VINOD BHAT

Delhi, JAN 25:
On the occasion of Republic Day, 2026, the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu has awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) to officers and personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) in recognition of their dedicated service, professionalism and exemplary contribution to railway security.

President’s Medal for Distinguished Service
Ms. Aroma Singh Thakur, Inspector General, South Central Railway

Medal for Meritorious Service
Shri Uttam Kumar Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Security Commissioner, South Central Railway

Shri Kalyan Deori, Assistant Commandant, Railway Protection Special Force

Shri Balwan Singh, Inspector, Northern Railway

Shri Praful Chandra Panda, Inspector, East Coast Railway

Shri Prakash Charan Das, Inspector, East Coast Railway

Shri Mukesh Kumar Soam, Inspector, Railway Protection Special Force

Shri Pappala Srinivasa Rao, Sub Inspector, East Coast Railway

Shri Anwar Husain, Sub Inspector, Western Railway

Shri Srinivas Ravula, Sub Inspector, South Central Railway

Shri Shiv Lahari Meena, Sub Inspector, Railway Protection Special Force

Shri Dikkala Venkata Murali Krishna, Assistant Sub Inspector, East Coast Railway

Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Assistant Sub Inspector, Northern Railway

Shri Maheswara Reddy Karnati, Head Constable, South Central Railway

Shri C. Iiaya Bharathi, Head Constable, Southern Railway

Shri Mohd Rafique, Constable/Dhobi, Railway Protection Special Force

PSM is awarded for a specially distinguished record of service, while the MSM is awarded for valuable service characterized by resourcefulness and devotion to duty.

These awards are conferred twice a year, on Republic Day (RD) and Independence Day (ID), to honor and inspire RPF/RPSF personnel to uphold the highest standards of service in safeguarding Indian Railways.

VINOD BHAT
Delhi,Jan 25:
Union Minister for Rural Development, and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today addressed nearly 400 ‘Jeevika Didis’ who had come from across the country to participate in the Republic Day programme, at a special event called ‘Smariddh Didi se Smariddh Rastra: Republic Day Felicitation Event 2026’ organised at Pusa in New Delhi. On this occasion, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Dr. Chandrashekhar Pemmasani, was also present.

In his address on this occasion, while felicitating the ‘Jeevika Didis’, Shri Chouhan said that “Didis are living and awakened goddesses, and when they make a resolve, they perform miracles”. He said that these Didis have proven that they are not helpless, but truly empowered in the real sense. Addressing the ‘Jeevika Didis’ further, he said that they are “Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, who can perform the greatest miracles”, and “since you have come here, this place has truly become like a maternal home”. The presence of sisters fills the brothers’ courtyard with joy.

Shri Chouhan thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and said that he has taken care of sisters, daughters, and Didis of India. The Prime Minister has recognised the strength of women, and the ‘Ajeevika Mission’ (Livelihood Mission) has worked miracles.

Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh further said that today, 10 crore sisters are connected with Self-Help Groups. The Prime Minister has given us the target of making 3 crore Didis ‘Lakhpati Didis’. And I proudly say that this target is a mantra for us, and we will achieve it very soon. He said that the ‘Ajeevika Mission’ has now become not just a scheme, but a revolution and movement. It has not only made us economically empowered, but has also broken all those shackles that held women back.

In his address, he further added that today Didis are self-reliant and filled with self-confidence. If any Didi wants to take a loan personally, we will also make that path easy, so that the economic strength of Didis can become even stronger. Under this, to promote women entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Rural Development has created an end-to-end online loan system, through which women of self-help groups will be able to get loans on time and in an easy manner. Now, Self-Help Group members will be able to apply online for loans in any bank, and banks will approve and disburse the loans digitally. This initiative will prove to be a milestone in obtaining loan facilities for women entrepreneurs and will advance the broader goal of a digitally empowered India.

He said that Saras fairs are currently held in limited numbers, but their utility is very great. Therefore, now work will not be limited to Delhi alone; “we will organise Saras fairs in other parts of the country as well, so that Didis get the right and large market to sell their products”.

Minister of State Shri Chandrashekhar Pemmasani, present at the programme, said in his address that the entrepreneurship of women was clearly visible in the recently held Saras fair in Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. Here, prosperity is linked only to GDP, but the real strength of the country is determined by its women. Women’s contribution to India’s GDP is 18 percent; similarly, 10 percent of startups are run by women, and women have an active role in the country’s development.

Key Points of Marketing Strategy under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)

• A structured, scalable, and sustainable market ecosystem will be built for self-help group products.
• A range of high-quality, value-added, premium, and export-oriented products will be developed to strengthen the Saras brand.
• Building and strengthening state-level aggregators will be a priority.
• Special focus will be given to capacity building of self-help group entrepreneurs, CLFs, and CRP-EP cadres.
• Systematic onboarding of self-help group products will be done on GeM portal, ONDC, eSARAS, and major private e-commerce platforms.
• Fulfillment and logistics infrastructure will be strengthened to support e-commerce sales.
• 5 Saras fairs will be organised at the national level.
• State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) will increase the number of Saras fairs at the state level.
• At the cluster level, especially in agro-clusters, SHE-Marts will be established to provide regular markets.
• 50 buyer-seller meets will be organised during the year to promote domestic marketing and exports.
• These initiatives will lead to better integration of Self-Help Group enterprises into mainstream value chains.
• Sustained income growth for Self-Help Group women will be ensured.

VINOD BHAT
Delhi, JAN 25:
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, returned from the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 at Davos after a series of high-level engagements that significantly strengthened India’s positioning as one of the world’s most attractive destinations for long-term clean energy investments.

Union Minister Joshi said that the visit yielded valuable insights, strengthened strategic partnerships and reinforced global confidence in India’s renewable energy journey, The interactions at WEF 2026 further renewed India’s resolve to accelerate its clean energy transition through stable policies, sustained global collaboration and long-term investment, positioning the country as a key driver of the global energy transition, the Minister added.

At the World Economic Forum, the Union Minister showcased India’s long-term investment story, underpinned by policy stability, predictable regulations and sustained stakeholder engagement at both Central and State levels. The interactions reaffirmed global confidence in India’s ability to scale renewable energy rapidly while ensuring socio-economic growth and inclusivity.

India’s Clean Energy Growth and Investor Confidence
During multiple sessions and media interactions, the Minister highlighted India’s remarkable progress in renewable energy, achieved through transparent policies, people-centric programmes and strong execution capabilities. International stakeholders expressed keen interest in India’s investible project pipeline and acknowledged the success of flagship schemes such as PM-Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM, which have demonstrated India’s capacity to implement large-scale programmes at speed.

India’s efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing across the solar PV value chain were widely appreciated by global corporate leaders, reinforcing India’s role as a resilient and competitive clean energy manufacturing hub. The export potential of green hydrogen derivatives was also highlighted as a key enabler for supporting the energy transition of partner countries.

India’s Vision for the Energy Transition
Addressing global leaders, the Union Minister highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in the energy sector, noting its potential to improve forecasting, reduce losses, lower costs and strengthen grid reliability. He outlined India’s shift from pilot-based initiatives to platform-based deployment through Digital Public Infrastructure for Energy, enabling large-scale adoption of AI-driven solutions.

India showcased its milestone achievement of 267 GW of non-fossil fuel based installed electricity capacity and attainment of 50 per cent non-fossil capacity, five years ahead of its 2030 target date as per Paris Agreement commitments. The Minister also underlined the requirement of about USD 300–350 billion (~ ₹30 lakh crore) in financing to reach 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, inviting global investors to partner in this journey.

High-Level Bilateral and Institutional Engagements
On the sidelines of WEF 2026, the Union Minister held constructive bilateral meetings with Ministers, global CEOs, institutional investors and inter-governmental organisations, aimed at deepening collaboration and mobilising long-term capital for India’s clean energy transition.

The Minister met Dr. Said Mohammed Ahmed Al Saqri of Oman, discussing cooperation in solar, wind, green hydrogen and storage, particularly suited to arid conditions, and explored opportunities under CEPA, the International Solar Alliance and One Sun One World One Grid.

Talks with Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation of Belgium, reaffirmed strong India–Belgium cooperation in research and development, offshore wind, solar energy and green taxonomy.

In a meeting with Subaih Abdul Aziz Al-Mukhaizeem, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy of Kuwait, discussions focused on potential investments in India’s renewable energy sector, including India’s solar module and cell ecosystem, with interest from the Kuwait Investment Authority.

On the sidelines of WEF 2026, the Minister interacted with Santiago Peña, President of Paraguay, discussing technology partnerships, capacity-building and knowledge-sharing to support Paraguay’s renewable energy ambitions, while leveraging Paraguay’s clean energy strengths for regional cooperation.

Global Momentum at Davos
WEF 2026 also emphasised replicable renewable energy models for the Global South, with India and partners pledging to share lessons on solar parks, hydrogen hubs and storage solutions to ensure an inclusive energy transition. The Minister met Amon Murwira, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe, and discussed deepening India-Zimbabwe cooperation in New and Renewable Energy, including the support received from the International Solar Alliance towards the establishment of the STAR-C center in Zimbabwe. Minister Joshi also met Jordan’s Minister of Investment Dr Tareq Abu Ghazaleh and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan and discussed the scope for exploring potential investment partnerships.

The Union Minister also met Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency and Rafael Mariano Grossi, DG, IAEA and discussed strengthening of cooperation with the multilateral agencies to enable fostering of clean energy technologies for accelerating energy transition.

Industry Partnerships and Innovation
The Union Minister held a constructive meeting with Guillaume Vermersch, Group CFO of Mercuria Group, focusing on collaboration in renewable energy scaling, carbon markets, climate finance, green hydrogen, biofuels and energy storage. The Minister welcomed Mercuria’s commitment to invest nearly 50 per cent in green energy and its interest in India’s expanding clean energy ecosystem.

A forward-looking interaction was also held with Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, to explore expansion in solar and storage, advancement of green hydrogen under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, and partnerships in climate finance and technology.

The Minister also engaged with Charles Emond, CEO, and Sarah Bouchard, COO, of La Caisse, encouraging scaling up of long-term climate investments in India, aligned with La Caisse’s plan to invest USD 400 billion in climate action by 2030.

Discussions with Juvencio Maeztu, CEO of Ingka Group, highlighted strong interest in India’s solar, wind and hybrid projects, with emphasis on India’s stable and investor-friendly policy ecosystem.

In separate meetings with global industry leaders, including ENGIE CEO Catherine MacGregor, EDF CEO Bernard Fontana, EDF Power Solutions CEO Beatrice Buffon and Acciona Chief Sustainability and Financial Officer José Entrecanales Carrión, The Minister invited further investments in India’s renewable energy sector, highlighting the country as a leading and preferred destination for long-term clean energy investments.

Meetings and discussions also centered around enhancing the collaboration under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. While the meeting with Topsoe leadership focused on the deployment of the next generation Electrolyzer technology, the meeting with Bloom Energy’s Aman Joshi explored distributed power solutions such as fuel cell technologies for industrial clusters and data centres.

Interaction with S&P Global President Dave Ernsberger focused on developing robust frameworks for credit assessment, ESG standards and price discovery in renewables.

The engagements at Davos 2026 reaffirmed that India will remain a central focus for global investments in clean and green energy, driven by scale, policy certainty, strong execution and a people-centric approach to sustainable growth.

Global companies are increasingly looking at exploring partnerships in India in order to utilise local experience and knowledge of Indian companies and rapidly expand their presence in India through both greenfield and brownfield projects and investments.

KD NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, Jan 25:
On the occasion of the 77th Republic Day, the President of India has approved a series of prestigious gallantry and service awards for outstanding personnel of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), recognising their exemplary courage, devotion to duty and distinguished service in safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests.
The awards, announced ahead of Republic Day celebrations, honour Coast Guard personnel for acts of conspicuous gallantry, exceptional professionalism and unwavering commitment while operating in demanding maritime environments. Their contributions have been critical in maintaining round-the-clock coastal surveillance, protecting India’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), preventing smuggling and transnational maritime crime, conducting search and rescue missions, and responding swiftly to maritime disasters, the Indian Coast Guard said in a statement issued TO Kashmir Despatch by its Public Relations Officer, Commandant Amit Uniyal.
The Indian Coast Guard plays a pivotal role in ensuring coastal security across India’s 7,500-km-long coastline, operating an extensive network of ships, aircraft and coastal radar stations. The force works in close coordination with the Indian Navy, coastal police, customs and other maritime agencies to counter threats such as infiltration, illegal fishing, drug trafficking and environmental hazards at sea.
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
The Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, awarded for the highest degree of distinguished service, has been conferred upon Additional Director General Donny Michael, PTM, TM, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and sustained contributions to strengthening operational preparedness and maritime governance.
Vishisht Seva Medal
The Vishisht Seva Medal, recognising distinguished service of a high order, has been awarded to Deputy Inspector General K.S. Sitaram, acknowledging his professional excellence and operational leadership.
President’s Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished Service)
The President’s Tatrakshak Medal for Distinguished Service has been awarded to:
Inspector General Iqbal Singh Chauhan, TM
Inspector General Datwinder Singh Saini, TM
Both officers were honoured for their exemplary service record and strategic leadership in enhancing maritime safety and security operations.
Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak
For acts of exceptional bravery involving the saving of lives at sea, the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak has been awarded to P/Nvk (ME) Saumyanranjan Behera, recognising his courageous efforts during life-saving missions conducted under hazardous conditions.
Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry) – Posthumous
In a solemn tribute to supreme sacrifice, the Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry) – Posthumous has been awarded to:
Late Commandant Rakesh Kumar Rana
Late Commandant (JG) Vipin Babu
Late P/Nvk (RP) Karan Singh
These awards honour their extraordinary courage and supreme sacrifice, laying down their lives in the line of duty while protecting the nation’s maritime interests.
Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry)
The Tatrakshak Medal for Gallantry has been conferred upon:
Commandant (JG) Shailendra Singh Bisht
P/Nvk (RP) Gautam Yadav
P/Nvk (RP) Banti Kumar
They were recognised for their bravery and decisive action during high-risk maritime operations.
Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious Service)
The Tatrakshak Medal for Meritorious Service has been awarded to:
DIG Vinod Kumar Parmar
DIG Arun Kumar Bhardwaj
DIG Sudhakar Patil
Commandant Indu P
P/Adh (RO) Tapas Kumar Banerjee
According to PRO Commandant Amit Uniyal, the awardees have consistently demonstrated exceptional courage, professional competence and devotion to duty, particularly in protecting India’s maritime borders, enforcing maritime law, responding to oil spills and environmental threats, and ensuring the safety of fishermen and seafarers.
As the nation celebrates the 77th Republic Day, these honours serve as a tribute to the dedication, professionalism and selfless service of Indian Coast Guard personnel, whose continuous vigilance plays a crucial role in upholding India’s sovereignty, security and maritime integrity.
On behalf of the Indian Coast Guard, Commandant Amit Uniyal, Public Relations Officer, extended heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees and expressed gratitude for their continued service to the nation.