The Offshore Security Exercise, ‘Prasthan’ in the Offshore Development Area (ODA) off Kakinada was conducted by  Eastern Naval Command on Wednesday. The Half Yearly Exercise was conducted in the KG basin to validate SOPs, address various contingencies and strengthen the command & control organisation towards Maritime Security.

The exercise is coordinated by the Indian Navy and involves all stakeholders in the maritime domain, including oil and gas operators, the State Marine Police, Dept of Fisheries and the Indian Coast Guard, etc.

The Union Cabinet has approved the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022. It seeks to amend the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. Briefing media in New Delhi yesterday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said, the decision will improve governance, enhance transparency and accountability in the Multi State Cooperative Societies. He said, election authority will be set up to ensure fair, free and timely elections.

AIR correspondent reports that the proposed amendments covering major areas of operation and management will go a long way in strengthening the co-operative movement in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express from Una in Himachal Pradesh to New Delhi. This is the fourth Vande Bharat train to be introduced in the country. The introduction of the train will help boost tourism in the region and provide a comfortable and faster mode of travel. Mr Modi will also dedicate Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Una to the nation. The foundation stone of this institute was laid by the Prime Minister in 2017.
 
Later in the day, Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of two hydropower projects in Chamba. These projects will generate over 270 million units of electricity annually and Himachal Pradesh is expected to get annual revenue of around one hundred ten crore rupees. Mr Modi will also launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana -3 in Himachal Pradesh for upgradation of around three thousand 125 kilometres of roads in the State.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Sitabdiara in the Saran district of Bihar this afternoon and pay tribute to socialist icon Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary at his ancestral village Sitabdiara. Union Minister Amit Shah will also unveil a 14 feet high statue of Lok Nayak Jayprakash Narayan at JP memorial building at Lala Tola which is JP Narayan's birthplace.

The Minister is scheduled to address a public meeting on the occasion. AIR correspondent reports that elaborate security arrangements have been made in view of his visit.

The two-week, 53rd Capacity Building Programme in the Field Administration for the Civil Servants of Bangladesh was inaugurated at National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) at Mussoorie today. This is the only institute in the country to have trained 1,727 field-level officers of Bangladesh Civil Service such as Assistant Commissioners,  SDMs and Additional Deputy Commissioners.

The National Centre for Good Governance was set up in 2014 by the Government of India as an apex institution in the country. It focuses on good governance, policy reforms, training and capacity building, and to also work as a think tank. It has taken up capacity building of civil servants of several foreign countries in partnership with MEA. It has imparted training to civil servants of 15 countries such as Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia, Seychelles, Gambia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Laos, Vietnam, Bhutan, Myanmar and Cambodia.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani has announced to make available special skill sets for girls and boys in all 7000 Child Care Institutions so that they become financially empowered. Addressing a National Seminar on Skilling in Non-Traditional Livelihood for Girls - Betiyan Bane Kushal in New Delhi, Mrs. Irani said, this initiative will be rolled out in all Child Care Institutions from next month. Mrs. Irani said her Ministry will also work on how it can help in providing counselling to the girls for choosing the right academic streams.

During the function, Mrs. Irani also released an operations manual of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Minister of State for Women and Child Development Munjpara Mahendrabhai and Secretary, Indevar Pandey were also present on the occasion. 

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched Toyota’s first of its kind pilot project on Flexi-Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles in India today. These vehicles will run on 100 percent petrol as well as 20 to 100 percent blended ethanol and electric power.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Gadkari said, the success of this pilot project will make India a global leader in the manufacture of these electric vehicles. He said such technologies are innovative, revolutionary, sustainable, cost-effective, energy-efficient and will completely transform the transportation sector in New India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Shri Mahakal Lok at Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh from October11. Shri Mahakal Lok is a place where all the mythological stories of Lord Shankar will be seen at one place. It has built in the Mahakaleshwar temple of Ujjain, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of the country. The Prime Minister will also address a public meeting in Ujjain.

AIR correspondent reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Indore from Ahmedabad at around 4.30 pm by Air Force plane. He will reach Ujjain from Indore by a helicopter. Prime Minister Modi will dedicate Shri Mahakal Lok to the nation between 6.30  to 7 pm. This program will be telecast live in the entire state. After the inauguration program, the Prime Minister will address a public meeting at Kartik Mela Ground in Ujjain. More than 60 thousand people are expected to attend the meeting. After the public meeting, Shri Modi will leave for Delhi. The Prime Minister will be staying in MP for around 4 hours.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached  at Sitabdiara in the Saran district of Bihar this afternoon and paid floral tributes to socialist icon Jayaprakash Narayan on his birth anniversary at his ancestral village. Mr Shah unveiled a 14 feet high statue of Lok nayak Jayprakash Narayan at JP memorial building at his birthplace, Lala Tola. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Nityanand Rai and several leaders were present on the occassion. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has inaugurated the new Indian High Commission Chancery in Wellington in New Zealand. He said, inauguration of new Indian High Commission Chancery and three ministerial visits in a short span of time reflect our shared desire to grow India-New Zealand ties. Dr Jaishankar said, playing with each other’s strengths is a more sensible way of growing the important relationship between the two countries.

External Affairs Minister also said that the relationship between both countries is due for an update and due for refresh. While addressing members of Indian community, he highlighted the possibilities for increased cooperation in various sectors. Dr Jaishankar said, possibilities are abound in business, digital, agriculture, education, skills, traditional medicine and maritime security domains. He said, stronger cooperation will ensure peace, prosperity and progress of our common region.