NEWS

Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM assumed the
appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff on 01 February 2021.
An alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun, National Defence Academy,
Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Lt Gen CP Mohanty was commissioned
into the Rajput Regiment on 12 Jun 1982.
In a career spanning four decades, the General officer served across a wide spectrum of conflicts
and terrain profiles and tenanted a host of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments.
He commanded a battalion on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and later in the North
East. He has the unique distinction of commanding two brigades: first on the Line of Actual
Control and later on, the multinational UN Brigade in Democratic Republic of Congo.

With schools in Odisha likely to reopen this month, given the improvement in the Covid-19
situation, the state government has decided to gift students 'Happiness kits' -- comprising
peanuts, jaggery, chickpeas among other items -- to boost their immunity.The distribution, set to
begin during the first week of February, would cover five districts in the initial phase -- Khurda,
Cuttack, Puri, Nayagarh, and Sundargarh, an official said on Monday.
What do happiness kits contain? "Each kit would contain nutritious food items, such as wheat,
turmeric powder, peanuts, jaggery, chickpeas, cinnamon, cardamom, biscuits. These apart,
stationery items, including pen, pencil, notepad, sanitary napkin, toothpaste, iodised salt and
soap, would also be a part of the kit," he said.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal exuded confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) will form the next government in the state. Sonowal said that BJP will retain power with the help of the people of Assam.
"I am confident that BJP will definitely win the hearts of the people of Assam. BJP will form the
next government in Assam for the development of the state and peace and tranquillity," Sonowal
said.
Assam state BJP on Monday inaugurated its state-level election office in Guwahati ahead of the
Assembly polls in the state.
State BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass inaugurated the election office.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, his cabinet colleagues, MPs, MLAs of the party,
BJP national vice-president and in-charge of party Assam unit Baijayant Jay Panda were also
present in the inaugural programme.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Sunday said that TMC leaders are joining the BJP in droves as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has failed the people of West Bengal.

“Mamata Banerjee should think why so many TMC leaders are joining the BJP. It is because she has failed the people of the state. By the time elections arrive, she will be left alone,” he said, hinting at more exodus from the ruling party.

Shah cancelled his visit late Friday, with the Bengal BJP citing “unavoidable circumstances” and the “situation in Delhi”. He addressed the gathering via video conference today.