Leading public sector undertakings (PSUs) NTPC Limited and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on Monday announced the formation of a 50:50 joint venture company (JVC) to further promote their interests in the renewable and new energy arena.

The JVC between the country’s largest power generating company and largest oil and gas producer has been formed through their green energy subsidiaries – NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL) and ONGC Green Energy Ltd.

The new company will venture into various renewable energy and new energy opportunities including solar and wind energy, both onshore and offshore, and green molecules such as green hydrogen, green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and green methanol.

Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd has partnered with IndusInd Bank to offer financing options to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) for solar installations.

This alliance will provide MSEs with collateral-free solar financing, by offering loans ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 2 crore, Tata Power Renewable Energy said in a statement on Tuesday.

These loans, contingent on the bank's credit approval, require a 20 per cent margin and come with competitive interest rates, offering terms of up to 7 years, the company said.

Deepesh Nanda, CEO & MD, Tata Power Renewable Energy said, "Through a partnership with IndusInd Bank, we are facilitating easy financing opportunities for MSEs (Micro and Small Enterprises) to adopt solar energy, which will not only help them reduce operational costs but also actively contribute to the green energy transition."

Various public and private sector lenders are tied up with solar players to provide finance options for commercial and residential solar projects.

BEML Limited has been awarded the prestigious “Self-Certification” status for its defence equipment by the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Government of India. This certification, presented by RA Govardhana, ADGQA (V&EE), HQ DQAV, to Shantanu Roy, Chairman & Managing Director of BEML Ltd., was celebrated at a dedicated event at the BEML’s headquarters.

Self-certification is a significant recognition granted by the DDP, delegating the responsibility to the manufacturer to certify the quality of products directly, reflecting a high standard of reliability and sustained quality production. The status underscores BEML’s consistent ability to manufacture defect-free defence products that meet rigorous quality standards.

Upon receiving the award, Roy commented, “We are honoured to receive this certification, which not only acknowledges BEML’s dedication to quality but also reinforces our commitment to the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. We look forward to advancing our mission with increased resolve to serve our defence forces excellently.”

India and Algeria today signed the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) on bilateral defence cooperation. The MoU will elevate the defence partnership between both nations, fostering mutual understanding and enhancing strategic interests. It was signed by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Chief of Staff of the People’s National Army Saíd Chanegriha in the presence of military and officials. On the concluding day of his visit to Algeria, General Anil Chauhan interacted with General of Army Saíd Chanegriha. Deliberations were held on furthering bilateral military cooperation and capacity building. Make In India initiatives and technology exchange were also discussed between both military leaders.

Kannada short film titled Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know will now compete for the Oscar in 2025. On Monday, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting announced that Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know has qualified for the Oscars 2025 in the Live Action Short Film category.

The film was produced by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). Chidananda S Naik is director of the film. Earlier this year, the film won the first Prize at the Cannes Film Festival’s La Cinef Selection, which led to global recognition for this Kannada- language project inspired by Indian folk stories and traditions.

It showcases the expertise of a talented team, including Suraj Thakur (Cinematography), Manoj V (Editing) and Abhishek Kadam (Sound Design). “It revolves around an elderly woman who steals the village rooster, leading to a cessation of sunlight and resulting in turmoil within the community. In an effort to restore order, a prophecy is invoked, resulting in the exile of the woman’s family as they undertake a desperate mission to retrieve the rooster.”

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said India has been re-elected as the President of Indian Solar Alliance (ISA) from 2024 to 2026.

Addressing the press conference at 7th General Assembly of the ISA, Joshi informed that France has been reelected as Vice-President of the ISA.

India's election to the President post is a testament to the impactful work the country, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been doing over the years for the global good in advancing solar energy adoption across the globe and boosting investment in essential solar projects, including mini-grids and healthcare solutions, Joshi opined.

In its 7th Assembly session, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) has elected Ashish Khanna from the Republic of India as its third Director General. Khanna will succeed the current DG, Ajay Mathur, whose term concludes in March 2025.

The ISA, an international organisation with 120 Member and Signatory countries, works collaboratively with governments to enhance energy access and security worldwide while promoting solar power as a key component in the global transition to a carbon-neutral future.

The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, underlined the critical role ISA plays in mobilising resources and facilitating solar energy projects, particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

India remains the top source market for Sri Lanka, with 36,417 tourist arrivals in October 2024. Indian tourists represent 27 per cent share out of the total of 1.35 lakh for the month. The total Indian tourists that have travelled to Sri Lanka this year has reached 3.23 lakhs, which is well above the 3.03 lakh tourist arrivals from India last year.

Statistics from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) show that in the year so far, over 1.6 million tourists arrived in the island nation. The number is more than the total arrivals of 1.48 million recorded last year. With healthy numbers clocked this year so far, led primarily by India, a projection of 2.9 million tourist arrivals for 2025 is being made. Connectivity with India has improved with daily flights to Jaffna as well as the ferry service from Nagapattinam complement flights from several important Indian cities.

Indian table tennis star Harmeet Desai claimed dual titles at the WTT Feeder Caracas in Venezuela today, winning both the Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles events. In Mixed Doubles, Desai and partner Krittwika Roy edged past Cuba’s Jorge Campos and Daniela Fonseca Carrazana in a tight 3-2 final. Earlier, they defeated China’s Wang Kaibo and Liu Xinran in straight sets to reach the final.

Desai also excelled in Men’s Singles, defeating France’s Joe Seyfried 3-0 in the final, following a close semifinal win over Portugal’s Joao Monteiro. Indian player Snehit Suravajjula made it to the semifinals, ultimately falling to Seyfried after a strong quarterfinal victory against Campos. Desai’s success underscores India’s rising prominence in international table tennis.

The fifth edition of Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX) 2024 started at Ambala, Haryana today. The aim of VINBAX-2024 is to enhance the joint military capability of both countries.

This edition marks a significant increase in the scope with Bi-Service level participation for the first time by personnel of the Army and Air Force from both countries. The Indian Army contingent comprises 47 personnel, represented by a Regiment of the Corps of Engineers along with personnel from other arms and services. VINBAX-2024 will conclude on the 23rd of this month.