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At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
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Day: February 3, 2026

Odisha Railways gets Rs10,928cr in Union Budget 2026-27

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New Delhi: The Union government has allocated Rs10,928 crore for the development of railway infrastructure in Odisha in the Union Budget for the financial year 2026-27, which was presented in Parliament last week by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the media on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the finance minister had approved a record allocation of Rs 10,928 crore for Odisha’s rail sector in the 2026-27 Budget.

He added that various railway projects worth Rs90,659 crore are currently underway across the state. Vaishnaw stated that when the double-engine government assumed office in 2024, it had promised the implementation of railway projects worth over Rs1 lakh crore in Odisha over five years.

He noted that the State had so far reached projects totaling Rs90,659 crore and that additional projects worth around Rs10,000 crore would be required to meet the target, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fulfilling its earlier promise.

The minister also mentioned that the proposed East–West Freight Corridor, starting from Dankuni in West Bengal, will pass through Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, eventually connecting to Surat Port in Gujarat and Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra.

In a post on X, he highlighted that this corridor is expected to boost industrial development in Odisha.

Vaishnaw further pointed out that six pairs each of Vande Bharat Express and Amrit Bharat Express train services are currently operational in the State.

Spacex acquires xAI to scale space-based AI

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New Delhi: SpaceX on Monday announced that it has acquired artificial intelligence firm xAI to develop an integrated technology platform encompassing AI, rockets, and satellite communications.

In a statement outlining its roadmap, the company said the move aims to combine launch systems, space-based internet, and AI-driven information platforms under one ecosystem.

SpaceX said current AI development relies heavily on large terrestrial data centres. These facilities require massive amounts of electricity and water for cooling.

The company claimed that global power demand for AI cannot be met sustainably through land-based infrastructure alone. It warned of long-term pressure on communities and the environment.

According to the statement, space-based AI offers the only scalable solution over time. Near-constant solar energy and physical capacity make orbit suitable for heavy computing.

SpaceX said satellites could function as orbital data centres powered directly by solar energy. This approach would reduce operating limits faced on Earth.

The company linked the vision to large satellite constellations supporting AI services, satellite internet, and direct-to-mobile communications.

SpaceX said existing launch vehicles lack the capacity to deploy such infrastructure at scale. Even during peak launch years, global payload delivery to orbit remains limited.

It noted that the need to deploy thousands of satellites earlier drove rapid improvements in the Falcon rocket programme. This enabled higher launch frequency and Starlink expansion.

The statement said Starship will now play a larger role. Each launch is expected to deploy next-generation Starlink satellites with far greater capacity.

SpaceX added that Starship will also carry direct-to-mobile satellites. These systems aim to provide cellular coverage across remote regions.

The company stated that frequent, heavy-lift launches could eventually deliver millions of tonnes to orbit each year. This capability would support space-based computing and future planetary missions.

SpaceX described the acquisition of xAI as a step towards long-term space exploration and large-scale AI growth.

Govt starts ward delimitation for new urban polls

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Bhubaneswar: The government on Monday began the statutory process for conducting elections to newly constituted Notified Area Councils and municipalities by directing district administrations to complete ward delimitation and reservation of seats within a fixed timeline.

The Housing and Urban Development Department has treated the exercise as election-urgent and instructed District Magistrates and Collectors to follow the approved schedule without deviation, according to a government press release.

The decision follows the recent formation of several new NACs and municipalities across the State, where elections are required to be held within six months of their constitution as mandated under law.

Ward delimitation and reservation of seats will be carried out under the provisions of the Odisha Municipal Act, 1950, along with the relevant election rules, after inviting objections and suggestions from the public.

As per the schedule approved by the government, draft notifications on ward boundaries and reservation categories will be issued by February 12, 2026, following which objections and suggestions will be received till February 21.

After examining public representations, district administrations will publish provisional notifications on February 26, while appeals against the provisional arrangements may be filed up to March 13.

Appeals will be heard by the designated appellate authority, and decisions will be taken in accordance with statutory provisions before the process is finalised.

The government has emphasised that completion of the delimitation exercise within the stipulated time is crucial for enabling the State Election Commission to proceed with further steps related to the conduct of urban local body elections.

District administrations have been asked to ensure transparency and adherence to the timeline to avoid any delay in the electoral process.