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ISRO launches Anvesha spy satellite as PSLV roars back
Sriharikota: India’s most reliable rocket is back in swaggering form. ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle blasted off from Sriharikota at 10.18 am on Thursday, chalking up its 64th mission and erasing the memory of last year’s stumble. Designated PSLV-C62 / EOS-N1, the flight lofted 15 satellites into space, led by a tightly guarded surveillance payload named Anvesha.
The mission marks a clean return to form for the PSLV, long regarded as the backbone of India’s launch programme. EOS-N1 and 14 co-passenger satellites were injected into a sun-synchronous orbit, while the Kestrel Initial Demonstrator was sent on a controlled re-entry trajectory.
At the heart of the mission was Anvesha, a defence satellite developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Equipped with advanced imaging systems, it is designed to sharpen India’s ability to track and map hostile positions with high precision, significantly strengthening the country’s intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities.
Yet the launch was about more than national security. It also underscored a quiet shift in India’s space economy. Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space contributed seven satellites to the mission—the largest single participation by an Indian private company on a PSLV flight so far.
The message from Sriharikota was unmistakable: India’s state launcher is back on track, its defence ambitions are sharpening—and its private space firms are no longer riding shotgun, but starting to shape the journey.
Liftoff!
PSLV-C62 launches the EOS-N1 Mission from SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota.
Livestream link: https://t.co/fMiIFTUGpf
For more information Visit:https://t.co/3ijojDaYB2
#PSLVC62 #EOSN1 #ISRO #NSIL— ISRO (@isro) January 12, 2026
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
