Chandigarh is set to launch the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), or digital rupee, for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) on August 14. This initiative makes Chandigarh the first Union Territory to fully roll out CBDC-based DBT for food subsidy, enhancing transparency and efficiency in welfare delivery. The digital rupee, issued by the RBI, will be purpose-bound for purchasing foodgrains from authorised merchants.
An independent study reveals that while Geographical Indication (GI) registration has boosted the identity of Kerala's traditional handloom products, it has not uniformly translated into economic benefits across weaving clusters. Challenges include an ageing artisan population, competition from powerloom products, rising raw material costs, and inadequate marketing.
Making UPI payments fee-based for some transactions could enhance mental reservations against digital payments -- which have largely been overcome -- once more. Do we want to regress?, asks R Jagannthan.
The Karnataka government is collaborating with ElevenLabs to explore pilot projects using voice AI across various sectors including skilling, investment promotion, healthcare, culture, and citizen services. This initiative aims to leverage advanced AI to enhance accessibility and efficiency of government services, with a strong focus on responsible AI use and safeguards against misinformation.
India's food safety regulator, FSSAI, has issued notices to five-star hotels JW Marriott and Andaz Delhi following inspections that revealed serious hygiene and food-safety violations, including cockroach infestations, expired food, poor sanitation, and improper food storage.
The Maharashtra government has imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture and sale of "analogue" or non-dairy paneer due to public health concerns and widespread food safety violations. Offenders could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment and hefty fines, for misleading consumers with this lower-nutritional-value substitute.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to implement drone-based surveillance to monitor and prevent stubble burning. This initiative aims to counter late-evening burning incidents that evade satellite detection, leveraging drone technology for real-time monitoring, accurate detection, and evidence collection to ensure effective enforcement against agricultural residue burning.
'He wanted to know what products I'd brought along, so I showed him jackfruit flour, which research has linked to managing type 2 diabetes.' 'Then jackfruit seed flour, a strong source of protein that rural households have eaten for generations without it ever becoming a commercial product. I gave him ripe jackfruit chips too.'
The Union Health Ministry has amended drug rules, making it mandatory to have a doctor's prescription for the sale of all syrups, including cough syrups. This move aims to enhance regulatory oversight and patient safety following concerns over drug quality and contamination-linked deaths.
The Environment Ministry has designated the Natural History Museum (NHM) in Mizoram as India's 21st designated repository, significantly enhancing the country's biodiversity conservation and scientific infrastructure, particularly within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.
The move follows reports from several state drug-regulatory authorities indicating misuse and hoarding oral formulations with high ethyl-alcohol concentration, which people use as a substitute for liquor.
Automobile manufacturers have informed NITI Aayog that they face significant challenges in tracing 20-25-year-old vehicles due to multiple ownership changes, hindering their ability to meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets for end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). They are seeking government support, including access to updated Vahan registration records, to locate these vehicles and encourage owners to use authorised scrapping centres.
Holoflex Ltd, a leading anti-counterfeiting and security solutions provider, plans to invest Rs 30 crore over the next two years to establish a second manufacturing facility. This expansion is driven by increasing demand for integrated brand protection solutions and growing concerns over counterfeit products across various sectors, including essential goods. The company aims to significantly boost its revenue and strengthen its position in the rapidly growing anti-counterfeiting market.
Relatives and friends gathered at Max Hospital in Saket, New Delhi, searching for loved ones after a devastating hotel fire in Malviya Nagar killed at least 21 people. Many victims were severely burnt, making identification difficult, while an investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing.
A devastating fire in Delhi's Hauz Rani area claimed 21 lives, including eight members of the Agrawal family. Relatives recounted the harrowing last moments and raised serious concerns about the lack of fire safety infrastructure at the bed and breakfast where the tragedy occurred, highlighting the profound grief and challenges in identifying victims.
Nowhera Shaik, the prime accused in the Heera Group investment fraud case, has been arrested in Gurugram. She was apprehended in a joint operation by the Enforcement Directorate and Haryana Police and has been taken to Hyderabad.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Nowhera Shaik, the prime accused in the Heera Group-linked alleged investment fraud, from an Airbnb property in Gurugram. Shaik was living under a fake identity and using forged documents. The Heera Group allegedly collected over Rs 5,978 crore from the public, promising high returns but failing to return even the principal amount.
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday approved a new Excise Policy, permitting the sale of hard liquor through retail vends, reducing documents to obtain a licence from 16 to six and extending the liquor availability to four more districts.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET (UG) 2026 exam, which was conducted on May 3, following allegations of irregularities. A CBI inquiry has been ordered, and a re-examination will be scheduled.
Swift and global banks are launching a new system to make international payments faster and cheaper for small businesses and consumers, starting with major global markets.
'Infertility and reproductive health challenges, much like other chronic conditions, are rising globally.'
The Indian government has extended the deadline for implementing SIM-binding rules for mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to December 31, following requests from the industry. The Department of Telecom has also relaxed the mandatory six-hour log-out rule for web versions of these apps.
Fexo, an AI intelligence platform focused on the BFSI sector, has launched its AI decisioning engine for business loans, designed to help financial institutions accelerate AI adoption and improve decision-making processes.
Assam police have arrested five individuals for their alleged involvement in an interstate cyber crime syndicate, focusing on SIM card fraud and identity theft.
A Delhi court has requested further information from the investigating officer in the child custody case involving Viktoriaa Basu, a Russian woman accused of illegally leaving India with her child.
Nearly 50 years after the theft of Rs 7.65, a Mumbai court has finally dropped the curtain on a 1977 cold case involving two unidentified accused and a complainant who remained untraceable despite decades of police searches.
The idea, Shah explains, was to keep the discipline of a shared start, without asking anyone to participate in a religious act that wasn't theirs. The anthem, he felt, offered a "common minimum" that didn't privilege one faith over another: stand together, start together, get to work.
The missive has, however, polarised stakeholders, with mobile operators under COAI coming out in its support, while digital platforms under the aegis of Broadband India Forum expressing "serious concerns" around overreach and calling for a pause in implementation of timelines.
The Bharatiya Antariksh Station represents the next phase of India's human spaceflight ambitions, enabling long-duration presence in space, advanced microgravity research and technology development, and supporting future human exploration missions.
The Indian Rice Exporter's Federation (IREF) on Tuesday urged the government to provide tax incentives, interest subvention and freight support in the upcoming 2026 Budget to strengthen the sector's competitiveness while addressing sustainability concerns.
Members of the terror module under scanner for the deadly blast near the Red Fort, relied on an unusual yet effective method of communication to avoid detection -- through unsent emails kept as drafts.
65 per cent of Gen Zs and 63 per cent of millennials feel worried about the environment and are willing to pay more for sustainable products or services.
The government is not seeking to control or restrict online content but rather to ensure transparency by requiring creators to label AI-generated content so that audiences can make informed choices, Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan said on Thursday.
A phone number and e-mail are often enough for a fraudster to trick a lender into pulling your report and disbursing a loan.
'Rather than deploying Pakistani nationals or using identifiable cross-border materials, the ISI sought to radicalise and recruit local Indian youth, including well-educated professionals such as doctors.'
As it gains commercial viability, the food will likely become a powerful political currency.
'Don't look at Russia only as a place to earn quickly and then leave.' 'Try to build experience in serious companies, skills and certifications that will serve you anywhere in the world.'
The Karnataka high court stayed enforcement of the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules, 2025, which fixed a cap for movie ticket prices at Rs 200 across the state.
The Karnataka High Court has stayed the enforcement of a rule that capped movie ticket prices at Rs 200 across the state, following a petition by the Multiplex Association of India and other cinema stakeholders.
Quoting an incorrect PAN during property registration can invite penalties and prosecution.
