June 7, 2026 - IndiaVerve

CM praises Sambalpur Football Academy, announces expansion of sports infrastructure

June 7, 2026 by India Verve Desk

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the Sambalpur Football Academy during his tour of Sambalpur on Saturday and lauded the academy’s infrastructure development and modernization.

The CM described it as an institution with a distinct identity on the state’s sporting map.

During the visit, the CM said the academy would be strengthened with the development of three FIFA-standard football grounds of international standards and two state-of-the-art football grounds at a cost of Rs 15 crore.

In a post on X, Majhi said the state government has also made comprehensive arrangements to provide high-quality residential training and quality education at nearby educational institutions for 30 talented players under the age of 14 selected through the grassroots-level CM Cup competition.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to sports development, the CM said the initiative would help nurture young football talent by providing them with advanced training facilities and educational support.

Expressing confidence in the academy’s future, Majhi said the combination of modern sports infrastructure and proper training would enable the Sambalpur Football Academy to bring greater recognition and success to Odisha in the years ahead.

The CM’s visit underscored the state’s continued focus on strengthening sports infrastructure and creating opportunities for young athletes to excel at higher levels of competition.

Odisha launches AI Careers for Women programme to equip students with future-ready skills

June 7, 2026 by India Verve Desk

BHUBANESWAR: The Higher Education Department of Odisha has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Edunet Foundation to launch the AI Careers for Women (AICW) programme aimed at empowering girl students with industry-relevant skills in emerging technologies.

Announcing the initiative, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the programme will focus on equipping women students with future-ready skills such as generative AI, machine learning, data science, and cyber security, free of cost.

Under the initiative, RD University, Bhubaneswar, will serve as the central hub, with the programme adopting a Hub-and-Spoke model to extend training opportunities to students across the state, the minister said in a post on X.

Suraj also said the programme is aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020 and aims to train 1,000 students during the current academic year, with plans to scale up the number to 5,000 students by 2028.

He said the government is committed to building a technology-driven and women-led workforce that can contribute significantly to the state’s development and the evolving digital economy.

Highlighting the importance of preparing young women for emerging opportunities, Suraj said the initiative would help girl students acquire skills in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and other advanced technologies, enabling them to emerge as innovators, leaders, and contributors in the digital era.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Higher Education Department Aravind Agrawal also underscored the need to equip girl students with industry-relevant and future-ready skills to enhance their employability and participation in the technology sector.

The AI Careers for Women programme is expected to strengthen Odisha’s efforts to promote digital education and create greater opportunities for women in technology-driven fields.

India, Nepal review bilateral ties, launch new initiatives during Foreign Minister-level talks

June 7, 2026 by India Verve Desk

NEW DELHI: Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, who arrived in India on an official visit on June 5 at the invitation of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, held bilateral talks with the Indian minister in New Delhi on Saturday.

The two ministers reviewed the full spectrum of India-Nepal bilateral relations, covering development cooperation, connectivity, trade and transit, energy, and people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

During the discussions, the ministers expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved in bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors, the External Affairs Ministry said in a press release.

They welcomed recent initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation in innovation and startups, digital and financial technology, and training and capacity building.

Both sides agreed to intensify efforts to strengthen the multifaceted India-Nepal partnership further and take bilateral relations to new heights.

The ministers also welcomed the completion of internal processes for the entry into force of the India-Nepal Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement in Criminal Matters.

The agreement is expected to benefit the people of both countries by providing an institutional legal framework to enhance the effectiveness of investigation, prosecution, and judicial proceedings relating to cross-border crimes.

Following the bilateral talks, Jaishankar handed over to Foreign Minister Khanal 72 health facilities and 12 cultural heritage sector projects completed under India’s post-2015 Earthquake Reconstruction Assistance to Nepal.

The two ministers jointly launched the Peer-to-Peer linkage between India’s Unified Payments Interface and Nepal’s National Payments Interface to facilitate cross-border personal remittances between the two countries.

They also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Digital India Bhashini and Kathmandu University for co-creating a National Digital Infrastructure for a “Voice First” Language Translation platform.

The discussions were held in a warm, friendly, and constructive atmosphere, reflecting the unique and special ties between India and Nepal.

During the visit, Khanal also met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

The visit marked the first engagement at the level of foreign minister between the two countries since the new government assumed office in Nepal in March 2026.

PM chairs Economic Advisory Council meeting, reviews long-term development priorities

June 7, 2026 by India Verve Desk

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a meeting of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, during which members discussed a broad range of issues related to India’s economic transformation and long-term development agenda.

According to an official statement, the meeting focused on key aspects of the country’s growth trajectory, with discussions covering priorities aimed at sustaining economic progress and strengthening India’s development framework in the years ahead.

The PM noted that the deliberations included a wide spectrum of topics linked to India’s economic future and long-term policy objectives. Participants also shared views on accelerating the pace of reforms and enhancing governance mechanisms that contribute to improved quality of life and a more business-friendly environment.

Emphasising the government’s commitment to reforms, Modi highlighted the importance of advancing initiatives that promote both “Ease of Living” for citizens and “Ease of Doing Business” for enterprises. The discussions explored ways to further strengthen these objectives while supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Following the meeting, the PM shared details on social media, stating that the council deliberated on issues concerning India’s economic transformation and long-term development priorities, while also exchanging perspectives on giving greater momentum to the reform process.

The Economic Advisory Council to the PM serves as an independent body that provides economic and policy inputs to the government on matters related to growth, development, and macroeconomic strategy. The latest meeting comes as India continues to pursue reforms aimed at boosting investment, improving competitiveness, and achieving its long-term development goals.