ICAR-CIFE and VAMNICOM Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperative Management in Fisheries
In a significant stride towards fostering collaboration in the field of cooperative management within the fisheries sector, the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE) and the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).This is an important step forward in realisation of the vision of establishment of 2 lakh PACS, Dairy and Fishery Cooperatives in every Panchayat.
The ceremony, held at the ICAR-CIFE campus in Mumbai, was graced by Dr. Ravishankar CN, Director and Vice Chancellor of ICAR-CIFE, and Dr. Hema Yadav, Director of VAMNICOM. Scientists, faculty members, and key team members from both institutions were also present on the occasion.
The MoU aims to bolster the synergies between ICAR-CIFE and VAMNICOM, paving the way for enhanced cooperative management practices in fisheries. Through this partnership, the institutions will collaborate on research, training and development initiatives that are expected to significantly impact the fisheries sector by improving cooperative management strategies and practices.
PM chairs 44th PRAGATI Interaction
Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier on August 28, chaired the meeting of the 44th edition of PRAGATI, the ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, involving Centre and State governments. This was the first meeting in the third term.
In the meeting, seven significant projects were reviewed, which included two projects relating to road connectivity, two rail projects and one project each of the Coal, Power and Water Resources sectors. The cost of these projects totalled more than Rs. 76,500 crore. The projects relate to the following states and UTs Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, Goa, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Delhi.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren to Join BJP
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren asserted that his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party was taken in the interest of Jharkhand and he will resign from the JMM and as minister.
The senior tribal leader made it clear that he was not afraid of any situation.
Champai Soren had assumed office as the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand on February 2, 2024 shortly after his predecessor Hemant Soren resigned just before being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.
Aug 28, 2024
Northern Railways Renames Eight Stations in Uttar Pradesh
The Northern Railways announced that eight railway stations in Uttar Pradesh were renamed. The change, which received approval from the relevant authorities, affects stations within the Lucknow division.
Following are the stations that were renamed: Kasimpur Halt was renamed to Jais City; Jais was renamed to Guru Gorakhnath Dham; Misrauli was renamed to Maa Kalikan Dham; Bani was renamed to Swami Paramhans; Nihalgarh was renamed to Maharaja Bijli Pasi; Akbarganj was renamed to Maa Ahorva Bhawani Dham; Wazirganj Halt was renamed to Amar Shaheed Bhale Sultan; and Fursatganj was renamed to Tapeshwarnath Dham.
Satish Kumar New Chairman and CEO of Railway Board
Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS) officer Satish Kumar was appointed as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Board, making him the first ever member from a Scheduled Caste community selected for the board's top post.
Kumar, whose tenure is set to begin on September 1, will replace the current chairperson and CEO of the board, Jaya Varma Sinha, who is superannuating on August 31. When she took charge on September 1, 2023, Sinha became the first woman to be appointed as the CEO of the board, the topmost post in the Indian Railways.
A 1986-batch Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer, Kumar has made significant contributions to railways throughout his career, spanning over 34 years.
Twelve Candidates Elected Unopposed to Rajya Sabha, Strengthening NDA Majority
Twelve candidates were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in elections for vacant seats in the Upper House of Parliament. This includes nine from the BJP, two from its NDA allies, and one from Congress.
With the BJP increasing its numbers in the Upper House of Parliament and its allies also gaining strength, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) now holds a majority. This boost will help the ruling alliance get bills passed smoothly.
Aug 27, 2024
Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman Inaugurates GST Bhawan at Udaipur
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the new GST Bhawan in Udaipur, located in the Hiran Magri area. The inauguration ceremony included Vedic chanting and the unveiling of the plaque to officially open the complex. The construction, which began in 2020, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but has now been completed. The GST Bhawan features a conference hall, meeting hall, data analytics cell, library, interrogation cell, and a guest house. Sitharaman emphasized the office's role in serving 13 districts and the importance of reducing GST-related grievances through effective information sharing. She highlighted the growth of small businesses post-COVID and the significant GST revenue contributions from sectors like zinc, lead, cement, tyres, and calcium phosphate.
Aug 26, 2024
Centre Announces Five New Districts in Ladakh
The Centre announced the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh: Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang. Ladakh currently consists of just two districts, Leh and Kargil, each governed by its own autonomous district council. With the formation of the new districts, Ladakh's total number of districts increased to seven. Before 2019, Ladakh was part of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP-led government revoked the state's special status and split it into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh in August 2019.
This move aims to bolster governance and create abundant opportunities for the people of Ladakh.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh Chairs Bilateral Meeting on US-India Civil Nuclear Commerce
Union Minister Jitendra Singh chaired a pivotal bilateral meeting on US-India Civil Nuclear Commerce, highlighting the deepening cooperation between the two nations in critical areas of science, technology, and clean energy at Prithvi Bhavan.
Jitendra Singh announced that an Indian astronaut from the Gaganyaan Mission is set to join the International Space Station, marking a significant milestone in Indo-US Space collaboration. He emphasised the importance of this partnership in securing global supply chains, especially in sectors like semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and clean energy technologies, which are increasingly vital in today's interconnected world.
Chirag Paswan Re-Elected as President of LJP for 5 years
Union Minister Chirag Paswan was re-elected as Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president for five years at its national executive meeting in Ranchi.
The upcoming assembly elections in Haryana, Jammu Kashmir and Jharkhand were also discussed in the meeting.
In Jharkhand, the party may contest the polls either with national alliance partner BJP or on its own.
Aug 25, 2024
Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches 'Create In India Challenge-Season One'
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched 'Create in India Challenge-Season One' in New Delhi in the run-up to the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit. Speaking on the occasion, Vaishnaw said that reflecting the evolution of Indian economy and the impact of technological advancements, 25 challenges have been launched. He said, the Media and Entertainment industry has also evolved, significantly boosting the creator economy. The Minister said, this creator economy was recognised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who presented the first National Creator Awards.
PM Modi Presents BHISHM Cubes to Ukraine
In a historic visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged extensive humanitarian support and handed over four BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri) Cubes to the Ukrainian government. This marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since its independence in 1991, emphasising India's stance for peace amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The BHISHM Cubes, part of India's Project Aarogya Maitri, are innovative, compact units designed for rapid deployment in conflict zones and disaster-affected areas. Each cube, weighing up to 20 kg, is packed with essential medicines, medical equipment, and supplies. The cubes are organised to address various medical emergencies and are easily transportable via air, sea, land, or drones.
India's KAPS-4 Nuclear Plant Achieves Full Capacity
The Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Gujarat, India, reached full operational capacity with its second 700 MW nuclear reactor, KAPS-4, which started operating at full power. This achievement follows the reactor's commercial operation start on March 31, 2024, and its first criticality on December 17, 2023. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) confirmed that Unit 4 at KAPS was previously operating at 90% capacity before reaching its full 700 MW output.
The KAPS-4 unit, an indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), reflects the success of India's domestic nuclear technology. The full power operation of KAPS-4, alongside its twin unit KAPS-3, underscores the effectiveness of the PHWR design.