India

New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has announced a 26.8 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 425.37 crore for the October-December quarter of the current financial year from Rs 335.54 crore in the same quarter of the previous year.

The country's largest pure-play green financing Company has recorded a revenue of Rs 1,698.99 crore during the third quarter which represents a 35.57 per cent increase compared to Rs 1,253.20 crore in Q3 FY 2023-24.

IREDA's loan sanctions for the third quarter recorded a 45.01 per cent surge to Rs 13,226.81 crore compared to Rs 9,121.11 crore in the same quarter of the previous year while loan disbursements for the quarter reached Rs 7,448.96 crore, up by 25.27 per cent from Rs 5,946.45 crore.

IREDA's total loan book has expanded to a robust Rs 68,959.61 crore, showing a 36.34 per cent increase compared to Rs 50,579.67 crore in Q3 FY 2023-24.

The company's net worth has strengthened to Rs 9,842.07 crore, registering a 20.99 per cent growth from Rs 8,134.56 crore in Q3 FY 2023-24.

Its earnings per share (EPS) improved to Rs 1.58, growing by 15.03 per cent from Rs 1.38 in the same quarter of the previous fiscal.

Commenting on the results, IREDA CMD Pradip Kumar Das said, "Our outstanding performance in Q3 FY 2024-25 reflects IREDA's steadfast commitment to accelerating India's renewable energy transition. The significant growth in loan sanctions, disbursements, and the expansion of our loan book highlights our pivotal role in financing sustainable energy projects. With a robust financial position and strong profitability as evidenced by our PAT, IREDA remains well-poised to drive the nation's green energy ambitions forward."

"IREDA has once again set industry standards by publishing its Quarterly Audited Financial Results within just nine days. This milestone positions IREDA as the only corporate to publish Audited Financial Results within nine days," according to an IREDA statement.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Friday chaired the fourth plenary session of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Odisha, titled 'Diaspora Divas: Celebrating Women's Leadership and Influence - Nari Shakti', and remarked that progress is superficial until the human side is addressed. He said gender equality and women's development are integral to India's foreign policy and international relations.

The session celebrated the achievements of women leaders globally while addressing the systemic challenges that hinder progress.

In his address, EAM Jaishankar said, "Some of you might be wondering why I am on this panel. I want to emphasise that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, many issues related to gender equality and women's development have become integral to our international activities and foreign policy. Notably, during India's G20 presidency, we strongly advocated for the concept of women-led development and successfully incorporated it into the G20 conceptual framework. We also advanced this idea significantly during the Summit of the Future."

He reflected on the deep-rooted issues in society that impact development, particularly for women. He emphasised that societal change goes beyond addressing visible and simple challenges.

“We are addressing not challenges which are obvious and simple but things which are very deeply ingrained in society and therefore that much harder really to overcome,” said Jaishankar.

The Minister underlined how discrimination often begins at the family level, starting from birth, and is reflected in access to resources like nutrition, health, and education. “It starts at birth, you know, nutrition, health, education. Basically, it becomes an issue of who has, in a way, a claim on the resources of the family, and that is where actually the deepest discrimination is practised,” he noted.

He further elaborated that this ingrained bias extends beyond the household, influencing workplace dynamics and opportunities for women. “And then, of course, it spills over into the workplace, into opportunities, and, you know, all of you would know it far better than I would ever do,” he added.

Linking these issues to India’s broader vision of becoming a Viksit Bharat, the EAM explained that traditional metrics such as GDP growth, infrastructure development, and urban expansion are insufficient without addressing the human aspect of progress.

“When we think of progress, of modernity, of a march towards Viksit Bharat, one metric of measuring it is GDP, how many roads have you built? How many metros? How many cities? How many airports? Yes, that is certainly a way of measurement, but that is superficial until we address the human side of that progress,” Jaishankar asserted.

He highlighted the importance of fostering change through role models and inspirational figures to overcome these systemic challenges. “To my mind, today, these are really some of the powerful changes which are happening in India. But like any change, as I said, they require role models, they require inspirations, they require the bus,” he concluded.

The session reiterated the pivotal role of women leaders in shaping India's progress and called for collective efforts to ensure equitable opportunities for all.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Jan 10 (IANS) The India Meteorological Department has forecast rain and hailstorms in around 15 districts of Rajasthan on Friday.

A Western Disturbance will be active in the districts of the Bikaner division late Friday evening, bringing light rain, the weather office said.

Bikaner, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Nagaur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Alwar, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Dausa, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk and Ajmer were likely to receive rain and hailstorm.

Bikaner, Ganganagar and Hanumangarh will have cloudy skies.

On Saturday, the Western Disturbance's effect is likely in the Jaipur, Bikaner, Ajmer, and Bharatpur divisions.

The sky was clear in the past 24 hours, bringing some respite to the people from the winter chill.

However, dense fog is expected to set in from January 12, further complicating weather conditions.

At the same time, there is a possibility of another new system becoming active in the state from January 15-16, due to which some parts of eastern Rajasthan may be cloudy.

On Thursday, the highest maximum temperature of 29.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in Barmer district.

Ten cities, including Sikar, Churu, Nagaur, Baran, Hanumangarh, Jalore and Sirohi, recorded below 5 degrees Celsius temperature.

The minimum temperature in Phalodi, Jaisalmer was recorded around 10 degrees Celsius.

An orange alert has been issued for six districts, cautioning residents about potential adverse weather conditions.

Jodhpur recorded 28.3 degrees Celsius maximum temperature, Jaisalmer (27.9), Phalodi (27.2), Bikaner (26), Chittorgarh (27.3), Jalore (28.2), Dungarpur (26.1), Churu (25.8), Udaipur (24), Pilani (24.9), Kota (23.1), Sikar (24) and Ajmer 23.8.

On Thursday, Fatehpur, which recorded a bone-chilling low of 1.1 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, saw a rise to 3.3 degrees Celsius, bringing some relief.

Barmer reported the state's highest maximum temperature at 27.2 degrees Celsius, while Fatehpur recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 3.0 degrees Celsius, according to the Meteorological Department.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) After facing strong backlash over its Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan’s suggestion to employees to work 90 hours a week -- including Sundays, the company said on Friday that the Chairman’s remarks reflect the larger ambition of nation-building, “emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort”.

In a video message to employees that went viral on social media, Subrahmanyan said: "What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can wives stare at their husbands? Go to the office and start working”.

"Honestly, I am sorry that I am not able to make you work on Sundays. I will be happier if I can make you work on Sundays, because I work on Sundays too," said the L&T Chairman.

A company spokesperson said in a statement that for over eight decades, “we have been shaping India's infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities”.

“We believe this is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realise our shared vision of becoming a developed nation,” said the spokesperson.

“The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort. At L&T, we remain committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose, and performance drive us forward,” the spokesperson further stated.

In his video message, Subrahmanyan encouraged L&T employees to work harder. He spoke about a conversation he had with a Chinese man who said that China could overtake the US because of its strong work ethic.

According to Subrahmanyan, the Chinese man said, "Chinese people work 90 hours a week, while Americans work only 50 hours a week."

The video received a backlash from netizens on social media platforms, including online discussion forum Reddit, with many users comparing it to Infosys founder Murthy's statement about working 70 hours a day.

From Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone to Harsh Goenka, Chairperson of the RPG Group, top celebrities also condemned Subrahmanyan’s remarks.

“90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept! Working hard and smart is what I believe in, but turning life into a perpetual office shift? That’s a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life balance isn’t optional, it’s essential. Well, that’s my view! #WorkSmartNotSlave,” Goenka posted on X.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) Uncrewed Gaganyaan and GSLV launches are among ISRO's 2025 space missions, said Dr Jitendra Singh Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology.

Singh said this while chairing a high-level review of ISRO’s major upcoming space missions for 2025, alongside outgoing Chairman Dr. S. Somnath, his successor Dr. V. Narayanan, and other senior officials, including Pawan Kumar Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe.

With ambitious projects on the horizon, including the first "uncrewed" orbital mission under "Gaganyaan", India’s space exploration efforts are poised for groundbreaking achievements.

In 2025, the Indian space sector has major projects lined up including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight, said Singh.

The launch of Gaganyaan’s uncrewed orbital test mission will pave the way for India’s human spaceflight programme. This will validate systems for crew safety and recovery.

Other key plans include two GSLV missions, a commercial launch of LVM3, and the much-anticipated ISRO-NASA collaboration on the NISAR satellite.

In January, the GSLV-F15 mission will carry the NVS-02 navigation satellite to augment the NavIC constellation. It will bolster India’s positioning and navigation capabilities with indigenously developed atomic clocks.

In February, the GSLV-F16 mission will launch NISAR -- a sophisticated Earth observation satellite co-developed with NASA. NISAR is equipped with advanced radar imaging technology. It aims to provide critical data on agriculture, natural disasters, and climate monitoring.

In March, the commercial LVM3-M5 mission will deploy BlueBird Block-2 satellites under a contract with the US-based AST SpaceMobile. This underscores ISRO’s growing stature in the global space market.

Singh also lauded ISRO’s strides in fostering innovation and advancing India’s position as a space-faring nation. "Public-private collaboration is key in fuelling the country’s space ambitions,” he said.

Dr. S. Somnath, reflecting on his tenure, expressed confidence in the upcoming missions, while Dr. V. Narayanan outlined a strategic roadmap for expanding ISRO’s global footprint.

--IANS

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Srinagar, Jan 10 (IANS) A cold wave continued to sweep across Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) as Srinagar recorded minus 4.3 and Pahalgam minus 10 degrees celsius as the minimum temperature on Friday.

The MET department officials said that the cold wave continued across J&K and due to a clear night sky, the minimum temperature can drop further.

Srinagar had minus 4.3 degrees celsius, Gulmarg minus 8.1 degrees celsius and Pahalgam minus 10 as the minimum temperature on Friday.

Jammu city had 4.9 degrees celsius, Katra town 6.1, Batote 3, Banihal 4.9 and Bhaderwah zero degrees celsius as the night’s lowest temperature.

A MET office statement said, “On January 10, generally dry weather with cloudiness during 10th evening/night.

“On January 11, generally cloudy with light rain (plains of Jammu) snow at isolated higher reaches of Jammu Division and Kashmir Division.

“On January 12 to 14, generally dry weather. On January 15 to 16, generally cloudy with light snow at isolated to scattered places.

“Advisory: Cold wave at isolated places. Tourists/travellers/transporters are advised to follow administration and traffic advisory.”

The 40-day-long period of intense winter cold known locally as the ‘Chillai Kalan’ started on December 21 and will end on January 30.

Most water bodies including lakes, streams, ponds and wells have frozen partially in the Valley.

Morning fog and chill had made pedestrian and vehicular movement very limited in the Valley.

Doctors have cautioned people especially children and elders to avoid long exposure to cold, which can cause hypothermia leading to constriction of blood vessels. This is the main cause for heart attacks and heart failures during the winter months in cold countries.

A loose tweed overgarment called the ‘Pheran’ and an earthen firepot woven in a willow wicker basket called the ‘Kangri’ are two favourite things seen in the Valley during the long winter months.

To suit its design for office-goers, tailors have made Pherans of different designs and styles. As a result, Pheran has become a fashionable apparel throughout the country over the years in the winter months.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday visited the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) to inspect Amrit Bharat coach facilities.

After the inspection, he told IANS that the Amrit Bharat Train has been specially designed to cater to the middle and lower-income groups.

"Version 2 Amrit Bharat has been designed based on the experience of the train launched by the Prime Minister last year, which has many new features. You must have seen the couplers, and the pantry car, the design of both of them has been completely changed. The design of the air window has also been completely changed. The entire focus has been placed on the poor families and the middle class."

He said he was very happy to see this Amrit Bharat version 2.0. "Many improvements are done in Amrit Bharat 2.O. 12 major changes have been made...Amrit Bharat trains are for low-income and middle-class families...These will provide very affordable service and a very high-quality travelling experience," the Minister said.

The Minister went around the plant and inspected Vande Bharat rakes, Amrit Bharat train coaches and Vistadome dining car. He also interacted with the staff and the workers at the plant.

Minister Vaishnaw said the Amrit Bharat train has been made for ordinary citizens. The general coach has the same facilities as any premium coach.

He said, "The train has been made with the sense of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'. You will see several new features, like the quality of seats and fans, charging points, lumbar support in chairs and newly designed toilets. Improvements are being continuously made in Vande Bharat trains also."

The Union Minister said, "Many improvements have been made to Vistadome coaches like adding a dining car to it. This has been done for the tourists. Passengers can have dinner while looking at the panoramic views. In future, this new coach will be used in Jammu and Kashmir."

Minister Vaishnaw said that 10,000 locomotives are being installed with 'KAVACH' and 15,000 km of trackside fittings are being done. Cameras are also being installed in front of locomotives.

The Amrit Bharat train will feature general and sleeper coaches to ensure affordability for passengers while maintaining facilities similar to the premium Vande Bharat Express. The fare of the Amrit Bharat will be lower than that of the Vande Bharat, but the amenities will remain comparable,” the Ministry of Railways has stated earlier.

The first Amrit Bharat Train was launched on December 30, 2023, to provide cheaper non-AC services. The trains feature LHB sleeper class, general class, and SLR coaches. They are pulled by a locomotive customised with an orange and black paint scheme and fitted with a nose cone. Operating on a push-pull method, these trains have locomotives at both ends, allowing up to 130 kmph of speed.

PM Modi laid the foundation for 554 Amrit Bharat stations in February 2024, a government initiative to revamp key railway stations across the country.--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) The total export value of organic farming has the potential to reach Rs 20,000 crore in the next three years, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, has said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech on 78th Independence Day last year, noted the growing importance of organic farming across the world and its far reaching benefits on individual health and restoring soil nutrients.

Speaking at the launch of 8th edition of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) in the national capital, Minister Goyal unveiled a dedicated NPOP portal as well as ‘Organic Promotion Portal’ which will provide more visibility and ease of operations for organic stakeholders.

“Organic farming as a form of sustainable farming practice will help combat water scarcity and over-application of fertilisers and pesticides harming soil quality and crop yields in the country,” the minister noted.

Highlighting the farmers’ efforts in ensuring food security, Goyal said that there is a significant push from the government to promote organic farming.

“Organic farming has become a priority for the nation and will be regarded as a valuable way of farming across the world. Farmers adopting organic farming have seen an increase in yields and income,” he noted.

TraceNet 2.0, the upgraded online traceability system for seamless operations and enhanced tools for regulatory oversight, was also unveiled at the event.

The redesigned APEDA portal was also showcased with enhanced user experience and information for the benefit of Agri and Processed food products’ stakeholders.

The redesigned AgriXchange portal was also launched, which will enable more user-friendly data analysis and generation of reports and data of agricultural exports making it accessible for the general public.

The minister further stated there is a need to put emphasis on packaging and marketing of the organic products for the farmers to receive the right price for their produce. He also pointed out that this value chain will also help generate employment and the nation will gain popularity across the world.

—IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) Dense fog enveloped parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday, reducing visibility to zero and affecting flight and train operations. The reduced visibility in Delhi-NCR delayed more than 150 flights for an average 41 minutes and about 26 trains.

Giving an update on the situation, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said on Friday morning that flight departures had been "impacted" due to the dense fog. However, DIAL reassured worried passengers that CAT III-compliant flights can land and depart from the airport.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a moderate to very dense fog warning for many parts of North India, including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Hundreds of flights and trains have been cancelled or delayed due to thick fog in the past few weeks in North India.

Vehicles on Friday morning were seen crawling in parts of Delhi-NCR due to the poor visibility, with most drivers switching on their hazard lights to ensure they were visible to other drivers and prevent accidents.

The national Capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 408 around 6 a.m., dropping to the 'severe' category from 'very poor', according to the data on the Central Pollution Control Board website.

In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh the AQI in Noida was recorded at 328 which is in the ‘Very Poor’ category, Greater Noida saw a ‘Poor’ AQI of 295 and Ghaziabad too was in the ‘Very Poor’ category as it touched 318.

In Haryana’s Gurugram and Faridabad the AQI was ‘Very Poor’ as it touched 303 and 317 respectively.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

According to the IMD, Delhi's minimum temperature was recorded at 9.6 degrees Celsius.

The weather agency said the capital's maximum and minimum temperatures would hover between 6 and 20 degrees Celsius on Friday.

The Centre's panel on Delhi-NCR's air quality on Thursday re-implemented stage 3 curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) amid a sharp rise in air pollution levels owing to unfavourable meteorological conditions.

--IANS

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Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), Jan 10 (IANS) In a horrific incident, a couple and their three children were found dead at their residence in the Lisadi Gate Police Station area. While the bodies of the couple were found on the floor, the bodies of the three children, all minor girls, were hidden in a bed box, indicating foul play and a bid to hide the crime.

According to Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vipin Tada, the police got a call about a locked house in the Lisadi Gate Police Station area late on Thursday night.

Upon reaching the location, the police team found out that the house had been locked from the outside, said SSP Vipin Tada, addressing reporters at the site of the crime.

"After gaining access to the house through the roof, the police team found the bodies of Moin, his wife Asma and their three minor daughters -- Afsa (8), Aziza (4) and Adiba (1)," SSP Tada told reporters.

"The manner in which the house was locked from the outside suggests that the individual involved in the crime may have been someone known to the family," he said.

“A preliminary probe point towards an old enmity as the possible motive behind the incident. A detailed investigation is underway," the SSP said.

Giving further details of the crime he said that the legs of one of the deceased were found tied with a bedsheet and the children were found stuffed in a bed box.

A forensic team and senior officers are collecting evidence from the site, police said.

People in the area were shocked by the crime in their neighbourhood as the family had recently moved to the area.

The SSP said that they were investigating the background of the deceased couple to ascertain the motive behind the murders.

Moin, who was a mechanic by profession, and his wife Asma had been out of touch with their family since Wednesday and it was Moin's brother Salim and his wife who came to check in on the couple after several unsuccessful attempts to contact them.

After several unsuccessful bids to open the door, they called the police for help.

Upon entering the house, they found the bodies of Moin and Asma lying on the ground, while the bodies of the children were hidden in a bed box.

--IANS

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