The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has appointed filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker as the Festival Director for the 57th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which will be held in Goa.

Gowariker’s association with IFFI spans several decades. The ministry said his appointment reflects his long-standing involvement with the festival and with the evolution of cinematic arts and global film culture.

In a statement issued by the ministry, Gowariker said, “It gives me immense pride and joy to serve as the Festival Director for the prestigious 57th International Film Festival of India, Goa. I feel privileged to have witnessed the evolution of this festival. From attending it in 1984 to continuing my association over the years, right up to 2024, when I served as the Jury President for International Cinema.”

On the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Sacred Holy Relics Exposition of Tathagata Buddha at Jivatsal in Leh today. Extending wishes to the people of Ladakh on Buddha Purnima, Mr Shah highlighted that after 75 years, these sacred relics have come to Ladakh.

The Home Minister said, ‘Lord Buddha’s wisdom is relevant even 2500 years after him.’ He said that this is not just a religious event but a historic reunion. Mr Shah expressed confidence that not only the followers of Lord Buddha from Ladakh and Kargil, but also the followers of other faiths, will receive energy from the sacred relics of Lord Buddha.

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena, Ladakh MP Mohamd Haneefa and Rinpoches from different monasteries were present at the event.

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will visit Odisha on May 1, where he will launch a major rural infrastructure initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV) in Rayagada.

During the programme, to be held at IACR Ground in Barijhola, the Union Minister will unveil rural road projects worth ₹1,698.04 crore in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Under PMGSY-IV, a total of 827 road projects covering 1,701.84 kilometres will be undertaken, providing all-weather road connectivity to 898 habitations for the first time. The improved connectivity is expected to enhance access to schools, hospitals, markets, and other essential services, while also driving local economic activity and employment opportunities.

Buddha Purnima is being celebrated today. It not only marks the day when Gautam Buddha was born but also the day when he attained Nirvana under the Mahabodhi tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar.

This day is commemorated by Buddhists and Hindus all over the world and is a major festival in countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, came into force today, marking a significant step in regulating India’s rapidly expanding online gaming sector. The Rules operationalise the provisions of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, aimed at ensuring user safety while promoting innovation and growth in the industry.

The new framework introduces a complete ban on online money games, including those based on chance, skill, or a mix of both. It also prohibits their advertisement and financial transactions linked to such platforms. It added that violations may attract stringent penalties, including imprisonment and fines.

The Rules establish the Online Gaming Authority of India as a unified regulator under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The Authority will classify online games, oversee compliance, address user grievances, and coordinate enforcement with financial institutions and law enforcement agencies.

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has emerged as the world’s largest real-time payments platform, anchoring India’s digital economy. A decade after its launch, UPI has transformed from a fledgling digital experiment into the world’s largest real-time payments platform, powering nearly half of global instant payment transactions and redefining how India pays.

Launched on April 11, 2016, UPI today stands as the backbone of India’s digital economy – driving financial inclusion, enabling seamless commerce and setting global benchmarks in digital public infrastructure.

The numbers behind UPI’s rise are staggering. From just 373 transactions in its first month, the platform processed around 24 thousand 162 crore transactions in Financial Year 2025-26, marking an extraordinary 12,000-fold increase in volume.

International Labour Day is being observed today to honour the contribution of workers across the world. It is also known as May Day. The day aims to pay tribute to workers’ sacrifices in achieving economic and social rights all over the world. It is celebrated with many festivities, including parades and parties.

In 1886, a large demonstration of labourers, demanding eight hours of daily work, was held in America, which went out of hand in Chicago, with lots of people getting hurt. The incident came to be known as The Haymarket Affair and marked the start of International Labour Day. In 1889, a lot of socialist parties in Europe came together and decided to celebrate May 1 as International Labour Day. Since then, the special day has been observed every year on the same day.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a large-scale Google Cloud India Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub being developed by Google in Visakhapatnam.

The project, being executed in partnership with AdaniConneX and Nxtra by Airtel, forms part of Google’s proposed $15 billion (approximately Rs 1.35 lakh crore) investment in India between 2026 and 2030.

The AI hub will span 601.4 acres across three strategic locations, including Rambilli in Anakapalli district, and Adavivaram and Tarluvada in Visakhapatnam district. Of the total extent, 266.6 acres are located in Tarluvada village, 174.8 acres in Rambilli, and 160 acres in Adavivaram. The project is expected to generate around 3,000 direct technical jobs upon completion.

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday approved the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory, fulfilling the aspirations and long-pending demand of the people of the region.

He termed the decision a "historic day" for Ladakh.

"I have approved the notification for the creation of five new districts in Ladakh, fulfilling the aspirations and long-pending demand of the people of Ladakh," the LG said in a post on X.

Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Suman Bery and Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India Professor Ajay Kumar Sood today released the report Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) @2047 – A Strategic Roadmap to Enable Non-Linear Inclusive Socio-economic Growth in New Delhi. Addressing the occasion, Mr Bery said that the focus has shifted from GDP to productivity, which is an evolution because better jobs or better livelihoods depend on rising productivity. He said that the report demonstrates how artificial intelligence and DPI will impact productivity, which is at the core of development.

Meanwhile, Professor Sood said that this roadmap is a call to reorient the country’s scientific enterprise towards mission-driven, DPI-aligned Research and Development and its diffusion into society. He said that this report outlines a detailed, pragmatic approach by democratising information-led intelligence at a population scale, enabling data, AI, and knowledge to empower every citizen.