Manipur Gets Rs 1.53 Bn Aid After 2024 Hailstorm

02 May 2025 CW Team

A High-Level Committee (HLC) chaired by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah has approved Rs 1.53 billion in additional central assistance to Manipur, which was affected by a severe hailstorm in 2024. The financial aid will be provided through the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and is subject to a 50 per cent adjustment from the opening balance of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for the year.

This assistance is part of the Government of India’s ongoing commitment under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to support state governments during natural disasters and extreme weather events.

The approved relief is in addition to earlier central releases through SDRF allocations already placed at the disposal of various states.

During the financial year 2024–25, the central government disbursed:

Rs 202.64 billion to 28 states under SDRF,
Rs 51.61 billion to 19 states under NDRF,
Rs 49.84 billion from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) to 19 states, and
Rs 7.20 billion from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) to eight states.
In the ongoing financial year 2025–26, the Centre has already released:
Rs 8.96 billion to one state under SDRF, and
Rs 9.30 billion under NDRF to seven states.

This structured support ensures that states have timely access to emergency funds, enabling them to manage relief efforts effectively and rebuild critical infrastructure after natural calamities.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..