Bank of India and New India Assurance have entered into a strategic partnership to offer a wide range of general insurance products to customers of the public sector bank.

With this tie-up, Bank of India's customers will have access to insurance solutions, including health, motor, personal accident, home, and commercial insurance products offered by NIACL, a systemically important insurance company, the lender said in a release.

"The tie-up is a step forward in offering comprehensive insurance solutions under one roof," said Bank of India MD & CEO Rajneesh Karnatak.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), organized a workshop on "Emerging Trends in Public Data and Technology for Research and Policy" at the IIM Ahmedabad campus. This initiative aligns with MoSPI's ongoing efforts to enhance the national data ecosystem and advance evidence-based policymaking.

The event brought together distinguished speakers, including Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI & Head NSO; Prof. Bharat Bhaskar, Director, IIMA; Sh. P.R. Meshram, Director General, MoSPI; senior officials from the Ministry; faculty members; students; and representatives from premier academic and research institutions. The discussions revolved around leveraging public data, emerging technologies, and academic collaborations to address policy challenges.

Prof. Bharat Bhaskar, Director of IIMA, highlighted the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in policy formulation. However, he also cautioned against inherent biases that may arise from historical data patterns. “While AI can significantly enhance decision-making, it is essential to establish safeguards to ensure fairness and accuracy. Collaboration should be focused on maximizing benefits for public good,” he stated.

India and Singapore on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) collaboration at the ongoing Singapore Maritime Week (SMW). India and Netherlands also discussed the possibility of utilizing Dutch global expertise to enable cargo movement in low draft rivers of Brahmaputra and Barak.

“Under the LOI, both sides will collaborate on maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation projects, including identifying relevant stakeholders who could contribute to the effort, and work towards formalising the partnership through a memorandum of understanding on a Singapore-India GDSC,” the Ministry said in a statement.

The Singapore-India GDSC, when established, will enhance collaboration from both countries and help accelerate the development and uptake of zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies and the adoption of digital solutions, the Ministry said.

Parliament on Tuesday passed the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024, with Rajya Sabha approving the legislation by a voice vote, despite strong opposition criticism over alleged political bias in disaster relief efforts.

The bill, which aims to enhance the efficiency of national and state disaster management authorities, was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha on 1 December.

During the discussion in the Rajya Sabha, opposition members proposed several amendments, all of which were rejected by the majority. While opposition parties accused the Centre of favouritism in disaster response, Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended the bill, asserting that it would help states handle disasters more effectively.

Accelerated climate action could boost global GDP by 0.2% by 2040 compared with current policies, a study showed on Tuesday, as delegates from 40 countries meet in Berlin to shape the agenda for the COP30 summit in Brazil later this year.

An analysis by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Nations Development Programme said that well-designed climate policies not only cut emissions but could enhance efficiency, productivity and innovation -potentially raising output by an amount equivalent to the size of Sweden’s economy.

Investing in clean energy and efficiency drives productivity and innovation, offsetting the economic impact of policy-driven price and consumption changes, the study found. Reinvesting carbon revenues could further boost GDP and build public backing for climate action, it said.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) included Allahudien Paleker of South Africa and England's Alex Wharf in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires which features Nitin Menon as the only Indian, while Jayaraman Madangopal has been promoted to the Emerging Panel.

Michael Gough and Joel Wilson will make way for the two new entrants in Palekar and Wharf.

According to BCCI sources, the 50-year-old Madangopal has been promoted to the Emerging Panel which makes him eligible to officiate in overseas Tests and ODIs. Former Tamil Nadu player Madangopal has so far officiated in one Test, 22 ODIs and 42 T20Is.

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and all-rounder Deepti Sharma held on to their third positions respectively in the latest ICC Women's T20I batter and bowlers' rankings issued here on Tuesday (March 25, 2025).

Besides Mandhana, no other Indian is in the top-10 with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur placed 11th position, Jemimah Rodrigues ranked 15th and Shafali Verma a rung below.

The batters’ list is led by Australia’s Beth Mooney, followed by teammate Tahlia McGrath.

Mooney increased her lead at the top following scores of 75 not and 70 against New Zealand. Phoebe Litchfield gained three places to move to 22nd overall following an innings of 32 in the second clash with the White Ferns.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasised the religious and cultural significance of the rivers Ganga and Sharda rivers and announced plans to develop corridors along these sacred rivers to boost religious tourism in the state.

According to an official release from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), CM Dhami said, "The Ganga and Sharda rivers are not just integral to our lives but also represent the faith of crores of countrymen. Our double-engine government is committed to developing corridors along these rivers, making religious tourism more accessible and convenient for devotees from across the country and abroad."

The proposed river corridors aim to enhance infrastructure and provide better facilities for pilgrims visiting Uttarakhand, reinforcing the state's status as a major spiritual destination.

Kerala has become the first state in India to pass a law creating a commission for senior citizens, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday.

Hailing the law enacted on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said this new commission would focus on protecting the rights, welfare, and rehabilitation of the elderly.

"The LDF government is implementing policies that wholeheartedly embrace senior citizens. Kerala, which ranks first in the country in elderly welfare, is setting another example in this field.

"To strengthen the initiatives launched for senior citizens since the previous government's tenure, the state is now establishing the country's first-ever Senior Citizens Commission. As a step towards this, the Kerala Legislative Assembly passed the Kerala State Senior Citizens Commission Bill yesterday (Wednesday)," Vijayan said in a Facebook post.

Brisbane’s iconic Gabba stadium is set to be demolished after the 2032 Olympic Games, with a new 60,000-capacity venue planned for the Victoria Park area. This state-of-the-art facility, part of the city’s Olympic infrastructure, will become the new home for cricket in Queensland.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli unveiled the plans on Tuesday, bringing clarity to cricket’s future in Brisbane, which had been uncertain following the state’s successful bid to host the 2032 Olympics. The Gabba’s demolition and the new stadium construction mark a significant shift for Queensland’s sporting landscape.

Cricket Australia welcomed the announcement, saying, “This decision gives us certainty about venues and scheduling, ensuring Brisbane can continue hosting premier international and domestic cricket. Together with Queensland Cricket, the AFL, and Brisbane Lions, we advocated for the Victoria Park stadium, which will benefit both cricket fans and the wider Queensland community.”