THE HEADLINES:
• Eight security personnel among nine persons killed in IED blast triggered by Maoists in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh; Home Minister Amit Shah vows to eliminate Naxalism from the country.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches key railway projects in Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana and Odisha; Says, railways undergoing transformation with promotion of Make in India initiative.
• President Droupadi Murmu says, Panchayati Raj Institutions playing important role in women empowerment.
• Government unveils new round of PLI scheme for steel industry, aiming to boost domestic production and create jobs.
• India condemns Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan civilians including women and children.
• And, Indian women’s squad for three-match ODI series against Ireland announced; Smriti Mandhana to lead Women in Blue.
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In Chhattisgarh, eight security personnel and a vehicle driver were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by the Maoists in Bijapur district this afternoon.
“After this operation, jawans of Dantewada District Reserve Guard were returning to their camp. Maoists blasted an IED targeting a vehicle carrying security personnel. The incident took place near Ambeli village on Kutru-Bedre road in Bijapur district. The explosion was so powerful that a big crater was formed on the road and the vehicle was blown into pieces. In this incident, eight DRG jawans and a driver of the vehicle died on the spot. With K. Santosh Kumar from Bijapur, this is Vikalp Shukla for Akashvani News from Raipur.”
President Droupadi Murmu has condemned the attack on District Reserve Guard soldiers in Chhattisgarh. In a social media post, President Murmu said, the country is committed to completely eradicating Naxalism.
Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his condolences to the bereaved families of the security personnel who lost their lives. He assured that the sacrifice of the jawans will not go in vain and Naxalism will be rooted out from India by March 2026.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the railways is undergoing a transformation with the promotion of Make in India initiative. He said, modern coaches are being developed for metros and railways. Mr Modi was speaking after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for key railway projects in Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana and Odisha through video conferencing.
In a move to further boost connectivity in the region, the Prime Minister inaugurated the new Jammu Railway Division. He also inaugurated the Charlapalli New Terminal Station in Telangana and laid the foundation stone of Rayagada Railway Division Building of East Coast Railway.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Modi highlighted that the work on modern rail networks like the Dedicated Freight Corridor is progressing rapidly in the country. He said these special corridors will reduce pressure on the regular tracks and will also create more opportunities for high-speed trains.
The Prime Minister said the launch of rail infrastructure projects today will promote tourism and add to socio-economic development in these regions.
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President Droupadi Murmu today stated that the government is working for the upliftment of all sections of society, including Scheduled Tribes. Addressing women representatives belonging to Scheduled Tribes from the Panchayati Raj Institutions of different states at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Murmu said Panchayati Raj Institutions have been the cornerstone of Indian democracy. She said these institutions have played an important role in the empowerment of women.
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Amid rising concerns of an outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, two cases of HMPV have been detected in Karnataka. The Indian Council of Medical Research has detected the cases, in a three month-old female infant, and an eight month-old male infant.
Both the infants are now recovering and neither of the affected patients have any history of international travel.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda today said, health experts have clarified that HMPV is not a new virus. In a video message on social media, he said that the virus was first identified in the year 2001 and it has been circulating in the world for many years. He said that HMPV spreads through air, by way of respiration and can affect persons of all age groups. Mr Nadda added that the health systems and surveillance networks of the country remain vigilant.
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Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy today launched production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme 1.1 for the steel industry aimed at encouraging domestic production of specialty steel, lowering imports and creating jobs. Addressing the gathering in New Delhi, Mr Kumaraswamy highlighted that speciality steel is the backbone of India’s growth. He said rising demand for high quality steel presents a golden opportunity to reduce imports and become self-reliant in the sector.
The application window is live from today and will continue till 31st of this month.
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Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged all states to intensify their efforts under the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oil production. This mission serves as a cornerstone of India’s vision to reduce dependence on imports and enhance farmer incomes.
During the meeting in New Delhi, Mr Chouhan emphasized the need for states to prioritize achieving their plantation targets by addressing bottlenecks and mobilizing available resources.
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Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has urged children to adhere to traffic rules in order to make roads safer, not only for themselves but also for others. Mr. Gadkari was addressing the ‘Suraksha Reloaded’ event of the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyaan 2025 by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Mumbai.
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India has condemned the reported airstrikes on Afghan civilians by Pakistan. In a statement, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal said that India has noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians in which several precious lives including women and children have been lost. He said, India unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians. The spokesperson said, it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures.
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US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today. They assessed the significant advancement in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership over the last four years, especially in key areas of technology, defence, space, civil nuclear, clean energy, semiconductors, and AI. Mr Modi reaffirmed his commitment to continue to deepen close cooperation between the two democracies for the benefit of the people of the two countries and for the global good.
Earlier in the day, Mr Sullivan met External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in the National Capital. The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the US National Security Advisor briefed the Indian side on the updates brought out by the Biden administration to US missile export control policies under the Missile Technology Control Regime that will boost US commercial space cooperation with India.
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Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, emphasized that India’s power of youth is the reason the world is looking at the country with hope and expectations. During his visit to the NCC Republic Day Camp 2025 in Delhi, Admiral Tripathi stated that the youth are the nation’s future leaders and will play a pivotal role in achieving a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.
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Prakash Parv marking the 358th Birth Anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh ji is being celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervour across the country. The main function is underway at the birthplace of the founder of the Khalsa Panth at Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib at Patna in Bihar.
The three-day annual event, will conclude at midnight with an attractive show of firecrackers at Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib.
In Punjab, devotees from across the country and abroad are paying obeisance at Gurudwaras in the state including Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have greeted the people on the occasion.
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Cold wave conditions are prevailing across North and East India for the fourth consecutive day today.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast very dense fog conditions during night hours and early morning hours in some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Odisha and Bihar during the next two to three days.
Movement of several trains and flights were affected in the northern region of the country due to dense fog. Around 26 trains were delayed at New Delhi Railway Station due to near zero visibility. Meanwhile, Delhi International Airport Limited requested passengers to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information.
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In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Public Speak” tonight, we bring you a discussion on “Staying Safe during winter”. The programme will be broadcast at 9.30 PM. IMD Scientist, Dr. R. K. Jenamani and Former HOD, Medicine Department, AIIMS in Delhi, Dr. S. K. Sharma will join us in the studio to answer your queries.
Listeners can ask questions from the experts on telephone numbers 011 – 23421050 and 011 – 23314444. You can also send your queries on WhatsApp number 9289094044 or post your questions on X with the hashtag AskAir.
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India, BCCI, has announced a 15-member Women’s squad for India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against Ireland. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and ace pacer Renuka Singh Thakur have been rested for the series. Smriti Mandhana will lead the Women in Blue, while Deepti Sharma will serve as the vice-captain.
The ODI series will begin on 10th of this month, with the second match scheduled for 12th and the final match taking place on 15th of January. All games will be played in Rajkot.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.
• Eight security personnel among nine persons killed in IED blast triggered by Maoists in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh; Home Minister Amit Shah vows to eliminate Naxalism from the country.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches key railway projects in Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana and Odisha; Says, railways undergoing transformation with promotion of Make in India initiative.
• President Droupadi Murmu says, Panchayati Raj Institutions playing important role in women empowerment.
• Government unveils new round of PLI scheme for steel industry, aiming to boost domestic production and create jobs.
• India condemns Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan civilians including women and children.
• And, Indian women’s squad for three-match ODI series against Ireland announced; Smriti Mandhana to lead Women in Blue.
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