Author: TheStateLine

Gandhinagar, Feb 18 (IANS) Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday met with leading industrialists following the presentation of the Gujarat Budget 2026–27, discussing its impact for the state’s business community.The session was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, MLA and BJP state president Jagdish Vishwakarma, and representatives from various districts, who had observed the budget proceedings in the Assembly.Industry leaders welcomed the direct engagement with the state leadership.Industrialist Chintan Thakar said, “For the first time, the government invited us to listen to the budget live and we appreciate it. For businesses and industries, there has been nearly a 26 per cent increase in budgetary allocation. Almost 50 per cent urbanisation has been achieved, and indu...

Raipur, Feb 18 (IANS) The impact of Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) scheme is becoming visible in the hamlets and remote villages of Chhattisgarh. The tribal women in Jagima village of Balrampur district are witnessing a transformative shift in their lives as well as livelihood, as the flagship scheme of the Central government is aiding them with monetary assistance and necessary support and training to help them become self-dependent. The PM JANMAN yojana, aimed at making government schemes and benefits available to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), is writing a new story of social and economic change in the tribal belts.From Wood cutting to its processing, the women are being trained and engaged in various stages of wood processing.Previously, th...

Mumbai, Feb 18 (IANS) Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Wednesday claimed that discussions had taken place regarding a possible merger between the two factions of the NCP and that Shirur Lok Sabha MP Amol Kolhe was proposed to be the state president of the unified party.“As you all know, Ajit Dada was actively involved in the talks of merger between the two parties. It was decided to the extent that Amol Kolhe was to become the state president of the party,” Rohit Pawar said.He further claimed that multiple meetings were held to discuss the proposed merger. “Around 13 meetings were held at the south Mumbai residence of Jayant Patil to plan the merger. Those who doubt can check the CCTV footage if needed,” he added.Responding to the claims, Amol Kolhe said discussions had t...

Chandigarh, Feb 18 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch Harbarinder Singh, 40, was shot dead by unidentified assailants during a wedding function in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district on Wednesday, marking the second killing of a sarpanch from the region in the past two months, police said.The incident took place in broad daylight when Harbarinder Singh, a resident of Thathiyan Mahanta village, was attending his cousin’s wedding at a farmhouse located along a national highway. According to police officials, three assailants arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at him, killing him on the spot.A relative of the victim, Germanjeet Singh, who was present at the scene, sustained bullet injuries while attempting to intervene and was rushed to a private hospital in Amritsar, where he is undergoing ...

Dehradun, Feb 18 (IANS) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Dehradun Sub-Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties valued at Rs 13.89 crore in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to the alleged NH-74 widening scam in Uttarakhand, the agency said on Wednesday.The action was taken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of efforts to identify and attach proceeds of crime generated through fraudulent land compensation claims.The ED initiated its investigation based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered at Pantnagar Police Station in Udham Singh Nagar district under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, relating to alleged irregularities in land acquisition compensation.Duri...

New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) A significant milestone in the country's energy sector was marked on Wednesday as the PowerXchange App was showcased live and the Interstate Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Energy Trading Platform was officially launched at the India Energy Stack Pavilion during the Global AI Summit.Union Power Minister Manohar Lal was shown the app, demonstrating how consumers and prosumers can trade surplus solar energy seamlessly. Earlier, the platform was demonstrated live before Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting its potential to help farmers and electricity users generate additional income while promoting energy self-reliance.The initiative, under the India Energy Stack, selected PowerXchange as one of only two platforms nationwide for advancing P2P energy trading. Uttar Pradesh P...

Kolkata, Feb 18 (IANS) The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), has launched a major renovation of the historic Bascule Bridge at the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) to ensure safer, faster, and more efficient cargo movement. The renovation will also ensure uninterrupted traffic movement between the Garden Reach-Metiabruz area and the rest of the city.The vital infrastructure project, valued at Rs 117.54 crore, will modernise the 1966-built engineering marvel, originally constructed by the Austrian Firm, Waagner-Biro Bridge Systems AG. The double-leaf rolling bridge is a unique piece of engineering.Its leaves open to allow cargo ships to pass between Kidderpore Dock-I and Dock-II, and close to provide a primary road route for heavy commercial vehicles and local commuters."Given its nearl...