The Maharashtra government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Microsoft Corporation for a strategic partnership to establish three cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) centres of excellence in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur to accelerate the adoption of AI technologies within the state’s administration. The Mumbai Centre for Geospatial Analytics will be hosted in the chief secretary’s office and will provide advanced geospatial analytics capabilities. It will support critical decision-making in governance through satellite imagery analysis, spatial data management, and geographic information system-based applications. The Centre for Excellence in Pune will see an integration of AI capabilities with existing forensic science infrastructure to enhance criminal investigation processes, forensic data analysis and evidence management.

The Nagpur-based Maharashtra Advanced Research and Vigilance for Enforcement of Reformed Laws Limited (MARVEL), the third centre of excellence, will help strengthen AI-driven solutions for government functions, focusing on enforcement, monitoring, vigilance, and innovative governance reforms. The capacity building will be ensured through the collaboration between MARVEL and IIM-Nagpur.

The MoU engages Microsoft Corporation for comprehensive training programs and certification to the government employees through its globally recognised MS Learn platforms.

The Startup & IT Promotion Cell, Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa launched the Goa Open Innovation Challenge 2025 (GOIC) under the leadership of the Hon'ble Minister for Tourism, Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Printing and Stationery Shri. Rohan A. Khaunte in the presence of Hon'ble MLA and Chairman of InfoTech Corporation of Goa Ltd, Dr. Chandrakant Shetye, Director of DITE&C Shri. Kabir Shirgaonkar, Joint Director of DITE&C Shri. Milind Sakhardande, OSD to Minister of ITE&C Shri. Neville Noronha and CEO of Startup and IT Promotion Cell, Government of Goa Shri. D S Prashant.

This launch brought together startups, students, government bodies and industry to develop technology-driven solutions for key challenges in sectors such as Tourism, Waste Management, Agriculture, NABARD, Public Service Commission and Industry.

Star Air is a progressive full-service regional carrier which is 'connecting real India' from their main base at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Star Air currently operates a modern fleet of 9 Embraer aircraft, and are one of only three domestic airlines in India offering both business and economy cabins. Star Air plans to operate a fleet of 25 aircraft by 2027 and enhance connectivity across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India. With new aircraft soon to commence operations, Star Air will target underserved markets and set new standards in air travel.

With such progressive growth plans, Star Air needed an established revenue management partner to help them maximise passenger revenue day in and day out. Star Air choose Maxamation and the Aviator Revenue Management system as the best fit for their needs.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, on Tuesday, which seeks to implement international conventions on the leasing of aviation equipment.

Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said the new Bill will provide a boost to the aircraft leasing industry.

“We are leasing so many planes every year. Ireland has a big leasing industry, and Dubai and Singapore have taken a lead in this industry. In our Indian skies, 840 planes are operating, and 86.4% of those planes are in the leasing model today. Airlines are preferring to go into the leasing model, and they go to other countries and lease. So, our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) thought we should have a leasing industry here…there was no legislation so far,” he said.

Moody’s Ratings said India’s growth at 6.5 per cent will remain the highest amongst the advanced and emerging G-20 countries, supported by tax measures and continued monetary easing. The report released today said that the country will continue to attract capital and withstand any cross-border outflow. In its report on emerging markets, Moody’s said emerging economies are exposed to choppy waters from the churn of US policies. It said economic activity in the fastest-growing economies will slow slightly from high levels but remain strong this year and next.

A study by Australian researchers has revealed that a 4-degree Celsius rise in global temperatures could lead to a dramatic 40% reduction in world GDP by the year 2100, a sharp increase from previous estimates of around 11%. The findings, published Tuesday in the journal ‘Environmental Research’, have significant implications for global climate policy and underscore the urgent need for faster action on climate change.

The research, conducted by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Institute for Climate Risk and Response (ICRR), identifies a critical oversight in traditional economic models that has influenced climate policy to date. Unlike earlier studies that relied on historical data comparing weather events to economic growth, the new analysis takes into account the impact of global supply chain disruptions caused by extreme weather events. This adjustment significantly alters previous projections, revealing a far more severe economic outcome from climate change.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Monday launched a crew of four private astronauts led by a crypto entrepreneur on a mission to orbit Earth from pole to pole, a novel trajectory in which no humans have traveled before.

Maltese investor Chun Wang, a Chinese-born magnate who founded a bitcoin mining company, is the bankroller and commander of the SpaceX mission, named Fram2, a reference to the Norwegian “Fram” ship that pioneered Arctic exploration at the turn of the 20th century.

Wang and three associates launched aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule at 9:47 p.m. EDT on Monday (0147 GMT on Tuesday) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, setting off for a free-flying mission for three to five days, during which they will partake in 22 research experiments largely centered on how spaceflight and microgravity affect the human body.

A year-long “Cleanliness Drive” – Hnatlangpui – was set into motion in Aizawl, Mizoram on Monday. The “Hnatlangpui” is being undertaken jointly under the aegis of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Department, Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA).

Speaking at the inauguration program, Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Minister K Sapdanga said that the Government is taking up proactive measures to keep Mizoram neat and clean. He said that the Government has accorded top priority for cleanliness in all towns, cities and villages within the state.

The Minister said that the Government is focusing on the ‘Comprehensive Plan For Municipal Waste Management in Aizawl’ to keep the capital city neat and clean through all seasons. He said that a ‘Monitoring Committee’ is being constituted under the Chairmanship of UD & PA Secretary of Mizoram Government. Sapdanga said that the Government is coming up with ‘Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility’ to cater to the “cleanliness campaign” of Hospitals and Health Care Centres. The state-wide “Cleanliness Campaign” – Hnatlangpui – will go till March next year.

In a boost to Maharashtra's Maritime capability, a Shipyard located in the key region of Dabhol in Konkan region has entered into operationalization by carrying out the important Steel Cutting Ceremony.

Square Port Shipyard Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Hazoor Multi Projects Limited, has secured an order from a shipping company located in the United Kingdom. The all-important steel cutting ceremony, which marks the initiation of the ship building activity was carried out on the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa at their shipyard located at Dabhol - Usgaon.

Fattehsingh Patil, Director of Square Port Shipyard stated, "The ship building and repair industry in India has immense potential, however its capability is grossly under-utilized. The Government of India has provided a boost to this sector through its recent allocation in the Financial Budget for 2025-26. We hope that our (today's) steel cutting ceremony shall be an important addition to Maharashtra's shipbuilding capability and assist in realizing Maharashtra's goal of becoming a $1 Trillion economy by 2027. With this steel cutting for building of a new Landing Craft, a total of 5 vessels are under construction at the shipyard as on today. We are in talks with many other major foreign shipyards and hope to give even more positive news in the coming few months," he added.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday launched free bus services for women in the Union Territory.

“During the Budget (session), we made a special announcement about women – that our SRTC (State Road Transport Corporation) and smart buses will offer free service to them from April 1,” the Chief Minister said after inaugurating the initiative at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC).

“Today, we launched that service with the hope that it will make their travel easy, whether for their education, shopping or (for a) picnic,” he said.