The Union Cabinet on Wednesday passed the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill which seeks to replace the 63-year-old Medical Council of India (MCI) to reform the medical sector in India, with focus of medical education.

The Bill also repealed the Indian Medical Council Act 1956, stating that the Council set up under it was corrupt. It was alleged that the process by which the MCI regulated medical colleges was flawed.

The new Bill will have the provision for making national standards in medical education uniform by proposing that the final year MBBS exam be treated as an entrance test for PG and a screening test for students who graduated in medicine from foreign countries. This exam will be called the National Exit Test (NEXT).

The "Find the Incredible You" campaign of the Tourism Ministry, has won the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award, 2019. 

The campaign focuses on digital and social media and the promotion of niche tourism products of the country.

An official release said this year's awards attracted 198 entries from 78 organisations and individuals worldwide.

The campaign won the award under the "Marketing - Primary Government Destination" category.

The statement said, the Ministry of Tourism, as part of its promotional initiatives, annually releases Global Media Campaigns under the 'Incredible India' brand-line in the television, print, digital and social media platforms, in key and potential source markets overseas.

Star Indian sprinter Hima Das clinched her fourth gold in a fortnight as she won the 200m race with a creditable timing in the Tabor Athletics Meet in Czech Republic yesterday. 

Hima won the race in 23.25 seconds, which had a mediocre field with most of the competitors representing clubs of Czech Republic. 

Hima's compatriot VK Vismaya was second with a season of best 23.43 seconds.

Hima has a 200m personal best of 23.10 seconds. This was 19-year-old Hima's fourth gold since July 2 when she ran her first competitive race in Europe. 

Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal opened the 21st edition of Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship at the Jawaharlal Indoor Stadium in Cuttack this morning. 

The event will witness the top players from India, Australia, England, Malaysia, Scotland and Singapore among other nations competing for coveted titles.

The tournament will conclude on Monday.

President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Anusuiya Uikey as Governor of Chhattisgarh. 

Biswa Bhusan Harichandan has been named as Governor of Andhra Pradesh. 

An official release said the appointments will take effect from the dates they assume charge of their offices. 

State-owned defense contractor Israel Aerospace Industries said on Wednesday it signed a $50 million follow-up contract to provide complementary missile systems to the Indian navy and India's MDL Shipyard.

The agreement involves a range of maintenance and other services for sub-systems of Israel Aerospace's naval medium range surface-to-air missile.

"This contract is a breakthrough as it advances us from system development and delivery to looking after the operational needs of our customers," said Boaz Levi, general manager of the Systems, Missiles & Space Group at Israel Aerospace.

In what marks a sign of deepening military ties between Sri Lanka and China, Beijing has 'gifted' a warship to Colombo. According to an agency report, the frigate — 'P625' arrived in Colombo last week. The frigate was commissioned into the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy as Tongling in 1994. the warship was decommissioned in 2015 and has been gifted to Sri Lankan Navy after a refit.

Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy thanked China and said that the gift would be taken as a token of friendship between the two countries, PTI reported citing Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency. According to China's mission in Colombo, 110 Lankan Navy personnel were trained for over two months in Shanghai for operating the ship.

The navy of the island nation which occupies a strategically important position in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has 50 combat and support ships. Last year, India had gifted an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) to Sri Lanka besides two such vessels in 2006 and 2008.

Global beverages major Coca-Cola on July 16 announced top-level changes in its India and South West Asia unit with appointment of Sarvita Sethi as Vice-President-M&A and New Ventures, and Harsh Bhutani as Vice President - Finance (CFO).

Sethi, who was earlier VP Finance India and South West Asia, in her new role will provide leadership to business incubation, Coca-Cola said in a statement.

She will also continue to lead the M&A priorities for Coca-Cola's business in India and South West Asia, it added.

It was after nearly a year that Rohan Bopanna was able to lay his hands on the Arjuna award, as he received it from the Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju here on Tuesday.

“It is an amazing feeling to hold the award. Definitely, I would have loved to receive it from the President at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, along with other athletes and achievers. But that does not take anything away from the thrill of receiving it,” said Bopanna, who received the trophy along with his wife Supriya Annaiah.

Bopanna, a former World No. 3 doubles star, said he enjoyed his meeting with the minister.

“He is such a big tennis fan, and has been watching tennis for a long time. We spoke for nearly 45 minutes and it was very positive. He also talked about following women’s cricket, as Smriti Mandhana also got the award today,” said Bopanna.

Sharath Kamal was voted the Sportsperson of the Year in the annual Indian Oil Sports Conclave at an impressive function in New Delhi on Monday.

Sharath, a Chennai-based Chief Manager who turned 37 last week, was among the five nominees for whom votes were polled by over 60 elite sportspersons employed with the oil major.

The other nominees were cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, Grandmaster B, Adhiban, hockey player Simranjeet Singh and table tennis player Manika Batra.

A delighted Sharath said, “It is a great honour to be chosen ahead of such achievers. After my parents, Indian Oil has played a major role in my career. In 2003, they took me when I was not even a National champion. Sine then, they have taken care of all my needs and it is an absolute privilege to be part of the Indian Oil family.”