The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), South Asia,at IFMR. The partnership aims to leverage J-PAL’s expertise as a knowledge partner to empower rural poor women towards self-sufficiency.

The MoU signed by Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, Charanjit Singh, and Executive Director of J-PAL South Asia, Shobhini Mukerji, underscores the importance of real-time feedback in implementing effective programmes. According to Shri Charanjit Singh, this collaboration will facilitate the integration of feedback mechanisms, vital for informed decision-making.

Central to this partnership is the adoption of BRAC’s Graduation Approach, a proven livelihood program that has effectively uplifted vulnerable households out of poverty, as evidenced by randomised evaluations conducted by J-PAL and Innovations for Poverty Action. J-PAL South Asia will support MoRD in incorporating scientific evidence and data into their decision-making processes.

Former navy chief and war hero Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas passed away at 90 in Secunderabad. Known for promoting gender equality and peace.

Former navy chief and a war hero Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas passed away at Secunderabad on Friday due to age-related health issues, according to a statement from Indian Navy.

He was 90. His funeral will be held on Saturday.

Mohammad Mustafa, appointed prime minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA) on Thursday, is one of the leading Palestinian business figures who has overseen Gaza reconstruction under Hamas Islamist rule.

A rare ally of PA head Mahmoud Abbas, U.S.-educated economist Mustafa once ran the Palestinian telecoms company Paltel and more recently the PA's public Palestine Investment Fund (PIF), with nearly $1 billion in assets funding projects across the Palestinian territories.

He was tapped a decade ago to help lead reconstruction efforts in Gaza after an earlier war between Israel and Islamist militant group Hamas.

Vaccines assume a significant role in curing diseases that used to be fatal at one point of time. Diseases, for example, Polio and Smallpox, were widespread and took many lives, till vaccinations against these sicknesses came in. Vaccination empowers us to have a safe and healthy existence without the risk of diseases.

This day emphasises the significance of getting vaccinated to keep ourselves protected and healthy. Frontline health workers, specialists and nurses work vigorously all through the year to guarantee that we are fit and fine. They make sure that we are appropriately vaccinated also. Consequently, National Vaccination Day is held to spread awareness about the significance of getting vaccinated.

Ratings agency Fitch raised India’s GDP growth estimates for FY24 and FY25 on Thursday, as compared with its previous outlook, citing growing domestic demand and improved business and consumer confidence.

Terming the upward revisions “sizeable", the ratings agency changed the FY24 estimate to 7.8% from 6.9% in December 2023, and the FY25 estimate to 7%, from 6.5% a quarter ago. It also lowered its expectations of future rate cuts.

"With GDP growth having exceeded 8% for three consecutive quarters, we expect an easing in growth momentum in the final quarter of the current fiscal year, implying an estimate of 7.8% for growth in FY24," Fitch said.

Around 100 jails across the country have been certified as Eat Right Campus by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, today, said that the highest number of jails certified were from Uttar Pradesh, followed by Punjab, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. It said, the initiative saw participation and certification of some prominent jails of India, including the Tihar Prison in Delhi, Central Jail Gaya in Bihar, Modern Central Jail in Punjab, Central Jail Rewa in Madhya Pradesh and along with several district and Mandal jails. The Ministry added that by extending the Eat Right Campus certification to prisons and correctional facilities, FSSAI focuses on ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all, including inmates and prison staff.

In Bangladesh, a legendary Rabindra Sangeet singer Sadi Mohammad passed away on Wednesday evening. The younger brother of the deceased and distinguished dancer Shibli Mohammad confirmed the death to the media in Dhaka. He was 70. Family sources said that Sadi was practising music with his Tanpura in a room of their house in Dhaka on Wednesday evening. Suddenly, his brother Shibli Mohammad noticed the closed door of the room. Upon breaking open the door, he found the singer’s lifeless body hanging from the ceiling fan. He was mentally disturbed after his mother’s death last year.

Sadi Mohammad completed his bachelor’s and master’s in Rabindra Sangeet from the Visva-Bharati University in India and is the son of Liberation War martyr Salimullah and Jebunnesa Salim Ullah. Sadi served as the director of the cultural organisation Rabi Raag. His death has cast a grim shadow in Bangladesh’s cultural sphere.

As India emerges as a major gaming hub, more and more gamers and game enthusiasts are getting into the arena of game development. KRAFTON, one of the major game development companies in the world has announced a first of its kind incubator for game development which will allow development from the concept stage. Anuj Sahani, head of KRAFTON India Incubator Program and India Publishing Advisor, while speaking to The Indian Express said they have shortlisted two companies which would be the first cohort to be incubated by the company.

Valued at roughly $ 180 billion, the gaming industry across the world has seen robust growth across the years.

India’s share is minimal given the country is still at the infant stages when it comes to development of games. While game development might be at its infancy, India is a major gaming hub with almost all multinational players customising their games for the Indian market. KRAFTON has invested around $ 160 million in various startups since they entered India in 2021 and has plans to invest $ 150 million more in the next 2-3 years.

The Rajasthan government has decided to distribute free seeds of millets and coarse grains to the state’s farmers in a bid to boost millet production.

“We have decided to provide free mini kits of maize seeds to 1.2 million farmers, pearl millet (bajra) seeds to 800,000 farmers, mustard seeds to 700,000 farmers, moong seeds to 400,000 farmers, and sorghum (jowar) and moth seeds to 100,000 farmers,” Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said.

An official of the agriculture department said that the free seeds kits will be distributed starting next financial year.

Rajasthan has a share of 26 per cent in total millet production of the country. Pearl millet and sorghum are the main millet crops produced in the state, with Rajasthan accounting for the country’s 41 per cent bajra production.

Mumbai, the perennial domestic heavyweights, brought an end to their eight-year title drought by clinching a historic 42nd Ranji Trophy title on Thursday. Their resounding victory came on the fifth and final day of the summit clash against a resilient Vidarbha side by 169 runs.

The victory was even sweeter for the Ajinkya Rahane-led Mumbai as they clinched the record-extending title at their home ground, the iconic Wankhede Stadium.