The first solar project of NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd. (NTPC-REL) at Chhattargarh in Rajasthan has declared commencement of commercial operations of 70 MW capacity on 21st February, 2024. With this, the installed capacity of NTPC Group has reached 73,958 MW.

At present, NTPC-REL has 17 projects under execution, with a total capacity exceeding 6,000 MW. With this, the total renewable energy operational capacity of NTPC Group stands at 3,448 MW.

CEO (NGEL), Shri Mohit Bhargava and other officials were present on this occasion.

The slated full capacity of Chhattargarh Solar project is 150 MW and is expected to be commissioned by March 2024. The capacity was won under SECI-Tranche:III and the beneficiary of this project is the state of Rajasthan.

Veteran playback singer Suresh Wadkar has been honoured with the Gansamragini Lata Mangeshkar Award.

Wadkar was felicitated with the award at an event in Mumbai on Thursday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented him with special mementoes.

#WATCH | Veteran playback singer and National Award winner Suresh Wadkar was presented with the Gansamragini Lata Mangeshkar Award, in Mumbai yesterday. pic.twitter.com/somjbMMX7M

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has achieved ‘Excellent’ rating under MoU 2022-23, signed with Ministry of Civil Aviation. The Department of Public Enterprises has communicated AAI’s MoU score of 91.50 with final rating as ‘Excellent’.

AAI made a commendable comeback after civil aviation industry faced a severe impact during COVID-19 Pandemic with earning of Rs 11,424 Crore as Revenue from Operations under MoU 2022-23. AAI has incurred highest ever Capital Expenditure of Rs 5,175 crore under MoU 2022-23, which was utilized to enhance and expand airport facilities, upgrade technology, and improve operational efficiency, leading to safer, more convenient and seamless travel experience for all at AAI Airports.

State-owned Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) on Thursday said the government has appointed its MD and CEO A S Rajeev as Vigilance Commissioner. "This is to inform that Department of Financial Services vide notification no. 13/8/2016-BO.I dated February 22, 2024 has notified the appointment of A S Rajeev, MD and CEO of the bank as Vigilance Commissioner in Central Vigilance Commission," BoM said in a regulatory filing.

In view of the above, Rajeev is relieved from the bank today, it said. The bank's board and management committee has entrusted two Executive Directors to look after financial and administrative powers and functions of the bank till such time regular MD & CEO is appointed by the government, it said.

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Vidura Wickremanayake has said that the International Gita Mahotsav will be held in Colombo.

Speaking at the steering committee meeting, the minister said that the purpose of the event is to popularise the timeless teachings of the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita

The three day International Gita Mahotsav will commence from 1st of March. The festival will be held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre premises with the financial sponsorship of Haryana’s Kurukshetra Development Board. During the recent years the festival has been held in overseas countries. Thousands of delegates from across the world are expected to attend the event. The festival will feature Gita yagna, Gita chanting, shobha yatra, seminar on several topics of contemporary interest and several competitions. On 4th of March, a copy of Srimad Bhagavada Gita will be presented to the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation two new Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station: KAPS-3 and KAPS-4 for 22,500 crore rupees at Navsari in South Gujarat on Thursday. The Prime Minister also initiated work commencement for the construction of PM MITRA Park in Navsari. During the program, several new projects related to roads, railways, drinking water and health were also launched.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that PM MITRA Park whose work is starting today is the first such park in the country for the textile sector. He said, this will give a boost to the textile industry and India's share in textile exports will increase.

The Union Minister for Railways, Communications and Electronics and  IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the Annual Capacity Building Plan for his Ministries on Thursday. The annual plan has been crafted to ensure capacity building and holistic development of manpower keeping in mind National Priorities, Emerging Technologies and Citizen Centricity along with the development of organisations, Institutions and Individuals. Staff from Post offices, Railways, BSNL and Common Service Centres (CSC) shared their experiences of iGoT Karmayogi training and how it has helped them develop their capabilities to deliver the government’s services to the masses in a better manner.

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati in collaboration with EduRade, a brand owned by RC HobbyTech Solutions Pvt. Ltd., and incubated at IIT Guwahati Research Park, we have launched India’s largest Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO), spanning 18 acres and boasting the capability to fly 9 medium-class drones simultaneously. The primary objective of this RPTO is to promote the advancement of drone technology in India. Additionally, it aligns with the vision of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to establish India as a global drone hub by 2030, thereby contributing to the recently launched ‘Namo Drone Didi’ initiative.

Turkey’s fifth-generation fighter jet in development conducted its first ever flight on Wednesday, a milestone for the country to deploy domestically produced war planes.

The jet, known as Kaan and developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries with help from the UK’s BAE Systems, took off from an airstrip in capital Ankara for a flight that lasted just over 10 minutes, according to state broadcaster TRT.

The flight marks a landmark moment for Turkey, where authorities have made modernizing the country’s aging air force a top priority. That’s gained urgency since the country’s expulsion from the program to procure and support Lockheed Martin Corp.’s advanced F-35 fighter jets in 2019, following Ankara’s acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense missiles.

To enhance the capability of the Indian Air Force in keeping a watchful eye on the air activity in China and Pakistan and protect its vital assets, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared deals worth around Rs 13,000 crore to acquire new high-power radars and close-in weapon systems from Indian manufacturer Larsen and Toubro.

The new radars under a project worth around Rs 6,000 crore have been cleared by the CCS for the Indian Air Force, replacing and augmenting the existing chain of radars along both the borders with China and Pakistan, top government sources told ANI.