NEW SPORTS FACILITIES UNVEILED AT WALTAIR RAILWAY INDOOR STADIUM Shri Lalit Bohra, Divisional Railway Manager, inaugurated the newly upgraded sports facilities at the Waltair Railway Indoor Sports Enclave, managed by the East Coast Railway Sports Association (ECORSA), today. The ceremony celebrated the opening of a renovated squash court and a state-of-the-art weightlifting arena, marking a significant upgrade to the division’s sports infrastructure. The event was attended by several distinguished guests, including Smt. Jyotsna Bohra, President of the East Coast Railway Women’s Welfare Organization (ECoRWWO), Shri K. Rama Rao, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (Operations), Shri M. Haranadh, Sports Officer, and other prominent figures. These advanced facilities are set to enhance sports events within the Waltair Division, offering a platform for young talent to develop and inspiring railway personnel and local youth to improve their skills and embrace challenges. The initiative aligns with national campaigns like Fit India and Khelo India, emphasizing fitness, discipline, and excellence for both employees and the surrounding community. Shri Bohra highlighted that these upgraded sports facilities are a reflection of East Coast Railway’s dedication to employee welfare and overall development. He encouraged active participation, emphasizing how such initiatives contribute to a healthier, more motivated workforce.

ECORWWO SPARKS SPORTS SPIRIT AT ANURAAG MONTESSORI SCHOOL’S ANNUAL SPORTS DAY The much-awaited Annual Sports Day at Anuraag Montessori School, aptly named Spirit Sports Spectacular, was a whirlwind of energy, bringing together students, teachers, and school management to celebrate athleticism, teamwork, and fitness. The event commenced with an inspiring march-past and torch-lighting ceremony, led by Smt. Jyotsna Bohra, President of ECoRWWO. This set an uplifting tone for the day ahead. Students competed in a range of exciting events, such as running races, relay races, sack races, frog jumps, and the classic lemon-and-spoon race. These activities not only promoted healthy competition but also instilled valuable lessons in perseverance and collaboration. The event saw strong participation from Vice President Gayatri Santharam, Secretary Ankita Sharma, ECoRWWO members, and parents, who motivated the students and supported the Fit India initiative. Their presence reinforced the importance of community engagement in fostering a spirit of fitness and togetherness. The day was filled with joy and excitement, with children cheering loudly for their teams and making the Sports Day a truly memorable celebration of enthusiasm and support.

RINL SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTS ANNUAL LPG LEAKAGE EMERGENCY MOCK DRILL AT VSP Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, conducted an annual mock drill exercise on 23rd December 2025, simulating a scenario of massive LPG leakage from the flange of LPG Installation-1. The exercise assumed four workers being trapped due to asphyxia. As per emergency procedures, the emergency siren was sounded and the affected area was immediately evacuated. During the mock drill, the Utilities Department promptly actuated the sprinkler system and remotely operated oscillating monitors to disperse the leaked LPG. Two fire tenders from CISF Fire Wing, VSP, initiated water spray operations. One casualty was rescued and shifted to the hospital by ambulance, while CISF Security personnel along with Home Guards cordoned off the area to ensure safety. The NDRF team, along with the Gas Safety Department and CISF, carried out gas monitoring, rescued the remaining three casualties, and successfully arrested the LPG leakage. AP State Fire Services and NTPC Simhadri Fire Wing also participated in the drill. After normalization of the situation, the ‘All Clear’ siren was sounded. The mock drill witnessed active participation from the HoDs of HR, Administration, Safety, EMF, ENMD, Utilities, and other concerned departments, along with emergency response teams. After completion of the exercise, GM (Utilities), Dy. Commandant (Fire), and other RINL officials appreciated the performance of all responders. The drill concluded with a briefing by Commandant, CISF (VSP), reaffirming RINL’s commitment to safety preparedness.

CISC HIGHLIGHTS STRATEGIC ROLE OF CRITICAL MINERALS IN DEFENCE READINESS AND VIKSIT BHARAT 2047 VISION The Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), in partnership with IP Bazzaar, organised a high-level, closed-door Tech Talk roundtable on the theme “Minerals That Matter: Geopolitics, Sovereignty & Value Chains” in New Delhi on 17 December 2025. Delivering the keynote address, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), underlined the growing strategic importance of critical minerals for national security, defence capability enhancement, and technological self-reliance. Air Marshal Dixit noted that advanced defence platforms—such as jet engines, missiles, precision-guided munitions, radars, satellites, batteries, and semiconductors—are heavily dependent on assured and sustained access to critical minerals. He cautioned that global supply chains for these resources are highly concentrated and increasingly influenced by export controls and geopolitical dynamics, making overdependence on imports a significant strategic risk. Emphasising India’s long-term goals of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, he stressed that self-reliant defence manufacturing and operational preparedness are closely linked to secure, resilient, and diversified mineral supply chains. He highlighted key national initiatives, including the identification of critical minerals, the launch of the National Critical Mineral Mission, and government efforts to strengthen the entire value chain—from mining and processing to manufacturing and recycling. During the event, Air Marshal Dixit also inaugurated a compendium of 30 technical reports on critical minerals, featuring detailed intellectual property landscape studies and market assessments. The invitation-only forum brought together senior policymakers, defence specialists, industry leaders, technology innovators, academics, and intellectual property professionals to deliberate on India’s strategic approach to critical minerals amid a rapidly changing global landscape. The event was held with the gracious best wishes of Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Government of India.

INDIAN NAVYS STITCHED SAILING VESSEL INSV KAUNDINYA TO BEGIN MAIDEN OVERSEAS VOYAGE The Indian Navy’s unique stitched sailing vessel, INSV Kaundinya, which showcases India’s ancient shipbuilding and maritime heritage, is set to commence her maiden overseas voyage on 29 December 2025. The vessel will be ceremonially flagged off from Porbandar, Gujarat, and will sail to Muscat, Oman, symbolically retracing the historic sea routes that linked India with the broader Indian Ocean region for centuries. Designed based on depictions of ancient Indian ships and built entirely using traditional stitched-plank construction techniques, INSV Kaundinya represents a remarkable blend of history, craftsmanship, and modern naval expertise. Unlike modern ships, her wooden planks are stitched together with coconut coir rope and sealed using natural resins, reviving a shipbuilding method once widely used along India’s coastline and across the Indian Ocean. This technology enabled Indian seafarers to undertake long-distance voyages to West Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia well before the development of modern navigation tools and metal fastenings. The project was executed under a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and M/s Hodi Innovations, as part of India’s initiative to rediscover and revive indigenous knowledge systems. The vessel was constructed by traditional artisans under the guidance of master shipwright Shri Babu Sankaran, with extensive research, design validation, and testing support from the Indian Navy and academic institutions. INSV Kaundinya is fully seaworthy and capable of undertaking ocean-going voyages. Named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya, believed to have sailed from India to Southeast Asia in ancient times, the vessel stands as a powerful symbol of India’s rich maritime legacy and enduring seafaring traditions.

RAKSHA MANTRI UNVEILS BRO GUIDE FOR PREPARING DETAILED PROJECT REPORTS ON ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh released a comprehensive ‘Guide on Preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for Road Infrastructure Projects’, developed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), at South Block, New Delhi on December 23, 2025. The BRO, which is responsible for building and maintaining highways and strategic roads in some of the country’s most remote and difficult terrains, uses DPRs as key documents covering engineering design, construction methods, execution planning, quality control, and cost analysis. The newly developed guide serves as a concise, standardized reference compiling relevant specifications, standards, guidelines, and procedures for DPR preparation. It is designed to support engineers at all stages of project planning, whether for new road construction or the upgradation of existing infrastructure. The guide seeks to address challenges such as time delays and cost overruns caused by inadequately prepared DPRs. By improving the quality, consistency, and technical accuracy of project reports, it is expected to enable timely execution of road projects and strengthen strategic connectivity. The initiative will also contribute to the socio-economic development of border areas through systematic planning, quality assurance, and cost-effective implementation. The event was attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Shri V. Umashankar, Director General Border Roads Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, along with other senior civil and military officials.