The Maldives has launched real-time cross-border fund transfers to India through the integration of its instant payment system, Favara, with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The Maldives Monetary Authority announced the successful rollout of the service yesterday, describing it as a major step in strengthening digital financial connectivity and economic cooperation between the two countries. The Finance Ministry said that under the new facility, individuals in the Maldives can transfer money in real time to beneficiaries in India.

It added that transactions are initiated in Maldivian Rufiyaa and are credited directly in Indian Rupees to UPI-enabled bank accounts. In the initial phase, the service is available to customers of Bank of Maldives Plc and Maldives Islamic Bank Plc. Users can make person-to-person transfers through their mobile banking applications using the Favara payment platform.

The Ministry said that permitted remittance categories include family-maintenance-related remittances under both Foreign Inward and Foreign Outward Remittance, as well as gift-related remittances permitted under Foreign Outward Remittance.

The Ministry of Ayush and IndiaAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote Artificial Intelligence-driven innovation across the Ayush sector. The Ministry of Ayush said that the MoU aims to harness emerging technologies to strengthen research, digital health, capacity building and innovation in traditional medicine.

It added, the partnership will accelerate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence across key Ayush domains, including research, medicinal plants and drug administration, while fostering a technology-enabled and future-ready Ayush ecosystem. Under the partnership, the Ministry will onboard the AIKosh platform to share eligible health research artefacts, including datasets, metadata, AI models, toolkits and relevant use cases.

The Ministry said that the collaboration will support advanced AI research, strengthen digital innovation in healthcare and contribute to building an evidence-driven and globally competitive Ayush ecosystem.

Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi today urged citizens to download the Mission Shakti App for quick access to key helpline services for women and children. The App provides easy access to multiple emergency and support services on a single platform.

In a social media post, the Union Minister highlighted that the Mission Shakti App further strengthens the Government’s resolve towards the safety, assistance and empowerment of women and children. She said the App enables quick and convenient access to important helpline services, including Women Helpline 181, Emergency Response Support System 112, Poshan and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana Helpline 1515, National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930, Legal Aid through National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) 15100, Tele-MANAS 14416 and Child Helpline 1098.

Mrs. Annpurna Devi appealed to citizens to download the Mission Shakti App and share information about these important services with their families and acquaintances.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, today launched DAANVEER, a citizen participation initiative aimed at strengthening the digital infrastructure of Gram Panchayats across the country in New Delhi. The initiative was launched by Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Vivek Bharadwaj,

Launching the initiative, Mr Bharadwaj described DAANVEER as an important step towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat by ensuring that every Gram Panchayat is digitally equipped, connected and future-ready. He said the initiative provides an opportunity to reconnect with their roots by contributing meaningfully to the development of their native villages.

Emphasising the transformative role of digital infrastructure at the grassroots, he observed that a computer in a Gram Panchayat is no longer merely a device for maintaining records; it is an enabler of faster service delivery, greater transparency and improved governance. He noted that DAANVEER should be viewed not as a donation drive, but as a platform for partnership that enables citizens and institutions to become active participants in strengthening local self-governance and advancing Digital India.

Two years after it passed legislative amendments that put tight restrictions on the sale and purchase of land around certain institutions, the Assam Assembly passed a revised Bill Wednesday that redefines the phrase “original inhabitants”. The 2024 law was passed but did not come into force.

The government Wednesday introduced a revised set of amendments to the Assam Land Revenue and Regulation Act. In 2024, the previous Assam Legislative Assembly had passed the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2024, restricting the sale and purchase of land within a 5-kilometre radius of “iconic heritage structures” over 250 years old to “original inhabitants”, which it defined as people who have been living, along with their families, in that area “for three generations prior to the date of commencement of the Act”.

Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL) has signed an Agreement for Deed Execution of Exploration Licence with the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG), Rajasthan, for the exploration of Rare Earth Elements (REE) in the Nawatala–Devigarh block.

CMPDIL was granted the exploration licence for the block in September 2025. The signing of the agreement marks another step in the company’s efforts to explore critical mineral resources in India.

The agreement is also significant as it is the first of its kind signed in India under the new regime, according to CMPDIL. The development comes as India looks to strengthen domestic exploration and availability of critical minerals that are important for several modern industries and technologies.

It took Dilip Mahadu Gavit just 10.71 seconds to etch his name into Commonwealth Games history. The journey to that golden moment, however, was years in the making.

On a rain-soaked evening in Glasgow, the 22-year-old from rural Maharashtra produced the race of his life to win the men's 100m T47 gold medal with a Games Record and season-best time of 10.71 seconds. Moments later, India's celebrations doubled as Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath crossed the finish line in 10.83 seconds, a season best that secured silver and completed a historic Indian one-two.

England's Kevin Santos took bronze in 10.85 seconds, but the night belonged to the Indian duo, who delivered one of the country's greatest moments in Commonwealth Games para athletics.

India is at an inflection point where technology is creating opportunities for every citizen and driving transformation, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday, adding that the country is on track to connect 100 crore people to 5G by 2030 after having connected nearly 50 crore users in just two-and-a-half years.

The minister also said that India’s first telecom manufacturing zone (TMZ) will come up in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

“You all heard about SEZs...now the world will hear about a TMZ - an ecosystem only for the telecom sector, for data centres, for chip manufacturers, where we are putting in place a full plug-and-play system between the government of Madhya Pradesh and the government of India,” Scindia said at an event on India Mobile Congress 2026 theme launch.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has issued fresh rules for the planned re-entry of space objects into the Earth’s atmosphere. IN-SPACe, which is the single-window agency that clears private space-sector activities in India, has said that risk to individuals from space objects making re-entry must be one in ten thousand.

The guidelines, released on July 23, are titled ‘Norms, Guidelines and Procedures for Implementation of Indian Space Policy-2023 in Respect of Authorisation for Undertaking Planned Re-entry of Space Objects’.

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill that criminalises intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram, thereby according it legal sanctity at par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to amend a 1971 law by the same name, which makes insults towards the national anthem, national flag and the Constitution a criminal offence.

The Bill was passed through a voice vote following a walkout by nearly all opposition members. When the upper House proceedings resumed at 2pm, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh invited members to begin a discussion on the Bill.