Morning Brief: Three-Day Rituals To Mark First Anniversary Of Ram Temple, ISRO To Test Technology Needed For Indian Space Station, New Roadmap To Fix IAF's Fighter Woes

Dear reader, catch up on the day’s must-read stories with Swarajya's roundup of the morning's headlines.

3-Day Rituals To Mark First Anniversary Of Ayodhya Ram Temple

To mark the first anniversary of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has planned a three-day celebration starting January 11, 2025. The Pran Pratishtha ceremony was held on January 22, 2024, and next year’s anniversary will be observed on January 11, in line with the Hindu calendar. Special invitations will be sent to saints who could not attend the original ceremony, with the task of shortlisting names assigned to Ashok Tiwari of the All India Dharmacharya Sampark. The celebrations will take place at five locations within the temple, including Yagna Mandap programmes and Shri Ram Mantra Jap Yagya, where six lakh mantras will be chanted over the three days. Additional recitations, such as Ram Raksha Stotra, Hanuman Chalisa, and others, will also be performed during the event.

ISRO To Demonstrate In-Space Docking Tech Critical For Space Station

India will achieve a major milestone in space technology with the PSLV-C60/SPADEX mission, which will demonstrate in-space docking technology. This mission, planned for launch by the end of December, aims to make India only the fourth country to show successful in-space docking. This technology, critical for future space missions, will enable spacecraft to dock and undock while in orbit. It is essential for tasks such as lunar sample collection and the construction of the Bharatiya Antriksh Station (BAS). ISRO announced that the PSLV-C60 launch vehicle has been integrated and moved to the First Launch Pad for satellite integration. The mission will test the docking of two 220 kg spacecraft in low Earth orbit, with a focus on cost-effective rendezvous, docking, and undocking technology.

New Committee To Provide Roadmap To Fix IAF's Fighter Woes

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is facing operational gaps due to a shortage of fighter aircraft and force-multiplying assets, prompting the government to form a committee under Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The committee will focus on addressing these gaps through both indigenous development and direct acquisition projects.

According to reports, the IAF has the most critical capability voids among the three armed services, and the committee is expected to submit its report by the end of January. The urgency is underscored by the Chinese Air Force’s upgrades at several airbases along India’s borders, including the addition of fighters, bombers, and drones. One of the key challenges will be resolving the stalled project to manufacture 114 new 4.5-generation fighters, with foreign collaboration, at a projected cost of Rs 1.25 lakh crore.

Other Developments

India Women Achieve Biggest Home ODI Win

The Indian women's cricket team achieved a resounding 211-run victory over the West Indies in the 1st ODI at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium, marking their biggest home win by runs and second-largest overall. Batting first, India set an imposing target of 314/9, with Smriti Mandhana leading the charge with a superb 91, supported by debutant Pratika Rawat’s 40 and contributions from Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Richa Ghosh. Renuka Singh Thakur then decimated the West Indies batting lineup with a sensational five-wicket haul, as the visitors collapsed under pressure. This defeat became the West Indies' heaviest in ODI history, highlighting a stark disparity in performance. India excelled in all aspects of the game, delivering a dominant display of skill and teamwork.

RTI replies reveal that half of the 63 MGNREGS worksites inspected in West Bengal had flaws, prompting the Centre to withhold funds from the state. The inspections were carried out during three field visits: January 2019, March 2022, and April 2022, covering districts such as Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, Malda, and Darjeeling. Of the 63 sites inspected, 31 were found to have serious irregularities, which led to the suspension of funds. The Centre funds 90% of the MGNREGS budget, which guarantees employment for up to 100 days in rural areas. There are currently 3.4 crore registered MGNREGA workers in West Bengal, who have been impacted by these irregularities.

Trump Threatens To Retake Control Of Panama Canal

Donald Trump, US President-elect, threatened to reclaim control of the Panama Canal, saying the US had “foolishly” given it up to Panama. Speaking at a rally in Arizona, Trump criticised the “ridiculous” fees charged to ships passing through the canal. He stated that if Panama does not adhere to the principles of the agreement, the United States would demand the return of the canal “quickly and without question.” Trump warned Panama’s officials to take heed of his stance, asserting he would not tolerate the current arrangement. The Panama Canal, built by the US in the early 1900s, was handed over to Panama in 1999 under a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter.

From The States

Denying Slaughterhouse Permit In ‘Sacred City’ Unjust: MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that denying a slaughterhouse permit on the grounds of a city being "religious" is unjustifiable. Justice Pranay Verma’s bench clarified on December 17 that Mandsaur’s designation of a 100-meter radius as a sacred area does not make the entire city sacred under the Madhya Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1961. The court rejected the municipal corporation’s stance that Mandsaur’s religious nature warranted denial of the permit. It directed the municipal body to issue an NOC, allowing the petitioner to establish a slaughterhouse after obtaining necessary clearances under pollution control and other applicable laws. The court emphasized that animal slaughter would only be permissible following compliance with all legal requirements.

Uddhav, Raj Thackeray Meeting Fuels Speculation

After years of personal attacks, political rivals Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray unexpectedly crossed paths and exchanged greetings at the wedding of Raj's nephew, Yash Deshpande, on Sunday. The two cousins, who split politically in 2006, had previously encountered each other at Uddhav’s nephew's wedding last week. Raj attended as the maternal uncle of the groom, accompanied by his family. The Thackeray family, including Uddhav and his wife Rashmi, were also invited by the groom’s parents. Raj’s attendance at another family event on December 15 had already fuelled speculation about a potential political reconciliation between the two cousins.

J-K Reservation Policy Dispute Escalates

With Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s own MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi calling for a protest outside his residence, the debate over Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation policy has intensified. Ruhullah urged the government to address the issue by December 22, but after the deadline passed, he called for a peaceful demonstration at Gupkar Road. The MP criticized the amended reservation rules introduced by the Lieutenant Governor’s administration earlier this year, alleging they were unfair to general category candidates. Omar, responding to the protest call, assured that a Cabinet sub-committee would engage stakeholders to resolve the matter. The policy’s rationalisation has been a contentious topic, figuring prominently in the National Conference’s election manifesto.

Stay tuned for more insights throughout the day.