NTPC Ltd has commissioned country’s first ultra-super critical power generation unit having a capacity of 660 MW at Khargone in Madhya Pradesh.

“This plant operates at efficiency of 41.5 per cent which is 3.3 per cent higher than the conventional super-critical ones, with steam parameters of 6000 degrees C temperatures and 270 kg/cm2 pressure,” NTPC said.

“The high efficiency will result in less coal consumption for generating same amount of electricity vis-à-vis super critical plants and will result in reduction of 3.3 per cent carbon dioxide emissions,” the company added.

NTPC said that the Khargone plant will have a total capacity of 1,320 MW - 2 Units of 660 MW each. The required facilities such as fuel handling and transportation systems for sustainable running of the plant are ready and will start its commercial operation very soon.

In a report published by Fitch Solutions Macro Research, it has been stated that India will overtake China as the largest importer of coking coal by 2025.

“We forecast India’s coking coal consumption to grow at an annual average rate of 5.4 per cent between 2019 and 2028, driven by an equally robust expansion in steel production in the country,” it said in a report.

“As a result, we expect India to overtake China as the largest importer of global coking coal by 2025, despite the country only importing half as much as China in 2017,” it added.

While China will remain dominant in terms of overall market share, India will become increasingly important in terms of seaborne demand, it said.

Fresh restrictions were imposed in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley as a preventive measure in view of Friday congregational prayers which passed off peacefully, officials said.

Restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPc were announced on public address system. People have been asked not to venture outside and barricades have been placed.

While Friday congregational prayers were offered in mosques located in the interiors of the city and elsewhere in the valley, no prayers were allowed in major mosques and shrines of the valley for the third consecutive week.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said government has set a target of setting up 12,500 AYUSH centres across India. He said government is trying to set up 4000 such centres this year itself. Giving away Yoga Awards to the winners for Outstanding Contribution for Promotion and Development of Yoga in New Delhi, Mr Modi said 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres are being opened across the country. 

The Prime Minister said AYUSH and Yoga are strong pillars of 'Fit India' movement. He attributed his health to Yoga, Pranayama and Ayurveda. He expressed happiness that 'Sowa - Rigpa' has become the sixth member of the AYUSH family after Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy. 

President Ramnath Kovind today gave away the national sports awards in New Delhi. 

Para-athlete Deepa Malik was conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. 

Footballer Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, hockey player Chinglensana Kangujam, sprinter Mohammed Anas, heptathlete Swapna Barman and shooter Anjum Moudgil are among some prominent names who were given Arjuna award.

Air India will completely ban use of plastic in Alliance Air and Air India Express from 2nd October.

Chairman and Managing Director of Air India Ashwani Lohani said this while addressing a workshop of Civil Aviation Correspondents in New Delhi today.

Plastic tea cups will be replaced with sturdy paper cups and plastic tumblers will be replaced with paper tumblers.

The move follows a clarion call by Prime Minister Narendra to ban single use plastic during his Independence Day Address from the ramparts of Red Fort.    

In shooting, India's Elavenil Valarivan claimed her maiden senior World Cup gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle competition at Rio de Janeiro yesterday. With this, Valarivan became the third Indian to achieve the feat. 

In her debut year at the senior level, Elavenil shot 251.7 in the finals to help India extend their new-found dominance in the event.

However, 20-year old Valarivan's top prize did not translate into an Olympic quota for India as Apurvi Chandela and Anjum Moudgil have already secured the maximum two berths available per country in last year's World Championships.  

Assam government has said that opportunity to prove their citizenship will be given to those whose name doesn't not figure in the final NRC list. Talking to AIR, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Political department Kumar Sanjay Krishna said that 200 Foreigners Tribunals will become functional from 1st of September in Assam. He said, if someone's name doesn't appear in the NRC, he or she can appeal before the Foreigners Tribunals. Mr Krishna said that Tribunals are expected to dispose off the appeal within 60 days. He said that the Centre and the Assam government will decide later on what to be done with those who fail to prove their Indian citizenship through courts.

The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of 75 new Medical Colleges by 2021-22. The move will add 15,700 more MBBS seats in the country. These medical colleges will be established in under-served areas having no such colleges with at least 200 bedded district hospitals. 

Preference will be given to Aspirational districts and district hospitals having 300 beds. This was informed by Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar to the media after the Cabinet meeting. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a nation-wide Fit India Movement today on the occasion of National Sports Day. The campaign is aimed at encouraging people to inculcate physical activity and sports in their day to day life. At a special function in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi will administer the oath of fitness to all. 

In his ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme on Sunday, the Prime Minister had announced the launch of ‘Fit India’ movement to take the country forward on the path of fitness and wellness.

Moreover, President Ramnath Kovind will give away the national sports awards in New Delhi today. Wrestler Bajrang Punia and para-athlete Deepa Malik will be conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, footballer Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, hockey player Chinglensana Kangujam, sprinter Mohammed Anas, heptathlete Swapna Barman and shooter Anjum Moudgil are among some prominent names to be given Arjuna award.