Air Marshal Tejinder Singh assumed charge as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the South Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force on January 1, 2026.

After taking over the new appointment, the Air Marshal paid homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the war memorial.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on June 13, 1987. A Category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor, he has over 4,500 hours of flying experience. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College.

Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor on Thursday (January 1, 2026) assumed charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, who superannuated after 40 years of distinguished service to the nation. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College, Air Marshal Kapoor is an accomplished fighter pilot with over 3,400 flying hours on MiG-21 and MiG-29 aircraft.

He has held several key command, operational, instructional and staff appointments, including Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command and South Western Air Command, and is a recipient of multiple gallantry and distinguished service awards.

In another significant development, Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh on Thursday assumed charge as the 29th Director General Border Roads, formally taking over the reins of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Commissioned into the Corps of Engineers in June 1991, he brings over three decades of experience across diverse command, staff and leadership roles.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) today announced the nationwide roll-out of Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi), also known as Wi-Fi Calling services.

The Ministry of Communications said that this service will now be available to all BSNL customers across every telecom circle in the country, ensuring seamless and high-quality connectivity in challenging environments.

It said that VoWiFi enables customers to make and receive voice calls and messages over a Wi-Fi network, ensuring clear and reliable connectivity in areas with weak mobile signal, including homes, offices, basements, and remote locations.

The Ministry said that this service is particularly beneficial in rural and remote areas.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Thursday unveiled a new logo and mascot as part of efforts to modernise its institutional identity and improve public outreach.

The launch marks a step towards reinforcing the role of official statistics in policy formulation and nation-building, while promoting data-driven governance and transparency.

According to the Ministry, the new logo reflects the theme “Data for Development” and highlights the importance of statistics in India’s economic and social progress. The design incorporates the Ashoka Chakra to symbolise truth, transparency and good governance, while the Rupee symbol at the centre underlines the role of statistical data in economic planning and policymaking.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that a third district would be formed in the state.

The state currently has two districts — South Goa and North Goa. The third district will comprise the four hinterland talukas of Sangeum, Dharbandora, Quepem and Canacona, which currently fall under the South Goa district. The headquarters for the third district will be located in Quepem.

The Goa Cabinet had approved a proposal for the creation of the new district in July this year.

Currently, North Goa district comprises five talukas — Bardez, Tiswadi, Pernem, Bicholim and Sattari. South Goa has seven talukas — Ponda, Mormugao, Salcete, Sanguem, Dharbandora, Quepem and Canacona.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday successfully conducted a salvo launch of two indigenously developed Pralay missiles in quick succession from the same launcher off the coast of Odisha.

The flight tests were carried out at around 10:30 am on December 31 as part of user evaluation trials. According to officials, both missiles precisely followed their intended trajectories and met all mission objectives. Their performance was confirmed by tracking sensors deployed by the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, while terminal events were validated through onboard telemetry systems installed on ships positioned near the impact points.

Pralay is a solid-propellant, quasi-ballistic missile equipped with advanced guidance and navigation systems to ensure high accuracy. The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads and engaging a variety of targets, enhancing the operational flexibility of the armed forces.

Gujarat government on Tuesday said that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has given an in-principle approval for setting up Indian AI Research Organisation (IAIRO) at GIFT City in Gujarat that will focus on cutting edge AI research and development. among other activities.

The IAIRO will be established through a tripartite partnership involving the Gujarat government, Government of India and Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA). A budget of approximately ₹300 crore has been fixed for this project for the first five years, in which the State, centre and the private partners will contribute 33.33 per cent each. IPA which has joined as the anchor private partner for IAIRO will contribute ₹25 crore for the year 2025-26, an official statement from Gujarat government stated.

Set up as a non-profit entity under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013, the IAIRO will be operationalised through a Special Purpose Vehicle in GIFT City from January 1, 2026. The IAIRO’s core activities will include cutting edge AI research and development, AI-based products and solutions development, collaboration between academic institutions, industries, start ups and the government. In addition, IAIRO will also focus on intellectual property creation, capacity building and policy-based research. It will operate under a hybrid compute model, integrating on-premise GPU infrastructure with national platforms like IndiaAI Cloud, the government added.

The drug-resistant fungal species Candida auris is turning more deadly and is spreading globally, according to a study led by Indian researchers.

Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen with a unique ability to grow and persist on human skin.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, in collaboration with a team at the National Institutes of Health in the US, showed that invasive fungal infections are spreading across the globe and gaining in virulence, affecting about 6.5 million people per year.

These infections are frequently associated with high mortality rates, often exceeding 50 per cent, even with antifungal therapy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics at Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi on Saturday.

The Piprahwa Relics, discovered in the late 19th century, are widely believed to be associated with the mortal remains of Gautama Buddha, enshrined by the Shakya clan. Their repatriation and public display reflect the country’s continued efforts to protect its cultural patrimony and promote the universal values of peace, compassion, and enlightenment embodied in the Buddha’s teachings.

The Culture Ministry said, the event marks an important moment in the country’s cultural and diplomatic history, as the relics on display include repatriated sacred relics of immense historical, archaeological, and spiritual significance, revered by Buddhist communities across the world. The Ministry is organising a landmark cultural exposition titled Lotus Light: Relics of the Awakened One, showcasing the revered Sacred Piprahwa Relics along with significant associated antiquities.

Indian Railways on Wednesday (December 31, 2025) announced the successful completion of the final high-speed trial of the indigenously designed and manufactured Vande Bharat Sleeper Train.

The trial was conducted on the Kota-Nagda section, during which the train achieved a top speed of 180 kmph, according to an official statement.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also shared a video of the trial run on social media platform X.