December 28, 2025 - IndiaVerve

President undertakes submarine sortie aboard INS Vaghsheer

December 28, 2025 by India Verve Desk

Karwar: President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday undertook a deep-sea operational sortie aboard the Indian Navy submarine INS Vaghsheer along the western seaboard. Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, the Chief of the Naval Staff, accompanied her during the visit.

The president boarded the submarine at the Karwar Naval Harbour in Karnataka. During the sortie, which lasted for over two hours, she engaged with officers and sailors onboard and observed a range of operational manoeuvres and demonstrations carried out by the crew, according to an official statement.

With this experience, Murmu became the second Indian president to undertake a submarine sortie, following former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

The embarkation marked her first visit aboard an indigenous Kalvari-class submarine and highlighted the continued operational engagement of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces with frontline units. Earlier, in November 2024, the president had observed a naval operational exercise aboard the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.

After completing the sortie, the president recorded her impressions in the visitor’s book. She noted that the experience of sailing, diving, and spending time with the crew was deeply memorable. She praised the submarine’s successful weapon firings and complex operational drills, stating that they reflected a high level of preparedness, professionalism, and commitment in line with the vessel’s motto. The discipline, confidence and morale displayed by the crew, she said, reinforced her confidence in the Indian Navy’s ability to remain fully prepared to respond to any challenge under all conditions.

Pradhan inaugurates new sports, cultural facilities at NIT Rourkela

December 28, 2025 by India Verve Desk

Rourkela: Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday inaugurated a series of major infrastructure facilities at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, marking a significant step forward in the institute’s campus development and student-focused initiatives.

The minister formally opened a new Indoor Sports Complex and a 1,000-capacity open-air theatre, while also laying the foundation stones for three upcoming infrastructure projects. The additions are designed to enhance academic, cultural, and recreational facilities at the institute, according to an official statement.

Addressing the gathering, the Union minister noted the steady progress made by NIT Rourkela in education, research, and innovation. He said the newly inaugurated facilities would help students excel beyond academics by providing opportunities in sports, creativity, and cultural engagement. He also highlighted the institute’s contribution to technological advancement in Odisha and its alignment with national development goals, including the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Referring to the institute’s startup ecosystem and research initiatives, Pradhan stated that NIT Rourkela was playing a crucial role in addressing challenges related to sustainability, climate change, and energy efficiency, while also nurturing future entrepreneurs.

The minister said Rourkela symbolises India’s industrial and educational strength.

He added that institutions such as NIT Rourkela would play a key role in promoting inclusive growth as Odisha nears its centenary in 2036 and the nation approaches 100 years of Independence in 2047.

As part of the programme, Pradhan inaugurated the Indoor Sports Complex, developed under the Student Activity Centre at an estimated cost of Rs35 crore. The facility has been designed to support physical fitness, organised sports, and all-around development of students.

Integrated within the complex is a 1,000-seat open-air theatre, constructed at a cost of approximately Rs6 crore. The theatre is expected to serve as a central venue for cultural programmes, recreational activities, and large-scale student events. The overall infrastructure is also intended to position Rourkela as a potential host for state- and national-level sports competitions.

Welcoming the guests, NIT Rourkela Director K. Umamaheshwar Rao said the institute was honoured to host the Union education minister on an important day in its journey. He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to national service through excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. Highlighting recent achievements, he said NIT Rourkela was ranked second among all National Institutes of Technology and 13th nationally in engineering education in the NIRF 2025 rankings.

The event was also attended by Odisha Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi, along with Rourkela MLA Sarada Prasad Nayak, Raghunathpalli MLA Durga Charan Tanti, and Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, among other dignitaries.

Odisha rolls out Green Sticker Rule to enforce PUCC and curb vehicle pollution from February

December 28, 2025 by IndiaVerve Staff

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced the introduction of mandatory green compliance stickers for all vehicles across the state starting February, marking a major step to tighten enforcement of the amended Motor Vehicles Act and tackle rising vehicular pollution.

Under the new system, the Transport Department will issue green stickers to vehicles that meet all statutory requirements, including a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate, insurance coverage, registration and fitness certification. Vehicles found operating without these compliances will face penal action once the rule comes into effect.

State authorities have directed transport enforcement officials to intensify checks across urban and rural areas after February to ensure adherence to the new mandate. Vehicle owners will also be required to carry all prescribed documents at all times, reinforcing accountability and on-road compliance.

The move is aimed at improving regulatory discipline while strengthening pollution control measures statewide. The government has also planned awareness campaigns in the coming weeks to familiarise motorists with the green sticker requirement and the documentation norms linked to it.

Concerns have been raised within the department over the current system of issuing pollution certificates, with indications that both compliant and non-compliant vehicles are being granted PUCCs. Officials have indicated that the process will be reviewed closely to ensure that certification mechanisms function effectively and contribute meaningfully to emission reduction.

The government has clarified that the initiative is focused on environmental protection and road safety rather than revenue generation. By introducing visible compliance markers and stricter verification, Odisha aims to create a more transparent and effective framework for monitoring vehicular emissions and enforcing transport regulations across the state.

Myanmar votes amid boycott calls and conflict

December 28, 2025 by India Verve Desk

Myanmar has begun voting on Sunday in a staggered national election that many political observers and opposition figures have dismissed as illegitimate, citing the exclusion of key political parties, the detention of opposition leaders and ongoing armed conflict that has made polling impossible across large parts of the country.

The ballot is the first organised by the military administration since it seized power nearly five years ago, triggering mass protests and a prolonged civil war. Large areas of Myanmar remain under the control of resistance groups, and analysts say turnout is likely to be deeply affected.

Authorities have warned against disrupting the polls, introducing a law making interference a serious criminal offence with punishments that can include the death penalty. Local media reported explosions in at least two regions ahead of voting. In Mandalay, three people were taken to hospital following a rocket attack on an empty house, the BBC reported, while multiple homes were damaged in Myawaddy township near the Thai border after a series of blasts.

The junta has rejected criticism of the vote, saying the process is intended to restore multi-party democracy. After casting his vote in the capital Nay Pyi Taw, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing told the BBC that the election would be “free and fair”. He added, “I am the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, a civil servant. I can’t just say that I want to be president,” stressing that the electoral process involves three phases. Earlier, he warned that refusing to vote was equivalent to rejecting progress toward democracy.

The election comes as Myanmar faces severe economic decline and intensifying clashes between the military and ethnic armed groups. Analysts believe the junta is hoping the vote, reportedly backed diplomatically by China, will strengthen its claim to domestic and international legitimacy.

International monitoring of the vote remains highly restricted. According to Myanmar-based news portal Irrawaddy.com, the junta has invited observers from allied and authoritarian-leaning governments but has barred local independent monitoring networks. Civil society groups that once played a key role in elections say many of their members are either in hiding or were refused accreditation due to registration rules.

Irrawaddy.com had reported that Thailand, Laos and India are among the governments expected to send observers, with close partners China and Russia also likely to take part. By contrast, ASEAN, the European Union and the Asian Network for Free Elections have declined to participate. Several political parties have raised concerns that such observers cannot be regarded as neutral.

Rights groups and exiled politicians have called for voters to boycott the polls, arguing that they take place under coercion and at a time when tens of thousands of political prisoners remain behind bars. With fighting ongoing across the country, it is unclear how many citizens will be able , or willing, to participate in the process.