South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) is set to become the first coal PSU in India to adopt paste fill technology for coal mining—marking a major step toward sustainable and environmentally friendly mining practices.
To implement this innovative underground mining technology, SECL has signed a Rs. 7040 crore agreement with TMC Mineral Resources Private Limited.
Under this agreement, large-scale coal production will be undertaken using paste fill technology in the Singhali underground coal mine located in SECL’s Korba area. Over a period of 25 years, the project is expected to produce approximately 8.4 million tonnes (84.5 lakh tonnes) of coal.
What is Paste Fill Technology?
Paste filling is a modern underground mining method that eliminates the need to acquire surface land. After coal extraction, the mined-out voids are filled with a specially prepared paste made from fly ash, crushed overburden from opencast mines, cement, water, and binding chemicals.
This process prevents land subsidence and ensures the structural stability of the mine.
Importantly, the paste utilizes industrial waste materials, making the process environmentally sustainable and promoting waste recycling.
Background of Singhali Mine-
The Singhali underground mine was approved in 1989 for a production capacity of 0.24 million tonnes per year and commenced operations in 1993. Presently, the mine has 8.45 million tonnes of extractable reserves of G-7 grade non-coking coal.
It was developed using the Bord and Pillar method, employing Load Haul Dumpers (LHDs) and Universal Drilling Machines (UDMs) for underground operations.
However, the surface area above the mine is densely occupied—with villages, high-tension electricity lines, and a Public Works Department (PWD) road—rendering traditional caving methods unfeasible due to safety Concerns.
SECL CMD- Harish Duhan.
To strengthen road safety and ensure fairness in traffic enforcement, the Department of Consumer Affairs has notified rules for ‘Radar equipment for the measurement of the speed of vehicles’ under the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011.
These rules will come into force from 1st July 2025, providing sufficient time for industries and enforcement agencies to comply with the provisions.
These rules make it mandatory for all radar-based speed measurement equipment to be verified and stamped by Legal Metrology authorities.
Several grievances have been received by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, regarding difficulties being faced by applicants during the GST registration process, mainly on account of queries raised by officers on the grounds of seeking additional documents.
To resolve these grievances and to smoothen GST registration process, CBIC has issued instructions on 17th April, 2025 (Instruction No. 03/2025-GST) to the officers for processing GST registration applications. Officers have been instructed to strictly adhere to the prescribed list of documents provided in registration application form.
Requisite documents in specific cases to be uploaded with registration application form have also been delineated in the instructions. Officers have been directed not to issue notices based on presumptive grounds, minor discrepancies, or for additional documents that are not essential for processing applications.
Officers have been also directed to seek approval of the concerned Deputy/Assistant Commissioner in cases where document apart from the listed documents is required to be sought.
The Zonal Principal Chief Commissioner/Chief Commissioners have been advised to devise mechanism to closely monitor and issue suitable trade notices, wherever required.
It has also been advised that the strict action should be taken against the officers deviating from these instructions.
This will further facilitate in the process of getting GST registration, ease compliance burden, and promote ease of doing business.
Africa’s largest tech and startup show, GITEX provides platform for policy leaders, changemakers and visionaries to collectively discuss and deliberate on the opportunities to collaborate and further the imperative of inclusive and equitable growth of the global economy. The three-day event just concluded at Morocco capital Marrakesh.
Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary represented Republic of India at the summit. He took part in high-level bilateral meetings, panel discussions and interacted with Indian startups showcasing their innovations.
India’s participation at GITEX Africa 2025 reaffirmed its role as a global leader in skilling and digital innovation. Through pathbreaking initiatives like Skill India, Digital India, and the creation of scalable Digital Public Infrastructure such as Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker, Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) and DIKSHA, India has demonstrated how inclusive,
technology-driven models can empower citizens at scale. These initiatives are increasingly being recognized as global best practices, offering adaptable frameworks for developing nations seeking to build resilient, future-ready societies.
The manuscripts of the Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni's Natyashastra are among 74 new documentary heritage collections added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, marking a significant recognition of India's cultural legacy.
These additions, announced on April 17, come from 72 countries and four international organisations, covering entries on the scientific revolution,
women’s contributions to history, and key milestones in multilateralism. With these, the total number of inscribed collections now stands at 570.
Natyashastra, authored by Bharat Muni, is regarded as a foundational text on performing arts and continues to influence drama, dance, and music traditions in India and beyond.
The government and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) on Thursday signed an agreement to establish the alliance's headquarters and secretariat in India, the Ministry of External Affairs announced. The IBCA was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, during the 50th anniversary celebration of 'Project Tiger'.
It became a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation in 2025.
The 'Headquarters Agreement' was signed by P Kumaran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, and S P Yadav, Director General, IBCA, in New Delhi.
The government has procured 3,40,000 tonnes of tur (pigeon pea) so far this year under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), according to agriculture ministry data. Tur procurement is being undertaken at a minimum support price (MSP) under the scheme. The ministry has sanctioned 13.22 lakh tonnes of tur procurement from nine states.
The government aims to maintain a buffer stock of 10 lakh tonnes of tur to release in the open market to check prices.
According to ministry data, tur procurement has reached 3,40,000 tonnes as on April 13.
Karnataka has contributed the largest share of procurement at 1,30,000 tonnes, with farmers there receiving a state bonus of Rs 450 per quintal above the MSP of Rs 7,550 per quintal.
Other contributing states include Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
The government has also procured 17,000 tonnes of chana (gram) primarily from Telangana and Madhya Pradesh.
Despite approval for 27 lakh tonnes of chana procurement, buying remains slow as domestic prices exceed the MSP of Rs 5,650 per quintal following the imposition of a 10 per cent import duty.
Procurement of masur (lentil) has reached 28,700 tonnes and moong (green gram) 3,000 tonnes as of April 13.
The PSS kicks in when the market prices of certain agri commodities fall below the MSP.
In Budget 2025, the government committed to 100 per cent procurement of tur, masur and urad relative to state production through central agencies until 2028-29.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance coordination and information exchange in the battle against money laundering and terror financing. The agreement was formalised on 17 April 2025 in New Delhi, with the signing attended by senior officials from both institutions,
including Vivek Aggarwal, Director of FIU-IND, and R.L.K. Rao, Executive Director from RBI’s Department of Regulation.
The MoU marks a new chapter in the country’s ongoing efforts to ensure effective implementation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the rules framed under it.
The central government appointed senior IAS officer Arvind Shrivastava as the new revenue secretary in a major top-level bureaucratic reshuffle. Aside from Shrivastava, the government also appointed fresh faces to head the expenditure department, as well as, a new culture secretary.
Shrivastava moves from PMO to finance ministry
A 1994 batch officer of the Karnataka cadre, Shrivastava is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. His appointment as Secretary, Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), according to an order.
Before Shrivastava, Tuhin Kanta Pandey was appointed as the new Revenue Secretary in January of this year. However, by February he was appointed the 11th chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). His tenure at Sebi has been effective since March 1, 2025.
Following Pandey's departure, Ajay Seth took additional charge as Revenue Secretary, handling both revenue and financial departments till the new appointment was announced.
Anuradha Thakur will take on the role of secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs. Thakur is a 1994 batch IAS officer of HP cadre.
Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam has been appointed Secretary, Department of Expenditure. He replaces Manoj Govil, who will now serve as Secretary (Coordination) in the Cabinet Secretariat.
Vivek Aggarwal, a 1994 batch IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Culture.
Aggarwal was serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Revenue and also held the post of Director, Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND).
The appointment of IAS officer Santosh Kumar Sarangi as secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Bengaluru-based hospital chain Aster DM Healthcare announced that it had received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to complete its merger with Blackstone-backed Quality Care India.
The company stated that the merged entity, ‘Aster DM Quality Care’, will be jointly controlled by Aster promoters and Blackstone.
It added that the combined entity will have a network of 38 hospitals and more than 10,150 beds spread across 27 cities, making it one of the top three hospital chains in India.
Aster DM currently has 5,128 beds in 19 hospitals, along with 13 clinics across five states in India. Post-merger, the combined Aster DM Quality Care will have a portfolio of four brands –
Aster DM, CARE Hospitals, KIMSHEALTH, and Evercare.
Announced in November 2024, the merger was among the biggest healthcare deals in India, with the enterprise value of the merged entity reported to be $5 billion (Rs 43,000 crore).
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of four senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers as Members of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), according to an official order issued.
Sixteen-year-old Nishchay grabbed his second medal of the meet as he won a silver with a personal best effort of 19.59 meters in the boys’ shot put event on the third day of the Asian Under-18 Athletics Championship in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. His earlier personal best was 18.93 meters, which he achieved last month.
