Foreign investment interest in Nagaland in B20 conferenceDelegates of G20 countries, diplomats of other foreign countries and CII have expressed willingness to invest in various sectors in Nagaland during the just concluded B20 summit, an official said on Thursday. Nagaland Chief Minister Rio said that the Bangladesh delegation has expressed interest in purchasing cereals from the state and reviving the Tuli Paper Mill in Mokokchung, where production had stopped in 1982.

The Nagaland summit was a great success as 60 delegates from 27 countries participated in it. This was the first time that Nagaland showcased its potential before so many foreign delegates.


The landscape of North Eastern Hills and Brahmaputra Plains Landscape (NEHBPL) has recorded 194 distinctive tigers captured in camera traps in 2022, according to the tiger census data released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The methodology has changed in tiger count compared to 2018 when indirect evidence, without camera trap, was also considered. The estimated figure in NEHBPL was 219 in 2018. The estimated big cat Population in NEHBPL increased considerably from 100, detected in 2006. The maximum-minimum range of tigers in NEHBPL was 194 and 244 respectively in 2018.

According to “Status of Tigers in India-2018” report NEHBPL counted 219 tigers, which was an increase of 18 tigers from the 2014 figure of 201 tigers. NEHBPL spans the landscapes ofAssam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and the contiguous forests of north West Bengal.
Nevertheless, considering the Growth of tiger population over the years, NEHBPL is one of the three zones alongwith Shivalik & Gangetic floodplain and Central India where tiger population has shown substantial rise, read the report. “There may be an estimated decline compared to the last survey, but since 2010, it has been a substantial rise from 2006 – it’s almost doubled,” said Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, acclaimed wildlife expert, who was present at the event.

Overall, Shivalik Hills & Gangetic Plains Landscape has 804 camera trapped tigers, while landscape-wise Central Indian Highlands & Eastern Ghats Landscape has the highest 1,161 individual tigers photo captured.

Odisha is full of mineral and natural resources; Odisha is rich, so is the BJD. But the Odia youths are going to other States to work as migrant labourers while the Chief Minister is making reels on social media, said the BJP.

The has a plethora of schemes, but the people of the State are not getting the benefits and are going outside the State for livelihood and returning as dead bodies, said BJP State general secretary Lekhashri Samantsinghar.

TNASDC launches free certificate programme

NaduApex Skill development Centre for Banking Financial Services and Insurance (TNASDC-BFSI), a skill development initiative of Tamil Nadu Government, is launching two free certificate programmes: one in banking and finance, and another in fintech skills, in May 2023 for the students of Tamil Nadu. The certification programmes are part of the State governments flagship Naan Mudhalvan skilling initiative. Fully funded by the State Government, the programmes: Certificate Programme in Banking and Finance, and Certificate Programme inFintech Skillswill be conducted in hybrid mode. Students of government colleges, state universities, and aided colleges – besides, those from non-aided colleges belonging to Economically Weaker Sections can apply for the courses online.

To become eligible for the programmes, students will have to clear a free entrancetest- to be conducted on April 16 across the state.

Kerala: Revenue from liquor set to hit all-time high this financial year

In a relief to the ailingrevenue collectionof the state, the excise department is set to meet its revised revenue collection target set for the financial year 2022-23, which would come to a close in two more days.
The previous highest collection was in 2018-19, when it was Rs 1,948.69 crore. In 2018-19, the total revenue collection till March 31 closed at Rs 2,480.63 crore, which means that Rs 531.94 crore was collected in the last month of the financial year.

The originally expected budget estimate for the ongoing financial year was Rs 2,655.52 crore, which was subsequently revised to Rs 2,800.45 crore, expecting an additional collection of Rs 145 crore. However, government sources put this as a modest revision that would easily be surpassed.

Bengaluru to have drone deliveries in 3 months

It is now Bengalurus turn to get spotted on the drone-delivery map with Hyderabad-based Scandron Pvt Ltd partnering with Bengaluru-based company CriticaLog India Pvt Ltd to fly out organs.

About 20-25 drones will be deployed in Bengaluru alone. At present, these can handle a payload of 5kg-20kg, at an operational speed of 12 metres per second, powered by lithium ion batteries.

A PARTNERSHIP worth Rs 600 crore was signed on Wednesday to provide drone-based logistics solutions in 160 cities across India, including Bengaluru, thereby eventually aiming to do away with ambulances and green corridors.

70% kids below 5 years anaemic in Telangana: Govt data

At 70%,Telanganahas one of the highest Percentage of anaemic children in age group of 6 months to 5 years among states.

As per the report tabled by the Centre in Parliament in response to a query on effectiveness of Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) programme, the number of anaemic children in the state has increased from 60.7% in National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4) to 70% in NFHS-5 released two years ago. Other states with high number of anaemic children are Gujarat (79.7%), Punjab (71%) andRajasthan(71%).

While Centre has launched AMB to reduce anaemia in Women, children and adolescents through a life cycle approach, it seems to be on rise across these categories.

Anaemia in women across age groups is also high in with 57.6% in aged 15-49 affected. It is 64.7% in girls aged 15-19 and 53.2% among pregnant women, Union minister of state for health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in the report tabled in the Lok Sabha.

Vizag port handles record cargo volume at 73.73 million tonnes

TheVisakhapatnamPort Authority (VPA) created HISTORY in cargo handling in the financial year of 2022-23 by handling 73.73 million tonnes.
This is the highest-ever cargo handling by the VPA since its inception surpassing the previous highest 72.72 MT in the financial year of 2019-20. It may be recalled that the Vizag port had handled 69.03 MT cargo in 2021-22 and now with a Growth of above 7%, it has achieved 73.73 MT

He said the increase in the volume of cargo such as Steam Coal (67% compared to the previous year) 117.10 lakh tonnes, POL and Crude Oil (13%) 161.25 lakh tonnes, cooking coal (11%) 49.01 lakh, and Fertilizers and raw (6%) 28.17 lakh tonnes. The Vizag Port would get Rs. 1700 crore through cargo handling.

Goa State Library Policy to be formulated

In a bid to preserve the personal book collection of eminent writers for national posterity, theGoa governmentwill be formulating theGoa State Library Policy. The government has reconstituted a state level committee of prominent writers, educationists and library professionals to frame and finalize the guidelines for the policy.

The committee shall meet as and when required to discuss and finalize the guidelines for Goa State Library Policy. The term of the committee is extended for further period of one year with effect from January 12, 2023 to January 11, 2024 or till the committee submits its final guidelines, whichever is earlier, the notification read.

Maharashtra cabinet adds incessant rain to list of natural calamities

The state cabinet agreed to declareincessant rainas a natural calamity, which will entitle farmers, whose crops are impacted, to compensation after surveys by the government.

The Centre has declared 12 natural calamities, where compensation is awarded. The state has added excess rain, accidental fires, sea-related disasters and lightning strikes to the list.

Maharashtrahas experienced several spells of continuous rain which resulted in the damage of key crops, including sugarcane.