Latest news with #DiamondJubilee
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
We will take steps to implement Old Pension Scheme in K'taka: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Wednesday that the state government would discuss and initiate necessary steps to implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in Karnataka. He was speaking after inaugurating the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Employees' Association and releasing the commemorative publication 'Vajra Jyoti'. 'Ours is a government that lives up to its words. We will examine your demands and take appropriate action. The New Pension Scheme (NPS) was implemented by the Central Government, but we had declared in our party's manifesto that we would implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). We will hold discussions and take the necessary steps,' the Congress leader assured. CM Siddaramaiah announced that 35,000 vacant posts in the Power Transmission Department would be filled in phases and that the services of 532 contract civic workers in the department would be regularised. Recalling Karnataka's legacy in the power sector, CM Siddaramaiah noted, 'Asia's first electricity production began in Karnataka in 1902. The first power distribution company in Bengaluru started in 1905, and electricity was supplied to the Mysore Palace for the first time in 1908. Today, Karnataka has the proud distinction of producing 34,000 megawatts of power.' CM Siddaramaiah further analysed, 'Our self-reliance in food production is largely due to our self-reliance in electricity generation.' CM Siddaramaiah stated that the Congress-led government aims to ensure seven hours of daytime power supply to farmers for agricultural pump sets. 'We are working towards this goal. Once we reach a production capacity of 60,000 megawatts, this will become possible. We must remember that electricity is a vital component of our economy,' he stressed. Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated, 'I assure you that as long as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and I are in power, we will not allow the privatisation of Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) in the state.' He stated, 'When I became the Energy Minister, the BJP came to power at the Centre. In cities like Mumbai and Delhi, ESCOMs were handed over to private players. I, too, was pressured to do the same in Bengaluru. At that time, I told them that our staff, engineers, and management Board are strong and capable enough to run the ESCOMs efficiently. As long as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and I are here, ESCOMs will not be privatised in Karnataka.' 'Your demands are in consideration. The Old Pension Scheme is also part of our manifesto, so don't worry about that,' Dy CM Shivakumar stressed. 'When I took charge of the department, transmission losses stood at around 19–20 per cent. We have reduced this to 10 per cent, which is a model for the entire country. In many other states, losses are still around 17–18 per cent. "All thanks to the efforts made by all of you, the Energy Department has grown stronger. Minister for Energy, K.J. George, who currently heads this department, is leading it with great transparency and efficiency. We had taken several revolutionary decisions in the past as well,' Shivakumar added. 'When the issue of promotions came up earlier, I made a decision in just one day. Whenever a Congress government comes to power, it works for your well-being. Remember this — Chief Engineers in KPTCL and ESCOMs receive the same salary as an IPS officer. Let your love and trust remain with us,' Shivakumar added. Energy Minister K.J. George on Wednesday said that the state government fully supports the KPCTL Employees' Association, recognising its commitment to aiding the successful implementation of pro-people initiatives across Karnataka.
Arab Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Charlotte pays subtle tribute to Queen Elizabeth at Trooping the Colour
LONDON, June 15: Princess Charlotte honored her late great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II at Saturday's Trooping the Colour parade by wearing a symbolic piece of royal jewelry. The 10-year-old royal wore the Diamond Horseshoe brooch — a gift from Her Majesty — which she had previously donned at the Queen's state funeral in 2022. The brooch, steeped in royal history and affectionately tied to the Queen's well-known love of horses, was pinned to the front of Charlotte's light blue dress as she participated in the King's official birthday celebration. At the time of Queen Elizabeth's funeral, an Instagram user under the name @historyfamousjewels noted: 'At the funeral of QEII, Princess Charlotte of Wales wore a small diamond horseshoe brooch. The BBC states that it was a gift from HM QEII to the Princess. Fellow poster, Franck @britishroyalfamilywealth, recognized that it is a brooch worn by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in the 1920s.' The post further added, 'Franck also noted that Leslie Field stated the brooch was given to QEQM (Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) by Queen Mary. I would like to pay tribute to the composure of the young Princess during what must have been an overwhelming experience.' Matching her daughter in style and sentiment, the Princess of Wales wore a striking blue coat dress by Catherine Walker, paired with a wide-brimmed hat by Juliette Botterill. She accessorized with the Irish Guards regimental brooch and the Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings — the latter crafted from pearls gifted to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their wedding day by the ruler of Bahrain in 1947. Ahead of the parade, royal fans gathered along the Mall, many carrying cardboard cut-outs of their favorite royals. A life-sized image of the Princess of Wales, dressed in her iconic red Alexander McQueen dress worn during the 2012 Diamond Jubilee, was seen among the crowd. Others brought cut-outs of King Charles in full military regalia, a show of support as he continues treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. The Wales children — Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, 7 — remain a favorite among royal watchers. Last year's event featured touching behind-the-scenes footage of the Princess of Wales gently smoothing Charlotte's hair and holding her hand as they prepared to join the procession. Charlotte, who appeared nervous at first, quickly gained confidence with her mother's quiet reassurance. Trooping the Colour is a centuries-old tradition that celebrates the Sovereign's official birthday. Originating in the 17th century, the custom of 'trooping' regimental flags, or colours, ensured soldiers could recognize their unit's banners during the chaos of battle. A full-dress rehearsal known as the Colonel's Review took place last week as the final preparation before the King's official celebration. This year, the Coldstream Guards had the honor of presenting their regimental colour to King Charles. Following the parade, all eyes turned to the Buckingham Palace balcony for the traditional royal appearance during the RAF flypast. King Charles and Queen Camilla were front and center, with senior members of the Royal Family expected to join them, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children. Princess Anne, accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, was also anticipated on the balcony. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, along with their daughter Lady Louise, 21, were expected as well. Their son, James, Earl of Wessex, 17, did not attend last year, and his participation remains uncertain. The Duke of Kent, 89, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also likely attendees. As anticipated, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, did not attend the ceremony. The couple, having stepped back from royal duties, have not appeared at Trooping the Colour since 2019. Also absent was Prince Andrew, 65, who remains excluded from public royal events. His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, are also not expected to attend, aligning with King Charles' vision for a streamlined monarchy focused on working royals. As in past years, royal children captivated onlookers during the flypast. In 2023, young Prince Louis delighted fans by mimicking the roar of the jets, playfully pretending to fly a plane while scrunching his face in concentration. While the official route of this year's flypast has not been confirmed, the Military Air Shows organization published a restricted airspace map indicating a path over the North Sea, East Anglia, Essex, and London. The aircraft were expected to fly over Buckingham Palace at 1 p.m. This year's event marked a notable change for King Charles, who did not ride on horseback as he has in previous years. Due to his ongoing cancer treatment, the King traveled in a carriage alongside Queen Camilla. It is understood that this change may become permanent, ending the monarch's brief revival of the "sovereign on horseback" tradition, which he resumed in 2023 — the first time a monarch had done so since Queen Elizabeth II in 1986. The King's last ride, in 2023, was reportedly challenging, with his horse Noble appearing unsettled and breaking into a canter during the procession. Queen Elizabeth, an experienced equestrian, famously rode her horse Burmese until the mare's retirement. She later transitioned to carriage travel and took her final salute from the Buckingham Palace balcony in 2022. This year also marked the return of Princess Anne to public riding, following a suspected horse-related injury last year. As Colonel of the Blues and Royals and holding the ceremonial role of Gold Stick, she rode alongside Prince William, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel of the Scots Guards and London Guards. The King, 76, was hospitalized in January 2024 for an enlarged prostate and was subsequently diagnosed with cancer. His modified participation in this year's parade reflects a balance between royal tradition and his ongoing health needs.
New Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala CM urges government officers to speed up file movement
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With just a year left for the government to complete its term, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday urged gazetted officers to speed up the movement of files to meet the 900 promises the government made when it came to power in 2021. The government conducted many successful file adalats in the past nine years, but they are not enough, he said after inaugurating the Diamond Jubilee building of the Kerala Gazetted Officers' Association (KGOA) in Thiruvananthapuram. 'The reason why adalats are needed repeatedly is that people's requirements are not met regularly. Adalats are a way to atone to those shortcomings,' the CM said. Pinarayi also highlighted the importance of proper execution of department-level responsibilities for the government's efficient functioning. 'Since the current government's term gets over next year, responsibilities must be handled properly at the department level to meet the 900 promises it made when it came to power in 2021,' he said. The CM also highlighted the way Kerala has been trying to address unemployment. 'Though the state's population will be roughly 2.5% of the country's total population, Kerala carries out 60% of total PSC appointments in India. The state government created over 40,000 new jobs in the last nine years,' he said, adding that these are happening when lakhs of posts remain vacant in the country. Pinarayi also stressed on the need to develop a culture in which people feel the government is a structure to execute their decisions. 'No matter what the nature of people's concerns, officers should not approach them with a preconception. Instead, there should be positive thinking,' he said, while also urging the officers to have proper political awareness, as they are the ones who take government initiatives to the people. MLA V Joy, former speaker M Vijayakumar, KGOA state president S R Mohanan and others were present at the event.
Business Standard
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Chennai Petroleum Corporation re-enters direct fuel retail segment
Earmarks Rs 400 cr for setting up retail outlets The setting up of retail outlets for the sale of petrol and diesel has been initiated by Chennai Petroleum Corporation (CPCL), marking its re-entry into the direct fuel retail segment nearly two decades after its earlier exit. Approval for this initiative has been granted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. An initial capital expenditure of approximately Rs 400 crore has been earmarked for this project over the next two to three years. The first phase of retail outlets is expected to be launched during CPCL's Diamond Jubilee year, with site selection being carried out based on market potential and strategic location analysis. The rollout is being approached cautiously, with further expansion into other states planned based on market response and prevailing conditions. The initiative is aimed at addressing existing market demand and expanding CPCL's presence in the fuel retail segment.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Chennai Petroleum to set up retail fuel outlets; commits ₹400 crore capex
IndianOil Group company Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd coinciding with its Diamond Jubilee year has embarked on a journey to set up retail outlets to sell petrol and diesel , a top official said on Tuesday. The company, which has been producing fuel at its refineries located near the city, has earmarked ₹400 crore as capital expansion towards this cause. "We are embarking on a journey to set up retail outlets. Long back about 20 years back, CPCL had one standalone outlet in Sriperumbudur. Now, we are again venturing into this strategic growth path. So this is one exciting journey we are taking now. We want to see that during this Diamond Jubilee year, we will be able to establish some diamond jubilee outlets that is a target we are working on," CPCL Managing Director H Shankar told reporters. Declining to elaborate on the number of outlets planned initially, he said during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations the company would be in a position to launch the first round of retail outlets. "Retail outlets will sell petrol and diesel. We got the approval from the Ministry (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas) to set up the retail outlets. So, we are going to move in that direction," he said. Responding to a query, he said, "it is a startup for us (To establish a retail outlet). We just want to roll out during the Diamond Jubilee year, see how the market reacts. We have set aside a minimum capex ( capital expenditure ) for that about ₹400 crore over a period of 2-3 years." "If the same excitement is reciprocated from the market, then the roll out of outlets will be much faster and bigger." he said. Shankar said the expansion of the retail outlets would be gradually expanded into other States based on the prevailing market conditions. "We want to spread slowly not that we will do only in Tamil Nadu, we want to go all over (India). We will go in a careful way. It is a journey where it all depends on the market conditions." According to Shankar, the company had initially set up its first retail outlet in Sriperumbudur near Chennai in 2002 but it was closed as the marketing of fuel products was given to the parent company IndianOil and it was decided that CPCL will be a standalone refinery company. Asked whether establishing CPCL owned retail outlets would eat into the revenues of IndianOil, he replied that there was enough scope for petrol and diesel market in India and fuel outlets by CPCL would be decided based on the 'market potential'. "So, whenever we advertise in the press, we have to see where we are going to set up what is the potential available. We have to see what are the sites available, what are the market potential and then only Letter of Intent will be given." "If there are already established players in and around, there is no point in setting up. So, we need to be very judicious about site selection also. That is what we are now working on," he said.
