DRDO’s 67th Foundation Day and Key Milestones

Introduction

Why in news?

  • Observance of DRDO’s 67th Foundation Day on 1 January.
  • 2024 achievements highlighted, including system handovers:
  • Air Defence: Air Defence Tactical Control Radar (ADTCR), Air Defence Fire Control Radar (ADFCR).
  • Missile Systems: Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LR-LACM), Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM), Medium Range Anti-ship Missile (MRAshM).
  • Advanced Platforms: Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMMA), SCA (Signal Intelligence and COMJAM Aircraft), Anti-Tank Influence Mine PRACHAND.
  • Development of ‘Divya Drishti’, an AI tool integrating face recognition with immutable physiological traits such as gait and skeleton.
  • Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) sanction for:
  • Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
  • New Missile Test Range in Andhra Pradesh.

Background

  • Established in 1958 by merging the Technical Development Establishments (TDEs) of the Indian Army, the Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP), and the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).
  • Serves as the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
  • Expanded from 10 laboratories to 41 laboratories and 5 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs).
  • Guiding principle: “Balasya Mulam Vigyanam” (Strength lies in science), for both peace and war.
  • Mission: Achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems, and equip the three Services with state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment.
  • 2007 review by a committee chaired by Dr P. Rama Rao led to seven technology domain-based clusters, each headed by a Director General:
  • Aeronautics Systems (Aero): UAVs, aerostats, related technologies.
  • Missiles and Strategic Systems (MSS): Long and short-range missiles and related technologies.
  • Naval Systems and Materials (NSM): Naval platforms, underwater systems, sonar and submarine technologies.
  • Micro Electronic Devices (MED) and Computational Systems (CoS): Electronics, radars, cyber security, artificial intelligence for defence.
  • Armament and Combat Engineering Systems (ACE): Armaments, ammunition, explosives, combat vehicles.
  • Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS): Military electronics, sensors, communications, electronic warfare.
  • Soldier Support System (SSS): Psychological, physiological, and nutritional optimisation of personnel.
  • Contributions of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam:
  • Led the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) launched in 1983.
  • Drove breakthroughs in propulsion, navigation, control systems, and aerodynamics, enabling indigenous missile development and reduced foreign dependency.

Significance

  • Strengthens national self-reliance in critical defence technologies and equips the armed forces with advanced, service-specific systems.
  • IGMDP outcomes enhanced strategic deterrence, delivered technological spin-offs, and bolstered the defence-industrial base, aligning with ‘Make in India’.
  • 2024 milestones demonstrate delivery-ready capability across air defence, missile systems, maritime surveillance, electronic warfare, and AI-enabled security.

Facts/General knowledge

  • Missile systems:
  • Air-to-Air: MICA, Astra.
  • Surface-to-Air: Trishul, Akash, Barak 8.
  • Surface-to-Surface: Agni, Prithvi, Dhanush, Shaurya.
  • Cruise: BrahMos, Nirbhay.
  • Combat aircraft: Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
  • Rocket systems: Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher.
  • Naval systems: Humsa, Nagan (sonar), Ushus (Submarine Sonar Suite), Mihir (helicopter sonar).
  • Main Battle Tank: Arjun.
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems:
  • Lakshya: Reusable aerial target for training; land/ship launch; tow targets.
  • Nishant: Multi-mission UAV for surveillance and artillery correction; autonomous flight; parachute recovery.
  • IGMDP essentials:
  • Initiated by the Ministry of Defence in 1982–1983 under Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
  • Aimed to reduce imports and build indigenous expertise in propulsion, navigation, and control systems.
  • Delivered key missile systems and concluded in 2008.

Earth’s Rotation Day 2026

Introduction

  • Observed annually on 8 January to commemorate the scientific discovery of Earth’s rotation on its axis.
  • Marks the anniversary of Léon Foucault’s 1851 experiment, which offered clear experimental proof of this motion.
  • Highlights how Earth’s rotation shapes daily life, climate patterns, and natural phenomena.

Why in news?

  • Earth’s Rotations Day 2026 is celebrated on 8 January to raise awareness about the planet’s continuous axial spin.
  • The day specifically marks the historic Foucault Pendulum experiment of 1851.
  • Emphasises the role of rotation in the day–night cycle and its influence on climate and wind patterns.
  • Promotes understanding of basic Earth science and astronomy.

Background

  • The idea that Earth rotates on its axis was first proposed by Greek philosophers around 470 BC, without experimental proof.
  • Debate over Earth’s motion continued for centuries.
  • In 1851, French physicist Léon Foucault conclusively demonstrated Earth’s rotation using a pendulum that showed the planet turning beneath its swing.

Significance

  • Highlights the importance of Earth’s axial movement in shaping natural processes.
  • Honours Léon Foucault’s experiment, foundational to understanding Earth’s rotation.
  • Explains the day–night cycle, essential for life on Earth.
  • Helps interpret weather systems and wind circulation via the Coriolis Effect.
  • Underpins time measurement, forming the basis of hours and days.
  • Influences climate patterns and seasons when combined with Earth’s revolution.
  • Encourages scientific curiosity and Earth science education among students.

Facts/General knowledge

  • Earth’s rotation is the continuous spin around an imaginary axis joining the North and South Poles.
  • A sidereal day is approximately 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds; the solar day is 24 hours.
  • The planet rotates from west to east, making the Sun appear to rise in the east and set in the west.
  • Rotational speed is highest at the equator (about 1,670 km per hour) and decreases towards the poles.
  • Earth’s axis is tilted at about 23.5 degrees; this tilt, along with rotation and revolution, influences seasons and climatic variations.
  • Rotation drives the day–night cycle, regulating biological clocks and daily activities of living organisms.
  • The Coriolis Effect deflects winds and ocean currents to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Gravitational interaction with the Moon is slowly decreasing Earth’s rotational speed, gradually increasing the length of a day over millions of years.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)

Introduction

  • Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is the flagship outreach programme of the Ministry of External Affairs, organised to engage the Indian diaspora and showcase India’s regional diversity and development.

Why in news?

  • On 9 January 2025, the Prime Minister extended warm greetings to the global Indian diaspora, highlighting its role as a vital bridge connecting India with the world.
  • The 18th PBD Convention (2025) was held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
  • Key highlights included the launch of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express under the Pravasi Teertha Darshan Yojana, an exhibition on Mandvi–Muscat migration, and renewed emphasis on the legacy of Girmitiyas, including a proposal for a comprehensive Girmitiya database.

Background

  • The PBD convention was instituted in 2003 under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to institutionalise structured and sustained engagement with the Indian diaspora.
  • Since 2015, it has been conducted as a biennial, theme-based convention, enabling focused diaspora engagement, dialogue, and networking.

Significance

  • It commemorates Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India in 1915 from South Africa, symbolising the historic role of the Indian diaspora in India’s freedom struggle and nation-building.
  • The convention seeks to recognise diaspora contributions to India’s development, enhance India’s image abroad, support national causes and overseas Indian welfare, and provide a platform for dialogue between the diaspora and the Government of India.

Facts/General knowledge

  • Date: 9 January.
  • The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honour conferred on NRIs, OCIs, and diaspora organisations, recognising their outstanding contributions to India’s global image, national causes, and community welfare.

World Hindi Day and Abhyuday-3

Introduction

  • World Hindi Day is observed annually on 10 January.
  • It marks the date in 1975 when the first World Hindi Conference was held in Nagpur under the auspices of Rashtra Bhasha Prachar Samiti, Wardha (organisation founded by Mahatma Gandhi).

Why in news?

  • The Third Technical Hindi Symposium “Abhyuday-3” was organised with the collaboration of CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, and Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur.
  • The symposium promoted Technical Hindi and inclusive science outreach.
  • Abhyuday-3 reflected India’s push to expand science and technology outreach through Indian languages, especially Hindi, aligning with World Hindi Day’s goal of strengthening Hindi’s global and functional use.

Background

  • The official observance of World Hindi Day began in 2006, following its announcement by then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
  • World Hindi Day is distinct from National Hindi Diwas, which is celebrated on 14 September.
  • National Hindi Diwas commemorates the adoption of Hindi in the Devanagari script as an official language of India by the Constituent Assembly in 1949.

Significance

  • Abhyuday-3 underscored the role of Hindi in expanding access to science and technology communication.
  • The initiative aligns with efforts to strengthen the global and functional use of Hindi, reinforcing its position in education, research, and outreach.

Facts/General knowledge

  • The term “Hindi” derives from the Persian word “Hind”, meaning the land of the Indus River; it was used by Turk invaders in the early 11th century to describe the language of the region.
  • Hindi is one of India’s official languages, with English as the other, and is also spoken in Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Nepal.
  • Hindi evolved from Sanskrit to Prakrit and Apabhramsa, with Khari Boli forming its direct foundation; it later incorporated Persian and Arabic influences.
  • The modern Devanagari script took shape in the 11th century, giving Hindi its present written structure.
  • Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world, after English and Chinese, with around 600 million speakers.
  • UNESCO recognised Hindi as an official language in 1948, and it was first used in the United Nations General Assembly in 1949.

National Youth Day 2026

Introduction

  • National Youth Day honours Swami Vivekananda’s ideals of character, courage, service, and nation-building that guide India’s youth-centric policies.
  • With over 65% of India’s population below 35 years, youth empowerment is central to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Why in news?

  • Observed on 12 January 2026 as the annual National Youth Day.

Background

  • The observance marks the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (12 January 1863).

Significance

  • Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat): National digital youth platform linking volunteering, leadership, and skilling with AI-enabled career services, mentorship, and Fit India integration.
  • National Service Scheme (NSS) & Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD): NSS promotes civic engagement and social responsibility through community service; VBYLD provides a national ideation platform engaging nearly 3,000 young leaders, with a digital outreach of over 50.42 lakh youth via MY Bharat and MyGov.
  • Agnipath Scheme: Four-year military service pathway for youth aged 17.5–21 years, fostering discipline, technical skills, and post-service employability through structured resettlement support.
  • Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded (PM-SETU): Flagship initiative to upgrade 1,000 ITIs via a government-owned, industry-managed hub-and-spoke model, aligning vocational training with current and future labour-market demand.
  • Skill India Mission: Umbrella skilling ecosystem integrating PMKVY 4.0, PM-NAPS, and Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSS) to deliver future-ready vocational training, apprenticeships, and lifelong learning opportunities.
  • PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Large-scale employment generation scheme aiming to support 3.5 crore jobs in two years, offering financial incentives to both newly employed youth and employers.
  • Startup India & PM MUDRA Yojana: Strengthening youth entrepreneurship through recognition of 1.97 lakh+ startups and provision of collateral-free loans up to ₹20 lakh, benefiting first-generation entrepreneurs, women, and MSMEs.
  • Fit India Movement: Nationwide behavioural change campaign promoting daily fitness through Sundays on Cycle, Fit India School Certification, fitness pledges, and digital fitness tracking.
  • Youth Spiritual Summit & Kashi Declaration: Youth-led national roadmap emphasising mental well-being, substance-free living, and value-based leadership, aligned with the vision of a Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat.
  • Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK): Holistic adolescent health programme addressing nutrition, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, substance misuse, non-communicable diseases, and injury prevention through a preventive and community-based approach.

Facts/General knowledge

  • About: Swami Vivekananda, born as Narendra Nath Datta on 12 January 1863, was a monk and the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
  • Name: In 1893, upon the request of Maharaja Ajit Singh of the Khetri State, he took the name ‘Vivekananda’, changing from ‘Sachidananda’ used earlier.
  • Enlightenment: In 1892, he swam to a rock (later the Vivekananda Rock Memorial) at Kanyakumari for meditation and spent three days and nights there, resulting in his enlightenment.
  • Philosophical contributions: Introduced the world to the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga; preached ‘neo-Vedanta’, combining spirituality with material progress.
  • Spiritual message: Drew on the Upanishads, the Gita, and the examples of Buddha and Jesus, emphasising self-realisation, compassion, and selfless service; advocated the doctrine of service—serving jiva is worship of Shiva; articulated four pathways to moksha in Raja-yoga, Karma-yoga, Jnana-yoga, and Bhakti-yoga.
  • Revivalism: Emphasised education for national regeneration, advocating man-making, character-building education.
  • Associated organisations: Founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897; established Belur Math in 1899 as his permanent abode.
  • International address: Represented Hinduism at the Parliament of Religions, Chicago, in 1893; addressed a conference of the London Hindu Association in July 1896.

Indian Army Day 2026

Introduction

  • Indian Army Day (Bhartiya Sena Diwas) is celebrated annually across India on 15 January to honour the courage, discipline and sacrifice of Indian Army (IA) personnel.

Why in news?

  • 15 January 2026 marks the 78th Indian Army Day.
  • The IA has declared 2026 as the “Year of Networking & Data Centricity”.
  • A grand parade was held at Mahal Road in Jaipur, Rajasthan, making it the fourth time the event was held outside New Delhi (Delhi) and the first time outside a military cantonment.

Background

  • The day marks the appointment of General (later Field Marshal) K.M. Cariappa as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army in 1949, succeeding General Sir Francis Robert Roy Bucher; the IA was established in 1895, with its first Indian Chief appointed only in 1949.

Significance

  • Honours the courage, discipline and sacrifice of IA personnel.
  • “Year of Networking & Data Centricity” aims to improve connectivity, facilitate real-time decision-making and enhance overall combat effectiveness.

Facts/General knowledge

  • The Army Day Parade was hosted for the first time by the South Western Command, also known as the Sapta Shakti Command.
  • Reviewing Officer: General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).
  • Attendees included General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); Air Vice Marshal (AVM) M. Bandhopadhyay of the Indian Air Force (IAF); Commodore P. Verma of the Indian Navy (IN); Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD); and Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister (CM) of Rajasthan.

National Voters’ Day 2026

 Introduction

  • Observed on 25 January across India.
  • Celebrates democracy by honouring voters, encouraging youth participation, strengthening democratic values, and promoting universal adult suffrage.
  • Empowers every citizen to take part in the electoral process.

Why in news?

  • National Voters’ Day 2026 is being observed.
  • Theme: “My India, My Vote”.
  • Tagline: “Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy”.

Background

  • Marks the foundation of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
  • ECI was established on 25 January 1950 under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.
  • India observes National Voters’ Day on 25 January each year.

Significance

  • Reinforces voter-centric democracy and civic participation, particularly among youth.
  • Underscores universal adult suffrage and the role of every citizen in elections.

Facts/General knowledge

  • SVEEP has boosted voter education.
  • ECINET has supported global technology sharing.
  • cVIGIL has enabled quick reporting of violations.
  • 100% webcasting at polling stations has enhanced transparency.
  • EPIC delivery has been fast-tracked to 15 days.
  • Date Important Events
  • February 1, 2026 Union Budget
  • Indian Coast Guard Day
  • Guru Ravidas Jayanti
  • February 1 – 7 2026 International Development Week
  • February 2, 2026 World Wetlands Day
  • RA Awareness Day
  • February 3, 2026 National Golden Retriever Day
  • February 4, 2026 World Cancer Day
  • February 4, 2026 National Day of Sri Lanka
  • February 6, 2026 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
  • February 7 – 14, 2026 Valentine’s Week
  • February 8, 2026 National Opera Day
  • February 9, 2026 Baba Amte’s Death Anniversary
  • February 10, 2026 National Deworming Day
  • World Pulses Day
  • International Epilepsy Day
  • February 11, 2026 World Day of the Sick
  • International Day of Women and Girls in Science
  • Safer Internet Day
  • February 12, 2026 Darwin Day
  • Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday
  • National Productivity Day
  • February 13, 2026 World Radio Day
  • Sarojini Naidu Birth Anniversary
  • February 14, 2026 Valentine’s Day
  • World Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day
  • February 15, 2026 Mahashivratri
  • February 17-27, 2026 Taj Mahotsav
  • February 17, 2026 Ramadan Begins
  • February 19, 2026 World Anthropology Day
  • February 20, 2026 Arunachal Pradesh Foundation Day
  • Mizoram Foundation Day
  • World Day of Social Justice
  • February 21, 2026 International Mother Language Day
  • February 22, 2026 World Thinking Day
  • February 23, 2026 World Peace and Understanding Day
  • February 24, 2026 Central Excise Day
  • February 26, 2026 Veer Savarkar’s Death Anniversary
  • February 27, 2026 World NGO Day
  • February 28, 2026 National Science Day
  • February 28, 2026 Rare Disease Day