Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially suspended the country's participation in a key Cold War-era nuclear arms-control treaty with the United States. 

In a statement, Kremlin said that Mr. Putin signed a decree regarding the suspension of Russia's participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, INF treaty between the USSR and the US in 1987. It said that the move was taken following a violation of the United States of its obligations under the treaty.

Moscow and Washington have accused one another of breaching the INF treaty. Meanwhile, NATO has said that US allies fully support its withdrawal from the pact, insisting that Russia's ground-launched cruise missile systems violate the treaty. 

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu embarked on a two nation visit to Paraguay and Costa Rica yesterday. The 8-day tour aims at strengthening bilateral ties with the two Latin American countries. 

Mr Naidu will hold discussions with Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez. The visiting leader will interact with the business community and see a presentation on business and investment opportunities in Paraguay. 

He will then leave for Costa Rica. The Vice President will call on President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado Quesada and also participate in high level delegation talks with him.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan Yojana at Gandhinagar in Gujarat today. The national pension scheme for workers and labourers of unorganised sector was announced in the Interim Budget in February this year. 

It will provide monthly pension of 3000 rupees to the employees of the unorganised sector after 60 years of age. The scheme will benefit 10 crore workers in unorganised sector.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to visit Annapurna Dham Trust in Adalaj for the ground breaking ceremony of a Shikshan Bhavan and a Vidyarthi Bhavan. 

Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the government expenditure on education has gone up from 3.8 per cent of GDP in 2014 to 4.6 per cent during the NDA rule. 

Speaking at a Convocation Ceremony at D Y Patil University in Navi Mumbai yesterday, the Minister said, educational infrastructure is also being expanded and reformed in the last five years. Mr Javadekar said that seven new IITs, seven new IIMs, two new National Institutes of Technology, 3 central universities and around 125 Kendriya Vidyalayas have been started. 

He said that 32 educational channels have been launched while free coaching for IIT Joint Entrance Exam is offered through IIT-PAL (Professor Assisted Learning) programme.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Sunday flagged off the much-delayed 11.28-kilometre second phase of the Chembur-Wadala-Jacob Circle monorail network.

With this, the entire 19.54-kilometre route of the country's first monorail system, being implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is now functional.

The 8.26-kilometre first phase, built and operated by a consortium of Larsen & Toubro and Malaysian firm Scomi Engineering, was commissioned in February 2014. 

Speaking at the event, Fadnavis said the country's first ever monorail had faced many hurdles and delays in the past but was now finally seeing the light of day.

"The first 8 km route which got commissioned in 2014 was used as a mere joyride because there was no last mile connectivity. But now, with the commissioning of the second phase, it will no longer remain a joyride but passengers can now use it for a hassle-free commute," he said.

The CM said the monorail's annual ridership will now increase from the current 4.5 lakh to 30 lakh. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the National Security Council meet on Sunday evening, where NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary VK Gokhale were also present along with Union ministers. The crucial meeting came in the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were among those present at the meeting.

The NSA is tasked with advising the prime minister on matters of national security. It was set up by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998, with Brajesh Mishra as the first National Security Advisor (NSA). The NSC keeps meeting on regular basis but the latest meet assumes significance owing to the latest security scenario.

On Monday, the prime minister had held the Cabinet Committee on Security met after the Indian Air Force carried out air strikes in Pakistan. Doval and other top officials of the prime minister's office and the security apparatus were present at the meeting.

India had claimed to have carried out air strikes inside Pakistan and targeted terror camps, after JeM said that it was behind the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

Maharashtra government will appoint a Lokpal in all universities except agricultural universities to resolve student grievances. 

Education Minister Vinod Tawde yesterday said the appointment of the students' ombudsman would be made in the next two to three months. He said Maharashtra would be the first state in the country to have such a Lokpal for universities. 

The Lokpal will be a person related to the university and someone not below the rank of the retired district judge or a retired vice-chancellor.  He said Maharashtra would be the first state in the country to have such a Lokpal for universities.

India's star wrestler Bajrang Punia has won the gold medal at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament in Ruse, Bulgaria and dedicated the victory to Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

Punia, a World Championship silver medallist, overpowered Jordan Oliver of USA 12-3 in the 65kg freestyle final to begin the season on a resounding note in the Bulgarian city. The Indian also secured the maximum ranking points from the tournament.

"I want to dedicate my gold to Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. He has inspired me. I want to meet him one day and also shake hands with him," Punia tweeted after his victory. 

Punia, who bagged the top prize at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games last year, has won four gold medals and one silver in the last five tournaments.

This was Punia's 10th medal in as many international tournaments since failing to finish at the podium in the 2017 World Championships in Paris.

In the men's freestyle events, Sandeep Tomar had to be content with a silver in 61kg.

India may add to their gold tally as Vinesh Phogat is scheduled to play her final in the 53kg against China's Qianyu Pang of China. Vinesh beat World Championships silver medallist Sarah Hildebrandt in the semifinals on Saturday. This is Vinesh's first tournament since moving to 53kg from 50kg.

President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to an ordinance that allows voluntary use of Aadhaar as ID proof for obtaining mobile SIM cards and opening bank accounts.

The ordinance — necessitated because the Rajya Sabha could not approve a Bill after its passage by the Lok Sabha — was promulgated on Saturday.

Last week, the Cabinet approved the promulgation of an ordinance to give effect to changes proposed in Aadhaar and two others legislations. The amendments provide for stiff penalties for violation of norms set for the use of Aadhaar and violation of privacy.

It bans storing of core biometric information as well as Aadhaar number by service providers in cases of individuals who have voluntarily offered the national ID as a means of authentication. The ordinance gives effect to the changes in the Aadhaar Act such as giving a child an option to exit from the biometric ID programme on attaining 18 years of age.

The amendments make it clear that anyone not offering Aadhaar cannot be denied any service, be it opening of a bank account or obtaining a mobile phone SIM card.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Gujarat from today. During the visit, the Prime Minister will dedicate, inaugurate and lay foundation stones of series of development projects. Mr. Modi will inaugurate the first phase of the Metro Rail Project in Ahmedabad. He will also lay the foundation stone of Phase-2 of the Metro. 

An official release said, the Metro Projects will not only add to connectivity, but also reduce travel time, and enhance the ease of living substantially in the urban areas. 

The Prime Minister will also dedicate to nation various hospitals built in Ahmedabad region. They are Women Children & Super Specialty Hospital, Cancer Hospital, Eye Hospital and Dental Hospital. These hospitals will be a tremendous boost to the health care sector in Ahmedabad. Mr. Modi will distribute Golden Cards to select beneficiaries of PM-JAY- Ayushman Bharat scheme.

The Prime Minister will also will also flag off Bandra- Jamnagar Humsafar Express through video link. He will also lay the foundation stone of Rajkot-Kanalus Railway Line doubling project. The Prime Minister will also hand over keys of 448 houses and 1008 flats to the beneficiaries constructed by Jamnagar Area Development Authority. Prime Minister will address the gathering at the venue.