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.

As India's startup ecosystem continues to scale rapidly, founders are increasingly navigating a complex risk landscape spanning cyber threats, regulatory scrutiny, people-related challenges, and operational disruptions. While innovation and growth remain the primary focus, a single unforeseen incident can significantly impact business continuity, reputation, and investor confidence if risks are not planned for early.

Recognising this gap, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, India's leading private general insurer hosted 'Startup Shield - The Risk Readiness', a focused awareness initiative designed to help Indian start-ups identify, assess, and mitigate key business risks through structured risk planning and appropriate insurance solutions.

The exclusive event brought together over 100 participants, including startup founders, private equity and venture capital investors, CXOs, industry experts, and risk professionals, for interactive discussions on building resilient and future-ready businesses. The initiative aimed to move the conversation beyond risk avoidance, encouraging founders to adopt a proactive approach to risk preparedness as they scale.

In a step aimed at strengthening indigenous defence capability and operational readiness in the eastern theatre, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Gajraj Corps, interacted with P.B. Rangarao, Chief Executive Officer of Helicopter Complex, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), officials said on Tuesday.

The interaction focused on enhancing the serviceability of Army helicopters and strengthening Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) support to ensure higher operational availability and responsiveness.

Subsequently, the GOC, Blazing Sword Division, along with P.B. Rangarao, unveiled the foundation stone of HAL's MRO Hub at Missamari in Assam. The upcoming facility is expected to significantly reduce repair turnaround time, streamline logistics support and provide sustained MRO support to Army Aviation and the Indian Air Force.

The Government has selected five companies in the fourth round of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods, with a committed investment of 863 crore rupees. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that these five companies are engaged in the manufacturing of air conditioner (AC) components and are expected to achieve a total production of over 8 thousand 300 crore rupees and generate 1,799 additional direct jobs by the Financial Year 2027-28.

The Ministry said the five firms were picked provisionally after evaluation of 13 applications received in the fourth round under the PLI Scheme for White Goods. It is informed that with the latest round, a total of 85 companies have now been selected under the PLI Scheme for White Goods, covering air conditioners and LED lights. These firms are expected to make investments of 11 thousand 198 crore rupees and achieve a cumulative production of 1 lakh 90 thousand crore rupees over the scheme period.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has rolled out the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY), a universal healthcare scheme that provides cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh per family per year. With no exclusions, the scheme aims to bring all residents of the state under a single healthcare coverage framework.

The Scheme
It applies to all bonafide residents of Punjab. Families possessing an Aadhaar card and Voter ID are eligible for enrolment, while children below the age of 18 are covered through the voter identity documents of their parents or guardians. Government employees, pensioners and individuals engaged on contractual, outsourcing or consultancy basis with Punjab government departments, boards, corporations, trusts and societies are also included. There is no income limit under the scheme.

The Cover
The state government has stated that the scheme will cover around 65 lakh families, benefiting nearly 3 crore people. Each eligible family is entitled to cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh annually, doubling the earlier coverage limit of Rs 5 lakh that was available under previous health insurance arrangements.