For the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, Kalaripayattu has been included as a demonstration event but removed from the competition section.

• Kalaripayattu is one of the most ancient martial traditions, originating in Kerala and traced to the Sangam Period.
• The term ‘Kalari’ refers to the training center, and ‘Payattu’ means the fight or rigorous physical practice.
• Two main styles of Kalaripayattu:
  • Vadakkan or Northern style, practiced in the Malabar region of Kerala.
  • Thekken or Southern style, practiced mainly in the Travancore region.

The Prime Minister congratulated the Digantara team for the success of MissionSCOT.

• Mission SCOT(Space Camera for Object Tracking) aims to enhance space situational awareness by tracking and imaging objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• Objective: To create detailed maps of space by precisely tracking satellites and space debris.

Benefits:

• Improved tracking accuracy of satellites and space debris.
• Supports India’s growing space industry in ensuring safe and sustainable space operations.

At least 4.14 lakh crop insurance claims submitted under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) were found to be bogus by the Maharashtra Agriculture Department.

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) aims to provide financial support to farmers suffering from crop loss or damage, stabilize their income, and encourage modern agricultural practices.
• Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Beneficiaries: All farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers.
• Crops covered: Food crops (cereals, millets, etc.), oilseeds, and annual commercial/horticultural crops.
• Risks covered: Yield loss due to non-preventable risks (e.g., natural calamities, pests, diseases), post-harvest losses, and losses from localized calamities.

DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad successfully conducted a 120-second ground test of an active-cooled scramjet combustor.

• The test used endothermic scramjet fuel, which improves cooling and ignition.
• Scramjet engines are air-breathing jet engines that compress incoming air using the vehicle’s forward motion, eliminating the need for a rotating compressor.
• They operate efficiently at hypersonic speeds and allow supersonic combustion.
• This breakthrough is critical for developing next-generation hypersonic missile systems.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development celebrates 10 years of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme.

• The scheme aligns with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and focuses on Women-Led Development.
• It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Ministry of Education, with later additions of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Ministry of Minority Affairs.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti, which focuses on women’s safety, security, and empowerment.

Aims:

• Improve the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) by 2 points annually.
• Achieve or sustain 95% institutional deliveries.
• Increase secondary education enrollment by 1% per year.
• Reduce the dropout rate among girls in secondary and higher secondary education.
• Raise awareness about safe Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).

The National eGovernance Division, under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has developed Entity Locker.

• Entity Locker is a secure cloud-based solution developed by the National eGovernance Division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• It simplifies storage, sharing, and verification of documents for organizations, corporations, MSMEs, and others.
• It is a critical part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure.

Provides real-time access and verification of documents by integrating with government databases.

• Celebrated annually on 27 January to honor the legacy of National Geographic Magazine, which has been in continuous publication for over 100 years.
• Recognizes the magazine’s contribution to global education, exploration, and scientific discovery
• Promotes geographic awareness and environmental sustainability

Tactical ballistic missile Pralay & long-range Pinaka rocket system will be part of Republic Day parade.

Pralay Missile:

• Surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by DRDO.
• Range of 150–500 km.
• Can be launched from a mobile launcher.
• Equipped with a state-of-the-art navigation system and integrated avionics.
• Payload capacity of 350–700 kg.
• Multiple warhead options, including high-explosive fragmentation and runway denial submunitions.
• Speed of Mach 6.1 during terminal phase.
• Enhances tactical strike capabilities.

Pinaka Rocket System:

• Long-range multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) developed by DRDO.
• Range of up to 75 km.
• Flexible variants in terms of payload, firepower, and range.
• Mounted on a mobile launcher for rapid deployment.
• Capable of delivering multiple rockets in a single salvo.
• Strengthens artillery support for Indian Army.

A biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by France in the strategic straits of Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok, involving countries like India, Australia, Canada, the USA, and others.

• Objective: Enhance maritime situational awareness, improve cooperation in maritime surveillance, interdiction operations, and air operations.
• Participating Countries: Australia, Canada, USA, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, UK.
• Activities: Multi-domain warfare training, live-fire exercises, and search-rescue operations.

Ministry of Mines, in collaboration with the Government of Odisha, has set up the District Mineral Foundation Exhibition at Sun Temple, Konark in Odisha.

• The Sun Temple at Konark, built by Narasimha Deva I of the Ganga dynasty between 1238 and 1264, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The temple’s architecture symbolizes Surya’s chariot, featuring 24 intricately carved wheels and 7 horses.