September 1, 2026 - IndiaVerve

Odisha Lok Bhavan becomes India’s first IGBC Platinum-certified green campus

September 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Lok Bhavan in Bhubaneswar has become the first Lok Bhavan in the country to receive Platinum certification under the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green Campus Rating System.

The certification recognises Lok Bhavan’s efforts towards sustainable and eco-friendly infrastructure. The campus scored 88 out of 100 points, placing it in the highest category of the IGBC rating system.

At a programme held at the New Abhishek Hall of Lok Bhavan on Tuesday, Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati received the certificate from IGBC National Chairman C. Shekar Reddy.

Addressing the media, Governor Kambhampati said the recognition was a matter of pride for Odisha and reflected the collective effort to transform Lok Bhavan into a green campus.

He said measures related to greenery, clean energy generation and use, and electric vehicles were among the initiatives recognised under the certification.

The governor also said all recommended measures had been implemented at Lok Bhavan, enabling the campus to secure the highest rating.

Kambhampati said he would show the certificate to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to Delhi. He also expressed hope that the achievement would inspire other institutions to adopt sustainable measures and pursue green certification.

Governor Kambhampati called upon universities in Odisha to obtain green certification and play a greater role in creating environmental awareness.

He said thousands of students graduate from universities every year and could become ambassadors of environmental protection.

The governor also highlighted Lok Bhavan’s renewable energy initiatives. The campus currently has an installed solar power system with a capacity of 635 kilowatt peak.

He encouraged greater use of rooftop solar systems in homes and institutions. Referring to solar energy use in Germany, he noted that Odisha receives sunshine for nearly 300 days a year and stressed the need to harness this resource.

As part of its green transformation, Odisha Lok Bhavan has also adopted a fully electric-vehicle-run cavalcade. It has become the first Lok Bhavan in the country where the governor’s cavalcade has been completely converted to electric vehicles.

Plans are also underway to install small windmills within the Lok Bhavan premises to further increase the use of renewable energy.

The governor further said greater use of renewable energy would help steer the campus further towards clean energy.

Steps will also be taken to secure green certification for the Lok Bhavan in Puri. As a first step, a proposal has been made to install a 100-kilowatt solar power plant there.

Speaking at the same programme, Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said the governor’s commitment to environmental protection had taken concrete shape through Raj Bhavan’s green transformation.

He said the recognition was a matter of pride for Odisha and would encourage government departments to incorporate green measures while planning government buildings in the future.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy Department Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, Commissioner to the Governor-cum-Secretary Dr. Roopa Roshan Sahoo, vice-chancellors of various universities, senior IGBC officials and media representatives were present on the occasion.

NHAI gets strong response for Rameshwar-Paradeep highway project

September 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has received a strong response from bidders for the construction of the 160-km access-controlled greenfield coastal National Highway from Rameshwar to Paradeep in Odisha.

NHAI had invited bids for the project in two packages, with both receiving encouraging participation.

The 79.4-km Rameshwar to Konark Package-I, planned as a four-lane access-controlled highway, received 10 bids. The 80.7-km Konark to Paradeep Package-II, planned as a two-lane highway with paved shoulders, received seven bids.

The project will be awarded under the Hybrid Annuity Mode, according to an official statement.

The Rameshwar-Paradeep coastal highway project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in June 2026. The project has a combined total capital cost of Rs 8,300.79 crore.

During construction, the project is expected to generate 53.6 lakh direct man-days and 67 lakh indirect man-days of employment.

The highway will have a design speed of 100 kmph and provide direct and faster connectivity to major tourist destinations, including the Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri Beach and Konark Sun Temple.

The project is expected to reduce travel time between Rameshwar and Paradeep by about two hours and 30 minutes.

The Rameshwar-Paradeep section of the Coastal Highway will also provide an alternative route to NH-16 and NH-316. It will improve connectivity to Puri, Konark, Paradeep Port and the upcoming Puri International Airport.

The corridor will also facilitate smoother transportation to developing ports such as Astarang and Subarnarekha. It will provide connectivity to Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts.

The existing NH-16 is part of the Golden Quadrilateral and passes through major towns such as Khordha, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. NH-316 connects Bhubaneswar with Puri and extends further towards Satapada and Konark.

The existing Puri-Satapada and Puri-Konark stretches have nearly 40% ribbon development along the corridor, along with high local commuter traffic. This makes the existing corridor unsuitable for high-speed, long-distance vehicular movement.

The new Rameshwar-Paradeep corridor is expected to provide faster, access-controlled connectivity while reducing fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and vehicle operating costs.

The project is also expected to lower logistics costs and support economic growth across the region.

Ganjam folk artists meet President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan

September 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: More than 90 folk and tribal artists from Ganjam and Gajapati districts, including artists above the age of 90, visited Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi and met President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday.

Led by Ganjam District Collector V. Keerthi Vasan, the delegation comprised artists from five prominent cultural troupes representing the district’s rich art, culture and heritage. The artists were accorded a grand welcome upon their arrival at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The visit followed President Murmu’s recent visit to Ganjam district. During the visit, tribal and folk dance troupes from Ganjam performed at a cultural programme organised by the district administration at Taptapani.

Impressed by their traditional dance and music performances, the president had invited the artists to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan.

More than 90 artists travelled to Delhi following the invitation. They represented Maa Dandakali Group of Subarnagarh in Sanakhemundi block, Sanrachana Group of Brahmapur, Tulasi Group of Sorada block, Gouranga Basudev Naam Sankirtan Mandali of Katapalli in Sanakhemundi block, and Saura Traditional Cultural Drama Society of Khemundikhol.

During the interaction, President Murmu enquired about the well-being of the artists. She said preserving, practising and promoting the invaluable art and cultural traditions inherited from ancestors was a collective responsibility.

She advised young artists to study diligently and strive for excellence in their respective fields. She also encouraged them to become self-reliant, stand on their own feet and bring pride and honour to their parents and loved ones.

The president also praised the rich cultural tradition of Ganjam’s Saura tribal community.

The artists described the visit as an unforgettable experience and expressed gratitude to the district administration for the opportunity to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan and interact with the President for more than half an hour.

The delegation also visited various historical and scenic sites in New Delhi.

Jagannath Nayak of Saura Traditional Cultural Drama Society described the experience as a memorable chapter in his life.

Additional Sub-Collector, Chhatrapur, Parthasarathi Hansdah, District Culture Officer Aditi Acharya, Manoj Kumar Pradhan, and other officials of the district administration also accompanied the delegation to Delhi.

India announce 26-member squad for FIFA International Window

September 1, 2026 by Deepak Acharya

New Delhi: Khalid Jamil, head coach of the Indian men’s national football team, has announced a 26-player squad for the upcoming September-October FIFA International Match Window.

While announcing the squad, Jamil said the upcoming window was very important for the team, with three challenging matches against teams that had played at the World Cup.

In a post on X, he added that facing Brazil and Uruguay in Kolkata after playing Panama in Bengaluru would provide the players with valuable international experience.

The head coach added that the team would use the Bengaluru camp for thorough preparation and approach each match with the right attitude and intensity.

The squad is as follows: Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Jay Gupta, Pramveer and Ricky Meetei Haobam.

Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Farukh Choudhary, Lalengmawia Ralte, Macarton Nickson, Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Shabong and Sahal Abdul Samad.

Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams and Vikram Partap Singh.

Reserves: Hrithik Tiwari (GK), Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Roshan Singh Naorem and Suresh Singh Wangjam.

Schedule: September 26: India vs Panama, Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru; October 3: India vs Brazil, Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata; October 6: India vs Uruguay, Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata.

Modi urges Putin to move from ‘endless war’ to ‘end of war’ in Ukraine

September 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, urging Moscow to move from “endless war” towards “the end of the war”.

Modi reportedly said India supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace and stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the way forward for resolving conflicts. “Every day of war sets the humanity back,” he said in his opening remarks, adding that a peaceful resolution of conflicts at the earliest is a shared priority for humanity.

The meeting on Monday was the first between Modi and Putin this year. The two leaders had last met in New Delhi during the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in December 2025.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the leaders reviewed the progress of bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including politics, trade and investment, defence, energy, space, mobility and people-to-people ties.

Modi and Putin also welcomed the outcomes of the 27th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Cultural matters, which was held in Moscow on August 24, 2026.

The two leaders also exchanged views on India-Russia cooperation in multilateral forums, particularly BRICS, which India is chairing in 2026. They discussed regional and global developments, including the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region.

The Prime Minister reportedly noted that the conflicts have affected maritime trade as well as the safety and security of Indian seafarers. He reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy are essential for resolving conflicts.

Modi also referred to Putin’s visit to India last year, describing it as successful and memorable. He said bilateral cooperation had continued to expand and emphasised that placing national interests at the centre of their respective approaches would remain a guiding principle for the future.

Putin, for his part, said Russia-India relations had witnessed an upswing based on the two countries’ “special and privileged” strategic partnership.

The leaders agreed to remain engaged to further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia, which the PMO said has remained resilient despite geopolitical uncertainties.

The meeting comes just over a week before Putin is scheduled to travel to India for the 18th BRICS Summit, which will be held in New Delhi on September 12-13. Modi said he looked forward to welcoming the Russian president to India for the summit.

The latest meeting underscores the continuing importance of the India-Russia relationship even as the Ukraine conflict remains unresolved and geopolitical tensions continue to affect global trade and security.

Self-Governance Day: CM Majhi launches 593 urban projects

September 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: On Self-Governance Day 2026, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched and laid the foundation stones for several public welfare projects in Bhubaneswar to strengthen urban infrastructure and improve citizen services.

Addressing a special programme, Majhi called for advancing the vision of a ‘Prosperous Odisha’ by developing cities as key drivers of development, employment and innovation.

Under the Chief Minister’s Urban Development Scheme, 593 projects were launched across 62 municipal areas. Of these, 423 projects were inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for 170 projects.

The state government also announced a special package of Rs 560 crore for infrastructure development in 28 newly formed Notified Area Councils (NACs). Each NAC will receive Rs 20 crore for development works, covering roads, drains, markets, and other infrastructure in the respective areas.

The OSWAN video conferencing facility was also launched across 115 municipal bodies in Odisha. The facility is expected to strengthen administrative efficiency and make decision-making faster and easier.

An important Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Odisha Urban Academy, Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), Sri Sri University, the Indian School of Business and the National Institute of Urban Affairs to support modern urban planning.

The government also highlighted the success of the ‘Sahayog’ scheme in connecting eligible urban beneficiaries with various government welfare schemes. The ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Bandhu’ programme was also launched during the event.

Municipal bodies and personnel who demonstrated good work efficiency were also recognised for their dedicated service. The awardees included Swachhasathi, Jalasathi, sanitation workers, Sahayog Sahayaks and CRUT employees.

The initiatives launched on Self-Governance Day are focused on improving urban infrastructure, strengthening administration and making citizen services more efficient and transparent across Odisha.

End of an era as Messi retires from international football

September 1, 2026September 1, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Global football superstar Lionel Messi has retired from international football after playing his final game for Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The Argentina captain made the announcement on social media on Monday. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner thanked fans for their support throughout his career with the national team, according to reports.

“After some time has passed since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell you that I am retiring from the national team,” he originally wrote in Spanish.

Messi said the decision had been difficult and continued to weigh heavily on him. However, he felt the time had come to end his international career after giving everything for Argentina.

“It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts – deep in my soul, but I understand that this is the moment. I always gave everything, not only in these last years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave my all for this shirt, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”

The 39-year-old also said the passing of his father, Jorge, earlier this month had made his decision clearer.

“This one hurts me a lot. I love, loved, and will always love being on the national team. I emptied myself; I have nothing more to give and there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here,” he added.

Messi also reflected on the support he received from supporters and his family during more than two decades with Argentina.

“Thank you for all the affection over these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this beautiful but difficult journey.

“I leave with the peace and pride of having given you – together with my teammates – dream moments. It was crazy to live all of this with you.”

Messi’s international career has been marked by several major successes with Argentina. He captained the team to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar.

He also helped Argentina win two Copa América titles and the Finalissima. Earlier in his career, Messi was part of the Argentina Under-23 side that won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008.

The forward made his senior debut for Argentina in 2005 at the age of 18. He has since earned more than 200 international appearances and led his country to its third World Cup triumph in 2022.

Messi has scored 125 goals for Argentina. Eight of those goals came during the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will therefore mark Messi’s final appearance for Argentina, bringing his extraordinary international career towards its conclusion.