NewzIntel.com

Category: Government of India

  • Best wishes to all hardworking doctors on Doctors’ Day: PM Modi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted doctors across the country on the occasion of National Doctors’ Day, acknowledging their exceptional contribution in strengthening India’s healthcare infrastructure.

    In a post on X, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the medical fraternity and praised doctors for their skill, dedication and compassion.

    “Best wishes to all hardworking doctors on #DoctorsDay. Our doctors have made a mark for their dexterity and diligence. Equally notable is their spirit of compassion. They are truly protectors of health and pillars of humanity. Their contribution in strengthening India’s healthcare infrastructure is indeed exceptional,” the Prime Minister said.

    Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda also extended his wishes, saying, “On National Doctors’ Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all doctors for their selfless service to humanity. Their round-the-clock dedication brings hope and saves countless lives every single day. In every health emergency, you have stood tall at the frontlines, driven by compassion and an unshakable sense of duty. Your care, courage and sacrifice make you the true heroes of our society.”

    He also expressed his gratitude to all healthcare workers “whose relentless efforts are paving the way towards a Swasth Bharat.”

    National Doctors’ Day is observed every year on July 1 to commemorate Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy — a renowned physician and former Chief Minister of West Bengal — whose birth and death anniversary both fall on this day. Dr. Roy was honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1961 for his outstanding contributions to medicine and public service. Established by the Government of India in 1991, the day also honours the dedication, compassion, and relentless efforts of the country’s medical professionals.

    Highlighting the vital role doctors play in society, PM Modi had also acknowledged their contribution in the 123rd episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat on Sunday.

    “On the 1st of July, the country honours two very important professions — doctors and chartered accountants (CAs). Both are pillars of society that make our lives better. Doctors are the protectors of our health, and CAs are the guides of our economic life,” the Prime Minister said.

    —IANS

  • Indian stock market opens higher, Nifty above 25,500

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Tuesday amid positive global cues, with buying seen in the auto and IT sectors in early trade.

    At around 9:26 a.m., the Sensex was trading 188.66 points, or 0.23 per cent, higher at 83,795.12, while the Nifty rose 54.80 points, or 0.21 per cent, to 25,571.85.

    According to analysts, with US markets hitting new record highs, the mood in global equities remains upbeat, and West Asian geopolitical tensions are no longer perceived as a threat to the global economy.

    “Going forward, the market is likely to be influenced by developments on the tariff front. An India-US trade deal will be positive, but if it does not materialise, the market is likely to be impacted,” said Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

    The Nifty Bank index was up 51.95 points, or 0.09 per cent, at 57,364.70 in early trade. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 59,887.65 after adding 146.45 points, or 0.25 per cent. The Nifty Smallcap 100 index rose 52.50 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 19,127.60.

    Experts noted that the Nifty’s short-term trend remains positive, as it continues to hold above its nearest moving average support, the 5-day EMA.

    “The Nifty has partially filled the gap in the 25,640–25,740 range that was formed on October 3, 2024. Any move and close above 25,740 would negate this gap resistance and could potentially extend the Nifty’s upward rally towards the 26,000 mark. Immediate support for the Nifty comes in at 25,400,” said Devarsh Vakil, Head of Prime Research at HDFC Securities.

    In the Sensex pack, Asian Paints, BEL, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, PowerGrid, ITC, HCL Tech, Tata Motors, and Hindustan Unilever Limited were among the top gainers. Axis Bank, Trent, Tata Steel, Sun Pharma, Tech Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, and Eternal were the top laggards.

    Experts said that the strong fundamentals of the Indian economy could attract increased fund flows into Indian equities. Sustained weakness in the dollar (with the dollar index now at 96.81) means the likelihood of heavy selling by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) is low; they may even continue to buy despite high valuations.

    FIIs were net sellers on June 30, offloading equities worth Rs 831.50 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) remained net buyers, purchasing equities worth Rs 3,497.44 crore.

    In Asian markets, China, Bangkok, Seoul, and Jakarta were trading in the green, while Japan was the only market trading in the red.

    In the previous trading session, the Dow Jones in the US closed at 44,094.77, up 275.50 points, or 0.63 per cent. The S&P 500 ended with a gain of 31.87 points, or 0.52 per cent, at 6,204.94, while the Nasdaq closed at 20,369.73, up 96.27 points, or 0.47 per cent.

    —IANS

  • EAM Jaishankar arrives in Washington to attend Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Washington, D.C., on Monday to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (QFMM) scheduled for July 1.

    According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the ministers will build on discussions held during the previous QFMM, which took place in Washington on January 21, 2025.

    “They will exchange views on regional and global developments, particularly those concerning the Indo-Pacific, and review the progress made on various Quad initiatives in the run-up to the Quad Leaders’ Summit, which India will host. The ministers are also expected to deliberate on new proposals to advance the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the MEA said.

    U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said during a press briefing that the meeting will reaffirm the shared commitment of the Quad countries – Australia, India, Japan, and the United States – towards a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    “Tomorrow, Secretary Rubio will welcome his Quad counterparts from Australia, India, and Japan to Washington, to reaffirm our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Bruce said.

    She added that the meeting will underscore the Quad’s collective resolve to uphold sovereignty, strengthen maritime security, and build resilient supply chains.

    Prior to his arrival in Washington, Jaishankar was in New York, where he attended the inauguration of an exhibition titled The Human Cost of Terrorism at the United Nations headquarters.

    Addressing the gathering, Jaishankar emphasized that terrorism remains a global threat to peace and security.

    “A tribute to those who were taken from us and remembrance for lives shattered … we express solidarity with the families and loved ones of the victims of terrorism. The campaign is a stark reminder of the urgency of our shared responsibility to combat terrorism in all its forms,” he said.

    Jaishankar described the exhibition as “a gallery of human courage,” where every image, artefact, and testimony tells the story of a life interrupted or lost.

    He also referred to the recent condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack by the UN Security Council, stressing the need for a unified global stance against terrorism.

    “The world must come to some basic concepts: no impunity to terrorists, no treating them as proxies, and no yielding to nuclear blackmail,” he said.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Real boosted by Mbappe’s return for Juventus clash at Club World Cup

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Kylian Mbappe looks set to make his Club World Cup debut when his Real Madrid side face Juventus in the last 16 at the Hard Rock Stadium on Tuesday, in a major boost for the 15-time European champions.

    “It’s a big possibility,” Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso told a press conference on Monday when asked if the France forward, who missed all three group matches with acute gastroenteritis, would feature.

    Mbappe’s return comes as Real Madrid look to build on a squad boosted by the recoveries of Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao.

    “Both Dani and Eder are coming back after a long recovery. It’s an advantage for them and the whole team to feel they’re close and involved,” Alonso said.

    “At this decisive stage, everyone – starters and those supporting – has an important role.”

    Alonso, who took over earlier this month, said the team’s priority was forging a collective identity.

    “We want a team that works as one, with the 11 players fully committed, whether we have the ball or not. Our collective strength will allow individual talents like Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrigo, and Bellingham to shine,” he added.

    Juventus coach Igor Tudor, meanwhile, acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge but insisted his side had come to compete, not just to prepare for next season.

    “We’ve got a top-level team. The draw wasn’t the best possible, but it must be accepted,” Tudor told a press conference.

    “We have to believe, run a lot, sacrifice, make no mistakes, and also have a bit of luck. I believe, the players believe, and we’ll see what happens when the match starts.”

    Tudor praised Real Madrid’s recent tactical evolution under Alonso, comparing it to Alonso’s successful work at Bayer Leverkusen.

    “Their last match looked a lot like what Leverkusen were doing – similar plays, systems, and style. Xabi Alonso has quickly implemented these ideas,” he said, noting that Madrid still have “some weaknesses we can exploit.”

    The winners will take on the victors of the clash between Borussia Dortmund and Monterrey, who will face off in Atlanta on Tuesday.

    (Reuters)

  • Trump lawyer says no immediate deportations under birthright citizenship order, as judges to decide on challenges

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Donald Trump’s administration will not deport children deemed ineligible for U.S. citizenship until his executive order curtailing birthright citizenship takes effect on July 27, a government lawyer said on Monday after being pressed by two federal judges.

    During separate hearings in lawsuits challenging Trump’s order, U.S. District Judges Deborah Boardman in Greenbelt, Maryland, and Joseph LaPlante in Concord, New Hampshire, set expedited schedules to decide whether the order can be blocked again on grounds that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday curbing the ability of judges to impede his policies nationwide does not preclude injunctions in class action lawsuits.

    Both judges asked U.S. Department of Justice lawyer Brad Rosenberg, who represented the government in both cases, for assurances that the Trump administration would not move to deport children who do not have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident at least until the executive order takes effect.

    Rosenberg said it would not, which Boardman and LaPlante respectively asked him to confirm in writing by Tuesday and Wednesday.

    In the Maryland case, immigrant rights advocates revised their lawsuit just a few hours after the 6-3 conservative majority U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled in their case and two others challenging Trump’s executive order. The New Hampshire lawsuit, a proposed class action, was filed on Friday.

    The Supreme Court ruling did not address the merits or legality of Trump’s birthright citizenship order, but instead curbed the ability of judges to issue “universal” injunctions to block the Republican president’s policies nationwide.

    But while the Supreme Court restricted the ability of judges to issue injunctions that cover anyone other than the parties appearing before them, Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s opinion held out the possibility that opponents of a federal policy could still obtain the same type of relief if they instead pursued cases as class actions.

    William Powell, a lawyer for immigration rights groups and pregnant non-citizen mothers pursuing the case, told Boardman at a hearing on Monday that an immediate ruling was necessary to address the fears and concerns migrants now face as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision.

    “They want to see how fast we can get class relief because they are afraid about their children and their babies and what their status might be,” Powell said.

    Trump’s executive order, which he issued on his first day back in office on January 20, directs agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of U.S.-born children who do not have at least one parent who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident, also known as a “green card” holder.

    In Friday’s ruling, the high court narrowed the scope of the three injunctions issued by federal judges in three states, including Boardman, that prevented enforcement of his directive nationwide while litigation challenging the policy played out.

    Those judges had blocked the policy after siding with Democratic-led states and immigrant rights advocates who argued it violated the citizenship clause of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which has long been understood to recognize that virtually anyone born in the United States is a citizen.

    Immigrant rights advocates in the hours after the Supreme Court ruled swiftly launched two separate bids in Maryland and New Hampshire to have judges grant class-wide relief on behalf of any children nationally who would be deemed ineligible for birthright citizenship under Trump’s order.

    The Supreme Court specified the core part of Trump’s executive order cannot take effect until 30 days after Friday’s ruling. Boardman on Monday pressed Rosenberg on what it could do before then.

    “Just to get to the heart of it, I want to know if the government thinks that it can start removing children from the United States who are subject to the terms of the executive order,” Boardman said at the end of the hearing.

    Boardman scheduled further briefing in the case to continue through July 9, with a ruling to follow. LaPlante scheduled a hearing for July 10.

    Rosenberg said the Trump administration objected to the plaintiffs’ attempt to obtain the same relief through a class action. He stood by the administration’s view of the constitutionality of Trump’s order.

    “It is the position of the United States government that birthright citizenship is not guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said.

    (Reuters)

  • Trump lawyer says no immediate deportations under birthright citizenship order, as judges to decide on challenges

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Donald Trump’s administration will not deport children deemed ineligible for U.S. citizenship until his executive order curtailing birthright citizenship takes effect on July 27, a government lawyer said on Monday after being pressed by two federal judges.

    During separate hearings in lawsuits challenging Trump’s order, U.S. District Judges Deborah Boardman in Greenbelt, Maryland, and Joseph LaPlante in Concord, New Hampshire, set expedited schedules to decide whether the order can be blocked again on grounds that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday curbing the ability of judges to impede his policies nationwide does not preclude injunctions in class action lawsuits.

    Both judges asked U.S. Department of Justice lawyer Brad Rosenberg, who represented the government in both cases, for assurances that the Trump administration would not move to deport children who do not have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident at least until the executive order takes effect.

    Rosenberg said it would not, which Boardman and LaPlante respectively asked him to confirm in writing by Tuesday and Wednesday.

    In the Maryland case, immigrant rights advocates revised their lawsuit just a few hours after the 6-3 conservative majority U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled in their case and two others challenging Trump’s executive order. The New Hampshire lawsuit, a proposed class action, was filed on Friday.

    The Supreme Court ruling did not address the merits or legality of Trump’s birthright citizenship order, but instead curbed the ability of judges to issue “universal” injunctions to block the Republican president’s policies nationwide.

    But while the Supreme Court restricted the ability of judges to issue injunctions that cover anyone other than the parties appearing before them, Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s opinion held out the possibility that opponents of a federal policy could still obtain the same type of relief if they instead pursued cases as class actions.

    William Powell, a lawyer for immigration rights groups and pregnant non-citizen mothers pursuing the case, told Boardman at a hearing on Monday that an immediate ruling was necessary to address the fears and concerns migrants now face as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision.

    “They want to see how fast we can get class relief because they are afraid about their children and their babies and what their status might be,” Powell said.

    Trump’s executive order, which he issued on his first day back in office on January 20, directs agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of U.S.-born children who do not have at least one parent who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident, also known as a “green card” holder.

    In Friday’s ruling, the high court narrowed the scope of the three injunctions issued by federal judges in three states, including Boardman, that prevented enforcement of his directive nationwide while litigation challenging the policy played out.

    Those judges had blocked the policy after siding with Democratic-led states and immigrant rights advocates who argued it violated the citizenship clause of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which has long been understood to recognize that virtually anyone born in the United States is a citizen.

    Immigrant rights advocates in the hours after the Supreme Court ruled swiftly launched two separate bids in Maryland and New Hampshire to have judges grant class-wide relief on behalf of any children nationally who would be deemed ineligible for birthright citizenship under Trump’s order.

    The Supreme Court specified the core part of Trump’s executive order cannot take effect until 30 days after Friday’s ruling. Boardman on Monday pressed Rosenberg on what it could do before then.

    “Just to get to the heart of it, I want to know if the government thinks that it can start removing children from the United States who are subject to the terms of the executive order,” Boardman said at the end of the hearing.

    Boardman scheduled further briefing in the case to continue through July 9, with a ruling to follow. LaPlante scheduled a hearing for July 10.

    Rosenberg said the Trump administration objected to the plaintiffs’ attempt to obtain the same relief through a class action. He stood by the administration’s view of the constitutionality of Trump’s order.

    “It is the position of the United States government that birthright citizenship is not guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said.

    (Reuters)

  • Trump lawyer says no immediate deportations under birthright citizenship order, as judges to decide on challenges

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Donald Trump’s administration will not deport children deemed ineligible for U.S. citizenship until his executive order curtailing birthright citizenship takes effect on July 27, a government lawyer said on Monday after being pressed by two federal judges.

    During separate hearings in lawsuits challenging Trump’s order, U.S. District Judges Deborah Boardman in Greenbelt, Maryland, and Joseph LaPlante in Concord, New Hampshire, set expedited schedules to decide whether the order can be blocked again on grounds that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday curbing the ability of judges to impede his policies nationwide does not preclude injunctions in class action lawsuits.

    Both judges asked U.S. Department of Justice lawyer Brad Rosenberg, who represented the government in both cases, for assurances that the Trump administration would not move to deport children who do not have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident at least until the executive order takes effect.

    Rosenberg said it would not, which Boardman and LaPlante respectively asked him to confirm in writing by Tuesday and Wednesday.

    In the Maryland case, immigrant rights advocates revised their lawsuit just a few hours after the 6-3 conservative majority U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled in their case and two others challenging Trump’s executive order. The New Hampshire lawsuit, a proposed class action, was filed on Friday.

    The Supreme Court ruling did not address the merits or legality of Trump’s birthright citizenship order, but instead curbed the ability of judges to issue “universal” injunctions to block the Republican president’s policies nationwide.

    But while the Supreme Court restricted the ability of judges to issue injunctions that cover anyone other than the parties appearing before them, Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s opinion held out the possibility that opponents of a federal policy could still obtain the same type of relief if they instead pursued cases as class actions.

    William Powell, a lawyer for immigration rights groups and pregnant non-citizen mothers pursuing the case, told Boardman at a hearing on Monday that an immediate ruling was necessary to address the fears and concerns migrants now face as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision.

    “They want to see how fast we can get class relief because they are afraid about their children and their babies and what their status might be,” Powell said.

    Trump’s executive order, which he issued on his first day back in office on January 20, directs agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of U.S.-born children who do not have at least one parent who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident, also known as a “green card” holder.

    In Friday’s ruling, the high court narrowed the scope of the three injunctions issued by federal judges in three states, including Boardman, that prevented enforcement of his directive nationwide while litigation challenging the policy played out.

    Those judges had blocked the policy after siding with Democratic-led states and immigrant rights advocates who argued it violated the citizenship clause of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which has long been understood to recognize that virtually anyone born in the United States is a citizen.

    Immigrant rights advocates in the hours after the Supreme Court ruled swiftly launched two separate bids in Maryland and New Hampshire to have judges grant class-wide relief on behalf of any children nationally who would be deemed ineligible for birthright citizenship under Trump’s order.

    The Supreme Court specified the core part of Trump’s executive order cannot take effect until 30 days after Friday’s ruling. Boardman on Monday pressed Rosenberg on what it could do before then.

    “Just to get to the heart of it, I want to know if the government thinks that it can start removing children from the United States who are subject to the terms of the executive order,” Boardman said at the end of the hearing.

    Boardman scheduled further briefing in the case to continue through July 9, with a ruling to follow. LaPlante scheduled a hearing for July 10.

    Rosenberg said the Trump administration objected to the plaintiffs’ attempt to obtain the same relief through a class action. He stood by the administration’s view of the constitutionality of Trump’s order.

    “It is the position of the United States government that birthright citizenship is not guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said.

    (Reuters)

  • G7 urges talks to resume for deal on Iran nuclear program

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

     Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations said on Monday they supported the ceasefire between Israel and Iran and urged for negotiations to resume for a deal to address Iran‘s nuclear program, according to a joint statement.

    Since April, Iran and the U.S. have held talks aimed at finding a new diplomatic solution regarding Iran‘s nuclear program. Tehran says its program is peaceful and Israel and its allies say they want to ensure Iran cannot build a nuclear weapon.

    “We call for the resumption of negotiations, resulting in a comprehensive, verifiable and durable agreement that addresses Iran‘s nuclear program,” the G7 foreign ministers said.

    Last week, Trump announced a ceasefire between U.S. ally Israel and its regional rival Iran to halt a war that began on June 13 when Israel attacked Iran. The Israel-Iran conflict had raised alarms in a region already on edge since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023.

    Before the ceasefire was announced, Washington struck Iran‘s nuclear sites and Iran targeted a U.S. base in Qatar in retaliation.

    The G7 foreign ministers said they urged “all parties to avoid actions that could further destabilize the region.”

    U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has said talks between Washington and Tehran were “promising” and that Washington was hopeful for a long-term peace deal.

    The G7 top diplomats denounced threats against the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Monday, after a hardline Iranian newspaper said IAEA boss Rafael Grossi should be tried and executed as an Israeli agent.

    On June 12, the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation Board of Governors declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years.

    Israel is the only Middle Eastern country believed to have nuclear weapons and said its war against Iran aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons.

    Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not. The U.N. nuclear watchdog, which carries out inspections in Iran, says it has “no credible indication” of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran.

    (Reuters)

  • G7 urges talks to resume for deal on Iran nuclear program

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

     Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations said on Monday they supported the ceasefire between Israel and Iran and urged for negotiations to resume for a deal to address Iran‘s nuclear program, according to a joint statement.

    Since April, Iran and the U.S. have held talks aimed at finding a new diplomatic solution regarding Iran‘s nuclear program. Tehran says its program is peaceful and Israel and its allies say they want to ensure Iran cannot build a nuclear weapon.

    “We call for the resumption of negotiations, resulting in a comprehensive, verifiable and durable agreement that addresses Iran‘s nuclear program,” the G7 foreign ministers said.

    Last week, Trump announced a ceasefire between U.S. ally Israel and its regional rival Iran to halt a war that began on June 13 when Israel attacked Iran. The Israel-Iran conflict had raised alarms in a region already on edge since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023.

    Before the ceasefire was announced, Washington struck Iran‘s nuclear sites and Iran targeted a U.S. base in Qatar in retaliation.

    The G7 foreign ministers said they urged “all parties to avoid actions that could further destabilize the region.”

    U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has said talks between Washington and Tehran were “promising” and that Washington was hopeful for a long-term peace deal.

    The G7 top diplomats denounced threats against the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Monday, after a hardline Iranian newspaper said IAEA boss Rafael Grossi should be tried and executed as an Israeli agent.

    On June 12, the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation Board of Governors declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years.

    Israel is the only Middle Eastern country believed to have nuclear weapons and said its war against Iran aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons.

    Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not. The U.N. nuclear watchdog, which carries out inspections in Iran, says it has “no credible indication” of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran.

    (Reuters)

  • G7 urges talks to resume for deal on Iran nuclear program

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

     Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations said on Monday they supported the ceasefire between Israel and Iran and urged for negotiations to resume for a deal to address Iran‘s nuclear program, according to a joint statement.

    Since April, Iran and the U.S. have held talks aimed at finding a new diplomatic solution regarding Iran‘s nuclear program. Tehran says its program is peaceful and Israel and its allies say they want to ensure Iran cannot build a nuclear weapon.

    “We call for the resumption of negotiations, resulting in a comprehensive, verifiable and durable agreement that addresses Iran‘s nuclear program,” the G7 foreign ministers said.

    Last week, Trump announced a ceasefire between U.S. ally Israel and its regional rival Iran to halt a war that began on June 13 when Israel attacked Iran. The Israel-Iran conflict had raised alarms in a region already on edge since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023.

    Before the ceasefire was announced, Washington struck Iran‘s nuclear sites and Iran targeted a U.S. base in Qatar in retaliation.

    The G7 foreign ministers said they urged “all parties to avoid actions that could further destabilize the region.”

    U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has said talks between Washington and Tehran were “promising” and that Washington was hopeful for a long-term peace deal.

    The G7 top diplomats denounced threats against the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Monday, after a hardline Iranian newspaper said IAEA boss Rafael Grossi should be tried and executed as an Israeli agent.

    On June 12, the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation Board of Governors declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years.

    Israel is the only Middle Eastern country believed to have nuclear weapons and said its war against Iran aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons.

    Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not. The U.N. nuclear watchdog, which carries out inspections in Iran, says it has “no credible indication” of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran.

    (Reuters)

  • Alcaraz survives Wimbledon scare, Sabalenka serene, but others feel the heat

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Carlos Alcaraz survived Wimbledon’s hottest-ever opening day although the Spaniard was far from his sizzling best as he began his quest for a hat-trick of titles with a scare against Fabio Fognini at the All England Club on Monday.

    With air temperatures soaring to 32 degrees Celsius, Alcaraz needed more than four hours to subdue veteran Fognini, winning 7-5 6-7(5) 7-5 2-6 6-1 – the last set interrupted after a spectator became unwell in the heat and required assistance.

    Women’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka, bidding to win Wimbledon for the first time, had no trouble as she dispatched Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine 6-1 7-5 but last year’s runner-up, fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, was pushed hard by Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova in a 2-6 6-3 6-2 win.

    While five-times Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, who won the Queen’s Club title in the build-up, lives to fight another day, several high-profile players departed the men’s draw.

    No arena at Wimbledon gets as hot as bowl-like Court Two and the conditions were clearly not to the liking of ex-world number one Daniil Medvedev as the ninth seed saw his hopes scorched by Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who won 7-6(2) 3-6 7-6(3) 6-2.

    Eighth seed Holger Rune of Denmark, yet to really make his mark at a Grand Slam, won the opening two sets against Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry but succumbed 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4.

    Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, twice a Grand Slam runner-up was left despondent after retiring with a back injury having fallen two sets behind against French qualifier Valentin Royer.

    American fifth seed Taylor Fritz looked to be on his way out before battling back to force a fifth set against big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard before their match was suspended with the Grand Slam’s 11 p.m. curfew looming.

    German third seed Alexander Zverev summoned up similar fighting spirit to draw level at one set apiece with Arthur Rinderknech in another match scheduled to resume on Tuesday.

    WINNING STREAK

    Only two defending men’s champions had ever lost in the first round at Wimbledon, but there were moments when Alcaraz looked in danger of joining compatriot Manuel Santana on that short list as Fognini rolled back the years.

    Alcaraz arrived at Wimbledon on an 18-match winning streak, which included a spellbinding French Open final win over Jannik Sinner. But the spark was missing on Monday in front of a Centre Court crowd that included David Beckham.

    Heat is second nature to Alcaraz, but it was Fognini who flourished in the sun and when he broke serve twice to level the match at two sets apiece a massive shock looked possible.

    But Alcaraz, regularly using an ice towel to cool down, found an extra gear in the decider and even charmed the crowd by offering his water bottle to the distressed fan.

    He then led the warm applause for former top-10 player Fognini, for whom this was his final Wimbledon.

    “I don’t know why it’s his last Wimbledon because the level he has shown, you know, he can still play three or four more years. It’s unbelievable,” Alcaraz said of Fognini.

    Next up for Alcaraz is British qualifier Oliver Tarvet who marked his Grand Slam main draw debut with a superb 6-4 6-4 6-4 defeat of fellow qualifier Leandro Riedi of Switzerland.

    Tarvet is one of 23 British players in the singles draw, the most since 1984. The home charge was led Sonay Kartal who upset 20th seed and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 7-5 2-6 6-2. She was joined in round two by British number one Emma Raducanu who comfortably passed a tricky test against Mingge Xu, one of three British teenaged wild cards to play on Monday.

    When Katie Boulter later knocked out Spanish ninth seed Paula Badosa 6-2 3-6 6-4 on Centre Court, seven British players had enjoyed victories, the most in a single day for the home nation in the professional era.

    Home hope Jacob Fearnley could not follow suit though as he was outshone 6-4 6-1 7-6(5) by Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, who showed why he is creating such a stir with carnival tennis on a steamy Court One.

    TOUGH WORKOUT

    World number one Sabalenka won the opening five games against part-time model Branstine but was given a far tougher workout after that as she moved into round two.

    The 27-year-old from Minsk missed last year’s event because of a shoulder injury and arrived this time with a point to prove after losing in the Australian and French Open finals this year.

    Several other women’s contenders sparkled in the sunshine, none more than 13th seeded American Amanda Anisimova who served up a dreaded ‘double-bagel’ 6-0 6-0 defeat to Yulia Putintseva.

    Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina beat Anna Boindar in straight sets while 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova continued her return to form by knocking out American 30th seed McCartney Kessler, setting up a second-round clash with Raducanu.

    Australian Open champion Madison Keys, seeded sixth, battled for two hours and 41 minutes to beat Romania’s Elena Ruse and played down the impact of the heat.

    “It’s funny coming from the States, because this is quite literally a very typical summer day,” she said.

    Four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka overcame some first-round jitters to beat Australian qualifier Talia Gibson, prevailing 6-4 7-6(4).

    There was a sad end for Tunisia’s twice runner-up Ons Jabeur though as she retired against Viktoriya Tomova due to illness.

    (Reuters)

  • Alcaraz survives Wimbledon scare, Sabalenka serene, but others feel the heat

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Carlos Alcaraz survived Wimbledon’s hottest-ever opening day although the Spaniard was far from his sizzling best as he began his quest for a hat-trick of titles with a scare against Fabio Fognini at the All England Club on Monday.

    With air temperatures soaring to 32 degrees Celsius, Alcaraz needed more than four hours to subdue veteran Fognini, winning 7-5 6-7(5) 7-5 2-6 6-1 – the last set interrupted after a spectator became unwell in the heat and required assistance.

    Women’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka, bidding to win Wimbledon for the first time, had no trouble as she dispatched Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine 6-1 7-5 but last year’s runner-up, fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, was pushed hard by Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova in a 2-6 6-3 6-2 win.

    While five-times Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, who won the Queen’s Club title in the build-up, lives to fight another day, several high-profile players departed the men’s draw.

    No arena at Wimbledon gets as hot as bowl-like Court Two and the conditions were clearly not to the liking of ex-world number one Daniil Medvedev as the ninth seed saw his hopes scorched by Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who won 7-6(2) 3-6 7-6(3) 6-2.

    Eighth seed Holger Rune of Denmark, yet to really make his mark at a Grand Slam, won the opening two sets against Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry but succumbed 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4.

    Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, twice a Grand Slam runner-up was left despondent after retiring with a back injury having fallen two sets behind against French qualifier Valentin Royer.

    American fifth seed Taylor Fritz looked to be on his way out before battling back to force a fifth set against big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard before their match was suspended with the Grand Slam’s 11 p.m. curfew looming.

    German third seed Alexander Zverev summoned up similar fighting spirit to draw level at one set apiece with Arthur Rinderknech in another match scheduled to resume on Tuesday.

    WINNING STREAK

    Only two defending men’s champions had ever lost in the first round at Wimbledon, but there were moments when Alcaraz looked in danger of joining compatriot Manuel Santana on that short list as Fognini rolled back the years.

    Alcaraz arrived at Wimbledon on an 18-match winning streak, which included a spellbinding French Open final win over Jannik Sinner. But the spark was missing on Monday in front of a Centre Court crowd that included David Beckham.

    Heat is second nature to Alcaraz, but it was Fognini who flourished in the sun and when he broke serve twice to level the match at two sets apiece a massive shock looked possible.

    But Alcaraz, regularly using an ice towel to cool down, found an extra gear in the decider and even charmed the crowd by offering his water bottle to the distressed fan.

    He then led the warm applause for former top-10 player Fognini, for whom this was his final Wimbledon.

    “I don’t know why it’s his last Wimbledon because the level he has shown, you know, he can still play three or four more years. It’s unbelievable,” Alcaraz said of Fognini.

    Next up for Alcaraz is British qualifier Oliver Tarvet who marked his Grand Slam main draw debut with a superb 6-4 6-4 6-4 defeat of fellow qualifier Leandro Riedi of Switzerland.

    Tarvet is one of 23 British players in the singles draw, the most since 1984. The home charge was led Sonay Kartal who upset 20th seed and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 7-5 2-6 6-2. She was joined in round two by British number one Emma Raducanu who comfortably passed a tricky test against Mingge Xu, one of three British teenaged wild cards to play on Monday.

    When Katie Boulter later knocked out Spanish ninth seed Paula Badosa 6-2 3-6 6-4 on Centre Court, seven British players had enjoyed victories, the most in a single day for the home nation in the professional era.

    Home hope Jacob Fearnley could not follow suit though as he was outshone 6-4 6-1 7-6(5) by Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, who showed why he is creating such a stir with carnival tennis on a steamy Court One.

    TOUGH WORKOUT

    World number one Sabalenka won the opening five games against part-time model Branstine but was given a far tougher workout after that as she moved into round two.

    The 27-year-old from Minsk missed last year’s event because of a shoulder injury and arrived this time with a point to prove after losing in the Australian and French Open finals this year.

    Several other women’s contenders sparkled in the sunshine, none more than 13th seeded American Amanda Anisimova who served up a dreaded ‘double-bagel’ 6-0 6-0 defeat to Yulia Putintseva.

    Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina beat Anna Boindar in straight sets while 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova continued her return to form by knocking out American 30th seed McCartney Kessler, setting up a second-round clash with Raducanu.

    Australian Open champion Madison Keys, seeded sixth, battled for two hours and 41 minutes to beat Romania’s Elena Ruse and played down the impact of the heat.

    “It’s funny coming from the States, because this is quite literally a very typical summer day,” she said.

    Four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka overcame some first-round jitters to beat Australian qualifier Talia Gibson, prevailing 6-4 7-6(4).

    There was a sad end for Tunisia’s twice runner-up Ons Jabeur though as she retired against Viktoriya Tomova due to illness.

    (Reuters)

  • USAID cuts may cause over 14 million additional deaths by 2030, study says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Deep funding cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development and its potential dismantling could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to research published in The Lancet medical journal on Monday.

    WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

    President Donald Trump’s administration, since taking office in January, has made funding cuts to USAID and its aid programs worldwide in what the U.S. government says is part of its broader plan to remove wasteful spending.

    Human rights experts and advocates have warned against the cuts. USAID funding has had a crucial role in improving global health, primarily directed toward low and middle-income countries, particularly African nations, according to the study.

    BY THE NUMBERS

    The study estimated that over the past two decades, USAID-funded programs have prevented more than 91 million deaths globally, including 30 million deaths among children.

    Projections suggest that ongoing deep funding cuts – combined with the potential dismantling of the agency – could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million deaths among children younger than 5 years, the study in The Lancet said.

    Washington is the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor, amounting to at least 38% of all contributions recorded by the United Nations. It disbursed $61 billion in foreign assistance last year, just over half of it via USAID, according to government data.

    KEY QUOTE

    “Our estimates show that, unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030,” the study said.

    CONTEXT

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in March the Trump administration canceled over 80% of all programs at USAID following a six-week review.

    The remaining approximately 1,000 programs, he said, would now be administered “more effectively” under the U.S. State Department and in consultation with Congress.

    (Reuters)

  • Iran-linked hackers threaten to release Trump aides’ emails

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran-linked hackers have threatened to disclose more emails stolen from U.S. President Donald Trump’s circle, after distributing a prior batch to the media ahead of the 2024 U.S. election.

    In online chats with Reuters on Sunday and Monday, the hackers, who go by the pseudonym Robert, said they had roughly 100 gigabytes of emails from the accounts of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Trump lawyer Lindsey Halligan, Trump adviser Roger Stone and porn star-turned-Trump antagonist Stormy Daniels.

    Robert raised the possibility of selling the material but otherwise did not provide details of their plans. The hackers did not describe the content of the emails.

    U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi described the intrusion as “an unconscionable cyber-attack.”

    The White House and the FBI responded with a statement from FBI Director Kash Patel, who said: “Anyone associated with any kind of breach of national security will be fully investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

    “This so-called cyber ‘attack’ is nothing more than digital propaganda, and the targets are no coincidence. This is a calculated smear campaign meant to damage President Trump and discredit honorable public servants who serve our country with distinction,” cyberdefense agency CISA said in a post on X.

    Halligan, Stone and a representative for Daniels did not respond to requests for comment. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not return a message seeking comment. Tehran has in the past denied committing cyberespionage.

    Robert materialized in the final months of the 2024 presidential campaign, when they claimed to have breached the email accounts of several Trump allies, including Wiles.

    The hackers then distributed emails to journalists.

    Reuters previously authenticated some of the leaked material, including an email that appeared to document a financial arrangement between Trump and lawyers representing former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – now Trump’s health secretary.

    Other material included Trump campaign communication about Republican office-seekers and discussion of settlement negotiations with Daniels.

    Although the leaked documents did garner some coverage last year, they did not fundamentally alter the presidential race, which Trump won.

    The U.S. Justice Department in a September 2024 indictment alleged that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards ran the Robert hacking operation. In conversations with Reuters, the hackers declined to address the allegation.

    After Trump’s election, Robert told Reuters that no more leaks were planned. As recently as May, the hackers told Reuters, “I am retired, man.” But the group resumed communication after this month’s 12-day air war between Israel and Iran, which was capped by U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites.

    In messages this week, Robert said they were organizing a sale of stolen emails and wanted Reuters to “broadcast this matter.”

    American Enterprise Institute scholar Frederick Kagan, who has written about Iranian cyberespionage, said Tehran suffered serious damage in the conflict and its spies were likely trying to retaliate in ways that did not draw more U.S. or Israeli action.

    “A default explanation is that everyone’s been ordered to use all the asymmetric stuff that they can that’s not likely to trigger a resumption of major Israeli/U.S. military activity,” he said. “Leaking a bunch more emails is not likely to do that.”

    Despite worries that Tehran could unleash digital havoc, Iran’s hackers took a low profile during the conflict. U.S. cyber officials warned on Monday that American companies and critical infrastructure operators might still be in Tehran’s crosshairs.

    (Reuters)

  • Delhi bans fuel for old vehicles from today

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a major step towards combating vehicular pollution, the Delhi government has begun enforcing strict new rules on End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles from Tuesday.

    According to directives issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), all petrol pumps across the National Capital Territory (NCT) will deny fuel to old vehicles identified through AI-powered Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

    From Tuesday onwards, EOL vehicles—those that have exceeded the legal age limit of 10 years for diesel and 15 years for petrol—will not be allowed to refuel at petrol or diesel stations. These vehicles will also be liable for heavy fines if found in public places.

    Four-wheeler owners violating the rule will be fined Rs 10,000, while two-wheeler owners will face a penalty of Rs 5,000.

    AI-enabled cameras installed at petrol stations will automatically identify outdated vehicles using number plate data. Once recognised, these vehicles will be flagged in the system to prevent fuel issuance.

    Petrol pump operators have expressed cautious optimism about the implementation. Sanjay Dedha, manager of a petrol pump in Vivek Vihar, said, “The Delhi government has installed the system. Let’s see from today if vehicles in that category turn up. We are waiting to see if the system works properly. If there are any server-related issues, we will physically identify old vehicles and refuse fuel to them.”

    Ram Lagan Shukla, supervisor at Bharat Petroleum, Lal Kuan, said, “It has come into effect from today, the first of the month, that petrol vehicles over 15 years old will not be given fuel here. We will also check the vehicle’s condition and documents.”

    The new enforcement policy is part of a broader plan to reduce emissions and improve air quality in the capital, which frequently ranks among the world’s most polluted cities.

    Authorities have also announced that EOL vehicles found parked in public places or near fuel stations will be seized starting Tuesday.

    Vehicle owners in Delhi are advised to verify the registration status of their vehicles and avoid using outdated vehicles to prevent penalties and seizure.

    — IANS

  • Union Home Minister Shah to attend key event in Delhi marking one year of New Criminal Laws

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to attend a significant event titled “Golden Year of Faith in Justice System”, commemorating the successful completion of one year since the implementation of India’s new criminal laws on Tuesday. 

    The event will be held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and will begin at 3:30 p.m. HM Shah, who is the Chief Guest, will address a gathering of legal experts, policymakers, law enforcement officials, and dignitaries from across the country. The event celebrates the transformative shift brought by the new criminal laws enacted in 2024.

    Earlier on Monday, the Union Home Minister chaired a ‘Manthan Baithak’ with cooperative ministers from all States and Union Territories. The meeting was part of the government’s initiatives to commemorate the International Year of Cooperatives 2025.

    Speaking at the Manthan Baithak, Shah underlined the importance of cooperation in India’s socio-economic framework. He said that while cooperatives can serve as an economic system for the entire world, for India, cooperation is a traditional philosophy of life. He added that cooperation, living, thinking, and working together, represent the essence of Indian society.

    He also acknowledged the nearly 125-year-old cooperative movement, describing it as a lifeline for the country’s poor, farmers, rural communities and especially women, who have benefited through various phases of development and reform.

    The Minister said that with sensitivity, cooperation must be revitalised for the welfare of millions of small farmers and rural people in the country because there are immense opportunities in the cooperative sector. (IANS)

  • Musk vows to punish lawmakers who back Trump’s spending bill

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Billionaire Elon Musk on Monday renewed his criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill, vowing to unseat lawmakers who backed it after campaigning on limiting government spending.

    After weeks of relative silence following a feud with Trump over the legislation, Musk rejoined the debate on Saturday as the Senate took up the package, calling it “utterly insane and destructive” in a post on social media platform X.

    On Monday, he ramped up his criticism, saying lawmakers who had campaigned on cutting spending but backed the bill “should hang their heads in shame!”

    “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk said.

    The Tesla and SpaceX CEO called again for a new political party, saying the bill’s massive spending indicated “that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!”

    “Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,” he wrote.

    Musk’s criticism of the bill has caused a rift in his relationship with Trump, marking a dramatic shift after the tech billionaire spent nearly $300 million on Trump’s re-election campaign and led the administration’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal cost-cutting initiative.

    Musk, the world’s richest man, has argued that the legislation would greatly increase the national debt and erase the savings he says he has achieved through DOGE.

    It remains unclear how much sway Musk has over Congress or what effect his opinions might have on the bill’s passage. But Republicans have expressed concern that his on-again, off-again feud with Trump could hurt their chances to protect their majority in the 2026 midterm congressional elections.

    The rift has also led to volatility for Tesla, with shares of the company seeing wild price swings that erased approximately $150 billion of its market value, though it has since recovered.

    (Reuters)

  • England name unchanged team for second test against India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    England have named an unchanged team on Monday for the second test against India, set to begin on July 2 at Edgbaston, with fast bowler Jofra Archer remaining sidelined.

    The England and Wales Cricket Board retained the lineup that secured a five-wicket win at Headingley to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

    Archer, who was added to England’s test set-up last week for the first time since 2021, missed training on Monday due to a family emergency, British media reports said.

    The 30-year-old is expected to rejoin the squad on Tuesday.

    ENGLAND PLAYING XI

    Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicket-keeper), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

    (Reuters)

  • England name unchanged team for second test against India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    England have named an unchanged team on Monday for the second test against India, set to begin on July 2 at Edgbaston, with fast bowler Jofra Archer remaining sidelined.

    The England and Wales Cricket Board retained the lineup that secured a five-wicket win at Headingley to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

    Archer, who was added to England’s test set-up last week for the first time since 2021, missed training on Monday due to a family emergency, British media reports said.

    The 30-year-old is expected to rejoin the squad on Tuesday.

    ENGLAND PLAYING XI

    Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicket-keeper), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

    (Reuters)

  • QUAD nations launch historic ‘At Sea Observer Mission’ to enhance maritime security

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a landmark initiative to bolster maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the Coast Guards of India, Japan, the United States, and Australia have launched the first-ever ‘QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission.’ The cross-embarkation mission, conducted under the Wilmington Declaration, sees two officers—including women officers—from each nation aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Stratton, currently en route to Guam.

    This pioneering mission marks a significant step in operational coordination among QUAD members, aimed at boosting joint readiness, domain awareness, and interoperability in the region. It aligns with the vision articulated at the QUAD Leaders’ Summit in September 2024 and reinforces the commitment to a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific.

    India’s involvement underlines its strategic SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and supports its broader Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), focusing on capacity-building, humanitarian efforts, and upholding maritime law. The ‘QUAD at Sea’ initiative lays the groundwork for a future ‘QUAD Coast Guard Handshake,’ reflecting growing trust and shared resolve to address evolving maritime challenges collaboratively.

  • QUAD nations launch historic ‘At Sea Observer Mission’ to enhance maritime security

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a landmark initiative to bolster maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the Coast Guards of India, Japan, the United States, and Australia have launched the first-ever ‘QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission.’ The cross-embarkation mission, conducted under the Wilmington Declaration, sees two officers—including women officers—from each nation aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Stratton, currently en route to Guam.

    This pioneering mission marks a significant step in operational coordination among QUAD members, aimed at boosting joint readiness, domain awareness, and interoperability in the region. It aligns with the vision articulated at the QUAD Leaders’ Summit in September 2024 and reinforces the commitment to a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific.

    India’s involvement underlines its strategic SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and supports its broader Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), focusing on capacity-building, humanitarian efforts, and upholding maritime law. The ‘QUAD at Sea’ initiative lays the groundwork for a future ‘QUAD Coast Guard Handshake,’ reflecting growing trust and shared resolve to address evolving maritime challenges collaboratively.

  • Railways announces fare rationalisation for passenger trains from July 1

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of Railways on Monday announced rationalisation of basic fares for passenger train services, set to take effect from July 1. The move aims to streamline the fare structure across various categories and strengthen the financial viability of railway operations, while keeping affordability intact for large sections of passengers.

    According to the revised fare structure issued by the Indian Railway Conference Association (IRCA), there will be no change in fares for suburban single journey tickets or season tickets, whether on suburban or non-suburban routes. However, minor fare adjustments have been introduced for non-AC and AC classes on non-suburban trains.

    For ordinary non-AC classes, including second class and sleeper class, fares have been marginally increased by 0.5 paisa per kilometre. In the case of second class, no increase will be applied for travel up to 500 kilometres. For journeys between 501 and 1500 kilometres, fares will increase by ₹5, while for 1501 to 2500 kilometres, the hike will be ₹10. Passengers travelling between 2501 and 3000 kilometres will see a ₹15 increase.

    In Mail and Express trains, non-AC classes such as second class, sleeper class, and first class will witness an increase of one paisa per kilometre. AC classes, including AC Chair Car, AC 3-Tier and 3-Economy, AC 2-Tier, and AC First/Executive/Anubhuti Class, will see an increase of two paisa per kilometre.

    The fare revisions are also applicable to premium and special train services such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Mahamana, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express, and trains with AC Vistadome and Anubhuti coaches.

    There will be no change in ancillary charges such as reservation fees, superfast surcharges, or other applicable charges. GST will continue to be levied as per the prevailing rules, and fare rounding-off norms will remain unchanged.

    The revised fares will be applicable to all tickets booked on or after July 1. Tickets purchased before this date will remain valid at the existing fare, and no fare adjustment will be made retroactively. Indian Railways is currently updating its Passenger Reservation System (PRS), Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), and manual ticketing mechanisms to implement the new fare structure smoothly.

    The Ministry has also directed all Zonal Railways to ensure updated fare charts are displayed prominently at stations and that the fare revision is communicated clearly to the public to ensure hassle-free travel arrangements.

  • From patrol vessels to air defence systems, Brazil keen on acquiring India’s indigenous innovations

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    As India continues to march ahead in pursuit of defence indigenisation and self-reliance, Brazil has shown keen interest in acquiring indigenous defence innovations, discussions on which are likely to be held during Prime Minister’s Narendra Modi’s visit to the Latin American nation starting July 6, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.

    “Yes, there are going to be discussions on defence cooperation and enhancing it with Brazil. We are looking at avenues for joint research, technology sharing, and training exchanges. We are still in talks about what kind of cooperation is possible and what kind of defence platforms we can sell to Brazil, but there has not been much progress yet. Broadly, we have identified a few areas that seem to be of interest to the Brazilian side,” MEA Secretary East P. Kumaran told reporters during a media briefing ahead of PM’s visit.

    PM Modi will be on a five-nation visit starting July 2. He will be arriving in Rio de Janeiro for the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in the fourth leg of his visit after Ghana (July 2-3), Trinidad and Tobago (July 3-4) and Argentina (July 4-5).

    After attending the BRICS Summit at the invitation of Brazillian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, PM Modi will travel to Brasilia for the State Visit and will hold bilateral discussions on the broadening of the strategic partnership between the two countries in areas of mutual interest, including trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture, health and people-to-people linkages.

    “They (Brazil) are interested in secured communication systems on the battlefield, they are also interested in Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). Brazil has Scorpene submarines, they are interested in partnering with us in maintaining those submarines. They also seem to be interested in the Akash Air Defence Systems and Coastal Surveillance System, Garuda Artillery Guns. They are also interested in defence industry joint ventures with us, joint R&D and co-development of systems. We also use the Embraer platform to develop reconnaissance systems on top of that.. So, there is a lot of potential for us to work with Brazil given their strength in aircraft industry in general,” Secretary Kumaran said on Monday.

    India and Brazil have been involved in joint collaboration to develop Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft besides Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company, and Mahindra signing an MoU to collaborate on the C-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft.

    Like several other nations, including from Latin America, Brazil too has been showing a keen interest in acquiring Indian defence equipment as the government led by Prime Minister Modi has transformed the country’s defence capabilities over the past 11 years.

    India’s defence exports crossed the record figure of about Rs 24,000 crore in Financial Year 2024-25 with the government aiming at increasing the figure to Rs 50,000 crore by 2029.

    With PM Modi and President Lula having met four times since 2023, strategic partners India and Brazil have consolidated bilateral ties through several institutional mechanisms including Joint Commission Meeting, Strategic Dialogue, Foreign Office Consultations, Trade Monitoring Mechanism and other joint working groups.

    PM Modi visited Brazil in November 2024 for the G20 Summit and the forthcoming trip to the country would be the fourth visit of Prime Minister since 2014.

    President Lula had also extended support against terrorism during a telephonic call with Prime Minister Modi on last month, following the heinous April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

    (IANS)

  • President Murmu graces first convocation of AIIMS Gorakhpur, emphasises medical service as service to humanity

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Droupadi Murmu attended the first convocation ceremony of AIIMS Gorakhpur on Monday, marking a milestone in the institute’s journey as a centre of medical excellence in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

    Addressing the gathering, the President praised the AIIMS network for symbolising India’s advanced medical capabilities. She said that the name “AIIMS” evokes an image of world-class treatment, cutting-edge technology, and dedicated healthcare professionals. Highlighting the institution’s achievements, she stated that AIIMS has become a model for medical education, research, and patient care across the country.

    She said, “Whether it is innovative surgical techniques, early diagnostic tools, or integrated treatments using both AYUSH and allopathy, AIIMS institutions have set new benchmarks in the medical field.”

    She added that the AIIMS model has successfully fulfilled the vision behind the establishment of India’s first such institution.

    The President lauded AIIMS Gorakhpur for making rapid progress in academics, research, and healthcare services in a short span. She noted that the institute is providing affordable and accessible health services, especially benefiting citizens in eastern Uttar Pradesh as well as neighbouring regions of Bihar and Nepal.

    Highlighting the crucial role of doctors in nation-building, President Murmu said, “Doctors not only heal individuals but also contribute to building a healthier, more productive society.” She urged the young graduates to dedicate themselves to serving underserved communities, especially in rural and tribal areas where quality healthcare is still lacking.

    The President also emphasised the importance of empathy in the medical profession. She called upon medical institutions to instil in students the values of compassion, communication, and trust-building, alongside clinical excellence. “Medicine is not just a profession—it is a service to humanity. Compassion and honesty must become part of your personality,” she advised the young doctors.

    President Murmu concluded her address by expressing confidence that AIIMS Gorakhpur will continue to play a pivotal role in delivering top-quality medical care and shaping a healthier India.

    The convocation ceremony was attended by faculty, students, dignitaries, and medical professionals from across the region.

  • Indian economy remains a key driver of global growth: RBI

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Despite an uncertain and challenging global economic backdrop, the Indian economy remains a key driver of global growth, underpinned by sound macroeconomic fundamentals and prudent macroeconomic policies, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Monday.

    The Reserve Bank, in the June 2025 issue of its ‘Financial Stability Report (FSR)’, said that elevated economic and trade policy uncertainties are testing the resilience of the global economy and the financial system.

    “Financial markets remain volatile, especially core government bond markets, driven by shifting policy and geopolitical environment. Alongside, existing vulnerabilities such as soaring public debt levels and elevated asset valuations have the potential to amplify fresh shocks,” it read.

    However, the domestic financial system is exhibiting resilience fortified by healthy balance sheets of banks and non-banks, said the RBI.

    Financial conditions have eased supported by accommodative monetary policy and low volatility in financial markets. The strength of the corporate balance sheets also lends support to overall macroeconomic stability.

    “The soundness and resilience of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) are bolstered by robust capital buffers, multi-decadal low non-performing loans ratio and strong earnings,” the RBI report mentioned.

    Results of macro stress tests affirm that most SCBs have adequate capital buffers relative to the regulatory minimum even under adverse stress scenarios. Stress tests also validate the resilience of mutual funds and clearing corporations.

    “Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) remain healthy with sizable capital buffers, robust earnings and improving asset quality. The consolidated solvency ratio of the insurance sector also remains above the minimum threshold limit,” it noted.

    In this global milieu, the Indian economy remains a key driver of global growth. Growth momentum is buoyed by strong domestic growth drivers, sound macroeconomic fundamentals and prudent policies.

    “Nonetheless, external spillovers and weather-related events could pose downside risks to growth. The outlook for inflation, on the other hand, is benign and there is greater confidence in the durable alignment of inflation with the Reserve Bank’s target,” said RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra.

    Financial sector regulators remain committed to protecting customers, promoting competition and fostering innovation as they strike the right balance between improving efficiency and growth, and safety and soundness.

    “Financial stability, like price stability, is a necessary condition, and not a sufficient one to boost India’s potential growth. As custodians of financial stability, we must endeavour to develop a well-functioning financial system that not only promotes macroeconomic stability but also provides financial services efficiently,” said Malhotra.

    (IANS)

  • NATO fund backs biotech startup in push to counter biological threats

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The NATO Innovation Fund has made its first investment in a biotechnology company, it said on Monday, seeking to enhance defences against biological threats

    The fund is co-leading a $35 million fundraising round for Portal Biotech, which uses protein sequencing to detect engineered threats and defend against biological warfare.

    UK-based Portal Biotech’s capability is essential for biosecurity defence and security, said Ana Bernardo-Gancedo, senior associate at NATO Innovation Fund.

    “We believe that it is absolutely imperative that we are able to detect, monitor and create countermeasures,” she said.

    The fund, created in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, plans to invest more than $1 billion in technologies that would enhance NATO’s defences.

    Portal Biotech uses an AI-backed technology with biological sensors that can work at the single molecule level on-site, giving results within hours.

    “It’s for everything from measuring diseases to better pandemic prevention … you can take this out of large labs with long turnaround times and into the field,” CEO Andy Heron told Reuters.

    Heron said the company’s instruments can detect any pathogen and can be used for continuous monitoring of anything from a field to water supply.

    “It allows you not just to detect what you did know was out there, but it allows you to detect what you didn’t know,” he said.

    Beyond biosecurity, Portal Biotech expects its portable equipment to aid in drug discovery and precision medicine.

    The company’s investors include Earlybird Venture Capital, Science Creates VC, Pillar VC, 8VC, We VC and British Business Bank.

    (Reuters)

  • Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi embarks on 4-day official visit to Bhutan

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday departed for Bhutan on a four-day official visit aimed at further strengthening the enduring defence cooperation between the two nations.

    During the visit, General Dwivedi is scheduled to call on Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

    He will also hold discussions with Lieutenant General Batoo Tshering, Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army, according to the Defence Ministry.

    In addition, the Army Chief will interact with senior officials from the Indian Embassy, the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT), and Project DANTAK.

    The visit underscores the deep-rooted and time-tested ties between India and Bhutan and reaffirms India’s unwavering commitment to its close and trusted neighbour, the Ministry added.

  • I am under no pressure; I do not exert pressure on anyone, nor do I work under pressure: Vice-President

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    lign=”center”>When we go abroad, there is no ruling or opposition party — it’s only Bharat: Vice-President
    In politics, one may belong to different parties, but that does not mean we are enemies; our enemies may be across the borders, not within the country: Vice-President
    Legislatures must uphold the highest standards of conduct; If they fail to do so, citizens will turn to other platforms: Vice-President
    Vice-President addresses public gathering at ‘Sneh Milan Samaroh’ in Jaipur

    The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, today said, “I am not under pressure, I do not pressure anyone, I do not work under pressure, nor do I make others work under pressure.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939599837579927882

    Addressing a public gathering at the ‘Sneh Milan Samaroh’ in Jaipur, Shri Dhankhar said, “I was a little concerned—not for my health—but for my friend, the former Chief Minister, who said we are under pressure. He is one of my oldest friends in Rajasthan politics and a well-wisher. Since he spoke publicly, I would also like to say publicly—he need not worry. I am under no pressure, nor do I pressure anyone, nor do I operate under pressure.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939615411064213804

    Discussing the constitutional position of Governors, he remarked, “When the Governor is in the state, they are often treated like an easy punching bag.” He elaborated, “If the State government and the Central government are ruled by different political political parties, it becomes very easy to make allegations. But over time, this dynamic has changed — now even the Vice-President and the President are being dragged into this domain. This, in my view, is a matter of concern, reflection, and philosophical thought, and it is not appropriate.”

     

    Expressing concern over the current political climate, he said, “The current political atmosphere and temperature are not healthy — neither for individuals nor for democracy. It is a matter of concern and reflection.” He emphasized, “Power keeps changing hands; the ruling party becomes opposition, the opposition becomes ruling party. But that does not mean we should become enemies. Our enemies may lie across the border — not within the country.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939607471641010602

    Highlighting that national interest should be above party politics, the Vice-President said, “When we travel abroad, there is no ruling or opposition party; we only represent Bharat — and this has now been demonstrated. This step shows that for us, the nation is supreme. National interest is our duty, Bharatiyata is our pride. Whenever India is the topic, we do not stand divided. Political differences exist within the country, but there are no personal animosities. This is a powerful message that everyone must understand.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939613193577628124

    He further added, “The political temperature is becoming intolerable. Unrestrained statements are made casually. But we must understand that India represents one-sixth of the global population. No other country comes close. Who else possesses a 5000-year-old culture? It is unparalleled and extraordinary.”

     

    Speaking about responsible discourse, he said, “Often, in a state of emotion, we raise questions or encourage conflict — but if I am not the one getting hurt, I might say ‘keep fighting.’ These are not matters to be sensationalized in newspapers — they cause real pain. Our economy suffers deeply. And why? Because where was India 11 years ago? This is not a political matter. In every era, India has progressed. Great accomplishments were made in the 1950s, 60s, 70s. When I talk about the current era, it should not be seen as a comparison to previous ones — I am comparing India with the world.”

     

    He emphasized, “India was once counted among the five most fragile economies — today, it ranks among the world’s top four economies. Look at the countries we’ve surpassed. Just wait a little more — Japan, Germany, the UK, Canada, Brazil — all are behind us. Such a leap has been taken that the world refers to the last decade as the period of India’s economic rise — a feat unmatched by any other major nation.”

     

    Highlighting the role of the opposition in a democracy, the Vice-President said, “Opposition does not mean adversary. Democracy requires expression, debate, dialogue — what the Vedas call Anantavaad.”

     

    He warned, “When expression reaches a point where opposing views are dismissed entirely, expression loses its essence. Expression is crucial — it is the soul of democracy. But if it is suppressed or becomes so extreme that it ignores all other viewpoints, then it ceases to be meaningful. To make expression meaningful, debate is essential — and debate means engaging with people who disagree with you. There is a strong possibility that they may be right. That is why listening to others strengthens your own expression.”

     

    He also invoked the work of the Constituent Assembly, saying, “The Constituent Assembly took nearly three years — 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days — of painstaking effort to give us the Constitution.” He explained, “There were deep issues at the time; consensus was difficult, but they never engaged in confrontation. There was no disruption. Through dialogue and compromise, they arrived at consensus — confrontation never crossed their minds.”

     

    Speaking on policymaking in the interest of farmers, the Vice-President said, “If the subsidies given by the government to farmers reach them directly, every farming household could receive more than ₹30,000 per year.” He further added, “If fertilizer subsidies are transferred directly to farmers, the choice to adopt natural or organic farming will be theirs.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939615942507639111

    He cited the example of the United States and said, “In the U.S., the average annual income of a farming household is higher than that of an average household — that’s the kind of direction we should aim for.”

     

    The Governor of Rajasthan, Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde; the Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Shri Vasudev Devnani; Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Shri Tikaram Juli; Patron of the Rajasthan Progressive Forum, Shri Harimohan Sharma; and the Forum’s Working President, Shri Jeetram Chaudhary, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

  • I am under no pressure; I do not exert pressure on anyone, nor do I work under pressure: Vice-President

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    lign=”center”>When we go abroad, there is no ruling or opposition party — it’s only Bharat: Vice-President
    In politics, one may belong to different parties, but that does not mean we are enemies; our enemies may be across the borders, not within the country: Vice-President
    Legislatures must uphold the highest standards of conduct; If they fail to do so, citizens will turn to other platforms: Vice-President
    Vice-President addresses public gathering at ‘Sneh Milan Samaroh’ in Jaipur

    The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, today said, “I am not under pressure, I do not pressure anyone, I do not work under pressure, nor do I make others work under pressure.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939599837579927882

    Addressing a public gathering at the ‘Sneh Milan Samaroh’ in Jaipur, Shri Dhankhar said, “I was a little concerned—not for my health—but for my friend, the former Chief Minister, who said we are under pressure. He is one of my oldest friends in Rajasthan politics and a well-wisher. Since he spoke publicly, I would also like to say publicly—he need not worry. I am under no pressure, nor do I pressure anyone, nor do I operate under pressure.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939615411064213804

    Discussing the constitutional position of Governors, he remarked, “When the Governor is in the state, they are often treated like an easy punching bag.” He elaborated, “If the State government and the Central government are ruled by different political political parties, it becomes very easy to make allegations. But over time, this dynamic has changed — now even the Vice-President and the President are being dragged into this domain. This, in my view, is a matter of concern, reflection, and philosophical thought, and it is not appropriate.”

     

    Expressing concern over the current political climate, he said, “The current political atmosphere and temperature are not healthy — neither for individuals nor for democracy. It is a matter of concern and reflection.” He emphasized, “Power keeps changing hands; the ruling party becomes opposition, the opposition becomes ruling party. But that does not mean we should become enemies. Our enemies may lie across the border — not within the country.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939607471641010602

    Highlighting that national interest should be above party politics, the Vice-President said, “When we travel abroad, there is no ruling or opposition party; we only represent Bharat — and this has now been demonstrated. This step shows that for us, the nation is supreme. National interest is our duty, Bharatiyata is our pride. Whenever India is the topic, we do not stand divided. Political differences exist within the country, but there are no personal animosities. This is a powerful message that everyone must understand.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939613193577628124

    He further added, “The political temperature is becoming intolerable. Unrestrained statements are made casually. But we must understand that India represents one-sixth of the global population. No other country comes close. Who else possesses a 5000-year-old culture? It is unparalleled and extraordinary.”

     

    Speaking about responsible discourse, he said, “Often, in a state of emotion, we raise questions or encourage conflict — but if I am not the one getting hurt, I might say ‘keep fighting.’ These are not matters to be sensationalized in newspapers — they cause real pain. Our economy suffers deeply. And why? Because where was India 11 years ago? This is not a political matter. In every era, India has progressed. Great accomplishments were made in the 1950s, 60s, 70s. When I talk about the current era, it should not be seen as a comparison to previous ones — I am comparing India with the world.”

     

    He emphasized, “India was once counted among the five most fragile economies — today, it ranks among the world’s top four economies. Look at the countries we’ve surpassed. Just wait a little more — Japan, Germany, the UK, Canada, Brazil — all are behind us. Such a leap has been taken that the world refers to the last decade as the period of India’s economic rise — a feat unmatched by any other major nation.”

     

    Highlighting the role of the opposition in a democracy, the Vice-President said, “Opposition does not mean adversary. Democracy requires expression, debate, dialogue — what the Vedas call Anantavaad.”

     

    He warned, “When expression reaches a point where opposing views are dismissed entirely, expression loses its essence. Expression is crucial — it is the soul of democracy. But if it is suppressed or becomes so extreme that it ignores all other viewpoints, then it ceases to be meaningful. To make expression meaningful, debate is essential — and debate means engaging with people who disagree with you. There is a strong possibility that they may be right. That is why listening to others strengthens your own expression.”

     

    He also invoked the work of the Constituent Assembly, saying, “The Constituent Assembly took nearly three years — 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days — of painstaking effort to give us the Constitution.” He explained, “There were deep issues at the time; consensus was difficult, but they never engaged in confrontation. There was no disruption. Through dialogue and compromise, they arrived at consensus — confrontation never crossed their minds.”

     

    Speaking on policymaking in the interest of farmers, the Vice-President said, “If the subsidies given by the government to farmers reach them directly, every farming household could receive more than ₹30,000 per year.” He further added, “If fertilizer subsidies are transferred directly to farmers, the choice to adopt natural or organic farming will be theirs.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939615942507639111

    He cited the example of the United States and said, “In the U.S., the average annual income of a farming household is higher than that of an average household — that’s the kind of direction we should aim for.”

     

    The Governor of Rajasthan, Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde; the Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Shri Vasudev Devnani; Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Shri Tikaram Juli; Patron of the Rajasthan Progressive Forum, Shri Harimohan Sharma; and the Forum’s Working President, Shri Jeetram Chaudhary, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

  • Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Puducherry LG discuss coastal strategy, Deep Ocean Mission

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan met on Monday to deliberate on a comprehensive coastal action plan, exploring the Union Territory’s role in India’s ambitious Deep Ocean Mission. The discussions focused on sustainable coastal development, beach management, and leveraging ocean-based economic opportunities.

    Addressing concerns over coastal erosion and environmental degradation, Jitendra Singh emphasized the need for a permanent mechanism for coastal cleaning and management in Puducherry. He assured full support from the Ministry of Earth Sciences and said coordination with the Puducherry Chief Secretary would be initiated to implement the plan effectively.

    Highlighting Puducherry’s strategic location, the Union Minister outlined its potential in deep sea fishing, seabed mineral exploration, and marine research. He informed that India’s Deep Ocean Mission, currently in its first phase, is set for sea trials in early 2026, with the aim of establishing a strong underwater research and exploration capability by 2027 using indigenous technology.

    Jitendra Singh noted that critical seabed minerals, such as polymetallic nodules, could enhance India’s technological and economic standing globally. He also called for efforts to generate local employment and revenue through regulated marine activities.

    Applauding Puducherry’s readiness to collaborate on national missions, the Union Minister stressed the importance of integrating science, governance, and community participation to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.