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Apr 22  (BNP): As the Chardham Yatra 2026 season gets underway, a Dehradun-based helicopter operator has alerted pilgrims about a rise in fraudulent booking activities targeting devotees planning helicopter travel to Himalayan shrines.

The operator has reported an increase in fake websites, impersonated travel agents, and misleading social media promotions offering guaranteed or discounted helicopter bookings for routes including Kedarnath. These scams, officials say, are particularly active during the early phase of the pilgrimage season when demand is high.

In response, the operator has released a free safety advisory guide aimed at helping pilgrims identify authentic booking channels, avoid advance-payment frauds, and verify authorised service providers before making reservations.

The advisory emphasises that helicopter services for the Chardham circuit are strictly regulated and bookings should only be made through verified and official platforms. Pilgrims have been urged to exercise caution and avoid unverified online offers.

Tourism stakeholders note that such fraudulent activities tend to spike during peak pilgrimage periods due to heavy demand and limited service slots. Authorities are expected to step up awareness efforts to protect devotees and ensure safe travel arrangements.

With increasing pilgrim turnout expected in 2026, officials have also highlighted the need for stronger digital vigilance and public education to curb scam networks targeting religious tourism.

Apr 22 (BNP): India could witness emerging food inflation risks ahead of the Kharif agricultural season, even with significant government support measures in place, including subsidies valued at approximately USD 18.6 billion, according to a senior economist from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The outlook is influenced by disruptions in global supply chains, particularly those linked to geopolitical tensions affecting critical maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. These disruptions have contributed to volatility in the movement of essential commodities and agricultural inputs.

While domestic policy interventions and subsidy mechanisms continue to provide stability to the agriculture sector, external supply-side pressures remain a key concern for price control and market equilibrium.

The FAO economist noted that maintaining food security will require a combination of strong domestic production, efficient supply chain management, and close monitoring of global trade dynamics.

Authorities are expected to remain vigilant to ensure price stability and protect consumer interests during the upcoming agricultural cycle.

Apr 22 (BNP): The Odisha Government’s Revenue and Disaster Management Department has issued a fresh advisory to district collectors and municipal commissioners, stressing enhanced safety protocols for enumerators engaged in the first phase of Census 2027—the houselisting and housing census exercise.

The field operation, which began on April 16, 2026, and will continue till May 15, 2026, involves door-to-door surveys across the state to collect data on housing conditions, household amenities, and assets owned by families.

The advisory comes after reports of multiple incidents during fieldwork in different districts, including a suspected health-related death of an enumerator in Subarnapur, a missing enumerator case in Mayurbhanj, heat-related illness and minor accidents in Balasore, and a road accident in Rourkela.

In view of these concerns, the department has directed local administrations to strengthen on-ground monitoring, ensure real-time tracking of field staff, and take preventive steps to reduce exposure to heat and other operational risks. District authorities have also been asked to identify vulnerable areas and ensure quick medical response wherever required.

Officials have further been instructed to sensitise enumerators on safety guidelines, particularly given the physically demanding nature of door-to-door data collection and prevailing weather conditions.

The advisory underscores the state’s focus on balancing the efficiency of the nationwide census exercise with the safety and well-being of frontline field workers.

Apr 22 (BNP): The Central Government has approved a new railway project to strengthen connectivity in Odisha’s mineral-rich Rayagada district. The Cabinet has sanctioned the Gunupur–Therubali new rail line, a 73.62 km route aimed at improving transportation infrastructure in one of the state’s key mining regions.

The project, estimated at a cost of around ₹1,362 crore, is expected to enhance regional mobility and provide more efficient and reliable rail services. It will connect important industrial and mining zones, improving the movement of both passengers and freight.

Officials noted that the new rail corridor will play a significant role in supporting economic activity in southern Odisha by improving access to remote areas and strengthening logistics efficiency for the Indian Railways network.

The development is also expected to contribute to long-term regional growth by enabling smoother transportation of resources, boosting local connectivity, and integrating the region more effectively with broader economic corridors.

Dubai, UAE, 22^nd April 2026:  FIA President H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem has paid tribute to all parties across the FIA Formula One World Championship for coming together to agree a package of targeted regulatory changes for the 2026 season.

A number of refinements to the current regulations were agreed during an online meeting between the FIA, Team Principals, CEOs of Power Unit Manufacturers and FOM on Monday.

The changes covered qualifying energy management, race safety and power controls, race start-line safety systems, and wet weather visibility and grip improvements.

The final proposals will now be put before a FIA WMSC e-vote with a view to implementation before the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, except for the race starts proposals which will be tested and analysed during that weekend. 

H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, said: “I would like to praise everyone across the Formula One ecosystem – the FIA staff, teams, drivers and the Power Unit Manufacturers – for the constructive and collaborative work carried out in a very short space of time.

“While we have faced an unexpected gap in the calendar due to circumstances beyond the sport, all parties have remained fully committed to acting in the best interests of Formula One.

“More than ever, the drivers have been at the heart of these discussions, and I would like to thank them for their valuable input throughout this process.

Speaking on the sidelines of the FIA Region I Spring Meeting in Budva, Montenegro today, the FIA President added: “Safety and sporting fairness remain the FIA’s highest priorities. These changes have been introduced to address the issues identified in the opening events and to ensure the continued integrity and quality of the competition.

“We now look forward to the rest of what promises to be an exciting 2026 season.”

Monday’s discussions around potential adjustments were based on data gathered from the first three events of the 2026 season. 

The agreed changes include an increase from 8 to 12 in the number of events where alternative lower energy limits may apply, allowing greater adaptation to circuit characteristics. 

Other measures are designed to reduce excessive closing speeds while maintaining overtaking opportunities and overall performance characteristics. 

Meanwhile, the rear light systems have been simplified, with clearer and more consistent visual cues to improve visibility and reaction time for following drivers in poor conditions. 

The FIA Region I Spring Meeting in Budva reaches its conclusion tomorrow after three days of discussions by representatives from 102 FIA Member Clubs in the Middle East, Europe and Africa to advance safe and sustainable mobility for motor sport fans and road users.

New Delhi, Apr 22 (BNP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon India’s civil servants to place the principle of ‘Nagrik Devo Bhava’—the citizen as god—at the core of all governance decisions, emphasizing that public service must remain firmly focused on people-centric delivery and welfare.

In letters addressed to over one crore civil servants ahead of Civil Services Day, the Prime Minister highlighted that governance should be guided by compassion, accountability, and a continuous commitment to learning. He stressed that those entrusted with public responsibility must set an example through dedication and ethical service.

The letters, issued on April 20, were released in 12 languages, including Hindi, English, Marathi, Odia, Gujarati, Bengali, Kannada, Punjabi, Assamese, Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil. This multilingual outreach was aimed at ensuring wider accessibility across ministries, departments, states, and Union Territories.

The message underscores the government’s focus on strengthening citizen-centric governance and reinforcing the role of civil servants as key drivers of policy implementation and public trust.