The first anniversary of the operations of Namo Bharat Trains was celebrated as Namo Bharat Diwas in New Delhi. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) organized a special evening event to commemorate this significant milestone in India’s transportation history.
At the event, Excellence Awards were presented to outstanding employees for their contributions towards the success of the Namo Bharat initiative. The Namo Bharat Trains represent India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), with the first 17-kilometer priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi,
on 20 October 2023. Since then, two additional sections have become operational, with the 17-kilometer stretch between Duhai and Modinagar North inaugurated on 6 March 2024, and the Meerut South RRTS station operationalized on 18 August 2024.
Currently, the Namo Bharat services operate across a 42-kilometer corridor covering nine stations, including Sahibabad, Ghaziabad,
Guldhar, Duhai, Duhai Depot, Muradnagar, Modi Nagar South, Modi Nagar North, and Meerut South. The corridor will soon expand to 54 kilometers with the upcoming addition of the Sahibabad to New Ashok Nagar section, which will connect key stations such as Anand Vihar and New Ashok Nagar.
Kerala‘s Minister for Transport K.B. Ganesh Kumar launched Citizen Sentinel, an app using which members of the public can upload photographs and videos of traffic rule violations in the NextGen Parivahan app. Photos and videos of up to 8 MB of any rule violation can be uploaded in the app, following which Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) officials will verify them.
Subsequently, e-challans would be sent to the vehicle owner, MVD sources said.
The app was developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and is part of the 100-day action plan of the Government of Kerala. The app is ready for use, while challans to violators will be sent shortly.
Neowise, India’s fastest-growing debt recovery solutions provider, has launched the country’s first generative AI-powered debt collection tools. With the debut of NeoBot, a voice-based debt collection assistant, and NeoSight, an AI call analytics tool, Neowise aims to revolutionise the debt recovery landscape.
These tools were developed in collaboration with Bangalore-based generative AI startup, Sarvam AI.
These AI-driven solutions tend to improve debt recovery efficiency by 15% and reduce operational costs by 33%. Early trials with three lenders have shown promising results, and Neowise plans to scale these tools to more than 150 lenders across India.
In a significant move towards sustainability and efficient natural resource management, Union Minister of Coal & Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy today unveiled the Report of the High-Powered Expert Committee (HPEC) on Gainful Utilization of Overburden (OB) in the Coal Sector during the Half-Yearly Review of the Coal Sector at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi.
The HPEC comprised multi-disciplinary experts from five central ministries, NITI Aayog, and coal companies. The committee was tasked with identifying innovative ways to utilize overburden, which consists of soil, rock, and minerals, traditionally discarded as waste during coal mining operations.
The report outlines a comprehensive framework for using OB as a valuable resource. Historically seen as waste, OB is now being positioned as an asset with the potential to contribute significantly to environmental sustainability, and economic development and create employment opportunities for local communities.
The HPEC report advocates for a ‘Whole Mining’ approach that aims to integrate overburden into the economic value chain, contributing to sustainable mining practices.
Key highlights of the report include strategies for processing OB to produce Manufactured-Sand (M-Sand), which can be used in construction projects, reducing the dependency on river sand and,
preventing environmental degradation.
In a significant step towards promoting a circular economy and turning waste into wealth, Coal/Lignite PSUs have commissioned four OB processing plants and five OB-to-M-sand pilot plants. Additionally, six more OB processing and OB-to-M-sand plants are currently in various stages of installation within the Coal/Lignite PSUs.
The Ministry has approved 50 National Highway projects of 1026 km length in Manipur. Out of this, 44 projects of 902 km length lie in the hills of the State so far. In hills, 8 projects for 125 km have been completed and balance 36 projects of Rs 12000 cr for 777 km are in progress.
In the Annual Plan 2024-25 of the Ministry, there are 2 National Highway projects of Rs 1350 cr for a total length of 90 km which lies in hills.
Under CRIF Ministry approves the list of work on State roads as prioritised by the State Government. Out of a total 111 Nos. of works in the priority list given by the State Government,
depending on the BOS ratio Ministry has approved 57 Nos. of works in the order of priority. The BOS ratio now stands at 9.81 against the permissible BoS ratio of 4 for hilly States.
Pensioners have to submit Life Certificate every year in the month of November for continuation of pension. DoPPW will be conducting the 3rd Nation-wide Digital Life Certificate campaign which will be held in 800 cities/ Districts across India from November 1-30, 2024. The department has notified the guidelines through O.M. dated 9th August, 2024.
The Campaign will be held in collaboration with Pension Disbursing Banks, India Post Payments Bank, Pensioners’ Welfare Associations, CGDA, DoT, Railways, UIDAI & MeitY to touch all the pensioners in the remotest corners of the country.
The DLC Campaign 2.0 was held at 597 locations in 100 cities in November 2023,
under which a total of 1.47 crore DLCs were generated, of which, 45.46 lakh were of Central Government Pensioners. 25.41 lakh DLCs were generated using the Face Authentication technique and more than 30,500 pensioners above 90 years of age availed the benefit of DLCs.
This year the focus will be on promoting Face Authentication Technology. MeitY and UIDAI will provide full technical support during this Campaign. Face Auth has been made more seamless and convenient for the elderly Pensioners.
DD, AIR, and PIB teams are fully geared up to provide full support to this campaign for Audio, Visual, and Print publicity.
This will be the largest ever digital empowerment campaign and seeks to achieve maximum outreach to all the categories of the Pensioners.
INS Trikand and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft participated in the Indo-Oman bilateral naval exercise Naseem-Al-Bahr with the Royal Navy of Oman Vessel Al Seeb off Goa from 13 to 18 October 24.
The exercise was conducted in two phases: with harbour phase from 13 to 15 October 24, followed by the sea phase.
As part of harbour activities, personnel from both Navies engaged in professional interactions, including Subject Matter Expert Exchanges and planning conferences. In addition, sports fixtures and social engagements were also held.
During the sea phase of the exercise conducted from 16 to 18 Oct 24, both ships carried out various evolutions, including
including gun firings at surface inflatable targets, close-range anti-aircraft firings, manoeuvres, and Replenishment at Sea Approaches (RASAPS). The integral helicopter operated from INS Trikand and undertook cross-deck landings and vertical replenishment (VERTREP) with RNOV Al Seeb.
Additionally, the Indian Navy’s Dornier aircraft provided Over-the-Horizon Targeting (OTHT) data with the participating ships. To further enhance interoperability, Indian Navy Sea Riders embarked on RNOV Al Seeb for a day. The exercise helped strengthen interoperability and enhanced understanding of each other’s best practices.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) on Family Home Finance Private Limited, Mumbai, Maharashtra (the company) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.00 lakh (Rupees One Lakh only) on Nazareth Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Tamil Nadu (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Loans and advances to directors, their relatives, and firms /concerns in which they are interested’.
The Indian economy could grow between 7-7.2 percent in the current fiscal on strong government spending, and higher manufacturing investments, but a tempered global growth will impact the outlook for the next fiscal, Deloitte India said.
In its 'India Economy Outlook for October 2024', Deloitte said the thriving manufacturing sector, stable oil prices, and
potential US monetary easing post-elections may boost India's capital inflows, reduce production costs, and enhance long-term investments and job opportunities.
The economy grew 6.7 percent year-over-year in the April-to-June quarter of the current fiscal ending March 2025. Although this marks the slowest growth in five quarters,
India ranks among the fastest-growing major economies globally.
India's central bank RBI had earlier this month projected the Indian economy to expand 7.2 per cent in the current fiscal buoyed by robust domestic activity.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, inaugurated several farmer welfare schemes worth ₹300 crore during the National Dairy Development Board's (NDDB) diamond jubilee celebration along with the commemoration of the birth anniversary of Shri Tribhuvandas Patel in Anand, Gujarat.
The event at Anand will include the laying of the foundation stone for a new NDDB office building and several other projects including Mother Dairy’s Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant in Itola, Vadodara, and IDMC Ltd’s Polyfilm Plant in Narela, Delhi
It will also feature the launch of Gir Ghee from Mother Dairy and Badri Ghee from Uttarakhand Cooperative Dairy Federation, an official release stated here.
Additionally, several MoUs will be signed to highlight NDDB’s continued efforts in advancing the dairy sector.
Key agreements include a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to conduct cutting-edge research in One-Health, focusing on innovation in animal health and sustainability; a partnership between National Cooperative Organics Limited, Mother Dairy and NDDB Mrida Limited to promote organic farming practices; NDDB, Suzuki R&D Center India (SRDI) and
Amul/Mehsana Milk Union to establish a compressed biogas plant, enhancing sustainable energy production.
Further partnerships comprise an MoU between NDDB and the Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, which will use remote sensing technology to assess fodder resources, facilitating improved resource management.
Further, Mother Dairy will facilitate payments to farmers for price differentials in purchasing apricots from Ladakh, apples from Himachal Pradesh and pineapples from Meghalaya.
For the first of its kind initiative in dairy sector for monetisation of carbon credits in the country, dairy farmers will receive payments under the NDDB and Sustain Plus Manure Management Program,
representing a significant step towards ensuring additional income for dairy farmers through carbon credits on a sustainable basis.
Amit Shah will also attend the two-day-long 14th National Conference of Civil Defence and Home Guard Force Chiefs of all the states and union territories at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.
The Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, the Paralympic Committee of India, and the Sports Authority of Goa, has announced the 24th National Para Swimming Championships, taking place from October 19-22 at the Olympic Pool, SAG Panaji.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for October 20, will feature Dr Pramod Sawant, alongside key dignitaries such as Sadanand Tanavade, Govind Gaude, Subhash Phal Dessai, Dr. Puneet Kumar Goel and others.
This year’s championship is set to break records, with 518 participants from 28 states/units competing.
The Election Commission of India approved the appointment of Ajay Kumar Singh as the Jharkhand Director General of Police (DGP).
Mr. Singh, a 1989 batch officer of the Indian Police Services, is the senior most officer in the cadre. He was selected from the panel of three IPS officers sent by the State government after the ECI had ordered the immediate removal of,
acting DGP Anurag Gupta on October 19, sources said.
Mr. Gupta, a 1990-batch IPS officer had been made DGP on July 26 replacing Mr. Singh, who had been in the position since February 2023 after the retirement of his predecessor Neeraj Sinha.
acting DGP Anurag Gupta on October 19, sources said.
Mr. Gupta, a 1990-batch IPS officer had been made DGP on July 26 replacing Mr. Singh, who had been in the position since February 2023 after the retirement of his predecessor Neeraj Sinha.
Indian Navy’s frontline stealth frigate, INS Talwar, arrived at Simon’s Town, South Africa, on 06 Oct 24 to participate in the eighth edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise among Indian, Brazilian, and South African Navy scheduled from 06 to 18 October 2024.
The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen cohesion between the three navies.
The broad concept is based on Blue Water Naval Warfare, encompassing the dimensions of Surface and Anti-Air Warfare.
The harbour phase of IBSAMAR VIII will include professional exchanges, Damage Control & Firefighting drills, Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure drills, cross-boarding, aviation safety lectures, joint diving operations, an Ocean Governance seminar,
sports interactions, cross-deck visits, and interaction among Special Forces and Junior Officers.
INS Talwar was commissioned on 18 June 2003 and is a part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, based in Mumbai under the Western Naval Command. The ship is commanded by Captain Jithu George.
Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) celebrated its 24th Raising Day on October 01, 2024. Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen JP Mathew laid a wreath at the National War Memorial New Delhi in remembrance of the fallen heroes, on behalf of All Ranks of the 'Purple Fraternity'.
HQ IDS plays a pivotal role in coordination, integration and providing policy inputs,
for force structures, modernisation, and development of equipment of the three services, based on the anticipated threat perception. HQ IDS is critical to the efforts of the Defence Services in the preparation of joint plans for threats requiring a tri-service response, technology management, information assurance and utilisation of space assets,
consolidating defence intelligence and promoting military diplomacy.
The HQ IDS also plays a significant role in formulating joint doctrines for strategic and joint operations, enhancing joint training of the three services and also with friendly foreign countries, developing inter-operable operational logistics and Humanitarian Assistance and,
Disaster Relief operation plans, as a part of National Crisis Management Group.
It remains at the forefront of multiple initiatives aimed at furthering the Integration and Jointness among the Services, duly living up to its motto 'Victory Through Jointness'.
The Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs) initiative by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been achieving impressive milestones by conducting food testing and awareness campaigns in all parts of the country. In line with its mission, an awareness campaign was launched in Nubra Valley, at an impressive elevation of 17,582 feet via,
Khardung La on 27th and 28th of September. The initiative marks the first comprehensive food safety drive at such a high elevation, and highlights FSW’s effectiveness in enhancing food safety in high-altitude as well as remote regions.
The primary objective of this drive was to ensure adherence to food safety standards by conducting on-the-spot testing of various food,
products, including milk, spices, and juices. Over the course of the two-day initiative, a total of 35 food samples were tested, which included 12 samples of milk, 8 samples of spices, and 9 samples of juices. Furthermore, six local water samples were gathered for detailed microbial analysis.
