India showcases ASAT missile prowess
- India on Sunday showcased its anti-satellite (ASAT) missile capability to the world as the weapon, Mission Shakti, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), rolled out on the Rajpath during the 71st Republic Day parade.
- In addition, the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) newest inductions, Chinook heavy lift helicopters and Apache attack helicopters, also made their debut during the flypast.
- A DRDO marching contingent displayed the ASAT missile along with a second equipment, the Air Defence Tactical Control Radar (ADTCR), as President and Supreme Commander of the armed forces Ram Nath Kovind reviewed the parade with Chief Guest Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro in attendance.
Fund crunch hits MGNREGA scheme
- The Centre is on the verge of running out of funds for the crucial Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme.
- More than 96% of the allocated money has already been spent or is needed to pay pending dues, with less than ₹2,500 crore left to sustain the scheme for the next two months.
- Fifteen States are already in the red. According to the scheme’s financial statement as on January 26, Rajasthan has the highest negative net balance of ₹620 crore, followed by ₹323 crore in Uttar Pradesh.
15 persons from Northeast get Padma awards
- Boxer Mangte Chungjeijang Mary Kom of Manipur leads the list of 15 Padma awardees from the Northeast followed by former Nagaland Chief Minister S.C. Jamir, once the betenoire of the extremist National Socialist Council of Nagaland.
- But the buzz in the Northeast has been around 13 Padma Shri awardees — five from Assam, two each from Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram and one each from Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tripura.