March 1, 2026 - IndiaVerve

PM launches development projects worth Rs 4,400 crore in Madurai

March 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 4,400 crore in Madurai.

Addressing a gathering in the temple city, the PM described the occasion as an important milestone in Tamil Nadu’s development journey. He said these projects aim to improve connectivity, boost the economy, generate significant job opportunities for the youth, and positively impact lakhs of people across the State.

He stressed that quality infrastructure ultimately empowers citizens by improving market access for farmers, easing travel for pilgrims and tourists, and ensuring faster transport for businesses, according to an official statement.

Modi noted that more than 4,000 kilometres of highways have been constructed in Tamil Nadu since 2014. He laid the foundation stone for two key national highway projects.

The four-laning of the Marakkanam–Puducherry section will be developed at a cost of over Rs 2,100 crore to boost coastal tourism and trade. The Paramakudi–Ramanathapuram stretch will be four-laned with an investment of more than Rs 1,800 crore. This project is expected to improve connectivity to Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi and facilitate smoother transport of agricultural and marine products.

The PM further said Indian Railways has witnessed a significant transformation over the past decade. He highlighted that Tamil Nadu’s railway budget allocation has increased nearly ninefold under the current government.

Modi also inaugurated new FM relay transmitters of Akashvani in Kumbakonam, Yercaud, and Vellore.

He stated that infrastructure funding for Tamil Nadu has tripled compared to the previous decade and that the 2026 Union Budget continues this focus. Proposals for the Bengaluru–Chennai and Chennai–Hyderabad bullet train corridors were highlighted as transformative for the regional economy.

Modi added that Tamil Nadu has been positioned within the Rare Earth Corridors to promote advanced manufacturing, research, and technology development.

He further announced plans to develop historic sites such as Adichanallur into global heritage destinations. Ecotourism initiatives around Lake Pulicat and Podhigai Malai are expected to create jobs while preserving ecosystems.

Naapbooks directors, Dr. Mahaling discuss e-notary project

March 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: Directors of Naapbooks met Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Parliamentary Affairs, and Electronics & Information Technology, on Friday in Bhubaneswar to explore the implementation of a comprehensive e-Notary ecosystem in the State.

The meeting focused on digital transformation initiatives, with detailed discussions on the proposed e-Notary Project. The initiative aims to modernise notarial services through secure digital systems, Naapbooks said in a post on X.

According to the company, the proposed solution is designed to ensure secure digital documentation, authenticated identity verification, and tamper-proof record management. It also seeks seamless integration with existing government platforms to support transparent, efficient, and citizen-centric service delivery.

Naapbooks stated that it remains committed to strengthening governance through secure, scalable, and future-ready digital infrastructure.

The company further informed that it has already submitted a Detailed Project Report to the Union Ministry of Law. It added that the Gujarat e-Notary proposal is nearing finalisation, and discussions have now begun with other states interested in digitising notarial processes.

Director Yaman Saluja said the company believes the transition to digital notarial systems will positively transform India’s legal ecosystem and benefit all stakeholders, especially notaries across the country.

Nagpur factory blast: PM announces ex gratia

March 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed deep distress over the explosion at a factory in Nagpur, Maharashtra, that claimed 17 lives. He extended condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He also said the local administration is assisting those affected.

In a post on X, the PM announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will receive Rs 50,000, according to an official statement.

The blast took place in the early hours at SBL Energy Limited, located in Raulgaon near Katol in Nagpur district. The facility produces detonators and other materials used in mining operations. Initial inputs suggest the explosion happened between 6 am and 7 am.

Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police Harssh Poddar stated that 17 people lost their lives, while 18 others sustained injuries in the incident.

Those injured were rushed to local medical centres, including Orange City Hospital in Nagpur, for treatment, according to media reports.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the explosion. Rescue teams remain at the site, and a formal probe has been initiated to ascertain what led to the blast.

Iran launches new wave of missile, drone strikes across region

March 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Iran on Sunday launched a new wave of missile and drone strikes targeting US military bases across the region and Israel, according to state media. The attacks were described as retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian state television reported that 27 US bases in the region were among the targets. Israel’s military headquarters and a defence industries complex in Tel Aviv were also named, theguardian.com reported.

Ali Larijani, Iran’s top national security adviser, warned that “secessionist groups” would face a harsh response if they attempted any action. He made the remarks during an interview broadcast on state TV.

Iranian state media confirmed that the country’s defence minister and chief of staff of the armed forces were killed in US and Israeli strikes on Saturday. Lt. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, who had led the armed forces since his predecessor was killed during the 12-day conflict last June, died in the attacks, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was also killed, according to Tasnim.

On Sunday morning, sirens sounded across central Israel and parts of the occupied West Bank.

Blasts were reported in several Gulf cities. Thick black smoke and loud explosions were seen over Doha, while explosions were also heard in Dubai and Manama. Near Erbil airport in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, which hosts US-led coalition troops, loud blasts and black smoke were reported.

Witnesses said that several loud explosions were heard in the Dubai area for a second consecutive day. Iranian strikes also hit targets in neighbouring Gulf states following US and Israeli attacks.

On Saturday, Iran carried out a broad attack targeting more than six countries, expanding the crisis to states previously unaffected.

Iraq announced three days of mourning after confirming Khamenei’s death. Government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in a statement that Iraq extended condolences to the people of Iran and the Muslim world following what he called “a blatant act of aggression.”

Bhubaneswar to host FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour

March 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar will host the FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (Men & Women) at KIIT University from March 4 to 8, 2026. The international championship will mark its Odisha debut and will be organised for the first time at a university campus in India.

A total of 82 teams from 52 countries will take part in the tournament. The event will feature 164 elite athletes and 306 accredited players and officials, including Olympic gold medallists, KIIT said in a press release.

The matches will be held at the Dutee Chand Athletic Stadium on the KIIT campus. The stadium has been converted into an international-standard beach volleyball arena. Organisers have put elaborate arrangements in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the tournament. Preparations are being supervised by KIIT and KISS founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta. He has reviewed arrangements related to player safety, accommodation, training facilities, and hospitality.

The announcement of the championship was made by FIVB President Fabio Azevedo during his visit to KIIT and KISS last December for the Volleyball Grand Prix. He announced that the Beach Volleyball event will be organised in Odisha for three consecutive years – 2026, 2027, and 2028 – in collaboration with KIIT and KISS.

Dr. Samanta said KIIT and KISS have consistently promoted sports and supported sportspersons. He said volleyball is both a rural sport and an Olympic discipline. He added that continuous efforts have been made over the past eight years to strengthen grassroots participation and provide international exposure.

Nine cheetahs from Botswana released into Kuno National Park

March 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, on Saturday, released nine cheetahs received from Botswana into quarantine enclosures at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

The cheetahs will undergo health monitoring and acclimatisation before their gradual release into the larger park landscape.

In a social media post on ‘X’, Yadav shared that the group includes six females and three males. He also highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Project Cheetah has achieved remarkable success, with India now home to 48 cheetahs, including 28 India-born cubs.

The cheetahs were airlifted from Gaborone to Gwalior by the Indian Air Force and then transported by helicopter to Kuno.

Yadav expressed his gratitude to the IAF for their precision and commitment in ensuring the animals’ safe journey.

Formal discussions between India and Botswana began in December 2024 to strengthen Project Cheetah, India’s flagship wildlife restoration programme. Yadav led the proposal in consultation with Boipuso Wynter Mmolotsi, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Botswana, according to an official statement.

Botswana agreed to the collaboration, acknowledging India’s comprehensive Action Plan for Cheetah Reintroduction. This partnership aims to boost global cheetah conservation and create a secure population outside Africa, enhancing the species’ long-term survival.

An Indian delegation visited Botswana in September 2025 to plan operational details and transport logistics and obtain regulatory clearances. After a scientific assessment, eight cheetahs were identified and transported under veterinary supervision from the Ghanzi region to Gaborone, a distance of roughly 700 kilometres.

During President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Botswana in November 2025, the cheetahs were formally handed over to India and placed in quarantine enclosures at Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Subsequent visits by Indian and Botswana delegations ensured that all quarantine and logistical arrangements met international wildlife standards.

DoSEL holds UDISE+ workshop in Bhuabneswar

March 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education (MoE), along with the Department of School and Mass Education, government of Odisha, co-hosted a two-day workshop on the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) in Bhubaneswar.

The workshop commenced on Friday and brought together senior officials from DoSEL, education boards across India, and key education departments and organisations to deliberate on strengthening data-driven educational governance.

Inaugurating the conference, Dheeraj Sahu, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education, underlined the importance of reliable and timely educational data to ensure transparency and accountability.

He spoke about expanding the scope of UDISE+ to track student learning outcomes as well as school dropouts through APAAR ID. He also urged states and districts to analyse the reasons behind student dropouts from the school ecosystem.

In his welcome address, Dr. Pankaj K.P. Shreyaskar, Deputy Director General, DoSEL, highlighted the strategic role of UDISE+ in supporting national initiatives, including the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He stressed the need for data harmonisation, quality, and security. He also emphasised integrating various portals with UDISE+ through APIs to reduce the reporting burden on schools.

During the panel discussion, representatives from Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Indian Air Force, Navy Educational Society, and National Institute of Open Schooling discussed the importance of the UDISE+ database.

They also shared their expectations beyond the current offerings of the platform. The School Education Departments of Odisha, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh presented their best practices adopted to strengthen the school data ecosystem for evidence-based decision-making.

On Saturday, School Education Departments of Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Manipur, Telangana, and Maharashtra demonstrated their dashboards. They highlighted initiatives taken to ensure data accuracy and widen the coverage of UDISE+.

A separate session featured panelists from the Central Board of Secondary Education, National Institute of Open Schooling, Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education, Goa, and Odisha.

The discussion focused on integrating various datasets related to school education, including board data, while ensuring the sanctity of the datasets.