| Jan 01, 1970 | Daily Report |
| RISING BHARAT | News Count (101854) | |
401. DRDO successfully conducts Salvo launch of two Pralay missiles off Odisha coast
- On December 31 at 10:30 am, DRDO conducted two back-to-back Pralay missile launches during user evaluation trials from a single launcher off the Odisha coast, with both missiles accurately following predetermined trajectories.
- DRDO, supported by RCI Hyderabad, multiple labs, BDL, BEL, and armed forces observers, executed the trials using solid-propellant, quasi-ballistic Pralay missiles guided by advanced navigation, telemetry, and tracking systems.
- Pralay carries diverse warheads, ensures high accuracy through onboard guidance, and offers operational flexibility. Tracking sensors at ITR and ship-borne telemetry validated terminal events. Defence Minister of India praised the launch for proving system reliability.
402. Indian Railways launches mega infrastructural projects to improve connectivity
- On December 31, 2025 It was reported that, From 2014 to December 2025, Indian Railways executed major infrastructure works across Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, the Northeast, and the Western–Eastern corridors, building rail links, sea bridges, and high-speed networks to enhance national connectivity.
- Indian Railways, with agencies like NHSRCL, implemented these projects through advanced engineering—arch bridges, vertical-lift systems, cable-stayed structures, heavy tunnelling, electrification, viaduct construction, and freight corridors—using modern materials, seismic design, wind-resistant systems, and large-scale civil works.
- USBRL cost ₹44,000 crore with 36 tunnels and 943 bridges; New Pamban Bridge spans 2.08 km; DFCs commissioned 2,741 km; Northeast added 1,679 km of track; Mumbai–Ahmedabad HSR completed 331 km viaduct and 410 km piers.
403. Cabinet clears ₹1,526 crore upgrade of NH-326 stretch in Odisha
- On December 31,2025,The Union Cabinet approved a ₹1,526 crore project to upgrade a 243-km stretch of NH-326 in Odisha between Mohana and Koraput, converting it into a two-lane highway with paved shoulders under the EPC mode.
- The project aims to fix narrow lanes, sharp curves, and steep gradients to improve road safety, freight movement, and passenger travel, cutting travel time by 2.5–3 hours and reducing vehicle costs.
- Passing through Gajapati, Rayagada, and Koraput districts, the upgraded corridor will strengthen links to NH-26, NH-59, and NH-16, improve access to ports and airports, and boost regional connectivity, jobs, and economic growth.
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404. Cabinet approves ₹19,142 crore Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot greenfield corridor
- On December 31,2025, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a ₹19,142 crore, 374-km six-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor connecting Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot in Maharashtra, to be developed under the BOT (toll) model.
- The corridor will link major routes including the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, Agra–Mumbai corridor, Samruddhi Mahamarg and NH-60, enabling west-to-east coast connectivity, with a design speed of 100 km/h and average speed of 60 km/h.
- The project will reduce travel time by about 17 hours (45%), shorten distance by 201 km, and generate around 251 lakh direct and 314 lakh indirect man-days of employment, boosting regional and industrial development in Maharashtra.
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405. DRDO successfully conducts maiden flight test of 120 Km strike range Pinaka rockets
- On December 29, 2025 India successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120) at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, coinciding with its same-day induction clearance by the Defence Acquisition Council.
- DRDO laboratories—ARDE, HEMRL, DRDL, and RCI—developed the 120-km LRGR, which was launched from an in-service Pinaka launcher and tracked throughout its flight, executing planned manoeuvres and hitting its target with textbook precision.
- The test was coordinated by ITR and PXE. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and DRDO Chief Samir V. Kamat praised the achievement. Pinaka MLRS, already exported to Armenia and drawing European interest, may replace alternative artillery plans once longer-range variants mature.
406. Bihar govt commissions first phase of ₹2,800 cr Kajra Solar Project
- On December 30, 2025, Bihar commissioned the first phase of the ₹2,800 crore Kajra Solar Power Plant in Lakhisarai district, marking a significant expansion of the state’s clean and renewable energy infrastructure.
- Bihar Energy Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh announced that a 185 MW solar unit with a 254 MWh battery system was completed, using energised transmission and transformer facilities to ensure four to five hours of uninterrupted peak-time electricity.
- The second phase will add a 116 MW solar plant and a 241 MWh battery system by January 2027, bringing the Kajra project’s total capacity to 301 MW and total storage capacity to 495 MWh.
407. Union Civil Aviation Minister flags off next-generation helicopter Dhruv NG in Bengaluru
- On December 30, 2025, Union Civil Aviation Minister flagged off the inaugural flight of HAL’s next-generation Dhruv NG civil helicopter at HAL, marking its formal entry into India’s civil aviation sector.
- HAL engineers created the Dhruv NG with twin Shakti 1H1C engines, a civil-certified glass cockpit, advanced avionics, crashworthy systems, and vibration control, enabling safe, multi-role civil operations across challenging Indian terrain.
- The 5.5-tonne Dhruv NG offers 285 km/h speed, 630 km range, 6,000-metre ceiling, 1,000-kg payload, a 7.33 m³ configurable cabin for VIP, medical, and offshore roles, and serves as a cost-effective alternative to imported twin-engine helicopters.
408. Northeast Frontier Railways launched 11 new trains this year
- On december,30, 2025, It was reported that, The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) in 2025 has introduced 11 new trains, including the first ones connecting Mizoram.
- Northeast Frontier Railway introduced these services by starting new express, passenger, Rajdhani, Jan Shatabdi, Vande Bharat, and Amrit Bharat trains, ensuring improved accessibility through daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and tri-weekly operations.
- Mizoram entered India’s rail map with Sairang-Anand Vihar Rajdhani, Guwahati-Sairang daily service, and Kolkata-Sairang tri-weekly express. Additional trains included Sealdah-Jalpaiguri Road Express, Danapur-Jogbani Vande Bharat, Erode-Jogbani Amrit Bharat, Siliguri-Katihar Express, and the Darjeeling-Ghum toy train.
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409. IAF institute, IIT-M sign MoU for indigenous airborne communications system
- On December 29, 2025, the Indian Air Force’s Software Development Institute (SDI), Bengaluru, signed an MoU with IIT-Madras to jointly develop an indigenous digital secure communication system for airborne applications.
- The collaboration aims to enhance self-reliance in critical defence technologies, improve IAF operational capabilities, and reduce dependence on imported systems, aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- The project will work on secure data transmission, advanced encryption, scalable airborne networks, and cyber resilience, to produce deployable prototypes for IAF operations.
410. Indian tech startups raised over Rs 94,000 crore in 2025, Tracxn data reveals
- On December 29, 2025, India’s tech startups raised $10.5 billion (around Rs 94,000 crore) in 2025, down 17% from last year, retaining the position as the world’s third-largest funded ecosystem, according to Tracxn’s India Tech Annual Funding Report 2025.
- Early-stage funding proved more resilient, rising to $3.9 billion, up 7% year-on-year and 11% higher than 2023 levels. Late-stage funding dropped to $5.5 billion, down 26% from 2024 and 8% from 2023.
- India recorded 14 funding rounds of $100 million or more in 2025, compared with 19 in 2024 and 16 in 2023. These were led largely by transportation and logistics tech, environment tech and auto tech. Notable transactions included Erisha E Mobility’s $1.0 billion Series D round, Zepto’s $300 million Series H raise and GreenLine’s $275 million Series A funding.