PM Modi unveils MY-Bharat-calendar aiming at make summer vacation productive for children
In the 120th episode of his 'Mann ki Baat' programme, PM Modi on Sunday unveiled a unique calendar for children to make summer vacations more productive and creative,
The PM said that the special 'MY-Bharat' calendar" would share a study tour where children could learn about how 'Jan Aushadhi Kendras' operate, experience border village by becoming a part of the vibrant village campaign and many other activities.
"I would also like to discuss with you the special calendar of MY-Bharat, which has been prepared for this summer vacation. At the moment, copy of this calendar is kept in front of me. I want to share some unique efforts from this calendar. For example, in the study tour of MY-Bharat, you can know how our 'Jan Aushadhi Kendras' function. You can undergo a unique experience in the border villages by becoming a part of the vibrant village campaign. Along with this, you can definitely become a part of the cultural and sports activities there. At the same time, by participating in the padyatra on Ambedkar Jayanti, you can also spread awareness about the values of the Constitution." PM Modi said.
Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament begins in New Delhi, engaging 108 Youth in Key Governance discussions
The three-day Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will kick off in New Delhi today. Like traditional Youth Parliament, the event will serve as a powerful platform to connect young individuals with politics and public policy, fostering their engagement in governance and nation-building. For the first time since COVID-19, all 300 District Nodal Rounds were conducted in person, and over 75 thousand young people from every State and Union Territory submitted their video entries through the MY Bharat portal.
After successful district and state rounds, the top 3 candidates from each State and UT, totaling 108 youth, have been selected to participate at the national level. Participants will engage in high-level discussions and activities, including Question Hour on “One Nation, One Election” and “Viksit Bharat”. The participants will also attend sessions in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for firsthand exposure to governance. The event will conclude on Thursday, as the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament Awards and National Youth Awards will be conferred.
Centre extends Armed Forces Special Powers Act in parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh & Nagaland for six months
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the extension of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for another six months in parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, starting tomorrow.
In Manipur, AFSPA will continue in all districts except for those under the jurisdiction of 13 police stations in five districts – Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching. The state has been grappling with ethnic violence since May 2023.
The law has also been extended in eight districts of Nagaland and parts of five others, while in Arunachal Pradesh, AFSPA applies to Tirap, Changlang, Longding districts, and certain areas in Namsai district.
HAL gains on inking Rs 62,700-cr deal with Ministry of Defence
Hindustan Aeronautics rose 2.71% to Rs 4,289.30 after it has signed two contracts with the Ministry of Defence for the supply of 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), Prachand, along with training and other associated equipment, worth Rs 62,700 crore.
The official announcement was made after market hours on 28 March 2025.
The first contract is for the supply of 66 LCHs to the Indian Air Force (IAF), and the second is for the supply of 90 LCHs to the Indian Army. The supply of these helicopters will commence in the third year and will be spread over the next five years. These contracts will enhance the combat capability of the Armed Forces at high altitudes.
Bombay HC allows 32-year-old woman to terminate pregnancy due to foetal anomalies
The Bombay High Court allowed a 32-year-old woman to terminate her 26-week pregnancy at a private hospital of her choice in the city due to foetal anomalies.
The court allowed her plea to medically terminate the pregnancy considering her medical condition, right to reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy and right of choice.
A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela K Gokhale on March 28 passed an order on plea by the woman argued through advocate Meenaz Kakalia, who was unwilling to continue her pregnancy.
India, US to begin tri-service HADR exercise 'Tiger Triumph'
mid India's ongoing Operation Brahma to assist Myanmar following last week's devastating earthquake, India and the United States (US) will commence the fourth edition of Exercise Tiger Triumph, a bilateral tri-service humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise, on Tuesday. The 13-day exercise, taking place on the Eastern Seaboard, will continue till April 13.
"The exercise is aimed at developing interoperability for conducting HADR operations and for the formulation of standard operating procedures to establish a combined coordination centre that would enable rapid and smooth coordination between Indian and US joint task forces during exercises and in times of crises or contingencies," said an Indian Navy spokesperson.
IAF to participate in Multi-national air exercise INIOCHOS-25 in Greece
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-25, a prestigious multinational air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. The exercise will take place at Andravida Air Base, Greece, from 31 March 2025 to 11 April 2025. The IAF contingent will include Su-30 MKI fighters along with combat enabler IL-78 & C-17 aircraft, according to the Defence Ministry.
INIOCHOS is a biennial multinational air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. It serves as a platform for air forces to hone their skills, exchange tactical knowledge, and strengthen military ties. The exercise will integrate multiple air and surface assets from fifteen countries under realistic combat scenarios, designed to simulate modern-day air warfare challenges, the ministry's statement said on Sunday.
PM Modi launches development projects worth Rs 33,700 crore in Chhattisgarh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone on Sunday and inaugurated multiple development projects of more than Rs 33,700 crore related to various sectors in Chhattisgarh.
Modi inaugurated projects, laid foundation stones, and commenced various works during a function held in Mohbhattha village in the Bilaspur district.
It was his first visit to the state after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
He flagged off the Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) train service in the Abhanpur-Raipur section via Mandir Hasaud and handed over the keys (replica) of houses to three beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
PM Modi Announces 'Yoga For One Earth, One Health' As 2025 Yoga Day Theme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced "Yoga for One Earth, One Health" as the theme of this year’s International Day of Yoga and said the day had taken "the shape of a grand festival".
The United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga with an aim to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga. It was first celebrated in 2015.
Sharing India’s vision for a healthier world population in his monthly "Mann ki Baat" radio broadcast, Modi said, "The theme of yoga day, 2025, has been kept as ’Yoga for One Earth, One Health’. That is, we wish to make the whole world healthy through yoga." The prime minister noted that, alongside fitness, keeping a count was also becoming a habit, citing examples of people keeping tabs on the number of steps taken, calories consumed and burnt in a day.
IBA elects CS Setty as new Chairman
The managing committee of Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has elected State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman CS Setty as the new Chairman, according to a statement.
The committee also elected Union Bank MD A Maninekhalai, Punjab & Sind Bank MD Swarup Kumar Saha, and Madhav Nair from Bank of Bahrain & Kuwait BSC as three deputy Chairmen.
Karur Vysya Bank, MD B Ramesh Babu has been elected as honorary secretary of IBA. Earlier this month, former Punjab National Bank MD Atul Kumar Goel was elected as the CEO of IBA, succeeding Sunil Mehta.