An unprecedented 45 crore people are anticipated to attend the Maha Kumbh, which will take place from January 13 to February 26 and highlight India’s rich spiritual and cultural traditions. Beginning Monday with the auspicious ‘Shahi Snan’ at the Sangam in Prayagraj, which commemorates the meeting of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and the legendary Saraswati, Maha Kumbh, one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals, got underway.

As a spiritual center, Prayagraj attracted pilgrims, devotees, saints, and seers from all across India and the world. The large crowd watched as individuals carried out the holy rite of bathing in the Sangam, which represents the atonement of sins and the achievement of spiritual merit.

Beginning on ‘Paush Purnima,’ this religious occasion, which happens once every 144 years because of a unique celestial alignment, drew more than 4 million believers on its first day. This day, known as Paush Purnima in the Hindu calendar, signifies the start of the 45-day Maha Kumbh festival. In the morning, the devotees took a holy dip in Triveni Sangam, a fearsome confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and “mystical” Saraswati.

The holy rite “Shahi Snan” was performed by a sizable group of devotees, many of whom had traveled from all across India and the world. The Maha Kumbh festival, which takes place from January 13 to February 26 and is anticipated to draw at least 45 crore people, will highlight India’s rich spiritual and cultural traditions. The Uttar Pradesh government has made extensive security precautions.

First, to provide 24-hour surveillance in the Sangam area, underwater drones with a 100-meter diving range have been placed across the city. Tethered drones, which can fly up to 120 meters, have also been used to provide aerial views in order to spot swarming crowds or locations that need security or medical attention.

Real-time surveillance is provided by at least 2,700 cameras equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, and facial recognition technology will be employed at entry points. In addition, all of the city’s police stations now have cyber assistance desks, and a group of 56 cyber warriors will keep an eye on online dangers.

Making this year’s Maha Kumbh a “Digital Maha Kumbh,” which involves utilizing cutting-edge security measures, is a top priority for the state administration. A seven-tier security system has been put in place, extending from the outer barrier to the inner sanctuary.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath greeted devotees to the major spiritual event and offered heartfelt wishes on the auspicious occasion of Paush Purnima, highlighting the Mahakumbh’s representation of the meeting point of faith and modernity.

CM Yogi wrote in a posto on X, “Greetings on Paush Purnima. The world’s largest spiritual and cultural gathering ‘Mahakumbh’ is starting from today in the holy city of Prayagraj. All the revered saints, Kalpvasis, and devotees who have come to experience unity in diversity, to meditate and take a holy bath at the confluence of faith and modernity are heartily welcomed. May Maa Ganga fulfil all your wishes. Best wishes for the inauguration and first bath of Maha Kumbh Prayagraj. Sanatan Pride-Maha Kumbh Festival.”

Prime Minister said on X, “A very special day for crores of people who cherish Bharatiya values and culture! Maha Kumbh 2025 commences in Prayagraj, bringing together countless people in a sacred confluence of faith, devotion and culture. The Maha Kumbh embodies India’s timeless spiritual heritage and celebrates faith and harmony.”

On the festival of Paush Purnima, the 45-day Mahakumbh Mela 2025, which is regarded as the biggest assembly on Earth, began early Monday. Under strict security, an estimated 1.5 crore (15 million) pilgrims are anticipated to take a holy bath at the Sangam, the revered meeting point of the Yamuna, Ganga, and the legendary Saraswati.

To ensure complete safety coverage, the Water Police are also outfitted with 440 lifebuoys, more than 3,000 life jackets, 100 dive kits, and other state-of-the-art equipment.

To guarantee safe and efficient vehicle traffic for pilgrims attending the Maha Kumbh Mela, traffic police authorities have put a thorough strategy into action and made several provisions.

R Madhavan will play a common man in the upcoming movie “Hisaab Barabar.” The makers recently released an engrossing trailer for the drama, which will debut on ZEE5 on January 24 of this year.

The movie “Hisaab Barabar” will tell the story of Radhe, a railway ticket checker who discovers a little inconsistency in his bank account. But what appears to be a harmless financial mistake instead marks the start of a path rife with dishonesty, corruption, and fraud. The film, which was directed by Ashwni Dhir, will also include important roles for Kirti Kulhari and Neil Nitin Mukesh.

“Hisaab Barabar is a unique blend of drama, sharp wit, and thought-provoking social commentary, all wrapped in a storyline that will keep you entertained through every frame,” Ashwni Dhir said at the trailer premiere event. With a strong ensemble cast that includes R. Madhavan, Neil Nitin Mukesh, and Kirti Kulhari, the movie provides an engaging examination of justice and corruption. It’s a delightful yet entertaining ride you won’t want to miss, but what really sets it apart is the pinch of comedy that adds an extra dosage of amusement.

R. Madhavan was also interviewed about the project, stating, “I’m really excited to be a part of Hisaab Barabar, my first production with ZEE5! It has been a lot of joy to play Radhe Mohan Sharma, an average man thrust into an unusual predicament whose path is nothing short of a rollercoaster. Because it tells the tale of an ordinary man and his struggle against institutionalized corruption, Hisaab Barabar is a movie that will appeal to audiences of all ages and genders. Since Radhe’s tenacity and fortitude are sure to inspire many, I thus insist that people gather to watch this true and timely narrative.

Neil Nitin Mukesh, meantime, revealed, “Playing the role of Micky Mehta, a dapper and cunning banker, in Hisaab Barabar has been both difficult and tremendously rewarding. Roles that challenge me to explore deeper, more complex areas have always appealed to me, and Micky most certainly does. Furthermore, it has been a true pleasure to work with R. Madhavan; he is not only a wonderful person but also a superb co-actor, and we had a great time on set. Fortunately, this chemistry shows on screen, and our on-screen confrontations are definitely worth seeing. Hisaab Barabar will be available on ZEE5 starting on January 24.

Kirti Kulhari also discussed her experience working on “Hisaab Barabar,” saying, “As an actor, I’ve always enjoyed taking on diverse roles that challenge me, and Hisaab Barabar is no exception.” Not only was it a fantastic job, but I also got to work with my co-star R Madhavan and director Ashwni Dhir, who are a pleasure to work with. They made sure that there was a lot of fun and creativity on the set.

All Indians will be entertained by Hisaab Barabar, which is the type of massive movie and popcorn entertainer. I encourage all of my fans to see it since it is the ideal kind of movie for Republic Day weekend and is both enjoyable and thought-provoking it on ZEE5 starting 24th January”.

In the next two to three years, Odisha will become a major IT hub, according to a statement made on Thursday by Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology.

Speaking to reporters here, Vaishnaw stated that he had in-depth talks with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over the matter at the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“In the next two to three years, we will turn Odisha into a major IT powerhouse. By providing training in information technology, electronics, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, the newest machine learning, the Internet of Things, and Industry 4.0, the youth will be ready, and Odisha will become a significant IT hub,” the Union Minister continued.

The Union Minister also informed the reporters that he and CM Majhi had a thorough talk about the matter and that the first step would be made in the coming months.

Vaishnaw claimed that at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request, he had a thorough conversation about the matter with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The ‘Chip to Startup’ program is being organized at four technical institutions—IIT Bhubaneswar, NIT Rourkela, IIIT Bhubaneswar, and Parala Maharaja Engineering College, Berhampur—to support the growth of IT startups in Odisha, Vaishnaw added.

Additionally, the central government intends to build a top-notch IT training facility in the state. CM Majhi promised to supply appropriate land and everything that could be done.

During the 2024 general elections, Union Minister Vaishnaw also claimed that the BJP administration had pledged to invest Rs 1 lakh crore in the construction of Odisha’s railways whenever it came to power.

Additionally, he disclosed that the state has already begun development on projects totaling over Rs 73,000 crore. According to sources, Vaishnaw stated that the Railways would undertake numerous new railway projects in Odisha over the course of the next five years during the talks with Chief Minister Majhi. Additionally, according to government sources, Odisha built 1,827 km of railway lines between 2014 and 2024—more than Sri Lanka’s entire railway network.

Additionally, 427 rail under-bridges have been built during this time. Up to six Vande Bharat trains are already operating in Odisha, while the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme will renovate 59 stations.

In addition to expressing his support for the proposal, Chief Minister Majhi promised to provide the IT institute with the appropriate land and other support it would need. In order to establish a semiconductor sector in Odisha, he also asked the Union Minister for assistance.

V Narayanan has been named by the Indian government as the new secretary of the space department and chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). On January 14, V Narayanan, a rocket scientist, will succeed S Somanath, the present chief of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). When S. Somanath’s term as leader comes to an end, Narayana will assume leadership.

On January 7, 2025, the Cabinet’s Appointments Committee formally announced that Narayanan would take office for a two-year term.Currently, Narayanan is the Director of the Valiamala-based Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). Narayanan, a renowned scientist with almost 40 years of rocket and spacecraft propulsion experience, contributes significant knowledge to his current role.

Narayanan has worked for India’s space program for almost 40 years, having joined ISRO in 1984. His area of expertise is propulsion for rockets and spacecraft. He has held important positions in ISRO over the years, including spearheading the creation of cryogenic, liquid, and semi-cryogenic propulsion systems for launch vehicles.

Narayanan is leading The Human Rated Certification Board (HRCB) for India’s human spaceflight project, Gaganyaan. He formerly worked at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) on sounding rockets, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), and the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV).

Throughout his distinguished career, he has made important contributions to important ISRO programs, such as the GSLV Mk-III flights and the Aditya Spacecraft. Numerous esteemed honors, such as the Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT Kharagpur and the Shri Award from the Astronautical Society of India, have been given in recognition of his accomplishments.

Prior to receiving an M.Tech in Cryogenic Engineering and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, he attended Tamil-medium schools. He was appointed Director of LPSC in 2018. At IIT Kharagpur, where he earned a Silver Medal for earning the top position in the M Tech program, Mr. Narayanan finished his M Tech in Cryogenic Engineering and PhD in Aerospace Engineering.
After joining ISRO in 1984, the rocket and spacecraft propulsion specialist advanced through the organization’s levels.

He has previously worked at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in the Solid Propulsion division of Sounding Rockets and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
Mr. Narayanan was instrumental in the creation of the cryogenic engine, a technology that India was not allowed to use.

Additionally, he helped with the development of composite motor cases, composite igniter cases, and Ablative nozzle systems as well as process planning, control, and realization. His leadership of the Failure Analysis Committee for Chandrayaan 2, the mission when the Vikram Lander crashed, was one of his most recent achievements. Once he figured it out, India Vikram’s safe landing at Shiv Shakti Point made Chandrayaan 3 a huge success.

Additionally, he serves as the Chairman of the Project Management Council-Space Transportation System (PMC-STS), which makes decisions for all programs and initiatives involving launch vehicles. For India’s proposed human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, he serves as the Chairman of the National Level Human Rated Certification Board (HRCB).

In addition to leading ISRO for two years, he will serve as the Space Commission’s chairman. He said, “We have a clear roadmap for India and I hope to take ISRO to greater heights as we have great talent.“

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared on January 6 that the 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival would take place from March 1–8 with the theme “Garden of Peace for All” Following a meeting of the international film festival organizing committee, he was speaking at a press conference held at the Chief Minister’s official residence in Krishna.

“This year’s festival aims to promote Kannada cinema” the Chief Minister said, highlighting the government’s support for the film sector. The establishment of a selection committee to evaluate films for funding is one of the measures the government has taken to promote Kannada cinema.

Additionally, 110 acres of land in Mysuru have been cleared by the government for the development of a Film City, which will be carried out under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

The theme of last year’s film festival was “Social Justice” More than 60 nations will take part this year, and 200 films will be shown on 13 screens.

This year, 11 screens in Orion Mall, one at the Suchitra Film Society, and one at the Dr. Ambareesh Auditorium in Chamarajpet will screen the film.

Additionally, more than 400 films in Kannada and other languages will be screened, providing Bengaluru and Karnataka residents with a chance to learn about various cultures. The Chief Minister remarked that it was a fantastic chance for moviegoers.

This is the 16th edition of the festival, which began in 2006. According to the chief minister, the festival’s budget this year has been raised to Rs 9 crore from Rs 7 crore last year.

On March 1, the festival will begin, and on March 8, there will be a closing ceremony. The festival’s brand ambassador will be chosen by the committee.

The event will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and the Governor will be present during the closing ceremony.

The Chief Minister clarified that the celebration will start on March 1 to allow for pre-budget talks.

According to him, the goal of this year’s festival, which has as its theme “Garden of Peace for All,” is to promote Kannada cinema. The establishment of a selection committee to evaluate films for funding is one of the measures the government has taken to promote Kannada cinema.

The Chief Minister said that if he had the time, he would try to see films with artistic value when asked if he would view any during the festival.

According to a survey released on Monday, the macroeconomic climate for the Indian IT sector is much better than it has been in the previous two years, which should spur a renaissance in 2025.

According to the ‘India IT Services 2025’ research by BNP Paribas India, the Fed rate decrease is no longer a pipe dream but is well under way, inflation seems to be under control, and the US election is over with the incoming administration being viewed as business-friendly.

“The BNPPE Equity Strategy team has identified several themes for 2025 that we believe will benefit the Indian IT services industry, including retail consumer-friendly themes, inventory replenishment, and dollar strength,” stated Kumar Rakesh, analyst for IT and Auto.

While markets are already at all-time highs, the Fed is lowering interest rates. This has typically been optimistic for the market, the research said.

Additionally, additional budgetary relief is anticipated as a result of the Republican sweep. The prognosis for enterprise capital expenditures is improving, while consumer confidence in the US has remained strong.

All of this is good for Indian IT services, in our opinion. Nifty IT has rarely underperformed in a year when margins and profits growth both rebound, which is probably going to happen in 2025, Kumar added.

Technology now receives a ‘Overweight’ rating instead of ‘Neutral’ as the Global BNPPE sector rating.

“Even though valuations appear stretched, we are comfortable with the valuations of our O/P-rated stocks due to the sector’s outperformance in earnings per share (EPS) and the strong correlation between forward EPS growth and price to earnings (P/E),” the statement continued.

The full list of recipients of the Arjuna and Khel Ratna awards: The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for 2024 will go to four athletes: Manu Bhaker, D Gukesh, Harmanpreet Singh, and Praveen Kumar. Additionally, 32 athletes—including 17 para-athletes—were selected by the sports ministry for the Arjuna award.

The nominees for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award are Manu Bhaker, D Gukesh, Harmanpreet Singh, and Praveen Kumar. in the age of 18, Gukesh won the title of youngest global chess champion last month, while Bhaker won two medals in the Olympics in Paris. Praveen won gold in the men’s high jump at the Paralympics with a record-breaking leap of 2.08 meters, while Harmanpreet Singh guided the Indian men’s hockey team to their second straight bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Additionally, 32 athletes—including 17 para-athletes—were selected by the sports ministry for the Arjuna Awards. At a particularly planned event at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday, January 17, at 11 AM, the President of India will present each of the winners with their respective honors.

The 22-year-old Bhaker became the first Indian to win two medals at an Olympics after independence with two bronze (10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed team). She was also the first female shooter from India to win an Olympic medal.

Sarabjot Singh, her mixed teammate, is one among the people nominated for the Arjuna Awards. The declaration follows a TOI report stating that Bhaker is not one of the Khel Ratna nominees.

Hamranpreet guided the Indian hockey team to their second straight bronze medal at the same Olympics in Paris. The Men in Blue, who had taken home a bronze medal from Tokyo three years prior, battled valiantly to defeat Spain and secure third place. Additionally, it was the ideal send-off for PR Sreejesh, who declared his retirement from the game.

It reminded Gukesh of a dream he had six years prior. The Tamil Nadu kid defeated the Chinese Liren for the top honors in an exciting 14-game match in Singapore. Gukesh became the 18th overall and the second Indian chess champion in the process.

For their achievements to the sports industry, the sports ministry also honored Sucha Singh (athletics) and Murlikant Rajaram Petkar (para-swimming) with lifetime Arjuna Awards.

Sandeep Sangwan (hockey) in the regular category, Subhash Rana (para-shooting), Deepali Deshpande (shooting), and Muralidharan (badminton) and Armando Agnelo Colaco (football) in the lifetime category are among the Dronacharya awards.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awards 2024

S. No.        Name of the Sportsperson                                          Sports
1.                  D Gukesh                                                            Chess
2.                 Harmanpreet Singh                                          Hockey
3.                 Praveen Kumar                                                  Para-Athletics
4.                 Manu Bhakar                                                     Shooting

Full list of Arjuna Awardees for 2024

S. No.                     Name of the Sportsperson                      Sports
1                                              Ms. Jyothi Yarraji                    Athletics
2                                             Ms. Annu Rani                          Athletics
3                                             Ms. Nitu                                     Boxing
4                                             Ms. Saweety                              Boxing
5                                             Ms. Vantika Agrawal               Chess
6                                             Ms. Salima Tete                       Hockey
7                                             Shri Abhishek                           Hockey
8                                             Shri Sanjay                                Hockey
9                                             Shri Jarmanpreet Singh         Hockey
10                                           Shri Sukhjeet Singh                 Hockey
11                                           Shri Rakesh Kumar                  Para-Archery
12                                           Ms. Preeti Pal                            Para-Athletics
13                                           Ms. Jeevanji Deepthi               Para-Athletics
14                                           Shri Ajeet Singh                        Para-Athletics
15                                           Shri Sachin Sarjerao Khilari   Para-Athletics
16                                           Shri Dharambir                         Para-Athletics
17                                           Shri Pranav Soorma                  Para-Athletics
18                                          Shri H Hokato Sema                 Para-Athletics
19                                          Ms. Simran                                  Para-Athletics
20                                         Shri Navdeep                               Para-Athletics
21                                          Shri Nitesh Kumar                     Para-Badminton
22                                         Ms. Thulasimathi Murugesan  Para-Badminton
23                                         Ms. Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan  Para-Badminton
24                                         Ms. Manisha Ramadass             Para-Badminton
25                                         Shri Kapil Parmar                        Para-Judo
26                                         Ms. Mona Agarwal                      Para-Shooting
27                                          Ms. Rubina Francis                    Para-Shooting
28                                         Shri Swapnil Suresh Kusale      Shooting
29                                         Shri Sarabjot Singh                     Shooting
30                                         Shri Abhay Singh                         Squash
31                                          Shri Sajan Prakash                      Swimming
32                                         Shri Aman                                     Wrestling