Daily Current Affairs and GK | 17 January 2025

Topic: State News/Punjab

1. SHE COHORT 3.0 launched by Punjab to empower women-led startups.

• On 15 January, Punjab launched SHE COHORT 3.0 (Startups Handholding & Empowerment—Cohort 3.0) at Mohali.
• The initiative supports aspiring female entrepreneurs and students in building and scaling technology-based ventures, with assistance from business incubators and ecosystem enablers.
• Inaugurated by Secretary Science, Technology, and Environment, Punjab, Priyank Bharti, the event highlighted the upcoming plans of Startup Punjab to boost the state’s startup ecosystem in the presence of over 250 emerging start-ups, innovators, and students.
• This initiative provides a platform for budding poor and marginalized women entrepreneurs to showcase their talent and ideas for start-ups and become self-reliant by using science and technology.
• Their startup can also generate income for others and is a helpful step towards making a developed India a reality by 2047.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

2. The Indian Army's first 'Bhargavastra' counter-drone micro-missiles successfully tested by India.

• India has successfully tested its first domestically developed Bhargavastra micro-missile system, designed to counter swarm drone threats.
• The trials included two successful firings at Gopalpur Seward Firing Range.
• A new micro-missile system being developed for the Indian Army has successfully engaged virtual targets beyond 2.5 kilometres.
• It offers a cost-effective solution against large-scale drone attacks that pose a continuous security challenge.
• Following these successful demonstrations, the system is set to undergo extensive trials later this year for its induction into the armed forces.
• The 'Bhargavastra' counter-drone system demonstrates the ability to detect small aerial vehicles at distances over 6 km and neutralize them using guided micro munitions.
• The Bhargavastra system has the capability to launch more than 64 micro missiles simultaneously.
• Economic Explosives Limited is developing this mobile platform-mounted system, which ensures rapid deployment in threatened areas.
• Its design is suitable for operations in various terrains, including high altitude regions, meeting specific military requirements.

Topic: Space and IT

3. India becomes fourth country to achieve unmanned docking in space.

• After the United States, Russia and China, India became the fourth country to develop and test the docking capability.
• India has achieved this milestone by successfully docking two satellites named Chaser and Target under the SpaDex mission.
• The space docking has been completed by the indigenously developed Bharatiya Docking System by ISRO.
• Docking technology is critical in assembling the space station and in crewed missions.
• This technology will help India to transfer materials from one satellite or spacecraft to another, such as payloads, lunar samples or, eventually, humans in space, etc.
• India is also targeting to build its own space station by 2035.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Odisha

4. Odisha government to provide ₹20,000 monthly pension to people jailed during Emergency.

• Odisha government will provide a monthly pension of ₹20,000 and medical expenses coverage to individuals jailed during the Emergency.
• Emergency was imposed in India from 1975 to 1977 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
• The Odisha government constituted state-level and district-level committees to select the beneficiaries.
• The benefits will be provided to all eligible people who are alive as of January 1, 2025.
• Beneficiaries must submit an application in the prescribed manner to the Collector and District Magistrate, together with supporting documentation and the names of three famous co-detainees.