NewzIntel.com

Category: India

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE students win gold medals at international mathematical Olympiad in Ashgabat

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    In Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) was held V Open Mathematical Olympiad for Students OMOUS-2025 (Open Mathematical Olympiad for University Students), which brought together teams from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Iran, Romania, Poland, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and India. In total, about 500 students joined the event.

    Four undergraduate students from HSE took part in the competition.Applied Mathematics and Computer Science” Faculty of Computer Science (FKN) Vasily Silvestrov, Bogdan Butyrin, Daniil Soulnov and Anastasia Salimova, as well as the team coach, expert Center for Student Olympiads Igor Vorontsov.

    The Olympiad consisted of two rounds: individual and team. The individual round lasted four hours, the participants were asked to solve six problems. In this competition, the students of the Faculty of Computer Science showed excellent results, winning gold medals.

    The team round of the Olympiad took place the next day and lasted two hours, during which ten problems had to be solved. Here, the FKN team took second place, scoring 69 points out of 100.

    Vasily Silvestrov

    — Preparing for the problems of previous years, we understood that the Olympiad is not easy, but we have a good chance of winning gold medals. For me, this was the first international Olympiad, which added reasons to be nervous. We got a lot of points on the appeal. We prepared for it for two nights: we wrote alternative solutions and prepared criteria for them. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience: interesting culture, a beautiful city, delicious food. I would like to thank the organizers of the Olympiad for choosing and preparing the problems. We hope that next year, our university teams will also achieve excellent results.

    Text: Maria Vorontsova

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: APAC deal activity down by 2.6% YoY during January-April 2025, finds GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    APAC deal activity down by 2.6% YoY during January-April 2025, finds GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    The overall deal activity (comprising mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity, and venture financing deals) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has experienced a slight contraction in early 2025. Primarily driven by a downturn in venture financing activities, the total number of deals announced in the APAC region fell by 2.6% during January-April 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database revealed that the total number of venture capital (VC) deals announced in the APAC region registered a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 8.2% in the first four months of 2025.

    Conversely, M&A and private equity transactions have remained stable. The number of M&A deals in the region increased by 2.4% during January-April 2025 compared to January-April 2024, whereas private equity deals volume was also up by around 2% YoY during the same period.

    Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The APAC deal landscape is showcasing a mixed trend characterized by a blend of resilience in M&A and private equity, juxtaposed with a fall in VC funding activity. This mixed trend reflects the intricate economic dynamics at play across the region, with varying performances across key markets.”

    The performance of key markets within the APAC region reveals significant disparities. China, the top APAC market in deal-making, has experienced a decline in deal volume of more than 15% during January-April 2025 compared to the first four months of 2024. In contrast, India and Japan have seen an uptick in deal activity, with a YoY growth rate of around 13% and 25%, respectively. Meanwhile, other key APAC markets, including Australia, South Korea and Singapore, also showcased signs of contraction in deal activity.

    Note: Historic data may change in case some deals get added to previous months because of a delay in disclosure of information in the public domain

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Macao sees nearly 19 pct year-on-year growth in visitor arrivals in April

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    MACAO, May 21 — China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) welcomed over 3.09 million visitors in April 2025, marking an 18.9 percent year-on-year increase, the SAR’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) said on Wednesday.

    Same-day visitors jumped by 30.1 percent to over 1.75 million, while overnight visitors rose 6.9 percent to nearly 1.34 million. However, the average length of stay slightly dropped to 1.1 days due to the higher share of same-day travelers.

    As regards the source of visitors, the Chinese mainland remained the largest source of visitors, contributing over 2.12 million arrivals, up 22.4 percent. Arrivals from China’s Hong Kong and China’s Taiwan also grew, up 13.4 percent and 4.4 percent respectively.

    International visitor numbers increased by 10.4 percent to 230,014, with strong gains from India (up 50 percent) and Southeast Asian markets like Thailand and the Philippines, while some declines were recorded from Singapore and Malaysia.

    The DSEC also noted that from January to April, total arrivals in the Macao SAR reached 12,955,456, up 12.9 percent year-on-year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA takes steps to enhance state importation programs to help lower prescription drug prices

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    May 21, 2025

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is continuing to take steps to help state importation programs provide safe, effective and more affordable drugs for American patients, as part of its efforts to implement Executive Order Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First. Today, the agency is announcing enhancements to the pathway under section 804 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act that allows states and Indian tribes to import certain prescription drugs from Canada to significantly reduce the cost of these drugs to the American consumer, without imposing additional risk to public health and safety.
    “For too long, Americans have been getting taken advantage of. Drug prices in the U.S. are sometimes 5-10 times higher than in wealthy European countries. “ said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Today’s actions will support the ability to import drugs at much  lower prices  while also maintaining the high quality and safety of medicines that Americans expect and deserve.”
    The agency will offer individual states and tribes the opportunity to submit a draft proposal for pre-review and meet with the agency to obtain initial feedback from FDA prior to formally submitting their section 804 importation program (SIP) proposal. Meetings between individual states and the FDA will be optional and informal with the goal of reducing the burden on the state or tribe and helping it develop a robust SIP proposal. The agency also will develop a user-friendly tool that will assist states in developing their proposals. These actions will further clarify requirements and enhance the quality of proposals submitted to the agency, shortening the review timeline.  
    Additionally, the agency is working to assist states with options to streamline the required cost savings analysis, and to provide input regarding the information states may rely on as they estimate cost savings for American consumers.
    This fall, the agency anticipates meeting with states that have expressed interest in the program to discuss these enhancements and gather feedback. This meeting will provide a forum to exchange information that will make it easier for states to obtain authorization while protecting public safety.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    Consumer:888-INFO-FDA

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    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation and for regulating tobacco products.

    Content current as of:
    05/21/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Flywire Surpasses $320 Million in Past-Due Tuition Collected and 161,000+ Student Enrollments Saved at U.S. Higher Education Institutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Flywire’s Student Financial Software helps U.S. institutions boost enrollment and accelerate cash flow

    Automated payment innovation fuels accelerated adoption of Flywire’s Third-Party Invoicing and 529 Disbursement solutions

    BOSTON, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Flywire Corporation (Flywire) (Nasdaq: FLYW) – a global payments enablement and software company – announced today that more than 100 colleges and universities in the United States that use Flywire’s Student Financial Software (SFS) collected more than $320 million in past-due tuition to keep more than 161,000 at-risk students enrolled. These results are part of the ongoing commitment that Flywire is making to its higher education clients in the U.S. to help them accelerate revenue, while optimizing for student success.

    Faced with mounting pressure to create more sustainable revenue streams, U.S. higher education institutions have adopted Flywire’s SFS solution to better streamline the student journey and address education affordability by providing more dynamic payment plans and accelerating past-due collections to help retain students. The return on investment from Flywire’s Collection Management offering of SFS is particularly strong, as it helps institutions avoid the costly process of sending students to collections, which typically charges on average 20% to collect past-due tuition owed. As one example, Purdue University – a Flywire client for cross-border tuition payments and digital 529 disbursements since 2021 – went live with Flywire’s Collection Management offering of SFS in March of 2024 to automate communications and payment plans to collect more past-due tuition faster. Within months, Purdue saved more than 300 students from going to collections, and recovered more than $1 million in revenue that would otherwise have been written off.

    “I can’t imagine how much extra work we’d have to be doing if we were still doing collections the old way. It’s kind of a lifesaver. Our write-offs will go down because of Flywire.” – Chad Lester, Associate Bursar, Account Resolution and Loan Administration, Purdue University

    Ongoing innovation also solves payment challenges around 529 disbursements and third-party payments

    Flywire’s U.S. clients have also begun adopting its third-party invoicing solution, which streamlines the payment experience for third-party sponsors paying a student’s tuition and fees, as well as its 529 disbursements, which digitizes the otherwise manual process of 529 plan payment checks. Since the inception of its 529 solution, Flywire has digitized over $2 billion in tuition payments by eliminating the manual processing of more than 502,000 checks for institutions in the U.S., with more than 750 institutions in the U.S. signed on for the solution. This expansion of these payment capabilities demonstrates Flywire’s commitment to addressing every aspect of the student payment journey, extending its expertise beyond cross-border transactions to deliver comprehensive payment solutions that help clients work smarter.

    “When I first started with Flywire, they were just payments. Now they’ve put 529 solutions in, again a big problem in our university, all the checks. They’ve put in collections and now third-party invoicing. Everything they do makes our jobs easier.” – Janet Hicks, Associate Controller, Student Accounting Services, University of South Florida

    Strengthening partnerships to enhance capabilities for clients and embed deeper within broader education ecosystem

    Flywire directly integrates with a number of leading technology providers, from large ERPs like Ellucian, to Admission and Enrollment Providers like CommonApp, and other software systems. Through these integrations, Flywire is helping institutions improve operational efficiency to ultimately provide better staff and student experiences.

    To strengthen its footprint in the U.S., Flywire has recently partnered with some of the largest and most recognized education technology providers to provide:

    • Tuition insurance through GradGuard to provide Flywire’s higher education clients in the U.S. access to an integrated policy disclosure process that assures greater financial literacy of students and their families
    • Streamlined payment experience through BlackBaud to provide international students enables a seamless payment experience, and help independent schools streamline incoming payments, including tuition and enrollment fees
    • Digital delivery of student loan payments funded and managed by some of the largest banks and loan providers in India, including Credila and State Bank of India   
    • Strengthened international recruitment network of more than 20,000 key recruitment counselors such as IDP, KC Overseas and more to help institutes diversify their recruitment efforts and streamline enrollment from international students.

    Resources

    • Meet with Flywire at NAFSA 2025, May 26 – May 30, Booth #626 and join Flywire’s sessions with NYU, IDP, ICEF, AIRC, INTO and GeNEOus to learn more about how Flywire is powering the global education ecosystem.
    • To learn more about Flywire’s solutions for the U.S. higher education industry, visit here
    • The Flywire Fusion U.S. Education Client Conference & Awards Ceremony is taking place October 20-22 at the Lansdowne Resort in historic Leesburg, Virginia. Save your spot here.

    About Flywire

    Flywire is a global payments enablement and software company. We combine our proprietary global payments network, next-gen payments platform and vertical-specific software to deliver the most important and complex payments for our clients and their customers.

    Flywire leverages its vertical-specific software and payments technology to deeply embed within the existing A/R workflows for its clients across the education, healthcare and travel vertical markets, as well as in key B2B industries. Flywire also integrates with leading ERP systems, such as NetSuite, so organizations can optimize the payment experience for their customers while eliminating operational challenges.

    Flywire supports more than 4,600 clients with diverse payment methods in more than 140 currencies across more than 240 countries and territories around the world. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA, USA with global offices. For more information, visit www.flywire.com. Follow Flywire on X , LinkedIn and Facebook.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    ​​This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Flywire’s expectations regarding the benefits of its education clients and business, Flywire’s business strategy and plans, market growth and trends. Flywire intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions, and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Flywire’s forward-looking statements include, among others, the factors that are described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of Flywire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Flywire undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Contacts

    Media:
    Sarah King
    Media@Flywire.com

    Investor Relations:
    Masha Kahn
    IR@Flywire.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: American Rebel CEO Andy Ross to Rock Coca-Cola 600 Weekend with Multiple High-Energy Concerts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Three Days of Music, Racing, Patriotism and American Rebel Light Beer – Andy Ross will Perform for Thousands at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s THOR Camper Appreciation Party, Iron Thunder Saloon/Speedway Harley-Davidson, and BetMGM Speed Street Stage

    Nashville, TN, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), announces that American Rebel CEO Andy Ross will perform multiple concerts for thousands of race fans during the Coca-Cola 600 Weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway (charlottemotorspeedway.com) May 22 – 25.

    Festivities will begin Thursday, May 22 as Andy Ross will headline the THOR Camper Appreciation Party, performing for campers throughout the sold out 2700 campsite facility. Driver appearances will kick off each stop of the THOR Camper Appreciation Party, followed by a 30-minute set by Andy Ross. The party begins at the Camping World Racing Resort Log Cabin at 6 pm, followed by the Turn 4 Campground at 7, the Turn 1 Campground at 8 and the final stop at 9 at the Legendary Infield Campground.

    Saturday, May 24, Andy will perform a 90-minute set at Iron Thunder Saloon & Grill at 2:30 pm, prior to the running of the NASCAR Infinity Series BetMGM 300. The concert at Iron Thunder Saloon & Grill will be a collaboration with Speedway Harley-Davidson, bringing together race fans and Harley enthusiasts and getting everyone pumped up for the NASCAR Infinity Series BetMGM 300.

    Closing out the weekend, Andy will perform a 90-minute set at the BetMGM Speed Street Stage starting at 2 pm, getting everyone ready for the Coca-Cola 600. The BetMGM Speed Street Stage will be a center for entertainment all weekend as Smash Mouth will appear on the BetMGM Speed Street Stage on Saturday night along with driver appearances, merchandise, games and prizes all weekend long.

    “I can’t wait to get back to Charlotte,” said Andy Ross. “Our concert at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals was a blast and Rebel Light was the #1 selling beer over that weekend in terms of number of beers sold and dollar volume. The midway was packed and everyone had a great time. Race fans will be ready to explode right before the Coca-Cola 600; and we’ll work hard to get them ready for the race each time we play. Each concert will be great, so if you’re a camper, come see us Thursday night. All are welcome Saturday at the Iron Thunder/Speedway Harley-Davidson concert and then everyone coming to the Coca-Cola 600 should be there early for our 2 pm concert on the BetMGM Speed Street Stage.”

    The Andy Ross concerts at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Coca-Cola 600 weekend will keep American Rebel Light Beer top of mind and highly visible to build on the initial awareness created at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals April 25 – 27 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    The Iron Thunder Saloon & Grill is located at 10023 Weddington Road Extension in Concord, right next to Speedway Harley-Davidson.

    About American Rebel Light:

    American Rebel Light is more than just a beer – it’s a celebration of freedom, passion, and quality. Brewed with care and precision, our light beer delivers a refreshing taste that’s perfect for every occasion.

    Since its launch in September 2024, American Rebel Light Beer has rolled out in Tennessee, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida and Indiana and is adding new distributors and territories regularly. For more information about the launch events and the availability of American Rebel Beer, please visit americanrebelbeer.com or Instagram.com/americanrebelbeer/.

    Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a domestic premium light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

    American Rebel Light is all natural, crisp, and clean with a bold taste and a lighter feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Light Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit americanrebel.com and americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit americanrebelbeer.com/investor-relations.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
    info@americanrebel.com

    American Rebel Beverages, LLC
    Todd Porter, President
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of a launch parties and concerts, actual launch timing and availability of American Rebel Beer, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Company Contact:
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com
    info@americanrebel.com

    Media Contact:
    Matt Sheldon
    Matt@PrecisionPR.co

    For more details on American Rebel Light Beer and upcoming events, visit AmericanRebelBeer.com or follow @AmericanRebelBeer on social media.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: China dominates global trade of battery minerals

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    May 21, 2025

    Data source: United Nations Statistics Division, UN Comtrade
    Note: Excludes trade within regions.

    China has a major role at each stage of the global battery supply chain and dominates interregional trade of minerals. China imported almost 12 million short tons of raw and processed battery minerals, accounting for 44% of interregional trade, and exported almost 11 million short tons of battery materials, packs, and components, or 58% of interregional trade in 2023, according to regional UN Comtrade data.

    In this article, we consider trade of three key minerals needed for batteries—graphite, lithium, and cobalt—among China and key global regions. These minerals are mined or extracted from natural and synthetic sources, processed for battery material manufacturing, and then used to produce batteries and battery components, with robust trade at each stage. As global demand for electric vehicles, energy storage, and other energy technologies increases, the importance of these minerals and materials also increases.

    Battery mineral production and raw battery minerals trade
    Lithium is produced through brine extraction or hard rock mining, cobalt is primarily produced as a byproduct of nickel and copper mining, and graphite is mined as a natural ore or synthetically produced from pitch and coke. China domestically produced approximately 18% (33,000 short tons) of the world’s mined lithium in 2023, and Chinese companies control 25% of the world’s lithium mining capacity.

    According to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Tearline Project, Chinese companies have significant investments in multiple mining and extraction projects in Argentina, giving China access to the lithium triangle, an area in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile that contains 50% of the world’s lithium. Domestically, China produced 79%, or 1.27 million short tons, of the world’s natural graphite in 2024, according to the U.S. Geological Survey; the United States did not produce any natural graphite that year. Chinese companies own 80% of cobalt production in Congo-Kinshasa, where more than half of global cobalt production is located.

    After production, raw battery minerals are shipped globally to be used as feedstock for refining. China accounted for 46% of the world’s raw battery mineral import trade in 2023, according to the UN Comtrade data. Australia, the world’s largest lithium producer, sent almost all its exports to China alone. China, Australia, and the rest of Asia and Oceania (particularly India and Japan) accounted for 71% of the world’s raw battery mineral import trade in 2023.

    Battery mineral processing and processed battery minerals trade
    China processes over 90% of the world’s graphite, and in 2022, Chinese companies accounted for over two-thirds of the world’s cobalt and lithium processing capacity.

    China imported 20% of the world’s processed battery minerals in 2023, made up of mainly cobalt from Africa. That same year, China exported 58% of the world’s processed battery minerals, mainly synthetic graphite to the rest of Asia and Oceania. China began implementing export restrictions on graphite products related to electrode manufacturing in 2023, and we expect such restrictions to lead to lower graphite exports from China in 2024 and 2025.

    Battery materials manufacturing and battery materials and component trade
    Processed battery minerals are used to produce battery materials, which vary depending on a battery’s chemical composition. China accounted for 53% of the world’s battery material export trade in 2023.

    Battery materials are then used to produce battery components like electrodes, electrolytes, and separators. For example, a lithium-ion battery cell usually includes a graphite anode, lithium-based cathode, and a dissolved lithium salt electrolyte. In 2022, China produced 85% of the world’s anodes, 82% of electrolytes, 74% of separators, and 70% of cathodes.

    China accounted for 74% of the world’s battery pack and component exports in 2023. That same year, China controlled nearly 85% of the world’s battery cell production capacity by monetary value.

    Principal contributor: Gavin Clark

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Directions under Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 – Shimsha Sahakara Bank Niyamitha, Maddur, Mandya District – Extension of Period

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India issued Directions under Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to Shimsha Sahakara Bank Niyamitha, Maddur, Mandya District vide Directive BLR.DOS.SSMS.No.S2174/12-08-295/2022-23 dated February 23, 2023, for a period of six months up to August 24, 2023, as modified from time to time, which were last extended up to close of business on May 24, 2025 vide Directive DOR.MON/D-73/12.23.292/2024-25 dated November 21, 2024. The Reserve Bank of India is satisfied that in the public interest, it is necessary to further extend the period of operation of the Directive beyond May 24, 2025.

    2. Accordingly, the Reserve Bank of India, in exercise of the powers vested in it under sub-section (1) of Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, hereby extends the Directive for a further period of six months from the close of business on May 24, 2025, to close of business on November 24, 2025, subject to review.

    3. All other terms and conditions of the Directive under reference shall remain unchanged.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/383

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Kailash Manasarovar Yatra to begin in June; computerized draw selects 750 pilgrims

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday announced that the annual Kailash Manasarovar Yatra will commence in June and continue through August. In preparation for the pilgrimage, a computerized draw to select participants was conducted today by Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

    A total of 5,561 pilgrims had successfully registered for the Yatra this year, comprising 4,024 male and 1,537 female applicants. From these, 750 Yatris, including liaison officers, were selected through a fair, computer-generated random selection process. The draw was designed to be gender-balanced and fully transparent.

    Selected participants are being informed of their selection via SMS and email. They can also check their status by logging into the official Yatra website at https://kmy.gov.in or by contacting the MEA helpline at 011-23088133.

    The Yatra will take place along two routes: the Lipulekh route and the Nathu La route. A total of 15 batches, each comprising 50 pilgrims, will make the journey—five batches via Lipulekh and ten via Nathu La. Both routes are now fully motorable, significantly reducing the need for strenuous trekking. Detailed information about the routes and batch schedules is available on the Yatra website.

    During the draw event, MoS Singh highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to make the pilgrimage more accessible, safer, and more environmentally conscious. He emphasized the importance of undertaking the Yatra with responsibility, humility, and care—not only for fellow pilgrims but also for preserving the sacred environment of the region.

  • EPFO adds 14.58 lakh net members in March 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has released its provisional payroll data for March 2025, reporting a net addition of 14.58 lakh members. This marks a year-on-year increase of 1.15% compared to March 2024, highlighting a steady rise in formal employment and growing awareness about social security benefits among the workforce.

    The data reveals that EPFO enrolled approximately 7.54 lakh new subscribers in March 2025, a 2.03% increase over February 2025 and a 0.98% rise compared to March last year. This growth is attributed to improving employment opportunities and increased awareness of EPFO’s benefits among workers entering the organized sector.

    A significant observation from the report is the continued dominance of the 18–25 age group in new registrations. Around 4.45 lakh new members in this category joined EPFO in March, accounting for nearly 59% of all new subscribers for the month. Compared to February 2025, this marks a 4.21% increase, while on a year-over-year basis, this group has grown by 4.73%. The net payroll addition for the same age bracket stands at around 6.68 lakh, indicating a 6.49% increase from March 2024. These numbers reaffirm the trend that most individuals joining the EPFO system are young first-time job seekers entering the formal workforce.

    In addition to new joiners, the data highlights a strong return of members to the EPFO fold. Roughly 13.23 lakh individuals who had previously exited EPFO rejoined in March 2025. This reflects a 0.39% increase over February and a notable 12.17% increase compared to the same period last year. These members chose to transfer their provident fund accumulations rather than withdraw them, a move that not only preserves their long-term savings but also keeps them within the social security framework.

    March also witnessed continued progress in gender inclusion. Around 2.08 lakh women enrolled as new EPFO members, a modest 0.18% increase over February and a 4.18% increase from March 2024. The total net addition of female members stood at approximately 2.92 lakh for the month, with year-over-year growth of 0.78%. This steady rise signals an encouraging shift towards a more inclusive and gender-balanced formal workforce.

    From a regional perspective, the top five states and union territories contributed significantly to the overall net payroll addition, accounting for nearly 59.67% of the total, or about 8.70 lakh members. Maharashtra led the chart, contributing 20.24% of the total net payroll for the month. Other prominent contributors include Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana, each adding over 5% to the overall total.

    Industry-wise, EPFO data revealed month-on-month growth in several sectors, particularly restaurants, cement, general insurance, canteens, forwarding agencies, travel agencies, and hotels. Notably, expert services — which include manpower suppliers, contract workers, security agencies, and related services — accounted for nearly 45.59% of the total net additions.

    It is important to note that EPFO’s payroll data remains provisional, as data generation is a continuous process involving monthly updates to employee records. Historical figures are often revised based on late submissions, changes to filed returns, and updates to exit dates of members.

    Since April 2018, EPFO has been publishing monthly payroll data beginning from September 2017. The statistics are based on Aadhaar-validated Universal Account Numbers (UANs) and reflect net additions by accounting for new members, exits, and re-joinings to the EPFO coverage.

  • MIL-OSI China: China welcomes, supports Pakistan, India handling differences through dialogue: FM

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China welcomes, supports Pakistan, India handling differences through dialogue: FM

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing, capital of China, May 20, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, May 20 — China welcomes and supports Pakistan and India in properly handling their differences through dialogue, achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire and seek fundamental solutions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Tuesday.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar, saying that this is in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides, conducive to regional peace and stability, and also the common expectation of the international community.

    China and Pakistan have maintained close strategic communication on consolidating traditional friendship, strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly addressing challenges, which reflects the high level of bilateral relations, Wang said.

    He added that as ironclad friends, China will, as always, firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, in resolutely combating terrorism, and in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs. Wang also emphasized China’s commitment to continuously deepening the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership with Pakistan.

    He called on both sides to join hands to create an upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and promote cooperation on industry, agriculture, energy and minerals, human resources development, counter-terrorism and security.

    Dar said Pakistan cherishes the brotherly friendship with China, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and supports China in safeguarding its national interests and dignity.

    He added that Pakistan admires China’s new development achievements, especially in innovation and sci-tech progress, looks forward to strengthening all-around cooperation with China, and hopes to continue to receive strong support from China in overcoming current difficulties and promoting national development, security and stability.

    Pakistan will do its best to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan, he said.

    Dar briefed on the latest situation following the ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India, as well as Pakistan’s considerations. He thanked China for upholding justice and making unremitting efforts and significant contributions to the ceasefire and promoting peace, noting that Pakistan will resolutely safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and is willing to maintain dialogue with India and ease the situation.

    The two sides also exchanged views on strengthening regional cooperation and deepening coordination in multilateral mechanisms.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Alteration in the name of “North East Small Finance Bank Limited” to “slice Small Finance Bank Limited” in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    RBI/2025-26/38
    DoR.RET.REC.20/12.07.160/2025-26

    May 21, 2025

    All Banks,

    Madam / Sir,

    Alteration in the name of “North East Small Finance Bank Limited” to “slice Small Finance Bank Limited” in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934

    It is advised that the name of “North East Small Finance Bank Limited” has been changed to “slice Small Finance Bank Limited” in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 by Notification DoR.LIC.No.S1134/16.13.216/2025-26 dated May 14, 2025, which is published in the Gazette of India (Part III-Section 4) dated May 16, 2025.

    Yours faithfully,

    (Manoranjan Padhy)
    Chief General Manager

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • 16th census confirms 891 Asiatic lions across 11 districts of Gujarat

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Gujarat has completed its 16th lion population census, with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announcing the results on Wednesday.

    The latest count reveals the presence of 891 lions, a remarkable figure that underscores the state’s success in wildlife conservation, particularly through efforts like Project Lion.

    Spanning a vast 35,000 sq km area across 58 talukas in 11 districts, the four-day census held from May 10 to 13 saw the participation of 3,254 personnel.

    The meticulous operation was conducted in two phases — an initial “direct beat verification” phase on May 10 and 11, followed by the final enumeration on May 12 and 13.

    The comprehensive survey covered districts including Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Morbi, Surendranagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar, and Botad.

    Teams worked around the clock in forests, coastal belts, grasslands, and revenue areas to document lion movements and habitat patterns.

    Unlike their African cousins, Asiatic lions were once found from the Middle East to India — but by the early 20th century, they had almost vanished due to hunting and habitat loss.

    Today, they survive only in and around the Gir forest.

    Chief Minister Patel, while presenting the data in Gandhinagar, highlighted the growing population of the Asiatic lion as a testament to Gujarat’s sustained conservation strategy.

    “This milestone reflects the tireless dedication of our forest department and the success of government-backed programs like Project Lion,” he said.

    The Project Lion initiative, launched to bolster habitat management, wildlife health monitoring, and community involvement, has been central to the steady rise in lion numbers over the years.

    While detailed demographic breakdowns are still being compiled, preliminary figures note the presence of 196 adult males, with the remaining numbers including females, cubs, and sub-adults.

    The lion population, once limited largely to the Gir National Park, is now increasingly spreading to newer areas — a sign of improved habitat connectivity and stability.

    (IANS)

  • India hosts second Blue Talks ahead of UN Ocean Conference 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in collaboration with the Embassies of France and Costa Rica, organized the “Second Blue Talks” on Tuesday in New Delhi. This high-level event marked a significant step in the lead-up to the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which is scheduled to be held in Nice, France, from June 9 to 13.

    Building on the success of the first Blue Talks in February 2024, this second edition brought together a wide array of participants, including scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and representatives from civil society. The event provided a platform to accelerate action and forge concrete commitments towards the sustainable use and protection of ocean resources, aligning closely with Sustainable Development Goal 14 and the broader objectives of the UN Ocean Decade.

    The core discussions of the Second Blue Talks centered on conserving and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems, enhancing ocean science and education, reducing marine pollution originating from land-based activities, and strengthening the interconnection between oceans, climate, and biodiversity. These topics formed the foundation of a dynamic stakeholder consultation session designed to generate innovative, long-term strategies for ocean sustainability.

    The event was chaired by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and co-chaired by Néstor Baltodano Vargas, Ambassador of Costa Rica to India, and Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy. In his address, Dr. Ravichandran emphasized the importance of prioritizing comprehensive ocean resource mapping, adopting cutting-edge technologies, and investing in human capital to achieve the goals of SDG 14 and the UN Ocean Decade. Ambassador Vargas highlighted the significance of such dialogues in deepening cooperation among nations for sustainable ocean governance.

    A central highlight of the event was the launch of a white paper titled “Transforming India’s Blue Economy: Investment, Innovation and Sustainable Growth.” Developed in collaboration with a strategic knowledge partner, the document outlines a strategic framework to align national efforts, encourage investment, and foster cross-sectoral collaboration. The paper emphasizes the economic and ecological potential of India’s marine resources, supported by the active involvement of 25 central ministries and various coastal states and union territories. These efforts build upon commitments made during India’s G20 Presidency and the Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue Economy.

    The report not only acknowledges substantial progress across sectors but also points out key challenges such as limited inter-agency data sharing, inadequate private investment, and technological gaps in areas like offshore wind energy and deep-sea exploration. It offers practical solutions and presents scalable models from across India, such as women-led seaweed farming, smart port development, and eco-friendly ship recycling initiatives that illustrate the synergy between economic development and environmental conservation.

    (Inputs from PIB)

  • India’s strong domestic market cushions economy against global trade shocks: Report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India is in a stronger position than other countries to withstand global trade disruptions, in the wake of the US tariff turmoil, due to the large size of its domestic market and the country’s low dependence on goods exports, according to a Moody’s report released on Wednesday.

    The report points out that the government initiatives, such as increasing infrastructure investment, steps taken to boost private consumption, will help shield India’s economy from weakening global demand.

    “India’s large domestic economy and limited exposure to global goods trade puts it in a stronger position to absorb external shocks,” the report said.

    Some sectors — like automobiles, which export to the US — may encounter global headwinds, despite their diversified operations. But India’s robust services sector and large domestic economy provide strong buffers, according to the report.

    The report also states that declining inflation is expected to pave the way for a soft monetary policy with interest rate cuts to spur growth. The banking sector also has sufficient liquidity to support credit growth, according to the report.

    The Moody’s report also observes that the recent India-Pakistan tensions are more likely to weigh on Pakistan’s economy than India’s. The key economic hubs in India are far from the conflict zones, and bilateral economic ties remain limited.

    However, a prolonged escalation could lead to increased defence spending, which might slow fiscal consolidation efforts and impact government finances, the report added.

    Moody’s Ratings had earlier this month pegged India’s GDP growth at 6.3 per cent for 2025 and expects the economy to pick up momentum in 2026 to record a 6.5 per cent growth rate. The forecast is in line with the IMF outlook, which sees India as the only major economy in the world to record an over 6 per cent growth rate in 2025. (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI China: Shanghai Intl Film Festival reveals jury, previews highlights

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The organizers of the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) unveiled posters, jury lineup and select highlights for the upcoming festival at a press conference in Beijing on May 20.

    Organizers brief media at a press conference for the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) and the 30th Shanghai TV Festival (STVF), Beijing, May 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of SIFF Organizing Committee]

    Pan Min, director of the Shanghai Film Bureau, announced that renowned Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore will lead the jury for the main competition of the Golden Goblet Awards. Joining him are Argentine screenwriter-director Iván Fund, Chinese actor-director Huang Bo, Greek producer Thanassis Karathanos, Indian filmmaker Kiran Rao, Chinese director Yang Lina and Chinese actress Yong Mei.

    Pan revealed that the Golden Goblet Awards this year received a record 3,900-plus film submissions from 119 countries and regions across five competition categories. Submissions included over 2,800 competition entries, with notable growth from the Americas and Africa, as well as an 18% rise in short film submissions.

    As an internationally influential film festival, SIFF has long been a prominent platform for showcasing Chinese-language cinema and a vital arena for promotion and distribution. Approximately 60 Chinese films, including competition nominees, new releases and beloved classics, will be featured this year.

    A promotional image showing Golden Goblet Awards jury members for the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. [Photo courtesy of SIFF Organizing Committee]

    This year’s SIFF has refined its screening sections to broaden its perspectives, Pan said. For example, the new “Master Duo” format will honor two film masters together, while the Asia Now section will highlight regional cinema with a “Filmmaker in Focus” program. Other additions include the “UK Focus” program in the Contemporary World Cinema section and “Amplify” under the Spectrum section for outstanding genre films worldwide.

    The festival’s Film Panorama screening schedule will be announced June 3, with tickets going on sale on June 5 through major ticketing platforms Damai and Taopiaopiao. The opening film, “She’s Got No Name,” directed by Peter Chan, will have a special citywide screening after the opening ceremony on the evening of June 14 at more than 100 cinemas across Shanghai. The day before the press conference, a selection of the films to be screened during the festival were revealed, including IMAX showings of “Michael Jackson’s This Is It,” “Becoming Led Zeppelin,” “The Brutalist” and “Nosferatu.”

    Running June 13-22, this year’s SIFF marks both the 130th anniversary of world cinema and 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema. The opening session, themed “Era of Splendor: Dreams Ignite New Journeys,” celebrates Chinese cinema’s achievements over the past 120 years while inspiring new creative journeys. The Film Panorama will feature a special section titled “Resonance: A Brief Encounter of Chinese and World Cinema,” showcasing iconic global films to highlight cinematic exchange between China and the wider world.

    Building on the success of the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance initiated by SIFF, this year’s Belt and Road Film Week will incorporate forums and other events. Selected films recommended by alliance members will also be screened across the Yangtze River Delta, with Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Hefei joining Shanghai in showcasing these works.

    A poster for the opening film “She’s Got No Name” directed by Peter Chan. [Photo courtesy of SIFF Organizing Committee]

    Organizers noted that 2025 also marks several significant diplomatic anniversaries — 50 years of China-EU relations, 55 years of China-Italy ties and 50 years of China-Thailand relations — bringing increased European and Southeast Asian film engagement through exhibitions, screenings and co-productions. The Film Panorama will host an Italian Film Week, showcasing over 20 Italian cinematic classics across nearly 100 screenings, from “Rome, Open City” to “Cinema Paradiso.”

    The festival continues to develop its “6+1” tiered talent nurturing framework. The fourth SIFF Young adds producer roles, while SIFF Project’s new Genre Films category attracted more than 530 submissions. The upgraded SIFF ING focuses on new technologies and formats, featuring special tracks for AIGC and vertical-screen formats to support emerging talent, attracting more than 3,600 submissions. For the first time in 21 years, the Asian New Talent Awards will be officially combined with the Golden Goblet Awards.

    Four official posters inspired by Shanghai’s architecture and culture for the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. [Photo courtesy of SIFF Organizing Committee]

    SIFF, under the guidance of China Film Administration and co-hosted by China Media Group (CMG) and the Shanghai Municipal Government, will organize 10 to 12 SIFForum sessions and two to four MasterClass sessions. These will cover technological innovation, international cooperation, literary adaptations and IP commercialization, with the aim of exploring new pathways for Chinese cinema’s high-quality development.

    In addition, the film festival will be followed by the 30th Shanghai TV Festival (STVF) running from June 23-27, organized by the National Radio and Television Administration, CMG, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. Events include an Ultra HD productions showcase, thematic forums, and a joint International Film & TV Market with SIFF. The International TV Showcase will feature award-winning global programs, while a BBC partnership will commemorate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. The festival’s prestigious Magnolia Awards will honor top productions, having received nearly 1,000 entries from 43 countries and regions, including submissions from the BBC, Sony, HBO, Warner Bros. and Disney.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • At lest 26 Naxals killed in major encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur District

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At least 26 Naxals were killed in an encounter with security forces in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma confirmed on Wednesday.

    Speaking to ANI, Sharma stated, “More than 26 Naxalites have been neutralized by the security forces. Our forces fought bravely, and the operation is still ongoing with further search efforts underway,”.

    Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao also hailed the operation’s success, reiterating the government’s commitment to make Bastar region Naxal-free by March 2026. “After assuming office, we launched an intensive program to eliminate Naxalism from Bastar. This encounter in Narayanpur is a major success and a step toward our goal,” he added.

    Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, Raman Singh, also commended the security forces for the successful operation. “I congratulate the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and State Home Minister Vijay Sharma for their leadership. Our forces carried out this operation in extreme temperatures of 40 to 42 degrees Celsius, and the people of Bastar have shown overwhelming support for peace and development,” Singh said.

    (With ANI inputs)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The 44th Young Designers’ Exhibition Kicks Off in 2025: Diverse Creativity Envisions the Future

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    The opening ceremony of the 44th Young Designers’ Exhibition (YODEX) 2025, was held on May 9 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2, Mr. Chin-Tsang Ho, the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Economic Affairs and other distinguished guests are officially opening the events. The exhibition, running from May 9 (Friday) to May 12 (Monday), is jointly guided by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the Ministry of Education (MOE), and organized by the Industrial Development Administration (IDA), and executed by the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI).

    With the theme “Preferred Future”, YODEX 2025 presents a rich woven tapestry of perspectives on future living through the lens of design. This year’ s events feature participation from 59 domestic schools, 122 departments, nearly 10,000 young designers, and approximately 3,500 design works. Additionally, 10 schools from seven countries- including the United States, Thailand, Japan, Mexico, India, and Australia-have joined the showcase. The event also highlights the outcomes of 11 industry-academia cooperation projects, emphasizing the interwoven synergy between design talents and industry. The public is warmly invited to experience firsthand the bold yet pragmatical imagination and creativity of Taiwan’ s next generation of designers.

    Beyond an exhibition, YODEX is also a key platform for industry-academia cooperation and a talent pipeline for enterprises seeking outstanding creatives. This year’ s YODEX Industry-Academia Collaboration Program features participation from seven companies and institutions-including Gamania Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd., FAMICA INTERNATIONAL CO. LTD., and the NEW TAIPEI CITY DESIGN CENTER-under the themes of “Future Education”, “Future Health”, and “Future Entertainment”. A total of 365 student teams submitted proposals, with 19 teams selected for six months of co-creation with industry partners.

    To promote regional talent development, this year also witnessed the expansion of YODEX Industry-Academia Cooperation, with four companies-YEE CHAIN INTERNATIONAL CO., Ltd., Tair Chu Enterprise Co, Ltd, KENDA RUBBER INDUSTRIAL Co.,Ltd. and SLICETHINNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY Ltd.-partnering with nine universities. A total of 105 students worked on solutions tailored to local industry needs, encouraging local employment and retention of design talent.

    This year’ s upgraded Professional Day features cross-disciplinary professionals, student pitch sessions, and corresponding matchmaking. A record of 14 industry forums cover topics like IP licensing, packaging, education, sustainability, and tech, deepening industry-academia collaboration.

    The 2025 44th Young Designers’ Exhibition gathers Taiwan’s design schools and industry resources to explore the future of design. Through cross-disciplinary collaborations and international exchanges, it showcases diverse aspects of design education and practice. Welcome to this events from May 9 to May 12 to eyewitness how the young designers creatively imagine and project the issues like environment, technology, and humanity while exploring the possible future living.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Mizoram becomes first fully literate state in India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Mizoram has been officially declared a fully literate state. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Lalduhoma during a special ceremony held in Aizawl on Tuesday. With this achievement, Mizoram becomes the first state in India to attain full functional literacy.

    The event, held at the Auditorium of Mizoram University, witnessed the presence of several key dignitaries including Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Dr. Vanlalthlana, Mizoram’s Minister of School Education, Higher & Technical Education, Khilli Ram Meena, Chief Secretary to the Government of Mizoram, and other senior officials, educators, and students.

    Mizoram, which attained statehood in 1987, has consistently ranked among the top states in terms of literacy. According to the 2011 Census, it had a literacy rate of 91.33%, the third-highest in the country at the time. Building on this solid foundation, the state implemented the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme) to identify and educate the remaining non-literate individuals.

    A comprehensive door-to-door survey conducted in August–September 2023 by Cluster Resource Centre Coordinators (CRCCs) identified 3,026 non-literate persons in the state. Of these, 1,692 actively participated in learning activities. Based on this outreach and the Ministry of Education’s benchmark that defines full literacy as a literacy rate above 95%, Mizoram successfully crossed the threshold. The PFLS survey for 2023–24 confirmed this success, placing the state’s literacy rate at an impressive 98.20%.

    This achievement was made possible through the commitment of 292 volunteer teachers, including students, educators, and local officials, who took up the mission of educating every last citizen with a spirit of Kartavya Bodh (sense of duty) and deep cultural pride. Their dedication, supported by the Mizoram government and the community, played a pivotal role in transforming the educational landscape of the state.

    ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram is a centrally sponsored initiative aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed at promoting adult education. The programme focuses on five components: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education. Launched in 2022 and running till 2027, it targets adults aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling.

    Nationally, the ULLAS scheme has seen significant outreach, with over 2.37 crore learners and more than 40.84 lakh volunteer teachers registered on the ULLAS mobile app. More than 1.77 crore neo-literates have participated in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) so far.

    Earlier, in June 2024, Ladakh became the first administrative unit in India to achieve full literacy. Mizoram’s latest milestone now marks the first full state-level success, setting a new benchmark in the country’s pursuit of universal education.

  • WHO members adopt global pandemic accord, but US absence casts doubts

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Members of the World Health Organization adopted an agreement on Tuesday intended to improve preparedness for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to COVID-19, but the absence of the U.S. cast doubt on the treaty’s effectiveness.

    After three years of negotiations, the legally binding pact was adopted by the World Health Assembly in Geneva. WHO member countries welcomed its passing with applause.

    The pact was touted as a victory for members of the global health agency at a time when multilateral organisations like the WHO have been battered by sharp cuts in U.S. foreign funding.

    “The agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action. It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

    The pact aims to ensure that drugs, therapeutics and vaccines are globally accessible when the next pandemic hits. It requires participating manufacturers to allocate a target of 20% of their vaccines, medicines and tests to the WHO during a pandemic to ensure poorer countries have access.

    However, U.S. negotiators left discussions about the accord after President Donald Trump began a 12-month process of withdrawing the U.S. – by far the WHO’s largest financial backer – from the agency when he took office in January.

    Given this, the U.S., which poured billions of dollars into vaccine development during the COVID pandemic, would not be bound by the pact. And WHO member states would not face penalties if they failed to implement it.

    U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slammed the World Health Organization in a video address to the Assembly, saying it had failed to learn from the lessons of the pandemic with the new agreement.

    “It has doubled down with the pandemic agreement which will lock in all of the dysfunction of the WHO pandemic response… We’re not going to participate in that,” he said.

    LATE CHALLENGE

    The deal was reached after Slovakia called for a vote on Monday, as its COVID-19 vaccine–sceptic prime minister demanded that his country challenge the adoption of the agreement.

    One hundred and twenty-four countries voted in favour, no countries voted against, while 11 countries, including Poland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Slovakia and Iran, abstained.

    Some health experts welcomed the treaty as a step towards greater fairness in global health after poorer nations were left short of vaccines and diagnostics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “It contains critical provisions, especially in research and development, that — if implemented — could shift the global pandemic response toward greater equity,” Michelle Childs, Policy Advocacy Director at Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, told Reuters.

    Others said the agreement did not meet initial ambitions and that, without strong implementation frameworks, it risked falling short in a future pandemic.

    “It is an empty shell… It’s difficult to say that it’s a treaty with firm obligation where there is a strong commitment… It’s a good starting point. But it will have to be developed,” said Gian Luca Burci, an academic adviser at the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute, an independent research and education organisation.

    Helen Clark the co-Chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, described the accord as a foundation to build from.

    “Many gaps remain in finance, equitable access to medical countermeasures and in understanding evolving risks,” she added.

    The pact will not go into effect until an annex on sharing of pathogenic information is agreed. Negotiations on this would start in July with the aim of delivering the annex to the World Health Assembly for adoption, WHO said. A Western diplomatic source suggested it may take up to two years to be agreed.

    (Reuters)

  • PLI scheme for food processing sector creates 2.5 lakh jobs, benefits nine lakh farmers

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Centre’s production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the food processing sector has succeeded in attracting investments to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore and creating over 2.5 lakh jobs so far, according to a senior official of the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).

    “Till date, the ministry has funded almost 1,600 projects leading to the creation of 41 lakh tonnes of food processing capacity and benefiting almost nine lakh farmers,” said Ranjit Singh, joint secretary, MoFPI, in his address at FICCI’s ‘Foodworld India’ event here.

    He pointed out that food processing plays a pivotal role in agricultural diversification, value addition, reduction in post-harvest losses, and creation of surpluses for exports.

    Singh said, “The immense untapped potential of the Indian farm sector highlights the important role that domestic manufacturing can play when adequately supported by enabling government policies. With targeted interventions, this sector can contribute to India becoming self-reliant and a global food basket.”

    He highlighted the food processing sector’s role in enhancing the value of agricultural produce as well as driving favourable demand for Indian products in global markets. “Therefore, to realise its potential, we must continue to upgrade processing, packaging, storage and distribution, so that we’re able to meet both domestic and international standards,” he added.

    Singh further stated that the MoFPI is implementing initiatives, such as Kisan Sampada Yojana, an umbrella scheme to build cold chains, agro-processing clusters, food testing bodies, and support R&D in the sector. The ministry is also running the PM’s formalisation of micro food processing enterprises (PMFME) scheme to promote infrastructure development, innovation and entrepreneurship in the food processing sector across the country.

    He said that these schemes have also helped transform many small companies into medium ones. The PMFME scheme has supported close to two lakh micro enterprises through credit-linked subsidies and infrastructure creation in the last five years. (IANS)

  • Banu Mushtaq becomes first Kannada author to win International Booker Prize for ‘Heart Lamp’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian writer and women’s rights activist Banu Mushtaq has scripted history by becoming the first Kannada author to win the prestigious International Booker Prize. Her acclaimed short story anthology Heart Lamp clinched the award in London on Tuesday.

    Heart Lamp, originally written in Kannada and translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, is a powerful anthology of 12 short stories that chronicle the everyday experiences of women and girls living in patriarchal communities in southern India. Spanning over three decades of writing—from 1990 to 2023—the collection reflects Mushtaq’s enduring commitment to portraying the nuanced realities of women’s lives.

    The International Booker Prize 2025 was jointly awarded to Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi, whose English rendition brought the stories to a global audience. This is the first full-length translation of Mushtaq’s work.

    According to the Booker Prize Foundation, Mushtaq is a prolific author with six short-story collections, a novel, an essay collection, and a volume of poetry to her credit. She is also the recipient of several notable literary accolades, including the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and the Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award.

    Deepa Bhasthi, a writer and literary translator based in Kodagu, Karnataka, has previously translated works of Kannada literary giants such as Kota Shivarama Karanth and Kodagina Gouramma. Her skillful translation of *Heart Lamp* was also recognized as a vital component in bringing Kannada literature to a broader audience.

    Max Porter, Chair of the International Booker Prize 2025 jury, lauded Heart Lamp, stating that it was a unanimous favourite among the judges. “This was the book the judges really loved, right from our first reading. It’s been a joy to listen to the evolving appreciation of these stories from the different perspectives of the jury. We are thrilled to share this timely and exciting winner with readers around the world,” he said.

    Back home, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah congratulated Banu Mushtaq for her historic win. Taking to X, he wrote, “Heartfelt congratulations to Kannada’s pride, author Banu Mushtaq, who has been awarded the International Booker Prize. This is a moment of celebration for Kannada, Kannadigas, and Karnataka.”

    The Chief Minister also praised the translator, saying, “On behalf of all Kannadigas, I extend congratulations to the talented writer Deepa Bhasthi, who translated Banu Mushtaq’s Booker Prize-winning work Hridaya Deepa into English as Heart Lamp. I wish she continues to write and translate with strength and spirit, spreading the essence of Kannada across the world.”

    (With ANI inputs)

  • India’s Q4 FY25 GDP Growth Projected at 6.4-6.5% Despite Global Headwinds: SBI

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Despite weathering effects precipitated by global upheavals, the Indian economy stays largely resilient and is projected to clock a GDP growth of around 6.4-6.5 per cent in Q4 FY25, an SBI report said on Wednesday.

    To estimate GDP statistically, the State Bank of India’s Economic Research Department has built a ‘Nowcasting Model’ with 36 high-frequency indicators associated with industry activity, service activity, and the global economy.

    The model uses the dynamic factor model to estimate the common or representative or latent factor of all the high-frequency indicators from Q4 of FY13 to Q2 of FY23.

    “As per our ‘Nowcasting Model’, the forecasted GDP growth for Q4 FY25 should come in around 6.4-6.5 per cent,” said Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Advisor, SBI.

    Assuming there are no major revisions in Q1 to Q3 estimates in the upcoming data release by NSO, “we expect FY25 GDP to stand at 6.3 per cent,” Ghosh mentioned.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said the southwest monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala within the next four to five days — well ahead of its normal onset date of June 1.

    If the monsoon arrives in Kerala as anticipated, it would mark the earliest onset over mainland India since 2009, when it began on May 23.

    “India is targeting 354.64 million tonnes of foodgrain production in the 2025-26 crop year starting July, on the forecast of better monsoon rains. In the current 2024-25 crop year, the government had set a target of 341.55 million tonnes of foodgrain production (so far: 332.3 million tonnes),” the SBI report mentioned.

    Further, taking a cue from a household survey, a slowdown in current household inflation expectations encourages higher discretionary spending and drives demand-led growth. However, the status quo in consumer confidence suggests that households are uncertain about global developments and economic prospects – caution is somewhat writ large on sustainable growth from a short-term perspective.

    The swift escalation of trade tensions and extremely high levels of policy uncertainty are expected to have a significant impact on global economic activity. As per the IMF, global growth is projected to drop to 2.8 per cent in 2025 and 3 per cent in 2026.

    “For India, the growth outlook is relatively more stable at 6.2 per cent in FY25 (6.3 per cent for FY26), supported by private consumption, particularly in rural areas, but this rate is 30 bps lower than the earlier estimate on account of higher levels of trade tensions and global uncertainty,” the report mentioned.

    (IANS)

  • India’s GDP growth in Q4 FY25 to remain robust around 6.4-6.5 pc: SBI report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Despite weathering effects precipitated by global upheavals, Indian economy stays largely resilient and is projected to clock a GDP growth around 6.4-6.5 per cent in Q4 FY25, an SBI report said on Wednesday.

    To estimate GDP statistically, the State Bank of India’s Economic Research Department has built a ‘Nowcasting Model’ with 36 high frequency indicators associated with industry activity, service activity, and global economy.

    The model uses the dynamic factor model to estimate the common or representative or latent factor of all the high frequency indicators from Q4 of FY13 to Q2 of FY23. “As per our ‘Nowcasting Model’, the forecasted GDP growth for Q4 FY25 should come around 6.4-6.5 per cent,” said Dr Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Advisor, SBI.

    Assuming there are no major revisions in Q1 to Q3 estimates in the upcoming data release by NSO, “we expect FY25 GDP to stand at 6.3 per cent,” Ghosh mentioned. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said the southwest monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala within the next four to five days — well ahead of its normal onset date of June 1.

    If the monsoon arrives in Kerala as anticipated, it would mark the earliest onset over mainland India since 2009, when it began on May 23.

    “India is targeting 354.64 million tonnes of foodgrain production in the 2025-26 crop year starting July on the forecast of better monsoon rains. In the current 2024-25 crop year, the government had set a target of 341.55 million tonnes of foodgrain production (so far: 332.3 million tonnes),” the SBI report mentioned.

    Further, taking a cue from household survey, slowdown in current household inflation expectations encourages higher discretionary spending and drives demand-led growth while status quo in consumer confidence suggests that households are uncertain about the global developments and economic prospects – caution somewhat writ large on sustainable growth from a short-term perspective.

    The swift escalation of trade tensions and extremely high levels of policy uncertainty are expected to have a significant impact on global economic activity. AS per IMF, global growth is projected to drop to 2.8 per cent in 2025 and 3 per cent in 2026.

    “For India, the growth outlook is relatively more stable at 6.2 per cent in FY25 (6.3 per cent for FY26), supported by private consumption, particularly in rural areas, but this rate is 30 bps lower than the earlier estimate on account of higher levels of trade tensions and global uncertainty,” the report mentioned. (IANS)

  • Amazon fires drive unprecedented global forest loss in 2024, report says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Massive fires fueled by climate change led global forest loss to smash records in 2024, according to a report issued on Wednesday.

    Loss of tropical pristine forests alone reached 6.7 million hectares (16.6 million acres), an 80% spike compared to 2023 and an area roughly the size of Panama, mainly because Brazil, the host of the next global climate summit in November, struggled to contain fires in the Amazon amid the worst drought ever recorded in the rainforest. A myriad of other countries, including Bolivia and Canada, were also ravaged by wildfires.

    It was the first time the annual report, issued by the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland, showed fires as the leading cause of tropical forest loss, a grim milestone for a naturally humid ecosystem that is not supposed to burn.

    “The signals in these data are particularly frightening,” said Matthew Hansen, the co-director of a lab at the University of Maryland that compiled and analyzed the data. “The fear is that the climate signal is going to overtake our ability to respond effectively.”

    Latin America was hit particularly hard, the report said, with the Amazon biome hitting its highest level of primary forest loss since 2016.

    Brazil, which holds the largest share of the world’s tropical forests, lost 2.8 million hectares (6.9 million acres), the most of any country. It was a reversal of the progress made in 2023 when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office promising to protect the world’s largest rainforest.

    “This was unprecedented, which means we have to adapt all our policy to a new reality,” said Andre Lima, who oversees deforestation control policies for Brazil’s Ministry of Environment, adding that fire, which was never among the leading causes of forest loss, is now a top priority for the government.

    Bolivia overtook the Democratic Republic of Congo as the second country with the most tropical forest loss despite having less than half the amount of forest as the African nation, which also saw a spike in forest loss last year.

    Bolivia’s forest loss surged by 200% in 2024, with a drought, wildfires and a government-incentivized agricultural expansion as the leading causes. Across Latin America, the report noted similar trends in Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.

    Conflicts in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo also boosted deforestation rates, as armed groups used up natural resources.

    Outside the tropics, boreal forests, which evolved with seasonal fires, also posted record-high tree loss in 2024, with Canada and Russia each losing 5.2 million hectares (12.8 million acres) in 2024 as wildfires got out of control.

    Southeast Asia bucked the global trend with Malaysia, Laos, and Indonesia all posting double-digit decreases in primary forest loss, as domestic conservation policy, combined with efforts by communities and the private sector, continued to effectively contain fires and agricultural expansion.

    Another outlier was the Charagua Iyambae Indigenous territory in southern Bolivia, which was able to keep the country’s record fires at bay through land-use policies and early warning systems.

    Rod Taylor, the global director for forests at the WRI, said that as leaders descend on the Amazonian city of Belem for the next climate summit, he would like to see countries make progress in introducing better funding mechanisms for conservation.

    “At the moment,” he said, “there’s more money to be paid by chopping forests down than keeping them standing.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on May 21, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 25,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 4,348
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 4,348
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.01
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.01
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/378

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on May 21, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 25,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 4,348
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 4,348
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.01
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.01
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/378

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Fundamentally Flawed: Nvidia CEO Huang on U.S. Export Policy Fueling China’s Own Chip Development

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. export controls on artificial intelligence chips to China were “a failure,” Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang said on Wednesday.

    “All in all, the export control was a failure,” Huang said, adding, “The fundamental assumptions that led to the AI diffusion rule in the beginning, in the first place, have been proven to be fundamentally flawed.”

    The U.S. block on sales of advanced AI chips to China has forced companies there to buy semiconductors from Chinese designers such as Huawei, while also spurring China to invest aggressively to develop a supply chain that doesn’t rely on manufacturers outside the country.

    Huang’s comments came after China on Monday urged the United States to “immediately correct its wrongdoings” and stop “discriminatory” measures following the U.S. guidance warning companies not to use advanced computer chips from China, including Huawei’s Ascend AI chips.

    The U.S. action seriously undermined consensus reached at the high-level bilateral trade talks in Geneva, a statement from China’s commerce ministry said, vowing resolute measures if the U.S. continues to “substantially” harm China’s interests.

    Huang, speaking at the annual Computex event in Taipei, said Nvidia’s market share in China dropped to 50% from 95% at the start of former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration.

    (Reuters)

  • EU, Britain go ahead with new Russia sanctions without waiting for Trump

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The EU and Britain announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday without waiting for Washington to join them, a day after President Donald Trump’s phone call with Vladimir Putin brought about neither a ceasefire in Ukraine nor fresh U.S. sanctions.

    London and Brussels said their new measures would zero in on Moscow’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers and financial firms that have helped it avoid the impact of other sanctions imposed over the war.

    “Sanctions matter, and I am grateful to everyone who makes them more tangible for the perpetrators of the war,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram.

    He said it “would be good” if the United States added its help, adding: “It is important that America remain involved in the process of bringing peace closer.”

    The sanctions were unveiled without an immediate announcement of corresponding steps from Washington, despite intense public lobbying from European leaders for the Trump administration to join them if Russia rejected a ceasefire.

    “We have repeatedly made it clear that we expect one thing from Russia – an immediate ceasefire without preconditions,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on the sidelines of a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels.

    As Russia had not accepted a ceasefire, “we will have to react,” he said. “We also expect our U.S. allies not to tolerate this.”

    Trump told reporters on Tuesday he was deliberating over what actions to take, but gave no further details.

    “We’re looking at a lot of things, but we’ll see,” he said.

    In a two-hour conversation with Putin on Monday, the U.S. president dropped his earlier insistence on an unconditional 30-day ceasefire and signalled that the war he once promised to end in 24 hours was no longer his to fix – a message that leaves Ukraine vulnerable and its allies worried.

    Asked on Monday why he had not imposed fresh sanctions to push Moscow into a peace deal, Trump said that could make the situation worse and affect the chance of a deal, while adding: “But there could be a time where that’s going to happen.”

    Trump said after talking to Putin he had told Zelenskiy and European leaders that Russia and Ukraine would immediately start negotiations on conditions for a ceasefire, a process Russia said would take time.

    Russia and Ukraine held their first direct talks in more than three years on Friday at Trump’s behest, but failed to agree a truce after Moscow presented conditions that a member of the Ukrainian delegation called “non-starters”.

    POPE WILLING TO HOST TALKS

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that Pope Leo had confirmed to her his willingness to host in the Vatican the next round of negotiations to try to end the war.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a congressional hearing on Tuesday that Putin had not received any real concessions in the U.S. effort to initiate talks and existing U.S. sanctions on Russia remained in place.

    “The president … believes that right now, you start threatening sanctions, the Russians will stop talking, and there’s value in us being able to talk and drive them to get to the table. We’ll see,” Rubio said.

    Ukraine says it is ready for an immediate ceasefire. The Europeans say Russia’s insistence on talks first is proof that Putin, who started the war by invading his neighbour in 2022, is not prepared to end it.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a further package of sanctions was being prepared.

    “It’s time to intensify the pressure on Russia to bring about the ceasefire,” she wrote on X.

    RUSSIA SAYS IT WILL NOT BOW TO ULTIMATUMS

    Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia would never bow to what she called ultimatums.

    Putin said on Monday that Moscow was ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about a future peace accord. “Now, accordingly, the ball is in Kyiv’s court,” Zakharova said.

    Brussels and London signalled they have not given up hope of persuading Washington.

    “Let us push Vladimir Putin to put an end to his imperialist fantasy,” France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.

    Britain’s Foreign Minister David Lammy said “delaying peace efforts will only redouble our resolve to help Ukraine to defend itself and use our sanctions to restrict Putin’s war machine”.

    The latest sanctions are aimed mainly at cracking down on a shipping fleet Russia uses to export oil, circumventing a $60 a barrel price cap imposed by the G7 group of industrialised countries to limit Russia’s income.

    Britain and the EU said they would also work to lower the cap, which imposes far less of a discount on Russian oil now that global prices have fallen this year.

    (Reuters)

  • PM Modi pays tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his 34th death anniversary

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of his 34th death anniversary.

    Rajiv Gandhi, who served as India’s Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989, assumed office following the assassination of his mother, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. At the age of 40, he became the youngest Prime Minister in Indian history.

    In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “On his death anniversary today, I pay my tributes to our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji.”

    Rajiv Gandhi led the country until the 1989 general elections, after which he served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He resigned in December 1990, just six months before he himself was assassinated in a brutal terrorist attack.

    Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also took to X and paid homage to the former Prime Minister.

    “Remembering former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his punyatithi today,” he posted on X.

    Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge lead the Congress party in paying heartfelt tributes to the former leader at Veer Bhumi in New Delhi.

    Marking the occasion, the Congress party shared a tribute on X, stating, “On the death anniversary of the late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the leader of opposition, Rahul Gandhi visited ‘Veer Bhumi’ and paid his emotional tribute to him. The excellent work done by Rajiv Gandhi in the national interest can never be forgotten.”

    Earlier in the day, Mallikarjun Kharge also paid homage to the former leader through a post on X, calling Rajiv Gandhi “a great son of India” who inspired hope among millions.

    He wrote, “His visionary and courageous interventions were instrumental in preparing India for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century.”

    Kharge highlighted some of Rajiv Gandhi’s key contributions to India, stating, “These include lowering the voting age to 18, strengthening Panchayati Raj, spearheading the Telecom and IT revolution, implementing a computerisation program, securing sustained peace accords, launching a universal immunisation program, and introducing a new education policy focused on inclusive learning.”

    He concluded his tribute stating, “Our deepest respects to the Former PM, Bharat Ratna, Rajiv Gandhi on his martyrdom day.”

    (IANS)