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Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Business
- Time of India
Modi launches 105 projects worth over Rs 18,600 crore, in Odisha, ET Infra
Advt Advt Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched 105 development projects valued at over Rs 18,600 crores, unveiled the " Odisha Vision Document " and flagged off new trains during his visit to the also felicitated several people, including ' Lakhpati Didis ' and others. Modi , who visited Odisha for the sixth time since the BJP government was formed in the state in June 2024, launched the projects at a function at Janata Maidan projects launched by the Prime Minister included drinking water and irrigation, health infrastructure, rural roads and bridges, national highways and railway flagged off the first passenger train to Boudh district after inaugurating the Sonepur-Purunakatak railway line. Railway projects such as the third and fourth rail lines between Sarla-Sason and the fourth rail line between Jharsuguda-Jamga were also apart, Modi also flagged off 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) system, promoting eco-friendly urban following people's feedback, the Prime Minister unveiled the 'Odisha Vision Document', the roadmap for the state's development goals, anchored around the centenary of Odisha's formation as a linguistic state in 2036 and India's 100 years of independence in vision aims to transform Odisha into a Dollar 500 billion economy by 2036 and a Dollar 1.5 trillion economy by Prime Minister also launched ' Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana ', an initiative to transform birthplaces of Odia icons into memorials, featuring museums, interpretation centres, statues and libraries, thereby promoting cultural tourism and preserving also felicitated some women achievers from across the state, who included some "Lakhpati Didis".'Lakhpati Didi' is an initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development focused on empowering women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The goal is to help them achieve an annual household income exceeding Rs one lakh by adopting sustainable livelihood state tops the list of creating 16.60 lakh 'Lakhpati Didis' in the country.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
India can step up as Living Laboratory for the world, says Union Minister Chandra Shekhar
New Delhi: Reflecting over India's large population base and its diversity, Union Minister Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, voiced that the country can step up as a"living laboratory" for the world, and offer scalable models for digital transformation of healthcare. Speaking at the inaugural edition of ETHealthworld FutureMed X - The Smart Patient Care Summit, the Minister of State for Communications & Ministry of Rural Development, said the country has the potential to serve as a "living laboratory" for the world. and building on the existing evidence India can develop its own high-quality scalable solutions and drive healthcare digital transformation.' With collaboration between entrepreneurs and the government, we can make this process successful and ensure that our citizens receive healthcare services that meet global quality standards, the minister added. Delivering the Chief Guest address, Dr Chandra Sekhar noted, with record investment in medical education, the country is nearing to achieve the World Health Organisation (WHO) optimal number of doctors and integration of telemedicine has further boosted access to services. Speaking further, the Union Minister stressed that entrepreneurs in the country can explore innovative business models to address healthcare challenges, such as drone-based delivery of essential medicines and mobile vans equipped with trained MBBS doctors and physicians. Advocating for self-reliance, Dr Chandra Sekhar said that India needs to develop its own system and needs to focus on investing in primary and preventive care. By leveraging digital infrastructure and implementing price controls, along with effective workforce planning, the country can overcome existing healthcare challenges, he added. The inaugural edition FutureMed X - The Smart Patient Care Summit designed to discuss and understand the dynamics of AI-driven diagnostics , IoT-enabled healthcare , telemedicine, and data-driven decision-making—paving the way for a more intelligent, connected, and patient-first healthcare ecosystem.
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Business Standard
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Rejected Trump's invite to come to land of Jagannath: PM Modi in Odisha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he declined an invitation from former United States President Donald Trump in favour of visiting the eastern Indian state of Odisha, which he described as the land of Lord Jagannath. "Just two days ago, I was in Canada for the G7 summit, and the US President Trump called me. He said, since you have come to Canada, go via Washington, we will have dinner together and talk. He extended the invitation with great insistence. I told the US President, thank you for the invitation. It is very important for me to go to the land of Mahaprabhu, and hence I politely declined his invitation and your love and devotion to Mahaprabhu brought me to this land," PM Modi said, as quoted by news agency ANI. The Prime Minister's remarks came during his public address in Bhubaneswar, where he is on a visit ahead of upcoming religious and cultural observances related to the Jagannath Yatra. 105 development projects announced PM Modi also launched 105 development projects worth over ₹18,600 crore during his visit to Odisha. The projects span key sectors such as drinking water, irrigation, healthcare, rural connectivity, highways, and railway infrastructure. At an event held at Janata Maidan, the Prime Minister flagged off several railway services, including the first passenger train to Boudh district following the inauguration of the Sonepur–Purunakatak railway line. Additional rail developments included the launch of the third and fourth lines between Sarla and Sason, and a fourth line between Jharsuguda and Jamga. Modi also flagged off 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) system. The Prime Minister unveiled the 'Odisha Vision Document', a long-term roadmap for the state's development. Prepared with public input, the document sets out economic goals tied to the centenary of Odisha's formation in 2036 and India's 100th year of independence in 2047. It outlines plans to grow the state's economy to $500 billion by 2036 and $1.5 trillion by 2047. During the event, he also felicitated several women achievers, including participants of the 'Lakhpati Didi' initiative. The programme, under the Ministry of Rural Development, supports women in self-help groups (SHGs) to earn a household income above ₹1 lakh annually through sustainable livelihoods.
NDTV
16 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
PM Modi Launches 105 Projects Worth Over Rs 18,600 Crore In Odisha
Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched 105 development projects valued at over Rs 18,600 crores, unveiled the "Odisha Vision Document" and flagged off new trains during his visit to the state. He also felicitated several people, including 'Lakhpati Didis' and others. PM Modi, who visited Odisha for the sixth time since the BJP government was formed in the state in June 2024, launched the projects at a function at Janata Maidan here. The projects launched by the Prime Minister included drinking water and irrigation, health infrastructure, rural roads and bridges, national highways and railway infrastructure. PM Modi flagged off the first passenger train to Boudh district after inaugurating the Sonepur-Purunakatak railway line. Railway projects such as the third and fourth rail lines between Sarla-Sason and the fourth rail line between Jharsuguda-Jamga were also launched. This apart, PM Modi also flagged off 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) system, promoting eco-friendly urban mobility. Prepared following people's feedback, the Prime Minister unveiled the 'Odisha Vision Document', the roadmap for the state's development goals, anchored around the centenary of Odisha's formation as a linguistic state in 2036 and India's 100 years of independence in 2047. The vision aims to transform Odisha into a Dollar 500 billion economy by 2036 and a Dollar 1.5 trillion economy by 2047. The Prime Minister also launched 'Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana', an initiative to transform birthplaces of Odia icons into memorials, featuring museums, interpretation centres, statues and libraries, thereby promoting cultural tourism and preserving heritage. Modi also felicitated some women achievers from across the state, who included some "Lakhpati Didis". 'Lakhpati Didi' is an initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development focused on empowering women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The goal is to help them achieve an annual household income exceeding Rs one lakh by adopting sustainable livelihood practices. The state tops the list of creating 16.60 lakh 'Lakhpati Didis' in the country.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
From compliance to credibility: A call for strategic action in sustainability reporting (BRSR in India)
Dr. Agyeya Tripathi has completed his Ph.D. and holds a Masters degree in Business Administration and another Masters in Electronics and Communication. He is a national resource person for Financial Inclusion under National Rural Livelihood Mission, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. LESS ... MORE 'BRSR isn't just a format – It's the future of corporate trust' Let's be honest—when most professionals first glance at the BRSR, it feels like just another reporting requirement. A table to be filled, a deadline to be met, another checkbox on the ever-growing list of compliance mandates. But if you've been anywhere near ESG reporting over the last year, you know BRSR is not just a form. It's a signal. A shift. A quiet but powerful push from SEBI telling us: 'It's time to go deeper.' And that's exactly the point. BRSR is not where the story ends—it's where the work begins. Take a recent conversation I had with a sustainability officer at a large listed company. She showed me a beautifully populated BRSR report. Every field was filled. Every metric reported. But when I asked, 'What's the theory of change behind your CSR initiatives?' there was a pause. It wasn't that they hadn't done anything meaningful—it's that the narrative and the numbers weren't connected. That's where many of us are right now: compliant, but not yet strategic. Here's what we're all starting to realize—BRSR and Social Impact Assessment are not the same thing. One is a format for disclosing what's been done; the other is a method to evaluate how well and how meaningfully it was done. But they're also not separate. In fact, when done right, they complement each other beautifully. BRSR helps structure and standardize reporting. Impact assessments dig into the soul of that data. Now, why does all of this matter more than ever? Because from FY 2023–24 onwards, India's top 150 listed companies are not just expected to report under BRSR Core—they're required to get third-party assurance. That means someone independent has to look at metrics like GHG emissions, wages, water use, gender diversity, and occupational health and safety—and confirm that the numbers are real, accurate, and meaningful. And by FY 2026–27, that assurance won't just be 'limited'—it'll move toward reasonable assurance, the kind of deep audit-like scrutiny that demands solid systems, documentation, and governance. This is where things get exciting for governance professionals—especially Company Secretaries. CS professionals are trained to be the bridge between law and practice, boardroom and operations, compliance and conscience. They understand disclosures, risks, documentation, ethics. And in this new world of ESG assurance, those very skills make them natural candidates to coordinate assurance processes, advise on ESG disclosures, build internal systems, or even become social impact assessors themselves—especially with the right upskilling. And then came the news that took this from important to urgent. In June 2025, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision announced a global standard: banks around the world, including in India, will now have to disclose climate-related financial risks—aligned with frameworks like TCFD and ISSB (IFRS S2). That means Indian regulators, like the RBI, will soon mandate banks to publish not only their sustainability practices but the actual financial risks they face from climate change—floods, droughts, transition risks, carbon pricing, stranded assets. Now think about this: banks are already filing BRSR. Soon, they'll need to deepen their disclosures to include climate risk—and these disclosures will require strong assurance and governance. That's not just about sustainability anymore. That's about financial stability. That's Basel. This has a ripple effect: Banks will push ESG and climate risk disclosures down to their borrowers—listed companies, SMEs, large suppliers. Value chain reporting, currently voluntary under BRSR, may become de facto mandatory. Assurance becomes critical—not just for compliance, but for investor trust, risk management, and capital access. And who can step into this expanding gap? Again, Company Secretaries—if they choose to. With the right skills—understanding ESG frameworks (BRSR Core, GRI, ISSB), assurance standards (ISAE 3000, AA1000AS), and social impact tools (SROI, logic models, stakeholder engagement)—CS professionals can evolve from compliance checkers to strategic advisors, ESG assurance coordinators, or certified impact evaluators. They can serve in companies, with banks, in consulting roles, or even as part of third-party assurance teams. India may be rolling this out more gradually than the EU, but the direction is unmistakable. The EU's double materiality approach, value chain disclosures, and mandatory assurance under CSRD are already influencing global supply chains. Indian companies that export, partner, or seek foreign capital will need to match those expectations. And that means professionals supporting them—especially CS—need to be future-ready. If there's one message that cuts through all of this, it's this: Assurance is no longer just a nice-to-have. It's the new language of credibility. And if BRSR is the sentence, assurance is the punctuation mark that gives it clarity and power. So no, BRSR is not just a form. It's not just another compliance task. It's an invitation. To think deeper, report better, govern smarter. And to step into a role that's not only emerging—but essential. 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