In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court on Thursday held that age restrictions would not apply to all intending couples who began the process of having a child prior to the enactment of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.

The court ruled that couples who had frozen their embryos before the implementation of the law on 25 January 2022 would be allowed to proceed with surrogacy irrespective of their age.

"The right to make reproductive choices, including pursuing surrogacy, is a facet of personal liberty and privacy protected under Article 21 of the Constitution," said a two-judge bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and K.V. Vishwanathan.

In a major step toward empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across India, HDFC Bank today announced the launch of "My Business QR", powered by Vyaparify -- a digital innovation designed to give Bharat's entrepreneurs their first commerce identity.

Vyaparify positions itself as the Commerce Playbook for Bharat's SMEs, bridging the gap between jaankari (information), pehchaan (identity), battein (engagement), and vyapar (business) -- all through a single, smart QR code.

One QR Poora Vyapar.

The newly launched My Business QR brings together payments, identity, communication, and commerce under one unified solution. When customers scan the QR, they don't just pay -- they discover the merchant, view their products or services, chat via WhatsApp, and even save their contact directly in the phonebook.

India and the U.K. strengthened defence and trade partnerships over Keir Starmer’s first visit to India after assuming the charge of the top office. On Thursday (October 9, 2025), the Prime Ministers signed agreements furthering the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) and a £350 million contract for the U.K. to supply missiles to India.

Mr. Starmer, accompanied by a delegation of about 100 entrepreneurs, cultural representatives, and university Vice-Chancellors, arrived in Mumbai for a two-day visit to take advantage of the opportunities brought about by the India-U.K. CETA signed in July.

The British Film Institute (BFI) on Wednesday hailed a pact agreed with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Mumbai on Wednesday. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed in the presence of BFI Governors Monica Chadha and Andrew Smith, part of Starmer’s trade delegation, is expected to boost co-productions and joint projects between both countries. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced plans to set up a world-class convention centre in Nagpur, equipped with all modern facilities. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Chief Minister’s residence in Mumbai today, between the Maharashtra government and Fira Barcelona International, a leading company from Spain.

Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, the location for the convention centre should be well connected by every mode of transport. He added that the centre should not only host exhibitions and major events but also serve as a cultural hub that tells the story of Nagpur’s rich history. He emphasised that it should stand out as a symbol of modern design, advanced technology, and eco-friendly construction.

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has formally recognised three major ports as Green Hydrogen Hubs under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. These ports are Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority in Tamil Nadu and Paradip Port Authority in Odisha. The Ministry said in a statement that this recognition marks a significant step towards creating an integrated hydrogen ecosystem and advancing India’s transition towards clean energy.

Welcoming the development, Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, this recognition marks a defining moment in India’s maritime journey. He added that government is working towards building an ecosystem of sustainable development that will power India towards realising the vision of becoming net zero by 2070.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to position India as a global hub for the production, utilisation, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. The Mission promotes the development of large-scale hydrogen hubs to serve as focal points for production and consumption.

The Manipur Global Buyers and Sellers Summit 2025 kicked off at the City Convention Centre in Imphal today. The two days summit organised under the theme “Bridging Business Sans Borders” was inaugurated by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

The summit is being held as part of the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) initiative of the Ministry of MSME Government of India and jointly organised by the Directorate of Trade, Commerce and Industries, Government of Manipur, Manipur Industrial Development Corporation Ltd and Manipur Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The event witnessed participation from neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Bangladesh and Thailand as well as representatives from Japan and several North Eastern States of India along with local entrepreneurs and businesses. As part of the summit, various stalls have been set up by local entrepreneurs and industries showcasing Manipur’s diverse range of indigenous products and innovations.

The government has announced the fourth edition of its flagship Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken (SPARK) aimed to ignite scientific curiosity and research aptitude among undergraduate Ayurveda students across the country. The Ministry of Ayush said that under this program, three hundred Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery students from colleges recognized by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) will receive a studentship of 50 thousand rupees. It added that the registration window will open on 15 of this month till 15 November.

Highlighting the key benefits of the SPARK, the Ministry said that nearly 591 students from 289 Ayurveda educational institutions across the country have benefited through this platform. The program offers hands-on exposure to research methodology, experimental design, and data analysis and helping participants gain foundational experience in scientific investigation at an early academic stage.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant step in advancing renewable energy solutions that benefit both nature and people.

The agreement, signed by IUCN Deputy Director General Stewart Maginnis and IRENA Deputy Director-General Gauri Singh, establishes a framework for joint action to ensure that the global shift to renewable energy not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also safeguards biodiversity, supports communities, and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Through this partnership, IUCN and IRENA will work together to promote the rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewables while mitigating potential environmental impacts. The collaboration will focus on developing tools to assess biodiversity impacts, creating projects that deliver co-benefits for conservation, and sharing policy guidance, research, and best practices. Both organizations will also explore capacity-building initiatives and technical cooperation to strengthen sustainable energy development.

Union Minister of Roads, Transport and Highways Mr Nitin Gadkari today inaugurated India’s first commercial electric truck battery swapping and charging station at the Delhi International Cargo Terminal Private Limited (DICT) in Panchi Gujran village on the GT Road near Ganaur in Sonipat.

Addressing the event he said that the day is not far when India will be number one in producing aviation fuel and urged farmers to use stubble instead of burning it so that it can be used to produce fuel, thereby strengthening their economic condition. He said that farmers will now be the fuel provider, work is now being done to make fuel from stubble also. He said that in our country, 5 million tons of stubble are being used to make bio-bitumen. In Maharashtra, Nagpur and Jabalpur roads are also being built using stubble.

Talking about ethanol,he said that ethanol is being produced from corn, which has increased the market for corn. Mr Gadkari said, Companies are working on developing flexi-engines. Agricultural machinery is also now going to be equipped with flex engines. He said that with all these efforts , we have succeeded in curbing the pollution due to stubble burning.

Palau, a Pacific island nation successfully hosted the world’s first-ever live underwater interview. In a bid to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the ocean, President of Palau Surangel Whipps Jr, conducted the interview with Estonian Olympic swimmer and activist Merle Liivand.

The under-sea chat was facilitated by technology called the LiFi Talking Mask, which uses light to transmit sound underwater. Palau is an archipelago of around 340 islands east of the Philippines and is extremely vulnerable to rising seas. Whipps has acknowledged some of his country’s atolls could be lost in coming years.

Earlier, former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed made history in 2009 when he held an underwater cabinet meeting with scuba-clad officials.

In 2019, former Seychelles President Danny Faure conducted an interview from a submersible craft in the Indian Ocean.