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News in Short

ECINeT Portal

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Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a new e-sign feature on its ECINET portal and mobile application to simplify voter-related services.

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  • The feature is expected to be rolled out on the ECINET portal and mobile app from the second week of September.
  • This feature is designed for applicants who seek to register as voters, delete names, or make corrections in the electoral rolls.
  • This requires applicants to verify their identity using Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers to ensure greater transparency and security.
  • This development follows reports of fraudulent deletions and additions in voter lists, making the move significant for protecting electoral integrity.
  • This feature is supported by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), which hosts the external verification portal.

ECINET platform

  • The ECINET platform was launched during the June 2025 bye-elections in five Assembly constituencies across Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab, and West Bengal.
  • This platform integrates over 40 mobile and web applications of the Election Commission into a single one-stop solution.
  • The ECINET has already enabled faster uploading of voter turnout trends and publishing of index cards within 72 hours of results declaration.
  • This system also ensured that presiding officers uploaded final turnout figures directly before leaving polling stations, improving transparency and efficiency.

Election commission

  • The Election Commission is a constitutional body established in 1950 by the Constitution of India.
  • Originally, the commission had only a Chief Election Commissioner. It currently consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners
  • The President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
  • They have tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. 

Centre of Excellence for Energy Transition (CoEET)

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Recently, the Andhra Pradesh government has approved the setting up of a Centre of Excellence for Energy Transition (CoEET) in Vishakhapatnam to promote clean energy innovation and research.

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  • The State government has cleared a proposal submitted by Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) to establish CoEET.
  • This CoEET will be registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and placed under the control of APEPDCL.
  • This facility will involve academic institutions such as IIM Visakhapatnam, Andhra University and the Indian Institute of Petroleum & Energy as stakeholders.
  • This initiative will also include collaboration with national think tanks such as The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
  • This centre aims to deliver over 20 applied research and pilot projects, train more than 1,000 professionals, and incubate at least 10 clean energy startups in the next five years.

Key Features of the Centre

  • This centre will house an innovation lab and an R&D workspace to support applied research in energy transition.
  • This centre will be managed by a team from state power utilities, supported by experts and contract professionals to integrate administrative experience with technical expertise in energy transition.
  • This facility will include training classrooms, seminar halls, and a startup incubation bay to nurture energy-related entrepreneurship.
  • This setup will also feature advanced tools such as a digital twin and smart grid simulation platforms.
  • This project will share costs among the state’s power utilities including Distribution Companies (DISCOMs), Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGENCO), and Andhra Pradesh Transmission Corporation Limited (APTRANSCO).

49th PRAGATI Meeting

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Recently, the Prime Minister of India chaired the 49th meeting of PRAGATI to review critical infrastructure projects and ensure their timely implementation across multiple sectors.

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  • The Prime Minister chaired the 49th meeting of PRAGATI, the ICT-enabled multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, in New Delhi.
  • This meeting reviewed eight critical infrastructure projects covering sectors such as mines, railways, water resources, industrial corridors, and power.
  • These projects span across 15 States and Union Territories with a total investment exceeding ₹65,000 crore.
  • The Prime Minister highlighted that PRAGATI brings together the Centre and States to fast-track projects and improve the delivery of public services.

Key Highlights of the Review

  • The Prime Minister stressed that delays in execution impose a double cost, escalating expenditure and depriving citizens of essential services.
  • The Prime Minister directed officials to adopt a result-oriented approach that enhances ease of living for citizens and ease of doing business for enterprises.
  • The Prime Minister called upon States and Union Territories to institutionalise their own monitoring mechanisms for flagship projects.
  • The Prime Minister urged States and Union Territories to prioritise reforms that strengthen competitiveness, efficiency, and innovation across sectors.

PRAGATI meeting

  • PRAGATI was launched in 2015 as a multimodal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.
  • The platform facilitates coordination between the central and state governments.
  • PRAGATI was developed by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) with support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
  • PRAGATI provides comprehensive information and real-time visuals of ground-level situations to support decision-making.

Tripura Sundari Temple

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Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated the redeveloped Mata Tripura Sundari temple in Udaipur, southern Tripura.

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  • This 524-year-old shrine has been redeveloped under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme of the Union Ministry of Tourism at a total cost of over ₹54 crore.
  • The Government of India launched the PRASAD scheme in the year 2014-2015 under the Ministry of Tourism to develop and identify pilgrimage sites across India for enriching the religious tourism experience.
  • Of the total cost, the Central government contributed ₹34.43 crore while the Tripura government provided ₹17.61 crore.

About Mata Tripura Sundari Temple

  • The temple, also called Matabari, was built in 1501 by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya and is considered one of the holiest Shakti Peethas in India.
  • Mata Tripura Sundari Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas revered by Hindus.
  • The temple unites traditions of Shaktism and Vaishnavism, reflecting religious syncretism.
  • The temple is associated with the Matabari Peda, a sweet offered as prasad, which recently received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Architecture and Sacred Features

  • The shrine reflects simplicity and grace, with a square plan and sloping roof resembling rural Bengal huts.
  • The temple is also known as Kurma Pith because its base resembles the hump of a tortoise, symbolising stability and endurance.
  • The adjoining Kalyan Sagar lake enhances its sanctity, where tortoises are revered by devotees.
  • Inside the sanctum are two idols:
  • The main deity, Goddess Tripura Sundari, is a five-foot idol worshipped as the presiding mother.
  • A smaller idol, Chhoto-Ma (Goddess Chandi), once carried by Tripura kings to hunting expeditions and battlefields.

Oju Hydel Project

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Recently, the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Environment Ministry has recommended granting environmental clearance to the 2,220 MW Oju hydroelectric project on the Subansiri River in Arunachal Pradesh.

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  • The expert appraisal committee on hydroelectric and river valley projects has approved the Oju Hydel Project.
  • This project will be the third-largest hydropower project in India to receive clearance after the Etalin (3,087 MW) and Dibang (2,880 MW) projects, both located in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The project will be developed by Oju Subansiri Hydro Power Corporation Pvt Ltd and will include a 2,100 MW main power plant and a 120 MW dam-toe plant.
  • The committee took note that the cumulative impact assessment and carrying capacity studies for the Subansiri basin were conducted in 2014, making the data more than a decade old.
  • Despite concerns raised by environmentalists, the panel accepted the submissions on hydrology and ecological flow data made by the project proponent.

Project Details

  • The project will have an installed capacity of 2,220 MW with a gross storage of 15.66 million cubic metres.
  • The total estimated cost is ₹24,942.01 crore, and the construction timeline is at least five years.
  • The project is part of a cascade of hydropower projects planned in the Subansiri basin, including Niare, Naba, Nalo, Dengser, Upper Subansiri and Lower Subansiri.
  • Arunachal Pradesh currently has an installed hydropower capacity of 1,256 MW, while its exploitable hydropower potential is over 50,394 MW.
  • This project is expected to strengthen regional energy supply and contribute significantly to India’s renewable energy goals.

Brazil–India Cross-Incubation Programme in Agritech (Maitri 2.0)

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The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched the second edition of the Brazil-India Cross-Incubation Programme in Agritech (Maitri 2.0) at New Delhi.

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  • Maitri 2.0 represents the second edition of the India–Brazil Cross-Incubation Programme in Agricultural Technology.
  • Its objective is to promote innovation-led growth and strengthen collaboration between the agri-tech ecosystems of India and Brazil.

Key Highlights of the Programme

  • This programme represents a strategic step in strengthening bilateral cooperation between India and Brazil in the field of agricultural innovation.
  • This initiative highlights the importance of complementarities between the two countries, drawing on their diverse agricultural ecosystems and technological strengths.
  • This programme underscores the role of innovation-driven growth in ensuring global food and nutritional security.
  • This programme contributes to the creation of a stronger and more inclusive agri-food ecosystem that can address shared challenges such as climate change, food security, and sustainable intensification.
  • This initiative is expected to deepen incubator linkages, thereby creating an enabling environment for cross-border agri-tech entrepreneurship.
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