THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch Mission Mausam today to make India climate-smart nation.
- Odisha joins Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana; Prime Minister says, people of Odisha will get highest-quality healthcare at affordable rates.
- National Testing Agency postpones UGC NET December 2024 exam scheduled for tomorrow due to clash of date with festivals.
- Festival of harvest, Makar Sankranti is being celebrated in different parts of the country today.
- Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to be on a five-day visit to India beginning today.
- India beat Nepal in Kho Kho World Cup opener in New Delhi.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Mission Mausam in New Delhi today with the goal of making the country a weather-ready and climate-smart nation. Mr. Modi will launch this mission during the celebrations of 150th Foundation Day of India Meteorological Department (IMD) at Bharat Mandapam. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.
“The Mission Mausam aims to achieve its target by developing cutting-edge weather surveillance technologies and systems. The initiative will implement high-resolution atmospheric observations, next-generation radars and satellites, and high-performance computers. It will also focus on improving the understanding of weather and climate processes and providing air quality data, which will help in strategizing weather management and intervention in the long run. During the event, Prime Minister Modi Narendra will also release the IMD Vision-2047 document for weather resilience and climate change adaptation. It includes plans for weather forecasting, weather management, and climate change mitigation. A series of events, activities and workshops have been organised to showcase IMD’s achievements during the past 150 years. With Dipendra Kumar, Bhanu Pratap Singh, Akashvani News Delhi.”
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Odisha has become the 34th State and Union Territory to implement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, AB PM-JAY. National Health Authority and Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Odisha signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi yesterday in this regard. Under this scheme, health cover of five lakh rupees per year is provided for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization of every family. Speaking on the occasion, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that over eight crore hospitalization has been recorded under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated the people of Odisha over the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. In a social media post, Mr Modi said that the scheme will ensure the highest-quality healthcare at affordable rates.
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National Testing Agency (NTA) has postponed the UGC NET December 2024 exam which was scheduled for tomorrow. In a statement, the NTA said, it has received representations to postpone the UGC NET examination on account of Pongal, Makar Sankranti and other festivals on 15th January. The new date of exam will be announced later. NTA further said that the examination scheduled on 16th January will be conducted as per earlier schedule.
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Festival of harvest, Makar Sankranti is being celebrated in different parts of the country today. Makar Sankranti signals the end of winter and the beginning of longer days. The festival is known with different names in different parts of the country. It is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Uttarayan in Gujarat, Bhogali Bihu in Assam and Poush Sangkranti in West Bengal.
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In Kerala, elaborate security arrangements have been put in place for the Makaravilakku festival at Sabarimala Hill Shrine today. Over 1.5 lakh devotees are expected to take part in the ceremony and witness “Makara Jyothi”, the holy light. It is believed that Lord Ayyappa asserts himself as a holy light to bless his devotees. The Makarasamkrama Pooja will also take place today. Kerala police have deployed over 5000 security personnel spread across Sannidhanam, Pampa, and Nilakkal. Apart from police, the personnel of the fire and rescue department, NDRF have also been deployed at vantage points for the “Makara Jyothi” darshan.
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In Tamil Nadu, the beginning of Thai month in the Tamil Calendar, marks the onset of Spring Harvest season and is celebrated as Pongal by Tamils all over the World. The season is celebrated for three days.
“On this day of festivity that is connected with the harvest and agriculture. Pongal the delicious dish is prepared with rice, moongdhall, jaggery and ghee as main ingredients in painted rice pots in traditional clay stoves outside the houses under the sugarcane pandal. A colourful rangoli welcomes the harvest season in front of every house. Mango and turmeric leaves are also made into festoons in the houses. Tamilnadu has 28 districts that cultivate rice with 27 of them being high productivity districts and places the State first in the Country. The rice yield in the State was more than two tonnes per hectare last year. Considering turmeric production, Erode also known as the yellow city is one of the largest producers of turmeric. The State ranks seventh in Sugarcane production in the Country.Tomorrow is Mattu Pongal which is mainly for the cattle which helped the farmers in plowing the fields. The last day of the season is Kaanum Pongal where people visit their relatives and spend time together. New films are also an added attraction of the modern days during festivities. Joy, Akashvani News, Chennai “
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The Tamil community in Sri Lanka is celebrating Thai Pongal today with fervour and gaiety. Observed at the start of the Tamil month Thai, Pongal is a multi day harvest festival dedicated to Sun God. Sri Lanka president Anura Kumara Dissanayake wished the Tamil community on the occasion of Thai Pongal.
“As part of the Thai Pongal celebrations, the Tamil Hindu community which numbers upwards of 2 and a half million in the island will visit temples today to thank for the abundance of previous year’s harvest and pray for a successful one in the coming year. The multi day celebration of Pongal, marks the beginning of the sun’s journey north ward, signalling the end of the winter solstice. Celebrations have started early in the morning with making of beautiful designs of Kolam before every house. As devotees pray to the sun god, chants of Pongalo pongal and overflowing of Pongal from the pots will be notable. Ahmed Muyeen Farooqi/colombo.”
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At the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, the Makar Sankranti Amrit Snan is underway. Among the 13 Akharas, each Akhara has been notified of its designated time and sequence. The Mahanirvani Panchayati Akhara was the first Akhara to take the holy dip at the Triveni Sangam early this morning. Shri Panchayati Akhara Nirmal will be the last Akhara to take the Amrit Snan. Elaborate security arrangements are in place for the grand event. Yesterday, over one crore fifty lakh devotees and pilgrims took the holy dip as world’s largest spiritual and cultural gathering Mahakumbh began on Paush Poornima.
Flower petals were showered on devotees from helicopters. The Maha Kumbh will continue till Mahashivaratri on 26th February.
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In Madhya Pradesh, the state government is considering implementing a liquor ban in religious towns. This information was given by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav in a video message.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that the state government is considering implementing this by improving the liquor policy.
The Chief Minister further added that the state government will soon take a decision and take concrete steps in this direction. Sanjeev Sharma, Akashvani News, Bhopal.
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President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be on a five day visit to India beginning today. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Ministers, Members of Parliament and officials. This will be his first visit to India as the President of Singapore.
During his visit, President Tharman will hold discussions with President Droupadi Murmu, who will also host a banquet in his honour. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with the President of Singapore. President Tharman will also visit Odisha from 17 to 18th of this month.
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On to sports, India started their Kho Kho World Cup 2025 campaign with a thrilling 42-37 victory over Nepal in their Group A encounter in New Delhi last night. Winning the toss, Indian Men’s team got off to a strong start, scoring 24 points in their opening turn and adding another 18 points in the third turn while attacking. However, a late surge by Nepal in the final turn wasn’t enough to prevent the hosts from securing a well-deserved victory.
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Moving on to Hockey India League, Tamil Nadu Dragons reclaimed the top spot with 3-2 win over Delhi SP Pipers in the men’s section, while Soorma Hockey Club defeated Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, 4-1 in the women’s section.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- Modi opens key Z-morh tunnel in J&K infra push headlines the Hindustan Times; Game changer: Modi opens key tunnel on road to Ladakh headlines The Asian age and The Indian express headlines ” J&K is crown of country needs to be prosperous, PM opens new gateway.
- Almost all papers have on their front page the story of Mahakhumb celebrations in Prayagraj. A Maha leap of faith headlines the Times of India, Sacred spectacle takes off headlines the Tribune and the statesman headlines ” 16 million take dip in Sangam on Paush purnima.
- Delhi High Court pulls up AAP govt. for delay in tabling CAG reports headlines The
- And finally a police officer who uses lyrics as weapon to win hearts is a story in The Hindu. Peer Zahoor a SSP of J&K police is inspired by the songs of Gulzar and Anand Bakshi and is hitting the right notes to win the hearts and minds of people and is a hit on social media.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch Mission Mausam today to make India climate-smart nation.
- Odisha joins Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana; Prime Minister says, people of Odisha will get highest-quality healthcare at affordable rates.
- National Testing Agency postpones UGC NET December 2024 exam scheduled for tomorrow due to clash of date with festivals.
- Festival of harvest, Makar Sankranti is being celebrated in different parts of the country today.
- Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to be on a five-day visit to India beginning today.
- India beat Nepal in Kho Kho World Cup opener in New Delhi.
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