Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (December 25, 2024) laid the foundation stone for the Ken-Betwa river-linking project in Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho, aimed at solving the water woes of the Bundelkhand region, spread across parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The project is estimated to cost around ₹45,000 crore.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Modi credited Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision for India’s major river valley projects, and accused the Congress of not giving due recognition to the architect of the Constitution.

“The major river valley projects of India were based on the vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar. The Central Water Commission exists today because of the efforts of Dr. Ambedkar, but the Congress never gave him credit for his water-conservation efforts. No one was even allowed to know about it,” said Mr. Modi, amid the ongoing controversy over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Dr. Ambedkar. The Congress had staged protests seeking the Home Minister’s resignation over the issue.

In weightlifting, Parv Chaudhary secured two bronze medals in the 96 kg category to continue India’s domination at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Doha, Qatar, today. Chaudhary clinched the medals in the clean and jerk and total sections. He registered a total lift of 303 kilograms. With this win, India’s medal tally surged to 12 medals, including three gold, four silver, and five bronze.

Maia Sandu today assumed office as president of the Republic of Moldova for a second term. She won the Moldovan presidential elections in 2020 and was re-elected in a runoff in November, this year.

Ms. Sandu outlined her policy priorities as European integration, national security, and economic growth, calling for active involvement from all citizens to achieve these goals.

Doha, Dec 25 (PTI) Indian lifter Martina Devi clinched a silver medal in the women's junior 87kg category at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships here on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old from Manipur lifted a total of 225kg (96kg 129kg) to finish second in the three-lifter field. She also won a silver medal for her clean and jerk effort and a bronze for her snatch.

The performance was, however, far from Devi's personal best. The teenager had lifted a national junior record-breaking 101kg in snatch and 136kg in clean and jerk at the junior world championships earlier this year.

Medals are awarded separately for snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift in continental, World Cups and World Championships.

Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd. on Wednesday appointed Amitava Chatterjee as the new managing director and chief executive officer. This makes him the second MD and CEO of the bank.

Chatterjee is currently working as Deputy Managing Director of State Bank of India. He is set to replace Baldev Prakash, whose term will end on Dec. 29.

The board of directors approved the Chatterjee's appointment for a period of three years. He will be taking charge from Dec. 30, the bank said in an exchange filing.

This comes after the government of Jammu and Kashmir appointed Amitava Chatterjee as the government nominee director of the bank.

Chatterjee, in his banking career spanning over more than three decades in diverse geographical locations and strategic positions, also served as MD and CEO of SBI CAPS.

His diverse experience includes heading the SBI's operation as CGM New Delhi, Circle, and Jaipur Circle with high-end clientele like PSUs, NBFCs, and DISCOMs.

In a major government reshuffle, Indian President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday (Dec 24) appointed the governors of five states—Odisha, Mizoram, Kerala, Bihar, and Manipur.

Former Union home secretary of the country, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, has been appointed as the governor of Manipur. Bhalla's appointment is crucial at this time since Manipur has been reeling under ethnic violence that has rocked the state since May 2023.

According to a statement released by the President's Secretariat, the new appointments would take effect from the dates the governors would assume charge of their respective offices.

The Centre has released the first instalment of the 15th Finance Commission grants for FY 2024-25 to the rural local bodies (RLBs) in Karnataka, the Union Panchayati Raj Ministry said in a statement.

The funds are meant for all the 5,949 eligible gram panchayats in the state, it added.

"The Government of India through the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Jal Shakti recommends the release of XV-FC grants to the Rural Local Bodies which are then released by the Ministry of Finance. The allocated grants are recommended and released in two installments in a financial year," the statement said.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh launched the Rashtraparv website and mobile app on December 25, 2024, marking Good Governance Day and commemorating the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The new platform will provide comprehensive information about national events such as Republic Day, Beating Retreat, and Independence Day. It features live-streaming, ticket purchasing options, seating arrangement details, and route maps for attendees.

Defence Secretary Singh highlighted that the website and app, developed by the Ministry of Defence, include a Tableau Management Portal. This tool will help states, union territories, ministries, and departments in designing and finalising their tableaux for the Republic Day parade.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel and Training appointed Arunish Chawla as the new Revenue Secretary, Ministry of Finance, according to an official order on Wednesday, December 25.

Chawla is currently serving India as the Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

According to the order, Chawla will continue to hold his additional charge appointment of the Culture Secretary under the Ministry of Culture till a replacement or further orders are given.

“Shri Arunish Chawla, IAS (BH:92), Secretary. Department of Secretary. Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers as Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. He will continue to hold the additional charge of Secretary, Ministry of Culture till the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders whicheverisearlier,” said the order.

India’s telecom sector witnessed a decline in its subscriber base in October 2024, as per data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The report highlighted a decrease of 33 lakh active subscribers, with the total subscriber count—comprising wireless and wireline connections—falling to 1,188.20 million as of October 31, reflecting a monthly decline rate of 0.21 percent.

Both urban and rural regions experienced a dip in subscriptions. Urban subscribers dropped to 660.42 million, while rural subscriptions fell to 527.79 million. The broadband segment also recorded a marginal decline, with total subscribers reducing from 944.40 million in September to 941.47 million in October, marking a 0.31 percent drop.

Despite the overall decline, wired broadband connections saw an uptick, growing by 2.37 percent to 44.66 million subscribers from 43.63 million in the previous month. However, fixed wireless connections such as Wi-Fi and Wi-Max registered a sharp decline of 22.72 percent, and mobile broadband users decreased by 0.42 percent to 896.05 million.