Banking and Finance News

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Completes 11 Years Since its Inception

• The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), a Government of India-backed small savings scheme launched under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign, completed 11 years on January 22, 2026, having been originally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2015. As of December 2025, the scheme has witnessed remarkable growth with 4.53 crore accounts opened across the country and total deposits exceeding Rs 3.33 lakh crore, demonstrating its widespread acceptance among Indian families.
• The scheme is administered by the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance and allows parents or legal guardians to open Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts for their Indian girl child at any India Post office or branch of Public Sector Banks and select authorized Private Sector Banks including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, and IDBI Bank. Accounts can be opened anytime from the birth of the girl child until she attains the age of 10 years, with only one account permitted per girl child and a maximum of two accounts per family.
• The deposit structure requires a minimum initial deposit of Rs 250 in the account, with subsequent deposits possible in multiples of Rs 50, provided at least Rs 250 is deposited in a financial year. The total annual deposit limit is capped at Rs 1,50,000, with any excess amount not earning interest and being returned to the depositor. Deposits can be made for a period of up to 15 years from the account opening date.
• The SSY currently offers an attractive interest rate of 8.2% per annum, with rates reviewed quarterly by the government and interest credited annually to the account. The account matures upon completion of 21 years from its opening date, providing long-term financial security for the girl child’s education, marriage, or other significant life events, making it one of the most beneficial savings schemes for the girl child in India.

International News

Overview of Spain Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares’ Visit to India

• Jose Manuel Albares, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, undertook a one-day official visit to India on January 21, 2026, at the invitation of Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs. The visit coincided with the significant milestone of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Spain, which were formally established in 1956, marking seven decades of bilateral cooperation and friendship.
• During his visit to India, Spain’s Foreign Minister held a bilateral meeting with Union Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, where they comprehensively reviewed India-Spain relations across multiple sectors including trade, investment, defense, culture, tourism, and people-to-people ties. He also met President of India Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, further strengthening the high-level diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
• A historic highlight of the visit was Spain’s formal accession to the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), with Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares presenting the ‘Declaration of Accession’ to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. As part of the joining procedure, Spain and India agreed to upgrade their relationship to a “strategic association,” which represents the highest level of diplomatic partnership accorded by India, elevating bilateral ties to an unprecedented level.
• Spanish FM Jose Manuel Albares and Union Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar jointly unveiled the official logo for the India-Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence, commemorating 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During this Dual Year, India and Spain will organize a comprehensive range of collaborative initiatives including cultural festivals, exhibitions and exchanges, tourism promotion activities, cooperation in science, technology and Artificial Intelligence, as well as academic, business and people-to-people events to deepen bilateral engagement across all sectors.

Defence News

Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan Releases Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework

• General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defense Staff, released the comprehensive ‘Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework’ on January 22, 2026, establishing a detailed policy and roadmap for adopting quantum technologies across all three services of the Indian Armed Forces—the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. This groundbreaking vision document lays out a strategic roadmap for integrating quantum technologies in military operations, aligned with the National Quantum Mission launched by the Government of India.
• The framework is specifically designed to harness quantum technologies to enhance defense capabilities and secure technological dominance in future warfare scenarios, positioning India at the forefront of quantum-enabled military capabilities. The policy emphasizes the critical importance of quantum technologies in modern warfare and identifies them as game-changing capabilities that will define military superiority in the coming decades.
• The comprehensive framework focuses on four critical pillars of quantum technology development and application: quantum communication for secure military communications, quantum computing for complex military calculations and simulations, quantum sensing and metrology for enhanced detection and precision, and quantum materials and devices for next-generation military hardware. Each pillar is designed to address specific operational requirements of the armed forces.
• The policy framework lays out a detailed roadmap for coordinated implementation, strongly highlighting civil-military cooperation, the establishment of dedicated governing bodies for oversight and execution, and close collaboration among the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force to seamlessly integrate quantum technologies into defense operations. This approach ensures unified progress and avoids duplication of efforts while maximizing the strategic advantage of quantum technologies across all military domains.

National News

Government of India Releases NeSDA Way Forward Monthly Report for December 2025

• The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions released the 32nd edition of the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) Way Forward Monthly Report on January 22, 2026, covering comprehensive progress up to December 2025. This report represents a continued commitment to tracking and improving digital governance and e-service delivery across all Indian states and union territories.
• As of December 2025, a total of 24,090 e-services are being provided across all States and Union Territories, with the largest share of 8,656 services concentrated in the Local Governance & Utility Services sector, demonstrating the emphasis on citizen-centric services at the grassroots level. Notably, 156 new services were added in November 2025 alone, indicating the continuous expansion and improvement of digital service delivery infrastructure.
• A remarkable achievement highlighted in the report is that 22 States and Union Territories have achieved over 90% saturation of 59 mandatory e-services, demonstrating exemplary digital governance. These high-performing states and UTs include Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.
• The NeSDA framework serves as a comprehensive assessment tool to evaluate the maturity and effectiveness of e-Governance service delivery at the State and Union Territory level, encouraging healthy competition and best practice sharing among different jurisdictions. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, headed by Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh from Udhampur constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, continues to drive this digital transformation agenda across the country.

National News

Ministry of Environment Extends GEI Targets to Four Additional Sectors Under Carbon Credit Trading Scheme

• In January 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change expanded the scope of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme by notifying Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity targets for four additional carbon-intensive industrial sectors—petroleum refineries, petrochemicals, textiles, and secondary aluminium—bringing them under the compliance framework of the Indian Carbon Market. These newly included sectors cover 208 entities, expanding the total number of obligated entities from 282 to 490 across India’s most emission-intensive industries.
• The GEI targets specify the amount of Greenhouse Gas emissions per unit of output that an industry is allowed to emit, creating a market-based incentive for industries to reduce emissions efficiently. Each obligated entity must reduce its emission intensity to meet the prescribed level; entities performing better than their targets earn Carbon Credit Certificates, while entities failing to meet targets must purchase these certificates from the market, thereby creating a functioning carbon trading ecosystem.
• The first set of GEI targets was issued in October 2025 for the Aluminium, Cement, Chlor-Alkali, and Pulp & Paper sectors, covering 282 entities. With this latest expansion, the compliance mechanism now encompasses eight major industrial sectors, representing a significant portion of India’s industrial carbon footprint and demonstrating the government’s commitment to systematic decarbonization of the economy.
• The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, notified in 2023, aims to reduce or avoid Greenhouse Gas emissions across the Indian economy by putting a price on carbon through a trading system. It operates through two distinct mechanisms: the Compliance Mechanism, which is mandatory for emission-intensive sectors, and the Offset Mechanism, which allows voluntary emission reduction projects to generate tradable carbon credits. The scheme aligns strategically with the Government of India’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, as announced at COP26.

State News

Foundation Stone Laid for India’s First Private Satellite Plant at Sanand, Gujarat

• In January 2026, Arjunbhai Modhwadia, Minister of Gujarat’s Science and Technology, laid the foundation stone for India’s first integrated private-sector satellite manufacturing plant named ‘Palmnaro’ at Khoraaj Industrial Estate in Sanand, Gujarat. This groundbreaking facility represents a historic milestone in India’s space sector liberalization and the growing participation of private enterprises in the nation’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.
• The Palmnaro plant is being developed by Azista Space Limited, which has signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Gujarat government worth more than Rs 500 crore in total investment. The facility will serve as an Electro-Optical Payload Factory with the ambitious objective to indigenously design, develop, and manufacture complete satellites, electro-optical payloads, and other high-tech space components under one roof, creating a comprehensive satellite production ecosystem.
• The establishment of this integrated facility is set to significantly strengthen India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities, boost self-reliance in key space technologies, and reduce dependency on imports for critical satellite components. The plant is expected to create numerous high-skilled jobs locally in Gujarat, contributing to both the state’s industrial development and the national goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the space sector.
• This initiative aligns perfectly with the Government of India’s reforms in the space sector, including the opening up of space activities to private players, and represents a major step forward in building indigenous capabilities for satellite manufacturing. The facility will position India to compete more effectively in the growing global commercial satellite market while supporting both domestic space missions and export opportunities.

State News

Lucknow Achieves 100% Scientific Processing of Municipal Solid Waste Under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban

• In January 2026, Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, inaugurated its third fresh waste processing facility at Shivari Solid Waste Management Plant, becoming the first city in the state to achieve 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban. Following this launch, Lucknow has emerged as Uttar Pradesh’s first ‘Zero Fresh Waste Dump’ city, setting a benchmark for waste management in the state.
• The newly inaugurated plant at Shivari has a substantial processing capacity of 700 Metric Tonnes per day, enabling the Lucknow Municipal Corporation, along with its two existing facilities, to scientifically process over 2,100 Metric Tonnes of municipal waste daily. This comprehensive processing capacity ensures that all fresh waste generated in the city is handled scientifically without being dumped in landfills.
• Out of the total 18.5 lakh Metric Tonnes of accumulated waste in the city, nearly 12.86 lakh Metric Tonnes has been scientifically processed through various treatment methods. This extensive processing has resulted in the generation of approximately 2.27 lakh MT of Refuse Derived Fuel, 4.38 lakh MT of inert materials suitable for construction purposes, 0.59 lakh MT of bio-soil for agricultural use, and 2.35 lakh MT of construction and demolition waste, demonstrating effective resource recovery from waste.
• Looking ahead, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation is planning to set up a 15 Mega Watt Waste-to-Energy plant at Shivari, which will convert Refuse Derived Fuel generated from waste into electricity. This proposed plant is expected to further enhance the circular economy approach to waste management, generating clean energy while solving the waste disposal challenge, making Lucknow a model for sustainable urban waste management in India.

Science and Technology News

India De-licenses Lower 6 Gigahertz Spectrum for Wi-Fi Services

• In January 2026, the Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Communications notified the de-licensing of the lower 6 Gigahertz band, covering frequencies ranging between 5925 megahertz to 6425 MHz, to significantly boost Wi-Fi services across India. This regulatory change came into effect from January 21, 2026, and was formalized under the newly notified Low Power and Very Low Power Wireless Access System Rules, 2026, unlocking the potential of advanced Wi-Fi 6 Extended and Wi-Fi 7 technologies in the country.
• The de-licensing framework allows Low Power Indoor and Very Low Power outdoor devices to operate in the 6 GHz band without requiring a license, on a shared, non-exclusive, non-interference basis with other users. The power limits are set at Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power of 30 dBm (decibel-milliwatts) for Low Power Indoor devices and 14 dBm for Very Low Power outdoor systems, ensuring controlled interference levels while enabling effective wireless connectivity.
• Specific restrictions have been imposed to ensure appropriate use of the spectrum: the band is prohibited for use in vehicles, boats, oil platforms, drones/Unmanned Aerial Systems, and aircraft below 10,000 feet altitude. The framework restricts the band exclusively to low-power Wi-Fi use and explicitly excludes high-power mobile networks, maintaining clear separation between Wi-Fi and cellular services to prevent interference and ensure optimal performance.
• Technical mandates include the requirement for contention-based protocols, integrated antennas, and strict emission and spectral density controls to maintain spectrum efficiency and minimize interference. Importantly, the upper 6 GHz band covering 6425–7125 MHz has been reserved exclusively for advanced mobile services under the National Frequency Allocation Plan, ensuring adequate spectrum availability for future 5G and 6G mobile network deployments while the lower band serves Wi-Fi requirements.

Banking and Finance News

Razorpay POS Secures RBI Payment Aggregator – Physical Licence

• In January 2026, Razorpay’s offline payments arm, Razorpay POS (Point of Sale), received the Payment Aggregator – Physical licence from the Reserve Bank of India, enabling it to function as an authorized payment aggregator specifically for in-store transactions. This regulatory approval allows Razorpay POS to legally aggregate and process physical point-of-sale transactions for merchants across India, significantly expanding its operational scope.
• The PA-P licence enables Razorpay POS to substantially scale its in-store payment infrastructure, handling high-volume transactions for large retailers, enterprises, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises across multiple segments. Razorpay POS provides a comprehensive hardware suite including Android Smart POS devices, magnetic stripe POS terminals, and soundbox devices for accepting physical transactions, covering the entire spectrum of offline payment acceptance needs.
• With this approval, Razorpay now holds all three key RBI Payment Aggregator licences—online (PA-O) for e-commerce transactions, physical (PA-P) for in-store transactions, and cross-border (PA-CB) for international payments—making it one of the very few fintech firms in India fully authorized to operate across the entire payments ecosystem. This comprehensive licensing positions Razorpay as a complete payment solutions provider capable of serving merchants’ needs across all channels.
• The Physical Payment Aggregator licence represents a critical regulatory framework established by the RBI to ensure that entities facilitating offline merchant payments meet stringent operational, financial, and security standards. By obtaining this licence, Razorpay POS has demonstrated compliance with RBI’s regulatory requirements regarding capital adequacy, data security, merchant onboarding processes, and transaction monitoring, providing assurance to merchants and customers about the safety and reliability of its payment processing services.

Banking and Finance News

RXIL Becomes India’s First TReDS Platform to Declare Interim Dividend

• In January 2026, Receivables Exchange of India Limited, a Trade Receivables Discounting System platform, declared and paid an interim dividend of 21.6% on the face value of its shares, marking a historic milestone as the first TReDS platform in India to return capital to stakeholders. This dividend distribution demonstrates the financial viability and profitability of the TReDS model in supporting MSME liquidity and the financing ecosystem.
• RXIL received Reserve Bank of India approval in December 2016 and executed its first TReDS transaction on January 9, 2017, making it one of the pioneer platforms in operationalizing the TReDS framework in India. The platform is a joint venture of Small Industries Development Bank of India and National Stock Exchange, along with State Bank of India, ICICI, and Yes Bank, bringing together the expertise and reach of major financial institutions.
• RXIL functions as a digital platform enabling trade receivables financing for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, allowing them to auction their trade receivables to multiple financiers on the platform, thereby improving their working capital and cash flow. This mechanism helps MSMEs overcome the challenge of delayed payments from large corporate buyers by providing them access to immediate financing against their invoices.
• RXIL stands as the only TReDS platform allowing state government participation, with the Goa and Tamil Nadu governments actively engaged on the platform. This unique feature enables MSMEs supplying goods and services to state governments to discount their receivables, ensuring they are not constrained by delayed government payments, thereby strengthening the supplier ecosystem supporting government procurement.

Defence News

Indian Army and HAL Lay Foundation Stone For Helicopter MRO Hub in Missamari, Assam

• In January 2026, P.B. Rangarao, Chief Executive Officer of Helicopter Complex at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, along with the General Officer Commanding of Gajraj Corps, laid the foundation stone for HAL’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul hub at Missamari in Assam. This facility represents a strategic investment in building regional aerospace maintenance infrastructure to support military helicopter operations in the strategically important northeastern region of India.
• The new MRO facility will provide critical benefits including significantly reduced repair turnaround time for military helicopters, streamlined logistics support by eliminating the need to transport aircraft to distant facilities, and sustained MRO support specifically tailored to the operational requirements of Indian Army aviation and the Indian Air Force units deployed in the region. This will ensure higher operational readiness of helicopter fleets operating in the challenging terrain and weather conditions of the Northeast.
• The proposed facility is expected to substantially enhance combat readiness in the region by ensuring that military helicopters can be quickly serviced, repaired and returned to operations without lengthy downtime. It reflects a major milestone in bolstering indigenous aerospace support infrastructure in a strategically sensitive region where helicopter operations are critical for troop movement, logistics support, and emergency response.
• This initiative aligns perfectly with the Government of India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defense manufacturing and maintenance, and reaffirms the Indian Army’s commitment to self-reliance, operational excellence and long-term capability collaboration with the defense public sector industry. The facility will also create skilled employment opportunities in Assam and contribute to the development of an aerospace ecosystem in the northeastern states.

Science and Technology News

Pixxel-led Consortium Signs Agreement with IN-SPACe for Earth Observation Satellite Constellation

• In January 2026, the Allied Orbits consortium, led by Pixxel Space India, signed a landmark agreement with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre in Bengaluru to design, build, own, and operate India’s first privately-led national Earth Observation satellite constellation under the Earth Observation Public-Private Partnership programme. This agreement represents a transformative shift in India’s space sector, enabling private industry to lead national-level space infrastructure development.
• The Allied Orbits Consortium, led by Pixxel Space, includes partner organizations Dhruva Space Private Limited providing satellite manufacture and ground infrastructure, PierSight Space Private Limited contributing SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites, and SatSure Analytics India Private Limited delivering multispectral data and analytics capabilities. This collaborative approach brings together complementary expertise across satellite manufacturing, sensor technologies, ground systems, and data analytics.
• The planned constellation will consist of twelve low-Earth orbit satellites equipped with optical, multispectral, hyperspectral, and SAR sensors, providing comprehensive day-night, all-weather imaging capabilities for diverse applications including agriculture monitoring, disaster management, climate monitoring, infrastructure development, and security surveillance. This multi-sensor approach will provide India with advanced persistent Earth observation capabilities comparable to international systems.
• The Consortium adopted an innovative self-funded “zero-cost bid” model, foregoing up to Rs 350 crore in government support while ensuring government access to the satellite data for official purposes. The 12-satellite constellation will be deployed in phases, with the first four satellites scheduled to be in orbit by the First Quarter of 2027 and the remaining eight launched sequentially over the following years to complete the fleet, establishing India’s first comprehensive commercial Earth observation system under private leadership.

Science and Technology News

Zoological Survey of India Discovered Rare Caecilian Species in Northern Western Ghats

• In January 2026, a team of scientists led by the Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre in Pune, announced the discovery of a new species of subterranean amphibian named Gegeneophis valmiki from the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, marking the first discovery within the genus Gegeneophis in over a decade. The findings were published in the international peer-reviewed journal Phyllomedusa, adding to the scientific documentation of India’s rich but poorly understood caecilian diversity.
• The species was first collected in 2017 by K P Dinesh, senior scientist at ZSI, during surveys on the Valmiki Plateau in Maharashtra’s Satara district, but required several years of detailed morphological and genetic analysis to confirm its status as a distinct new species. Gegeneophis valmiki is a blind caecilian belonging to the family Grandisoniidae under the order Gymnophiona, representing the unique group of limbless, worm-like amphibians that are among the least studied vertebrates.
• Morphologically, Gegeneophis valmiki is approximately 160 millimeters long with distinctive dark bluish-grey skin, prominent ring-like annuli (body rings) characteristic of caecilians, and eyes concealed beneath bone—a fossorial (burrowing) adaptation for its subterranean lifestyle. The species inhabits underground soil and humus layers at the base of lateritic plateaus in the Satara region of the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot known for its high level of endemism.
• The species is named after the Maharshi Valmiki Mandir located near Paneri, Palashi in Maharashtra, connecting the scientific discovery to local cultural heritage. Ecologically, Gegeneophis valmiki plays important roles in the soil ecosystem by aerating soil through its burrowing activities, controlling populations of soil invertebrates including insects and worms, and serving as prey for various birds, reptiles, and small mammals, highlighting the interconnected nature of biodiversity even for rarely seen subterranean species.

Obituary News

Former Indian Football Team Defender Ilyas Pasha Passed Away

• Former Indian football team defender and East Bengal legend Ilyas Pasha passed away on January 22, 2026, at the age of 61 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, leaving behind a legacy as one of India’s most disciplined and tactically astute defenders of his era. Born in 1964 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Pasha began his career in his home city and rose to become one of the most respected right wing-backs in Indian football during the late 1980s and 1990s.
• Ilyas Pasha made his international debut for India on January 27, 1987, against Bulgaria in the Nehru Cup at Kozhikode, Kerala, and went on to earn eight caps for the national team. His international career included appearances in prestigious tournaments such as the Nehru Cup in 1987 and 1991, the South Asian Federation Games in 1991, and the Asian Cup qualifiers in 1992, representing India during an important period of Indian football.
• At the domestic level, Pasha started with Vinayaka Football Club and Indian Telephone Industries in Bengaluru, represented Karnataka in the Santosh Trophy from 1987 to 1989, and later won the prestigious national championship with Bengal in 1993 and 1995. His move to East Bengal in 1990 marked the beginning of his most successful period, where he became an integral part of the club’s golden era from 1990 to 1998.
• During his illustrious career with East Bengal, Pasha captained the side in 1993-94 and was part of the club’s Triple Crown-winning team in 1990, winning multiple titles including the Calcutta Football League, Indian Football Association Shield, Durand Cup, Federation Cup in 1996, Super Cup in 1996-97, and the Wai Wai Cup in 1993. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, he received the club’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, cementing his status as one of East Bengal’s most decorated defenders.

Important Days News

Parakram Diwas 2026 – January 23

• Parakram Diwas, also known as the Day of Valour, is observed annually across India on January 23 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Indian freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose, popularly known as Netaji, with January 23, 2026, marking the 129th birth anniversary of this iconic leader. In 2021, the Government of India officially designated January 23 as Parakram Diwas to honor Netaji’s immense contributions to the Indian independence movement, his exemplary courage, and his indomitable spirit in the struggle against British colonial rule.
• The Ministry of Culture organized a special three-day Parakram Diwas-2026 celebration from January 23 to 25, 2026, at Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a location of deep historical significance as Netaji had hoisted the Indian flag there during World War II. Admiral D.K. Joshi (Retired), Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, served as the Chief Guest for the commemorative events.
• On January 23, 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the recipients of the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026 in recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of Disaster Management, connecting Netaji’s spirit of service to the nation with contemporary excellence in protecting citizens. The awardees include the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority in the Institutional Category and Lieutenant Colonel Seeta Ashok Shelke of the Indian Army in the Individual Category.
• Subhash Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha, and became one of the most prominent and inspirational leaders of the Indian independence movement, known for his fierce nationalism and his famous call “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom.” He founded the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) and established the Provisional Government of Free India, challenging British rule through armed resistance and galvanizing millions of Indians with his charismatic leadership and unwavering commitment to complete independence.

State News

Goa Government Signs MoU with Starlink for Digital Connectivity and Disaster Resilience

• In January 2026, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications of the Government of Goa signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (Starlink India) to strengthen the digital infrastructure, connectivity, and disaster resilience of the state by leveraging advanced satellite-based broadband solutions. The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, and Prabhakar Jayakumar, Head of Starlink India, marking a significant step in modernizing the state’s digital ecosystem.
• Under the MoU, the Government of Goa and Starlink will explore comprehensive collaboration in key focus areas including digital connectivity for underserved areas, disaster resilience through backup communication systems, and smart governance initiatives across the state. The initiatives specifically focus on providing reliable connectivity to select government schools, healthcare facilities, and disaster management centres that may face connectivity challenges through terrestrial networks.
• The collaboration will enable robust connectivity solutions for public infrastructure and services, supporting Goa’s important tourism sector and coastal development initiatives where traditional fiber-optic connectivity may be challenging to deploy. The satellite-based connectivity will ensure that critical services remain operational even during natural disasters or infrastructure disruptions that may affect ground-based networks.
• A key component of the partnership involves building local capacity through specialized training programs for government personnel and leveraging Low Earth Orbit satellite technology to deliver affordable, low-latency, high-speed broadband specifically for public benefit use cases. Starlink’s LEO satellite constellation can provide broadband speeds comparable to fiber-optic connections while reaching geographically remote or difficult-to-serve locations, making it ideal for ensuring universal connectivity across Goa’s diverse geography including coastal areas and islands.

State News

Uttarakhand and ITBP Signs MoU to Launch Healthy Border Campaign

• In January 2026, the Government of Uttarakhand signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police in the presence of Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, in Dehradun to launch the ‘Healthy Border Campaign’ (Swasth Seema Abhiyan), a comprehensive initiative aimed at delivering integrated primary healthcare services to residents of 108 remote border villages in the state. This partnership represents an innovative model of utilizing paramilitary medical infrastructure to serve civilian populations in strategically important but medically underserved border areas.
• The first phase of this healthcare initiative will be implemented in the border districts of Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, which are characterized by difficult terrain, harsh weather conditions, and limited access to healthcare facilities. These districts border Tibet (China) and have scattered populations living in remote villages where accessing even basic healthcare requires traveling long distances over difficult mountain roads.
• Under the MoU, the Department of Medical Health and Family Welfare of the Government of Uttarakhand will provide demographic data of border populations, initial medical equipment for ITBP facilities, ensure continuous supply of medicines, provide communication support for coordination, and handle equipment replacement when needed. The ITBP, in turn, will deploy qualified doctors and paramedical staff from its medical cadre, provide Medical Inspection Rooms and telemedicine facilities at border posts, conduct regular village visits for preventive healthcare, and manage medical health records, equipment, and consumables.
• A unique aspect of this collaboration is the local procurement arrangement whereby items including live sheep and goats, live poultry, Himalayan trout, fresh milk, paneer, and Total Protein Meals are being sourced through various cooperative institutions in the border areas. This not only ensures fresh supplies for ITBP personnel but also creates a sustainable economic linkage with local communities, providing them with a reliable market for their agricultural and animal husbandry products while improving nutrition for the paramilitary force.

State News

Punjab Launches ‘Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana’ to Provide Free Cashless Healthcare

• On January 22, 2026, Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister of Punjab, launched a comprehensive state-wide universal healthcare scheme named ‘Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana’ to provide free cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh to every family in the state, regardless of their economic status. This ambitious scheme aims to eliminate financial barriers to quality healthcare and ensure that no family in Punjab faces medical bankruptcy due to catastrophic health expenses.
• The state government has paid an advance premium to the designated insurer to activate and operationalize the scheme effectively from day one, ensuring smooth implementation without delays. The scheme provides free cashless medical treatment coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh per family per year at both government hospitals and empanelled private hospitals throughout Punjab, giving beneficiaries the flexibility to choose their preferred healthcare provider from the network.
• The comprehensive coverage includes more than 2,356 medical treatment packages, encompassing specialized services in critical medical fields including cardiology for heart diseases, oncology for cancer treatment, neurology for brain and nervous system disorders, nephrology for kidney diseases, orthopaedics for bone and joint problems, general medicine for common ailments, and urology for urinary system disorders. This extensive coverage ensures that families can access treatment for virtually all major health conditions.
• Eligibility for the scheme is simple and inclusive—any resident of Punjab with a valid Aadhaar card or voter identification card can avail the benefits, eliminating complex eligibility criteria that often exclude vulnerable populations. For existing beneficiaries already covered under the central Ayushman Bharat scheme (which provides Rs 5 lakh coverage), this state scheme provides an additional top-up of Rs 5 lakh, bringing their total coverage to Rs 10 lakh, thereby significantly enhancing the financial protection available to Punjab’s residents against health-related expenses.