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| Jan 01, 1970 | Daily Report |
| RISING BHARAT | News Count (101852) | |
241. India, UAE to elevate ties with strategic defence partnership
- On January 19, 2026, during a short official visit to New Delhi, India, and the UAE agreed to elevate bilateral ties by signing a Letter of Intent for a strategic defence partnership.
- Prime Minister of India and the President of UAE led talks, concluding the defence LoI along with agreements on LNG supply, space collaboration, and expanded trade targets through formal diplomatic discussions.
- he engagement also covered defence industry collaboration, LNG supply, space cooperation, and a target to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, strengthening long-term strategic and economic ties.
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242. India exports Pinaka rockets to Armenia: Check the guided missile system’s capabilities that even France is interested in
- On January 20, 2026, the first batch of guided Pinaka rocket systems meant for Armenia has been flagged off by Defence Minister from a facility in Nagpur, Armenia is the first confirmed international buyer of the Pinaka system, though several other countries in Southeast Asia and Europe, including France, have shown interest.
- The development marks the start of deliveries under a roughly Rs 2,000 crore deal signed between India and Armenia for four Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher batteries along with anti-tank rockets, ammunition and other equipment.
- India had earlier delivered the unguided variant of the Pinaka rockets, with supplies beginning in July 2023 and concluding in November 2024.
- The Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system is known for its accuracy and extended range. While earlier variants had a range of around 37.5 km, upgrades over time have increased its strike capability to 75 km, with the latest trial version achieving a range of up to 120 km.
243. AKTU, BRD Med College join hands for healthcare
- On January 20, 2026, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) and BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur signed an MoU to collaborate on healthcare research and innovation projects.
- Senior officials from AKTU and BRD Medical College agreed the partnership will use AI, bio-printing, medical device engineering, and clinical research to address public health challenges through joint R&D.
- A 90-day action plan includes developing mental health tools, stem-cell products, rapid device validation, a PhD programme in pharmacotherapeutics, hackathons, internships, and student exchanges.
244. GRID-INDIA Partners with ISRO’s SAC to Boost Renewable Energy Forecasting and Grid Efficiency
- On January 20, 2026, GRID-INDIA signed an MoU with ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC) in New Delhi to use satellite data for renewable energy forecasting and improve grid efficiency.
- The MoU was signed by senior officials of GRID-INDIA and ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC), aiming to integrate satellite-based meteorological and geospatial insights into real-time grid operations and monitoring.”
- The partnership seeks to enhance power dispatch accuracy, reduce grid risks, and support reliable renewable energy integration, strengthening the resilience and sustainability of India’s national grid.
245. India’s national highway toll revenue may breach ₹1 trillion in FY27 on traffic
- On January 20, 2026, India’s national highway toll revenue is projected to exceed ₹1 trillion in FY27, driven by rising traffic and toll collections on national highways and expressways across the country.
- According to government projections, boosted traffic volumes, expressway expansion, and a planned satellite-based multi-lane free flow (MLFF) tolling system will significantly increase revenue.
- FASTag collections rose over 15% year-on-year; the MLFF system could add ₹6,000 crore; operational expressways grew from 93 km to 3,052 km; toll plazas may increase by 200–300
Click here to find 423 similar incidents of Make in India / Atmanirbhar -> Roads and Highways
246. Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train update: India’s 1st high-speed rail project advances towards electrification
- On January 20, 2026, India’s Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project is progressing toward electrification, with installation of overhead electrification masts advancing along the 508-km high-speed rail corridor connecting Mumbai, Maharashtra and Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Railway Minister of India announced that Overhead Electrification (OHE) masts are being erected across key viaduct sections, enabling electric traction for India’s first high-speed rail under the Make in India initiative.
- The OHE masts will support the 2×25 kV traction system for efficient operations, and their installation is critical for safe, continuous power supply to bullet trains along all major alignment sections.
247. 6% rise in AYUSH and herbal exports, informs Health Minister JP Nadda
- India’s AYUSH and herbal exports grew by over six per cent, rising from 649 million dollars in 2023-24 to more than 688 million dollars in 2024-25.
- Union Health Minister
- The establishment of AYUSH Export Promotion Council has added fresh momentum, strengthening global outreach and increasing international demand for India’s traditional medicine and herbal products.
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248. Smartphone shipments power 37% surge in India’s electronics exports
- On January 19, 2026, it was reported India’s electronics exports crossed $47 billion (₹4.15 lakh crore) in 2025, registering a 37% jump from $34.93 billion in 2024. Smartphones accounted for nearly two-thirds (~$30 billion) of total electronics exports, underlining their central role in this milestone.
- Apple iPhones dominated smartphone exports, contributing about 75% of shipments, valued at over $22 billion. The government’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme emerged as the principal driver, with iPhone exports alone rising around 85% year-on-year in 2025.
- India became the second-largest mobile phone producer globally, with over 99% of domestic handset demand met through local production. With continued policy support, new semiconductor plants announced and deliberations underway to extend PLI beyond March 2026, India
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249. Boost for ‘Make in India’: AXISCADES bags Rs 100 crore defence order from DRDO-BEL programme
- On January 19, 2026, AXISCADES Technologies, through Mistral Solutions, won a ₹100 crore order under the LLTR Ashwini radar programme of Defence Research and Development Organisation and Bharat Electronics.
- Under the two-year contract, Mistral Solutions will supply advanced liquid-cooled Signal and Data Processing Units (SDPU) along with spares. These systems are critical for detecting and tracking low-flying threats such as drones, helicopters and fighter aircraft, strengthening India’s air surveillance and radar capabilities.
- The company clarified that the contract is at arm’s length, involves no related-party transactions, and that promoters have no interest in BEL. Despite the operational win, AXISCADES’ share price has declined 17.47% over three months and 7.18% over six months.
250. INS Sagardhwani flagged off for research collaboration with 8 IOR countries
- On January 18, 2026, INS Sagardhwani, a specialised oceanographic research vessel of DRDO’s Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), was flagged off from Kochi for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri initiative.
- The mission aims to build sustained scientific cooperation with eight Indian Ocean Region (IOR) countries-Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Myanmar—beginning collaborative oceanographic studies with Maldives.
- The initiative is a flagship collaboration between the Indian Navy and Defence Research and Development Organisation, aligned with the government’s MAHASAGAR vision. Through Sagar Maitri and its scientific component MAITRI (Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative), NPOL seeks to promote long-term capacity building, professional exchange, and advanced ocean research cooperation among IOR nations.
- Sagar Maitri is a central pillar of DRDO’s efforts to enhance Underwater Domain Awareness for the Indian Navy.