Category: National

New Delhi [India], January 16: Fake seeds have cheated Indian farmers for years. Seed Act 2026 is the government’s blunt answer, and it does not mince words.

India’s seed market has long had a credibility problem. Good companies played fair. Too many others didn’t. Farmers paid the price with failed crops, lost seasons and zero accountability. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is now drawing a hard line. Seed Act 2026, he says, is designed to end the chaos for good.

This is not a cosmetic update. It is a structural overhaul of a law written in 1966, an era without QR codes, digital records or modern supply chains. According to the minister, that old framework simply could not handle today’s scale, complexity or abuse.

Seed Act 2026 changes that equation.

Every Seed Tells Its Story

At the heart of Seed Act 2026 is a nationwide traceability system. In plain terms, every seed packet will now carry a QR code. Farmers scan it and instantly see where the seed was produced, who supplied it and who sold it.

No mystery. No middlemen vanishing into thin air.

Minister Chouhan made the intent clear. Farmers should know the complete story of every seed they buy. If something goes wrong, the system will point directly to the source. Accountability stops being theoretical and becomes immediate.

This traceability also means enforcement shifts from reactive to preventive. Fake or substandard seeds are meant to be identified before they spread damage across entire regions. And if they slip through, action will be swift.

The minister did not sugarcoat the problem. Fake and poor-quality seeds have thrived because enforcement was weak. Penalties were laughably small. A maximum fine of ₹500 was hardly a deterrent.

There is now a proposal for penalties up to ₹30 lakh for selling substandard seeds. Deliberate offenders can face imprisonment of up to three years. This is zero tolerance, on record.

Minister Chouhan acknowledged that not every company is guilty. But those who cheat farmers, he said, will face strict punishment. The message is simple. If you profit by ruining a farmer’s crop, expect consequences that actually hurt.

Another quiet but powerful change is mandatory registration of seed companies. Under Seed Act 2026, only authorised, registered entities will be allowed to sell seeds.

This wipes out fly-by-night operators who pop up for a season and disappear once complaints pile up. Farmers will have access to verified details of registered companies. Transparency moves from brochures to databases.

Unauthorised sellers will be barred outright. That alone could clean up a large part of the market.

One concern surfaced quickly. Would the new law restrict traditional seed practices?

Minister Chouhan addressed it head-on. There will be no restriction on farmers using, saving or exchanging traditional seeds. Local seed-sharing systems, common across rural India, remain protected.

Farmers can continue sowing their own seeds. They can exchange seeds with neighbours. Those age-old practices stay exactly as they are. Seed Act 2026 targets commercial malpractice, not cultural farming habits.

Seed Act 2026 operates on three clear levels.

First, public institutions. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, agricultural universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras remain central pillars. Their role in developing and validating quality seeds is reinforced.

Second, domestic private companies producing high-quality seeds are encouraged. The law is not anti-business. It is anti-fraud.

Third, foreign seeds. Imports will be allowed only after thorough testing and evaluation. No shortcuts. No blind approvals. The goal is to ensure Indian farmers are not experimental subjects for untested products.

This balance matters. It keeps India’s seed ecosystem competitive while protecting farmers from being exploited.

A strong law fails if people do not understand it. The government seems aware of that risk.

Minister Chouhan pointed to initiatives like the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, where scientists, officials and progressive farmers go directly to villages. The aim is education, not paperwork.

All 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the country will play a key role. Farmers will be trained to identify quality seeds, understand QR traceability and use grievance mechanisms when something goes wrong.

This matters. A QR code only works if someone knows to scan it.

Another predictable worry was federal overreach. Agriculture is a state subject under the Constitution, and Minister Chouhan was careful to underline that states’ rights remain intact.

Seed Act 2026 does not centralise power. The Centre coordinates. States implement. Cooperation, not control, is the official line.

Given India’s diversity in crops, climates and farming practices, this clarity is essential.

Why Seed Act 2026 Actually Matters?

On paper, Seed Act 2026 looks tough. In practice, its success will depend on enforcement. But the architecture is finally right.

Traceability brings transparency. Heavy penalties bring fear of consequence. Mandatory registration brings order. Protection of traditional seeds brings trust.

For decades, farmers bore the risk while dishonest sellers pocketed profits. This law attempts to rebalance that equation.

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New Delhi [India], January 13: Game Changers with MJ will air a special episode featuring Acharya Devvrat, Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat and Maharashtra, marking his first-ever detailed podcast-style interview on a national Hindi news channel.

The episode highlights Acharya Devvrat’s distinction as Gujarat’s longest-serving Governor and focuses on his views on governance, public service, and constitutional responsibility.

During the interaction, the Governor underscored the centrality of agriculture, observing that choosing a family farmer is more important than choosing a family doctor, as wholesome food is the first and most essential form of medicine. He reiterated his long-held belief — “Eat less to live longer; eat more to live shorter” — while cautioning against excessive consumption of sugar, maida, and salt due to their adverse impact on public health.

A strong advocate of natural farming, Acharya Devvrat is widely regarded as the “Bhishma Pitamah of Farmers,” having brought over 10 lakh farmers under the ambit of natural farming practices.

The episode also examines constitutional questions surrounding the role of Governors, expectations from the office, his formative years at Gurukul Kurukshetra, and his journey from serving as Governor of Himachal Pradesh to his present role.

The episode will be telecast on January 18 at 05:00 PM on Bharat 24.

The unfiltered full version of the interview will be available on YouTube/@GameChangerswithMJ on January 17 from 12 PM onwards.

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One Nation One Subscription: For years, scholarly journals have been prohibitively expensive. Most Indian institutions, especially state universities and smaller colleges, simply could not afford subscriptions to leading global research databases. The result was predictable: unequal access, uneven research quality, and bright students forced to rely on abstracts instead of full academic papers. Over time, this created a silent but serious knowledge divide.

At scale, One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) addresses this gap. Under the initiative, the Government of India is brokering national-level licenses for academic journals and research publications, making them accessible to students, researchers, and faculty across institutions. Access is no longer selective or privilege-driven. It is national. This is not symbolism. It is infrastructure.

The ₹6,000 Crore Question

Yes, the number matters. ONOS is backed by a ₹6,000 crore investment coordinated by INFLIBNET, the government’s nodal body for academic digital infrastructure. This funding is not about optics. It is about leverage.

Instead of thousands of institutions negotiating separately with global publishers, India now negotiates as a single entity. That shift changes the equation overnight. The country gains broader coverage, lower cost per user, and stronger negotiating power. According to official details, ONOS will provide access to over 13,400 academic publication sources spanning science, medicine, social sciences, and the humanities. At this scale, access does not just improve availability. It reshapes academic behaviour, expectations, and outcomes.

How One Nation One Subscription Transforms the Student Experience

The real impact of

One Nation One Subscription

is felt at the ground level. A postgraduate student in a tier-2 city can now read the same journals as a student in a top central university. A doctoral scholar no longer waits weeks for an overseas contact to share a PDF. Faculty members can assign readings without worrying about paywalls blocking students.

The effect is immediate and practical. Research timelines shrink. Output quality improves. Academic confidence rises. As reported in national coverage, more than 1.8 crore students are expected to benefit from the initiative. This is not an elite reform designed for a handful of institutions. It is academic mass empowerment. Unlike many reforms that take years to show impact, ONOS solves a daily, lived problem for students and researchers.

Why This Matters Beyond Campus

ONOS is not just an education policy. It is an economic one. Countries that dominate globally do so by gaining early and broad access to knowledge. ONOS supports India’s transition from service-led growth to research-driven development by strengthening the foundation of innovation.

Better access to research enables:

• Stronger patents and intellectual property

• More credible policy research

• Faster innovation cycles

• Globally competitive scholarship

The initiative also aligns with India’s Digital Public Infrastructure approach, where access to essential systems is treated as a civic right rather than a luxury. Knowledge, like roads or electricity, becomes more powerful when shared at scale.

Libraries, Universities, and the New Academic Map

ONOS quietly redefines the role of academic libraries. Libraries move away from being gatekeepers of scarcity and become facilitators of abundance. Librarians are no longer forced to fight budget constraints to choose which journals to drop each year.

For newer and regional universities, the impact is transformative. Institutional credibility improves, faculty recruitment becomes easier, and research output rises. This matters because academic ecosystems often skew in favour of already-privileged institutions. ONOS does not dilute excellence. It expands the base that excellence can emerge from.

India’s Knowledge Economy Moment

India has spoken for years about becoming a knowledge economy. ONOS is one of the few policies that actually builds the necessary plumbing. There are no slogans, no marketing gloss, and no inflated promises. Just access.

The most effective reforms often appear unremarkable at launch. This one will age well. Years from now, when Indian research citations increase and global collaborations deepen, ONOS will be recognised as a quiet but decisive turning point. Not loud. Not flashy. Just firm, national, and built to last.

Cabinet approves One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/cabinet-approves-one-nation-one-subscription-onos/

http://onos.gov.in/

PNN News

New Delhi [India], January 10: In a strategic step toward shaping a future-ready economic roadmap, the Government of Haryana recently convened a high-level pre-budget consultative meeting focused on the Professional Services Sector ahead of the Haryana Budget 2026–27. The session, chaired by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini, highlighted the state’s commitment to participatory governance and long-term planning under the framework of Haryana Vision @2047. Central to the discussion was the goal of accelerating Haryana’s professional sector growth through targeted policy support and innovation-driven initiatives.

Aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the consultation brought together select industry leaders and domain experts tasked with offering practical, implementable recommendations. Their inputs are intended to help strengthen industrial competitiveness, encourage private investment, and generate sustainable employment across the state.

A Collaborative Platform for Haryana Professional Sector Growth

Held at Apparel House in Gurugram, the meeting served as a focused platform for identifying policy and budgetary interventions that could support the Professional Services Sector. Discussions centred on improving ease of doing business, enhancing institutional capacity, and fostering innovation-led growth—areas that are increasingly critical as Haryana positions itself as a modern, diversified economic hub.

By engaging directly with industry representatives, the state government reaffirmed its belief that effective policymaking benefits from real-world insights. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while guiding the dialogue, emphasised that stakeholder consultations play a vital role in aligning fiscal priorities with ground-level economic realities.

Sahil Luthra Brings Industry Perspective to Policy Discussions

Among the participants was Mr Sahil Luthra, Founder and Managing Director of Vijayan Trishul Defence Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (VTDS), who was invited to share his perspective as a leader in India’s defence manufacturing space. His participation reflected the growing recognition of private-sector expertise in shaping state-level economic strategies, particularly in sectors with strategic importance.

Drawing from his experience, Mr Luthra spoke about the importance of building resilient domestic supply chains and creating an enabling environment for advanced manufacturing. He highlighted how professional services—when effectively integrated with industrial activity—can drive productivity, innovation, and long-term competitiveness.

Linking Professional Services with Strategic Manufacturing

During the consultation, Mr Luthra underscored the role states can play in complementing national initiatives such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. According to him, consistent policy frameworks, infrastructure readiness, and fiscal incentives at the state level can significantly accelerate private-sector participation in strategic industries.

Referring to Haryana’s reputation as an MSME-friendly state, he suggested that the government explore the potential of establishing a dedicated defence manufacturing corridor within the state. Such an initiative, he noted, could mirror successful models implemented elsewhere, helping Haryana strengthen indigenous capabilities, attract investment, and create high-skilled employment opportunities.

Governance, Vision, and Long-Term Economic Planning

The consultation reflected the broader governance philosophy of the Saini-led administration, which places emphasis on inclusive, consultative policymaking. Haryana Vision @2047 acts as a guiding framework in this approach, integrating economic growth with institutional strengthening, infrastructure development, and ease of doing business.

By inviting sector-specific recommendations, the state aims to ensure that its upcoming budget is not only fiscally sound but also responsive to evolving industry needs. The Professional Services Sector, in particular, is seen as a critical enabler that supports manufacturing, technology, finance, and innovation across the economy.

VTDS and the Push for Indigenous Capability

Mr Luthra’s contributions were especially relevant in the context of defence manufacturing, a sector where Vijayan Trishul Defence Solutions Pvt. Ltd. has been working toward the indigenous production of small arms and ammunition. Established with the conviction that national security must rest on strong domestic capabilities, VTDS focuses on reducing dependence on foreign supply chains while contributing to India’s strategic self-reliance.

Under Mr Luthra’s leadership, the company has positioned itself as part of India’s evolving defence manufacturing ecosystem, aligning industrial growth with national priorities and skilled workforce development.

Recognition and Industry Leadership

Over the years, Mr Luthra has received recognition for his leadership and contributions to the defence sector. His honours include being named Young Leader – Visionary in Defence Leadership 2025 at the House of Commons, London, and earning a place in the ET Edge 40 Under 40 list. He has also received commendations from the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Defence Minister of India, reflecting the increasing role of private enterprise in strategic industries.

Looking Ahead: Haryana Professional Sector Growth and the 2026–27 Budget

As Haryana moves closer to finalising its Budget for 2026–27, insights gathered from the Professional Services Sector are expected to influence key policy and fiscal decisions. With industry leaders like Sahil Luthra contributing actionable recommendations, Haryana’s professional sector growth remains central to the state’s development agenda.

Under Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s leadership, the pre-budget consultation signals Haryana’s intent to foster a collaborative, industry-friendly environment—one that encourages innovation, strengthens domestic capabilities, and lays a resilient foundation for long-term economic progress.

New Delhi [India], January 10: While national security discussions frequently stay within the realm of immediate news and political snippets, certain outlets are starting to concentrate on the deeper factors influencing India’s enduring internal equilibrium. A recent exchange on The Abhishek Doctrine, a digital venue recognized for its concentration on security and geopolitical dialogue, exemplified this trend.

In a recent segment, host Abhishek Sharma conversed with Ajay Sharma (JKPS), a serving SP Of Jammu South (Jammu & Kashmir). Their dialogue revolved around two linked concerns that persistently trouble security bodies nationwide: the trade in illicit drugs and the funding of terrorism.

The SP Dr. Ajay Sharma has talked in details about demographics, geographical and strategic importance of Jammu South Zone and Role of JKPS in busting Terror Fundings, Narco Terrorism and protecting India from New Sub Convention War

Elaborating on how drug networks have moved beyond simple criminal acts, becoming more entwined with organized and international factions. He pointed out that revenues from narcotics frequently feed into wider illicit money streams, some directed towards financing extremist endeavors. These connections, he observed, present an ongoing hurdle for law enforcement, demanding sustained, collaborative strategies over brief fixes.

The talk also explored the wider civic repercussions of these matters. The officer noted that narcotics not only compromise the wellbeing of the public but also erode social fabric by preying on younger and susceptible groups. Terrorist financing, utilizing clandestine routes, further muddies the security environment by obscuring the boundary between criminal enterprise and extremist belief.

A considerable portion of the exchange focused on India’s young populace. The officer utilized the forum to underline the necessity of awareness, prudent decision-making, and community involvement. He emphasized that well-informed and alert citizens are vital in opposing entities that exploit falsehoods, dependency, and social detachment.

These kinds of conversations signal a rising inclination towards balanced viewpoints on security matters, informed by frontline experience. By incorporating serving officials and experts into the public discourse, venues such as The Abhishek Doctrine are fostering a more substantive grasp of India’s domestic security dilemmas extending past the urgency of daily reports.

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 10: India isn’t quietly travelling anymore. It’s moving loudly, deliberately, and in numbers Asia-Pacific tourism boards can’t afford to misread.

Something has shifted. Not subtly. Not politely. Indian travellers are stepping out with intent, and the Asia-Pacific region is adjusting in real time.

This is no longer about aspirational posters or polite roadshows. It’s about targets. Hard numbers. And strategies rewritten mid-flight.

South Korea saw more than 187,000 Indian visitors between January and November 2025. By year-end, that figure likely crossed 200,000, right on cue with official targets. For 2026, the ambition jumps again. A clean 250,000 Indian arrivals. No hedging.

What’s changed isn’t just volume. It’s behaviour. Indian travellers in Korea are drifting away from checklist tourism. They want regional towns. Street food. Seasonal rhythms. A sense of how people actually live. Less posing. More participation.

Japan is reading the same signals. The Japan National Tourism Organization is deliberately pulling Indian attention away from the usual Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka loop. New names are entering the pitch. Sendai. Nikko. Matsumoto. Kanazawa. Nara. Places that don’t shout but reward patience.

Hokkaido and Okinawa are climbing the interest ladder too. Kyushu is next. Japan already knows Sakura season alone won’t sustain growth. Snow destinations matter. Golf matters. Off-season travel matters. Indian tourists are staying curious longer.

Australia, on the other hand, is leaning into spectacle. Tourism Research Australia expects nearly 492,000 Indian arrivals in 2026, a 6.4 percent rise over last year. The bet is simple. Big events pull big crowds.

The Australian Open. Formula 1. Vivid Sydney. Mardi Gras. Dark Mofo in Tasmania. These aren’t just calendar fillers. They’re anchors. For Indian travellers weighing long-haul costs, an event-packed itinerary makes the math easier.

Thailand remains India’s old favourite, but it’s clearly refusing to coast. Around 2.55 million Indian tourists are expected this year. To protect that pipeline, Thailand is pushing deeper trade engagement across Indian cities. Roadshows. Familiarisation trips. New destination storytelling.

The message is shifting. Bangkok and Phuket still sell, but novelty now seals the deal. Repeat travellers want fresh corners, not recycled itineraries.

Singapore is watching India with a strategist’s calm. Indian travel styles are evolving fast, and Singapore Tourism Board is responding by tightening collaborations with travel intermediaries, Indian brands, creators, and Bollywood. It’s less about shouting. More about staying culturally plugged in.

Then there’s the scale of the outbound engine itself. In just the July to September quarter of 2025, about 8.39 million Indians travelled abroad. In the same period, India received 1.92 million foreign tourists. The contrast is blunt.

Outbound heavyweights remain familiar. UAE. Saudi Arabia. Thailand. The US. The UK. Short-haul convenience meets long-haul aspiration. And both are growing.

Visa friction, or the lack of it, is quietly doing the heavy lifting. Easier visas, affordable airfares, and experience density are pushing short-haul demand higher. Remove paperwork anxiety and Indian travellers respond almost instantly.

China’s re-entry is another signal. With direct flights resuming, interest is building again, especially for group travel, MICE segments, and cultural circuits. It’s cautious, but noticeable.

Looking ahead to 2026, Indian travellers are getting sharper with value. Not cheaper. Sharper. Destinations that offer difference without drama are winning attention.

Greece is gaining traction, helped by direct flights from low-cost carriers. Georgia is pulling interest through wine trails and energetic city life at accessible prices. The Philippines is benefiting from visa-free entry and the promise of spontaneous, experience-led travel.

What ties all of this together is confidence. Indian travellers aren’t asking for permission anymore. They expect destinations to meet them halfway. Better access. Better storytelling. Better understanding.

Asia-Pacific has noticed. And it’s reacting faster than ever.

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New Delhi [India], January 9: India has the first human spaceflight programme called the Gaganyaan Mission. Its objective is precise. Introduce Indian astronauts into the low Earth orbit of approximately 400 kilometres. Have three days with them. Return them to the safety of the Indian sea.

No shortcuts. No borrowed rockets. No shared flags.

It has been made clear by the ISRO Chairman, S Somanath. This mission is concerning the ability to show. In case successful, India is a member of an exclusive club. This has not been done previously except by the Soviet Union, the United States, and China.

This is not symbolism. This is systems engineering.

Why 2026 Matters

In line with ISRO, the first human-crewed Gaganyaan launch is expected to take place by the end of 2026.

Prior to that, three uncrewed missions should be successful. No exceptions.

The initial uncrewed flight will take place at the beginning of next year. It was supposed to be held in December but was rescheduled due to technical issues. That delay is not a setback. It is discipline.

There is no optimism in human spaceflight.

 

The Rocket Is Ready. The Tests Come First

ISRO has ensured that the launch vehicle is prepared. That is not marketing language. It is an indication that the underlying hardware has been developed, assembled, and is in testing.

The only thing left is to demonstrate reliability during several test missions.

Three uncrewed launch flights will precede the astronauts. Rehearsal is not part of these missions. They are gatekeepers.

When the three are successful, the green light for the human mission can be given.

Vyommitra Goes First

Vyommitra will be in the first uncrewed mission.

Vyommitra is not a mascot. It is a humanoid robot that is aimed at imitating the human situation in space. It will control module parameters, environmental controls and mission sequences.

If Vyammitra fails, the astronauts wait.

That is how serious this is.

Astronauts Are Named. Training Is On

India has already given names to their astronaut-designates.

Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla are the ones.

The names are not ritual names. They are actively involved in mission preparedness.

Training is ongoing. Familiarisation of the systems, simulation of missions, and emergency procedures. The low churn that seldom breaks the news.

It is there that spaceflight is won in reality.

July 2025 Propulsion Milestone in the Gaganyaan Mission

ISRO made a silent breakthrough on July 3, 2025.

Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System Two hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System were successfully made at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri.

One test ran for 30 seconds. The other for 100 seconds.

The findings were in line with pre test predictions.

This is important since the SMPS is an essential system. It deals with orbital manoeuvring and abort situations. Abort systems are not supplementary in human spaceflight. They are lifelines.

The system has five Liquid Apogee Motor engines, each generating 440 Newtons of thrust and sixteen Reaction Control System thrusters, each generating 100 Newtons.

In the extended test, ISRO has demonstrated that all thrusters and engines can operate in different modes simultaneously. Steady. Pulsed. Coordinated.

This is not progressive improvement. This is validation of confidence.

These findings have paved the way for a full-duration hot test followed by ISRO.

What is Different in The Gaganyaan Mission

The Gaganyaan Mission is not in the chase for headlines.

It is being constructed on conservative design margins, multi-redundancy, and incremental validation. That approach is slower. It is also a way of not attending funerals.

India is not racing anyone. It is credibility in engineering.

The approximate programme cost is approximately 90 billion. By the standards of human spaceflight around the world, that is small.

This is not cost efficiency in terms of corner-cutting. It concerns indigenous systems, in-house testing and institutional learning.

Cost, Capability and Credibility

If Gaganyaan is successful, India will be the fourth country to independently launch humans into space.

That changes perception.

It enhances India’s position in international space cooperation. It promotes strategic independence. It confirms the decades of popular investment in science and engineering.

More to the point, it instils internal confidence.

Large countries do difficult things when they feel they can.

Chandrayaan 4 and the Bigger ISRO Play

As Gaganyaan heads toward human spaceflight, ISRO is already strategising its next lunar leap.

The Chandrayaan 4 is approved by the government. The mission is bound to touch down near the south pole of the Moon once again. In this case, the objective is sample return.

That requires two launches. Space docking. Sample recovery. Earth returns.

ISRO has made the challenge. No individual rocket is currently available that can accommodate the required mass. The answer to this is orbital assembly.

This is not a mission undertaken by every country.

ISRO intends to try.

Everything about institutional ambition should be told by that.

What Gaganyaan Mission Means for India

The Gaganyaan Mission is not a high-profile project. It is a futuristic infrastructure.

The deep capability of human spaceflight is established in the fields of materials science, propulsion, avionics, life support, and systems integration. These applications are transferred to defence, aviation, medicine, and manufacturing.

In such a way, countries ascend the ladder of technology.

Quietly. Relentlessly.

ISRO hot tests Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System
https://www.isro.gov.in/Successful_hot_tests_Gaganyaan_SMPS.html

PNN news

New Delhi [India], January 9: The International Mental Health Policy Summit of the International Society for Mental Health Advocacy and Action (ISMHAA) commenced with a powerful call for collective responsibility, cultural rootedness, and systemic reform, signalling what many speakers described as the beginning of a sustained national movement rather than a standalone event.

A Welcome that Set the Moral Compass

The Summit formally opened with a deeply reflective Welcome Address by Dr Mahendra Kabra, RR Kabel, Founder Trustee Hema Foundation and chief patron of ISMHAA underscored that India stands at a critical inflection point in its mental health journey. Emphasising that mental health must be approached as a shared societal responsibility, he noted that the Summit represented a collective commitment to action, ethics, and long-term capacity building. Dr Kabra placed on record his appreciation for the dedication of mental health professionals working across disciplines and geographies, urging sustained collaboration between policy, practice, and community.

“Delightful insight on challenges faced by adolescents” doesn’t sound right because ’delightful’ implies- pleasant, enjoyable or joyful. But challenges faced by adolescents is a serious topic. Using “delightful” makes it sound insensitive or mismatched. Better options would be informative, thought-provoking, valuable, or meaningful insights.

Keynote Addresses: Re-imagining Mental Health for a Changing World

The Keynote Address by Dr Arthur C. Evans, CEO American Psychologist Association, delivered under the resonant theme “Hope is Healing”, set the intellectual and emotional tone for the Summit. Dr Evans called for a decisive shift from reactive, illness-centric models to holistic, preventive, and community-integrated systems of care. He emphasised the role of families, natural support systems, and cross-sector partnerships, asserting that mental health must be woven into everyday life rather than confined to clinical spaces. His address concluded with a compelling call to move from the absence of illness to the presence of wellbeing.

The second Invited guest Address by Dr Ann Vernon, focused on Social–Emotional Learning (SEL) as a foundational pillar of education policy. Drawing on international evidence, she demonstrated how SEL improves academic outcomes, emotional regulation, relationships, and long-term mental health, advocating its integration as a core, preventive curriculum from early schooling through adolescence.

In the third Invited guest Address by Dr Rainer Kurz introduced the “Great 8 Success Factors” framework, placing reasoning at the heart of human functioning. He articulated eight core capacities—ranging from investigating and creating to coping and supporting—as essential to resilience, adaptability, and sustained mental wellbeing in an increasingly complex world.

The fourth Invited guest Address by Dr Amool Ranjan Singh reinforced the urgency of promotion and prevention, particularly within schools. Stressing the primacy of parents and teachers in shaping children’s emotional resilience, he cautioned against over-reliance on technology and advocated a return to play, sports, culture, and human connection as protective factors for mental health.

Concluding Address by Dr. Jamuna Rajeswaran, NEP phasing out of M.Phil Clinical Psychology threatens training depth, workforce quality, and clinical capacity. Highlighted critical gaps: fragmented regulation, disrupted training, unregulated practice, weak research linkage, and severe manpower shortage. Strongly recommended a central, independent regulatory body to standardize training, licensing, ethics, and supervision, and to build national clinical capacity.

Presidential Address: From Awareness to Accountability

In a decisive Presidential Address, Dr Chinu Agrawal, Founder President, ISMHAA, articulated the ethical and regulatory imperatives confronting India’s mental health ecosystem. Calling for a shift from awareness to accountability, she emphasised the urgent need for strong governance, ethical practice, and public protection. Addressing the growing influence of artificial intelligence and digital platforms, she cautioned that technology must be governed by human judgement rather than allowed to dictate care, warning against pseudoscience and misrepresentation in the mental health space.

Chief Guest’s Reflections: A Civilisational Perspective

The Chief Guest, Shri Manoj Joshi, described ISMHAA as a movement rooted in India’s civilisational wisdom. He reminded the gathering that mental health knowledge existed in Indian traditions long before modern psychology and warned that contemporary society risks becoming increasingly self-centred and disconnected. His address reinforced the Summit’s central message: mental health must remain about people, for people.

Panels, Lived Experience, and Collective Dialogue

The Summit featured a rich array of panel discussions, including “The Practice of Psychology: One-to-One to One-to-Many”, which explored scaling mental health impact through community engagement and preventive education, and “Gen Z Mental Health: Gaps, Pressures and Pathways”, which examined systemic stressors and proactive solutions for younger populations.

A deeply moving session titled “Heart Talks”, moderated by Dr Chinu Agrawal, foregrounded lived experience as a vital source of learning, calling for a culture of compassion, appreciation, and self-worth beyond achievement.

Research, Capacity Building, and Policy Action

The Summit also hosted multiple tracks of oral research presentations, round-table conferences, and a Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) workshop focused on adolescent mental health. A major highlight of the Valedictory Ceremony was the presentation of a White Paper to be submitted to the Parliamentary body of the Government of India, reinforcing the Summit’s commitment to translating dialogue into policy action.

The event concluded with awards recognising exemplary contributions to mental health advocacy and practice, followed by a closing address reaffirming hope, collaboration, and sustained action.

A Collective Commitment

As the Summit drew to a close, one message resonated unequivocally: India’s mental health future depends not on isolated initiatives, but on ethical leadership, cultural grounding, interdisciplinary collaboration, and sustained accountability. ISMHAA’s National Summit has laid the foundation for this journey—one rooted in hope, responsibility, and collective resolve.

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New Delhi [India], January 8: The Bharat Pratibha Sammaan Council (BPSC) successfully organised the Pratibha Sammaan Samaroh – 2026, a distinguished national award ceremony dedicated to honouring exemplary Indians for their outstanding contributions to nation-building across a wide spectrum of disciplines. The ceremony was held on Monday, 05 January 2026, at the prestigious NDMC Convention Centre, Sansad Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi, and witnessed the presence of eminent dignitaries, senior professionals, academicians, social leaders, and members of the media.

The awards were conferred in a dignified, protocol-driven format inspired by the ethos and decorum of the Padma Awards, symbolising values of integrity, excellence, selfless service, and national pride. The honours were graciously presented by Maj Gen Yash Mor (SM), Former Additional Director General of the Indian Army and a noted national security expert, along with Dr. Uma Tuli Ji, Padma Shri awardee, renowned social worker, educationist, and Founder of the Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust. Their presence added immense prestige and inspiration to the ceremony.

The Pratibha Sammaan Samaroh – 2026 recognised 25 distinguished achievers across 14 categories, selected through a rigorous and transparent multi-stage evaluation process involving state-level screening and national jury review. The awardees included Dr. Reenaben J. Shah, Vivek Mehrotra, Dr. Raj Mohan Sharma, Vibha Singh, Meetesh Kumar, Doon Sainik School Dehradun, and Priyadarshani School for their exceptional contributions to Education; Gausia Khan and Dr. Divya Jyoti for their work in Education, Social Work, and Women Empowerment; Aashish Ranjan and Dr. Satyendra Kumar for excellence in Science & Engineering; Shivam Malaviya for contributions to Science & Technology (Cyber Security); Dr. Vijay Vinayak Vichare for his achievements in Biotechnology & Life Sciences; Neeraj Pal and Parvathy Ananthanarayanan Mangala for their work in Art, Culture, and Literature; Yojana Gharat, Girish Satra, Jigna Sheth, Manish Parakh, and Shailendra Kumar Rajak for dedicated service in Social Work, Social Commitment, and Philanthropy; Dr. Bikram Kar for contributions in Astrology (Vedic & Palmistry); Satyam Neema Bihari and Bijendra Pal for excellence in Agriculture, Rural Development, and Agricultural Research; and Bandikalla Pradeep Narayan for excellence in Prodigy and Child Development.

Established in 2023, the Bharat Pratibha Sammaan Council (BPSC) is a nationally registered organisation committed to identifying and honouring grassroots achievers, innovators, educators, social reformers, and cultural torchbearers. To date, BPSC has honoured over 120 national talents, with nearly 60 per cent awardees from rural India, reflecting its strong commitment to inclusivity, women empowerment, innovation, education, and cultural excellence.

Continuing its proud legacy of hosting eminent national personalities such as Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri, Dr. Kiran Bedi, and Shri Anurag Thakur, the 2026 edition once again reaffirmed BPSC’s enduring mission—to celebrate India’s talent with dignity, transparency, and a deep sense of national spirit.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!

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New Delhi [India], January 8: Some places are stone and mortar. Somnath is memory, muscle, and moral spine. As Somnath Swabhiman Parv begins, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is asking the nation to remember exactly that.

Somnath Swabhiman Parv officially commenced today, and with it came a message that cut through ceremony and nostalgia alike. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the nation, framing the occasion not as a ritual, but as a civilisational checkpoint. One that India has crossed, fallen at, rebuilt, and crossed again. Repeatedly.

The Prime Minister recalled that January 1026 marked the first attack on the Somnath Temple. It wasn’t the last. History records multiple assaults across centuries. Yet Somnath never vanished. It lingered in belief, in stories, in stubborn faith. And eventually, it rose again. Every single time.

That, PM Modi suggested, is the point of Somnath Swabhiman Parv.

Jai Somnath!

Somnath Swabhiman Parv begins today. A thousand years ago, in January 1026, Somnath faced its first ever attack. The attack of 1026 and the subsequent attacks couldn’t diminish the eternal faith of millions, nor break the civilisational spirit that rebuilt Somnath… pic.twitter.com/pfWqup532l

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 8, 2026

Somnath Swabhiman Parv is not Nostalgia. It’s Resolve.

According to the Prime Minister, Somnath Swabhiman Parv is about remembering the countless children of Bharat Mata who refused to compromise. Not on principles. Not on ethos. Not even when the odds were brutal.

His words were blunt and deliberate. The attacks did not break the faith of millions. They did not erase the civilisational spirit that rebuilt Somnath again and again. That spirit, PM Modi implied, is still alive. Still relevant. Still necessary.

This is where Somnath Swabhiman Parv moves beyond history textbooks. It becomes about continuity. About the idea that civilisation is not inherited passively. It is defended, rebuilt, and reaffirmed.

A thousand years later, the message lands with precision.

A temple rebuilt, a nation reaffirmed

PM Modi also looked back at a defining modern chapter in Somnath’s story. On 31 October 2001, a major programme was held at Somnath to mark 50 years since the rebuilt temple opened its doors in 1951. That reopening, attended by India’s first President Dr Rajendra Prasad, was itself a statement. Quiet, constitutional, and firm.

The reconstruction of Somnath did not happen in isolation. PM Modi highlighted the pivotal role played by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, KM Munshi, and several others who ensured the temple’s revival after Independence. This wasn’t about symbolism alone. It was about restoring civilisational confidence in a newly free nation.

The 2001 programme also coincided with the 125th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. The guest list reflected the gravity of the moment. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani. Senior leaders. Public figures. A collective acknowledgement that Somnath mattered. Still does.

Somnath Swabhiman Parv, in that sense, stitches together 1026, 1951, 2001, and now 2026. Different centuries. Same spine.

Why 2026 matters?

Prime Minister Modi drew attention to the year ahead. 2026 will mark 75 years since the grand rededication ceremony of 1951. Three-quarters of a century since Somnath was formally returned to the nation as a living temple, not a relic.

PM Modi was clear. This milestone is not just about architecture or restoration. It is about the indomitable spirit of Indian civilisation. A spirit that absorbs shocks, refuses erasure, and keeps moving forward.

In today’s India, where cultural confidence is increasingly part of public discourse, Somnath Swabhiman Parv fits squarely into the larger narrative. It reinforces the idea that heritage is not ornamental. It is foundational.

The Prime Minister’s Subhashitam and its quiet message

Alongside the greetings, PM Modi shared a Subhashitam, a traditional Sanskrit verse, praying for the welfare of all citizens. It was understated. No theatrics. Just a reminder that India’s civilisational vocabulary has always balanced strength with collective well-being.

That balance matters. Somnath Swabhiman Parv is not framed as exclusionary. It is framed as civilisational memory with universal welfare at its core.

Social media, memory, and modern participation

In a series of posts on X, the Prime Minister shared glimpses from his previous visits to Somnath. He invited citizens to do the same, encouraging them to share their own memories using the hashtag #SomnathSwabhimanParv.

This wasn’t incidental. It was participatory history. A way of saying that Somnath does not belong to archives or officials alone. It belongs to devotees, travellers, families, and first-time visitors who stood quietly before the sea-facing shrine and felt something difficult to explain.

The posts revisited the attack of 1026, the repeated assaults that followed, and the fact that none of them succeeded in extinguishing faith. The tone was firm, not angry. Reflective, not defensive.

That restraint is deliberate. It keeps the focus on resilience, not grievance.

Why does Somnath still speak?

For India, Somnath is not an isolated monument in Gujarat. It is part of a larger conversation about civilisational continuity. About remembering without becoming trapped by resentment. About rebuilding without forgetting why rebuilding was necessary.

In an era where identity debates are loud and often messy, Somnath Swabhiman Parv offers a quieter anchor. It says pride does not require shouting. Memory does not require bitterness. Resolve does not require an apology.

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