Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the proposed Gaganyaan mission will be a historic achievement for India in 21st Century. In his Mann Ki Baat programme on All India Radio, Mr Modi said it will prove to be a milestone for New India.

Prime Minister said, as India celebrates its 75th year of Independence in 2022, the country has to fulfill the pledge to take an Indian into the space through the Gaganyaan mission.
 

Mr Modi praised the four pilots of the Indian Airforce who have been selected as astronauts for the mission and their forthcoming training in Russia. After their training for over a year, they will shoulder the responsibility of carrying the hopes and aspirations of the nation and soaring into space, he said.

2G mobile internet services on postpaid as well as prepaid phones have been restored in the Kashmir Valley. However, it can be used to access 301 websites approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration only. These sites include search engines and those associated with banking, education, news, travel, utilities and employment.

The move comes within a week of the administration ordering restoration of prepaid mobile services in the Valley and resumption of 2G mobile data service on whitelisted websites across the Jammu division.  
 

In cricket, India have won the first T20 International of five-match series against New Zealand by six wickets.

Visitors achieved the target of 204 in just 19 overs losing four wickets at Eden Park in Auckland. For India, KL Rahul made 56, skipper Virat Kohli scored 45 and Shreyas Aiyyar made 58 runs.

Earlier, put in to bat first, New Zealand scored 203 for five in the stipulated 20 overs. Colin Munro and Skipper Kane Williamson smashed quick-fire half-centuries.

The second T20 will also be played at Eden Park in Auckland on Sunday while the third T20 will be held at Hamilton on the 29th of this month.

The 4th T20 will be played at Wellington on 31st January while the final and the 5th match will be held at Mount Maunganui on 2nd February.

President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation today on the eve of the 71st Republic Day. The address will be broadcast on the entire National network of All India Radio and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan from 7 PM in Hindi followed by the English version. 

Broadcast of the address in Hindi and English on Doordarshan will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan. All India Radio will broadcast regional language versions from 9.30 PM onwards on its regional networks.
 

The 10th National Voters’ Day (NVD) will be celebrated today. The theme for NVD-2020 is ‘Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy. The theme sets the tone for year-long activities with focus on voter education and renewal of citizens’ faith in the electoral process. 

The Day is celebrated on 25th January every year since 2011. It is celebrated at over ten lakh locations across the country including polling stations, district and state headquarters, to mark the Foundation day of Election Commission of India, which was established on 25th January 1950. President Ram Nath Kovind will be the Chief Guest at the 10th National Voters' Day function which is being organized by the Election Commission of India at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet and interact with the 49 awardees of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2020 in New Delhi today. Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said, children will interact with the Prime Minister and share their valuable ideas and thoughts during the meeting. She said, Children's bravery, perseverance and zeal for innovation is an inspiration to all.

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar aims at encouraging children to excel in different fields and recognize efforts of institution doing exceptional work for children. The Bal Shakti Puraskar is given in the fields of innovation, social service, scholastic, sports, bravery and arts and culture. The award carries a medal, cash prize of one lakh rupees, a certificate and citation. 

Former world Boxing medallists Shiva Thapa (63kg) and Sonia Lather (57kg) assured themselves of medals at the 71st Strandja Memorial Tournament by advancing to the semifinals in Sofia, Bulgaria yesterday. Joining them was Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Mohammed Hussamuddin (57kg). He out punched Ireland's Kurt Walker 5-0 to make the medal rounds. 

Former world silver-winner Lather (57kg) clinched a 3-2 triumph over Ireland's Michaela Walsh in a hard-fought contest to enter the last-four stage. Thapa, a bronze-winner from the 2015 world showpiece, got the better of Ireland's George Bates in his quarterfinal clash. 

Thapa, Lather and Hussamuddin will today try to ensure their place in the finals, scheduled to take place on Saturday. 

Ace Indian shooters Apurvi Chandela and Divyansh Singh Panwar clinched gold at the ongoing Meyton Cup international shooting championship in Austria. Apurvi won the gold in womens 10m air rifle with a final score of 251.4. Anjum Moudgil had to settle for bronze in the same event with a final score of 229.

In men’s 10m air rifle, Divyansh bagged the top honours with a final score of 249.7 while Deepak Kumar had to settle for bronze with a score of 228.

All the four Indian shooters have already earned Olympic quotas for Tokyo Games. Anjum and Apurvi won Olympic quotas for Tokyo 2020 when the former won silver and the latter finished fourth at the 2018 Shooting World Championships held in Changwon, South Korea.

Anjum and Apurvi had won Olympic quotas for Tokyo 2020 when the former won silver and the latter finished fourth at the 2018 Shooting World Championships held in Changwon, South Korea.