Month: January 2026

India’s coal production and dispatches have recorded a significant surge, driven by strong performance from captive and commercial coal mines, reflecting improved operational efficiency and growing energy demand. According to official data, coal output from captive and commercial mines has shown robust growth, contributing substantially to overall domestic production. Enhanced mechanisation, faster mine development, and streamlined regulatory processes have helped accelerate coal extraction and evacuation during the period.   Coal dispatches have also increased in tandem with production, ensuring steady supply to key sectors such as power generation, steel, cement…

The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IMC) has launched its first-ever Ph.D. programme, marking a historic academic milestone in its six-decade-long journey as one of India’s premier institutions for media education. The doctoral programme, focused on media, journalism and communication studies, aims to promote advanced research, critical inquiry and academic excellence in the rapidly evolving field of mass communication. With this initiative, IMC enters a new phase of its academic expansion, strengthening its role not only as a teaching institution but also as a centre for research and knowledge creation.…

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced the successful breakthrough of the first mountain tunnel in the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (Bullet Train) project at Palghar district, Maharashtra, marking a major engineering milestone. The breakthrough was achieved in one of the mountain tunnels located between Virar and Boisar, executed by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). The tunnel was excavated using advanced construction techniques while adhering to strict safety and quality standards.   The Union Minister said the Bullet Train Project is generating significant employment and will…

Indian Railways has announced the launch of the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, marking a major milestone in long-distance rail travel. The new semi-high-speed sleeper service will operate between Guwahati and Howrah, connecting the Northeast with eastern India.   The sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train is designed for overnight journeys, combining modern technology with enhanced passenger comfort. The train will feature fully air-conditioned coaches, including AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier and First Class, along with advanced safety systems, automatic doors, improved suspension and bio-vacuum toilets.   Railway officials…

Air Marshal Seethepalli Shrinivas took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command, Indian Air Force on 01 January 2026. After assumption of his new appointment, the Air Marshal paid homage to bravehearts by laying a wreath at the Training Command War Memorial.  An alumnus of National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Shrinivas was commissioned in the fighter stream of IAF on 13 June 1987. He is a ‘Category A’ Qualified Flying Instructor with over 4200 hours of flying experience on MiG-21, Iskra, Kiran, PC-7 Mk Il, HPT-32 and Microlite amongst…

Air Marshal Tejinder Singh has taken over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the South Western Air Command (SWAC) of the Indian Air Force.  Air Marshal Tejinder Singh is a senior and highly experienced officer of the Indian Air Force, with an extensive career encompassing operational, command and staff appointments. He has played a key role in strengthening operational preparedness and enhancing combat capabilities across various formations.  Before assuming the present appointment, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh held important leadership positions, where he contributed significantly to policy planning, training and…

On New Year Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India’s premier state-owned telecommunications provider, is delighted to announce the nationwide rollout of Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi), also known as Wi-Fi Calling. This advanced service is now available to all BSNL customers across every telecom circle in the country, ensuring seamless and high-quality connectivity even in challenging environments.  The service is now available to BSNL customers across all telecom circles in the country. VoWiFi enables customers to make and receive voice calls and messages over a Wi-Fi network, ensuring clear and reliable…

Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, SYSM, PVSM, AVSM, VM, has taken over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) of the Indian Air Force. An officer with a distinguished career spanning several decades, Air Marshal Kapoor is a highly experienced fighter pilot and air warrior. During his service, he has held a wide range of operational, command and staff appointments, contributing significantly to the operational preparedness and modernisation of the Indian Air Force.   Before assuming the role of Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Kapoor held…