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At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
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Day: January 13, 2026

Government committed to quality healthcare in remote regions: Rajnath Singh

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New Delhi: The government is committed to delivering quality healthcare to every citizen, especially those living in remote and island regions, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said while virtually addressing a multi-speciality medical camp organised by the Indian Navy in Lakshadweep.

The week-long camp, hosted at Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kavaratti, marks the first such initiative in the islands. Singh described it as a powerful example of the Armed Forces’ humanitarian role, noting that advanced diagnostics, specialist consultations, planned surgeries and cataract operations are being brought directly to residents’ doorsteps.

He said comprehensive screening, early diagnosis, timely intervention and free distribution of medicines would ensure long-term health benefits for island communities. The initiative, he added, complements national programmes such as Ayushman Bharat and Jan Aushadhi.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi termed the camp unique for its joint nature, wide medical scope and scale of deployment. Specialists from cardiology, ophthalmology, neurology, nephrology, gastroenterology, dermatology and endocrinology are part of the effort, strengthening civil-military cooperation.

According to an official release, the Navy is conducting camps across five islands—Amini, Androth, Agatti, Kavaratti and Minicoy—ensuring maximum outreach. Dedicated teams have been deployed for cataract surgeries, with nearly 50 sight-restoring procedures completed within two days.

Beyond treatment, residents are being counselled on preventive care, nutrition, mental wellbeing, yoga and lifestyle changes, aligning with the vision of holistic health for all, even in India’s most remote regions.

Centre asks NSFs to form global ties, Make in India panels

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New Delhi: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has called on all recognised National Sports Federations (NSFs) to constitute two new committees – one dedicated to international relations and another to advancing Make in India initiatives in sport.

The move aims to deepen India’s outreach in the global sports ecosystem while simultaneously boosting domestic equipment manufacturing and innovation, according to an official statement.

The proposed International Relations Committee will track developments in international and continental sporting bodies, including regulatory changes, governance reforms, and emerging athlete pathways. It will also draw up a medium-term cooperation strategy covering bilateral and multilateral agreements, joint training camps, exchange programmes and opportunities to host world-class events in India.

Federations have been reminded that all overseas engagement must align with national policy, as well as Olympic Charter norms, international federation rules, anti-doping measures, and athlete-protection frameworks. The committee is expected to strengthen cooperation with foreign federations, universities, and research bodies to secure elite training and sports science support for Indian athletes.

It will additionally assist federations in navigating bids for hosting tournaments and will be required to keep the Ministry informed of such plans in advance.

The second panel, focused on Make in India in Sports, will work closely with manufacturers, start-ups, and testing and certification organisations. Its mandate includes encouraging indigenous sports equipment and technological solutions, overseeing trials and validation processes, and identifying bottlenecks in domestic manufacturing. The committee will submit periodic reports outlining progress and further recommendations to reinforce self-reliance in the sector.

As part of the advisory, the government has set timelines for formation.

Federations must inform the Ministry of the composition and terms of reference for the International Relations Committee within 30 days, while the Make in India committee details must be submitted within 60 days.

Both groups are expected to include senior federation officials, former international athletes, and subject specialists – reflecting a push to bring experience, expertise, and innovation into India’s sporting system.

Delhi shivers at 3°c as cold wave set to persist for few more days across north India

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New Delhi: Delhi woke up to its coldest January morning in three years on Tuesday as the minimum temperature plunged to 3 degrees Celsius, with the India Meteorological Department warning that cold wave conditions are likely to persist across large parts of north India over the next few days.

At Safdarjung, the city’s primary weather observatory, the mercury dipped 4.4 degrees below normal. Palam recorded a low of 4 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road touched 3 degrees. The Ridge logged 4.4 degrees and Ayanagar 3.2 degrees, all significantly below seasonal averages. The IMD defines a cold wave when minimum temperatures fall between 4.5 and 6.4 degrees below normal.

The chill is part of a broader cold spell sweeping across north and central India. The weather department has forecast cold wave to severe cold wave conditions over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha for the next two to three days. A red warning has been issued for Punjab and Haryana, with the IMD cautioning that dense to very dense fog is also likely in these regions.

In neighbouring states, temperatures have dropped to near-freezing levels. Parts of Gurugram’s outskirts recorded sub-zero readings, while Fatehpur Shekawati in Rajasthan touched minus 3.5 degrees Celsius earlier this week. Such temperatures are uncommon in the plains of northwest India, though not unprecedented.

Meteorologists attribute the prolonged cold to a combination of global and regional factors. Researcher Debashish Jena noted that this winter has seen persistently below-normal minimum temperatures across north, central and eastern India, driven by La Niña conditions, frequent western disturbances, and strong inflows of cold air from higher latitudes.

“The anomaly was driven by La Niña–induced strengthening of the Walker and Hadley circulations, intensification and southward shift of the subtropical westerly jet, frequent western disturbances, enhanced strong cold air advection from higher latitudes, and post-disturbance clear-sky radiative cooling leading to prolonged cold nights and cold wave conditions,” Jena wrote on X.

In Delhi, the cold has been accompanied by deteriorating air quality. The city’s Air Quality Index stood at 337, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed that 29 monitoring stations reported ‘very poor’ air, with Anand Vihar slipping into the ‘severe’ range at 411. Only a handful of stations remained in the ‘poor’ bracket.

The maximum temperature in the capital is expected to hover around 20 degrees Celsius, but officials say cold wave conditions are likely to continue at least through Wednesday. With icy mornings, dense fog and worsening air quality, authorities have urged residents to take precautions, especially the elderly, children and those with respiratory ailments.

Alonso departs Real Madrid

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Madrid: Real Madrid have confirmed that Xabi Alonso’s tenure as first-team coach has come to an end following a mutual agreement between the club and the former midfielder.

Alonso, regarded as one of the club’s modern icons, leaves with the full respect of supporters and officials alike. In an official statement, the club acknowledged his contribution both on and off the field and stated that he will always be welcome back at the Santiago Bernabéu.

In the same announcement, Real Madrid named Álvaro Arbeloa as the new first-team manager.

Although described as a mutual parting, Alonso’s exit likely reflects the unforgiving expectations that surround Real Madrid managers, where anything short of sustained title contention invites scrutiny. The club has been signalling a broader shift toward benching youth development at the centre of its planning, making Arbeloa – who has worked with the academy pipeline – a logical successor. With form, strategy alignment, and long-term vision all under the microscope, both parties may have judged that a smooth transition now was preferable to waiting for external pressure later.

A former first-team regular, Arbeloa played 238 competitive matches for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2016. His time at the club delivered eight major trophies, including two UEFA Champions League titles, a La Liga championship, two Copas del Rey, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Arbeloa was also part of Spain’s most successful international generation, earning 56 caps and lifting the 2010 FIFA World Cup along with the 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships.

Real Madrid wished Alonso and his staff well in their next steps and expressed confidence in Arbeloa as he takes charge of the senior squad.

China provokes India by defending construction projects in Shaksgam valley

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China has again triggered fresh diplomatic friction with India by renewing its cartographic claims over the strategically sensitive Shaksgam Valley in Jammu and Kashmir and asserting that its infrastructure projects in the area are “beyond reproach”, reigniting tensions days after India asserted that the area is its sovereign territory and warned it would take all necessary measures to protect its interests.

Responding to queries on India’s positon, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Monday said it is “fully justified” for China to undertake construction on what it regards as its own soil. She added that the boundary between China and Pakistan was formally delimited through an agreement reached in the 1960s, describing the pact as a valid arrangement between two sovereign nations.

Mao further said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is aimed at boosting regional development and livelihoods, and stressed that neither CPEC nor the border agreement alters China’s long-held position on the Kashmir question.

Her remarks follow New Delhi’s strong statement issued last week, in which India asserted that Shaksgam is Indian territory. The Ministry of External Affairs said it does not recognise the 1963 China-Pakistan boundary agreement, calling it “illegal and invalid,” and stated that India reserves the right to take steps to safeguard its interests. New Delhi also reiterated that it opposes CPEC projects passing through what it considers sovereign territory.

“Shaksgam Valley is Indian territory. We have never recognised the so-called China-Pakistan ‘boundary agreement’ signed in 1963. We have consistently maintained that the agreement is illegal and invalid,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said last Friday. “We also do not recognise the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which passes through Indian territory that is under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan,” he said.

The exchange has once again underscored the deep sensitivities surrounding the region, where overlapping claims and competing infrastructure ambitions remain a point of contention between the two Asian neighbours.

The Shaksgam Valley, also known as the Trans Karakoram Tract, is a strategically sensitive, high-altitude region situated north of the Karakoram range, bordering China’s Xinjiang province and lying close to the Siachen–Aksai Chin belt. Part of the Hunza-Gilgit area in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the valley became a point of contention after Pakistan, in 1963, illegally ceded 5,180 sq km of Indian territory in the valley to China under a bilateral border agreement. India has consistently rejected this move as illegal and without any legal standing, maintaining that the area remains an integral part of its sovereign territory.

East Coast railway posts 11% rise in freight loading

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Bhubaneswar: The East Coast Railway has reported a strong freight performance in the current financial year, moving more than 209.97 million tonnes of cargo up to December, marking an 11% increase over the same period last year.

The zone has also surpassed its internal target by four per cent, signalling stable demand across industries and improving operational efficiency.

A closer examination of commodity movement reveals broad-based growth. Fertiliser volumes saw the sharpest increase at 40%, while finished steel traffic rose by 31%. Iron ore recorded a 20% rise, and foodgrains climbed 16%, highlighting the railway’s role in supporting agriculture and core manufacturing sectors. Coal, the bulk of East Coast Railway’s freight basket, continued to maintain steady movement, ensuring uninterrupted supply to power and industrial users.

Railway officials attributed the momentum to recent infrastructure expansion, including the commissioning of new lines and capacity enhancement through doubling and third and fourth-line projects. Improved linkages between industries, mines, and ports have also helped position the zone as a major freight hub.

The railway, in a media release, said coordinated planning with industry and government stakeholders has been central to keeping goods moving efficiently.

With freight volumes showing sustained growth, East Coast Railway is expected to maintain its focus on strengthening capacity and delivering reliable, long-haul connectivity for key sectors of the economy.

Govt begins work on new Lok Seva Bhavan to strengthen governance

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Bhubaneswar: The government has taken a decisive step toward strengthening its administrative ecosystem with the laying of the foundation stone for the New Lok Seva Bhavan. Conceived as part of a 71.13-acre integrated campus that will also house the State Legislative Assembly, the project is designed to reshape how government functions in the State.

The upcoming complex aims to bring key institutions closer together, improving coordination between departments and cutting down the inefficiencies that arise from scattered administrative hubs. The move is also aligned with the state’s broader push toward streamlined public service delivery and transparent governance.

In a post on X, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said: “By developing a modern administrative campus capable of supporting evolving public needs, Odisha signals a long-term commitment to building a future-ready bureaucracy – one that is more connected, responsive and better equipped to serve citizens.”

Meanwhile, Majhi has laid the foundation stones and inaugurated a total of 71 projects across the State, involving an expenditure of nearly Rs6,700 crore. Of these, 39 projects with an investment of about Rs5,630 crore have had their foundation stones laid, while 32 projects worth around Rs1,070 crore have been inaugurated.

In addition, the CM launched the foundation work for a new elevated corridor from Jayadev Vihar to Nandankanan, to be built at a cost of Rs₹952 crore.

Marking National Road Safety Month, Majhi inaugurated 15 charging stations for Bhubaneswar. He also unveiled 14 new permanent bus stands and flagged off 100 new BS-6 standard modern buses, built at Rs46 crore.

Further, a ‘Closed Loop Smart Transit Card’ system has been introduced to enable cashless ticketing. At Kalinga Ghat, a ‘Satrak Suchana Ghanti’ (Alert Warning Bell) has also been inaugurated.

IIT Madras rolls out ramjet tech for longer-range artillery

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Chennai: IIT Madras has announced a major step forward in defence technology with the successful development of ramjet-assisted artillery shells that can dramatically extend the range of existing gun systems – without reducing lethality.

The breakthrough centres on integrating a compact ramjet engine into a standard 155 mm shell in place of a conventional base-bleed unit. Once fired, the shell’s ramjet activates after gun-barrel exit, providing sustained propulsion and allowing the round to travel significantly farther while maintaining combat effectiveness.

Crucially, the design allows the Indian Army to enhance firepower without acquiring new artillery gun systems or investing in expensive missile platforms.

Extensive trials across multiple artillery systems have demonstrated notable gains in range. With the ramjet shell, the ATAGS platform witnessed its reach increase from around 40 kilometres to nearly 70 kilometres. The K9 Vajra system recorded a boost from approximately 36 kilometres to nearly 62 kilometres. Meanwhile, the Dhanush artillery system saw its effective coverage rise from about 30 kilometres to close to 55 kilometres.

The project, launched in 2020, is led by Prof P. A. Ramakrishna and supported by Lt Gen P R Shankar (retd), Prof H. S. N. Murthy, Prof G. Rajesh, Prof M. Ramakrishna, Prof Murugaiyan, Lt Gen Hari Mohan Iyer (retd), Prof Lazar C and Dr Yogesh Kumar Velari. Developed in partnership with the Indian Army, the effort has undergone gun-firing and field evaluations at Deolali and Pokhran, validating clean launch, stable aerodynamics, and reliable ignition.

In a post on X, the Chennai-based institution said: “The achievement reflects the momentum of Atmanirbhar Bharat and shows how incremental innovation on existing assets can deliver cost-efficient, survivable, and future-ready capabilities for contemporary battlefields.”