The 'Navya Ayodhya' project, spearheaded by the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh, is making significant strides as the Paying Guest Scheme under the state tourism department proves to be a game-changer for visitors.

This initiative not only contributes to individual incomes but also opens up avenues for new employment opportunities. To date, 464 individuals have been issued certificates out of the 600 applicants under this scheme.

The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department's Paying Guest Scheme aims to introduce the rich culinary heritage of Awadh to saints and visitors from India and abroad, providing them with a unique gastronomic experience. The project places a special emphasis on serving millet-based dishes during the International Millets Year celebrations.

The new material harnesses renewable energy source for detoxifying harmful substances such as chemical warfare agents that are harmful for people.

Researchers of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal have developed an effective photocatalyst that absorbs a wide range of solar energy and light to quicken chemical processes in laboratories and industries.

A press release issued by the IISER stated that the new material harnesses renewable energy sources for detoxifying harmful substances such as chemical warfare agents comprising of mustard gas simulants like ‘2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide’ (CEES), and nerve agents, which are highly poisonous chemicals that affect a person’s nervous system.

On the occasion of the 265th birth anniversary of Veerapandiya Kattabomman bullock cart races were held in the village of Vaippar near Vlathikulam in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district today.

Like every year, the entire village celebrated the 265th birthday of freedom fighter Veerapandiya Kattabomman this time as well.

Winners of the bullock cart races were showered with prizes of Rs 1 lakh cash, lambs, and LED TV. The event gathered a crowd who watched the Bullock cart race with interest.

Spacetech startup Dhruva Space on Wednesday said it has successfully space qualified its P-30 satellite platform and is now gearing up for its first commercial mission – codenamed LEAP-1 -- in the first quarter of 2024.

The Hyderabad-based satellite maker said the qualification of its `Launching Expeditions for Aspiring Payloads-Technology Demonstrator’ (LEAP-TD) payload mission has paved the way for providing hosted payload solutions for space missions in the global market.

The LEAP-TD mission, which was launched on January 1 onboard Indian Space Research Organisation’s PSLV-C58 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, featured a derivative of its P-30 nanosatellite platform which was integrated to ISRO’s PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) mission to enable in-orbit scientific experiments using the spent PS4 stage as an orbital platform.

Business conglomerate Adani Group on Wednesday held discussions with the Telangana government to set up a data centre and aerospace park in the state, an official release said.

Adani Group representatives led by CEO of Adani Ports and SEZs Karan Adani and CEO of Defence and Aerospace Ashish Rajvanshi met Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad.

The chief minister assured the Adani delegation that the state government would provide the required amenities, infrastructure and subsidies to new industries to promote industrial growth and create more employment opportunities.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will prepare a Green Cover Index in the next three years. This is being done in collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), an arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

"Presently, the monitoring of plantations relies on site visits by field personnel," an official statement said while noting that the NRSC will undertake a comprehensive pan-India estimation of green cover for National Highways using high-resolution satellite imagery.

"It will also facilitate targeted interventions in regions that are reported to lack adequate green cover," the statement added.

Power sector financier REC Ltd has entered into an MoU with Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) to extend loans up to ₹35,000 crore to finance multi-modal infrastructure projectsto be executed by RVNL over the next 5 years.

These projects constitute multi-modal logistics hub projects, rail infrastructure projects, road, port, and metro projects bring developed by RVNL, a power ministry statement said.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday night announced that January 22 will be a dry day on account of the consecration of Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya.

"Entire state of Chhattisgarh will celebrate the occasion of inauguration of Ram temple in Ayodhya. It's our resolve to bring 'Ram Rajya', as our commitment towards good governance. The state will observe a dry day on January 22 and no liquor will be available throughout the state," CM Sai said.

Speaking to reporters in state capital, CM Sai said, "As you all know that we are observing good governance week since December 25 and our resolve as well as ideal towards good governance is 'Ram Rajya' and it's our fortune that Chhattisgarh is the maternal home of Lord Ram as it's his mother Kaushalya's parents' place. It's also a blessing that on January 22, the consecration of Ram temple is taking place. Everyone in state is very happy. About 300 metric tonnes of rice has been sent to Ayodhya for bhandara by the state's rice millers association."

These portals aim to revolutionise communication, decision-making and data management within the government. The chief minister said the report management portal is designed to streamline the process of sending and monitoring various reports across departments, boards, and corporations.

In a significant move towards administrative reforms, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the nation’s first-ever report management portal and meeting management portal, developed by the Department of Digital Technology and Governance (DDTG) here on Wednesday.

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) and Thermo Fisher Scientific, supplier of analytical instruments, life sciences solutions, specialty diagnostics, laboratory, pharmaceutical and biotechnology services, on Wednesday announced a partnership to establish a Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

The state-of-the-art facility will foster innovation and accelerate breakthroughs in India's rapidly growing biotech sector.