National

The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is India's first women-led FTA with nearly all of the negotiation team being female, is a historic milestone, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal's post, which PM Modi tweeted, emphasizes that India's FTAs now go well beyond tariff reductions as part of a larger goal to develop the economy and better millions of people's lives. "In this insightful article, Union Minister Shri @PiyushGoyal explains that India's FTAs today go well beyond tariff reductions, forming part of a broader mission to strengthen the economy and improve the lives of millions," the Prime Minister remarked in response to a post made by Goyal on X. The FTA creates new opportunities for all-encompassing eco...

In order to balance growing operating costs while minimizing the impact on customers, the Ministry of Railways announced a rationalization of passenger tickets. A revised fare structure is scheduled to go into effect on December 26. Daily commuters would benefit from the Railways' announcement that there will be no fee increases for suburban services and Monthly Season Ticket (MST) holders. Similarly, there won't be a fee rise for regular-class travelers up to 215 kilometers. Fares in regular class will rise by one paise per kilometer for trips longer than 215 kilometers. The fare rise for Mail and Express non-AC categories has been set at 2 paise per kilometre, and AC classes will also experience a consistent 2 paise per km increase. The Ministry made it clear that travelers will only...

According to the government, scheduled Indian airlines reported 22 safety infractions in 2024. Additionally, scheduled Indian airlines reported 21 instances of in-flight engine shutdowns in the same year. The Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, told the Lok Sabha that "all the occurrences are investigated to find the cause and prevent the recurrence." To guarantee the safe operation and upkeep of aircraft, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has created extensive Civil Aviation Regulations. The minister further stated that these rules are regularly revised and in line with international standards, such as those of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Thus far in 2025, the aviation regu...

In Delhi, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. CM Reddy urged the Union Education Minister to establish Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya schools in certain Telangana regions, as well as to approve an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Hyderabad. At the Union Minister's chambers in the Parliament, the Chief Minister and Minister Pradhan had a meeting. The CM informed the union minister during the meeting about Hyderabad's rapid growth in the fields of technology, life sciences, aerospace, defense, logistics, and advanced manufacturing, as well as the pressing need to create an IIM in the ancient city. CM Revanth Reddy stated that the Union government has established 21 IIMs in 19 states ...

The Gujarat Unified Digital Stack will soon be operational throughout the state, according to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. This will improve real-time data sharing between ministries and allow citizens to access all government services via a single platform. He made the statement at the opening of the AI Experience Zone and the Regional AI Impact Conference at Gandhinagar's Mahatma Mandir. There were also Science and Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi. The conference emphasized Gujarat's connection with the national AI mission as a pre-event to the AI Impact Summit 2026. In order to facilitate plug-and-play AI deployment across ministries, the Chief Minister introduced the Gujarat AI Stack, which includes six essential AI tools for a...

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah opened the 'Swadeshotsav 2025', a national expo produced by Swarnim Jagran Manch and Swarnim Bharat Varsh Foundation, at the Gujarat University Ground in Ahmedabad's Navarangpura. The event is consistent with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's objective of creating a 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (developed India) by encouraging indigenous industry, knowledge, and cultural legacy. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi were among the dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony. Following the inauguration, Union Home Minister Shah opened the Swanubhuti Exhibition, which showcases India's'swadeshi' (indigenous) prowess in a variety of areas. The five-day expo, which runs from December 5 to 9, 2025, includes a ser...

Following allegations of deaths and FIRs against ground-level officials, the Supreme Court issued a series of orders to relieve the burden of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) working in the Election Commission's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in various states. A bench consisting of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi remarked that employees deputed by state governments and SECs (State Election Commissions) "are obligated to perform such duties," and that state governments should intercede whenever BLOs suffer difficulties. The CJI-led Bench recommended that state governments contribute additional staff to the ECI, allowing for a corresponding reduction in working hours. The top court was hearing an application filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazh...

The plan to encourage the production of sintered rare earth permanent magnets in the nation with an investment of Rs 7,280 crore was authorized by the Union Cabinet, which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to a Cabinet statement, this first-of-its-kind project is to build 6,000 metric tons of integrated rare earth permanent magnet (REPM) manufacturing capacity in India annually, boosting self-reliance and establishing India as a major participant in the global market. India's usage of REPMs is predicted to treble by 2030 from 2025 due to the country's fast increasing demand from consumer electronics, electric vehicles, renewable energy, and industrial applications. Currently, imports are the main source of these magnets for India. According to the release, India will bu...

According to a survey, the last holiday season saw a significant increase in consumer demand and factory output due to the rationalization of the GST rate. In the upcoming quarters, maintaining this increase would depend on both industry-specific dynamics and broader economic conditions. Manufacturing recovered as businesses stocked up ahead of festivals, according to credit rating agency ICRA, with consumer durables exhibiting a notable sequential and year-over-year increase. "While the GST rationalisation may support demand for regular use or small-ticket items after the festive season, the sustenance of the buoyancy in demand for big-ticket items remains to be seen," it stated. The research further stated that "a good part of the GST rate cut benefit is going to be neutralised by th...

A new era in the nation's judiciary began with the swearing in of Justice Surya Kant as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI). Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu were among the distinguished dignitaries present at the event. Justice Kant will serve as the head of the judiciary for just over a year before retiring on February 9, 2027. After many years of outstanding service and significant contributions to the legal system, he was elevated. Since his nomination to the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019, Justice Kant has contributed significantly to a number of significant rulings and constitutional issues that have been heard by the court. His brother judges and the Bar have generally accepted his background, legal ability, and administrative skills. Justice S...