India and Kyrgyzstan today signed the Protocol and exchanged the Instrument of Ratification of the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). The BIT was signed in presence of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Affairs Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Zheenbek Kulubaev Moldokanovich in New Delhi. The new Treaty replaces the earlier agreement enforced on 12th May 2000, ensuring continuity in the protection of investments between the two nations.
Highlighting its benefits, the Finance Ministry said that the India-Kyrgyz BIT marks a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral economic relations and fostering a secure and predictable investment environment. It aims to promote and protect interests of investors of either country in the territory of the other country with various key features. The Ministry added that the treaty is expected to further encourage cross-border investments and deepen economic cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan.

India and Vietnam have agreed to step up cooperation in the media and entertainment sector during a meeting between Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. L Murugan and a delegation of high ranking officials from Vietnam in Delhi. India and Vietnam share traditionally close and warm bilateral relations. In 2022, the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The India-Vietnam bilateral relations were elevated in 2016 to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vietnam. Both the countries stressed their deep civilizational connections including a shared Buddhist heritage and agreed to work actively to further strengthen their multi-dimensional cooperation.

India’s first international all-women Tri-Services sailing expedition returned to Mumbai today after completing a 3,600-nautical mile voyage to Seychelles and back over 55 days. The 11-member crew, comprising officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, sailed aboard the indigenous 50-foot vessel Triveni, which is equipped with modern navigation and communication systems. Launched last month, the expedition showcased exceptional seamanship and resilience, with the team enduring rough seas, tropical squalls, and technical challenges. During their Seychelles stopover, the crew participated in key diplomatic and defence engagements, enhancing India’s maritime diplomacy. Selected through a rigorous tri-services process, the officers underwent extensive training in blue-water sailing. The mission highlights women-led excellence in the Armed Forces and reinforces the spirit of jointness and operational capability across India’s military services.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended the National Agriculture-Renewable Energy Conference 2025 organised by the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) in New Delhi today. On this occasion, he released the federation’s report and annual reference book on agriculture and renewable energy. The conference was organised to push for dialogue and collaboration among policymakers, experts, and farmers regarding the integration of renewable energy in the agriculture sector.

While addressing the event, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “The Hon’ble Prime Minister has entrusted me with the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development. I try to fulfill every duty given to me with dedication. A 15-day ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ has been ongoing since May 29. As part of it, I have visited Odisha, Jammu, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Patna, and Maharashtra, and I will continue to travel across the country to meet our farmer brothers and sisters.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led a special tree plantation drive at Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park in New Delhi on the occasion of World Environment Day. Mr. Modi planted a Banyan sapling under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative. The sapling was planted as a part of the Aravalli Green Wall project, which aims to reforest the 700 kilometres of the Aravalli range.

The project is intended to spread green cover in the five kilometers buffer area around the Aravalli hill range in 29 districts of four states, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat. It aims to boost biodiversity of the Aravallis with afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water bodies. It also aims to improve the soil fertility, water availability and climate resilience of the region. The project will benefit the local communities by providing them with employment and income generation opportunities.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Modi also flagged off 200 electric buses under the Delhi Government’s sustainable transport initiative, promoting clean urban mobility and symbolising the nation’s collective responsibility towards ecological balance.

South Korea’s new liberal President Lee Jae-myung began his term on Wednesday, vowing to raise the country from the turmoil of a martial law crisis and revive an economy reeling from slowing growth and the threat of global protectionism.

Lee’s decisive victory in Tuesday’s snap election stands to usher in a sea change in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, after backlash against a botched attempt at military rule brought down Yoon Suk Yeol just three years into his troubled presidency.

He faces what could be the most daunting set of challenges for a South Korean leader in nearly three decades, ranging from healing a country deeply scarred by the martial law attempt to tackling unpredictable protectionist moves by the United States, a major trading partner and a security ally.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), responsible for addressing air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas, on Thursday mandated cleaner mobility for aggregators and e-commerce entities to reduce vehicular pollution and facilitate a faster transition to cleaner modes of mobility.

In a notification, CAQM said that motor vehicle aggregators, delivery service providers and e-commerce entities in Delhi NCR shall only induct CNG and electric three-wheeler autorickshaws into their existing fleets. No conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles running purely on diesel or petrol shall be added to the fleets of four-wheeler light commercial vehicles (LCVs)

On the eve of World Environment Day, India on Wednesday added two more wetlands—Khichan in Phalodi and Menar in Udaipur—to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance . With these additions, India’s total count of Ramsar Sites now stands at 91.

Bhupender Yadav, Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Lok Sabha MP from Alwar announced the news on X (formerly Twitter). “This achievement is yet another testament to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s steadfast commitment to environmental conservation,” Yadav wrote on X. “Congratulations, India—especially the people of Rajasthan—for this significant step towards a greener tomorrow.”

India was on Wednesday elected to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations for the period from 2026-28.

The council is at the heart of the UN's mechanism to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development -- economic, social and environmental.

"India was elected to the Economic and Social Council for the term 2026-28 @UN today. Thank member states for their overwhelming support and reposing their trust in us. Appreciate the efforts of @IndiaUNNewYork," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on X.

The Government has decided to conduct the Population Census – 2027 in two phases, along with the enumeration of castes.

The first phase will be conducted in hilly and snow-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Ladakh beginning 1st of October, 2026. The second phase covering other parts of the country will be held from 1st of March 2027. The last census was conducted in 2011 in two phases. These were Phase I for House Listing and Phase II for Population Enumeration.

The notification for the intent of conducting Population Census is likely to be published in the official gazette on 16th of this month. The process of Census begins with the issuance of the notification.

Census 2021 was also proposed to be conducted in two phases with phase I during April-September 2020 and second phase in February 2021. All the preparations for the first phase of the Census to be conducted in 2021 were completed. However, the census work was postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic across the country. The Indian Census is one of the largest administrative and statistical exercise in the world. Census provides a picture of the country’s demographic, economic, social, and cultural profile. The Census also serves as a foundation for conducting other surveys across the country.