GMDC bags 2 coal blocks in Odisha

15 Mar 2023 CW Team

Resource PSU On Monday, Gujarat Mining Development Corporation (GMDC) announced that, in the recently completed commercial mine auction, it had placed the highest bid for two coal blocks in Odisha. Both the Baitarani (West) block and the Burapahar block, both with a geological reserve of 548 million tonnes (MT), were awarded to the PSU after competitive bidding.

With this advancement, GMDC will be able to supply an additional 21 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of energy, according to a statement from the PSU.

In a statement, GMDC Managing Director Roopwant Singh stated, "We are dedicated to use our resources and expertise to develop these blocks to their utmost potential while guaranteeing the highest levels of safety and environmental sustainability.

According to GMDC, this expansion will enable the PSU to operate beyond of Gujarat's state borders. In a recent article, the New York Times reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pursuing a new programme to combat climate change. The largest merchant supplier of lignite in the nation is GMDC.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Second Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar Advances High Speed Rail

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail (MAHSR) project reached a milestone with the breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. Mountain tunnel MT-six measures 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and will accommodate up and down tracks. The breakthrough follows MT-five near Saphale on second January 2026 and the MT-six excavation was completed from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. The ministry reported that the tunnelling was completed within 12 months. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method is favoured for its flexibility in complex geology and irregular tunnel s..

Modi Government Pushes Atmanirbhar Container Drive With BCSL MoU

The Union Government advanced a plan to create an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The MoU was signed by key agencies including the Shipping Corporation of India and Container Corporation of India alongside major port authorities and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the presence of senior ministers. The initiative aligns with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–2..

Ministry Reports Gains In Mobility For Marginalised Communities

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing skill development, education and rehabilitation schemes to promote socio-economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised and disadvantaged communities across the country. Programmes target Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis through specialised implementing corporations and empanelled training institutes. Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana, or PM-DAKSH, provided skill training and placement support through the Nati..