|

Starlink Approved to Launch Satellite Internet in India

On 31 July 2025, the Indian government granted Elon Musk’s Starlink a Unified License to offer satellite-based internet services in India. The service will deliver high-speed (50–250 Mbps), low-latency internet via LEO satellites, especially targeting rural and remote areas.

  • License announced by Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
  • Starlink kit cost: ₹33,000; Monthly fee: ₹3,000.
  • Will partner with Airtel and Reliance Jio for nationwide rollout.
  • Competes with OneWeb and Jio SES.
  • Launch expected by late 2025 or early 2026, supporting India’s Digital growth and 5G/6G leadership.

Similar Posts

  • President Murmu takes holy dip at Triveni Sangam during Maha Kumbh

    On February 10, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu visited Prayagraj to participate in the Maha Kumbh Mela, where she took a sacred dip at the Triveni Sangam. She was welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    Before the holy dip, she fed migratory birds, emphasizing her reverence for nature. She then visited the Akshayavat tree, a sacred symbol in Hinduism, and offered prayers at the Bade Hanuman Temple.

    President Murmu also explored the Digital Maha Kumbh Experience Centre, which provides a virtual experience of the Kumbh Mela. Her visit was historic, following the legacy of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, India’s first President, who had also taken a holy dip at a previous Kumbh.

    After an eight-hour visit, she returned to New Delhi by 5:45 P.M., marking a significant moment in the spiritual and cultural history of the Maha Kumbh.

  • Govt Approves ₹4,081 Crore Ropeway Project from Sonprayag to Kedarnath

    The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the construction of a 12.9 km ropeway connecting Sonprayag to Kedarnath in Uttarakhand. Announced on 5 March 2025, this ambitious project aims to improve accessibility to one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage sites.

    Kedarnath Ropeway: Key Project Details

    • Project Type: Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) Model
    • Estimated Cost: ₹4,081.28 crore
    • Technology Used: Tri-Cable Detachable Gondola (3S)
    • Capacity: 1,800 passengers per hour (each direction)
    • Daily Passenger Limit: Up to 18,000 pilgrims

    Kedarnath: A Sacred Pilgrimage Destination

    Kedarnath, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, is located at an altitude of 3,583 meters (11,968 feet) in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The Kedarnath Temple is open for 6 to 7 months each year, from Akshaya Tritiya (April-May) to Diwali (October-November), attracting around 20 lakh pilgrims annually.

    How the Ropeway Will Benefit Pilgrims

    Currently, the journey to Kedarnath involves a 16-km uphill trek from Gaurikund, which can take 8 to 9 hours on foot. Pilgrims often rely on ponies, palanquins, or helicopter services for assistance.

    With the new Sonprayag-Kedarnath Ropeway, the travel time will be drastically reduced to just 36 minutes.

  • Namrata Batra Becomes First Indian to Enter Wushu Final at World Games 2025

    On 11 August 2025, Namrata Batra became the first Indian to reach the women’s 52 kg Wushu final at the World Games in Chengdu, China, defeating Philippines’ Krizan Faith Collado 2-0.

    This assured India’s first-ever World Games medal in Wushu, with at least a silver guaranteed. She will face Mengyue Chen of China in the final.

    Earlier, Rishabh Yadav secured India’s first individual medal at the 2025 Games with bronze in men’s compound archery. Batra recently won gold at the Moscow Star International Wushu Championship ahead of the Games.

  • Sjoerd Marijne Appointed Chief Coach of Indian Women’s Hockey Team

    On 2 January 2025, Sjoerd Marijne has been appointed as the chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, as announced by Hockey India. The experienced Dutch coach previously guided the Indian women’s team to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, marking only their second Olympic appearance in over 36 years and their best-ever performance at the Games.

    Marijne’s first major assignment in his new role will be the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, Telangana, from 8 to 14 March. These qualifiers are crucial for India’s bid to secure a place in the upcoming Women’s Hockey World Cup. He is set to arrive in India on 14 January, ahead of the National Coaching Camp, which will commence on 19 January at SAI, Bengaluru.

    Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India for facilitating the timely appointment. The move is aimed at ensuring optimal preparation and continuity as the Indian women’s hockey team gears up for key international competitions.

  • IndiaAI Partners with Microsoft to Accelerate AI and Skilling in India

    IndiaAI, an Independent Business Division under Digital India Corporation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft on January 8, 2025, to boost Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption and development in India. This collaboration aligns with the core objectives of the India AI Mission. Here are the key highlights:

    Skilling 500,000 individuals: By 2026, Microsoft will work with IndiaAI to train students, educators, developers, government officials, and women entrepreneurs.

    AI Catalysts: Establishing a Center of Excellence to promote rural AI innovation in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, impacting 100,000 AI innovators through hackathons, community building, and an AI marketplace.

    AI Productivity Labs: Setting up labs in 20 National Skill Training Institutes/NIELIT centers across 10 states to train 20,000 educators and empower 100,000 students with foundational AI courses in 200 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

    AI-enabled solutions for critical sectors: Leveraging Microsoft Research’s expertise.

    Founders Hub program: Providing benefits to up to 1,000 AI startups, including Azure credits, business resources, and mentorship.

    Indic language models: Developing models with support for India’s linguistic diversity.

    Datasets platform: Building tools for dataset curation, annotation, and synthetic data generation.

    AI frameworks and standards: Collaborating on responsible AI development and supporting an AI Safety Institute in India.

  • Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Begin in Bihar

    The seventh edition of the Khelo India Youth Games began in Bihar on May 4, 2025, marking the first time the state is hosting this national multi-sport event. The games will continue till May 15 and are being held across five districtsPatna, Nalanda (Rajgir), Gaya, Bhagalpur, and Begusarai.

    The event was inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who highlighted the importance of sports in India’s future. The opening ceremony at Patliputra Sports Complex featured laser shows, cultural performances, and a performance by folk singer Maithili Thakur.

    Over 8,500 athletes and 1,500 technical staff are participating in 28 sports, including archery, kabaddi, volleyball, swimming, wrestling, and boxing. Bihar is among the states fielding the largest contingent, along with Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

    The event showcases Bihar’s upgraded sports infrastructure and serves as a stepping stone for India’s aspiration to host the 2036 Olympics. With 284 gold medals to be won, the competition is intense. The games are being broadcast live on Doordarshan Sports.