By: Express News ServiceNew Delhi | October 15, 2025 01:57 AM IST 2 min readUnion Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh, who holds the portfolio of MoS, Environment, Forest and Climate Change as well as MoS, External Affairs Ministry, had to put on both the hats in a short turnaround time last week while representing the country at international events. From October 8 to 11, Singh was in Abu Dhabi, representing India at the World Congress of International Union for Conservation of Nature. At the event, he unveiled India’s roadmap to assess species extinction. Soon after, he flew to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Special Envoy at the Gaza peace summit.Ideas In Full FlowThe Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Jal Shakti Ministry has launched an initiative — ‘District Collectors’ Peyjal Samvad’. The first edition of this programme, chaired by DDWS Secretary Ashok K K Meena, was held on Tuesday. Aimed at fostering the exchange of innovative ideas, the session saw participation from District Collectors across the country, including those from East Khasi Hills (Meghalaya), Ganjam (Odisha), Ratnagiri (Maharashtra), Charaideo (Assam), Dhamtari (Chhattisgarh) and North Tripura (Tripura), who showcased pioneering initiatives focused on achieving sustainable rural water service delivery.Polls & PujaWith Bihar elections around the corner, the BJP government in the Capital is focused on ensuring the best possible arrangements for Chhath Puja celebrations. Before it came to power, the Delhi BJP and the former AAP government clashed on an annual basis over the preparations of the popular Bihar festival, with both parties claiming credit for the facilities extended to the devotees. Now, BJP’s North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari has informally taken charge of Chhath preparations. On Tuesday, he met representatives of 200 Chhath Puja committees and sought their suggestions for improving the arrangements this year. Tiwari will take the best suggestions to the Delhi government for implementation during the festival later this month, it is learnt.© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Delhi Confidential