The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted four flight tests of the Army version of the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) on April 3 and 4, 2025. The tests were carried out at Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha.

The operational flight trials were conducted against high-speed aerial targets, with each of the four missiles successfully intercepting and destroying its designated target. The tests covered target interceptions at varying ranges and altitudes - long-range, short-range, high-altitude, and low-altitude - to assess the missile system's full operational capability.

RailTel Corporation of India Ltd, a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lamrin Tech Skills University, Punjab (LTSU) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to develop and implement specialized skill development programs for the railway sector.

According to an official statement, this collaboration aims to bridge the skill gap in Railways and allied sector by offering Post Graduate Diploma/Certification and Industry Sponsored Diploma courses that align with industry requirements. The MoU has been signed in the presence of RailTel CMD Sanjai Kumar, Vice President of NSDC Academy Nitin Kapoor. Dr Sandeep Singh Kaura, Chancellor/LTSU cum Advisor/ NSDC and other senior officials of RailTel, NSDC and LTSU were also present on the occasion.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced an increase in fees for ATM withdrawals, which will take effect from May 1, 2025. Customers will now have to pay Rs 23 per transaction after exhausting their free monthly limit. This is an increase from the current charge of Rs 21 per transaction.

Despite the fee hike, customers will continue to receive a limited number of free ATM transactions every month. According to the RBI guidelines, bank account holders will get:

Five free transactions per month (both financial and non-financial) at ATMs of their own bank.

Three free transactions per month at ATMs of other banks in metro cities.

Five free transactions per month at ATMs of other banks in non-metro areas.

Once customers exceed these limits, they will have to pay Rs 23 per withdrawal.

Actor Kamal Haasan has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Media and Entertainment Committee South. This was announced during the FICCI’s Media and Entertainment Business Conclave South Connect 2025, which was held in Chennai.

In his foreword to FICCI’s Media and Entertainment report that is celebrating the 25th edition, he urged the stakeholders to aim for a bold future, taking India’s Media and Entertainment sector to a $100 billion industry, and have content that resonates with audience across the globe. Stakeholders have a responsibility to serve audience with bold, creative storytelling that reflects the nation’s rich diversity in this digital first era.

The Warangal Chapata chilli, or as it is called Tomato chilli, from the State has been granted the Geographical Indication tag by the GI Registry, government of India on March 28. The chilli is called Tomato chilli as it has a bright red colour and is shaped round like a tomato. This is the 18th produce from Telangana that has secured the coveted GI tag.

“We are very happy with this development. It will expand the market for the the spice we have been cultivating in the family for more than 100 years. The chilli is less spicy but lends a bright red colour with extensive flavour due to its capsicum oleoresin properties,” said Rajkumar Reddy who has been cultivating the crop for 45 years in his native Thimmampet village.

Aditya Birla Capital on Monday said it has completed the amalgamation of its wholly-owned subsidiary Aditya Birla Finance with itself to create a unified larger operating NBFC.

This follows the order of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Ahmedabad Bench, dated March 24, and the scheme of amalgamation is effective from April 1, Aditya Birla Capital Ltd (ABCL) said in a statement.

In March last year, the decision to merge Aditya Birla Finance with the parent entity was taken by the respective boards, subject to receipt of various statutory and regulatory approvals.

The board has also approved the appointments of Vishakha Mulye as the MD and CEO and Rakesh Singh as the executive director of the amalgamated entity, the statement said, adding that these appointments are subject to regulatory and other requisite approvals.

Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia won a chaotic Americas Grand Prix ahead of Gresini Racing’s Alex Marquez on Sunday after leader Marc Marquez crashed halfway through the race to lose for the first time this season.

Marquez had clinched pole position in qualifying and a third straight sprint victory on Saturday, but after a first crash on the red Ducati, the six-times MotoGP champion opted to retire due to extensive damage on his bike.

Although Bagnaia took the chequered flag to move up to 75 points, Alex Marquez will leave Austin with the bigger smile as finishing second moved him to the top of the championship on 87 points, one point ahead of his elder brother Marc.

H Shankar has officially assumed charge as the Managing Director of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL).

A Mechanical Engineer with an MBA, he was inducted into the Board of CPCL as Director (Technical) in October 2020 and was holding additional charge as Managing Director since July 16, 2024.

With over three decades of experience in the oil and gas sector, he has spearheaded CPCL’s key infrastructure projects, introduced new value-added & sustainable products, and overseen the development of nationally significant fuels for the space and defense sectors, according to a statement.

Hungary has deployed soldiers and launched new disinfection measures to help contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in a northwestern area bordering Slovakia and Austria, the agriculture minister said on Wednesday.

Hungary reported its first case in more than 50 years of the disease, which often leads to trade restrictions, on a cattle farm early last month.

Since then, neighbouring Slovakia has detected outbreaks at five locations after reporting its first cases in March. It has also stepped up measures to contain the disease’s spread.

The government has appointed Deputy CAG S Ramann as Chairperson of pension fund regulator PFRDA.

Ramann would replace incumbent Deepak Mohanty whose term comes to an end in May 2025.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sivasubramanian Ramann, Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General, to the post of chairperson, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), a government notification dated April 1 said.

The ACC has approved his appointment for a tenure of five years or till he attains age of 65 years, it said.

Ramann, presently serving as Deputy CAG, belongs to 1991 batch of Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA&AS).