Category: News

Bhubaneswar, July 2 (UDN): The Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved 12 major proposals spanning eight key departments, underscoring the state government’s focus on strengthening education, infrastructure, water resource management, digital governance, food security and disaster resilience.

The decisions were taken at the 42nd meeting of the State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at Lok Seva Bhavan. The proposals are expected to accelerate development initiatives, improve public service delivery and support sustainable growth across sectors.

Following the meeting, the Chief Minister briefed the media on the Cabinet’s approval of the flagship proposal from the School and Mass Education Department, while Chief Secretary Anu Garg outlined the remaining decisions approved by the Cabinet.

The Cabinet considered and approved proposals from eight departments:

• Higher Education Department – 1 proposal
• Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department – 2 proposals
• Electronics and Information Technology Department – 1 proposal
• Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department – 1 proposal
• Works Department – 2 proposals
• Water Resources Department – 3 proposals
• School and Mass Education Department – 1 proposal
• Revenue and Disaster Management Department – 1 proposal

The approved measures cover a wide range of development priorities, including strengthening the education system, expanding fisheries and livestock infrastructure, enhancing digital services, improving food distribution, upgrading public infrastructure, modernising water resource management and reinforcing disaster preparedness.

Particular emphasis was placed on the proposal from the School and Mass Education Department, which is expected to significantly enhance access to quality education and benefit students across the state.

The Cabinet’s decisions reflect the government’s continued emphasis on coordinated, sector-specific reforms aimed at improving governance and delivering tangible benefits to citizens. With approvals spanning critical social and economic sectors, the 42nd Cabinet meeting marks another step in Odisha’s ongoing efforts to build resilient infrastructure, modernise public services and promote inclusive development.

New Delhi, July 1: The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹7,145 crore highway project to construct a new road corridor between Kanpur and Kabrai in Uttar Pradesh.

The proposed highway is aimed at improving regional connectivity, reducing travel time, and easing traffic congestion on existing routes. It is expected to provide a faster and safer travel option for both passengers and freight movement.

Officials said the project will strengthen links between key towns and nearby industrial and economic centres, supporting smoother logistics and better access to markets.

The highway is also expected to boost regional development by improving road infrastructure and facilitating economic activity across connected districts.

The initiative reflects the government’s continued focus on expanding modern road infrastructure to improve mobility and support economic growth.

New Delhi, July 1: The government has said that the GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) system will play a key role in strengthening India’s satellite-based navigation ecosystem and enhancing precision navigation services across sectors.

Officials said GAGAN, developed jointly by the Airports Authority of India and ISRO, is designed to improve the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of satellite navigation signals, particularly for aviation applications.

The system is expected to support safer and more efficient air traffic management by providing highly accurate position information, especially during landing and navigation in challenging conditions.

Authorities noted that GAGAN is also expected to have wider applications beyond aviation, including transportation, surveying, agriculture, and disaster management, contributing to the expansion of India’s space-based infrastructure services.

The initiative reflects India’s continued focus on strengthening indigenous navigation capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign satellite-based systems while improving overall technological self-reliance.

New Delhi, July 1: The Union Cabinet has approved a major infrastructure project worth ₹6,969.67 crore for the construction of a six-lane tunnel that will connect the Dwarka Expressway with Nelson Mandela Marg in Delhi.

The project is aimed at significantly improving urban connectivity, reducing travel time, and easing traffic congestion in key parts of the National Capital Region. Once completed, the tunnel is expected to provide a seamless high-speed corridor linking major arterial routes in Delhi.

Officials said the project will enhance last-mile connectivity to Dwarka Expressway and strengthen the capital’s road infrastructure network by offering an alternative underground route for high-density traffic movement.

The tunnel is also expected to improve traffic flow on surface roads, reduce congestion at major intersections, and contribute to smoother vehicular movement across southwest Delhi.

The government said the project reflects its continued focus on developing modern, high-capacity infrastructure to meet the growing mobility needs of urban India and support long-term economic activity in the region.

New Delhi, July 1: Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain has assumed charge as the Vice-Chief of the Army Staff, taking over a key leadership position in the Indian Army.

An experienced officer with a long and distinguished service record, Lt Gen Jain has held several important command and staff appointments over the course of his career, contributing to both operational leadership and strategic planning within the force.

As Vice-Chief of the Army Staff, he will assist the Chief of the Army Staff in overseeing critical areas including operational preparedness, force modernisation, training, and overall administrative coordination across the Army.

His appointment comes at a time when the Indian Army continues to focus on enhancing combat readiness, advancing modernisation efforts, and strengthening joint capabilities across the armed forces.

The transition marks an important development in the Army’s senior leadership structure.

New Delhi | July 2026: The use of FASTag annual passes on Indian highways has increased to 19% of total toll pass traffic, marking a significant rise from around 13% in December 2025, according to data compiled by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The total number of vehicle trips through toll plazas in June reached 44.4 crore, of which 8.4 crore trips were made using annual passes. Overall toll transactions generated approximately ₹7,214 crore during the month.

In comparison, June 2025 recorded 38.6 crore trips, with collections of ₹6,973 crore, reflecting a 15% year-on-year growth in traffic volume and a 3.5% increase in value. Officials noted that the slower growth in toll revenue relative to traffic volume is primarily due to the rising adoption of annual passes.

The FASTag annual pass, launched on August 15 at a price of ₹3,075, allows up to 200 highway trips per year, translating to an effective cost of around ₹15.40 per trip. It is currently available only for private passenger vehicles, which account for about 40% of total toll traffic, though their contribution to revenue stands at roughly 25%.

Officials said the growing use of annual passes has had an estimated 10% impact on toll collections, partly offset by upfront pass revenue, resulting in a net effective revenue reduction of around 7–8% for toll operators.

The data highlights the increasing preference among frequent highway users for prepaid, subscription-based tolling options that offer convenience, cost efficiency, and reduced waiting time at toll plazas. As FASTag adoption continues to deepen, the annual pass system is emerging as a key component of India’s digital tolling ecosystem.

New Delhi, July 1: Union Finance Minister and Minister for Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman has begun an official visit to France aimed at strengthening India–France economic cooperation and expanding investment, technology, and innovation partnerships.

During the visit, she will co-chair the India–France Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) in Aix-en-Provence along with France’s Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Energy Sovereignty, Roland Lescure. The dialogue will focus on identifying new areas of bilateral cooperation and deepening overall economic engagement.

The Finance Minister will also interact with global CEOs and business leaders in a series of meetings and roundtables, where she is expected to highlight India’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals, reform-driven growth, and expanding investment opportunities.

She will participate in a panel discussion titled “How to Promote the Growth of a New Middle Class” at the Les Rencontres Économiques d’Aix-en-Provence, a prominent global forum on economic policy and development.

Her itinerary also includes visits to the ITER nuclear fusion project at Cadarache and Campus Cyber, France’s national hub for cybersecurity innovation, to explore cooperation in advanced technology and digital resilience.

The visit underscores India’s continued efforts to strengthen strategic economic partnerships with France across key sectors including clean energy, technology, and innovation.

Rayagada, July 1 (UDN): Nestled amid the dense forests and rolling hills of Niyamgiri, the Dongria Kondh community continues to preserve a centuries-old artistic tradition that remains central to its cultural identity. From vibrant wall paintings to intricately embroidered textiles, the tribe’s indigenous art forms continue to flourish despite the growing influence of modern lifestyles.

Representational image

At the heart of this cultural legacy is Kapdaganda, a hand-embroidered traditional textile adorned with motifs inspired by nature, agriculture and the community’s spiritual beliefs. Crafted entirely by hand, each piece requires months of meticulous work by tribal women, who pass down the intricate embroidery techniques from one generation to the next.

The same symbolic designs are reflected in Linga, the colourful murals that decorate the walls of Dongria Kondh homes across villages in the Niyamgiri region. The motifs, featuring representations of the moon, crops and other elements of nature, change with festivals and rituals, serving as visual expressions of the community’s customs and beliefs.

According to members of the community, each pattern carries a distinct meaning. Green motifs symbolise prosperity and nature, circular designs represent the full moon, while yellow patterns inspired by turmeric reflect the tribe’s deep connection with agriculture. These traditional symbols are woven into Kapdaganda, making the textile a living record of the community’s heritage.

The craft has gained wider recognition in recent years after Kapdaganda received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, highlighting its uniqueness and cultural significance. The traditional fabric is now recognised beyond Odisha, creating new opportunities for tribal artisans while strengthening efforts to preserve the community’s rich artistic heritage.

Researchers working with the Dongria Kondhs say government initiatives and increasing public awareness have helped promote the textile as both a cultural symbol and a sustainable source of livelihood. Even today, members of the tribe proudly wear Kapdaganda during festivals, weddings, religious ceremonies and community gatherings, reaffirming their connection to centuries-old traditions.

For the Dongria Kondhs, Kapdaganda is far more than a handcrafted fabric. It is a symbol of identity, history and resilience, reflecting a way of life that continues to thrive in the hills of Niyamgiri despite the passage of time.

New Delhi, July 1: India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections continued their strong growth momentum in June, rising 14% year-on-year to ₹1.95 lakh crore, reflecting sustained economic activity and improved tax compliance across the country.

The robust collections were driven by healthy domestic consumption, higher business transactions, and continued improvements in GST compliance. The steady rise in revenue indicates resilience in economic activity across key sectors despite global uncertainties.

Experts believe the strong GST performance highlights the growing formalisation of the economy and the increasing adoption of digital tax systems, which have strengthened revenue collection and reduced tax leakages.

The healthy tax collections are expected to provide the government with greater fiscal flexibility to support infrastructure development, welfare programmes, and public investment while maintaining fiscal discipline.

The continued growth in GST revenues underscores the strength of India’s indirect tax system and signals positive momentum for the country’s economic outlook.

New Delhi, July 1: Space technology startup Agnikul Cosmos has signed a strategic agreement with ICEYE to jointly develop advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Earth observation systems, marking a significant step towards strengthening India’s space-based imaging capabilities.

The collaboration aims to leverage the expertise of both organisations in developing next-generation SAR technologies capable of delivering high-resolution Earth observation data under all weather conditions, including day and night operations.

The partnership is expected to support applications across sectors such as disaster management, agriculture, environmental monitoring, infrastructure planning, maritime surveillance, and national security.

Officials said the collaboration aligns with India’s growing focus on expanding indigenous space technologies and building a robust commercial space ecosystem. By combining technological expertise, the two companies aim to accelerate innovation in satellite-based remote sensing solutions.

The agreement also reflects the increasing role of public-private partnerships and international collaborations in advancing India’s space sector and strengthening its Earth observation capabilities for both domestic and global markets.