Full Scale Actively Cooled Scramjet Combustor
Institution & Location
- Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, a key laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Major Achievement
- Successful long-duration ground test of a Full Scale Actively Cooled Scramjet Combustor, marking a major milestone in India’s hypersonic missile development.
Test Details
- Conducted at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) Facility, a state-of-the-art testing infrastructure.
- Achieved a continuous run time of over 12 minutes, demonstrating sustained and stable supersonic combustion.
- Test date: January 9, 2026.
Technological Significance
- Scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) technology enables air-breathing hypersonic propulsion, essential for hypersonic cruise missiles.
- Validated the design, thermal management, and performance of an actively cooled full-scale combustor.
- Confirmed the operational capability of the SCPT facility for long-duration hypersonic testing.
Development Progress
- Builds upon an earlier long-duration subscale scramjet test conducted on April 25, 2025.
- Represents a critical transition from subscale to full-scale propulsion systems.
Indigenous Capability
- Both the scramjet combustor and the test facility were designed and developed by DRDL.
- Realisation and execution involved Indian industry partners, highlighting successful public–private collaboration.
Operational Impact
- Supports the development of Hypersonic Cruise Missiles, capable of flying at Mach 5+ (over 6,100 km/h) for extended periods.
- Enhances India’s ability to sustain long-duration hypersonic flight using supersonic combustion.
Strategic Importance
- Positions India among a select group of nations with advanced hypersonic propulsion technology.
- Strengthens national deterrence and advanced aerospace capabilities.
National IED Data Management System (NIDMS)
Event & Launch
- Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the National IED Data Management System (NIDMS) of the National Security Guard (NSG) in New Delhi via video conferencing.
- Attended by senior leadership including the Union Home Secretary, Director IB, DG NSG, DGs of CAPFs, and DGPs of various states.
Purpose of NIDMS
- Designed as a secure national digital platform for systematic collection, integration, analysis, and sharing of IED and bomb explosion–related data.
- Aimed at strengthening investigation, analysis, and prevention of terrorist incidents across the country.
- Envisioned as a next-generation security shield against terrorism.
Data Integration & Technology
- Addresses the long-standing issue of data silos by connecting multiple datasets previously stored separately.
- Will use advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI)–based tools for analysis, pattern recognition, and trend identification.
- Functions as a two-way, integrated, online platform enabling real-time data access and input.
Operational Coverage & Access
- Accessible to NIA, Anti-Terrorism Squads (ATS), state police forces, and all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
- Enables inclusion of data related to any explosion or IED incident anywhere in the country.
- Provides single-click access to case-related data for investigation and anti-terror agencies.
NSG Database & Analytical Value
- Incorporates NSG’s comprehensive database of all bomb explosions in India since 1999.
- Enables detailed analysis of:
- Patterns and trends of explosions
- Modus operandi (MO)
- Types of explosives and circuit methods used
- Helps establish inter-linkages between incidents, aiding scientific, evidence-based investigations and prosecutions.
Benefits to Internal Security
- Enhances speed, quality, and accuracy of investigations and prosecution.
- Strengthens inter-agency coordination and information sharing.
- Ensures right information reaches the right agency at the right time.
‘One Nation, One Data Repository’ Vision
- NIDMS aligns with the government’s vision of centralised national data as a shared asset.
- Supports scientific and data-driven decision-making in counter-terrorism operations.
Integration with National Crime & Justice Systems
- Will integrate with ICJS-2, based on the principle of ‘One Data – One Entry’.
- Complements existing platforms such as:
- CCTNS (connected to ~17,741 police stations)
- e-Courts (~22,000 courts)
- e-Prisons (2.2 crore prisoners)
- e-Prosecution (2 crore cases)
- e-Forensics (31 lakh samples)
- NAFIS (1.21 crore fingerprints)
Role and Strength of NSG
- NSG described as a world-class, zero-error counter-terrorism force, established in 1984.
- Responsibilities include:
- Counter-terrorism operations
- Anti-hijacking missions
- Bomb disposal
- Data analysis and sharing through NIDMS
- NSG personnel have received numerous gallantry awards, including Ashok Chakras, Kirti Chakras, and Sena Medals.
Operational Reach of NSG
- Regional hubs located in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad.
- New NSG hub under development in Ayodhya, expected to reduce response time nationwide.
- Once operational, NSG will be able to reach any part of India within 1–1.5 hours in emergencies.
Overall Significance
- NIDMS marks a major step towards a technology-driven, integrated internal security framework.
- Strengthens India’s counter-terrorism capabilities through data fusion, AI-enabled analysis, and seamless inter-agency cooperation.
- Reinforces NSG’s central role as a pillar of India’s internal security architecture.
“Creator’s Corner”
Launch & Occasion
- Prasar Bharati launched “Creator’s Corner”, a dedicated platform for showcasing digital content creators from across India on DD News.
- Inaugurated under the leadership of Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Objective & Vision
- To recognize, empower, and promote digital content creators nationwide.
- Aims to boost the creator economy, create new employment opportunities, and provide national and global exposure to creators.
- Part of wider reforms in Prasar Bharati and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to modernize public broadcasting.
- Builds upon the success of the WAVES platform launched in 2025, which generated employment and economic impact for youth content creators.
Programme Details
- Telecast: 7:00 PM, Monday to Friday on DD News, with a repeat at 9:30 AM the next day.
- Each episode features 4–6 reels/videos covering diverse themes.
- Initially launched on DD News, with plans to expand across all Doordarshan channels.
- Provides a prime-time slot, helping creators reach wider audiences.
Content Scope
- Covers News & Current Affairs, Culture, Travel, Cuisine, Art & Literature, Music & Dance, Health & Wellness, Education, Science & Technology, Environment & Sustainable Development, and Entertainment.
- Encourages creation of quality content that resonates with younger audiences.
Benefits & Impact
- Offers mutually beneficial partnership: creators get a credible platform, and Prasar Bharati receives diverse, innovative content.
- Supports the growth of India’s digital and Orange Economy.
- Expands opportunities for independent creators, not limited to large studios.
- Expected to increase national visibility, employment, and engagement in the digital content ecosystem.
Participation & Submission
- Interested creators can submit content via ddnews.creatorscorner[at]gmail[dot]com or contact +91-8130555806.
Strategic Significance
- Represents modernization of public broadcasting to embrace industry participation, technology, and digital innovation.
- Promotes inclusive growth by giving voice to creators from diverse languages, regions, and genres.
- Contributes to India’s digital economy, employment generation, and cultural promotion.
NHAI Internship Program
Launch & Stakeholders
- NHAI (National Highways Authority of India), in association with the Department of Higher Education, has launched the ‘NHAI Internship Program’.
- Inaugurated by Shri Vineet Joshi (Secretary, Department of Higher Education) and Shri Santosh Kumar Yadav (Chairman, NHAI).
- Present were officials from NHAI, Ministry of Education, and AICTE.
Objective
- To provide hands-on, real-world experience to aspiring professionals in National Highway planning, engineering, and implementation.
- Aimed at building a talent ecosystem for future infrastructure development professionals.
- Supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes experiential learning, industry exposure, and employability.
Internship Portal & Scope
- A dedicated Internship Portal has been introduced for wider accessibility and transparency.
- Offers opportunities across 150+ major National Highway projects nationwide.
- Each project can host up to 4 interns, creating an initial pool of ~600 students.
- Targeted institutions include IITs, NITs, and AICTE-affiliated institutes.
Duration & Stipend
- Internship durations: 1 month, 2 months, and 6 months, aligned with academic and industry needs.
- Interns receive a stipend of ₹20,000 per month to support learning, mobility, and professional growth.
Focus Areas
- Primary focus: Civil Engineering students.
- Opportunities also for IT, Electronics, and Electrical Engineering students in areas like:
- Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS)
- Electronic Toll Collection (ETC)
Past Participation & Future Plans
- Winter Internship saw ~250 students participate.
- Six-month final-year undergraduate internship to start from 19th January 2026.
- ~500 applications already received for six-month program.
- Program will expand to postgraduate students in the future.
Learning Outcomes
- Active participation in projects goes beyond observational learning.
- Interns gain field-based exposure in planning, engineering, and management of National Highway projects.
- Builds understanding of technical and managerial aspects of infrastructure development.
Strategic Significance
- Supports skill development and industry-academia collaboration.
- Prepares the next generation of professionals to contribute to India’s infrastructure growth.
- Aligns with NEP 2020’s focus on flexible curriculum, credit-linked internships, and industry experience.
Semiconductor Property in a Self-assembling Bacterial Shell Protein
Discovery & Context
- Scientists at Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali discovered a semiconductor property in a self-assembling bacterial shell protein.
- Traditional semiconductors like silicon are rigid, energy-intensive to manufacture, and contribute to electronic waste.
- There is growing demand for sustainable, soft, and biocompatible electronics (wearables, implantables, environmental sensors).
Mechanism of Action
- The bacterial protein self-assembles into flat, sheet-like structures with built-in electron density patterns.
- These sheets absorb UV light and generate electrical current without added dyes, metals, or external power.
- The key amino acid tyrosine in the protein releases electrons when excited by light, creating light-driven, scaffold-free semiconductor behavior.
- Electrical current generation depends on protein’s natural structural order, not seen in unfolded/disordered proteins.
Experimental Validation
- Researchers used advanced microscopy and electrical tests to confirm semiconductor-like behavior.
- The effect is unique to naturally ordered protein sheets, emphasizing the importance of biological self-assembly.
Applications & Implications
- Wearable devices: health monitors, UV-detection patches.
- Implantable medical devices: safe, biocompatible sensors for monitoring inside the body.
- Environmental sensors: pollution detectors, sunlight trackers, disposable and eco-friendly.
- Potential for genetically tunable, low-energy materials for electronics.
- Supports bio-inspired electronics—learning from natural systems to develop sustainable technology.
Significance
- Introduces a low-energy, additive-free route for light-sensitive materials.
- Offers a pathway for safe, flexible, and environmentally responsible electronics.
- Could enable next-generation devices that are functional, efficient, and sustainable.
Publication
- Study published in Chemical Science, Royal Society of Chemistry.
3rd Indian Lighthouse Festival
Event Details:
- Date & Venue: 14–15 January 2026, MGM Park, Visakhapatnam
- Chief Guests: M. Venkaiah Naidu (former Vice President of India) and Sarbananda Sonowal (Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways)
- Attendance: Over 3,500 visitors
Highlights of the Festival:
- Cultural performances blending tradition, devotion, and national pride.
- Kuchipudi Performance: Natya Sannidhaalaya, led by Guru Sannidha Rajasagi, performed Kadirinrusimhudu (Lord Narasimha) and a tribute to 150 years of Vande Mataram.
- North East Folk Dances: Showcased traditions from eight North Eastern states, including Manipur’s Pung Cholam, Arunachal Pradesh’s Galo dance, Mizoram’s Cheraw, Assam’s Bihu, and more.
- Community & Entrepreneurship: 40+ self-help group stalls featured handcrafted items and coastal cuisine, promoting women-led entrepreneurship.
- Tourism Development: 10 of Andhra Pradesh’s 17 lighthouses are developed for tourism; festival emphasizes lighthouse-led economic growth.
Statements by Dignitaries:
- M. Venkaiah Naidu: Highlighted lighthouse tourism as a driver for local economy, cultural preservation, and coastal community engagement.
- Sarbananda Sonowal: Stressed lighthouses as vibrant centers for tourism, culture, and employment; tied to the government’s vision for coastal development and heritage promotion.
Significance:
- India has 205 lighthouses along 11,000 km of coastline; 75 lighthouses across 10 states/UTs developed with modern tourist facilities.
- The festival is aligned with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 to boost tourism, employment, and coastal economy.
- Previous editions:
- 1st Edition (2023, Goa): Bharatiya Prakash Stambh Utsav – launched lighthouse tourism nationally.
- 2nd Edition (2024, Puri): Expanded community participation and heritage tourism focus.
- 3rd Edition (2026, Visakhapatnam): Strengthens lighthouses as hubs of culture, tourism, and regional development.
Organisers: Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026
Event Overview
- Edition: 2nd edition of VBYLD
- Dates & Venue: 10–12 January 2026, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- Participants: 3,000 young leaders from across India, including youth diaspora delegates
Key Messages and Initiatives
- Youth are the real strength of the nation, crucial for nation-building over the next 25 years.
- Launch and promotion of MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat) initiative, with over 2 crore youth registered.
- Emphasis on active youth participation, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
- Dialogue encourages two-way communication: youth perspectives shared with leadership; leadership insights shared with youth.
- Felicitation of MY Bharat Volunteers for youth outreach and engagement.
Tracks and Themes of Deliberation
- Youth in Democracy and Governance
- Policy ideas to strengthen youth participation in democratic processes and public governance.
- Women-Led Development
- Empowering women as drivers of India’s growth by 2047.
- Initiatives: dual skilling, “Heritage to Home” model, AI Sahayika Didi, preventive safety, digital healthcare, 3R approach for unpaid care work.
- Fit Bharat, Hit Bharat
- Community-driven, inclusive fitness initiatives.
- Ideas: piezoelectric tiles, early fitness in schools, Agro Olympics, inclusive spaces for women and transgender individuals.
- Making India the Startup Capital of the World
- Scaling grassroots startups, supporting entrepreneurship education, research, and incubation.
- Bharat’s Soft Power: Cultural Diplomacy
- Leveraging India’s civilisational strengths for global engagement and influence.
- Innovation with Tradition
- Integrating ancient wisdom with modern technology (AI, VR, AR).
- Projects: sustainable coastal development, smart water management, digital platforms for creative economy, AI in traditional education.
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat
- Strengthening MSMEs, reviving local textiles, nuclear energy, millet economy, indigenous AI, advanced manufacturing, women empowerment in industry.
- Smart and Sustainable Agriculture
- AI-driven solutions for pest surveillance, soil health, and productivity enhancement.
- Building a Sustainable and Green Viksit Bharat
- Community-driven sustainability solutions, green lifestyles, indigenous solutions, inclusive innovation.
- Future-Ready Workforce
- Skill-first, outcome-oriented education.
- Focus on bridging the gap between education and industry demand, local employment generation, and decentralised skilling.
Additional Activities
- Selection rounds for various categories to prepare participants for next three days.
- Parallel initiatives: ‘Design for Bharat’ and ‘Hack for Social Change’.
- Visits to Prime Minister’s Museum and Library to understand India’s democratic heritage and leadership legacy.
Significance and Impact
- Reinforces government commitment to youth empowerment, innovation, civic engagement, and nation-building.
- Provides a national platform for youth to contribute to policy ideas, sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and cultural diplomacy.
- Sets direction for future deliberations culminating in interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 January 2026.
Next Steps
- Day 2 Plenary Session: Graced by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya (Union Minister) and Shri Ajit Doval (National Security Advisor).
- Continued focus on youth leadership, innovation, and actionable solutions for Viksit Bharat.
Tex-RAMPS Scheme
- The Ministry of Textiles has signed MoUs with 15 States under the Tex-RAMPS scheme.
- The MoUs were signed during a two-day national textile ministers’ conference in Guwahati, themed: “India’s Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation”.
- Tex-RAMPS stands for Textiles focused Research, Assessment, Monitoring, Planning And Start-Up.
- The scheme aims to enhance the coverage, quality, timeliness, and credibility of textile-related statistics and research.
- The initiative supports integrated planning for key sectors:
- Handlooms
- Handicrafts
- Apparel
- Technical textiles
- Efforts are focused at cluster and district levels to ensure localised planning and development.
- Funding provisions:
- ₹12 lakh per year to each State/UT.
- ₹1 lakh extra per year for each district, contingent on district action plan development and execution.
U.S. Withdrawal from UNFCCC
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from 66 global organizations and treaties, including those affiliated with the United Nations.
- Among these, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is most notable.
- UNFCCC, adopted in 1992, is the foundational climate treaty for global cooperation on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change impacts.