News in Short

India’s First Carbon Negative Garrison

College of Military Engineering (CME), Pune, has commissioned a 5-megawatt (MW) solar power plant taking its solar power generation capacity to 7 MW making it India’s first carbon negative garrison.
CME: It was established in 1948 as a premier institute of the armed forces, trains all ranks of Indian Army, Navy and Air force, including those from friendly foreign countries.
Other Important Pilot Projects of CME:
- Solar steam cooking plants for community cooking.
- Installation of Retrofitting Emission Control Devices (RECDs) on diesel generators.

Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar Initiative by Ministry of Finance

The government will launch the ‘Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar’ initiative to encourage the culture of customers asking for bills for all purchases.
Prizes:
- Monthly:
  - 800 lucky draws of Goods and Services Tax (GST) invoices having a prize value of Rs 10,000 each.
  - 10 lucky draws with a prize of Rs 10 lakh each.
- Quarterly:
  - Two bumper prizes of Rs 1 crore each will be given away every quarter.
Launch: It will be launched in Assam, Gujarat and Haryana and the Union Territories of Puducherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.

Personality in News

Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin

The head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin died in a private jet crash.
Wagner Group
- Although mercenary forces are illegal in Russia, Wagner registered as a “private military company” in 2022.
- The group staged a failed mutiny against Russia’s military leaders in June 2023 and went to Belarus afterward.
Mercenary: A mercenary is an armed civilian paid to do military operations in a conflict zone.