THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today.
- India joins UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics.
- BJP releases second list of 29 candidates for Delhi Assembly Elections.
- Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena decides to go it alone in Maharashtra local body polls.
- First international Pravasi Uttarakhandi Sammelan to be held in Dehradun today.
- And, India announces 15-member squad for five-match T20 International series against England.
<><><>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, on the occasion of National Youth Day today. The Prime Minister will also participate in multiple activities designed to inspire, motivate, and empower the nation’s future leaders. Our correspondent reports that Mr. Modi will engage with three thousand dynamic young leaders from across the country.
The three thousand young leaders have been selected from across the country through the Viksit Bharat Challenge. During the event, the young leaders will showcase their presentation on their vision for Viksit Bharat. These presentations reflect the innovative ideas and solutions to address some of India’s most pressing challenges. Mr Modi will join the young leaders for lunch, providing them an opportunity to share their ideas, experiences, and aspirations directly to him. The Prime Minister will also release a compilation of best essays written by participants on the ten themes. These themes encompass diverse areas such as technology, sustainability, women empowerment, manufacturing, and agriculture. The Viksit Bharat Dialogue is offering young leaders an opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, national and global icons while contributing their ideas for shaping the nation’s future. With Dipendra Kumar, Sumit Saha, Akashvani News Delhi.
Earlier yesterday, the Prime Minister emphasized that the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is a unique initiative to involve the country’s youth in the nation’s development journey. He said the programme seeks to channel the energy, creativity, and leadership of young minds to realise the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
<><><>
In Madhya Pradesh, ambitious Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti Mission is being launched for the youth from today. The objective of the mission is to empower the youth of the state by providing them opportunities to enhance their skills, knowledge and overall development. More from our correspondent:
“The motto of Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti Mission is Samvad – Samarthya – Samriddhi means Dialogue power and richness. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that this mission has been given shape keeping in mind the Prime Minister’s mantra of GYAN par Dhyan and Madhya Pradesh’s youth policy.
“The main pillars of Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti Mission are dialogue, education, capacity enhancement, entrepreneurship and employment, social initiatives and monitoring. This mission is for the welfare of the youth of urban and rural, backward and socio economically weaker sections. It seeks to empower women, Divyanga, youth and farmers. Sanjeev Sharma, Akashvani News, Bhopal.”
<><><>
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has emphasised on the growing importance of India’s youth in the global landscape. The Lok Sabha Speaker was addressing Indian students at an event in London yesterday during his official visit to the United Kingdom. Mr. Birla said that India’s biggest strength is its young students. He further highlighted the role of Indian students in shaping the nation’s future. He pointed out that India’s students are driving the country’s progress through their mentality, ideas, innovation, and competitiveness.
<><><>
India has joined the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics. As part of the committee, India will contribute to shaping global standards and practices in harnessing big data and data science for official statistical purposes. In a statement, the Ministry of Statistics said that India’s inclusion in the Committee of Experts represents a significant leap forward for the country’s statistical ecosystem. The Ministry mentioned that the country’s active engagement in the Committee of Experts will highlight its pioneering initiatives, including the establishment of the Data Innovation Lab and exploration of alternate data sources.
<><><>
The BJP has released its second list of 29 candidates for the Delhi Assembly Elections. Former MLA Kapil Mishra has been fielded from Karawal Nagar, Harish Khurana from Moti Nagar, and Priyanka Gautam, who recently joined BJP from Aam Aadmi Party, will contest from Kondli.
Earlier, the Party had released its first list of 29 candidates. Out of the total 70 assembly seats, BJP has so far announced candidates for 58 seats.
<><><>
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut has announced that the party will contest local body elections, including those for the municipal corporations of Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and Nagpur, independently. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Mr. Raut explained that the party needed to assess its strength, and party chief Uddhav Thackeray suggested contesting separately in these areas. He said, in Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, party workers do not get the opportunity to run, which leads to dissatisfaction. It has been decided that the party should contest independently in municipal corporations, zilla parishads, and nagar panchayats to strengthen the organisation, he added.
<><><>
The two satellites launched by ISRO to perform Space Docking Experiment (SpaDEx) are 15 metres apart and closing in for an exciting handshake. In a social media post today, Indian Space Research Organisation said that the SDX01 that is (Chaser) and SDX02 that is (Target) are are just 50 feet away for an exciting handshake.
The SpaDEx mission, launched on December 30, aims to demonstrate in-space docking using small spacecraft. ISRO’s PSLV C60 rocket had successfully placed the two satellites in its intended orbit on December 30th. Both the satellites are orbiting at an altitude of 475 kms from Earth.
<><><>
The Mahakumbh in Prayagraj will begin tomorrow on Paush Poornima with the first Amrit Snan. All preparations have been completed for the grand event. Dense forests have been developed at various locations across Prayagraj, to ensure pure air and a healthy atmosphere for the millions of devotees expected who are visiting the city. A report from our correspondent:
The 45 day grand event promises not just spiritual rejuvenation but also unparalleled medical care for millions of pilgrims arriving from around the globe. With robust planning and advanced technology, the government has turned this massive spiritual gathering into a beacon of health and safety. An important highlight of the healthcare efforts is the Netra Kumbh Eye Fair which is an initiative aimed at combating vision impairment. The event’s ambitious target includes distributing three lakh eyeglasses and conducting five lakh OPDs, with a daily goal of ten thousand consultations. Netra Kumbh also offers an eye donation camp. The Central Hospital at Parade Ground with 100 beds catering to diverse needs, from OPD consultations to ICU care. Sub-Central Hospital at Arail, Medical Observation Rooms at key Railway stations including Prayagraj Junction, Naini and Subedarganj complementing the efforts. A team of 240 doctors from across the country forms the backbone of Maha Kumbh’s healthcare system. With Anand Kumar, Anupam Mishra, Akashvani News, Mahakumbh Nagar, Prayagraj.
<><><>
The first International Pravasi Uttarakhandi Summit will be held in Dehradun today. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will inaugurate the day-long event. Our correspondent reports that more than 60 Pravasi Uttarakhandis from 17 countries have registered to participate in the day-long summit.
“The summit aims to harness the knowledge and expertise of Uttarakhandis living abroad to accelerate the state’s development. Key discussions will cover investment, hospitality, wellness, skill development, overseas employment, higher education, and herbal industries. The initiative was envisioned by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami following his interactions with migrant Uttarakhandis during his international visits. This gathering is anticipated to pave the way for increased investments and advancements in Uttarakhand, strengthening sectors such as tourism, education, employment, and agriculture. Sakshi Singh, Akashvani News, Dehradun.
<><><>
Shifting to the world of sports, let’s dive into the exciting updates from cricket, football and tennis. Our correspondent has filed this report:
The BCCI has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20 International series against England, which will begin on 22 of this month in Kolkata. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Indian side and Axar Patel has been named as the vice-captain. Mohammed Shami has returned to the Indian cricket team after more than a year. India will also play three ODIs against England, following the five T20s. These three matches will be treated as India’s last-minute preparation before the Champions Trophy. In Women’s Cricket, India will take on Ireland in the second match of the ODI series today at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, in Rajkot, Gujarat. The match will start at 11 am. Chasing a target of 239 runs in the first ODI, the Women in blue secured a six-wicket victory to take a 1-nil series lead. Moving on to the Indian Super League (ISL) football, Mohun Bagan defeated East Bengal 1-nil, maintaining their unbeaten streak against their arch-rivals in Guwahati yesterday evening. In another match, Mohammedan SC defeated Bengaluru FC 1-nil in Bengaluru. Mumbai City will take on Jamshedpur FC today at the Mumbai Football Arena. In Tennis, India’s Sumit Nagal will take on Czechia’s Tomas Machac in the Men’s Singles first round of the prestigious Australian Open 2025 in Melbourne this morning. Apart from Nagal, seasoned players Rithvik Choudary, Rohan Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri, and Sriram Balaji will be representing India in the Australian Open 2025. With Sanyukta yadav’s report, CHIRAG JHA , Akashvani News, Delhi.”
<><><>
Moving on to Hockey India League, UP Rudras defeated Delhi SG Pipers 3-1, while Hyderabad Toofans beat Soorma Hockey Club in a penalty shootout last night.
<><><>
India Meteorological Department, IMD has forecast dense to very dense fog in the night and early morning hours of Delhi, East Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan today and in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh till tomorrow. The Weather Department said that dense fog conditions are also likely to prevail in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Gangetic West Bengal today.
<><><>
TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE:
- With the inauguration tomorrow of the 6.4 km long Z-morh tunnel, India is closer to constructing the strategic corridor between Srinagar and Leh to provide all-weather connectivity and maintain defence and civil supply lines, writes The Pioneer.
- Hindustan Times carries photographs of people dealing with cold wave conditions in Delhi, with the headline, “Fog, rain and chill prevail in Delhi: mercury may dip again tomorrow”.
- 9 hardcore Naxals with 43 lakh rupees bounty on them, have surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, citing disappointment with ‘hollow” and “inhuman” Maoist ideology, reports The Asian Age.
- A survey by a Netherlands-based organisation reveals that Kolkata’s roads were the second most congested in the world, followed by Bengaluru and Pune, writes The Hindu.
- And finally, four years ago, Luna, a village in Gujarat decided to shun kites when painted storks found Luna as their haven. The villagers consider painted storks as family and fiercely protect them, reports The Times of India.
<><><>
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today.
- India joins UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics.
- BJP releases second list of 29 candidates for Delhi Assembly Elections.
- Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena decides to go it alone in Maharashtra local body polls.
- First international Pravasi Uttarakhandi Sammelan to be held in Dehradun today.
- And, India announces 15-member squad for five-match T20 International series against England.
<><><>