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Category: Government of India

  • NCC cadets successfully summit Mount Everest for the third time; return safely to base camp

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a proud moment for the nation, a ten-member mountaineering team of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) has successfully scaled Mount Everest (8,848.86 metres), the world’s highest peak. According to the Ministry of Defence, the cadets reached the summit on Sunday and safely returned to the Everest Base Camp on Monday. This marks NCC’s third successful expedition to Mount Everest, following previous feats in 2013 and 2016.

    This year’s team comprised an equal number of boy and girl cadets, all first-time climbers, selected through a rigorous national-level process. With an average age of just 19 years—and the youngest cadet being only 16—the team has been hailed for its exceptional determination, discipline, and endurance.

    The cadets who reached the summit are Cadet Monika from Rajasthan, Cadet Pratima Rai from West Bengal, Cadet Rifiness Warjri from Meghalaya, Cadet Kritika Sharma from Himachal Pradesh, Cadet Abida Afreen from Ladakh, Cadet Mohit Knathia from Jammu & Kashmir, Cadet Padma Namgail from Chandigarh, Cadet Virendra Singh Samant from Uttarakhand, Cadet Sachin Kumar from Uttarakhand, and Cadet Mukul Bangwal from Uttarakhand.

    Their successful climb earned high praise from both Sherpa guides and fellow international mountaineers, especially for their physical readiness and high morale despite facing harsh weather conditions and difficult terrain. The cadets proudly hoisted the National Flag and the NCC Flag atop Everest, showcasing the spirit of Indian youth and their dedication to national pride.

    The expedition was preceded by an extensive training programme, including a preparatory climb to Mt Abi Gamin and a winter camp at the Army Mountaineering Institute at the Siachen Base Camp. Cadets were selected for the Everest mission based on their performance in these stages.

    Flagged off by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on April 3, the mission was conducted with strict adherence to safety protocols and operational standards. The Ministry of Defence lauded the cadets and the NCC training ecosystem, calling the expedition a shining example of resilience, teamwork, and youthful valour.

  • Allahabad HC upholds survey order of Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Allahabad High Court on Monday upheld the trial court’s order to survey the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district.

    The petition filed by the Muslim side, seeking to halt the trial court proceedings, was rejected after the court found “no issues with the trial court order” in the ongoing dispute between the Jama Masjid and the Harihar Mandir in the district.

    Reacting to the judgment, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said that the High Court has rejected all objections raised regarding the appointment of the Survey Commissioner by the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Chandausi.

    “This is a very important decision of the Allahabad High Court, and all those who had spread the misconception in the country that the Survey Commissioner appointed by Civil Judge Senior Division Chandausi on 19th November was a wrong appointment and he should have heard the Masjid Committee before making the appointment, today that proposition of law has been completely rejected by the court,” Jain told ANI.

    Explaining the court’s authority to appoint a Survey Commissioner, Jain said, “The simple proposition of law is that the court can appoint a Survey Commissioner in the exercise of the power of Order 26, Rule 9 and 10. There is no need to hear anyone at that time. The mandate of law is only that when the survey commissioner goes to the spot for the survey, he will conduct the survey in the presence of both parties. Which was followed here on both the days, i.e., 19th and 24th November.”

    Criticizing certain parliamentarians and senior advocates who had raised questions on the survey, he added, “So the big barristers and parliamentarians who had made comments on the dignity of the court and the dignity of the parties on the dignity of this entire process, today a well-reasoned judgment has put a full stop to it.”

    Jain further said that the High Court’s decision to vacate the stay on the trial means the legal proceedings will now continue.

    He also clarified that the Place of Worship Act and the Supreme Court’s order of December 12 do not apply in this case: “We will come to the Supreme Court for a stay vacation of the survey report, which has been filed in a sealed cover. At the same time, the High Court has vacated the stay on the trial. This means that the trial will proceed further. The Worship Act is not applicable in this because it is the admitted case of both parties that this is an ASI-protected monument of 1958 and is governed by the ASI Act of 1958… Therefore, neither the Place of Worship Act nor the Supreme Court order of December 12 is applicable here.”

    Speaking on the development, advocate Hari Shankar Jain said, “The court rejected the Muslim side’s plea and said that the survey was correct. Whatever survey was done, it will be read out and made part of the record. If they (the Muslim side) go to the Supreme Court, we are ready to welcome them.”

    The mosque management committee had filed a civil revision petition seeking a stay on the ongoing trial court proceedings in an original suit pending before the Sambhal district court.

    Earlier, on April 29, the Supreme Court had granted two weeks to the Committee of Management, Shahi Jama Masjid, to respond to a status report filed by Uttar Pradesh authorities, which stated that the disputed well is located outside the mosque premises.

    In November 2024, the top court had stayed the trial court proceedings, directing that the matter should not be heard until the mosque committee’s petition against the survey order was listed before the Allahabad High Court.

    Tensions had erupted in Sambhal after the local court ordered the mosque survey on November 19. Protests against the order led to clashes with the police, resulting in the deaths of four people.

    The survey followed a petition filed in the local court claiming that the site of the mosque was originally a Harihar temple dedicated to Kalki, the last incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and was demolished in 1526 to construct the mosque.

    –ANI

  • UIDAI shares non-personal Aadhaar dashboard data to promote transparency

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Monday said it has begun sharing non-personal, anonymized data from the Aadhaar Dashboard on the open government data platform called data.gov.in.

    The move aims to further promote transparency, research, and data-driven policy making, said the Ministry of Electronics and IT in a statement.

    The datasets, released by the Chief Data Officer (CDO) and Deputy Director General of UIDAI, include aggregated insights on Aadhaar enrollment, updates, and authentication patterns, categorized by geography, age group, and other relevant parameters.

    According to the IT Ministry, by making these non-personal and anonymized datasets accessible, UIDAI aims to support academic research, innovation in digital services, and collaborative developments.

    “This initiative opens new avenues for evidence-based policy-making and technological innovation, furthering UIDAI’s commitment to transparency, public good, and secure data governance,” it added.

    It also aligns with the broader government vision of fostering evidence-based policymaking and maximizing the value of open data for the public good. It is expected to further boost digital inclusion and governance efficiency.

    Meanwhile, the total number of Aadhaar authentication transactions has crossed the 150 billion (15,011.82 crore) mark. Moreover, the total number of eKYC transactions (37.3 crore) carried out during April is 39.7 percent more than the numbers during the same period last year.

    The cumulative number of e-KYC transactions has crossed 2,393 crore as of April 30, according to the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

    In April alone, almost 210 crore Aadhaar authentication transactions were carried out, nearly 8 percent more than the same month in 2024, the ministry informed.

    More than 100 entities, both in the government and private sectors, are using face authentication for the smooth delivery of benefits and services. In FY25, Aadhaar number holders carried out more than 2,707 crore authentication transactions in 2024-25. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Monday said it has begun sharing non-personal, anonymized data from the Aadhaar Dashboard on the open government data platform called data.gov.in.

    The move aims to further promote transparency, research, and data-driven policy making, said the Ministry of Electronics and IT in a statement.

    The datasets, released by the Chief Data Officer (CDO) and Deputy Director General of UIDAI, include aggregated insights on Aadhaar enrollment, updates, and authentication patterns, categorized by geography, age group, and other relevant parameters.

    According to the IT Ministry, by making these non-personal and anonymized datasets accessible, UIDAI aims to support academic research, innovation in digital services, and collaborative developments.

    “This initiative opens new avenues for evidence-based policy-making and technological innovation, furthering UIDAI’s commitment to transparency, public good, and secure data governance,” it added.

    It also aligns with the broader government vision of fostering evidence-based policymaking and maximizing the value of open data for the public good. It is expected to further boost digital inclusion and governance efficiency.

    Meanwhile, the total number of Aadhaar authentication transactions has crossed the 150 billion (15,011.82 crore) mark. Moreover, the total number of eKYC transactions (37.3 crore) carried out during April is 39.7 percent more than the numbers during the same period last year.

    The cumulative number of e-KYC transactions has crossed 2,393 crore as of April 30, according to the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

    In April alone, almost 210 crore Aadhaar authentication transactions were carried out, nearly 8 percent more than the same month in 2024, the ministry informed.

    More than 100 entities, both in the government and private sectors, are using face authentication for the smooth delivery of benefits and services. In FY25, Aadhaar number holders carried out more than 2,707 crore authentication transactions in 2024-25.

    –IANS

  • Landslide at gold mine in Indonesia’s Papua kills six; 14 missing

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Torrential rains forced a halt on Monday to Indonesia’s search for 14 missing in its easternmost region of Papua after a landslide killed six workers at a gold mine and injured four, officials said.

    The rains had triggered Friday’s landslide, which hit a small mine run by residents of the Arfak mountains of West Papua province, said Abdul Muhari, the spokesperson of Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency.

    Authorities will resume on Tuesday their search for those missing after the disaster, which engulfed temporary shelters used by miners.

    The search effort was hampered by “damaged roads and mountainous tracks as well as bad weather”, Yefri Sabaruddin, the head of a team of 40 rescuers, including police and military officials, who retrieved five bodies, told Reuters.

    Travelling to the site required 12 hours from the nearest town, he said.

    Monday’s tally was updated from an earlier figure of one dead and 19 missing.

    Small-scale and illegal mining has often led to accidents in Indonesia, where mineral resources are located in remote areas, in conditions difficult for authorities to regulate.

    The number of casualties could rise.

    At least 15 people died in the collapse of an illegal gold mine in West Sumatra province last September after a landslide caused by heavy rains.

    Another landslide in a gold mine on Sulawesi island killed at least 23 people in July last year.

    –Reuters

  • IMD issues alerts for heavy rainfall and heatwave across India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather advisory forecasting intense rainfall over several regions of the country and heatwave conditions in parts of northwest India.

    According to the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected along the west coast—including Karnataka, Konkan & Goa, and Kerala—as well as adjoining areas of Peninsular India between May 19 and 25. Karnataka is likely to witness extremely heavy downpours on May 20 and 21, while the Konkan region may experience similar conditions on May 21.

    The northeastern states and parts of eastern India are also expected to receive significant rainfall. Heavy to very heavy showers accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning are likely over Northeast India and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during the next four days.

    Meanwhile, the IMD has warned of heatwave conditions in parts of Rajasthan and Haryana. West Rajasthan is expected to reel under extreme heat from May 19 to 23, while Haryana and East Rajasthan may experience heatwave conditions from May 19 to 21.

    The IMD has advised residents in affected areas to take necessary precautions against both intense rainfall and high temperatures.

  • Indian Ambassador expresses gratitude to Sri Lanka for backing anti-terrorism initiatives

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, on Monday expressed gratitude to the Sri uLankan government for its strong condemnation of terrorism and its solidarity with the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.

    In an interview with the Daily Mirror, a leading Sri Lankan daily, Jha emphasized that India’s response—Operation Sindoor—launched after the attack, reflects New Delhi’s firm and enduring stance against terrorism.

    Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, on Monday extended gratitude to the Lankan government for condemning terrorism in the strongest terms and for their solidarity with the victims of the April 22 ghastly Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people.

    In an interview with the leading Sri Lankan newspaper, Daily Mirror, Jha asserted that ‘Operation Sindoor,’ which was launched by India in response to the Pahalgam attack, “is not over; it is now India’s established policy against terrorism.”

    “As long as Pakistan maintains tranquillity and takes irrevocable steps to abjure terrorism against India, there will be no hostilities. The onus and responsibility for any hostility in the region lies squarely with Pakistan. Any act of terrorism will be seen as an act of war, and a befitting response will be delivered,” he stated.

    India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, launching focused strikes on nine high-value terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

    Jha stressed that the terror hubs were destroyed, but Indian armed forces ensured that no civilians were targeted; however, Islamabad targeted India’s military, civilian, and religious infrastructure.

    “Our response was non-escalatory, measured, and proportionate. The same was communicated to the Pakistani side, with the clear intention not to escalate the hostilities. Instead of cooperating to wipe out terrorist hideouts, unfortunately, Pakistan chose to side with the terrorists and attacked India the next evening — targeting Indian military facilities, schools, colleges, places of worship, and homes,” he said.

    “India was then forced to respond in equal measure, but it was still proportionate and limited to Pakistani military facilities. Pakistan’s continued escalatory posture led India to respond on May 10 by targeting Pakistani military installations, causing significant damage to 13 of their airbases. This substantial and definitive damage to Pakistan’s military infrastructure forced Pakistan to reach out to India, and consequently, both sides reached an understanding to stop hostilities,” Jha added.

    Highlighting that terrorism is a global scourge and all countries must act together to deal with it, the High Commissioner said it is noteworthy that when Sri Lanka suffered from the Easter terror attacks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the only global leader who visited Sri Lanka to express India’s solidarity with the victims of the attack.

    He emphasized that the underlying principle of Operation Sindoor is zero tolerance for terrorism, adding that Sri Lanka has itself been a victim of terrorism and shares the principle of zero tolerance.

    Thanking President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Jha said, “As a country that has recently faced the devastating consequences of terrorism, Sri Lanka understands the pain and destruction it causes to communities, societies, and their economies.”

    “Sri Lanka is a centerpiece of India’s Neighborhood First policy. Our relations today are marked by unprecedented trust and goodwill at all levels. Not just with Sri Lanka, but we have energy connectivity projects with our other neighbors such as Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh,” said Jha, in response to Colombo’s interest in connectivity with India in the energy sector.

    Talking about the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), Jha said that Pakistan is a country that has “consistently maintained a hostile posture towards India, not least through the implementation of terrorism as state policy.”

    “Pakistan is globally recognized as an epicenter of terrorism. There has hardly been a terrorist incident in the world in the last three decades without Pakistan’s fingerprint or direct involvement,” he further added.

    –ANI

  • Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan: Nationwide Push to Modernise Farming

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a move to transform Indian agriculture, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the launch of the nationwide Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, set to run from May 29 to June 12. Addressing a press conference at the National Media Centre, the Minister emphasized that the initiative is a key step towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India through modern, innovative, and sustainable farming practices.

    The campaign will serve as a powerful platform to bridge the gap between research institutions and farming communities, ensuring that scientific advancements reach the grassroots level. Chouhan highlighted that developed agriculture, advanced farming techniques, and empowered farmers are critical pillars in building a developed nation. The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan will be conducted biannually before the sowing of Kharif and Rabi crops to promote timely and relevant field-level interventions.

    Under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the initiative aims to enhance food security for India’s 1.45 billion people, promote nutritional food access, increase farmer incomes, and conserve natural resources. The strategy rests on six core pillars: boosting production, lowering input costs, ensuring fair pricing, offering disaster compensation, encouraging crop diversification and value addition, and expanding natural and organic farming.

    This year, India recorded unprecedented agricultural outputs. Kharif rice reached 1206.79 lakh metric tonnes, wheat 1154.30 lakh metric tonnes, maize 248.11 lakh metric tonnes, groundnut 104.26 lakh metric tonnes, and soybean 151.32 lakh metric tonnes. Total food grain production rose from 3157.74 lakh tonnes in 2023–24 to 3309.18 lakh tonnes in 2024–25. These record figures reflect India’s growing agricultural strength and align with the campaign’s vision of turning India into the “Food Basket of the World.”

    The campaign will mobilize ICAR’s 113 research institutes, 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), agricultural universities, state agriculture departments, farmer-producer organizations (FPOs), and innovative farmers. A total of 2,170 expert teams, each comprising at least four members, will visit over 65,000 villages across 723 districts. These teams will conduct morning, afternoon, and evening sessions with farmers to promote scientific farming methods.

    Field assessments will focus on agro-climatic conditions, soil health, rainfall patterns, and water availability. Using Soil Health Cards, experts will recommend suitable crops, high-yield seed varieties, balanced fertilizer use, and modern sowing techniques. The aim is to reduce farming costs, improve soil health, and enhance productivity through precise and tailored guidance.

    Importantly, the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan is envisioned as a two-way engagement. Farmers will be encouraged to share their local challenges, such as pest issues and climate anomalies, which will in turn inform ongoing research. The initiative is expected to directly reach and engage more than 1.3 crore farmers, ensuring that agricultural progress is driven by both scientific expertise and farmers’ insights.

  • Sunflowers emerge as symbols of sustainability and agricultural value

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Sunflowers, long admired for their striking golden petals and towering height, are gaining renewed recognition not just for their beauty, but for their growing importance in agriculture, nutrition, and environmental sustainability. Native to North America, sunflowers have been cultivated for thousands of years, and today they are celebrated as much for their utility as for their vibrant appearance.

    Traditionally associated with positivity and admiration, sunflowers are now being acknowledged as essential contributors to global ecological and agricultural systems. One of their most remarkable traits is heliotropism, the ability of young flower heads to follow the sun’s path across the sky. Mature heads typically face east, optimizing exposure to morning sunlight. Each flower’s central disk is composed of hundreds to thousands of tiny florets, each capable of developing into a seed, while the surrounding yellow petals serve to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.

    Easy to cultivate and tolerant of drought, sunflowers thrive in full sunlight and well-drained soils, making them a favored crop among farmers and gardeners. The seeds are harvested for various uses. Sunflower oil, known for its light flavor and health benefits, is a popular cooking oil rich in healthy fats, protein, and nutrients. The seeds are consumed directly as snacks or used in bird feed, while the remaining meal from oil extraction serves as a protein-rich livestock feed.

    Beyond the kitchen and the farm, sunflowers are increasingly important in sustainable energy research, with sunflower oil being explored for its potential in biodiesel production. Environmentally, the plant plays a key role in soil improvement through its deep root system and has shown promise in phytoremediation, the process of extracting toxic substances from polluted soil. Additionally, sunflowers help sustain pollinator populations, supporting biodiversity and ecosystem health.

  • Sikkim Cricket Ground shines bright with historic floodlight installation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    span class=”fadeinm1hgl8″>In a landmark moment for sports in the region, the Sikkim Cricket Ground in Mining witnessed the inauguration of high-mast LED floodlights on the evening of May 18. This significant upgrade, marked by a grand ceremony, was led by Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.

    With this state-of-the-art lighting system in place, the venue is now equipped to host day-night matches and high-definition live broadcasts, ushering in a new era for cricket in the state.

    The Rs 12.2 crore project, fully funded by the Government of Sikkim, was executed by the Sikkim Cricket Association (SICA). Work commenced in December 2024 and was completed by April 18. The system features four 44-meter-high masts, each bearing 64 high-powered LED floodlights, totaling 256 units. With each light operating at 1.2 kW, the setup delivers an impressive 2800 lux illumination at the pitch, well above the standard required for televised matches.

    The inauguration ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Justice Biswanath Somadder, Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim, Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, the Chief Secretary, the Chief Administrator-cum-Cabinet Secretary, and senior government officials.

    SICA President Tika Subba expressed heartfelt gratitude to the state government and the BCCI for their support.

    “Thanks to the government and the BCCI, this long-cherished dream has come true,” he said, also acknowledging the past challenges posed by inadequate lighting that often disrupted match schedules and gameplay quality.

    To mark the occasion, a friendly match was played between the SICA President XI and the Chief Secretary XI. Batting first, the Chief Secretary XI posted 121/9 in 20 overs. In reply, the SICA President XI chased down the target in 19.4 overs, securing a five-wicket win.

    The newly installed floodlights meet international standards and come with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty. They promise low maintenance and high efficiency, paving the way for Sikkim’s emergence on the national cricketing map.

    In a noteworthy announcement, Chief Minister Tamang revealed that preparations are underway for a possible visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.“The Sikkim government has received confirmation regarding PM Modi’s visit. Several meetings have taken place… May 29 is the tentative date, though it is yet to be confirmed,” he said. 

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Portugal’s far-right wins record support as centre-right falls short of majority

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ortugal’s far-right Chega won a record vote share in Sunday’s snap election and was vying to become the main opposition party as the ruling centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) again fell short of a majority needed to end a long period of instability.

    Prime Minister Luis Montenegro – whose grouping won the most seats – said the election result was a vote of confidence in his party. However, with votes from abroad still to be counted Chega could supplant the centre-left Socialists as leader of the opposition, ending five decades of dominance by the country’s two major parties.

    “We’ve done what no other party has ever achieved in Portugal. We can safely declare in front of all the country today that bipartisanship in Portugal is over,” Chega leader Andre Ventura told a crowd of jubilant supporters in Lisbon.

    “Nothing will be as it was,” he said, highlighting the fact that the continued rise of Chega, which he founded just six years ago, proved most opinion polls wrong.

    Chega gained 8 seats for a total of 58 in the 230-seat parliament, winning a record 1.34 million votes, or 22.6%.

    Montenegro, whose AD won 89 seats – up nine from the previous election – and 32.1% of the vote, has refused to make any deals with Chega and said he would form a new minority government.

    Chega, which has allied with Europe’s hard-right, anti-immigration parties, such as Marine le Pen’s Rassemblement National in France and Germany’s AfD, has proposed tougher sentences for criminals, including chemical castration for repeat rapists, and called for an end to “open doors” immigration. It has also accused mainstream parties of perpetuating corruption.

    Continued political instability could delay structural reforms and major projects in Portugal, including lithium mining in the north, and potentially compromise the efficient deployment of EU funds and the long-delayed privatization of TAP airline.

    The election, the third in as many years, was called one year into an AD minority government’s term after Montenegro failed to win a vote of confidence in March when the opposition questioned his integrity over dealings of his family’s consultancy firm. He has denied any wrongdoing.

    “The Portuguese don’t want any more snap elections, they want a four-year legislature,” Montenegro said as his supporters chanted “Let Luis work,” his campaign slogan.

    Voters appeared to punish the Socialists for their role in bringing down Montenegro’s government with the party falling to 58 seats from 78, prompting leader Pedro Nuno Santos to say he would step down.

    In Lisbon, some residents were worried about what Chega’s surge could mean for Portugal’s democracy, comparing the party to U.S. President Donald Trump’s government.

    Chega’s Ventura, who was hospitalised during the campaign after collapsing on stage with an esophageal spasm, said his health issues would not hold him back.

    “There are moments in life during which God says, just stop a little bit,” he said. “This time I am not going to listen. I am not going to stop until I become the prime minister of Portugal.”

    (Reuters)

  • Jaishankar engages with strategic experts in the Netherlands, calls for stronger India-EU ties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his official visit to the Netherlands on Monday, engaged with strategic experts in The Hague, highlighting the importance of deepening India-Netherlands and India-European Union relations in a rapidly evolving global landscape marked by multi-polarity and strategic autonomy.

    In a post on X, Jaishankar said: “A good exchange of views with strategic experts in The Hague this morning. Discussed why India and the Netherlands/EU should engage more deeply in an era of multi-polarity and strategic autonomy.”

    https://x.com/DDNewslive/status/1924413567106740449/photo/4

    Jaishankar arrived in the Netherlands on Monday as part of a multi-nation official visit that also includes Denmark and Germany, scheduled from May 19 to 24. According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation on global and regional issues of mutual interest.

    During his engagements, Jaishankar is expected to meet with the leadership of all three countries, covering a comprehensive agenda that spans political, economic, and strategic collaboration.

    This marks Jaishankar’s first foreign visit following the recent four-day military confrontation between Indian and Pakistani forces.

    ANI

  • Let world know that India supports peace, but will respond to terror attacks: Kiren Rijiju on all-party delegations’ mission

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said that it is important to let the world know that India supports peace, however, it will take stern action against any act of terrorism. India is sending its all-party delegations to different countries in this regard, he added.

    “India has always supported peace. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Operation Sindoor in response to the killing of our innocent civilians by the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists,” Rijiju told reporters.

    “Delegations of India are going to various countries and will put forward India’s side. It is important to let the world know that India supports peace and will act against those who support terrorism, and the world should support the same,” he added.
    Reacting to the Congress’s criticism regarding the selection of members of all-party delegations, he said that the delegates will represent not their parties but their country.

    ” This is not a topic of politics. These delegations are not going to represent a party but the country,” he said.

    A political row has erupted over the process of nominating members to all-party delegations as the government ignored three of the four names suggested by the Congress.

    Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, on Monday criticised the Central government, describing the decision to send a delegation to key partner countries as a ‘damage control’ effort.

    Ramesh claimed that India’s ‘Vishwa Guru’ image has taken a hit following tensions with Pakistan.

    He further argued that the delegation’s visit to key partner countries to highlight India’s ongoing fight against cross-border terrorism and Operation Sindoor would have been more appropriate if it had come after an all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    “…Congress party believes that an all-party meeting should have been done before this and PM Modi should have chaired the meeting…Our second demand was to hold a special session of the Parliament to discuss the issues of the relationship between China and Pakistan,” Ramesh told ANI.

    Ramesh further criticised the government for omitting three of the names recommended by the party for the all-party delegation.

    “This delegation is going for damage control. We have been saying that we need to stay united, and we are standing with our armed forces like a rock. We have said that Operation Sindoor is a historic operation, but PM Modi does not speak with the LoP or the Congress President. They ask us to give names. When we gave 4 names, they picked only one of them and added names on their own. What type of politics is this?” he added.

    According to Congress, the party had submitted four names to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs by May 16, but the final list released late on May 17 included only one of the suggested names.

    The list includes MPs from multiple parties, divided into seven groups of 8-9 members. A leader has been assigned for each group, who will lead the delegation at a global level.

    This came after India’s decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

    (ANI)

  • India expected to clock 6.9 pc GDP growth in Q4 of FY25: Report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s GDP growth is expected to increase to 6.9 per cent in Q4 FY2025 from 6.2 per cent in Q3 FY2025 despite the enhanced global uncertainty due to the US tariff turmoil during the quarter, according to an ICRA report released on Monday.

    The report also highlights an increase in consumer sentiment in both the rural and urban areas.

    ICRA chief economist Aditi Nayar said, “In a quarter characterised by enhanced uncertainty on the global front, ICRA estimates India’s GDP growth to have risen to 6.9 per cent in Q4 FY2025 from 6.2 per cent in Q3 FY2025. Both private consumption and trends for investment activity were uneven in Q4 FY2025, with the latter partly owing to tariff-related uncertainty.”

    While the robust increase in the output of most rabi crops is likely to have boosted the agri-GVA growth in Q4 FY2025, the tepid pace of expansion in the industrial volume growth as well as the deterioration in the performance of several service-sector indicators is expected to have weighed on the GVA growth of these segments,” she added.

    Based on the available data for the Centre’s indirect taxes and subsidies, ICRA estimates that the growth in net indirect taxes rose quite sharply in the quarter from 6.8 per cent in Q3 FY2025, aided by a sharp contraction in the Centre’s subsidy disbursement (-33 per cent in Q4 FY2025 vs. +31.1 per cent in Q3 FY2025.

    Against the backdrop of trade-related uncertainty triggered by the US tariffs, India’s investment activity showcased a mixed trend in Q4 FY2025. The year-on-year performance of six of the 11 investment-related high-frequency indicators improved in Q4 over Q3, mostly pertaining to the construction sector, including infrastructure/construction goods’ output, cement production, and finished steel consumption.

    Additionally, state-investor meets in Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and West Bengal pushed up project announcements to record levels of Rs 19.2 lakh crore in Q4 FY2025 (vs Rs 16.1 lakh crore in Q4 FY2024).

    The Centre’s capex in Q4 FY2025 reflected in the revised budget estimate, would imply a healthy YoY growth of around 21 per cent during the quarter.

    While the pace of YoY expansion of services exports slowed to 14.1 per cent in Q4 FY2025 from 17.9 per cent in Q3 FY2025, it continued to print in double digits for the third consecutive quarter. Notably, services exports stood at $102.0 billion in Q4 FY2025, the highest level seen in the Q4 of any fiscal, the report points out.

    Rural sentiments, as reflected in the Current Situation Index (CSI), improved somewhat in January 2025, likely aided by cash flows from the kharif harvest and favourable trends in rabi sowing and output.

    Interestingly, the March 2025 round of the RBI’s Urban Consumer Confidence Survey, which is conducted in 19 major cities, revealed that urban consumer sentiments improved further, with the CSI rising to 95.5 from 93.7 in January 2025, the report added.

    (IANS)

  • Deeply concerned: PM Modi wishes Joe Biden a speedy recovery after prostate cancer diagnosis

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday wished former U.S. President Joe Biden a fast and full recovery after it was revealed that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer.

    Taking to the social media platform X, PM Modi said: “Deeply concerned to hear about Joe Biden’s health. Extend our best wishes to him for a quick and full recovery. Our thoughts are with Dr. Jill Biden and the family.”

    Biden’s office, in a statement issued Sunday, revealed that the president had recently undergone a medical evaluation due to worsening urinary symptoms.

    “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms,” the statement said.

    “On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), with metastasis to the bone,” it added.

    Although the diagnosis indicates a severe form of the disease, Biden’s physicians noted that the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management.

    “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management,” the statement said. “The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

    Former U.S. President Donald Trump also commented on the diagnosis via his Truth Social platform:
    “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”

    The news has reignited political and public discussions around President Biden’s health.

    President Biden lost his son, Beau Biden, to cancer in 2015, and has since championed cancer research initiatives—first as vice president under Barack Obama and later as president—through the Cancer Moonshot program.

    IANS

  • Record 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles protected by Indian Coast Guard’s ‘Operation Olivia’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a significant achievement for marine conservation, the Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) annual initiative, Operation Olivia, has successfully protected over 6.98 lakh Olive Ridley turtles during their mass nesting at the Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha in February 2025.

    Conducted each year from November to May, Operation Olivia plays a crucial role in safeguarding the endangered Olive Ridley turtles, particularly along Odisha’s coast, including Gahirmatha Beach — one of the world’s largest nesting grounds. These coastal stretches witness the arrival of more than eight lakh turtles annually.

    This year’s record nesting at the Rushikulya river mouth is being hailed as a milestone, highlighting the effectiveness of the ICG’s sustained efforts. The operation involves round-the-clock patrolling, aerial surveillance, and close coordination with local stakeholders to protect the turtles during their breeding season.

    Since the inception of the operation, the ICG has conducted over 5,387 surface patrol sorties and 1,768 aerial surveillance missions. These measures have led to a significant decline in threats such as illegal fishing and habitat disruption. Notably, 366 boats engaged in illegal fishing activities were detained, underscoring the ICG’s strong enforcement capabilities.

    In addition to enforcement, the Coast Guard has actively collaborated with coastal communities, promoting the use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing nets and signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with NGOs to support conservation education and sustainable fishing practices.

    Officials said this integrated approach has played a pivotal role in creating a safer and more sustainable environment for Olive Ridley turtles, whose conservation is key to maintaining marine biodiversity along India’s eastern coast.

  • Over 3,000 Election Staff Now Trained Nationwide as New Jharkhand Batch Starts in Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Monday inaugurated a two-day capacity-building programme for Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Supervisors, and other election officials from Jharkhand at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi.

    According to an official statement from the Election Commission of India (ECI), a total of 402 participants—including District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), BLOs, and BLO Supervisors—are attending the training. Over the past three months, the Commission has trained more than 3,000 such election functionaries from across the country at IIIDEM.

    In his address, CEC Gyanesh Kumar lauded the dedication and grassroots-level efforts of Jharkhand’s electoral officials, particularly in the area of voter enrolment. He also urged participants to enhance public awareness about the appellate provisions under Sections 24(a) and 24(b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

    These provisions allow electors to file first appeals with the District Magistrate, District Collector, or Executive Magistrate, and second appeals with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the respective State or Union Territory. Notably, no appeals were filed from Jharkhand following the Special Summary Revision (SSR) exercise held between January 6 and 10, reflecting the effectiveness of the preparatory work.

    The training programme focuses on equipping participants with comprehensive knowledge of electoral laws, including the Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, and updated instructions issued by the ECI.

    The curriculum features interactive sessions, role plays, simulations of house-to-house surveys, and hands-on exercises for accurately filling Forms 6, 7, and 8. In addition, participants will receive practical training on the Voter Helpline App (VHA) and various IT tools used in electoral management. Demonstrations on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), and mock poll procedures are also part of the programme.

  • US Vice President meets Pope Leo, an American known for past criticism of Trump

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Pope Leo XIV, a U.S. citizen who as a cardinal criticised the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policies, met at the Vatican on Monday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Roman Catholicism as an adult.

    A Vatican readout confirmed that Vance and Leo had met but offered no details about their discussions. A Vance spokesperson said they met one-on-one before being joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Catholic.

    Vatican handout photos showed Vance and Rubio smiling as they were seated across from Leo at the pope’s official desk in the Vatican’s apostolic palace.

    Leo, the Chicago-born former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a relative unknown on the global stage, elected as the new pope on May 8.

    While a cardinal, he issued several disapproving posts about the administration’s policies on his X account, reflecting his concern about migrants. The Vatican has not confirmed or denied that the posts were authentic.

    The late Pope Francis, who died on April 21, was a champion of the poor and of immigrants who frequently criticised the Trump administration. He called Trump’s plan to deport millions of migrants a “disgrace” and rebuked Vance for arguing that the bible calls on Christians to prioritise love for their families and countrymen over strangers and foreigners.

    Vance met briefly with Francis on Easter Sunday, the day before the pontiff died.

    Vance and Rubio have been in Rome to lead the U.S. delegation at Leo’s inaugural Mass as pope, held on Sunday among crowds of an estimated 200,000 people in St. Peter’s Square.

    After meeting Leo, Vance met on Monday with officials at the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, the Church’s top diplomatic office. A Vatican readout called those talks “cordial”.

    “There was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved,” it said.

    REUTERS

  • Om Birla inaugurates Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra in Kota, distributes assistive devices to differently abled

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra (PMDK) in Kota, Rajasthan, and distributed assistive devices to differently abled beneficiaries, bringing smiles and a renewed sense of hope to many.

    Addressing the gathering, Birla said, “The launch of the Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra in Kota will significantly benefit persons with disabilities. These assistive devices will not only enhance their mobility but also help them lead more self-reliant lives. They no longer need to depend on others—this initiative is a step toward empowerment and dignity.”

    The event saw the distribution of various aids designed to meet individual needs. Recipients expressed gratitude and shared their joy at the life-changing support. “I feel like I’ve been reborn,” said Surendra, a beneficiary. “Earlier, we felt helpless. Now, I believe I can do anything.”

    Zakir Hussain shared a similar sentiment: “We faced many challenges before, but now things are much easier.” Another recipient, beaming with pride, said, “Thanks to PM Modi and Om Birla. Earlier, travelling was difficult, but this electric scooter has changed everything.”

    Rajesh, another beneficiary, added, “Now we can move around independently without feeling like a burden. I thank the government for this invaluable support.”

    The PMDK initiative, spearheaded by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO)—a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment—seeks to provide high-quality, affordable assistive devices to senior citizens and people with disabilities.

    Currently, 45 PMDKs are operational across various states and Union Territories, with a target of 100 centres by June.

    The newly inaugurated centre in Kota focuses particularly on serving visually impaired individuals and offers a comprehensive range of services, including advanced rehabilitation technologies such as prosthetics, orthotics, Braille appliances, and mobility aids. The centre also promotes skill development through vocational training programmes aimed at fostering employment and entrepreneurship.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • We Can No Longer Afford, By Travel Or Import, To Empower Countries That Are Inimical To Our Interests And Positioned Against Us In Times Of Crisis: Vice-President

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    lign=”center”>Every Individual Is Empowered To Help The Nation In Security; Trade, Business, Commerce, And Industry In Particular Have A Pivotal Role, Says VP
    Nation First; Everything Has To Be Reckoned On The Fulcrum Of Deep Commitment And Dedication To Nationalism, Stresses VP
    This Country Cannot Afford Commercialisation And Commodification Of Education; These Are Areas To Give Back To Society, Not To Make Money, Highlights VP
    Operation Sindoor Was A Remarkable Retaliation, Befitting Our Ethos Of Peace And Tranquility To The Barbarity That Happened At Pahalgam, Says VP
    Vice-President Addressed The Annual Convocation Of Jaipuria Institute Of Management In New Delhi

    The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today said, “Can we afford to empower countries that are inimical to our interests? Time has come when each one of us must deeply think about economic nationalism,” he said. He emphasized that, “We no longer can afford, by travel or import, to improve the economies of those countries because of our participation. And those countries, in times of crisis, are positioned against us.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1923650435002359975

    Addressing the Annual Convocation of Jaipuria Institute of Management at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, today, Shri Dhankhar said, “Every individual is empowered to help the nation in security. Trade, business, commerce, and industry in particular can play a pivotal role in security issues. Therefore I firmly believe that we must always keep one thing in mind, and that is: Nation first. Everything has to be reckoned on the fulcrum of deep commitment, unflinching commitment, dedication to nationalism. And that mindset we must teach our toddlers right from day one.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1923643506263728383

    He also lauded the ongoing Operation Sindoor and paid tribute to India’s Armed Forces. “I must, on this occasion—since I am addressing youth of the country in particular—offer my salutations to all Armed Forces and the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the remarkable success of the ongoing Operation Sindoor.”

    Calling the operation a befitting response to the barbaric attack at Pahalgam, he added, “It was a remarkable retaliation, befitting our ethos of peace and tranquility to the barbarity that happened at Pahalgam—the deadliest attack on our civilians since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The Prime Minister of this country, Shri Narendra Modi, sent a message from India’s heartland of Bihar to the entire global fraternity. Those were not empty words. The world now has realized: what is said is reality. “No one is asking for proof now. The world has seen and acknowledged. We have seen this saga—how that country is deeply engrossed in terrorism. “When coffins are taken with armed forces and military power and political power accompanying them, justice is done by Bharat to Sindoor in sublimity.”

    Shri Dhankhar affirmed that a new standard has been set in India’s counterterrorism efforts. “In the mechanics of war and the fight against terrorism, a new benchmark has been set. Indian Armed Forces targeted Jaish-e-Mohammed at Bahawalpur, deep inside Pakistan territory. Beyond the international border—headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed, also Lashkar-e-Taiba base, Muridke. No one is asking for proof now. No one is asking for it. The world has seen and acknowledged.”

    He further added, “It is India’s deepest ever cross-border strike. Strike that was carefully, precisely calibrated to cause no damage except to the terrorist.”

    Shri Dhankhar recalled the U.S. operation on May 2nd, 2011. “This happened on May 2nd, 2011, when a global terrorist who planned, supervised, executed the September 11 attack inside the US in 2001. He was dealt with by the US similarly. Bharat has done it and done it to the knowledge of the global community.”

    Reflecting on India’s civilisational uniqueness, Shri Dhankhar noted, “We as a nation are unique. No nation in the world can take pride in having 5,000 years of civilisational ethos. We need to bridge, not breach, the divide between the East and the West.”

    Shri Dhankhar said, “How can we countenance or overlook narratives that are anti-national? Foreign universities coming to this country is something which requires filtration. It requires deep thinking. It is something we have to be extremely careful about.”

    On education and research, the Vice-President cautioned against commercialization. “This country cannot afford commercialisation and commodification of education. It is undeniable, it is present. Education and health as per our civilization ethos are not areas to make money. These are areas to give back to society. We have to discharge our obligation to society.”

    Calling upon industry leaders, he stressed the importance of research. “Educational institutions must be fully funded by corporates. CSR funds must take priority because investment in research is fundamental.”

    He concluded with a powerful reminder: “Gone are the days when we could wait for others to develop technology. If we do that, we are handicapped right from the beginning, we must avoid that.”

     

    Shri Sharad Jaipuria, Chairman, Board of Governors, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Smt. Anjali Jaipuria, Spouse of Chairman, Board of Governors, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Shri Shreevats Jaipuria, Vice Chairman, Jaipuria Institute of Management and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

  • Iran says nuclear talks will fail if US pushes for zero enrichment

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Nuclear talks between Iran and the United States “will lead nowhere” if Washington insists that Tehran drop its uranium enrichment activity to zero, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takhtravanchi was quoted by state media on Monday as saying.

    U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff reiterated Washington’s stance on Sunday that any new deal between the U.S. and Iran must include an agreement not to enrich uranium, a possible pathway to developing nuclear bombs. Tehran says its nuclear energy programme has entirely peaceful purposes.

    “Our position on enrichment is clear and we have repeatedly stated that it is a national achievement from which we will not back down,” Takhtravanchi said.

    During his visit to the Gulf region last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal was very close but that Iran needed to move quickly.

    During his first, 2017-21 term as president, Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran’s enrichment activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions.

    Trump, who branded the 2015 accord one-sided in Iran’s favour, also reimposed sweeping U.S. sanctions on Iran. The Islamic Republic responded by escalating enrichment.

    (Reuters)

  • India’s manufacturing sector gaining appeal among global investors: S&P Global report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India has made notable progress in improving its competitiveness and making its manufacturing sector more appealing to global investors, according to a report by S&P Global released on Monday.

    Although manufacturing value added accounts for a modest 17.2 percent of the country’s real gross domestic product (GDP), the government has introduced targeted policy measures aimed at building domestic manufacturing capacity and strengthening India’s position in global supply chains.

    In the long term, India stands to benefit from rising global trade protectionism, which could accelerate supply chain diversification, the report noted.

    India is well-positioned to seize emerging opportunities as global trade and cooperation continue to evolve. Over the past three decades, the country has grown significantly in size, scale, and international influence, and it is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy by fiscal year 2030–31.

    As global economies adapt to changing trade dynamics and tariff-related challenges, India can leverage this momentum to accelerate its manufacturing growth and deepen integration into global supply chains, said the report titled “India Forward: Transformative Perspectives.”

    The report also highlights India’s efforts to promote alternative energy sources in pursuit of a cleaner, self-reliant transportation future.

    The adoption of biofuels is a key part of this strategy. Biofuels offer a “triple-win” solution by addressing energy security, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and creating income opportunities for the agricultural sector.

    India is also expected to follow a path where energy security aligns with revenue security. Recent regulatory changes have opened new opportunities for enhancing crude oil exploration and development as part of the country’s goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency.

    While India has a moderate reliance on external trade for growth, which provides some insulation from global shifts in trade and tariff policies, it is not entirely immune to rising protectionist trends, the report added.

    IANS

  • FTA likely to double India’s apparel, textile exports to UK: Report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s apparel and home textiles exports to the UK are expected to double from the current levels in the next 5-6 years, with the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) scheduled to become operational in calendar year 2026, according to an ICRA report.

    Currently, Indian textile exports to the UK face 8-12 per cent duties, but with 99 per cent of goods, including textiles, gaining zero-duty access under the FTA, India will achieve parity with competitors like Bangladesh, Vietnam and Pakistan, the report states.

    China leads UK textile imports with a 25 per cent market share, closely followed by Bangladesh, which has a 22 per cent share. Turkey and Pakistan, with 8 per cent and 6.8 per cent share respectively, are the other major exporters. The FTA will enable India’s textile exports to become more competitive in the UK, leading to an increase in market share.

    India is currently the 12th largest trading partner of the UK and ranks fifth in apparel and home textiles imports, with $1.4 billion worth of exports in 2024, which constitutes a 6.6 per cent share of the UK’s textile imports.

    While the US and EU remain dominant markets with a 61 per cent share in 2024, the UK’s share is expected to rise to 11-12 per cent by 2027, reflecting an 11 per cent compound annual rate of growth (CAGR).

    The bilateral trade deal, finalised on May 6, after three years of negotiations, will provide concessional or zero-duty access on select goods, boosting trade volumes and earnings.

    India’s Textile and Apparel exports have continued their upward trajectory, recording a growth of 7.45 per cent in April 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year. This positive trend was primarily driven by the strong performance of the apparel segment, which registered a robust 14.43 per cent growth year-on-year, an analysis of the data released by the Ministry of Commerce showed.

    “The current growth of 14.43 per cent in apparel exports seems to be mainly driven by increased shipments to the United States, following the announcement of reciprocal tariff measures by the US administration,” Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) chairman Rakesh Mehra said.

    (IANS)

  • Trump to speak to Putin on end to war in Ukraine as Europeans demand ceasefire

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump is set to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday about peace in Ukraine as European leaders demanded that the Kremlin accept an immediate ceasefire to halt the region’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.

    Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the gravest confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

    Trump, who says he wants to be remembered as a peacemaker, has repeatedly called for an end to the “bloodbath” of Ukraine, which his administration casts as a proxy war between the United States and Russia.

    Under pressure from Trump, delegates from the warring countries met last week in Istanbul for the first time since March 2022, after Putin proposed direct talks and Europeans and Ukraine demanded an immediate ceasefire.

    “The subjects of the call will be stopping the ‘bloodbath’ that is killing, on average, more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website.

    “Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end.”

    Trump, who said that progress on peace was unlikely until he and Putin get together, said he would speak to Putin at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (1400 GMT) on Monday. The Kremlin said preparations for a call were underway.

    Trump, whose administration has made clear that Russia could face additional sanctions if it does not take peace talks seriously, said he would also speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and various members of NATO.

    Putin, whose forces control a fifth of Ukraine and are advancing, has stood firm on his conditions for ending the war, despite public and private pressure from Trump and repeated warnings from European powers.

    On Sunday, Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war.

    Ukraine’s intelligence service said it also believed Moscow intended to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile on Sunday, though there was no confirmation from Russia.

    In June 2024, Putin said Ukraine must officially drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw its troops from the entire territory of the four Ukrainian regions Russia claims.

    On Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine with leaders of the United States, Italy, France and Germany, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

    “Tomorrow, President Putin must show he wants peace by accepting the 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by President Trump and backed by Ukraine and Europe,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on X after Sunday’s call.

    Putin is wary of a ceasefire and says fighting cannot be paused until a number of crucial conditions are worked out or clarified.

    European leaders say Putin is not serious about peace, though they fear Trump and he may force a punitive peace deal that will leave Ukraine essentially shorn of a fifth of its territory and lacking a strong security guarantee against possible future attack from Russia.

    Former U.S. President Joe Biden, Western European leaders and Ukraine cast the invasion as an imperial-style land grab and repeatedly vowed to defeat Russian forces which they say could one day attack NATO, a claim denied by Moscow.

    Putin casts the war as a watershed moment in Moscow’s relations with the West, which he says humiliated Russia after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union by enlarging NATO and encroaching on what he considers Moscow’s sphere of influence, including Ukraine.

    (Reuters)

  • ICRA revises outlook for Indian telecom tower industry to ‘Stable’ on improved liquidity and timely collections

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Credit rating agency ICRA has revised the outlook for the Indian telecom tower industry to ‘Stable’ from ‘Negative’, following consistent, timely payments from telecom service providers and the clearance’ of past dues.

    The industry had previously been under pressure due to delayed payments, which resulted in elongated receivable cycles and liquidity challenges for tower companies. However, ICRA noted a significant improvement in the payment cycle, with receivable days now reduced to around 45–60 days—well below its threshold of 80 days for a negative outlook.

    “The improvement in collections has eased the liquidity stress in the sector, reduced reliance on external debt, and is expected to improve return metrics going forward,” the agency stated.

    ICRA projects a 4–6 percent growth in operating income for the sector in FY2026, with operating margins (excluding energy revenues) expected to remain healthy at 70–75 percent.

    In addition, cash balances in the sector are estimated to rise to between Rs 5,500 crore and Rs 6,000 crore—more than double the previous range of Rs 2,200 crore to Rs 3,000 crore—due to improved working capital management and reduced provisioning.

    “An improvement in the credit profile of key telecom service providers, who are the primary clients of tower companies, has played a major role in easing the working capital cycle,” said Ankit Jain, Vice President and Sector Head – Corporate Ratings at ICRA.

    He added that a large portion of past dues has now been cleared, allowing companies to reverse provisions made in FY2023. This has further enhanced cash flows and overall liquidity. Going forward, ICRA expects collection cycles to remain within 60 days, maintaining a healthy receivables position.

    This improvement is also expected to lower the industry’s dependence on borrowings. ICRA estimates net external debt to operating profit (OPBDITA) to moderate to approximately 3.4 times by FY2026.

    With improved credit profiles and recent fundraising efforts by some telecom service providers, many are likely to resume capital expenditure (capex) initiatives. This is in line with the continued surge in demand for data services in India, which is driving consistent network expansion and upgrades by telecom operators.

    The report concludes that these positive developments mark a turning point for the industry, bringing greater financial stability and supporting future growth.

    IANS

  • Rupee strengthens, gold rallies amid global uncertainty

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian rupee opened 12 paise stronger at 85.44 against the US dollar on Monday, supported by favorable global cues and market optimism. The rupee had closed at 85.52 per dollar on Friday.

    At the same time, gold prices surged nearly 1 percent in the morning session on the domestic futures market, driven by a weakening US dollar and renewed concerns over the possible return of Donald Trump-era trade tariffs.

    On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), the Gold June 5 contract was trading 0.95 percent higher at ₹93,317 per 10 grams. The US dollar index dropped by about 0.3 percent, making gold more affordable in other currencies and boosting global demand.

    Rahul Kalantri, Vice President of Commodities at Mehta Equities, noted that gold has support at $3,195–$3,175 and resistance at $3,245–$3,260. For silver, the support levels are $32.10–$31.80, while resistance lies at $32.65–$32.85.

    “Gold prices climbed above $3,220 per ounce on Monday, rebounding from last week’s steepest decline in six months,” Kalantri said. “The recovery was fueled by safe-haven demand following Moody’s downgrade of the US sovereign credit rating, citing fiscal imbalances and rising debt costs.”

    Despite temporary relief from the US-China tariff truce, weak US economic indicators and subdued inflation have led investors to anticipate additional interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. This sentiment has further bolstered bullion prices.

    “In Indian rupee terms, gold has support at ₹91,850–₹91,480 and resistance at ₹92,850–₹93,490,” Kalantri added. “Silver is supported at ₹94,480–₹94,850 per kg and faces resistance at ₹95,950–₹96,650.”

    Gold prices have remained rangebound over the past two sessions, largely due to the lack of fresh triggers. The easing of geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan and the temporary US-China truce have contributed to this stability.

    However, domestic demand ahead of India’s upcoming wedding season is expected to provide strong support, keeping prices elevated, said Aksha Kamboj, Vice President of the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA).

    —IANS

  • Microsoft wants AI ‘agents’ to work together and remember things

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Microsoft envisions a future where any company’s artificial intelligence agents can work together with agents from other firms and have better memories of their interactions, its chief technologist said on Sunday ahead of the company’s annual software developer conference.

    Microsoft is holding its Build conference in Seattle on May 19, where analysts expect the company to unveil its latest tools for developers building AI systems.

    Speaking at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, ahead of the conference, Chief Technology Officer Kevin Scott told reporters and analysts the company is focused on helping spur the adoption of standards across the technology industry that will let agents from different makers collaborate. Agents are AI systems that can accomplish specific tasks, such as fixing a software bug, on their own.

    Scott said that Microsoft is backing a technology called Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open-source protocol introduced by Google-backed Anthropic. Scott said MCP has the potential to create an “agentic web” similar to the way hypertext protocols that helped spread the internet in the 1990s.

    “It means that your imagination gets to drive what the agentic web becomes, not just a handful of companies that happen to see some of these problems first,” Scott said.

    Scott also said that Microsoft is trying to help AI agents have better memories of things that users have asked them to do, noting that, so far, “most of what we’re building feels very transactional.”

    But making an AI agent’s memory better costs a lot of money because it requires more computing power. Microsoft is focusing on a new approach called structured retrieval augmentation, where an agent extracts short bits of each turn in a conversation with a user, creating a roadmap to what was discussed.

    “This is a core part of how you train a biological brain – you don’t brute force everything in your head every time you need to solve a particular problem,” Scott said.

    (Reuters)

  • Nvidia plans to sell tech to speed AI chip communication

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    vidia announced on Monday that it will begin offering its advanced chip interconnect technology, NVLink Fusion, to other companies. This technology is designed to enhance chip-to-chip communication, a critical component in building and deploying artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

    The new version of NVLink, called NVLink Fusion, enables multiple chips to work together efficiently in custom-built AI hardware systems. Companies such as Marvell Technology and MediaTek have already committed to integrating NVLink Fusion into their custom chip development efforts.

    Originally developed years ago, Nvidia’s NVLink facilitates high-speed data exchange between chips. It is currently used in Nvidia’s powerful GB200 system, which combines two Blackwell GPUs with a Grace CPU.

    Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang introduced the new technology during his keynote address at the Taipei Music Center, the venue for Computex, one of the world’s largest technology trade shows, taking place from May 20 to 23.

    During the event, Huang also revealed plans for a new Nvidia headquarters in Taiwan, to be located in the northern suburbs of Taipei.

    In his speech, Huang reflected on Nvidia’s evolution. “There was a time when 90% of my presentations focused on graphics chips,” he noted. Today, however, Nvidia has expanded well beyond its roots in gaming hardware to become a dominant force in AI chip development, especially since the surge in demand driven by tools like ChatGPT, launched in 2022.

    As previously reported by Reuters, Nvidia has also been working on designing CPUs compatible with Microsoft’s Windows operating system, using architecture licensed from Arm Holdings (O9Ty.F).

    Last year’s Computex saw an enthusiastic reception for Huang, dubbed “Jensanity” by local media, reflecting his rockstar status in the tech community.

    At Nvidia’s annual developer conference in March, Huang detailed the company’s vision for transitioning from building large-scale AI models to supporting AI-driven applications. He introduced several next-generation AI chips, including the Blackwell Ultra, which is expected to launch later this year.

    Looking ahead, Nvidia’s roadmap includes the Rubin chip series, which will be followed by the Feynman processors, set to arrive in 2028.

    Nvidia also announced a desktop version of its AI system, called DGX Spark, aimed at AI researchers. On Monday, Huang stated that the system is in full production and will be available within a few weeks.

    Computex, which is expected to feature 1,400 exhibitors, marks the first major gathering of computer and chip industry leaders in Asia since the United States considered sweeping tariffs to encourage domestic production.

    REUTERS

  • Russia launches war’s largest drone attack ahead of Putin-Trump call

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russia launched on Sunday its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war, destroying homes and killing at least one woman a day before U.S. President Donald Trump is due to discuss a proposed ceasefire with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

    Ukraine’s intelligence service said it also believed Moscow intended to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile later on Sunday as an attempt to intimidate the West. There was no immediate response from Moscow to the accusation.

    President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, straining to restore ties with Washington after a disastrous February White House visit, met Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome on Sunday on the sidelines of Pope Leo’s inauguration.

    Zelenskiy said the meeting was “good” and released pictures of Ukrainian and U.S. officials sitting outside at a round table and smiling. Ukrainian media said the meeting lasted 40 minutes.

    “I reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to be engaged in real diplomacy and underscored the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible,” said Zelenskiy, who also met the new pope.

    Ukraine and Russia held their first face-to-face talks in more than three years on Friday, under pressure from Trump to agree to a ceasefire in a war he has pledged to bring to a quick end. The foes agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners each but failed to agree a truce, after Moscow presented conditions that a member of Ukraine’s delegation called “non-starters”.

    The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland planned to speak to Trump before the U.S. and Russian presidents speak on Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. The four European leaders jointly visited Kyiv last week and have been calling for Trump to back new sanctions on Russia.

    Asked if it was time to impose tougher sanctions on Russia, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that was up to Trump.

    “I think we will see what happens when both sides get to the table,” he told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” programme.

    “President Trump has made it very clear, that if President Putin does not negotiate in good faith, that the United States will not hesitate to up the Russia sanctions along with our European partners.”

    After a night of air alerts, Ukraine’s air force said that as of 8 a.m. on Sunday Russia had launched 273 drones at Ukrainian cities, more than the previous record Moscow had set in February on the war’s third anniversary.

    ‘I COULD HEAR THE DRONE’

    In the ruins of her family home in the Obukhiv region west of Kyiv, Natalia Piven, 44, recounted how she squeezed into a cellar with her son after an air raid warning, just in time to survive a first wave of drones.

    They then ran out to a bomb shelter at a kindergarten, before another wave of drones bore down on the village. Their house was completely destroyed. A 28-year-old woman who lived next door was killed. Ukrainian authorities said three other people were injured, including a four-year-old child.

    “I cannot get over it. I simply cannot. I could clearly hear the drone flying right towards my house,” Piven told Reuters.

    Trump has shifted U.S. rhetoric from supporting Ukraine towards accepting some of Moscow’s narrative about the war that Putin launched in 2022. But Kyiv and its European allies are working hard to persuade Trump that it is Moscow that is holding up a truce now.

    Zelenskiy has said he would accept Trump’s proposal for an immediate ceasefire of at least 30 days with no conditions. Moscow says it would consider a ceasefire but only if conditions are met, including a halt in arms supplies to Kyiv.

    It also says any peace talks must address the “root causes” of the conflict, including its demands that Ukraine cede territory, be disarmed and accept neutral status. Kyiv says that would amount to capitulation and leave it defenceless.

    (Reuters)