India posts robust growth in both coal production and dispatch in April 2025

April 2025 witnessed a significant upswing in coal production and dispatch, originating from both captive and commercial mines, compared to the same period last year. This surge reflects a combination of factors, including increased demand for power generation, strategic government initiatives, and improved operational efficiencies within the mining sector.   Production figures from captive mines, largely dedicated to supplying specific industries like steel and cement, demonstrated a notable expansion. This growth suggests a healthy performance within these key sectors, indicating sustained or increasing production outputs requiring consistent coal feedstock. Parallel to this,…

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Narmdeshwar Tiwari Assumes IAF No. 2 Post

Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari PVSM AVSM VM’s recent assumption of the role of Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) marks a significant leadership transition within the Indian Air Force (IAF). His elevation to this prestigious position underscores a career distinguished by exemplary service and demonstrated expertise in air warfare and operational leadership. Holding the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), and Vayu Medal (VM), Air Marshal Tiwari brings a wealth of experience to the VCAS office. This prior commendation reflects his outstanding contributions to the…

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Anuradha Prasad Takes UPSC Charge

Ms. Anuradha Prasad, former Secretary to the Government of India, Inter State Council Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs, took the Oath of the Office and Secrecy as Member, Union Public Service Commission today. The Oath was administered by Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), the seniormost Member of the Commission.   The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the guardian of India’s meritocratic civil service, has welcomed Ms. Anuradha Prasad as its newest member. Her assumption of charge marks a significant addition to the Commission, poised to contribute to its crucial rolee…

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Rakesh Verma Appointed as Director General, IIIDEM

Shri. Rakesh Verma, assumes charge as Director General, India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi here today.  Shri Verma is a 1993 batch IAS Officer from Punjab Cadre. He holds a degree in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Delhi.   2. Prior to this, he was serving as Additional Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti. Earlier he also served as Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism.   3. Shri. Ashish Goyal, assumed charge…

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India’s coal sector demonstrated 3.63% growth in April 2025

India’s coal production and dispatch witnessed steady growth in April 2025, compared to the same period last year. This reflects the continued efforts of the Ministry of Coal and its subsidiaries to ensure consistent supply and operational stability in the sector.   Several factors may contribute to this increase. Fluctuations in energy demand, particularly during the summer pre-peak, could necessitate increased coal-fired power generation. Furthermore, unforeseen disruptions in other energy sources, such as hydroelectric power due to drought or natural gas infrastructure maintenance, may have temporarily shifted reliance towards coal.…

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Air Marshal Tejinder Singh Takes Over Training Command

Air Marshal Tejinder Singh took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command on 01 May 2025. After assumption of his new appointment, the Air Marshal paid homage to the brave hearts by laying wreath at the Training Command War Memorial.   An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Tejinder was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF on 13 June 1987. He is a Category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor with over 4500 hours of flying, an alumnus of Defence Service Staff College and National Defence College.…

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Maj Gen Lisamma PV Appointed ADG, MNS

Major General Lisamma PV has assumed the prestigious appointment of Additional Director General (ADG) of the Military Nursing Service (MNS) as of May 1, 2025. She succeeds Major General Sheena PD, who retired on April 30, 2025, after an illustrious four-decade career in military nursing.   Major General Lisamma PV brings extensive experience and leadership to her new role. Her appointment underscores the Indian Army’s continued commitment to strengthening the Military Nursing Service, which plays a critical role in providing medical care and support to armed forces personnel and their…

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Cabinet Clears ₹22,864 Cr Shillong–Silchar Greenfield Highway

The Union Cabinet has approved the development of a 166.80 km greenfield high-speed corridor along National Highway-6 (NH-6), connecting Mawlyngkhung near Shillong in Meghalaya to Panchgram near Silchar in Assam. The project, with a capital outlay of ₹22,864 crore, will be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) .   The proposed Greenfield high-speed corridor will improve the service level for the traffic moving from Guwahati to Silchar. The development of this corridor will improve the connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and the Barak Valley region of Assam from mainland…

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Gyaneshwar Singh Takes Over as IICA Chief

Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, an accomplished officer of the Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS) from the 1992 batch, has been serving as the Director General and CEO of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA). In this capacity, he also holds the position of CEO of the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) and serves as a Government Nominee on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) .    With over three decades of experience in finance, law, and governance, Shri Singh has held…

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Scientists Discover Massive Plasma Wave Beneath Sun’s Surface

In a groundbreaking discovery, an international team of solar physicists has identified a giant tide of plasma deep beneath the Sun’s surface, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of the solar interior and its impact on space weather. The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, reveals that these plasma flows occur in the near-surface shear layer (NSSL) — a turbulent zone extending about 35,000 kilometers below the Sun’s surface. The movement of these subsurface tides appearrs closely tied to the Sun’s 11-year magnetic activity cycle, which governs solar flares and sunspots. The collaborative effort included researchers from the Indian Institute…

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