October 26, 2026 - IndiaVerve

Odisha Energy Department steps up Cyclone Arnab preparedness

October 26, 2026 by Deepak Acharya

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Monday reviewed the Energy Department’s preparedness to deal with the impending Cyclone Arnab, directing officials to ensure power supply resilience, minimise disruptions and prevent casualties across southern and coastal Odisha.

The high-level meeting focused on disaster preparedness and operational readiness for the period from October 26 to 29. Singh Deo will be stationed in Koraput to monitor the cyclone’s impact and oversee emergency operations across the southern region.

The Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) has established a multi-tier command network to coordinate emergency response and power restoration. A dedicated 24-hour central control room has been set up at STAMC Chandaka, supported by zonal oversight at Narendrapur and 11 field control centres in vulnerable areas.

The field centres are located at Narendrapur, Chatrapur, Bhanjanagar, Jayanagar, Malkangiri, Theruvali, Kesinga, Samangara, Paradeep, Bhadrak and Baleshwar.

According to the preparedness plan, all control units are operational with dedicated duty rosters, communication links, backup diesel generators and DC power systems. Ground teams are also carrying out pre-cyclone preparations to facilitate a swift response to damage caused by the storm.

To support emergency restoration work, the department has positioned essential equipment and materials at strategic depots. These include 83 sets of emergency towers for 132 kV, 220 kV and 400 kV transmission lines, 1,115 km of conductors and 9,157 hardware fitting sets.

The Energy Department has committed to restoring damaged power infrastructure as soon as weather conditions allow. Hospitals, schools, cyclone shelters and other essential public infrastructure will receive priority during restoration to protect public health and safety.

Consumers will also receive automated SMS alerts with updates on restoration schedules and estimated power restoration times, enabling them to stay informed during the emergency.

For southern Odisha, the centralised power system control centre at Ambagada in Berhampur will function as the Central Emergency Control Centre for Tata Power Southern Odisha Distribution Limited.

Consumers can contact the emergency control centre at 9124293314 or use the toll-free numbers 1912 and 18002026 for assistance.

The government has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding electricity supply and restoring affected transmission lines in the shortest possible time.

The review meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Energy, Vishal Kumar Dev, along with senior officials from OPTCL, Tata Power, and the Energy Department.

India approves defence procurement proposals worth Rs 2.12 lakh crore

October 26, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, approved capital acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs 2.12 lakh crore for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

The council accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), which represents in-principle approval for the proposed procurements. Around 82% of the total procurements will be sourced from Indian industry, according to an official statement.

For the Indian Army, the approvals cover High Mobility Vehicles, a Self-Propelled Tracked Gun System, Gun Shot Response System, Light Multi Role Helicopters, Very Short-Range Air Defence System, a Platform Based Counter Unmanned Aerial System, Unmanned Aerial System Brick Long Range, Surveillance UAV, Integrated Surveillance and Strike System, and a Long Range Kamikaze Drone System.

The High Mobility Vehicles are expected to improve operational capabilities, logistical support, and mobility in challenging terrains. The Self-Propelled Tracked Gun System will provide matching mobility and firepower to mechanised formations, while the Gun Shot Response System will strengthen real-time situational awareness.

The Light Multi Role Helicopters will serve both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force in reconnaissance and surveillance, combat, search and rescue operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities.

The Very Short-Range Air Defence System will be used to engage new-generation, small-sized aerial threats. The Platform Based Counter Unmanned Aerial System is intended to enhance the survivability of tanks on the modern battlefield.

The approved surveillance and drone systems will further strengthen the Indian Army’s surveillance and targeting capabilities.

For the Indian Navy, the DAC approved the procurement of an Active Offboard Decoy System (AODS) and other major naval platforms. The AODS is expected to strengthen anti-missile defence, particularly against modern anti-ship missiles used by adversaries.

The indigenously designed and constructed naval platforms will incorporate modern warfare capabilities and enhance the Navy’s combat strength.

For the Indian Air Force, the approvals cover helicopters, air defence systems, weapons and a Mobile X-Band Doppler Weather Radar System to strengthen air defence and war-fighting capabilities.

The procurement of Special Utility Helicopters will help meet the Air Force’s air transport requirements. The X-Band Doppler Weather Radar System will provide high-resolution, localised weather surveillance in forward areas.

The emphasis on domestic procurement is reflected in the council’s decision to source approximately 82% of the approved acquisitions from Indian industry.

Rahul Gandhi acquitted in defamation case over remarks against Amit Shah

October 26, 2026 by India Verve Desk

The Uttar Pradesh court ruled that Gandhi’s 2018 remarks about the Union Home Minister were not defamatory, bringing relief to the Congress leader in the long-running case.

New Delhi: A court in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur on Monday acquitted Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case concerning his 2018 remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Shubham Verma pronounced the verdict in Gandhi’s presence, ruling that the remarks in question did not constitute defamation.

The case was filed in 2018 by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vinay Mishra under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code. The complaint stemmed from a statement Gandhi made during the Karnataka Assembly election campaign in Bengaluru, in which he referred to Shah as an accused in a murder case.

Gandhi had said that the BJP president had been accused of murder, questioning the party’s claims of honesty and propriety. His remarks referred to the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case, in which Shah was discharged by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in 2014.

The acquittal marks a significant development in the case, which had remained pending for several years. Senior advocate R S Cheema represented Gandhi, assisted by advocates Kashi Shukla, Tarannum Cheema, Prasanna S and Akash Singh.

Earlier on Monday, Gandhi’s convoy was involved in a multi-vehicle collision on the Purvanchal Expressway near Haliyapur in Sultanpur district while he was travelling to appear before the court. Vehicles travelling behind his car, including an ambulance, reportedly collided after sudden braking. Some Congress workers and security personnel were reported injured and taken to hospital. Gandhi was reported safe and subsequently appeared in court for the verdict.

Gandhi has faced other defamation proceedings in recent years. In 2023, a Gujarat court convicted him and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment over his “all thieves have Modi surname” remark made during an election rally in Karnataka in 2019. The conviction led to his disqualification from Parliament, but the Supreme Court later stayed it, allowing him to continue as a lawmaker.

The Sultanpur verdict relates specifically to the case arising from Gandhi’s remarks about Shah and is separate from the Gujarat case.

Cyclone Arnab intensifies over Bay of Bengal, Andhra Pradesh ramps up emergency preparations

October 26, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu orders round-the-clock vigilance, while disaster response teams stand ready and thousands of fishing boats return safely to shore ahead of the cyclone’s expected landfall.

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh has stepped up its emergency preparedness after Cyclone Arnab intensified over the Bay of Bengal, with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directing officials to prioritise public safety, minimise property damage and ensure the swift restoration of essential services.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the deep depression over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclonic Storm Arnab on October 26. The system is expected to strengthen further, potentially becoming a very severe cyclonic storm by October 27.

The cyclone is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115–125 kmph and gusts reaching 140 kmph, according to the forecast cited in the reports.

Naidu has reportedly instructed district administrations to establish control rooms, issue regular public warnings and coordinate emergency response operations. He directed officials to release cyclone bulletins every four hours and ensure that coastal residents are moved to safer locations whenever necessary. Authorities have also been asked to ensure that fishing boats return to shore and that pregnant women in vulnerable areas are shifted to hospitals in advance.

A total of 21 disaster response teams, comprising 10 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 11 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, have been kept ready for rescue and relief operations.

The IMD has forecast heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in north Andhra Pradesh and central coastal districts on October 27 and 28, with isolated locations potentially receiving exceptionally heavy rainfall. Residents have been advised to avoid fallen electrical wires and report emergencies through the toll-free helpline 1912.

Fishing activity along the Kakinada coast has also been suspended as a precaution. More than 4,800 fishing boats have returned safely from the Bay of Bengal and anchored at Kakinada fishing harbour and other landing centres, including Uppada-Ameenabad and Kumbhabhishekam.

The Fisheries Department, Indian Coast Guard and district authorities have urged fishermen not to venture into the sea until further instructions.

Beyond Andhra Pradesh, Odisha has stepped up preparations, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi assigning eight ministers to vulnerable districts. Meanwhile, rainfall continues in parts of Tamil Nadu under the active northeast monsoon, with the IMD forecasting further showers through October 27.

Authorities across the affected states are focusing on timely warnings, evacuation preparedness and the protection of lives and essential infrastructure as Cyclone Arnab approaches the eastern coastline.

Rahul Gandhi’s convoy involved in multi-vehicle collision on Purvanchal Expressway

October 26, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Several vehicles travelling behind the Congress leader collided near Haliyapur in Sultanpur while he was on his way to appear before an MP-MLA court in a defamation case.

New Delhi: Several vehicles in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s convoy were involved in a collision on the Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, while he was travelling from Lucknow towards Sultanpur to appear before an MP-MLA court. Gandhi was reported to be safe following the incident.

According to media reports, multiple cars travelling behind Gandhi’s vehicle collided with an ambulance near Haliyapur in Sultanpur district. The collision reportedly occurred after a vehicle applied sudden brakes, causing those behind it to crash into one another and sustaining damage.

Some Congress workers and security personnel were reportedly injured in the incident.

Police and rescue teams reached the site and began relief operations. The injured workers and security personnel were taken to hospital for treatment. Further details about the number of injured and the extent of their injuries were not immediately available in the reports

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP from Rae Bareli, was travelling to Sultanpur to appear in a defamation case linked to remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The MP-MLA court had directed him to appear in person and was expected to pronounce its decision in the case.

Before travelling to Sultanpur, Gandhi arrived at Lucknow airport, where Congress workers welcomed him. The convoy then proceeded towards the court via the Purvanchal Expressway.

The collision disrupted the movement of vehicles on the expressway, while authorities carried out rescue operations at the scene. Gandhi’s safety was confirmed in the reports, although details concerning the injured and the full circumstances of the accident remained limited.

Odisha on high alert as low pressure over Bay of Bengal may intensify into a cyclone

October 26, 2026October 26, 2026 by IndiaVerve Staff

Bhubaneswar: The low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to gradually intensify into a cyclone, and the state government has been put on alert. In this context, a high-level preparedness meeting was held at the SEOC conference hall in Rajiv Bhawan, chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil and senior officials attended the meeting, along with the Director of IMD, Bhubaneswar. The Collectors of the six potentially affected districts (Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur) also joined through video conferencing.

According to the weather department, the cyclone is most likely to make landfall on the coast of northern Andhra Pradesh. Under its influence, heavy rain will lash various districts of southern Odisha.

At the preparedness meeting, the minister said that if any meeting becomes necessary, officials should join from wherever they are, at their workplaces, instead of coming to headquarters. He advised forming a WhatsApp group at the district level and using it not just for reporting but also for updating any kind of problem or urgent information from the district.

Officials were asked to maintain regular and accurate communication with the media to avoid misinformation or miscommunication. He also asked them to treat people taking shelter in relief centres as guests, arranging proper health care, food, and milk and baby food for children, and to be extremely polite and sympathetic towards them.

To oversee cyclone response, relief, and management in the districts about to be affected, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has assigned 2 Deputy Chief Ministers and 6 Ministers to 8 key districts. The designated ministers will guide the respective district administrations and assist in cyclone management from October 27 to 29.

The decision has been taken to relocate people to safe places during the cyclone, speed up relief and rescue work, and maintain coordination with the district administrations. The state government has kept all emergency services on alert, with a “Zero Casualty” goal.

Heavy rain and strong winds are expected particularly in the districts of southern Odisha. Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur are likely to be the worst affected, and the other coastal districts may also receive rain. It has been decided to keep schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres closed in these 6 districts.

To deal with the possible disaster, leave of all district-level officials has been cancelled, and all officials have been told to stay at their headquarters. 24-hour control rooms have been opened. 24/7 control rooms are operational in all blocks, tahasils and urban areas, including the District Emergency Operation Centres. Toll-free numbers and special helpline numbers of the districts are available to the public.

People living in kutcha houses, slums and low-lying areas are being identified and shifted to safe cyclone shelters. Expectant mothers whose delivery dates are near are being identified and brought in advance to nearby hospitals, CHCs, PHCs and Maa Gruha. Special arrangements have also been made for the elderly, children and persons with disabilities.

Considering the possible cyclone over the Bay of Bengal and the risk of heavy to very heavy rain, 6 districts of southern Odisha (Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur) have been put on maximum alert. ODRAF and NDRF teams have been deployed extensively in these districts. In total, 27 ODRAF teams and 6 NDRF teams are stationed in these 6 districts.

Keeping the state government’s “Zero Casualty” goal in mind, cyclone shelters in the affected districts have been kept ready.

A complete ban on fishing in the sea has been imposed. Likewise, restrictions have been placed on the movement of tourists at hills, waterfalls, dams and tourist spots in these 6 districts of southern Odisha.

Sitharaman highlights financial inclusion, women’s empowerment at Bhubaneswar event

October 26, 2026 by Deepak Acharya

Bhubaneswar: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday highlighted India’s progress in financial inclusion, access to credit, and social security, crediting the Narendra Modi government’s initiatives for expanding banking services to millions.

Sitharaman was speaking at an event in Bhubaneswar following the inauguration of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) data centre and Cybersecurity Training Institution by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Emphasising the importance of eastern India’s development, the Finance Minister said the government would work towards achieving “Purvodaya se Sarvodaya”, where the rise of the eastern region benefits the entire country.

She noted that the new RBI campus was located close to the world-famous Sun Temple at Konark. Referring to the Aditya Hridayam Stotram from the Ramayana, Sitharaman recalled how Maharshi Agastya told Lord Rama on the battlefield of Lanka that the Sun God protects the worlds through his rays and nourishes all living beings.

In a similar spirit, she said the RBI and its new campus would serve the nation by protecting India’s financial systems and sustaining the flow of payments that supports the economy.

Highlighting the government’s financial inclusion drive, Sitharaman said Prime Minister Modi had resolved in 2014 that no Indian household should remain outside the banking system.

India now has more than 59 crore Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan accounts, which carry no annual charges or minimum balance requirements. These accounts have also enabled direct transfers of money to beneficiaries, helping prevent leakages, she said.

The Finance Minister also pointed to the expansion of formal credit for micro and small entrepreneurs through the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana. More than Rs 43 lakh crore has been sanctioned through over 60 crore collateral-free loan accounts under the scheme.

She noted that many borrowers had repaid their loans and subsequently accessed larger loans to expand their businesses. Women account for more than 65% of the scheme’s beneficiaries.

Sitharaman also highlighted the PM SVANidhi scheme, under which nearly 1.2 crore loans have been disbursed to street vendors. Many beneficiaries have repaid their loans and secured larger loans to support the growth of their businesses.

She further pointed to the role of the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana in extending affordable insurance and pension benefits to people.

The initiatives, she said, reflect the government’s efforts to broaden access to banking, credit and financial protection across the country.