India and the UK have resumed negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement on Monday.

This announcement has been made by the Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his UK counterpart Jonathan Reynolds who is in Delhi, the statement said.

The two sides have agreed to resume negotiations towards a balanced, mutually beneficial and a forward-looking deal that delivers mutual growth and builds on the strengths of two complementary economies, it said.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has received the insignia of the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).

He was presented the medal on on Friday (February 21, 2025) for the award that was received last year, with presence of friends and family at the British High Commissioner’s residence in New Delhi.

Renowned Odissi dancer Mayadhar Raut (92) died on Saturday at his Delhi home, his son Manoj Raut said.

"He had breakfast this morning, surrounded by his grandchildren and the rest of the family. He wasn't experiencing any illnesses and passed away due to old age," Raut told PTI.

The last rites will be conducted at the Lodhi Road crematorium on Saturday.

The Padma Shri awardee, born on July 6, 1933 in Odisha, is considered the "Father of Odissi dance", having steered the revival of Odissi in 1950s with Shastra-based knowledge.

His training to become one of the foremost artistes of the dance form began at the age of seven with learning the 'Gotipua' dance form, a precursor to the classical Odissi dance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the Bageshwar Dham Medical and Science Research Institute in Madhya Pradesh’s Garha village at the invitation of Bageshwar Dham chief Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri.

The hospital, aimed at providing free medical treatment to cancer patients from underprivileged backgrounds, will be equipped with state-of-the-art chemotherapy and cancer treatment facilities.

Specialist doctors will oversee patient care, ensuring advanced medical support. The project, estimated to cost around Rs 200 crore, is expected to be completed within two to three years.

Addressing a massive gathering, PM Modi expressed his gratitude for visiting Bundelkhand twice in a short span. “This time, I came at the invitation of Balaji. It is truly Hanuman Ji’s blessing that this centre of faith is now transforming into a centre of health as well,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2025 in Bhopal on Monday, lauding the state’s progress and highlighting its potential to become one of the top five states in India in terms of GDP. He emphasized Madhya Pradesh’s crucial role in shaping India’s economic future.

Addressing investors, PM Modi spoke about the world’s growing optimism toward India’s economic trajectory. “This is the first time in India’s history that the world is so optimistic about our future. Just a few days ago, the World Bank stated that India will remain the world’s fastest-growing economy in the coming years. A representative from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also said that the future of the world is in India. These examples reflect the world’s confidence in our country, which is inspiring every state, including Madhya Pradesh. This confidence is evident at MP’s Global Investment Summit today,” he stated.

More than 600 students have received refunds of Rs 1.56 crore from coaching institutes after the intervention of the Department of Consumer Affairs.

According to an official statement on Saturday, the department has "successfully secured refunds amounting to Rs 1.56 crore for over 600 aspirants and students in the education sector."

These students, enrolled in coaching centres for civil services, engineering courses and other programmes, were previously denied rightful refunds despite following the terms and conditions set forth by the coaching institutes, it added.

The relief was made possible through grievances filed by the students via the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), which facilitated a streamlined process for dispute resolution.

Papal thriller “Conclave” claimed the top prize on Sunday at Hollywood’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Timothee Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan made him the surprise best actor winner, at the last major honors ahead of next weekend’s Oscars.

The “Conclave” cast of Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini won best movie ensemble at the SAG Awards, a red-carpet ceremony that streamed live on Netflix. The film tells the story of the secret maneuvering at the Vatican during the selection of a fictional pope.

Fiennes spoke on behalf of the cast about the need for supportive communities, in filmmaking and in life, as he accepted the SAG trophy on stage in downtown Los Angeles.

“We do recognize the supreme importance of (community) in our work and in the world,” Fiennes said. “That’s what we’re celebrating tonight.”

A day after addressing the issue in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday nominated 10 prominent figures from various fields to spearhead a nationwide campaign against obesity. Among them is Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has enthusiastically joined the movement.

“As mentioned in yesterday's #MannKiBaat, I would like to nominate the following people to help strengthen the fight against obesity and spread awareness on reducing edible oil consumption in food. I also request them to nominate 10 people each so that our movement gets bigger!” PM Modi wrote on X.

The second edition of the “India in Bahrain Festival” drew more than 2,000 visitors to Dana Mall in Sanabis, showcasing India’s cultural diversity through performances, art, and cuisine. The event, organized by the Indian Embassy in collaboration with Lulu Hypermarket Bahrain and Dana Mall, took place on February 21.

Indian Ambassador to Bahrain, Vinod K. Jacob, inaugurated the festival, which featured performances by 17 Indian community associations presenting classical and folk traditions from various regions of India. The event, part of the Ministry of External Affairs’ Promotion of Cultural Ties with Diaspora (PCTD) initiative, also included an art exhibition titled ‘India Through My Eyes,’ featuring 42 paintings by 20 artists.

Visitors explored stalls run by over 20 Indian community associations, offering traditional handicrafts and authentic cuisine. The Embassy provided additional support through a dedicated consular services counter.

The festival’s success underscores the Embassy’s ongoing efforts to strengthen cultural bonds between India and its diaspora community in Bahrain, while promoting cultural exchange between the two nations.

The Indian technology industry is projected to achieve $300 billion in revenue by the financial year 2026, according to a report by Nasscom. For the current fiscal year (FY25), the sector is expected to add approximately 126,000 net new employees, bringing the total workforce to 5.8 million.

Amid evolving global economic conditions and shifting market dynamics, FY25 has been a year of strategic resilience. Segments such as engineering research and development (ER&D) and global capability centers (GCCs) have been key growth drivers for India’s technology sector.

The Annual Strategic Review 2025 by Nasscom highlighted that the industry grew by 5.1% during FY25, adding $13.8 billion in incremental revenue. This increase has taken the sector’s total revenue, including hardware, to over $282.6 billion.