Air Force Wing Commander Akshay Saxena was conferred with the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) on Monday for the daring rescue operation in the Arabian Sea in 2024. Wing Commander Akshay Saxena was tasked with a mission in support of operation Sankalp aimed at coercing 35 pirates onboard a merchant ship to surrender and ensure the safe evacuation of 17 crew members.

He airdropped two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats and a team of 18 Marine Commando Force (MARCOS) with a combat load to capture the pirate-controlled ship. The ship was not only launching attacks on merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea but also opened fire at INS Kolkata and had shot down a naval spotter drone.

The objective area was near the Somalian coast, 1,450 nautical miles off Mumbai. Due to the critical time and secret nature of the mission, he finalised a suitable crew and ensured aircraft readiness for a quick launch.

Renowned documentary film-maker, human rights and peace activist Tapan Kumar Bose breathed his last at his New Delhi home on the morning of Martyr’s Day, January 30. He was 78.

Having started his activism during the Emergency in mid 1970s, and later filming the victims of Bhagalpur blindings, Bose was also well known for his films and activism around the Bhopal disaster and the advocacy for victims. Bose was part of a collective of activists, scientists, journalists and artists, who tried to strengthen the rationalist spirit of the Indian constitution.

He was staunch advocate of communities who were oppressed by jingoistic nationalism and militarisation. His knowledge of South Asia made him a recognised author with many academics and young film-makers.

World Champion GM Gukesh Dommaraju continued his unbeaten streak with a win over Leon Mendonca in round 9, securing the sole lead on the leaderboard of the 2025 Tata Steel Masters in the Netherlands on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, R Praggnanandhaa lost to home favorite Anish Giri, dropping from joint first to fourth place with 5.5/9 points. Pentala Harikrishna, on the other hand, suffered his third defeat of the tournament.

India pacer Jasprit Bumrah was honoured with the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Men’s Cricketer of the Year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Tuesday.

The pacer had a remarkable 2024, as he dominated every game he played in. The India speedster defeated fellow nominees Travis Head, Joe Root and Harry Brook to win the accolade.

He is now the fifth recipient of the award from India, after Rahul Dravid (2004), Sachin Tendulkar (2010), Ravichandran Ashwin (2016) and Virat Kohli (2017, 2018).

The government on Wednesday (January 29, 2025) approved a ₹16,300-crore National Critical Mineral Mission, envisaging a total outlay of ₹34,300 crore spread over seven years, with an aim to achieve self-reliance and accelerate India’s journey towards green energy transition.

According to a release by the mines ministry, public sector enterprises are expected to contribute ₹18,000 crore to the mission which aims at promoting exploration of critical minerals within the country and at offshore locations.

Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth are essential raw materials required to fuel the growth of rapidly growing clean energy technologies and their expanding uses ranging from wind turbines and electricity networks to electric vehicles and battery manufacturing.

Coal India Limited (CIL) has been recognized as one of India’s Top 50 Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2025 by Great Place to Work, reinforcing its commitment to fostering a culture of trust, pride, and camaraderie among its workforce.

The recognition follows a comprehensive evaluation process involving 347 organisations within the manufacturing sector. CIL’s inclusion in the prestigious list highlights its dedication to workforce excellence and employee well-being. The company has previously been acknowledged with the ‘Great Place to Work’ certification for its consistent efforts in building an inclusive and sustainable workplace.

As a Maharatna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Coal, Coal India holds a pivotal position in the country’s energy sector. The company, recognized as the world’s single largest coal producer, fulfills over 80 percent of India’s domestic coal demand. Beyond its operational contributions, Coal India places a strong emphasis on employee welfare, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the appointment of Rajesh Nirwan (IPS) as the Director General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

According to an order issued from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) on January 27, Nirwan's appointment will be effective from the date of assumption of charge and will continue until further orders.

Rajesh Nirwan, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Rajasthan cadre from the 1992 batch, brings extensive experience and expertise to his new role.

In a significant step toward bolstering Haryana’s power infrastructure, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has signed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Haryana Power Purchase Centre (HPPC) for a period of 25 years. The agreement, finalized with the due consent of the Ministry of Power, will facilitate the supply of 800 MW from DVC’s upcoming thermal projects.

The agreement was formalized at HPPC’s Corporate Office in Panchkula on January 29, 2025, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations. The 800 MW power supply will be sourced from DVC’s upcoming projects, including 300 MW from Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) Phase-II (2x660 MW), 300 MW from Koderma Thermal Power Station (KTPS) Phase-II (2x800 MW), and 200 MW from Durgapur Thermal Power Station (DTPS) (1x800 MW). This latest agreement is in addition to the existing PPA under which DVC already supplies 300 MW of power to Haryana from its operational units.

In commemoration of Martyrs’ Day, the National Archives of India (NAI) and the National Gandhi Museum (NGM), in collaboration with the National Film Archives of India and Prasar Bharati Archives, will inaugurate a special exhibition titled “Journey of the Mahatma: Through His Own Documents”. The event will take place on January 30 at 3:00 PM in the Exhibition Hall of the National Gandhi Museum, Rajghat, New Delhi.

The exhibition will be inaugurated by Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi and Chairman of the National Gandhi Museum, according to a press release from the Ministry of Culture.

This exhibition offers a unique opportunity for visitors to explore Mahatma Gandhi’s life through rare photographs, official documents, audio recordings, video clips, and personal correspondences, depicting his journey from Porbandar to his leadership in India’s independence movement.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the revision of ethanol procurement prices for public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024-25. The period extends from November 1, 2024, to October 31, 2025, under the Government of India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme.

The ex-mill price of ethanol derived from C Heavy Molasses (CHM) has been increased from ₹56.58 to ₹57.97 per litre, marking a 3% rise. The revision aims to ensure adequate ethanol supply to achieve higher blending targets, stabilize ethanol prices, and provide a remunerative rate for ethanol producers. Additionally, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and transportation charges will remain payable separately to support sugarcane farmers.

The EBP Programme, which promotes blending ethanol with petrol to reduce crude oil imports and combat environmental pollution, has shown remarkable progress. Ethanol blending by public sector OMCs surged from 38 crore litres in ESY 2013-14 to 707 crore litres in ESY 2023-24, achieving an average blending rate of 14.60%.