Category: National

President Droupadi Murmu on 6 February underscored the need to ensure that technology, particularly financial technology (fintech), becomes a powerful instrument for social justice, gender equality and inclusion, rather than remaining confined to technological advancement alone. Addressing the Black Swan Summit, India, organised by the Government of Odisha in collaboration with the Global Finance and Technology Network in Bhubaneswar, the President said that India’s fintech journey should be remembered not Read More …

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday reiterated the National Conference’s (NC) demand for the restoration of special status to the Union Territory. Speaking in the J&K Assembly, he argued that the current model of a Union Territory with an Assembly should be done away with and removed from the Constitution.  Opposition to UT-with-Assembly Model Abdullah maintained that the existing constitutional arrangement does not adequately reflect the aspirations Read More …

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on 5 February formally launched Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative-based taxi service. Clarifying its nature, the Minister stressed that the platform is not a government-run service, underlining the distinction between Sahakar (cooperation) and Sarkar (government). Registered Under Multi-State Cooperative Law Bharat Taxi is the first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform in the country registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. The cooperative was established Read More …

In her Union Budget 2026–27 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the establishment of dedicated rare earth corridors in India’s coastal states—Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu—to strengthen domestic capacity in critical mineral supply chains and reduce strategic dependence on imports. Key Announcements Why REPMs Matter REPMs are high-strength magnets essential for: Currently, the global REPM supply chain is highly concentrated, with China controlling over 90% of both manufacturing Read More …

The Union Budget 2026–27 marks a decisive shift in India’s pharmaceutical policy by placing biopharma and biologic medicines at the core of the country’s healthcare and manufacturing strategy. The move aligns with the Government of India’s long-term vision of transforming India into a leading global biopharma hub and capturing 5 per cent of the global biopharmaceutical market. Biopharma SHAKTI Initiative A key announcement in the Budget is the launch of Read More …

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on January 28 launched the CISF Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon–2026, a nationwide public outreach and awareness initiative aimed at strengthening India’s coastal security through community participation. Significance of India’s Coastline India’s coastline spans 72 coastal districts and is home to nearly 18 per cent of the country’s population. Covering about 12 per cent of India’s mainland area, the coastal belt is critical to the Read More …

The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will conduct a nationwide Survey on Migration from July 2026 to June 2027 to generate comprehensive and updated data on migration patterns in India. This was stated in a written reply by Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh in the Rajya Sabha on February 1. Scope of the Survey The proposed survey will collect detailed information on: Read More …

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Shri Jayant Chaudhary, outlined the Government’s vision for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) across India’s education and skilling ecosystems at Google’s AI for Learning Forum held in New Delhi. Landmark AI Collaboration The Minister announced a major collaboration between MSDE, Google Cloud and Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU), Meerut, positioning CCSU as India’s first AI-enabled state Read More …

The 5th edition of the Rüsoma Orange Festival was held at Rüsoma village, located about 10 km from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. Organised under the theme “Abundance of Rüsoma”, the two-day festival aimed to promote village welfare, boost rural entrepreneurship, and recognise the efforts of local orange growers, while showcasing the distinct taste and quality of Rüsoma oranges. Festival Highlights About Rüsoma Orange Farming

In a major boost to indigenous defence modernisation, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a contract worth approximately ₹591.3 crore to Alpha Design Technologies Ltd (ADTL) for the overhaul and digitisation of the Pechora surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The initiative marks a significant step in the IAF’s efforts to modernise its air defence network using homegrown technology, reducing dependence on legacy foreign systems. Read More …

The Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) conducted a joint training exercise, ‘Agni Pariksha’, at Sigar in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, aimed at enhancing inter-force combat synergy and operational integration. The six-day intensive exercise, held from January 19 to 24, focused on strengthening jointmanship between the two forces operating in challenging terrain along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Key Highlights Objective The primary aim of Read More …

The Government of India has emphasised the critical role of balanced fertilization in enhancing soil fertility, sustaining crop productivity and reducing environmental harm from skewed fertilizer use, according to an official press note by the Press Information Bureau. Balanced fertilization — defined as the application of all essential macro and micronutrients in the right proportions, quantities, timing and methods — is being promoted as a key enabler of sustainable agriculture Read More …

The Government of India has ramped up efforts to eliminate legacy waste dumpsites across the country by launching the Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP), aiming to achieve “Lakshya: Zero Dumpsites” by October 2026. The initiative focuses on scientifically remediating municipal waste dumpsites that have accumulated over decades. These sites — often unregulated and harmful to the environment — pose serious risks including groundwater contamination, air pollution, methane emissions, frequent fires, Read More …