Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said in the Legislative Assembly that the State Government is planning to extend the Bhavantar Yojana to the mustard farmers to compensate them for the difference between the government procurement price and the market price.

Speaking in the Vidhan Sabha during the ongoing Budget session, Mr. Yadav said that the State Government has sent a proposal to this regard to the Union Government and that the move is expected to benefit about 80 lakh farmers.

The Bhavantar scheme, which pays the farmers the difference if their crop is sold in the market at a price less than the government-declared minimum support price (MSP) or procurement price, currently benefits the soybean farmers in Madhya Pradesh.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said biotechnology will drive the next industrial revolution, as India steadily moves towards building a USD 1 trillion bioeconomy by 2047.

Addressing the 40th Foundation Day celebrations of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in New Delhi, the Minister launched “SUJVIKA”, an AI-driven biotech product data portal developed in collaboration with industry body ABLE.

Singh said India has ensured that it does not remain a late entrant in emerging technologies and has positioned biotechnology as a key pillar of future economic growth under the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Argentine tennis player Tomas Martin Etcheverry has won his maiden ATP Tour title, claiming the ATP 500 Rio Open with a 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 victory over Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo at the final in Brazil. Rain had delayed his semi-final, forcing him to play two matches in a single day. The 26-year-old rose to the challenge to secure the biggest title of his career. It is his first ATP crown after finishing runner-up in three previous finals.

Etcheverry also recorded his 100th tour-level match win during the tournament. He defeated Tabilo in Buenos Aires last week and repeated the win in Rio, extending his head-to-head lead to 2-0. With the win, Etcheverry has jumped 18 places to World No. 33 and will return to the Top 40 for the first time since last February. Earlier, in men’s doubles, Brazil’s Joao Fonseca and Felipe Melo defeated Constantin Frantzen of Germany and Belgium’s Robin Haase 4-6, 6-3, 10-8. It was Fonseca’s first home title and Melo’s second straight trophy.

OpenAI has appointed Indian-origin executive Arvind K C as its new chief people officer (CPO), bringing in an experienced leader with a long track record in the tech industry as the company enters its next phase of growth. His appointment follows the departure of Julia Villagra in August 2025, after less than six months in the role.

Arvind joins a growing group of Indian-origin leaders at the artificial intelligence (AI) firm, including Vijaye Raji, chief technology officer (CTO) for applications, and Srinivas Narayanan as vice president.

Speaking about his new role, KC said, “This is a moment where every organisation is being asked to rethink how work happens, what teams need, how people grow, and how to adapt as the tools change. I'm excited to join OpenAI as we work through those questions ourselves, and alongside our ecosystem of users, customers, and partners building the future with us.”

Jatinder Mehra, a stalwart of India’s steel and metals sector with a career spanning more than six decades, passed away on Tuesday. He was 86.

At the time of his death, Mehra was serving as Vice Chairman of the metals and mining division at Essar Group. Over the years, he earned a reputation for his technical knowledge, strong operational leadership and his role in driving large industrial projects.

In a post on X, the group said, "The Essar family is deeply saddened by the passing of Jatinder Mehra, a respected veteran of India’s steel industry and a leader whose vision charted some of our most significant milestones at Essar Group."

Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader R Nallakannu passed away at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital here on Wednesday, February 25, due to prolonged age-related ailments. He was 101.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the hospital said that he had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on February 1. The statement noted that despite specialised care, he had not been responding well to the treatments and his condition became critical.

“With profound sorrow, we inform you that Mr Nallakannu passed away at 1.55 pm on February 25,” the statement read.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Wednesday (February 25, 2026) conferred with the ‘Speaker of the Knesset Medal’ in recognition of his exceptional contribution to strengthening strategic relations between India and Israel.

PM Modi is the first leader to receive this medal, which is the highest honour of the Knesset — the Israeli Parliament.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana conferred the award on the Prime Minister after his address at the Israeli Parliament.

The medal was conferred in recognition of the Prime Minister’s exceptional contribution — through his personal leadership — to strengthen strategic relations between India and Israel.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced that Delhi will adopt the Centre's 'Rah-Veer' scheme, a programme designed to encourage citizens to assist road accident victims. Under this initiative, anyone who helps transport a seriously injured person to a hospital or trauma centre within the crucial "golden hour" will be eligible for a cash reward of Rs 25,000. The golden hour refers to the first hour after an accident, when timely medical care can make the difference between life and death.

Speaking about the scheme, Gupta explained that it was created to remove hesitation among bystanders who often avoid helping due to fear of legal complications. "Many people hesitate to help due to fear of legal complications or police procedures. This scheme will remove such apprehensions and encourage citizens to step forward," she said. The programme aims to ensure that victims receive immediate medical attention without delay.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today launched the upgraded RAJMARG PRAVESH web portal for hassle-free obtaining of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for fuel stations. The Ministry, in a statement, informed that the portal has been developed to make the process of getting permissions simpler, faster and more transparent. It added that, through the new portal, citizens, businesses, and organisations can apply online in a simple way for permissions related to access from National Highways for private properties, industries and wayside facilities. The Ministry further said that the portal is designed in line with the government’s commitment to improving ease of doing business.

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), an autonomous body under the Union Health Ministry, today achieved a historic milestone by being officially recognised by Guinness World Records for the most viewers of an Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare lesson live stream on YouTube. The Union Health Ministry informed that the record was achieved through the successful implementation of a nationwide online training programme on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. The programme was designed specifically for registered medical practitioners across the country.

President of NBEMS, Dr Abhijat Sheth, said that this recognition from Guinness World Records is not merely a record but a testimony to India’s leadership in adopting digital innovation in medical education. He said NBEMS remains committed to advancing competency-based learning and will continue to introduce initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of healthcare delivery across the nation.