The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Gujarat Gas have started the pilot project of green hydrogen blended piped natural gas PNG supply in NTPC Kawas township in Hazira Surat. A formal agreement was signed on Thursday between NTPC Renewable Energy Limited and Gujarat Gas Limited. Green hydrogen will be produced using electricity from the existing 1 MW floating solar project of NTPC Kawas. This will be blended with PNG in a predetermined proportion for using it in NTPC Kawas Township for cooking. Initially, the proportion of hydrogen blending in the PNG shall be around 5 percent and after successful completion it shall be increased further.

NTPC has an installed capacity of 69 GW, with a diversified fuel mix. The NTPC group plans to achieve 60 GW of Renewable Energy in a decade and is executing several pilot projects in the green hydrogen segment.

Indian Navy’s first batch of MH 60R ‘Romeo’ aircrew successfully completed their training at Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, USA on 1 April 2022. The 10-month long course included conversion training and other advanced qualifications on MH 60R helicopter. The crew flew extensively from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron – 41 (HSM 41) and achieved day and night deck landing qualification onboard a US Navy Destroyer.

The crew would be responsible for inducting the versatile ‘Romeo’ into Indian Navy.

The MH 60R helicopters will provide the Indian Navy enhanced offensive role including Anti-submarine Warfare, Anti-ship Strike, specialised maritime operations as well as Search and Rescue operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Cabinet decision for supply of fortified rice is in line with our endeavours to improve nutrition levels and further the welfare of Nari Shakti as well as Yuva Shakti. In a series of tweets, Mr. Modi said, the government is fully committed to creating a vibrant system of research and innovation. He said, the Cabinet decision on the Atal Innovation Mission gives a boost to our efforts.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Mid Year Executive Committee meeting this morning at Assam Legislative Assembly in Guwahati. The CPA is organizing the Mid Year Executive Committee meeting for the first time in India. The Assam Legislative Assembly and the CPA Assam State Branch are hosting the 2-day long CPA meeting. Representatives from 53 Commonwealth countries around the world of all the 9 regions are participating in this meeting.

The Lok Sabha Speaker will also inaugurate the 8th CPA India Region conference in Guwahati on 11th and 12th April just after the conclusion of the CPA Mid-Year Executive Committee meeting. Several state assembly speakers and deputy speakers, MPs and MLAs of various states, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariat officials will take part in the CPA India Region conference. The delegates and representatives will be exposed to Assam's culture, with special focus on tea tourism, handloom tourism and wildlife tourism. They will be taken for tour to Borengajuli and Panery Tea Garden, Sualkuchi village and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday said the covid pandemic has drastically affected the lives of students who will be making important decisions for the country in the next 20 years.

Addressing the India Education Summit 2022 in the national capital, Pradhan added that it is important to address these challenges and find the right ways to help them cover this gap.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday released guidelines for banks to open digital banking units (DBUs), in a bid to enhance the spread of digital modes of banking in India’s interiors. The guidelines follow an announcement in the FY23 Budget for setting up of 75 DBUs in 75 districts, and lay down the basic minimum services that a DBU must provide.

gIn recent times, digital banking has emerged as the preferred banking service delivery channel along with ‘brick and mortar’ banking outlets. Reserve Bank has been taking progressive measures to improve availability of digital infrastructure for banking services. In furtherance of this objective and as a part of efforts to accelerate and widen the reach of digital banking services, the concept of ‘Digital Banking Units’ (DBUs) is being introduced by the Reserve Bank,” the central bank said in a notification.

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has released India’s contribution of 72,124 Dollars to UNESCO Fund for Elimination of Doping in Sport in 2022. It is a considerably enhanced contribution of twice the assessed value. As per the resolution of 7COP held at Paris in September 2019, the State Parties had agreed for one percent of the contribution of the regular budget of respective nation to UNESCO towards the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport.

Pursuant to the commitment and Resolution Government of India has released an enhanced contribution of India to UNESCO Fund for Elimination of Doping in Sport. UNESCO has conveyed its thanks and appreciated the Government of India’s ongoing contribution towards the Fund and commitment to the fight against doping in sport, notably playing a key role in the Convention’s governance as member of the Fund’s Approval Committee for 2022-2023. 

Army Ordnance Corps is celebrating its 247th raising day today. The Corps came into existence with the establishment of ‘Board of Ordnance’ on 8th April 1775. The Corps is entrusted with the onerous task of managing a large and complex inventory and providing logistic support to the Army.

In an exclusive message on All Indian Radio on the occasion, Lt Gen RKS Kushwaha, Director General Ordnance Services and Sr Colonel Commandant said that the Corps has taken a quantum jump in the modernization and technological advancements in recent times.

Talking about the major achievements of the Corps, the Lieutenant General emphasized that AOS proved its mettle on the Northern Borders recently.  

Today is the 7th anniversary of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, PMMY. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8th April 2015, for providing loans up to 10 Lakh rupees to the non-corporate, non-farm small, or micro-enterprises.

AIR correspondent reports that more than 34 crore 42 lakh loans for an amount of 18.60 lakh crore rupees have been sanctioned since launch of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. Around 68 percent loans of the total number of loans have been sanctioned to Women Entrepreneurs. Almost 22 percent of the loans have been given to New Entrepreneurs.

Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the weapons of Mass destruction and their delivery systems (prohibition of unlawful activities) amendment Bill, 2022 with a voice vote.

The Bill moved by External affairs minister S. Jaishankar amends the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005.  The 2005 Act prohibits unlawful activities (such as manufacturing, transport, or transfer) related to weapons of mass destruction, and their means of delivery. 

Weapons of mass destruction are biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons. The present Bill bars persons from financing any prohibited activity related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. To prevent persons from financing such activities, the central government may freeze, seize or attach their funds, financial assets, or economic resources (whether owned, held, or controlled directly or indirectly).