Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi has launched an auction of 122 Coal and Lignite Mines including 18 New Mines. Addressing the fifth tranche of auction launch in New Delhi, Mr Joshi said that 42 coal mines have already been auctioned successfully. He said, along with ensuring energy security of the nation this will provide employment opportunities to more than one lakh 17 thousand.

Mr Joshi said, the success of these auctions indicate that right steps are being taken by the Government to provide further momentum to the growth of Coal sector. The Minister added that the Ministry of Coal is on the journey to reform the sector and unlock its potential. He said the recent reforms initiated in the coal sector will further strengthen the vision of Aatmnirbhar Bharat. 

Information and Broadcasting Ministry has transferred the mandate of production of documentaries and short films, organization of film festivals and preservation of films to the National Film Development Corporation, NFDC, a Public sector undertaking working under the Ministry.

The Ministry said, the bringing of all these activities under a single
management will reduce the overlap of various activities and ensure better utilization of public resources.

The mandate of production of feature films is already being carried out by NFDC. It will give a strong impetus to the production of films of all genres including feature films, documentaries, children films and animation films, organizing various domestic festivals and preservation of the filmic content.

The ownership of the assets available with these units will remain with the government.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has launched over one lakh internship opportunities for the youth. The students can access these opportunities on the All India Council For Technical Education's (AICTE) portal. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Pradhan said that the opportunities will open up doors for students to get an understanding of how a particular industry works.

He said, there should be an aim to provide 100 million internship opportunities in the next three years for boosting the employability of youth. Calling the step a welcome beginning, Education Minister said that the industry should aim to provide internship opportunities to all. The Minister encouraged the industry to diversify the internship opportunities. He said the New Education Policy emphasises linking industry with academic institutions to make youth future-ready. 

The High-Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Home Minister Amit Shah has approved additional Central assistance of over one thousand 887 crore rupees to five States under the National Disaster Response Fund. These states are Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sikkim and West Bengal.

Home Ministry said, more than one thousand crore rupees has been approved for Bihar, over 292 crore rupees for Rajasthan, more than 475 crore rupees for West Bengal, over 59 crore rupees for Sikkim and over 21 crore rupees for Himachal Pradesh. This additional assistance is over and above the funds released by the Centre to the States in the State Disaster Response Fund.

The Ministry said, Central Government had deputed Inter-Ministerial Central Teams to these States immediately after the calamities without waiting for the receipt of the Memorandum from them.

Tata Steel has appointed Noel Naval Tata, a trustee on the boards of Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, its additional director and designated him as the vice-chairman. A decision in this regard was taken by the board of the company at its meeting held on Monday, Tata Steel said in a regulatory filing.

“Based on the recommendations of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the Board of Directors (have) considered and unanimously approved the appointment of Noel Naval Tata as an Additional Director (Non-Executive, Non-Independent) effective March 28, 2022. Further, the Board designated Noel Naval Tata as the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors,” the filing said on Monday.

Belgian footballer Miguel van Damme has died at the age of 28 following a long battle with leukaemia.

Van Damme's Belgian top-flight club, Cercle Brugge, said "words are not enough to describe what we feel" following the news on Tuesday.

The goalkeeper was first diagnosed with the disease over five years ago.

"It is with great sadness we report that our friend and team-mate Van Damme has fought his long and uneven battle against leukaemia," the club said.

National Commission for Women has launched a legal aid clinic in collaboration with Delhi State Legal Services Authority which will act as a single-window facility for resolving grievances of women by offering them free legal assistance.

Addressing the gathering in New Delhi, NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said, the legal aid centre aims to provide free advice and legal services to women. She said, the legal aid clinic will focus on protecting women’s rights and providing them with a one-stop centre for seeking legal counseling and help.

Under the new legal aid clinic, counseling will be provided for walk-in complainants, women in distress will be given legal assistance, advice and information on various schemes of the National Legal Services Authority.

President Ram Nath Kovind today launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan - Catch the Rain 2022, heralding a new era of ensuring water security in the country. The campaign will continue till 30th November this year. He said this year's focus of the campaign is springshed development, catchment area augmentation and gender-mainstreaming. Mr Kovind said, the government is taking effective all-out effirts to ensure water security and conservation of water bodies across the country.

Stating that the water crisis has impacted at the international levels, President appealed to the people to ensure the success of the campaign. He said, the conservation of water should be made a mass campaign  

On this occasion, the President also felicitated the winners of the 3rd National Water Awards in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that under PM Awas Yojana, women have ownership rights of about 2 crore houses. Mr Modi said this ownership has strengthened the participation of the women in the financial decision-making of the household.

Prime Minister was addressing a ‘Grih Pravesham’ function of about 5.21 lakh beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin in Madhya Pradesh yesterday via video-conferencing. Mr Modi said, the Union government’s scheme of providing pucca houses to the poor will make women of the villages Lakhpati. In a dig at the Opposition parties, Prime Minister said, earlier political parties did not do enough for the poor despite their professed stance. Mr Modi said, once the poor are empowered, they have the courage to fight poverty. When efforts of an honest government and efforts of empowered poor come together, poverty is defeated, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today gave a clarion call of making Bay of Bengal the bridge of connectivity, prosperity, and security and stressed that regional cooperation has become a greater priority in the present scenario.

Attending BIMSTEC Summit virtually, the Prime Minister said recent developments in Europe have raised questions about the stability of the international order. He said it has become important to make BIMSTEC regional cooperation more active. He pointed out that the region has not remained untouched by today's challenging global scenario.

Mr. Modi said BIMSTEC charter is being adopted to develop institution architecture for BIMSTEC group. This is the 25th year of the establishment of BIMSTEC. He said the outcome of this landmark summit will write a golden chapter in the history of BIMSTEC.