Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurates ICAR-IIMR admin block in Ludhiana

16 Oct 2025 CW Team

Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently inaugurated the administrative building at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Institute of Maize Research (ICAR-IIMR) in Ludhiana, Punjab.

During the visit, he interacted with maize stakeholders, farmers, rural development scheme beneficiaries, and women self-help group (SHG) members.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government’s key goals include boosting foodgrain production, reducing input costs, and improving farmers’ incomes. He highlighted the importance of diversification beyond rice and wheat, emphasising maize’s utility across food and industrial sectors and its role as a water-saving alternative to paddy.

As part of support measures, he announced that the central government has released Rs 740 million for free distribution of wheat seeds to mitigate crop loss in Punjab. Press Information Bureau In addition, under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, Rs 2.2 billion has been advanced to 1.1 million farmers.

On flood relief, Chouhan stated that a package of Rs 16 billion has been sanctioned. He noted that Rs 1,60,000 per family has been approved for the reconstruction of 36,703 damaged houses — of which Rs 1,20,000 is for house construction and Rs 40,000 for labour and toilet facilities.

He urged citizens to give preference to “Made in India” products, arguing this would support local artisans, retain wealth domestically, and strengthen the national economy.

The event was attended by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu, and Punjab Agriculture Minister Shri Gurmeet Singh Khudian.

Technology

16 Oct 2025

Google to Build Rs 10,000 Cr Data Centre in Visakhapatnam

In a major boost to India’s digital infrastructure, Google will establish a 1-GW hyperscale data centre and Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The project, valued at Rs 100 billion, is expected to significantly contribute to the state’s economy and create more than 20,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Dr Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, highlighted that this landmark investment by Google will help position Andhra Pradesh as a prominent digital hub under the “Swarandhra Pradesh” vision. ..

TCIL honoured with HR Excellence Award 2025

Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), a Miniratna Schedule ‘A’ PSU under the Department of Telecommunications, has been honoured with the HR Excellence Award at the Fortune Leadership Awards 2025, held at Radisson Blu Plaza, Delhi. The accolade acknowledges TCIL’s outstanding HR practices promoting employee development, innovation, and inclusivity. The award was presented by Dr. Dinesh Upadhyay, Former Member, Ministry of AYUSH, and Shri M. S. Nethrapal, IRS, and received by Shri P. Suresh Babu, CGM (HR), in the presence of distinguished leaders from various sectors. Bet..

Google to Invest USD 15 Billion in AI Hub at Visakhapatnam

Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, hailed Google’s new AI Hub in Visakhapatnam as a transformative milestone for India’s digital economy. Speaking at the ‘Bharat AI Shakti’ event hosted by Google, he said the Hub would mark a new era of AI-first infrastructure, supported by clean energy and subsea connectivity, while generating high-value employment nationwide. The Minister emphasised that the facility aligns with the India AI Mission’s goals and urged Google to focus on skill development and job creation. He encouraged the company to support India’s tal..