aircraft carrying relief materials landed in Syria for carrying out rescue and relief operations.

The Ministry of Defence today signed a contract with Larsen and Toubro for the procurement of 41 indigenous Modular Bridges worth over two thousand 585 crore rupees for the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army. This move will be a major boost to 'Aatmanirbharta’ in the defence sector.

These game-changing bridges have been designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO and will be produced by Larsen and Toubro L&T company as a DRDO-nominated production agency.

Electronics and Information Technology and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will launch the ‘Digital Payments Utsav’ in New Delhi today.

A comprehensive month-long campaign “Digital Payments Utsav" has been planned from today for the promotion of Digital Payments across the country, with particular focus on G-20 Digital Economy Working Group event cities, namely Lucknow, Hyderabad, Pune and Bengaluru.

The event will have the release of a G-20 co-branded QR code and a Coffee Table Book showcasing India’s journey to global leadership in Digital Payments and digital inclusion.

Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandviya has said the government will open Integrative Medicine Centres in all government hospitals across the country.

The Centers will treat patients using both ayurveda and modern medicine. Dr Mandaviya said this while jointly inaugurating an Integrative Medicine Centre with Ayush Minister Sarbanand Sonwal at Safdarjang Hospital in New Delhi today.

He said, any country will be prosperous only when its people are healthy.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya today said that the twin-cooktop model of solar cooking system launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will help in reducing India's dependability upon the import of LGP. Talking to All India Radio at India Energy Week, 2023 in Bengaluru, Mr Vaiday said that currently, India is importing more than 50 per cent of its gas requirements from other countries. He added that with these kinds of initiatives, India will move towards Atamnirbhar Bharat and also help in reducing the greenhouse gases coming from the LPG.

Talking about the ‘Unbottled’ initiative he said that In line with the clarion call given by Prime Minister, to phase out single-use plastic items, IOC has launched largest initiative in world to reuse and recycle 100 million PET bottles per year.

The first Tourism Working Group Meeting will officially be inaugurated at Dhordo in Gujarat today. Union Minister for fisheries Parsottam Rupala, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will inaugurate the meeting. On the sidelines of the meeting pannel discussion on rural tourism was held yesterday. G-20 delegates also visited White desert.
AIR correspondent reports that the meeting focuses on promotioting sustainable Tourism practices.

More than hundred delegates from G 20 nations, invited countries and international organizations are attending the meet. The inagural session will be followed by working group sessions where the delegates will deliberate upon five key issues such as promoting Green Tourism, harnessing Digitalization, empowring youths with Skills, nurturing Tourism MSMEs and Destination Management. This is the second among the 15 meeting being held in Gujarat as part of G-20.