Ayush Minister Sarbanand Sonowal has said that India is well positioned to become global leader in Yoga and traditional medicine. Mr Sonowal today inaugurated Yoga Mahotsav 2022, an event to commemorate 100 days countdown in run up to 8th International Day of Yoga 2022 in New Delhi.

He said, it is an opportunity for a mass movement to promote health, wellbeing and peace across the globe. The Minister said that as WHO’s Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is being established in India, which is equipped with deep wisdom of yoga and traditional health practices. He added that more than 250 million people are practicing common yoga protocol developed by Ministry of Ayush. Mr Sonowal said, his Ministry has taken initiatives to make yoga an Indian brand for world peace and also to promote motto of Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat.

India Book of Records have awarded certificates in respect of creation of a record for Highest Quantity of Bituminous Mix laid for road construction in 100 hours. In a series of tweets Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari informed that longest Length of Flexible Pavement road construction in 100 hours was awarded to PNC Infratech Ltd. The Minister said this incredible feat was achieved by PNC Infratech Ltd at the Construction of 8-Lane access-controlled expressway starting from a junction with National Highway -47 near Bhamiya village and ending at a junction with State Highway -175 in Baletiya village in Panchmahal district of Gujarat.

The Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE, has released the date sheet of the second term Board examination for class 10th and 12th.

In a circular issued on Friday, the board has informed that the board exam will start from 26th of next month and will conclude on 15th June of this year. 

Keeping in view the learning losses by the students during the pandemic,  the board has set more gap between the two examinations in almost all the subjects of both the classes. Other competitive examinations, including JEE Main have been taken care of while preparing the date sheet. 

The Supreme Court on Friday appointed its ex-judge A.K. Sikri as Chairperson of the High Powered Committee, which would consider the cumulative and independent impact of the Chardham project on the entire Himalayan valley. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant accepted the resignation of Professor Ravi Chopra as Chairperson of the Committee after he wrote a letter in January wishing to relinquish his post.

Attorney General K.K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre said that since Justice (Retd.) Sikri has already been appointed by this court as Chairperson of the oversight committee to look after environmental concerns and other issues related to the Chardham project, it would be better if he is appointed as Chairperson. The bench agreed to the suggestion and appointed Justice (Retd.) Sikri.

As many as twenty-four eminent writers, playwrights and novelists have been conferred  Sahitya Akademi Awards- 2021 in New Delhi on Friday. These awards have been provided for best writings in twenty-four Indian languages. Sahitya Akademi president DR. Chandrashekhar Kambar gave away the awards to them and handed a cheque of one lakh rupees, a shawl and memento to each of them.

Those awarded with the Sahitya Akademi Awards are- Eminent Assamese novelist Anuradha sarma for her novel- Iyat Ekhan Aronya Asil, Bengali writer Bratya Basu, Bodo Poet Dr. Devakanta Ramchiary,  Dogri Fiction writer Raj Rahi, English writer Namita Gokhale, Gujrati Poet Yagnesh Dave, Hindi playwright Daya Prakash Sinha and many more.

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry has said that more than forty thousand farmers across the country benefited from the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela held from 9th to 11th of this month. It said that 41 Innovative awards have been given to farmers during the festival including 36 awards in the valedictory session on its concluding day.

The mela has been organised by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) on the theme 'Self-reliant farmer with technical knowledge' in New Delhi. The Ministry has said that during the festival, IARI gave live exhibitions on drone technology, precision farming, wheat varieties, fruits, vegetables, flowers, different agricultural models and farmer advisory services to them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation the building of Rashtriya Raksha University near Gandhinagar in Gujarat this morning. He will also attend the 1st Convocation Ceremony of RRU-Gandhinagar as a Chief Guest and deliver the convocation address. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also deliver a presidential address on this occasion. Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate 11th Khel Mahakumbh, a state-level sports programme at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad this evening.

PM Modi will also announce the new sports policy of Gujarat government on this occasion. AIR Ahmedabad correspondent reports that Rashtriya Raksha University- an institution of National Importance is established by the Indian Parliament Act. The University aims to become an academic-research-training ecosystem for national security and police. Its endeavors focus on highly professional national security, police education, research, and training through its qualified civilian and security faculty.

The Commerce and Industry Ministry has said, India-Canada will re-launch the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations to unlock full potential of bilateral trade.

India and Canada held the fifth Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment on Friday. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade of Canada Mary Ng co-chaired the meeting. A range of other bilateral trade and investment issues were discussed during the meeting.

The Ministers emphasised that the trade agreement would help in expanding bilateral trade in goods and services through unlocking the potential across sectors. Canada also agreed to examine expeditiously the request for conformity verification body status to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority for facilitating Indian organic export products.

Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has said that India-Canada Bilateral Center will be set up for dedicated science and technology activities between the two countries. He said, India has already established such bilateral centres in countries like US, Germany and France.

A delegation led by Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mary Ng today met Dr Jitendra Singh and reviewed the progress of bilateral cooperation in several key areas. Dr Jitendra Singh invited Canada to tap the unexplored areas like Ocean and Sea Missions in India. He said, renewal of two MoUs between India and Canada is due and is proposed to be signed in upcoming Joint Committee Meeting in May this year. Canadian Minister Mary Ng expressed desire to deepen cooperation in areas like bio-technology, renewal energy and climate change through applied research mode.

In pursuance to Prime Minister’s vision “Gati Shakti” and Ministry of Railways’ Policy regarding ‘Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal’ (GCT), Asansol division of Indian Railways has successfully commissioned private siding of Maithan Power Limited at Thaparnagar. This is the FIRST such GCT commissioned in Indian Railways since publication of GCT policy in Dec.’2021.

The Maithan Power Project was initiated in the year 2009 and subsequently the power generation was started in the year 2011. Till now the requirement of coal to the power project was being made through road which is expected to convert into 120 inward coal rakes per month. Also 02 to 04 outward rakes of Fly Ash is projected to be handled from the siding. This will enhance Railways’ earnings by approximately Rs. 11 crores per month.