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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 27, 2026

Vikas Manthan 1.0 highlights agriculture, allied sector roadmap for Odisha

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Bhubaneswar: The third session of the two-day conference ‘Vikas Manthan 1.0’ was held at the Loka Seva Bhavan Convention Center on Friday with the theme “Sujala Sufala & Shasya Shyamala Odisha”.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Odisha State Open University, Professor Arka Kumar Das Mohapatra, moderated the session. Professor Sanatan Pradhan, Principal of Municipal College, Rourkela, served as co-moderator.

Senior officials from key departments shared their views on Odisha’s agriculture and allied sectors. Principal Secretary of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, addressed the gathering. Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, also spoke at the session.

Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Vijay Amruta Kulange, Director of Fisheries, Rina Mohapatra, and Engineer-in-Chief (Planning and Design) of the Water Resources Department, Lingaraj Gouda, presented their perspectives.

The speakers discussed soil conservation, groundwater and rainwater harvesting, and environmental protection through natural methods. They also highlighted the importance of renewable energy use, aquaculture, animal husbandry, and related protection measures. Government initiatives taken in these areas were detailed during the session.

The officials outlined plans aligned with Odisha’s Vision 2036 and the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, according to an official statement.

The session stressed that growth in agriculture and allied sectors depends on collective efforts to safeguard land, water, and forest resources. Experts also pointed to the need for climate-resilient farming practices suited to shifting seasonal patterns.

India GDP grows 7.8% in Q3 FY26; Full-year growth raised to 7.6%

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New Delhi: India’s economy expanded at a strong pace in the third quarter of the current financial year, according to official data released on Friday.

The country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 7.8% in the quarter ended December 31, 2025 (Q3 FY26). Analysts had earlier projected growth in the range of 7% to 8.1%.

The second advance estimates placed full-year real GDP growth for FY26 at 7.6%. The revised projection is above the earlier advance estimate of 7.4% that was released in January.

The latest data has been released with a revised base year of 2022-23. Earlier, the base year was 2011-12. The change aims to better capture the evolving structure of the economy, according to an official statement.

Economic growth for the previous quarter of this fiscal (Q2 FY26) has also been revised upward from 8.2% to 8.4%.

Nominal GDP recorded an 8.6% rise in Q3 FY26. Gross Value Added (GVA), which reflects the value of goods and services produced across sectors, also showed improvement.

In real terms, GVA is estimated at Rs 294.40 trillion in FY26, compared with Rs 273.36 trillion in FY25. This marks a growth rate of 7.7%, higher than 7.3% in the previous year.

For Q3 FY26, real GVA stood at Rs 77.38 trillion, up from Rs 71.77 trillion in the same quarter last year. This translates into 7.8% growth.

In nominal terms, GVA for FY26 is projected at Rs 313.61 trillion, compared to Rs 288.54 trillion in FY25, an increase of 8.7%. Nominal GVA in Q3 FY26 rose 8.2% to Rs 82.58 trillion from Rs 76.35 trillion a year ago.

The new GDP series indicates that quarterly growth eased slightly to 7.8% in Q3 FY26. However, the full-year estimate for FY26 remains stronger than the previous financial year.

Sector-wise, the primary sector, which includes agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing, mining, and quarrying, is estimated to grow 4.9% in 2024-25. This is higher than 2.6% recorded in 2023-24.

The secondary sector, covering manufacturing, electricity, gas, water supply, and construction, is projected to grow 8% in 2024-25. In comparison, it had expanded 11.6% in 2023-24.

The tertiary or services sector is estimated to grow 7.9% in 2024-25, up from 7.3% in the previous year.

Growth in real GVA during 2024-25 has been driven mainly by manufacturing, mining and quarrying, construction, financial services, and real estate and professional services. Agriculture and allied activities, utility services, and other services have recorded relatively modest growth during the year.

Delhi court clears Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia in excise policy case

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New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday cleared former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia in a case related to alleged corruption in framing a new liquor policy in the national capital.

The court observed that the evidence on record did not establish any larger conspiracy or deliberate criminal intent in the formulation of the excise policy, according to media reports.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it would immediately file an appeal before the High Court. The agency maintained that several aspects of its investigation were either ignored or not adequately considered in the judgment.

After the ruling, Kejriwal broke down while speaking to reporters. Kejriwal said he was not corrupt and that the court had declared both him and Sisodia honest. He further described the excise case as the biggest political conspiracy in the history of Independent India.

The case, widely known as the Delhi liquor policy case, had caused significant political trouble for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership when they were in power in Delhi.

Kejriwal and 22 others, including Sisodia, are facing prosecution in the multi-crore excise policy cases. The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate have alleged that the Delhi government’s 2021-22 liquor policy was framed to benefit certain licensees in exchange for kickbacks. These funds were allegedly routed into the AAP’s Goa election campaign.

The CBI registered the case in August 2022 under sections of the Indian Penal Code related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, and destruction of evidence. Charges were also filed under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The agency has accused Kejriwal and others of direct involvement in the formulation of the policy.

According to the agency, a “south lobby” allegedly paid Rs 100 crore to influence the excise policy in its favour.

Prague Chess Masters: Gukesh holds Niemann to draw

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New Delhi: Reigning world champion D Gukesh began his campaign at the Prague International Chess Festival on Thursday with a hard-fought draw against American Grandmaster Hans Niemann in the Masters section.

Gukesh faced early pressure in the middle game. Niemann adopted the Berlin Defence and sacrificed a piece on move 13 to seize the initiative. The bold strategy forced the Indian star to defend carefully despite having the white pieces.

Niemann built pressure with active play and extra pawns in compensation for the sacrificed knight. Gukesh remained composed and gradually neutralised the attack. The game eventually ended in a draw after tense exchanges, according to chess.com.

The Gukesh-Niemann game was the only draw in the 10-player, nine-round Masters tournament. All other games in the opening round produced decisive results, with players holding the white pieces scoring victories.

Defending champion Aravindh Chithambaram suffered a setback against Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Aravindh opted for the Philidor Defence but lost a pawn in the endgame. Abdusattorov converted his advantage in a rook and minor piece ending.

Top seed Vincent Keymer also stumbled. The German lost to the Netherlands’ Jorden van Foreest, who introduced a fresh idea in another Berlin Defence. Van Foreest gained a strong position out of the opening and secured a convincing win.

In the Challengers section, women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh drew with Hungary’s Benjamin Gledura despite holding a promising position. Veteran Indian Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly lost to the Netherlands’ Thomas Beerdsen.

The opening round has set up an intense battle in Prague. All eyes remain on Gukesh as the world champion aims to build momentum in the coming rounds.

Paradip Port to get Rs 797 crore green hydrogen jetty

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New Delhi: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has approved a dedicated jetty for handling green hydrogen, ammonia, and other liquid cargo at Paradip Port Authority. The project will cost Rs 797.17 crore.

Paradip Port Authority will implement the project on a build-operate-transfer basis. The proposed facility will have a handling capacity of four million tonnes per annum.

The new jetty will strengthen Paradip Port’s role as a green energy cargo hub. The project will include a dedicated berth, storage systems, pipelines, handling equipment, and related infrastructure.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the approval reflects the Centre’s focus on green infrastructure. He said the move supports India’s clean energy goals under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The jetty will have a centre-to-centre distance of 279 metres between end dolphins. The berth will have a dredged depth of 14.3 metres to allow safe handling of liquid cargo vessels, according to an official statement.

Paradip Port Authority will provide capital support of 20% of the total project cost. The support will amount to Rs 159.43 crore during construction. Authorities expect to complete the project within 24 months.

Officials said the green hydrogen jetty will boost export logistics. It will also connect Odisha’s emerging green hydrogen clusters with global markets.

The facility will also handle other liquid cargo in the initial phase. This step will ensure optimal use of infrastructure and diversify the port’s cargo profile.

Officials said the project aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission. They said it will support clean energy investments in Odisha and strengthen port-based logistics for green commodities.

CBI registers fresh case against Anil Ambani in loan fraud case

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New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday registered a fresh case against Anil Ambani in connection with alleged loan fraud involving Reliance Communications.

The case follows a complaint filed by Bank of Baroda on February 24. The agency has booked Ambani, the promoter and former chairman of RCom, along with the company and others. The FIR includes charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating under the IPC, and criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the CBI said in a press release.

According to the complaint, Bank of Baroda suffered a loss of over Rs 2,220 crore. The bank alleged that loans taken by Reliance Communications were diverted and misused through fictitious transactions involving related parties. The FIR also states that the company manipulated its books of accounts to conceal irregularities.

The loan account had turned into a Non-Performing Asset in 2017. However, a petition filed by Anil before the Bombay High Court resulted in a stay on declaring the account as fraudulent. The court vacated the stay on February 23. Bank of Baroda then lodged the complaint, and the CBI registered the case.

The agency had earlier registered another case against Reliance Communications based on a complaint by the State Bank of India, which led to a consortium of 11 banks. Bank of Baroda was not part of that consortium. Officials said this new case relates to a separate loan availed from Bank of Baroda, the former Vijaya Bank, and the former Dena Bank. Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank have since merged with Bank of Baroda.

After registering the FIR, the CBI conducted searches at Anil Ambani’s residence and at the registered offices of Reliance Communications. Investigators recovered documents linked to the loan transactions.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Odisha Information Commission disposes 12,928 RTI cases in 10 months

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Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Information Commission has disposed of 12,928 RTI cases in the last 10 months, marking a major administrative milestone.

Pending cases have reduced from 22,611 to 9,688 during this period. The disposal rate increased after the appointment of the State Chief Information Commissioner and three new Information Commissioners in April 2025.

The Commission has cleared all pending cases from 2021 and 2022. Only a few cases from 2023 and 2024 remain. It has now started hearing fresh cases filed in 2025 and 2026, according to a government release.

Officials said the Commission focused on faster hearings and avoided unnecessary adjournments. The aim is to ensure that applicants receive information on time under the RTI Act.

The Commission has also issued key directives. It directed the Odisha Public Service Commission to disclose the interview marks of each candidate. It instructed the Odisha Staff Selection Commission to provide the marks for the skill and computer tests to both successful and unsuccessful candidates.

In cases where Public Information Officers denied information on the grounds of non-availability, the Commission ordered inquiries by senior officials. It asked authorities to fix responsibility and take action against guilty officers.

The Commission launched a special drive to identify misuse of fake BPL cards for seeking free information. It also screened cases where applicants filed multiple RTI requests on the same subject.

In one case, an RTI applicant from Balangir allegedly demanded a bribe from a Public Information Officer to withdraw an application. The Commission referred the matter to the police for investigation.

The Commission has imposed penalties totaling Rs 1,47,76,250 on officials for delays and unjust denial of information. Recently, State Chief Information Commissioner Manoj Parida imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 on a police official in Ganjam district for violating the RTI Act.

Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes escalate

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New Delhi: Tensions have sharply escalated along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border following renewed military clashes and retaliatory strikes.

A spokesperson for the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan, Hamdullah Fitrat, said forces of the Islamic Emirate launched retaliatory operations along the so-called Durand Line. In a post on X, he stated that the 203 Mansouri Corps and the 201 Khalid bin Walid Corps carried out offensive actions in Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar, and at the Torkham Gate.

Fitrat claimed that Afghan forces captured one headquarters and nineteen outposts. He also alleged that four outposts were abandoned and set on fire. According to his statement, up to 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, while several others were taken into custody. He further claimed that Afghan fighters seized light and heavy weapons and destroyed one tank. Independent verification of these claims remains pending.

The statement followed reports of Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul and Kandahar on Friday. The Taliban administration described its actions as retaliation for earlier cross-border attacks.

In Islamabad, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif posted on X that Pakistan had launched an operation named ‘Ghazab Lil Haq’. He wrote that Pakistan’s “patience has reached its limit” and described the situation as “open war.”

Pakistan has not publicly confirmed the casualty figures cited by Afghan officials. The Pakistani government has, however, acknowledged military operations along the border.

The Durand Line, which separates Afghanistan and Pakistan, has long remained a flashpoint. Both sides have traded accusations over cross-border attacks and militant activity in the past.

Odisha Police intensifies ‘Operation Cyber Kavach’

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Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Police has intensified its statewide crackdown on cybercrime under the special drive ‘Operation Cyber Kavach’. The campaign continues across districts with focused action against mule and benami bank accounts used in online fraud.

Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania is personally monitoring the operation. District SPs and DCPs are supervising local cybercrime units to ensure swift action.

Police have verified 13,976 mule and benami bank accounts across Odisha so far, the State Police Headquarters said in a press release.

Officers have registered 531 cyber cases linked to mule accounts. They have also filed 20 cases related to ATM withdrawals and 20 cases linked to cheque withdrawals. Police have registered 12 cases involving fake SIM cards and PoS misuse.

Investigators have arrested 255 accused persons during the drive. Authorities have issued legal notices to 3,453 suspected account holders and associates in connection with new cases and 130 old FIRs.

Several districts have reported significant action. Puri Police verified 588 accounts, registered seven cases, and arrested four accused. Khordha Police filed cases linked to mule banking, ATM withdrawals, and fake SIM operations. Mayurbhanj Police verified 238 accounts and registered four cases. Sambalpur Police examined 443 accounts and registered one case.

Bhubaneswar (UPD) Police verified 114 accounts, arrested four accused, and issued multiple notices. Bargarh, Boudh, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur districts also reported arrests during the operation.

The Odisha Police continues to target financial networks that support cyber fraud. The department aims to dismantle mule banking chains and prevent digital payment misuse.

Khurania has stated that the force will further intensify ‘Operation Cyber Kavach’ in the coming days. The department remains committed to protecting citizens from cybercrime and securing digital transactions across the State.