Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for NLC India Limited’s (NLCIL) 2,400 MW Supercritical Thermal power plant in Sambalpur, Odisha, on February 3. “In furtherance of the vision of the Prime Minister to promote setting up of Thermal Power Plants at pit-head so as to reduce cost of transportation of coal, the Ministry of Coal has planned Thermal Power Plants to be set up by coal CPSUs. The government has approved the setting up of 3x800 MW Ultra Super Critical Thermal Power Plant at Talabira through NLCIL,” said an official statement on Friday.

These projects, the CMD said, include two first mile connectivity (FMC) projects -- Bhubaneswari Phase-I of 10 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) capacity in Talcher Coalfields, Angul district, built at an investment of Rs 335 crore, and Lajkura Rapid Loading System (RLS) of 15 MTPA capacity, built at an investment of Rs 375 crore in Ib Valley Coalfields.

Vice Admiral Lochan Singh Pathania assumed charge as the Chief Hydrographer to the Govt. of India on 01 Feb 24.

Commissioned in the Executive branch of the Indian Navy in 1990, he is a Hydrography Specialist. The Flag Officer has commanded IN Ships Darshak and Sandhayak. During his career spanning more than three decades he carried out hydrographic surveys across the entire stretch of the country and in IOR including challenging task of data collection for IMBL arbitration and for production of new chart in Sundarbans delta. He also has the distinction of serving onboard HMS Bulldog of Royal Navy.

He has held various important shore appointments being Interviewing Officer & Deputy President of Naval Selection Board, Principal Director (Hydrography) at NHQ, Officer-in-Charge, National Hydrographic Office (NHO) and Joint Chief Hydrographer.

The Flag officer is a graduate of Naval Academy and alumni of International Maritime Academy (IMO), Trieste, Italy, Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington and College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad. He holds a Masters degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Madras and Masters of Management Studies (MMS) from Osmania University. The Admiral is an expert on International maritime laws pertaining to maritime boundary delimitation and has immensely contributed in addressing issues pertaining to maritime boundaries and settlement of Extended continental shelf beyond Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Minister further informed “out of the targeted 12500 Ayush Health and Wellness Centres, more than 9000 Health and Wellness Centres have been established. It has been only a little more than 9 years since the establishment of the Ministry of Ayush in the country and the Ministry has achieved huge and special successes in this short period”.

Secretary, Ministry of Ayush Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said in his address that Ayush is like a tree under which many medical systems flourish. He also informed that under the National Ayush Mission, continuous efforts are being made to take Ayush to every district of the country. He said a lot of advancements have taken place in the field of research also. So far, more than forty thousand research publications have been published in the Ayush Research Portal. The Secretary expressed special happiness over the fact that the World Health Organization established the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, which is the first outpost of the United Nations in any developing country.

National Arogya Fair is being organized with the support of Ministry of Ayush from February 1, 2024 to February 4, 2024 at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium New Delhi is a dynamic convergence of India’s rich healing traditions, encompassing Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. This for day event serves as the vibrant testament to the nation’s diverse culture and historical legacy in healthcare. It transcends as a platform to celebrate and showcase traditional system of medicine, emphasizing holistic well-being.

Tata Motors will showcase as many as seven passenger vehicles (PVs), including concept versions of the Nexon i-CNG, Curvv and Harrier.ev, at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024, which will be held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from February 1 to February 3.

The homegrown auto giant will showcase PVs like the Nexon i-CNG concept, new Safari Dark concept, Curvv concept, Altroz Racer concept, Punch.ev, Nexon.ev Dark show car and the Harrier.ev concept. It will also demonstrate the safety features of the Safari.

President Droupadi Murmu would inaugurate the 37th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2024, at Surajkund grounds, district Faridabad, bordering Delhi, on Friday.

An official release said that the vibrant international crafts festival which would be on till February 18, would also be visited by Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya and chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar besides Union and state ministers among others.

Managing director, Haryana Tourism Corporation, Neeraj Kumar, who is also chief administrator of the Surajkund Mela Authority, said in the release that about 50 countries would participate this year while the United Republic of Tanzania was participating as the ‘Partner Nation’ and it would bring colours and vibes of Africa to the festival. The theme state would be Gujarat.

The Indian Navy has declared 2024 the 'Year of Naval Civilians' to improve the administration, efficiency, and well-being of Naval Civilians by addressing all facets of Civilian HR Management in a time-bound manner.

Major focus areas towards maximising administrative efficiency, digital initiatives, generic and specific training programmes and welfare activities have been identified for implementation in 2024, according to an official press release by the Indian Navy.

The picturesque Tannirbhavi Beach, next to the Blue Flag beach, will serve as a vibrant backdrop for networking, innovation, and the celebration of entrepreneurial spirit for “Emerge-2024”, to be held from Feb 16 to 18. Held under the banner of Tapasya beach festival (TBF), the event is aimed at fostering and nurturing emerging startups.

Vishwas US, regional director, International Federation of Inventors Association (IFIA) Bharat, who is spearheading this initiative, said this is an effort to unite the startup ecosystem.

Champai Soren, veteran leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, will take oath today as the next Chief Minister of Jharkhand. The 67-year-old was invited by the Governor to take oath late this evening -- more than 24 hours after the arrest of his predecessor Hemant Soren in an alleged money laundering case.

Governor CP Radhakrishnan's move came hours after Champai Soren met him earlier on Thursday, pleading that he be called to take oath.

"There is no government (in the state) for 18 hours. There is a situation of confusion. Being the constitutional head, we expect you will soon take steps for the formation of a popular government," read his letter to the Governor.

With two more places declared Ramsar sites, Tamil Nadu now has the highest number of such sites in the country.

The State government had submitted proposals for the Longwood Shola Reserve Forest in The Nilgiris and the Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary in Ariyalur. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ramsar Sites Secretariat accepted them, and both places were designated as Ramsar sites on January 31. The total number of such sites in the State now stands at 16, the highest in the country, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, said in a press release.

Longwood Shola covers 116.07 hectares. It is among the places deemed Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. It is home to more than 700 species of flora and fauna. Of the 177 bird species, 14 are endemic to the Western Ghats. It is rich in herpetofauna diversity, with several species endemic to the Western Ghats, and is also considered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to be threatened. Longwood Shola is an integral part of the fragile Nilgiris ecosystem, and is a major source of water for Kotagiri, supplying water to 18 villages downstream.

The Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest survey vessel Sandhayak in Vizag on Saturday and the ship is expected to boost the force's surveillance apparatus in the strategic waterways. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command will be among the distinguished guests to grace the occasion.

"The event will mark the formal induction into the Navy of the first of four survey vessel (large) ships under construction at M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata," a Navy spokesperson said.

Sandhayak was delivered to the Indian Navy on December 4 after completing a rigorous and comprehensive trial programme both in the harbour and at sea.