Science and Technology News

PARAM SHAKTI Supercomputer Inaugurated at IIT Madras

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) inaugurated PARAM SHAKTI, an indigenously built supercomputing facility at IIT Madras on January 3, 2026, marking a significant milestone in India’s technological self-reliance. The system is powered by the PARAM RUDRA platform developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the ambitious National Supercomputing Mission, demonstrating India’s growing capabilities in high-performance computing infrastructure.
• The facility delivers an impressive peak performance of 3.1 petaflops, enabling the execution of over 3.1 quadrillion calculations per second, positioning it among the most powerful computational resources available for advanced scientific research in India. This extraordinary processing capability will accelerate breakthrough research across multiple critical domains including aerospace engineering, advanced materials science, climate modeling, molecular science, pharmaceutical drug discovery, and nuclear research applications.
• PARAM SHAKTI represents the 37th such supercomputing system already operational across various research institutions in India, collectively forming a robust national network of high-performance computing resources. The system operates on open-source AlmaLinux software platform combined with C-DAC’s proprietary system software, ensuring both global compatibility and indigenous technological control while reducing dependence on foreign technology ecosystems.
• The facility is equipped with modern infrastructure including uninterrupted power supply systems and advanced cooling infrastructure specifically designed to support continuous heavy-duty operations without performance degradation. This installation strengthens India’s computing ecosystem and directly supports the IndiaAI Mission by promoting diverse GPU platforms and computational architectures, thereby reducing the nation’s dependence on single technology solutions and foreign vendors.

Important Days News

World Hindi Day 2026 Celebrated Globally

• World Hindi Day is observed annually on January 10 to celebrate the international presence and significance of Hindi as a language that carries India’s cultural identity and connects over 600 million speakers globally across multiple continents. The day serves as a reminder of Hindi’s role in preserving linguistic diversity and cultural heritage in an increasingly interconnected world where language preservation faces numerous challenges from globalization.
• The specific date commemorates the historic event of January 10, 1949, when Hindi was used for the first time in the United Nations General Assembly, establishing global linguistic recognition for the language and marking its entry into international diplomatic forums. This momentous occasion demonstrated Hindi’s capability to serve as a language of international communication and diplomacy, elevating its status beyond national boundaries.
• Hindi is recognized as one of the world’s most widely spoken languages and plays crucial roles in international diplomacy, education, literature, technology development, and cultural exchange across continents including Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The language serves as a bridge connecting diaspora communities with their cultural roots while simultaneously facilitating India’s soft power projection globally through cinema, literature, and digital content.
• India has been systematically organizing World Hindi Conferences since 1975 through the Ministry of External Affairs in various countries including the United Kingdom, Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United States to promote Hindi globally and strengthen cultural ties. These conferences bring together scholars, writers, linguists, and Hindi enthusiasts from around the world to discuss the language’s development, preservation, and promotion in the digital age.

Banking and Finance News

Skydo Receives RBI Authorization as Payment Aggregator-Cross Border

• The Bengaluru-based fintech platform Skydo received final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a Payment Aggregator–Cross Border (PA-CB), enabling the company to provide regulated cross-border payment services specifically designed for Indian exporters. This regulatory approval positions Skydo among an elite group of fintech companies authorized to handle sensitive international payment transactions under RBI’s stringent supervision framework.
• Skydo currently serves more than 30,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), startups, and freelancers across 50+ Indian cities, enabling exporters to accept payments in 32+ foreign currencies with transparent flat-fee pricing and zero markup on live mid-market forex rates. This pricing model represents a significant departure from traditional banking channels that often charge variable fees and apply substantial forex markups, potentially saving Indian exporters considerable amounts on international transaction costs.
• The PA-CB licence carries particular significance because cross-border payments involve sensitive foreign exchange transactions, complex documentation compliance requirements, and adherence to international anti-money laundering standards, making RBI supervision critical for building trust among overseas clients. The regulatory framework ensures that Indian exporters can conduct international business with confidence while foreign buyers gain assurance that they are transacting through a properly regulated financial intermediary.
• The platform provides instant compliance documentation through seamless bank integrations, offers faster settlement cycles compared to traditional banking channels, and includes comprehensive tools for invoicing, analytics dashboards, and ERP system integration to streamline cash flow management. Skydo recently raised ₹83 crore ($10 million) in Series A funding and has set an ambitious target of achieving ₹41,680 crore ($5 billion) in annualized payment volumes by 2027, reflecting strong investor confidence in the cross-border payments sector.

Books and Authors News

Book on President Droupadi Murmu Released by Sanitation Worker in Visakhapatnam

• A symbolic and unprecedented book release ceremony took place in Visakhapatnam where Lakshmamma, a sanitation worker at Andhra University, launched the book titled “Agni Sarassulo Vikasinchina Kamalam Droupadi Murmu” authored by former Member of Parliament Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad. This deliberate choice of the book launcher represents a powerful statement about social equality and the dignity of labor in contemporary Indian society.
• The Telugu book title carries profound metaphorical significance, describing President Murmu’s remarkable journey from extreme hardship to India’s highest constitutional authority as a lotus blooming in fire-filled waters, symbolizing extraordinary resilience, determination, and triumph over adversity. The imagery resonates deeply with President Murmu’s personal narrative of overcoming poverty, losing family members, and facing discrimination as a tribal woman while ascending to the nation’s highest office.
• The unprecedented venue selection—under a tree on the Andhra University campus rather than in a conventional auditorium or convention hall—emphasized simplicity, accessibility, and connection with everyday life, deliberately mirroring President Murmu’s own humble background and personal journey. This setting choice attracted significant attention and commentary for breaking with traditional norms of book launch events that typically occur in elite, formal settings.
• The author Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad chose Lakshmamma deliberately to highlight fundamental values of humility, perseverance, respect for all forms of labor, and social equality that President Murmu embodies and represents throughout her public life. This book serves as inspiration for women, tribal communities, marginalized sections of society, and people facing poverty, highlighting the dignity of all labor and reinforcing the equality principle enshrined in Indian democracy and the Constitution.

Appointments and Resignations News

Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta Appointed Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court

• Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, currently serving as a judge at the Allahabad High Court, was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court following the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation made in December 2025. The appointment follows the established constitutional procedure where the Chief Justice of India, in consultation with senior-most judges, recommends appointments to the President of India for final approval.
• Justice Gupta will assume office immediately following the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Guhanathan Narendar on January 9, 2026, who attained the constitutionally mandated retirement age of 62 years after distinguished judicial service. This timing ensures seamless leadership transition without any administrative vacuum in the functioning of the Uttarakhand High Court, maintaining continuity in pending cases and judicial administration.
• Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta was appointed as a permanent judge of the Allahabad High Court on April 12, 2013, bringing over a decade of high court judicial experience to his new role. His tenure as Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court will continue until his retirement on October 8, 2026, providing approximately nine months of leadership during which he will oversee court administration, case management, and institutional development initiatives.
• The appointment ensures smooth leadership transition and highlights India’s judicial appointment mechanism through the established Collegium system, which aims to maintain judicial independence while ensuring merit-based selections for maintaining institutional continuity. Chief Justices play crucial roles in court administration, justice delivery, roster management, guidance on constitutional matters, and representing the judiciary in interactions with the executive and legislature, making this appointment significant for Uttarakhand’s judicial functioning and access to justice for citizens.

State News

Asha Van Mobile Cancer Screening Unit Launched in Gujarat

• Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated ‘Asha Van’, an innovative mobile cancer screening unit specifically designed to bring advanced diagnostic services to villages and remote areas where healthcare access remains severely limited due to geographical barriers, lack of infrastructure, and shortage of medical specialists. This initiative addresses the critical challenge of late-stage cancer diagnosis in rural areas, where patients often reach hospitals only after the disease has progressed significantly.
• The van is equipped with cutting-edge EVA-Pro diagnostic technology, digital mammography machines for breast cancer screening, and teleconsultation facilities enabling real-time consultation with oncology specialists, allowing screening for up to ten types of cancer including lung, oral, cervical, breast, prostate, stomach, colorectal, and skin cancers. The mobile unit brings hospital-grade diagnostic capabilities directly to rural communities, eliminating the need for patients to travel long distances to urban medical centers.
• Asha Van will be operated by the Bhavnagar branch of the Indian Red Cross Society and possesses the capability to conduct on-the-spot testing with immediate preliminary reports, dramatically reducing delays in cancer diagnosis that often prove fatal in rural settings. The unit can perform blood tests, imaging studies, and basic biopsies in the field, with results available within hours rather than the weeks or months typically required when patients must travel to distant diagnostic centers.
• Early detection through this mobile unit is expected to remove critical barriers such as distance, transportation costs, and lost wages for rural populations, directly supporting India’s national “Health and Wellness for All” goal. The initiative demonstrates Gujarat’s commitment and India’s broader policy direction toward expanding preventive healthcare in underserved regions and building a healthier population through accessible diagnostic technology, expert medical guidance, and follow-up treatment coordination with established cancer care facilities.

Summit and Conference News

Vice-President Inaugurates Third International Conference on Indian Languages

• Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the Third International Conference on Indian Languages in New Delhi, convening scholars, linguists, language experts, researchers, policymakers, and international delegates to discuss comprehensive strategies for protection, preservation, promotion, and global expansion of Indian languages. The conference serves as a crucial platform for addressing challenges faced by India’s linguistic diversity in the context of globalization, digital communication, and the dominance of major international languages.
• The Vice-President emphasized that languages are not mere communication tools but represent the “conscience of civilization,” carrying history, collective memory, values, traditions, and preserving accumulated knowledge in science, philosophy, medicine, and literature across generations. He argued that when languages die, entire worldviews, knowledge systems, and cultural perspectives disappear irretrievably, representing immense loss to human civilization and particularly to communities whose identities are intimately connected with their mother tongues.
• India’s extraordinary linguistic diversity, with hundreds of languages and thousands of dialects, has historically strengthened national unity rather than fragmenting it, with Indian languages contributing significantly to developments in medicine, mathematics, astronomy, science, governance, spirituality, philosophy, and arts throughout millennia. The Vice-President highlighted that ancient Indian languages like Sanskrit, Tamil, and Pali served as vehicles for transmitting knowledge across Asia, influencing languages and cultures far beyond the Indian subcontinent.
• The recent translation of India’s Constitution into Santhali language represents a historic step toward language inclusion and empowerment of tribal communities, with the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution now protecting 22 Indian languages and supporting democratic expression in mother tongues. The government supports comprehensive language preservation through the National Education Policy 2020’s emphasis on mother tongue-based education, the Gyan Bharatam Mission, and utilization of digital archives, AI-powered translation tools, and online repositories to ensure Indian languages thrive and evolve in the modern technological era while maintaining their cultural authenticity.

Rank and Reports News

UN Confirms India as Fastest-Growing Major Economy at 6.6% Growth in 2026

• The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) released the comprehensive “World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2026” report projecting India’s GDP growth at 6.6% in calendar year 2026, confirming India’s status as the fastest-growing major economy globally despite a moderating global economic environment. This projection places India significantly ahead of other major economies including China, the United States, and European nations, underscoring the country’s economic resilience and structural advantages.
• The projection represents a slight moderation from India’s estimated 7.4% growth in calendar year 2025, with growth forecast to improve marginally to 6.7% in 2027, supported primarily by resilient household consumption patterns and sustained strong public investment in infrastructure development. The UN report attributes this sustained high growth to India’s large domestic market, favorable demographic profile with a young working-age population, ongoing structural reforms, and government initiatives to boost manufacturing and digital economy sectors.
• The global economy is projected to grow at a more modest pace of 2.7% in 2026 compared to 2.8% in 2025, while global trade growth is expected to decline significantly to 2.2% from 3.8% in 2025 due to escalating trade tensions, protectionist policies, policy uncertainty in major economies, and geopolitical conflicts. This challenging global environment makes India’s projected 6.6% growth particularly impressive, demonstrating the economy’s relative insulation from external shocks through domestic demand strength.
• India’s strong economic performance is supported by comprehensive tax reforms including GST simplification, monetary easing measures by the Reserve Bank of India to support growth while managing inflation, and continued government emphasis on capital expenditure in roads, railways, ports, and digital infrastructure. UN-DESA’s projection aligns closely with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment that India may remain the only major economy growing above 6% during the 2025–26 period, reinforcing India’s position as a critical engine of global economic growth.

Banking and Finance News

SBI Projects India’s GDP Growth at 7.5% for FY 2025-26

• The State Bank of India (SBI) Economic Research Department projected India’s GDP growth for FY 2025–26 at 7.5% with upward bias in the comprehensive Ecowrap report released on January 7, 2026, marginally exceeding government estimates and reflecting confidence in sustained economic momentum. The “upward bias” terminology indicates that actual growth could potentially exceed 7.5% if favorable conditions persist, including normal monsoon, continued consumption recovery, and global economic stability.
• SBI’s projection of 7.5% exceeds both the National Statistical Office (NSO) First Advance Estimate of 7.4% and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projection of 7.3%, reflecting greater confidence in economic drivers including rural demand recovery, urban consumption resilience, manufacturing sector expansion, and services sector strength. The relatively close clustering of these estimates from different institutions—ranging from 7.3% to 7.5%—indicates broad consensus on India’s economic trajectory despite varying methodological approaches.
• According to detailed SBI analysis, the historical difference between RBI and NSO growth estimates typically remains within a narrow band of 20–30 basis points, suggesting that NSO’s 7.4% estimate is reasonable and well within established variation ranges, while SBI’s 7.5% forecast aligns well within normal statistical variation. This consistency across institutional forecasts enhances credibility and provides clearer signals to policymakers, investors, and businesses for planning purposes.
• Real GDP for FY26 is estimated at ₹201.90 lakh crore representing physical economic output adjusted for inflation, with growth of 7.4%, while Nominal GDP (including inflation effects) is projected to grow at 8.0% to reach ₹357.13–₹357.14 lakh crore, indicating moderate inflation environment. These projections indicate strong economic performance with household consumption resilience following post-pandemic recovery, public investment momentum continuing through infrastructure projects, and improving private investment sentiment as capacity utilization improves and business confidence strengthens across manufacturing and services sectors.

State News

Kamala Hydroelectric Project Approved for Arunachal Pradesh

• The Public Investment Board approved the ambitious Kamala Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh, an advanced storage-based hydropower scheme designed to generate 6,870 million units of electricity annually while providing integrated flood control capabilities for the downstream Brahmaputra Valley region. This dual-purpose project addresses both India’s clean energy requirements and the persistent flooding challenges faced by Assam and downstream areas during monsoon seasons.
• The project features a massive 216-metre-high concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse with installed capacity of 1,720 MW, making it one of the largest hydroelectric projects in the northeastern region. The project will be developed under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model with the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) holding 74% equity and the Arunachal Pradesh state government holding the remaining 26%, ensuring both central expertise and state participation in project benefits.
• Total project cost is estimated at ₹26,070 crore with a 70:30 debt-equity ratio, supplemented by ₹1,340 crore in central funding for associated infrastructure including roads, bridges, and transmission lines, and an additional ₹4,744 crore specifically allocated for flood moderation features benefiting millions of residents in the Brahmaputra Valley region. The flood control component includes storage capacity designed to moderate peak flows during monsoon season, potentially reducing flood damage worth thousands of crores annually.
• The project is expected to generate approximately 300 direct jobs in engineering, management, and technical roles and 2,500 contract jobs during peak construction phases, providing significant employment opportunities in the economically developing northeastern region. The levelised tariff is projected at ₹5.97 per unit when operational, making it competitive with thermal power while producing zero emissions. Upon completion in 96 months (eight years), the Kamala project will contribute significantly to India’s renewable energy targets of 500 GW by 2030 and climate goals, enabling the nation to move closer to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 while ensuring energy security.

Defence News

National Improvised Explosive Device Data Management System (NIDMS) Launched

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated India’s first National Improvised Explosive Device Data Management System (NIDMS) on January 9, 2026, creating a comprehensive digital repository recording detailed forensic information on all bomb blasts, IED incidents, and explosive attacks from 1999 to present to enhance security agency investigations. This centralized database represents a quantum leap in India’s counter-terrorism capabilities by providing investigators with instant access to decades of explosive incident data, forensic patterns, and investigative insights.
• The NIDMS is an advanced online database managed by the National Security Guard (NSG) headquarters in Manesar, Haryana, allowing authorized personnel from state police forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), intelligence agencies, and investigative organizations to access comprehensive explosion data, IED component details, attack patterns, and forensic analysis across India. The system employs strict access controls and data security protocols to prevent misuse while ensuring legitimate security agencies can rapidly access critical information during investigations.
• The platform utilizes Artificial Intelligence and machine learning algorithms to analyze complex patterns and identify connections between seemingly unrelated incidents, such as identifying identical timing devices, similar explosive compositions, or matching construction techniques used in separate terrorist attacks occurring years apart or in different geographical regions. This capability enables authorities to connect terror networks, predict potential threats based on pattern recognition, and prevent future incidents more effectively by identifying operational signatures of specific terrorist groups or individuals.
• The NSG will establish regional hubs in major metropolitan areas including Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad, with an additional specialized hub in Ayodhya considering its religious significance and security sensitivity, enabling rapid emergency response within 1 to 1.5 hours when the network becomes fully operational across all locations. NIDMS represents a significant advancement in India’s comprehensive counter-terrorism architecture by providing centralized, intelligent analysis of improvised explosive devices, attack methodologies, perpetrator patterns across decades of incident data, integrating forensic science, investigative experience, and artificial intelligence into a unified platform accessible to security forces nationwide.

Science and Technology News

MSTrIPES Digital App Deployed for Tiger Census in Anamalai Tiger Reserve

• Wildlife tracking and conservation efforts in India’s Anamalai Tiger Reserve are entering a comprehensive digital era with the deployment of MSTrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) mobile application for the All India Tiger Estimation Survey 2026. This technology-driven approach replaces traditional paper-based survey methods that were prone to data entry errors, delays in compilation, and difficulties in real-time monitoring of survey progress.
• The advanced GPS-enabled application allows forest staff and field researchers to record tiger and leopard signs including pugmarks, scats, scratch marks, territorial markings, megaherbivore data on elephants and gaur, arboreal animals in forest canopy, and detailed vegetation characteristics directly in the field using smartphones or tablets. The app automatically captures GPS coordinates, timestamps, and photographic evidence, creating georeferenced data points that can be immediately uploaded to central servers for analysis, significantly improving data accuracy and reducing the time between field collection and analytical processing.
• The comprehensive survey will involve over 340 trained forest staff members from eight administrative ranges covering 115 carefully designed transect lines across varied terrain types and forest densities, with operations scheduled from January 8–14, 2026, including training sessions on app usage, carnivore sign surveys, prey population estimation using distance sampling methods, and survey completion protocols. This intensive seven-day field effort represents coordinated deployment of human and technological resources on an unprecedented scale in the reserve’s conservation history.
• Anamalai Tiger Reserve covers 1,108 square kilometres across Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts in Tamil Nadu, forming a critical component of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, with the 2022 census recording 25 resident tigers in the reserve and 7–8 tigers sharing territories with adjacent Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Kerala, suggesting healthy population dynamics and potential for natural expansion. Recent field observations including fresh tiger movement signs in Kolumam buffer range and sightings of newborn cubs in Ulanthy forest range indicate a growing and reproductively healthy tiger population, making the 2026 census crucial for assessing population trends, habitat quality, prey availability, and conservation effectiveness over the past four years.

Banking and Finance News

IREDA Secures Fifth Consecutive ‘Excellent’ MoU Rating

• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) achieved an ‘Excellent’ rating in its annual performance evaluation through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy for FY 2024–25, scoring an impressive 96.42 out of 100 possible points. This high score reflects exceptional performance across multiple parameters including financial metrics, loan disbursement targets, project monitoring, operational efficiency, corporate governance standards, and contribution to national renewable energy goals.
• This achievement marks the fifth consecutive year that IREDA has received the prestigious ‘Excellent’ rating from the government, demonstrating sustained excellence in operational efficiency, financial discipline, portfolio quality management, and corporate governance practices despite operating in the rapidly growing and evolving renewable energy sector. The consistency of top-tier ratings over five years is particularly noteworthy given the challenges of scaling operations, managing increasingly complex project portfolios, and navigating policy changes in the renewable energy landscape.
• IREDA’s remarkable transformation from a ‘Fair’ rating of merely 45.83 points in FY 2019–20 to five consecutive years of ‘Excellent’ ratings scoring above 90 points reflects major organizational reforms in internal systems, operational processes, risk management frameworks, technology adoption, and institutional work culture focused on delivering sustainable energy financing solutions. This turnaround represents one of the most significant performance improvements among public sector financial institutions in recent years.
• As India’s largest and most specialized pure-play green Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), IREDA continues to strengthen the nation’s clean energy ecosystem through dedicated financing for solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, and emerging renewable projects, along with capacity building for institutions and entrepreneurs in the sector. Chairman & Managing Director Shri Pradip Kumar Das credited the sustained achievement to employee dedication, stakeholder trust, supportive government policies, and institutional focus on mission-driven performance, while reaffirming the organization’s commitment to advancing India’s ambitious renewable energy transition targets of 500 GW renewable capacity by 2030.

Awards and Recognitions News

Five Indian Films Selected for Oscars 2026 Best Picture Category

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced that five Indian films have qualified for consideration in the prestigious Best Picture category at the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026) out of 201 eligible feature films submitted from around the world. This represents significant Indian presence in the world’s most prestigious film awards, potentially marking a watershed moment for Indian cinema’s global recognition beyond the International Feature Film category.
• Qualified Indian films include Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 (Kannada language directed by Rishabh Shetty, exploring indigenous culture and folklore), Tanvi The Great (Hindi language featuring Anupam Kher in a significant role), Mahavatar Narsimha (multilingual animated feature based on Hindu mythology), Tourist Family (Tamil language debut film by filmmaker Abishan Jeevinth), and Sister Midnight (Hindi-UK co-production featuring Radhika Apte addressing contemporary themes). This diverse selection represents multiple Indian languages, genres, and storytelling approaches, showcasing the breadth and depth of contemporary Indian cinema.
• Additional Indian films eligible in other Oscar categories include Homebound (India’s official submission for the International Feature Film category), Dashavatar (Marathi language), Gevi (Tamil language), Humans in the Loop (documentary), and several others totaling across various technical and creative categories including cinematography, music, editing, and visual effects. This widespread presence across multiple categories indicates growing technical sophistication and artistic ambition in Indian filmmaking matching international standards.
• Best Picture eligibility requires films to run in at least 10 commercial theaters in the United States for a minimum of 45 consecutive days during calendar year 2025 and meet AMPAS’s Representation and Inclusion Standards (RAISE) form requirements focusing on diversity in casting, crew composition, storytelling perspectives, and production company practices. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026, at the historic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with nominations voting occurring from January 12–16 and the official nominations announcement on January 22, 2026, generating significant anticipation in the global film community.

Books and Authors News

53rd New Delhi World Book Fair Opens with Free Entry for All

• The 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026 opens from January 10–18 at the modern Bharat Mandapam convention center with groundbreaking free entry for all visitors, marking a historic departure from previous editions that charged admission fees. The fair features participation from over 1,000 publishers from India and abroad, and hosts more than 600 literary and cultural events including author sessions, book launches, poetry readings, panel discussions, and cultural performances representing global literary traditions.
• The fair’s specially chosen theme “Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75” honors 75 years of India’s independence with an expansive 1,000 square-metre Theme Pavilion featuring over 500 books on military history, interactive exhibitions, documentary screenings, historical installations, photographs, and artifacts covering military operations from 1947 to present. The theme pavilion includes sections on the 1947-48 Kashmir operations, 1962 Sino-Indian conflict, 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, Kargil conflict, peacekeeping missions, and contemporary security challenges, providing comprehensive historical perspective on India’s military heritage.
• The dedicated Children’s Pavilion known as ‘Kidz Express’ offers age-appropriate storytelling sessions, interactive theatre performances, educational quizzes, art and craft workshops, and provides access to Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya (ReP) digital library offering over 6,000 free digital books through QR code scanning, promoting inclusive literary access for young readers and encouraging digital reading habits. Special activities are designed for different age groups from pre-schoolers to teenagers, making literature accessible and engaging for the next generation.
• International participation includes over 35 countries with special national pavilions for France (coinciding with India–France Year of Innovation), Qatar as the guest of honour country showcasing Arabic literature and culture, and Spain as the focus country presenting Spanish and Latin American literary traditions. Notable speakers and performers include acclaimed actor-singer Piyush Mishra, former Union Minister Smriti Irani, legendary actress Hema Malini, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi, multiple Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej, and spiritual speaker Jaya Kishori, with evening cultural performances by Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force bands along with traditional folk artists from various regions.

National News

PANKHUDI Digital Portal Launched for Women and Child Development

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched PANKHUDI, an innovative digital portal designed to connect government agencies, citizens, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), corporate contributors under CSR mandates, and international development partners to coordinate comprehensive efforts for women and child welfare programs across India. The platform aims to eliminate fragmentation in social welfare efforts by creating a unified ecosystem where all stakeholders can collaborate, share information, and coordinate interventions effectively.
• The portal was inaugurated on January 8, 2026, by Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smt. Annpurna Devi and provides a comprehensive single-window platform for transparent, accountable contributions to nutrition programs, maternal and child health initiatives, childcare facilities, and women’s empowerment initiatives. The digital platform addresses long-standing challenges of coordination gaps, duplication of efforts, lack of transparency in fund utilization, and difficulties in monitoring impact across India’s vast geographical and administrative landscape.
• PANKHUDI directly supports flagship government programs including Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 (focused on nutrition and early childhood care), Mission Vatsalya (comprehensive child welfare and protection), and Mission Shakti (women’s safety, empowerment, and economic independence), collectively serving 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres and 5,000 Child Care Institutions nationwide. The platform enables real-time monitoring of program implementation, identification of service gaps, and rapid mobilization of resources to underserved areas or populations facing specific challenges.
• Contributors including corporations, foundations, individual donors, and international organizations can register their organizations, identify specific funding needs aligned with their objectives, submit detailed proposals, track approval processes, make contributions through non-cash modes ensuring financial transparency and accountability, and monitor progress of funded initiatives through regular updates and impact reports. The portal strengthens coordination between government ministries, state departments, NGOs with field presence, corporate CSR departments, and civil society organizations, enabling efficient resource allocation and real-time monitoring of 800 One Stop Centres providing integrated services for women facing violence, 500 Shakhi Niwas short-stay homes, and 400 Shakti Sadan shelter facilities across India.

National News

Akasa Air Joins IATA, Targets Top 30 Airlines Globally

• Akasa Air, India’s youngest commercial airline founded in 2020 and beginning operations in 2022, officially became a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the prestigious global trade association representing over 360 airlines that collectively handle over 80% of global air traffic. IATA membership signifies international recognition of Akasa Air’s operational standards, safety protocols, financial stability, and commitment to global aviation industry best practices, facilitating international expansion and code-sharing arrangements.
• The airline successfully qualified for IATA’s rigorous Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in December 2025, confirming adherence to comprehensive global safety standards covering flight operations, operational control, aircraft engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, ground handling, cargo operations, and operational security. IOSA certification is recognized worldwide as the aviation industry’s global benchmark for safety management systems and operational excellence, often required by international airport authorities and code-share partners before establishing operational relationships.
• Founded by aviation industry veteran Vinay Dube with strategic investment from the late legendary investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala who invested approximately $35 million for a 40% equity stake before his passing, Akasa began commercial flight operations on August 7, 2022. Despite being operational for less than three years, the airline now serves 26 domestic destinations across India and six international cities including Doha in Qatar, offering both scheduled passenger services and demonstrating rapid network expansion unprecedented in Indian aviation history.
• India now has five airlines with IATA membership: Air India (full-service international carrier), Air India Express (low-cost international subsidiary), IndiGo (India’s largest domestic carrier), Akasa Air (newest ultra-low-cost carrier), and SpiceJet (low-cost carrier), positioning the nation as a major aviation hub with strong global connectivity standards and flight operations meeting international benchmarks. Akasa has set an ambitious target of becoming one of the world’s top 30 airlines by passenger traffic or fleet size by 2030 with a firm order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, planning 30%+ capacity growth in FY26 through network expansion and fleet additions of 5+ additional aircraft, potentially disrupting India’s competitive aviation market with its service differentiation strategy and operational efficiency focus.