The Ministry of Power has released the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2024 today. The Index plays a pivotal role in institutionalising state-level data monitoring, tracking energy footprint management, promoting best practices, and fostering competitive improvements in energy efficiency across states.

According to the index, the top performing states are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Tripura. The Ministry said that the sixth edition of the Index features an enhanced implementation-focused framework with 66 indicators across seven key demand sectors. These include – buildings, industry, municipal services, transport, agriculture, electricity distribution companies and cross-sector initiatives.

It further added that the SEEI 2024 assesses the energy efficiency performance of 36 Indian States and Union Territories for the fiscal year 2023-24.

The Department of Posts (DoP) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a private geospatial software company to support the development and implementation of DIGIPIN across India. As part of the MoU, DoP will utilise the software company’s mapping platform and products.

Furthermore, the company will provide base maps for integration into the Know Your DIGIPIN application for enhanced user visibility and enabling accurate generation of DIGIPINs based on geographic location. This will also allow users to search for and navigate to locations using applications.

Addressing the gathering after the MoU signing in New Delhi, DoP Member (Operations), Harpreet Singh, said that the partnership will enhance DIGIPIN’s reach and accessibility.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended his greetings to the people on the occasion of Nuakhai, the harvest festival of western Odisha.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Wishing everyone a joyous Nuakhai. This cherished festival is a reminder of our deep gratitude to the farmers whose hard work sustains us all. May there be good health, prosperity and happiness in every home. Nuakhai Juhar!”

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also conveyed his wishes, describing Nuakhai as a symbol of Odisha’s rich agricultural heritage and traditions. He further emphasized the cultural importance of Nuakhai Bhetghat, which fosters harmony and brotherhood among communities.

Earlier this month, the Assam Cabinet decided that a new flyover being constructed in the heart of Guwahati would be named after Prithu, a 13th century Kamrup ruler. This, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, would be “a timeless reminder that Assam has always stood as the defender of Bharat’s soul.”

“When Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed Nalanda, the symbol of our ancient civilisation, he believed India’s spirit could be broken. But in the sacred soil of Assam, Maharaja Prithu of Kamarupa rose in valour and struck him down, avenging that desecration,” he said.

Today, Prithu is being projected as an Assamese icon, much like Ahom general Lachit Borphukan, who is credited with defeating the Mughal Army in the 1671 Battle of Saraighat. But unlike Borphukan, who has long been central to Assam’s historical and cultural imagination, Prithu’s emergence as a historical figure of note is relatively recent.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday (August 27, 2025) launched the country's first National Biofoundry Network, describing it as a step towards making biotechnology a driver of India's economy, environment and employment.

The Minister said the National Biofoundry Network comprises six institutions to help scale up proof-of-concept developments, enhance indigenous biomanufacturing, and create employment opportunities.

"India's bioeconomy has grown from just $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024, and we are now working towards a target of $300 billion by 2030," Mr. Singh said, urging young Indians to actively participate in the BioE3 Challenge for Youth, which invites ideas for safe and sustainable biotechnology innovations.

India and Bhutan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors, including livestock.

The MoU was signed in Thimphu by Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, on behalf of India, and Thinley Namgyel, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, representing the Royal Government of Bhutan.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the MoU marks a milestone in the partnership between the two countries, reaffirming their shared commitment to food security, sustainable farming, and rural prosperity.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya today felicitated the young footballers of Minerva Academy Football Club, Mohali, in New Delhi, terming their victories across Europe as a new beginning for Indian football and going forward. The Under 14 and 15 squad of 22 players scripted history in July and August this year by completing a never before achieved European treble, winning the Gothia Cup in Sweden, the Dana Cup in Denmark, and the Norway Cup in Norway.

In his interaction with footballers, Dr. Mandaviya said that this is a new beginning for Indian football in the country’s quest to achieve more glory in the international arena. The Minister also urged the young athletes to keep in mind ‘nation first’ wherever they participate. He said that more emphasis has to be given towards sports science, nutrition and mental resilience of these youngsters through psychologists. This will keep India on the winning path. He added that these youngsters have to maintain their high confidence level and their passion towards the sport.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed a 15-year Sales and Purchase Agreement with Indian Oil Corporation to supply one million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas from its lower-carbon Ruwais LNG project. Under the agreement, LNG will be delivered to ports across India, supporting the country’s growing energy demand and enhancing its energy security.

By 2029, Indian Oil will become ADNOC’s largest LNG customer, with a total offtake of 2.2 million tonnes per annum, comprising 1.2 million tonnes from ADNOC’s Das Island operations and 1 million tonnes from Ruwais. Rashid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, ADNOC Senior Vice President for Marketing, said the agreement reflects the robust energy partnership between the UAE and India, adding that the Ruwais project will provide more lower-carbon gas to meet global demand while supporting industrial growth and energy transition.

In a breakthrough for military medical care, Army Hospital Research and Referral (AHRR) has become the first government institute in the country India and the second in South Asia to perform Robotic Custom Laser Cataract Surgery using the state-of-the-art ALLY Adaptive Cataract Treatment System. This achievement marks the Ophthalmology Department’s successful entry into the frontier of robotic, bladeless, and computer-guided eye surgery with its first-ever Femto-second Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS). The integration of this cutting-edge technology at AHRR underscores the Armed Forces’ commitment to delivering the most advanced, safe, and effective healthcare for its personnel & their families. FLACS ensures both precision and optimal outcomes, critical in military medicine.

The country’s factory output, based on the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), records growth of 3.5% in July 2025, driven by 5.4% growth in the manufacturing sector, according to the latest official data released on Thursday, August 2025. The IIP growth had stood at 1.5% in the previous month of June 2025.

The country’s industrial output earlier recorded this level of growth at 3.9 per cent in March 2025. It had expanded by five per cent in July 2024.

“Driven by 5.4% growth in manufacturing sector, Index of Industrial Production (IIP) recorded a 3.5% year-on-year growth in July 2025," the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation said in a statement.