THE HEADLINES:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India should present unique Artificial Intelligence model to the world, reflecting spirit of Made in India, Made for the World.
- Government set to launch cashless medical treatment scheme for victims of road accidents.
- ED conducts search operations in West Bengal under Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with coal smuggling syndicate.
- Stock market plunges fourth straight session today; BSE Sensex plummets 740 points, and Nifty sheds 264 points.
- In Cricket, Australia clinch Ashes series 4-1, by defeating England in the fifth and final Test by five wickets at Sydney.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India should present a unique AI model to the world, reflecting the spirit of Made in India, and Made for the World. He emphasized on developing Indian AI models that are ethical, unbiased, transparent, and based on data privacy principles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired the roundtable with Indian AI Start-Ups in New Delhi. Ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 to be held in the country next month, 12 Indian AI start-ups which have qualified for the AI for ALL: Global Impact Challenge attended the roundtable. During the meeting, they presented their ideas and work. These Start-ups are working in a diverse set of areas including Indian language foundation models, 3D content using generative AI for e-commerce, marketing, and personalized content creation, engineering simulations, healthcare diagnostics and medical research, among others.
During the meeting, Prime Minister highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence in bringing about transformation in society. He said that India will host the India AI Impact Summit next month, through which the country will play a major role in the technology sector.
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Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that a hybrid model combining artificial intelligence with human intelligence will be critical to building a future-ready, responsive and effective public administration. Addressing a workshop on AI for Capacity Building: Transforming Governance in New Delhi, the Minister underlined that artificial intelligence should be seen as a powerful means, not an end in itself, and must always be guided by human judgement and responsibility.
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Road, Transport, and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari today announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a cashless medical treatment scheme for victims of road accidents soon. Mr Gadkari said this while addressing a press conference after chairing the 43rd meeting of the Transport Ministers of all states and Union Territories and the Transport Development Council in New Delhi.
The Minister said that under the scheme, road accident victims will be entitled to cashless treatment of up to one lakh 50 thousand rupees for a minimum of seven days.
Mr Gadkari said that in case of accidents on any road, the Good Samaritan helping the victim to reach the hospital will be awarded 25 thousand rupees. He said that such good Samaritans will be termed as Rahveers under the scheme. The Minister said that the pilot project of the scheme has recently been successfully concluded in various states and union territories, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh.
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Former Cabinet Secretary and Member NITI Aayog Rajiv Gauba has said that the PRAGATI has brought a new momentum to infrastructure project execution in the country. In an exclusive interview with the Akashvani News, he said that PRAGATI has a feature of public grievance redressal. He added that the Prime Minister’s focus is always on the feedback from citizens on redressal of their grievances.
He added that the iconic projects that were held up for years including the Chenab Rail Bridge and the Navi Mumbai Airport have been speeded up as a result of PRAGATI. The interview will be broadcast tonight at 09:30 PM on 100.1 Akashvani FM Gold channel and additional frequencies. It will also simultaneously live stream on our YouTube channel NEWSONAIROFFICIAL and mobile NewsOnAIR.
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Prime Minister’s flagship platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, PRAGATI, has marked a significant milestone with the successful conduct of its 50th meeting. Today, in this special series, we take a look at Housing and Infrastructure Initiatives being taken to transform country’s urban landscape. A report:
“India’s urban transition is emerging as a major driver of economic growth and social transformation. Urban areas are currently home to over 48 crore people and projected to cross 60 crore by 2030. This rapid pace of urbanisation is placing growing pressure on housing, transport, water and sanitation systems, and urban governance. Over the past decade, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has adopted a mission-mode approach to urban development. Seven key urban schemes have been reviewed across twelve PRAGATI meetings by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underlining their strategic importance and the need for close monitoring at the highest level. These projects include the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban, the Smart Cities Mission, and the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi scheme. Fourteen key projects worth more than two lakh 37 thousand crore rupees have also been reviewed under the PRAGATI mechanism. Four of these projects have already been commissioned, while ten are under implementation. The directions issued during PRAGATI reviews have strengthened accountability, improved coordination between ministries and states, resolved implementation bottlenecks, and accelerated project execution. Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban, more than one crore 18 lakh housing units have been sanctioned nationwide, with over 88 lakh houses already completed. The Smart Cities Mission has reached an advanced stage, covering 100 cities. Urban livelihoods continue to receive focused support through PM SVANidhi, with over 96 lakh loans amounting to nearly 13 thousand 800 crore rupees disbursed to more than 80 lakh street vendors. The Prime Minister’s vision for the housing and urban affairs sector emphasises inclusive, sustainable, and technology-enabled cities that ensure dignified living and economic opportunity for all. With Dipendra Kumar, Suparna Saikia, Akashvani News Delhi.”
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A grand Army Day Parade will be organised in Jaipur on 15th of this month. As part of the events being held to mark the 78th Army Day, a four-day Know Your Army exhibition began today at the Bhawani Niketan Education Committee campus in Jaipur. The exhibition was inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. He also viewed the modern equipment and weaponry displayed by the Army. More from our Correspondent:-
At the inauguration ceremony, the Indian Army’s mechanised forces, paragliding teams, skydivers, the dog squad, and several other units presented live demonstrations. The exhibition has been organised to showcase the Army’s work culture, technology, and operational preparedness. The exhibition will run for five days. Missiles, drones, Army tanks, and weapons used during Operation Sindoor are being display from 10:30 in the morning to 5:30 in the evening. Rehearsals for the Army Day Parade, scheduled to be held in Jaipur, are underway in Jagatpura from January 1 , and these rehearsals are also open for public – Jitendra Dwivedi, Akashvani News, Jaipur.
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Home Minister Amit Shah has appealed to the people to join the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, which is underway at the Somnath Temple in Gujarat. In a social media post, Mr. Shah said that the Somnath Swabhiman Parv is being celebrated to convey the message of continuity and resilience of Sanatan culture to future generations. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to observe the Somnath Swabhiman Parv on the completion of one thousand years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple. The Minister underlined that the Somnath Mahadev Temple, besides being a Jyotirlinga, is an enduring heritage of Sanatan culture and spiritual glory.
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today conducted search operations at ten locations in West Bengal and Delhi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with coal smuggling syndicate. This includes six locations in West Bengal and four in Delhi. The ED said, its investigation revealed that a coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majee was involved in illegal coal theft and excavation from Eastern Coalfields Limited leasehold areas in West Bengal. The agency said, the illegally mined coal was sold to factories and plants in Bankura, Bardhaman, Purulia, and other districts of the state. The ED has stressed that the search operation conducted at the offices of I-PAC in West Bengal, was evidence-based and not targeted at any political establishment. Responding to West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee’s allegations that attempts were being made to seize important documents, including the party’s candidate lists, the ED said, no party office was searched and that the operation was not linked to any election. It said, the searches were part of a regular crackdown on money laundering and were conducted strictly in accordance with legal procedures.
On the ED search operation, Law and Justice Minister said, ED and CBI are the investigation agencies of the country and they conduct operation based on their inputs.
Addressing media in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the investigation was an attempt to seize confidential party documents ahead of elections. Meanwhile state BJP has condemned the incident in which the Chief Minister allegedly seized documents and electronic devices from ED officials. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari has also accused the Chief Minister of obstructing the ED’s investigation and demanded legal action against her. In response to alleged obstruction of its probe into the coal smuggling case, the ED has approached the Calcutta High Court.
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In Business news, benchmark domestic equity indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, extended their decline for a fourth straight session, ending about one per cent lower. Both indices opened on a weaker note and remained under pressure throughout the trading session. A report:-
” The Sensex plunged 780 points to close at 84 thousand and 181, while the Nifty shed 264 points to settle at 25 thousand 877. The broader market at the Bombay Stock Exchange also underperformed. The Mid-Cap index as well as the Small-Cap index, both tumbled almost two per cent.
In the forex market, the rupee today depreciated by 14 paise to close at 90 rupees and two paise against the US dollar . Rajesh Laikh for AKASHVANI News.”
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India has begun implementing a 450 million US dollars assistance package to help Sri Lanka recover from Cyclone Ditwah, moving from emergency relief to reconstruction of damaged roads, railways, bridges and housing, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha said on Thursday. The package was announced during a visit to Sri Lanka by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in December.
Addressing the media, Mr. Jha said the package includes 350 million US dollars in concessional lines of credit and 100 million US dollars in grants, targeting restoration of roads, railways and bridges, housing reconstruction, health and education facilities, agriculture support and disaster preparedness.
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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has strongly criticized the US foreign policy under President Donald Trump. Mr. Steinmeier said, global democracy was being attacked as never before. According to the experts, these remarks apparently refer to recent actions such as the ousting of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro. Describing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the invasion of Ukraine as a watershed, President Steinmeier said, the US behaviour represented a second historic rupture. He said, active intervention was needed in threatening situations and countries such as Brazil and India must be convinced to protect the world order.
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Australia clinched Ashes series by winning the fifth test at the Sydney cricket ground. The bowling, batting and fielding performances feature highly on the all-time lists for Aussies in the Ashes, underscoring Australia’s dominance in the 4-1 series win. The Australians bowled England out for 342 on the fifth day of the series finale and 160 for victory, finished 161-5 with Carey hitting the winnings run and Cameron Green unbeaten on 22.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India should present unique Artificial Intelligence model to the world, reflecting spirit of Made in India, Made for the World.
- Government set to launch cashless medical treatment scheme for victims of road accidents.
- ED conducts search operations in West Bengal under Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with coal smuggling syndicate.
- Stock market plunges fourth straight session today; BSE Sensex plummets 740 points, and Nifty sheds 264 points.
- In Cricket, Australia clinch Ashes series 4-1, by defeating England in the fifth and final Test by five wickets at Sydney.
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