Bhubaneswar: India has announced plans to establish dedicated Rare Earth Corridors across Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, marking a significant step in strengthening the country’s position in the global critical minerals landscape. The corridor-based approach is aimed at building an integrated ecosystem for the exploration, processing, and downstream manufacturing of rare earth elements,…
Bhubaneswar: India is set to host a global Women in Agriculture conference in March, bringing international attention to the often under-recognised role of women in farming and agri-food systems. Women constitute nearly half of India’s agricultural workforce, yet their contributions frequently remain invisible in policy, data, and decision-making. The conference will bring together over 500…
Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards strengthening women’s empowerment, the Union Budget 2026 has proposed the establishment of girls’ hostels in every district across the country, aimed at improving access to education and ensuring safe accommodation for female students. The initiative is intended to address one of the key barriers to girls’ education—lack of secure…
Bhubaneswar: The Centre has intensified scrutiny of claims under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), rejecting ₹133 crore worth of suspicious claims and placing an additional ₹272 crore under investigation, officials said. As part of the exercise, around 4.63 lakh claims have been returned to states for re-verification, following the detection of irregularities…
Bhubaneswar: India and the United States have reached a major trade agreement that ends a 25 per cent U.S. tariff linked to India’s purchases of Russian oil and immediately reduces a reciprocal tariff to 18 per cent, providing significant relief to Indian exporters. Under the deal, India has agreed to substantially lower trade barriers on…
Bhubaneswar: As India prepares to host the AI Impact Summit Bharat 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has stepped up efforts to promote nationwide artificial intelligence literacy through the “YUVA AI for All” programme. Launched under the IndiaAI Mission, the initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by equipping over one crore…
Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that India aims to utilise 100 per cent of its solid waste in road construction by 2027, marking a major push towards sustainable and environmentally responsible infrastructure development. Speaking about ongoing initiatives, Gadkari said that around 80 lakh tonnes of waste have…
Bhubaneswar: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday responded to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the Union Budget, saying she was unclear about the “course correction” he was referring to and asserting that the Indian economy remains fundamentally strong. “I don’t know what course correction he is referring to. The economy…
Bhubaneswar: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana, a new initiative aimed at expanding skill development and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (divyangjan). The scheme will focus on targeted training programmes, workplace inclusion, and creation of dignified livelihood opportunities, enabling divyangjan to participate more actively in the workforce. The initiative seeks…
Bhubaneswar: The Union Budget 2026 has announced a significant expansion of government support for Ayurveda and India’s broader AYUSH ecosystem, signalling a renewed emphasis on traditional medicine systems alongside modern healthcare. As part of the initiative, the Centre has proposed the establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda, aimed at scaling up education,…