The 2-day long National Consultative Workshop on ‘Status of Devolution of Powers to Panchayats’ was inaugurated today by Shri Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. The conference is being organised by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in association with the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

In his inaugural address, Secretary Vivek Bhardwaj emphasized on a shared vision, common goal and collaborative action towards advancing the process of Devolution to Panchayats. He suggested that a Devolution Index be on the agenda for discussions. He noted that capacity of Panchayats need to be developed financially and human resource-wise to match the functions expected from them. “ Empowering Panchayats & strengthening Panchayati Raj system are not just about local self-governance; it's about fostering self-reliance & sustainability. A self-sufficient Panchayat is a cornerstone for building an Atmanirbhar & Vikasit Bharat”, added the Secretary.

The Government has approved that Coal India Limited (CIL) will set up two Coal Gasification Plants with a view to achieve the target of 100 MT coal gasification by the year 2030 and to fulfil India’s dual objectives of self-reliance and energy independence. Briefing media after the Union Cabinet meeting, Union Minister for Coal Pralhad Joshi said that total investment in the joint venture of CIL and GAIL for the proposed Coal-to-Synthetic Natural Gas at Sonepur Bazari Area of Eastern Coalfields Limited in West Bengal will be of 13 thousand 52 crore rupees. Mr Joshi informed that for CIL and BHEL Joint Venture for the proposed Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited in Jharsuguda district of Odisha will be 11 thousand 782 crore rupees. He informed that by 2028 - 29 these projects will be operationalised.

The Centre has also approved a proposal for equity investment for setting up of Coal-to-Synthetic Natural Gas Project through a Joint venture of Coal India Limited - CIL and Gas Authority of India Limited- GAIL. It has also approved for setting up of the Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project through a Joint venture of CIL and Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited- BHEL.

They say the ballot is stronger than the bullet and rightly so, because the future of a republic is in the hands of the voters and the basic rights of the Indian voters are enshrined in the Constitution that also enumerates the responsibilities that voters need to consider before and after casting their votes. Voting is our civic responsibility and is one of the fundamental tools of which our nation has guaranteed our inalienable rights throughout our history.

The National Voters’ Day is celebrated every year in India on January 25 to encourage the country’s voters to participate in the electoral process. This year, it is the 14th edition which is being celebrated.

Canadian documentary film "To Kill a Tiger" has been nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards. The film tells the story of a man in Jharkhand, India, fighting for justice for his daughter who was sexually assaulted. Directed by Nisha Pahuja, the film sheds light on the challenges faced by survivors of sexual assault in India. The Oscars will take place on March 10.

To Kill a Tiger, a film about a man in Jharkhand who takes on the fight of his life to demand justice for his 13-year-old daughter, the survivor of a sexual assault, was nominated for the Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards on Tuesday.

The film, a Canadian production directed by Delhi-born Nisha Pahuja, follows Ranjit’s uphill battle after the three men who abducted and brutally assaulted his daughter find support in villagers who force the family to drop the charges.

ACME Group, a leading renewable energy company in India, and IHI Corporation, a Japanese integrated heavy industry group, signed an offtake term sheet for supply of green ammonia from Odisha, India, to Japan, informed the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The term sheet was signed by Founder and Chairman of Acme Group, Manoj Upadhyay and President and CEO of IHI Corporation, Hiroshi Ide, in the presence of Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh, New and Renewable Energy Secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, and Ambassador of Japan to India, Hiroshi Suzuki.

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will set up a new unit to house its gas business and clean energy projects such as green hydrogen, as it looks to fast-track foray into new areas. In a stock exchange filing, the firm said it last month received approval of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for formation of a wholly-owned subsidiary company for gas business and clean energy projects.

"The proposed name of the company is 'ONGC Green Limited' subject to approval of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India," it said, adding the company board at its meeting on Tuesday approved the formation of the wholly-owned subsidiary for green energy and gas business. The wholly-owned subsidiary company will be for value-chains of energy business such as green hydrogen, hydrogen blending, renewable energy (solar, wind and hybrid), biofuels/ biogas business and LNG, ONGC said.

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will soon launch the ‘Fit India Champions’ podcast series featuring India’s top athletes including Neeraj Chopra and Sheetal Devi. The ten episode series podcast will air its first episode on Saturday. It will be available on various digital and social media platforms, including YouTube. The Ministry said that the series will showcase the remarkable achievements and inspiring stories of country’s sporting heroes. The first episode will feature para-archer Sheetal Devi who had won the gold medal on her debut, at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. It will also feature Olympic and World javelin champion Neeraj Chopra.

The Ministry added that the episodes will be released on every second and fourth Saturday, which aims to provide an insight into the lifestyles of India’s sporting icons.

The National Ropeways Development Programme, known as the ‘Parvatmala Pariyojana’, is set to undertake over 200 projects over the next five years, with a total estimated cost of Rs 1.25 lakh crore, as announced by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.

Gadkari emphasized the need to make ropeways economically viable by reducing overall project costs. He urged the promotion of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to foster the development of a robust ropeway network across the country. The minister highlighted the potential of ropeways not only in promoting tourism in hilly areas but also as a viable option for urban public transport.

The National Institute of Siddha and Central Council for Research in Siddha will be conducting first of its kind Siddha Wellness Rally and awareness campaign from New Delhi to Kanyakumari. Union Minister for Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister of State for Ayush Dr. Munjoara Mahendra Bhai will flag off the rally tomorrow. Siddha doctors and PG scholars will take part in the rally which will be conducted in ten enfield 350 cc bullet motorbikes and will end on 12th of next month.

The 14th All India Police Commando competition, organised at the Andhra Pradesh Police Greyhounds training facility, began here on Monday. Commissioner of Police, Visakhapatnam, A. Ravi Shankar inaugurated the event in the presence of Additional Director General of Greyhounds, R.K. Meena.

Around 16 states have sent their elite commando forces for the competition — including forces such as the Special Operations Group (SOG) from Odisha and Chhattisgarh, C- 60 from Maharashtra, the paramilitary forces such as BSF, CRPF, Assam Rifles, ITBP, RPF, SSB and CISF, among others.

Each team will comprise 13-15 commandos and the competition will be held in five phases, across one week, wherein the participants’ skill, endurance and teamwork will be tested. The commandos will be judged by an expert team from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The State team comprises personnel from the Greyhounds and Octopus.