Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off cruise operations from the Mumbai International Cruise Terminal (MICT) in Mumbai today. MICT is India’s largest world-class cruise terminal. The newly inaugurated MICT is designed to handle 1 million passengers every year, with approximately 10,000 passengers per day. It can also handle 5 ships simultaneously.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sonowal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for port-led prosperity has redefined our maritime ambitions. While talking about the ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’, he said, It is our resolve to make Bharat one of the top cruise destinations in the world. This mission embraces three pillars, i.e., ocean and harbour cruises, river and inland cruises, and island and lighthouse cruises.

Spread over a built-up area of more than 415,000 square feet, the MICT is developed at Ballard Pier. Equipped with 72 check-in and immigration counters spreading over an area of 207,000 square feet on the first two floors (G+1), while the other two floors (2 + 3) are developed as commercial floors.

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein inaugurated the International Conclave on the theme Buddha Dhamma and the Culture of North-East India” in Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh today. The two-day conference is being organised by the International Buddhist Confederation in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Bhutan’s Consul General in Guwahati, Jigme Thinley Namgyal, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation, Abhijit Halder and Secretary General Shartse Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche were also present at the inaugural session.

On the first day, today, three panel discussions were held on the historical relevance, art and culture of the region and the cultural impact of Buddha Dhamma on the neighbouring countries, and vice versa. The second day, tomorrow, will be dedicated to practising Vipassana and praying for world peace at the famous Golden Pagoda in Namsai.

Dr Mangi Lal Jat, a renowned agronomist and expert in climate-resilient agriculture, has taken charge as the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on Monday. The appointment, cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) last week, will be for a period of three years.

Dr Jat steps into the dual role with over 25 years of experience in sustainable farming practices, agronomy, and conservation agriculture. His leadership is expected to usher in a renewed focus on innovation, sustainability, and farmer-centric research in the country’s agricultural research ecosystem.

Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Jayant Chaudhary, urged educational institutions across the country to align skill training with the evolving needs of industry. The minister was speaking after inaugurating the NSDC-PDEU Centre of Excellence at Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) in Gandhinagar.

The minister highlighted the importance of preparing India’s youth for emerging sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, renewable energy, and smart technologies.

The Centre of Excellence (CoE), which has been jointly set up by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and PDEU, will be equipped with a laboratory with state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities to provide specialised training. The centre will offer over 40 online and hybrid courses in areas such as semiconductor manufacturing, renewable and non-renewable energy, digital edge, and smart manufacturing.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday successfully completed the second docking of satellites under its SPADEX mission.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed the development and extended his congratulations to the ISRO team. In a post on X, he said, "Glad to inform that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully."

This event marked yet another significant milestone in India's space research program.

The Indian Navy successfully completed a major refit of the Maldivian Coast Guard Ship MNDF Huravee at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, highlighting strong diplomatic and military cooperation between the two countries. The refit was done as part of India’s commitment to regional maritime security under the vision of ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth for All in the Region (MAHASAGAR)’ and its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

The ship set sail for the Maldives today upon completing her maiden normal refit at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. Over the last four months since her arrival in Mumbai on 13th Nov 2024, major works concerning the maintenance of all machinery, weapons, and sensors, along with a habitability upgrade, were undertaken. The ship was thereafter put through rigorous harbour & sea trials, operational checks of equipment, safety audits and operational sea training before her departure.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of continued coordinated efforts in effective implementation of requirements of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Rules framed under it. The MoU was signed by Director of FIU-IND Vivek Aggarwal and Executive Director, Department of Regulation of RBI R.L.K. Rao. According to the MoU, FIU-IND and RBI will cooperate with each other in the areas of mutual interest.

It includes sharing of relevant intelligence and information, available in their respective database and upgradation of Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism skills in the regulated entities. Both sides will also conduct outreach and training for regulated entities and make assessment of Money Laundering and Terror Financing risks and vulnerabilities in the relevant financial sub-sectors.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today lauded the Bombay Stock Exchange’s (BSE) technological advancements and its vital role in India’s economic development. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Asia’s oldest stock exchange, marked a historic milestone as it celebrated its 150th anniversary, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was the chief guest at the celebration.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Sitharaman said BSE processes orders worth Rs 1,500 crore daily, reflecting the seamless integration of cutting-edge technology. She added that this truly is a barometer of where the Indian economy is headed.

She emphasized that the government’s budget focus has been on “inclusive growth,” and India remains well-positioned to navigate global disruptions with policy agility and long-term strategic investments. She added that the strong regulatory framework of the BSE has played a key role in this stability.

Karad, a small city in Maharashtra’s Satara district, has achieved 100% segregation, collection, and processing of sanitary and biomedical waste, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs announced on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the city collects an average of 300 to 350 kg of sanitary waste daily—including sanitary napkins, diapers, and other hygiene products—from hospitals, clinics, households, and public facilities.

Women-led groups have played a key role in spreading awareness at the community level. Red bins placed in public toilets ensure proper disposal, while schools have installed sanitary pad vending machines, incinerators, and disposal systems to promote hygienic practices among adolescents.

India has fielded a 56-member squad for the Asian Under-15 and Under-17 Boxing Championships being held in Amman, Jordan. This is the first event organised by Asian Boxing, endorsed by both the Olympic Council of Asia and the newly formed World Boxing. The standout names in the Under-17 boys’ squad include Sahil Duhan and Devansh, who clinched silver and bronze, respectively, at the 2024 Asian Junior Championship, as well as Tikam Singh, who is the SGFI 2024 gold medallist.