In a landmark initiative, the Indian Navy has handed over the decommissioned Landing Ship Tank INS Guldar to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) for conversion into India’s first underwater museum and artificial reef.

The conversion process will involve a thorough cleaning of the ship to remove any potential pollutants or hazardous materials, ensuring environmental clearances as per guidelines.

The project to convert the ship into an underwater museum and artificial reef holds significant potential for showcasing marine conservation, creating livelihood opportunities for coastal communities, and elevating India’s stature in underwater tourism.

The 2025 Financial Literacy Week was initiated by the Reserve Bank of India, an annual initiative aimed at promoting financial awareness among the people. This year, the campaign runs from February 24 to 28, under the theme “Financial Literacy—Women’s Prosperity.”.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the campaign was launched by Abhishek Mazumdar, General Manager, RBI Regional Office Itanagar, in a function held at DK Convention Centre in Itanagar today. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mazumdar said that the theme this year emphasizes empowering women financially and socially.

He asked the bankers to reach out to the customers and encourage them to use all the digital financial and banking apps provided by the government and the banks. He also asked them to create awareness about the risks and precautions while using these platforms.

India is set to transform into a high-income country with a projected GDP of $23–$35 trillion by 2047, driven by sustained annual growth of 8-10 percent, according to a report on Thursday.

This will be powered by India’s demographic dividend, technological innovation, and sectoral transformation, according to the report by Bain & Company and Nasscom.

With nearly 200 million individuals expected to enter the workforce in the coming decades, India has a unique opportunity to drive high-value job creation and unlock significant economic potential.

Five key sectors, including electronics, energy, chemicals, automotive, and services, would act as strategic growth levers due to alignment with global trends and scalability, with the potential to address India’s unique challenges and advantages.

Rising income, a growing pool of skilled workers, and continuous improvements in infrastructure are some of the key factors that can fuel this growth, said the report.

India’s National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) and Sri Lanka’s Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) have finalised the modalities for the implementation of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train 1,500 Sri Lankan civil service officers over five years.

An NCGG delegation, led by Director General Dr. Surendrakumar Bagde, visited Sri Lanka to firm up modalities. The delegation met key officials, including Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Public Administration Minister Dr. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna.

Discussions at SLIDA resulted in an agreement to conduct around eight training modules annually. The MoU was signed between the two countries during the visit of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to New Delhi in December 2024.

The first training module for 40 Sri Lankan officers will be held soon. Notably, even before the MoU’s signing, over 200 Sri Lankan officers had already undergone training at NCGG.

The 9th Asia Economic Dialogue is being organised from tomorrow in Pune, Maharashtra. The Asia Economic Dialogue is External Affairs Ministry’s annual flagship ‘Track 1.5 Dialogue’ on Geoeconomics. The three-day Dialogue is being co-hosted in collaboration with Pune International Centre. The theme of the Dialogue is “Economic Resilience and Resurgence in an Era of Fragmentation.” The Dialogue will explore key contemporary topics in geo-economics, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation, economic imperatives of Cyber Security, and facets of Blue Economy in Indian Ocean Region and beyond. It also aims to address the complexities of economic fragmentation and identify actionable pathways for resilience and resurgence. Asia Economic Dialogue 2025 will bring together political leaders and senior government officials, academicians, policymakers, and industry experts from India and abroad for deliberations.

A high-level Indian delegation has concluded a landmark series of strategic meetings in Saudi Arabia, strengthening bilateral media partnerships and generating momentum for India’s upcoming World Audio-Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025).

Led by Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju and Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi, the delegation met with key Saudi media leaders during the “Future of Media” Exhibition (FOMEX) in Riyadh. During their visit, the team toured exhibition booths of global media organizations including MBC Group, Ekagami, Sony, and AIBD at FOMEX, exploring potential international partnerships.

Other engagements included discussions with Jomana R. Alrashid, CEO of Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), and Assistant Minister of Media Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Maghlouth, focusing on expanding bilateral media cooperation.

The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, has inaugurated a state-of-the-art incubation facility at Salt Lake, Kolkata. The facility was inaugurated by Shri Jitin Prasada, Hon’ble Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. This initiative aims to foster innovation-led entrepreneurship, boost IT exports, and strengthen the IT/ITeS/ESDM industry in West Bengal.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri. Jitin Prasada, said, “India is on a transformative journey to become the global hub of technology and innovation. The inauguration of the new STPI incubation facility in Kolkata is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering innovation, nurturing startups and promoting inclusive growth across regions. STPI has been instrumental in creating a robust tech ecosystem by providing state-of-the-art infrastructure, incubation support, and a platform for budding entrepreneurs to thrive. As we stride forward in the era of Artificial Intelligence and data-driven innovation, India is focused on developing its own AI models and GPUs, ensuring equitable access for researchers, students and startups. With vast data resources and the government’s commitment to expanding technology access beyond metropolitan cities, we are bridging the digital divide and unlocking opportunities in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Together, let us build a future where India leads the world in technology and empowers every citizen in the journey towards a digitally advanced nation.”

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will chair the 27th meeting of the Western Zonal Council on Saturday, in Pune, Maharashtra. The Western Zonal Council includes Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. The meeting is hosted by the Government of Maharashtra and organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the state government.

Established in 1957 under the States Reorganization Act of 1956, the five Zonal Councils aim to promote cooperation between the Centre and States. The Union Home Minister chairs each council, while the Chief Ministers of the respective states serve as vice-chairmen on a rotational basis. Each council also includes two ministers from each state, nominated by the Governor, and has a Standing Committee at the level of Chief Secretaries.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has launched a special NCD screening drive to counter the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) across the country.

The drive, which will run from 20th February to 31st March, 2025, aims to ensure 100% coverage of individuals aged 30 years and above to detect and manage NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension, and three common cancers - oral, breast, and cervical.

The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) is a nationwide initiative aimed to be executed at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) and other healthcare facilities.

The screening drive has equipped healthcare workers with the necessary training to provide screening services directly to individuals in their homes. This is done through door-to-door campaigns, allowing them to reach and assist more people effectively.

Mount Dukono, located in Indonesia’s North Maluku province, erupted on Thursday, prompting the country’s Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre to issue an aviation warning.

The volcano, situated on Halmahera Island, spewed a column of ash up to 2,000 metres into the sky, with thick white-to-grey clouds drifting south of the crater.

To mitigate risks to aviation, a Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) has been issued at the orange level, the second-highest warning, prohibiting planes from flying below 5 km around the volcano.

Aircraft should also exercise caution due to ash clouds, which can disrupt flights, Xinhua News Agency reported.