September 5, 2026 - IndiaVerve

CM Majhi urges students to focus on studies

September 5, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Teachers’ Day urged students to focus on their studies and avoid distractions from social media and misinformation.

Majhi made the remarks while attending a Teachers’ Day celebration at Secondary Board High School in Cuttack. He interacted with students and advised them to concentrate on building their careers.

The CM said students must study well, acquire skills and contribute to their own growth and the nation’s development. He urged them to stay away from activities that could affect their career prospects.

Speaking about the teacher-student relationship, Majhi said it should become more friendly in today’s times. He also asked students to seek the blessings of their parents and elders on their journey towards success.

Education, he said, is not limited to imparting knowledge. It also plays a vital role in shaping human character, with teachers carrying this responsibility.

Highlighting India’s guru-shishya tradition, Majhi paid tribute to former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He cited examples ranging from Lord Rama and Lord Krishna to Chandragupta Maurya and Swami Vivekananda to underline the role of gurus in shaping lives.

He also recalled former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who took pride in identifying himself as a teacher even after becoming the country’s highest constitutional authority.

Majhi highlighted the state government’s education reforms, including the KG to PG free education scheme. He said Odisha has become the first state in India to provide universally free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level.

The CM said 2,200 Godabarish Mishra Model Primary Schools are being built at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore. He also said 45,000 anganwadi centres have been opened for pre-school children.

He reiterated the government’s commitments to midday meals and textbooks for Class IX and X students. He also highlighted the Shahid Madho Singh Pocket Money Scheme for tribal children.

The government also plans to fill 45,000 teacher posts over the next three years, Majhi said.

He also praised the integrated transformation of schools under the Panchasakha Shiksha Setu initiative. The programme involves alumni in the development of educational institutions under the School and Mass Education Department.

Majhi highlighted the school’s distinguished alumni, including former MLA Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and former Finance Minister Panchanan Kanungo.

He said teachers’ knowledge, students’ talent, alumni experience and public cooperation can help build a strong, prosperous and self-reliant Odisha.

During the programme, the CM felicitated Ashok Kumar Satapathy, Kumudini Ji, Shakuntala Mohanty, Daitari Sahoo and Jayanti Majhi for their dedicated service to education.

Mahanga MLA Sarada Prasad Pradhan, Cuttack Sadar MLA Dr. Prakash Chandra Sethi, Choudwar-Cuttack MLA Sourav Biswal and Banki MLA Devi Ranjan Tripathy were present.

India wins record nine medals at 19th International Earth Science Olympiad 2026

September 5, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: India recorded its best-ever performance at the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) 2026, winning nine medals at the 19th edition of the global competition held in Turin, Italy.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh felicitated and interacted with the Indian school students who represented the country at the Olympiad during a special appreciation and motivation meeting at Prithvi Bhawan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.

The Indian contingent won four gold, three silver and two bronze medals across the Written and Practical examinations, International Team Field Investigation and Earth Science Project categories.

The 19th IESO was held from August 20 to 27 under the aegis of the International Geoscience Organisation. Indian students competed against participants from 39 countries and achieved the highest medal tally in the country’s history at the competition.

West Bengal student Soumik Mandal of DAV Model School, Durgapur, emerged as India’s top performer. He won two gold and one silver medal and secured third place in the overall global ranking among participants from 39 countries, according to an official statement.

Aaron Maiti of DAV Model School, IIT-KGP, West Bengal, won one gold and one bronze medal. Riddhi Ranjan of Gyan Asthali International School, Patna, Bihar, secured one gold and one silver.

Md Ehtesham Rizwi of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Bihar, won one silver and one bronze medal.

Congratulating the students, their parents and schools, Dr Jitendra Singh said the achievement reflected the country’s growing focus on developing scientific temperament among young people.

He highlighted the government’s commitment to student-centric outreach programmes and encouraging students to explore Earth System Science.

Dr T. Srinivasa Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, also congratulated the Indian contingent. He praised the students and mentors for securing India’s highest-ever medal tally in the history of the IESO.

The achievement followed a structured national selection and training programme supported by the Ministry of Earth Sciences under its Outreach and Awareness programme.

The selection process began with an all-India test facilitated by the Geological Society of India. Around 17,800 students appeared for the examination across 500 centres nationwide.

The top 25 students were then selected for an intensive three-week training camp held in June 2026 at M.S. University, Vadodara, Gujarat.

The training camp was organised as part of an effort to rotate the venue across different regions of the country, in line with the Union Minister’s direction.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences continues to use initiatives such as the IESO to promote scientific awareness and encourage students to pursue careers in Earth sciences.

The ministry is also implementing major national initiatives including the Deep Ocean Mission, Mission Mausam and PRITHVI, aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities and public engagement in Earth System Science.

India-EU FTA opens major opportunities for farmers, MSMEs and startups: Piyush Goyal

September 5, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: The India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will open major opportunities for farmers, fishermen, MSMEs, startups, manufacturers and service providers, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said.

Addressing the India-Belgium High-Level Dialogue on the India-EU FTA in Mumbai, Goyal said the agreement had been negotiated while protecting sensitive sectors on both sides.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were present at the dialogue, according to an official statement.

Goyal said the India-EU FTA had taken 25 years to conclude and now brings together a market of 2 billion people. He said the combined market represents a quarter of global GDP, a third of world trade and an economy valued at USD 24 trillion.

The minister said all 27 EU member states were supportive of the agreement and wanted the remaining formalities completed so that it could come into force at the earliest. He added that the agreement had also received broad support across India.

De Wever said the FTA would strengthen trade and create new opportunities for companies, young talent and investment. He also said it would make the Indian and European economies more resilient to disruptions.

The Belgian PM highlighted the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a key logistical link between India and Europe. He said the agreement would create opportunities in diamonds, food processing, pharmaceuticals, maritime services, green hydrogen and infrastructure.

De Wever said tariffs on more than 95% of Indian and European goods exports would be scrapped or reduced.

Goyal said India and Belgium could significantly expand cooperation in gems and jewellery, including lab-grown diamonds. He called for greater collaboration in technology and certification, with Antwerp, Mumbai and Surat serving as major centres for the sector.

Semiconductors were another area identified for deeper cooperation. Goyal said Belgium’s micro-electronics research could be combined with India’s scale, skills and talent to develop a design-to-fabrication ecosystem.

He also highlighted green hydrogen as a promising area. According to Goyal, India’s Green Hydrogen Mission could complement Antwerp-Bruges’ bunkering and green shipping infrastructure and help supply clean energy to Europe.

Defence and advanced manufacturing could also see greater cooperation between the two countries. Referring to the memoranda of understanding exchanged with John Cockerill, Goyal identified counter-drone systems, electronic warfare, precision munitions and export corridors for India-designed BrahMos and Pinaka missiles as potential areas.

Goyal also pointed to opportunities in agriculture and food processing, including potato processing, cold chains and sustainable agricultural value chains.

The minister described the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as an important gateway for Indian exporters seeking access to European markets. He highlighted its inland barge, rail and road networks along with deepwater and automotive capabilities.

India’s trade with the EU has nearly doubled over the past decade to around USD 140 billion, Goyal said.

Against the backdrop of protectionism, disrupted supply chains and geopolitical uncertainty, he said India and Belgium could choose to build greater trust and predictability in their economic relationship.

Goyal also outlined India’s growing capabilities in technology and innovation. He said Semicon India 2.0 had been launched with an outlay of USD 14 billion and that India’s wider semiconductor programme could catalyse nearly USD 70 billion in investments.

He said India’s AI Mission was operational and the country was also advancing its Critical Minerals Mission.

Goyal further said India’s nuclear energy programme had been opened to private participation after 60 years. The country plans to build 100 GW of nuclear power capacity over the next 20 years, he said.

India’s space technology sector, currently valued at around USD 8.5 billion, could grow to USD 44 billion over the next eight years, Goyal said. He attributed much of the expected growth to private companies, startups, innovators and designers.

The minister also highlighted India’s USD 12 billion research and development fund for innovation and invited Belgium and the EU to partner with India by combining Belgian technology, innovation and capital with India’s scale and talent.

Goyal called for stronger workforce mobility between India and Belgium, along with mutual recognition of qualifications, joint skills development and dual-degree education programmes.

He said such cooperation would be particularly useful in sectors where Belgium faces shortages of skilled workers and young talent.

Goyal also highlighted the longstanding India-Belgium relationship, noting that Belgium was among the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with independent India in 1947.

He thanked De Wever for his role in strengthening Belgium-India and EU-India relations and said the two countries could create a strong partnership by combining Belgium’s technology, innovation and capital with India’s scale, talent and young workforce.

Concluding his address, Goyal drew an analogy with diamonds and said India and Belgium could turn the pressures and uncertainties facing the world into an opportunity to build something enduring.

He said the partnership could create something valuable not only for India and Belgium, but also for Europe and the wider world.

Badminton: Kidambi Srikanth crashes out of China Masters

September 5, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth crashed out of the China Masters 2026 after losing to Hong Kong China’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in the men’s singles quarter-finals in Shenzhen, China on Friday.

The 34th-ranked Srikanth lost 21-16, 21-16 to the world No. 25 as India’s singles campaign at the BWF Super 750 tournament came to an end.

The former world No. 1 had reached the quarter-finals after defeating Canada’s Victor Lai, a two-time BWF World Championships medallist, in the previous round, according to reports.

India’s campaign in the tournament, however, remains alive in men’s doubles.

World No. 5 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-13, 16-21, 21-18 to enter the semi-finals.

Satwik and Chirag dominated the opening game, building an 11-4 lead at the interval before comfortably taking the game.

The Danish pair fought back in the second game. The two teams were level at 14-14 before Astrup and Rasmussen won seven of the next nine points to force a decider.

Satwik and Chirag then found themselves 14-10 and later 17-15 behind in the deciding game. The Indian pair responded strongly in the closing stages to overturn the deficit and seal their place in the last four.

The win was Satwik and Chirag’s fifth in 11 meetings against the Danish duo.