July 28, 2026 - IndiaVerve

India’s IIP growth rises to 7.3% in June

July 28, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth rate rose to 7.3% in June 2026, up from 5.1% recorded in May 2026, according to the Quick Estimate released by the government.

The Quick Estimate of IIP stood at 123.1 in June 2026, compared to 114.7 in June 2025.

Data showed that mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity and gas supply, and water supply, sewerage and waste management sectors recorded growth rates of 1%, 7.8%, 10.6%, and 6.1%, respectively, for the month. Their respective indices stood at 110.0, 123.3, 131.0, and 145.7.

Within the manufacturing sector, 19 out of 23 industry groups at the NIC 2-digit level recorded positive growth in June 2026 compared to June 2025. The top three contributors to growth were the manufacture of electrical equipment at 34%, the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers at 17.5%, and the manufacture of food products at 10.8%, according to an official statement.

Within electrical equipment manufacturing, growth was driven largely by electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, UPS and solid-state drives, and end-face connectors for optical fibres and cables.

In the motor vehicles segment, auto components, spares and accessories, along with passenger cars and commercial vehicles, contributed significantly to the growth.

Within food products, tea, non-basmati rice, and starch of all types showed significant growth.

As per the Use-Based Classification, the indices for June 2026 stood at 119.5 for primary goods, 140.5 for capital goods, 124.2 for intermediate goods, and 132.9 for Infrastructure and Construction Goods. Consumer durables and consumer non-durables indices stood at 119.8 and 115.4 respectively.

The corresponding growth rates over June 2025 were 4.9% for primary goods, 14.2% for capital goods, 9.3% for intermediate goods, 7.5% for infrastructure and construction goods, 7.7% for consumer durables, and 4.9% for consumer non-durables. Intermediate Goods, Primary Goods, and Capital Goods were the top three contributors to overall IIP growth under this classification.

Along with the June 2026 Quick Estimate, the IIP figures for May 2026 have undergone final revision based on updated data received from source agencies. The Quick Estimates for June 2026 and the final revision for May 2026 were compiled at weighted response rates of 86.7% and 93.1%, respectively.

Odisha to train artisans in 15 additional handicrafts

July 28, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has taken up a plan to train artisans in 15 additional handicrafts, with the State Institute of Design and Art Craft (SIDAC) preparing a structured curriculum for the initiative.

A meeting was held at SIDAC, under the Handloom, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, to finalise the curriculum and training framework. Departmental Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta attended the meeting as chief guest, while Commissioner-cum-Secretary Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar chaired the proceedings.

During the meeting, the minister urged artisans to blend traditional skills with innovation to strengthen Odisha’s identity in national and international handicraft markets. This was followed by a detailed discussion with artisans on their skills, challenges, and training needs.

Officials noted that SIDAC currently operates 39 training centres across 26 districts of Odisha, offering training through the Guru-Shishya tradition, Craft Village Training Programme, and Master Craft Person Programme.

Officials also said the move aims to preserve Odisha’s traditional handicrafts, create skilled artisans, and support employment-oriented skill development. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Handicrafts Department, representatives of Utkal University of Culture and B.K. College of Art, and several national and state award-winning artisans, including Shilpaguru Sudhir Maharana, Rameshwar Munda, Bhimsen Khuntia, and Purushottam Mohapatra.

Odisha currently has 64 recognised handicrafts, of which state-level training is already being conducted successfully at SIDAC in six crafts – Applique, Terracotta, Pattachitra, Palm Leaf Engravings, Stone Carving, and Wood Carving. Officials said the success of this programme has prompted the decision to bring 15 more handicrafts under training.

The newly identified crafts include Coir Crafts, Jute Crafts, Solapith, Coconut Shell Crafts, Lacquer Crafts, Bamboo Crafts, Batik Printing, Tribal Jewellery, Palm Leaf Decoratives, Silver Filigree, Brass and Bell Metal, Seashell Crafts, Paper Mache, and the traditional Saora and Gond paintings.

The curriculum has been designed based on market demand, export potential, raw material availability, traditional significance, and employment opportunities. It covers a one-year, 1,500-hour training programme, including 1,450 hours of practical training and 50 hours of theory, with modules on design, product development, quality control, entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and internships.

In line with the National Education Policy 2020, artisan-trainees will be awarded four credit points upon successfully completing their internship.

Officials said the initiative is expected to create more skilled artisans, preserve traditional crafts, improve product quality, and boost market linkages and earning opportunities for craftspersons across the state.

CM Majhi felicitates Indian Idol 16 winner Jyotirmayee Nayak

July 28, 2026 by IndiaVerve Staff

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday felicitated Indian Idol Season 16 winner Jyotirmayee Nayak at his official residence and announced a cash reward of ₹5 lakh in recognition of her outstanding achievement.

Congratulating Jyotirmayee on winning one of the country’s most prestigious singing competitions, the Chief Minister said her success had brought pride to Odisha and inspired aspiring singers across the state.

During the meeting, Jyotirmayee presented her Indian Idol trophy to the Chief Minister and shared her journey in the competition, highlighting the hard work, perseverance and dedication that helped her emerge as the winner.

Majhi said that with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, exceptional talent and years of dedicated practice, Jyotirmayee had achieved national recognition and brought laurels to Odisha. He described her as a source of inspiration for the younger generation of singers and said her achievement reflected the rich artistic talent of the state.

The Chief Minister also commended Jyotirmayee for using her musical talent beyond the stage. He noted that she has been using music therapy to comfort cancer patients in several hospitals across Odisha, describing the initiative as a remarkable example of combining art with service to society.

Praising her compassion and commitment, Majhi called Jyotirmayee a “youth icon” for both Odisha and the country. He expressed hope that her efforts to use music as a therapeutic tool would inspire similar initiatives in the future and open new avenues for patient care.

He further said that the dedication and social commitment displayed by talented young individuals like Jyotirmayee would contribute to the vision of a prosperous Odisha and a developed India.

The Chief Minister also thanked the people of Odisha for wholeheartedly supporting Jyotirmayee throughout her Indian Idol journey. He said her victory marked a memorable moment for the state and further strengthened Odisha’s reputation for producing exceptional artistic talent at the national level.

Jyotirmayee’s parents, Chakradhar Nayak and Gauri Nayak, were also present during the felicitation ceremony.

Deep depression batters Odisha; flood threat intensifies as rivers swell

July 28, 2026 by IndiaVerve Staff

Bhubaneswar: Odisha remained in the grip of an intense monsoon spell on Tuesday as a deep depression over northern part of the state continued to trigger widespread heavy rainfall, raising the threat of flooding in several districts. With rivers swelling rapidly and low-lying areas inundated, the state government has stepped up preparedness, deploying disaster response teams and placing district administrations on high alert.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the deep depression over north coastal Odisha and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal moved west-northwestwards at a speed of around 12 kmph during the past six hours. The weather system was centred near Baripada and is expected to continue moving across north Odisha, south Jharkhand and north Chhattisgarh over the next 24 hours.

Under its influence, the IMD has forecast widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to extremely heavy showers across Odisha over the next few days. The weather office has issued Red and Orange warnings for several districts, urging authorities and residents to remain vigilant.

As a precautionary measure, all government and private schools remained closed on Tuesday in Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sambalpur districts.

The incessant rainfall has pushed several rivers towards danger levels, significantly increasing flood risks. The Water Resources Department has warned of a major flood in the Baitarani River by Tuesday evening, while flooding is also expected in the Salandi and Jalaka rivers as water levels continue to rise.

The Jalaka River crossed the danger mark at Mathani in Balasore district on Tuesday morning. Officials said the danger level at the gauge station is 6.50 metres, while the river was flowing at 6.51 metres, raising fears of flooding in downstream villages. Heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of Mayurbhanj district has further aggravated the situation.

Balasore district witnessed the heaviest rainfall in the state during the past 24 hours. Balasore town recorded an extraordinary 246.6 mm of rainfall, while Nilagiri received 239 mm, Jaleswar 236.8 mm, Remuna 222 mm, Govindpur 213.8 mm and Rajghat 202 mm. In neighbouring Mayurbhanj district, Betanati recorded 202 mm of rainfall and Balimundali received 174.2 mm.

Keonjhar district was also severely affected after incessant rainfall since Monday evening triggered flood-like conditions, particularly in Telkoi block. Around five feet of water reportedly flowed over the bridge across the Samakoi River, completely cutting off road connectivity between the Telkoi block headquarters and nearly ten gram panchayats.

The overflowing river also snapped road links connecting Telkoi with Dhenkanal, Angul and Cuttack, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the submerged bridge.

ALSO READ: Odisha reviews disaster preparedness ahead of deep depression landfall

State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the government was closely monitoring the evolving situation. He said flooding during the monsoon was not new for Odisha and that district administrations, ODRAF, Fire Services and other emergency response agencies had been kept ready to respond to any eventuality.

The minister said heavy rainfall had been recorded in several districts, including Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Angul, Deogarh, Boudh, Sonepur, Nuapada and Bolangir, while rainfall activity had also continued in south Odisha.

Authorities have advised people living in low-lying and riverbank areas to remain alert as the deep depression continues to move inland. Officials said the situation is being monitored round the clock, with rescue and relief teams on standby in vulnerable districts.

7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan’s Kumamoto, causes widespread damage

July 28, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Tokyo: A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture in the Kyushu region on Tuesday, causing widespread damage, triggering fires, disrupting power supply and injuring several people.

The earthquake struck at 4:27 p.m. local time and registered the maximum shindo 7 intensity on Japan’s seismic scale, the highest level of ground shaking. About 30 minutes later, a strong aftershock measuring up to lower 5 on the same scale rattled the region again, prompting authorities to warn residents to remain on high alert for further powerful tremors, The Japan Times reported.

Television footage aired by public broadcaster NHK showed several buildings collapsing near the epicentre. Fire officials in the city of Uki reported receiving numerous emergency calls as multiple fires broke out following the quake. Roads and transport infrastructure also suffered extensive damage, with sections of highway overpasses on the Kyushu Expressway in Yatsushiro reportedly damaged and part of a pedestrian bridge collapsing. There were also unconfirmed reports of an explosion at a partially collapsed shopping mall in the town of Kashima.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged people in the affected areas to remain vigilant as authorities assessed the extent of the damage. She said reports of injuries had already been received but did not specify the number of casualties.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that earthquakes of similar intensity could continue to occur over the next week, particularly during the next two to three days. Officials explained that the latest earthquake originated from a shallow inland epicentre, a type of seismic activity that often leads to numerous aftershocks. They also said it was too early to determine whether the quake was linked to the devastating Kumamoto earthquakes of 2016, although the epicentre was located about 20 kilometres from the Hinagu fault zone associated with the earlier disaster.

Authorities initially issued a tsunami advisory for coastal areas along the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, urging residents to stay away from the shoreline. However, the advisory was lifted later in the evening after no significant tsunami threat was detected.

The report said more than 48,000 households in Kumamoto Prefecture lost electricity following the earthquake. Power utility Kyushu Electric appealed to residents not to approach damaged or fallen power lines and to report any electrical hazards immediately.

The earthquake was felt across several neighbouring prefectures, including Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Saga, Miyazaki and Kagoshima.

The latest disaster comes just over a decade after the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, which claimed 278 lives, injured nearly 2,800 people and caused extensive damage to the historic Kumamoto Castle. Restoration work on the landmark is still underway and is expected to continue until 2052.

India finishes third at ISSF World Cup 2026 in Hangzhou

July 28, 2026 by Deepak Acharya

India finished third with four medals, including one gold, at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup 2026 in Hangzhou on Tuesday.

The Indian pair of Sonam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon won bronze in the 10m air rifle mixed team event with a score of 441.2 points.

Maskar won her first ISSF World Cup medal in two years. She had bagged silver in the 10m air rifle and 10m air rifle mixed team events at the ISSF World Cup 2024 in Cairo, according to reports.

This was Dhillon’s maiden World Cup medal.

Gold went to China’s Wang Zifei and three-time Olympic medallist Sheng Lihao, who scored 505.0 points, while their compatriots Du Yuchen and Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Zhang Changhong bagged silver with 504.6.

Meanwhile, India’s Udaivir Singh Jaijee and Pragati Dubey, as well as Bhowneesh Mendiratta and Kirti Gupta, failed to qualify for the trap mixed team final.

Hosts China topped the medal table with 18 medals, including seven gold, while the USA finished second with four medals ( 2 gold).

Odisha moves SC against release of animated film Mahaprabhu Jagannath

July 28, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has approached the Supreme Court (SC), seeking to restrain the release of the animated film ‘Mahaprabhu Jagannath’. The state argued that the film’s release could trigger law and order problems, even though the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had already granted it clearance.

The matter was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, on Tuesday. Odisha Advocate General Pitambar Acharya flagged the possibility of unrest in the state and requested an urgent hearing, according to LiveLaw.

He informed the court that the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration had also filed a separate application, urging the Centre to revoke the film’s CBFC certificate.

According to a LiveLaw report, the Advocate General told the bench that the film depicted Lord Jagannath in an animated form, and said the state had sought a modification of the earlier SC order that had permitted the film’s release after Rath Yatra.

The development comes about two weeks after a separate SC bench, comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan, had allowed the film’s all-India release on or after July 28, specifically after the conclusion of Rath Yatra festivities. That bench had observed that animation and fictional depictions could not erode devotion, and had noted that the CBFC had examined the film against statutory parameters before certifying it.

The dispute originated after the Orissa High Court stayed the film’s release following a public interest litigation. The High Court had pointed to the risk of hurting religious sentiments and disturbing public order, citing depictions said to be inconsistent with texts such as the Skanda Purana and Brahma Purana, as well as established temple traditions.

Petitioners had objected to fictionalised episodes, childhood portrayals, certain dialogues, and battle sequences shown in the film.

Reports indicate that the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri and the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration had suggested changes to the film after a special screening, and that the producers had not fully incorporated these suggestions.

The filmmakers, Ele Animations Pvt Ltd, have maintained that the project is a fictional animated work intended for children and general audiences, and carries a disclaimer to that effect. They have argued that the film is protected under the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression. The film, based on an earlier web series, had originally been scheduled for theatrical release earlier in July but has faced repeated legal challenges since.

Assam floods: PM Modi meets MPs, reviews situation

July 28, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Members of Parliament from Assam on Tuesday and discussed the flood situation prevailing in various parts of the state.

He said the Centre is working closely with the Assam government to assist those affected. The PM prayed for the safety and well-being of everyone impacted by the floods.

Sharing details of the meeting on X, Modi noted that he had discussed the flood situation with the state’s MPs and reiterated the Centre’s coordination with the state government.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said power had been restored to a majority of the flood-affected areas. He said all rescued persons were being sheltered in relief camps equipped with food, medical facilities, and dedicated children’s areas.

In a series of posts on X, the CM said the state administration would continue working round the clock to ensure a swift response, and would subsequently present a comprehensive rehabilitation roadmap rooted in the principles of Jan Bhagidari.

He added that measures to strengthen anti-flood and anti-erosion infrastructure were being promptly scaled up.

Sarma said the state had used geo-tube technology to complete 60% of restoration work on the Kakodonga, Bhogdoi, Jhanji, and Charaipani embankments in Jorhat.

Separately, Assam Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises Minister Bimal Borah said water levels across major rivers were continuing to recede, indicating a gradual improvement in the flood situation.

He added that the district recorded 22.89 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours.

The floods have affected 25 districts across Assam, namely Goalpara, Cachar, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Biswanath, Charaideo, Nalbari, Bajali, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Baksa, Sivasagar, Darrang, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, Udalguri, Golaghat, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Kamrup Metro, and Hojai. A total of 77 revenue circles and 2,157 villages have been hit, impacting a population of 11,44,733.

Authorities have set up 215 relief camps, where 71,223 people are currently sheltered, along with 1,690 relief distribution centres operating across the state.

The floods have claimed 68 lives so far, with Sivasagar recording the highest toll at 30, followed by Charaideo at 20, Jorhat at 9, Dhemaji at 3, Karbi Anglong and Golaghat at 2 each, and Sonitpur and Kamrup at 1 each. Eight people remain missing, including 7 from Sivasagar and 1 from Dhemaji.

The damage assessment shows 1,180 houses fully destroyed and 9,926 partially damaged, while 29,983 people have been evacuated so far.