NHPC Limited, the largest organization for hydropower development in India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with M/s Ocean Sun, a Norwegian company operating as a technology provider to the floating solar industry. As per the MoU, NHPC and Ocean Sun will explore key areas of cooperation for demonstration of Ocean Sun’s floating solar energy technology based on photovoltaic panels. The panels would be mounted on hydro-elastic membranes, at relevant sites to be identified by NHPC.

The agreement is in continuation of efforts towards sustainable development and addition of renewable energy capacity by NHPC, which is engaged not only in hydro power development but also in various renewable energy projects such as solar, wind and green hydrogen projects.

The MoU was signed in hybrid mode on 29th April, 2024, by Executive Director (Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen), NHPC, Shri V.R. Shrivastava and CEO, Ocean Sun, Mr. Kristian Tørvold. Ambassador of Norway to India, H.E. Ms. May-Elin Stener; Director (Technical), NHPC, Shri Raj Kumar Chaudhary and Executive Director (Strategy Business Development & Consultancy), NHPC, Shri Rajat Gupta joined the signing ceremony from Embassy of Norway, New Delhi and Ambassador of India to Norway, H.E. Dr. Acquino Vimal joined from Oslo.

REC Ltd, which is one of the leading non-banking financial companies (NBFC) in the energy sector, has registered its highest ever annual profit during the financial year 2023-24, owing to a reduction in stressed assets and diversification into newer business areas.

During the financial year 2023-24, REC clocked a net profit of Rs 14,019 crore as against Rs 11,055 crore in FY23, showing growth of 27 per cent. In the same period, its net income was up by 49 per cent to Rs 15,063 crore.

"Owing to the improving asset quality and effective resolution of stressed assets, resetting of the lending rates, and effective management of finance cost, REC is able to record its highest ever annual profit after tax," said the company in a statement.

After the third Nepal Investment Summit in Kathmandu Valley, Post Investment Summit India-Nepal B2B Meet was organised by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu in collaboration with the Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) and Nepal India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI).

The B2B meeting was attended by 35 delegates from the Millenium India International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCIA) and Nepal India Chamber of Commerce and Industry covering energy, agriculture, construction, tourism, cold chain, medical devices, finance, consultancy and law sectors.

Speaking at the event, Shreejana Rana, President, NICCI identified hydropower, tourism and agriculture as potential areas for cooperation between Indian and Nepali businesses. Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, President, MICCIA appreciated the recent bilateral connectivity initiatives and the importance of B2B connections in taking the India-Nepal Economic Partnership forward.

Maharashtra Day, also known as Maharashtra Divas, is celebrated every year on May 1. The day celebrates the formation of the state in 1960. Maharashtra was carved out of the Bombay Presidency and was declared a separate state on May 1, 1960. Present-day Gujarat is the other part of the Bombay state. The states were divided based on language after massive protests. Every year people of the state celebrate this day with great pomp and fervour.

International Labour Day 2024 Wishes and Images: International Labour Day, also known as Workers Day or May Day, is a global event that takes place annually on May 1st. It is a day dedicated to honouring the efforts and achievements of workers and the labour movement.

The origins of this day can be traced back to the late 19th century when workers in the United States organised to fight for better working conditions, shorter hours, and fair wages. It is celebrated in many countries with parades, speeches, and other events that emphasise the importance of workers and their contributions to society.

In a significant step towards strengthening military ties with India the UK’s Littoral Response Group (LRG) arrived in Chennai on Tuesday as the first engagement of its deployment to the Indian Pacific region. These are part of the plans to raise the complexity of the exercises.

In a statement British High Commission said, “The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Argus and RFA Lyme Bay conducted maritime exercises with the Indian Navy as they entered the Arabian Sea and will now undergo essential maintenance at the Larsen & Toubro shipyard in Kattupalli near Chennai.”

This is the first time a Royal Navy vessel will undergo maintenance at an Indian shipyard – a direct result of the logistics-sharing agreement signed between the UK and India in 2022.

Telecom industry body COAI has sought a ban on the sale of wifi 6E routers which utilise 6 Ghz spectrum band for data transmission as the government is yet to decide on the use of these frequencies. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has alleged that such routers are being sold through various e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Moglix and by offline traders. The COAI, whose members include Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, in a letter to the Department of Telecom on April 15 said the sale of equipment for 6 GHz band utilization, which has not yet been assigned for this purpose or has not been declared as licence-exempt by the government, is illegal and should be banned immediately in the country.

"We would like to submit that DoT is yet to take a policy decision related to the 6 GHz band utilization. Therefore, any sale of such Wi-Fi 6E products, which utilizes the 6 GHz spectrum band in delicensed manner, is illegal and such sale would only result in unauthorized transmissions in our country," COAI Director General SP Kochhar said in the letter.

India's Bharat 6G Alliance and European telecom industry body Industry Alliance 6G are set to form a partnership that will pave the way for cooperation in developing 6G technology, people aware of the matter said.

One of the persons said Bharat 6G and Industry Alliance 6G would sign an agreement soon. A second person said both sides were looking to define the contours of the collaboration quickly, but the actual agreements would be signed in the coming quarter.

The partnership could be in the form of a memorandum of understanding, similar to the one Bharat 6G signed with the US last September.

Public sector Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) Friday said the government had granted it the 'navratna' status, according to a company filing with the stock exchanges.

This takes the total number of navratna PSEs to 17.

These companies have the autonomy to invest up to ₹1,000 crore. IREDA is a Non-Banking Financial Institution engaged in promoting, developing and extending financial assistance for setting up projects relating to new and renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency/conservation. Ireda scrip closed at ₹170.65, 2.03% higher from Thursday's close, on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Friday.

The launch of ‘Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge, LSAM 20 (Yard 130)’, 6th Barge of 11 x ACTCM Barge Project, built by MSME Shipyard, M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane for Indian Navy, was undertaken on 29 Apr 24 at M/s Suryadipta Project Pvt. Ltd. (launch site of M/s SPPL). The launching Ceremony was presided over by Shri Madhusudan Bhui, INAS, GM NAD (Karanja).

The contract for building 11 x ACTCM Barge was signed between MoD and M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane on 05 Mar 21. The availability of these Barges would provide impetus to operational commitments of IN by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles/ ammunition to IN Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.

These Barges are indigenously designed and built under relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping. The model testing of the Barge during the design stage was undertaken at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam. These Barges are proud flag bearers of Make in India initiative of Government of India (GoI).