V Narayanan: Meet The New ISRO Chief Set to Succeed S Somanath

V. Narayanan, a propulsion scientist and current LPSC Director, has been appointed as the next ISRO Chief, succeeding S. Somanath.

Hundreds of devotees from across the country had gathered for tickets of the annual Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam  (a special 10-day darshan set to begin on Friday, January 10). 

Tech billionaire Elon Musk supported Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi after she criticized UK PM Keir Starmer for using the term 'Asian' concerning child abuse, urging it to be 'Pakistani grooming gangs.' British Indian and South Asian communities express frustration with Starmer for generalizing crimes to all Asians.

An email from Gate administrations referring to an aspirant as 'IDLI CHUTNEY NO SAMBHAR' has caused confusion and concern among students. Shared on Reddit by users, the bizarre reference suggests a possible hack or technical error in IIT Roorkee’s system, receiving mixed reactions from recipients.

Compared to the last few days, the early morning temperature was a sharp decline, with temperatures previously ranging from 8°C to 11°C at 5:30 am. 

The MPs attending the meeting of the 39-member Joint Parliamentary Committee expressed their views and asked questions following a presentation by the Ministry of Law and Justice on the provisions of the bills and the rationale guiding them.

Hundreds of Tibetan exiles in Dharamshala gathered for an overnight prayer at Tsuglagkhang Temple to mourn the victims of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Tibet's Dingri county, led by key Tibetan NGOs. The earthquake claimed over 126 lives and injured more than 100, with widespread destruction reported.

Hundreds of devotees from across the country had gathered for tickets of the annual Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam  (a special 10-day darshan set to begin on Friday, January 10). 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over a stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in six deaths and several injuries. The Andhra Pradesh government is providing assistance. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also extended their condolences. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is closely monitoring the situation.

Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin ensured swift investigation and filing of chargesheet in the Anna University rape case within 60 days. Aiming to counter the AIADMK criticism, he cited the Pollachi sexual assault case, pledging severe measures against crimes targeting women, and dismissed opposition's conspiracies.

The Bangladesh interim government has approved the import of 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice from India to fulfill domestic demand. A private Indian company will supply the rice at a cost of $22,942,000, evidencing a consistent trade relationship despite recent diplomatic tensions.

Union urban affairs minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced that positive news regarding the memorial for former PM Manmohan Singh will emerge within the next two days. Singh's family was expected to visit potential sites at Rajghat, though this remains unconfirmed. This follows the government's recent decision on a site for former President Pranab Mukherjee's memorial.

Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is lower in households with children under 14, especially in urban areas, and most notably affects women aged 20-35. The Periodic Labour Force Survey analysis highlights rising female LFPR in rural India since 2017-18, with married rural women showing higher participation growth. Government schemes have contributed to this increase.

A shepherd in Jammu and Kashmir's Pir Panjal range relies on his Gaddi dog Bhola for protection against predators. Bhola's loyalty and vigilance exemplify the breed, now officially recognized as the fourth indigenous Indian canine breed by the NBAGR, following a detailed evaluation by Himachal's animal husbandry department.

As of January 1, 2025, women voters outnumber men in 13 states and one Union Territory, with new entries including Assam, Karnataka, and Nagaland. Nationwide, the total female electorate is still 2.33 crore fewer than males among 99-crore voters. Notable states with high third-gender electors include Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

As of January 1, 2025, women voters outnumber men in 13 states and one Union Territory, with new entries including Assam, Karnataka, and Nagaland. Nationwide, the total female electorate is still 2.33 crore fewer than males among 99-crore voters. Notable states with high third-gender electors include Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Kerala Police arrested businessman Boby Chemmanur after a Malayalam actor accused him of making sexually explicit remarks at events. Chemmanur, who is the director of Chemmanur International Jewellers, will be presented before a magistrate. The arrest follows the actor's confidential statement and an investigation into a related cyberattack case involving sexist comments against her.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Andhra Pradesh, laid foundation stones and inaugurated projects worth over Rs 2 lakh crore in Visakhapatnam, highlighting the goal of making the state a $2.5 trillion economy by 2047. He pledged full support for the development under CM N Chandrababu Naidu.

The Kerala High Court has suspended the five-year prison sentence of four individuals, including former CPM MLA K V Kunhiraman, convicted for the murder of two Youth Congress workers. The court stated that appeals are unlikely to be heard before the sentences are completed, leading to their temporary release on bail.

Bombay high court questioned the denial of motherhood rights to a pregnant woman with a borderline intellectual disability. Her father's petition to terminate the pregnancy was contested by the woman herself. The court noted her consent and the medical report indicating no foetal anomalies, emphasizing the law doesn't bar individuals with lower-than-average intelligence from parenthood.

Calcutta HC directed police to provide security to a 2024 gang rape survivor, criticizing delays in the accused's arrest and threats faced by the victim. Security will include two constables, one armed. An investigation report is due on January 13, as state representatives confirm ongoing probe.

The Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple, closed for decades in Varanasi's Muslim-dominated Madanpura, was reopened with the help of the district administration and police. Keys were handed over to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Local Muslim residents and various Hindu organizations collaborated peacefully in cleaning and securing the temple, planning its revival post-Makar Sankranti.

Citizens face difficulty accessing RTI status reports due to non-functioning OTP feature on the RTI portal, causing delays and complications. The issue remains unresolved despite complaints, with OTPs either not being received or not working, frustrating users seeking transparency as per their legal rights.

SC directs Centre to implement a scheme by March 14 to ensure cashless treatment for road accident victims during the golden hour, as required under the Motor Vehicles Act. The scheme, aimed at saving lives, must address concerns regarding payment limits and treatment duration.

The first JPC meeting on the 'one nation, one election' bills saw opposition MPs call the legislations an attack on constitutional norms, whereas BJP and allies argued for reduced expenditure and administrative load benefits, citing broad public support and historical precedents.

Pritish Nandy, renowned poet, editor, film producer, Rajya Sabha member, and animal rights activist, passed away at 73 in Mumbai. Known for his work in poetry, journalism, and film production, Nandy made significant contributions to Indian media, including the corporatisation of Bollywood and advocating for animal rights.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath defends the survey of Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, warning against ignoring historical occupation of Hindu religious sites. He criticizes the Waqf Board, highlights Sanatan Dharma's significance, and urges political opponents to embrace India's spiritual heritage.

A stampede during the distribution of Vaikuntha Dwara Sarva Darshan tokens for Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati resulted in six deaths and over 30 injuries. The chaos involved poor crowd management as devotees surged forward. TTD had organized the event, expecting large crowds. Andhra CM Naidu is overseeing the situation.

The Supreme Court of India has acknowledged its error in rejecting the juvenility plea of a convict, ordering his immediate release after 25 years in jail. The court recognized the convict was 14 at the time of the crime and highlighted the importance of rehabilitation for juveniles.

Following a proposal to temporarily halt the selection of sitting or former judges' lawyer children for high court judges, another SC collegium member suggested they should meet a higher benchmark. This aims to balance merit-based appointments with concerns over the advantages of judicial lineage.