THE HEADLINES :
- Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav says certain political parties spreading misinformation on Supreme Court’s verdict on Aravalli hills; Reiterates government is fully committed to its conservation.
- Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launches next-generation US communication satellite BlueBird Block-2; Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails ISRO for placing heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil.
- Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says, states are not mere implementing agencies but partners in development in Viksit Bharat: GRAM G scheme.
- Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman join hands to contest Civic Polls in Mumbai.
- Dense fog disrupts flight and Train services in Delhi; Around 16 flights cancelled and more than 50 trains bound for Delhi delayed.
- World famous Dhanu Yatra to begin at Bargarh in Odisha this evening; President Droupadi Murmu says, it will foster spiritual consciousness in society.
- And, Star India all-rounder Deepti Sharma climbs to world No. 1 in ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings.
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Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, has said that certain political parties, particularly the Congress, are spreading misinformation regarding the Supreme Court’s verdict on Aravalli hills. He said that they are intentionally misinterpreting the Supreme Court’s verdict and using it as a political tool to satisfy their own interests. In an exclusive interview with the Akashvani News, Mr. Yadav added that citizens will not fall prey to the propaganda being spread by the opposition.
The Minister clarified that the Supreme Court’s verdict is to prohibit the illegal mining in the Aravalli region.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the Aravalli range, Mr. Yadav noted that the region is a major source of critical minerals, which are essential for the country’s economic and industrial growth and the Modi government is fully committed to its conservation. The full interview will be broadcast in our “Surkhiyon Mein” programme today at 07.10 PM on 100.1 Akashvani FM Gold channel. It will also livestream on our mobile app NewsOnAIR and YouTube channel NEWSONAIROFFICIAL.
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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) today successfully launched a next-generation US communication satellite BlueBird Block-2 onboard its heaviest vehicle LVM3-M6 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Station at 8:55 AM Indian Standard Time. After a flight journey of about 15 minutes, the spacecraft Bluebird Block-2 got separated from the vehicle and it was successfully placed into its intended orbit. Speaking on the occasion, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan has hailed the successful launch and calling it the heaviest satellite ever lifted from Indian soil using an Indian launcher.
The Bluebird Block-2 mission is part of a global LEO (Low Earth Orbit) constellation to provide direct-to-mobile connectivity through satellite. This constellation would enable 4G and 5G voice and video calls, texts, streaming and data for everyone, everywhere at all times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the successful launch of the LVM3-M6 mission. In a series of social media post, the Prime Minister said, by placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil into its intended orbit, marks a proud milestone in India’s space journey.
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Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said, the Centre’s contribution under the Viksit Bharat: GRAM G scheme has been raised to nearly 95 thousand crore rupees as compared to MGNREGA which was 86 thousand crore rupees. Mr Chouhan said, this highlights the government’s sustained and enhanced support for rural employment. In an article in an English daily, Mr Chouhan said, the President has assented to the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, enhancing the statutory wage employment guarantee to 125 days. He said, under the scheme, states are treated not as mere implementing agencies but as partners in development, empowered to notify and operationalise their own schemes within the statutory framework.
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In Maharashtra, after weeks of negotiations, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) today announced a formal alliance for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections and other municipal polls, including in Nashik. The announcement was made by cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray during a joint press conference in Mumbai. While details of seat-sharing were not disclosed, Raj Thackeray said candidates would be directly instructed to file their nomination papers. Elections for 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai and Pune, are scheduled for 15th of January, with counting to take place on 16th of next month.
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BJP today said that two dynastic parties Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have come together in an alliance out of fear of defeat in Mumbai BMC polls. Talking to media in New Delhi, party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that these dynastic parties have come together to save their political stakes and are worried that people of Mumbai are moving towards choosing the NDA’s development agenda. He asserted that the people of Mumbai and Maharashtra stand firmly and will choose the NDA.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Rashtra Prerna Sthal at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow to honour the life and ideals of former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Mr Modi will visit Lucknow on the occasion of 101st birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Constructed at an approximate cost of 230 crore rupees , Rashtra Prerna Sthal has been developed as a landmark national memorial and inspirational complex of enduring national significance. The inauguration of Rashtra Prerna Sthal marks an important step in preserving and promoting the ideals of selfless leadership and good governance.
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President Droupadi Murmu today extended greetings to the countrymen, especially the residents of Odisha, on the sacred occasion of the Dhanu Yatra of Bargarh. In a social media post, the President expressed hope that the vivid performances based on mythological tales will foster spiritual consciousness and cultural pride in society. The world-famous Dhanu Yatra, an 11-day epic open-air theatre festival depicting the Krishna-Kansa myth will begin at Bargarh in Odisha this evening. More from our Correspondent:-
“The world’s largest open-air theatre, Dhanu Yatra, will begin this evening at Bargarh in Odisha. The eleven-day cultural festival has transformed the Bargarh town in Western Odisha into a living stage, blending mythology, tradition and live performance. During the Yatra, the laughter of Maharaja Kansa echoes across Bargarh, symbolically turning it into the ancient city of Mathura. Streets, palaces and courtyards serve as performance venues, including the Rangamahal and Nanda Raja’s court, where episodes from the life of Lord Krishna are enacted. The festival uniquely removes the boundary between performers and spectators. Thousands of visitors from across Odisha and other parts of the country have gathered to witness the spectacle. Prakash Dash, Akashvani News, Bhubaneswar.”
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Dense fog disrupted several flight and train services across Delhi and the National Capital Region today. Speaking to Akashvani News, a Delhi Airport official said, around 16 flights were cancelled due to low visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Meanwhile, the Delhi Division of Indian Railways reported that more than 50 trains bound for Delhi were delayed by up to six hours.
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In West Bengal, the Jangipur Sub-Divisional Court in Murshidabad district has sentenced all 13 convicts to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of a father and son during a protest over the Waqf Amendment Act in April this year. Delivering the verdict yesterday, Judge Amitabha Mukhopadhyay also directed the state government to pay 15 lakh rupees as compensation to the victims’ family.
Hargobind Das and his son Chandan Das were killed by a mob on 11th of April in the district’s Samserganj area. The killings, triggered widespread outrage across the state and beyond. Following the incident, the district police set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. After the arrests of the accused, the trial continued till 16th of December.
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Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan has said, the nation has moved decisively towards structural reforms focusing on transparency, efficiency, and inclusion. Mr Radhakrishnan said this after releasing a book titled Economic Empowerment of Bharat in the Modi Era authored by Dr. Sikandar Kumar at Vice-President’s Enclave in New Delhi today. Vice President said, today India has become the fourth largest economy in the world and is moving towards being the 3rd largest economy.
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Global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs has forecast India’s real GDP growth at around 6.7 per cent in 2026 and 6.8 per cent in 2027, outpacing consensus estimates and reinforcing India’s position among the world’s fastest growing large economies. According to Goldman Sachs’ Global Economics Analyst Report: Macro Outlook 2026, India’s growth trajectory is supported by strong domestic consumption, sustained public infrastructure spending, and relatively limited exposure to global trade disruptions compared with export-dependent economies. The investment firm also noted that global growth is projected at 2.8 per cent in 2026, higher than the consensus forecast of 2.5 per cent.
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A group of influential US lawmakers has urged Bangladesh’s interim government to ensure the election in February is free, fair and inclusive. In a letter to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, US Representatives Gregory W Meeks, Bill Huizenga and Sydney Kamlager-Dove warned that banning an entire political party could disenfranchise a large section of voters. The lawmakers said freedom of association and individual criminal responsibility are fundamental human rights, cautioning that suspending party activities or reviving the flawed International Crimes Tribunal could undermine democratic credibility. They called on the interim government, or a future elected administration, to revisit the decision to ban the Awami League as Bangladesh prepares for its first election since the fall of the previous government.
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Star India all-rounder Deepti Sharma has topped the ICC Women’s T20 International Bowling rankings for the first time in her career. In the latest rankings released yesterday, the 28-year-old off-spinner haul of one wicket for 20 runs in the first T20 International match of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam helped the off-spinner dethrone Australia fast bowler Annabel Sutherland by one rating point to sit at the top of the table with 737 points. Pacer Arundhati Reddy has climbed up five places to be 36th while spinner Shree Charani is up 19 places to 69th. Jemimah Rodrigues, who was adjudged the player of the match in Visakhapatnam for her unbeaten 69 off 44 balls, moved up five spots to ninth among T20 International batters.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices, the Sensex and the Nifty, were trading on a bearish note in afternoon trade today. The Sensex slipped 84 points to 85 thousand 441, while the Nifty fell by 21 points to 26 thousand and 156, when reports last came in.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav says certain political parties spreading misinformation on Supreme Court’s verdict on Aravalli hills; Reiterates government is fully committed to its conservation.
- Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launches next-generation US communication satellite BlueBird Block-2; Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails ISRO for placing heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil.
- Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says, states are not mere implementing agencies but partners in development in Viksit Bharat: GRAM G scheme.
- Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman join hands to contest Civic Polls in Mumbai.
- Dense fog disrupts flight and Train services in Delhi; Around 16 flights cancelled and more than 50 trains bound for Delhi delayed.
- World famous Dhanu Yatra to begin at Bargarh in Odisha this evening; President Droupadi Murmu says, it will foster spiritual consciousness in society.
- And, Star India all-rounder Deepti Sharma climbs to world No. 1 in ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings.
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