A team of scientists from the Centre for Peninsular Aquatic Genetic Resources (PAGR) Kochi- the regional centre of ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Lucknow- have discovered a new species of eel, previously unknown to science, from the Colachel coast in Kanniyakumari district.

The species has been named Apterichtus Kanniyakumari to honour the district’s cultural, linguistic, historical, and geographical significance. Two specimens were collected from Colachel fish landing centre during deep-sea trawling at a depth of 100 metres. Detailed morphological analysis, vertebral counts, and DNA-based molecular studies confirmed that the eel represents a species new to science.

The discovery has been published in the internationally renowned peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa, corresponded by T T Ajith Kumar, Scientist of NBFGR and a native of Karungal in Kanniyakumari district.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday (September 22) said it has cancelled the certificate of registration (CoR) of New Delhi-based Datta Finance and Trading Pvt Ltd due to irregular lending practices.

The CoR has been cancelled by the RBI as the NBFC has violated guidelines on code of conduct in outsourcing of financial services in its digital lending operations, the central bank said in a release.

The company violated the norms by outsourcing its core decision-making functions such as sourcing of customers, conducting their due diligence, disbursement of loans, servicing of loans, recovery of loans granted as well as KYC verification to the service provider, it said.

Shares of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd have surged over by 0.36% as the PSU has signed a partnership with the Tamil Nadu Government to develop a world-class greenfield shipyard on India’s Eastern Coast. This framework is under the Government of India’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

The MoU has been signed by the Ministry of Defence, with guidance from Tamil Nadu, the state’s nodal agency for investment promotion and facilitation, to explore the development of a world-class greenfield shipyard on India’s eastern coast.

Nvidia will invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI and supply it with data centre chips, the companies said on Monday, marking a tie-up between two of the highest-profile players in the global artificial intelligence race.

The move underscores the increasingly overlapping interests of the various tech giants developing advanced AI systems. The deal gives chipmaker Nvidia a financial stake in the world's most prominent AI company, which is already an important customer.

From October 1, 2025, China will introduce a new K Visa aimed at recruiting overseas young science and technology talent. The move is timed to capitalise on US restrictions on the H-1B visa program, which make it harder for American companies to hire foreign workers.

Starting the 2026 H-1B visa season, US employers will be required to pay a one-time $100,000 fee for filing petitions to hire overseas workers. H-1B visas, a key route for highly skilled foreign workers in specialty occupations, allow holders to settle in the US, pursue a green card, and eventually obtain citizenship. The increased fees, which range from $1,000 to $100,000, have significantly reduced the likelihood of foreign workers securing US job offers.

In an industry-first move, Jio Payments Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Jio Financial Services Limited, has introduced ‘Savings Pro’, a feature that allows customers to earn higher returns on surplus funds in their bank accounts through automated investments in overnight mutual funds. The initiative aims to turn idle balances into productive investments, offering a seamless, fully digital experience.

With Savings Pro, customers can upgrade their accounts in just a few clicks via the JioFinance app. Users set a threshold amount—starting at ₹5,000 during the initial launch—and any balance exceeding this amount is automatically invested into select ‘Growth’ plans of Overnight Mutual Funds, which carry low risk.

The Karnataka Department of IT/BTon Monday launched its Local Economy Accelerator Programme (LEAP) to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, especially in rural areas.

Revealing this to the TNIE, IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge said the state government has announced an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore to implement the programme, which is expected to create five lakh jobs.

Priyank said LEAP was announced in this year’s budget. The aim is to create cluster-based economic accelerators outside Bengaluru. It could be exclusively IT and BT, IT/BT or electronics or skill development. It should not be limited to Bengaluru alone, but spread across the state. The government has announced Rs 1,000 crore for Phase I of LEAP, which is the first of its kind with so much funding.

State-owned shipbuilder, Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for a long-term strategic collaboration in shipbuilding.

Mint reported in April that CSL is in talks with Korean companies to build ships near its existing shipbuilding facility in Kerala.

This partnership seeks to combine CSL’s legacy, infrastructure, and domestic expertise with HD KSOE’s advanced technology and global experience, marking a significant step in strengthening India’s shipbuilding capabilities.

The 28th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG), co-hosted by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), and the Government of Andhra Pradesh, concluded in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday with the adoption of the “Visakhapatnam Declaration.” The two-day conference outlined a forward-looking strategy to advance India’s e-Governance agenda.

At the valedictory session, Shri V. Srinivas, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), lauded the Government of Andhra Pradesh for successfully hosting the conference outside the state capital after many years, terming it one of the most substantive e-Governance gatherings in recent times. He highlighted the wide participation from 18 ministries, states and union territories, and congratulated the winners of the National e-Governance Awards 2025. From the dais, he also launched the official website for the National e-Governance Awards 2026. Expressing gratitude to the officers and partner institutions who worked for over a year to make the event possible, Shri Srinivas underlined Andhra Pradesh’s innovative governance practices, including real-time governance and WhatsApp-based service delivery, as models worth replicating nationally.

The Ministry of Ayush has launched the National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards to celebrate outstanding contributions in the field of Ayurveda. These awards aim to encourage Ayurvedic doctors to continue advancing traditional medicine while inspiring young practitioners.

The awards will be given in five categories every year. The top award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, while others carry Rs 1 lakh each along with a citation and trophy.

Ayurveda Bhushan Award – Rs 5 lakh
Ayurveda Ratna Award – Rs 1 lakh
Ayurveda Gaurav Award – Rs 1 lakh
Ayurveda Yuva Award – Rs 1 lakh
Ayurveda Prashasti Patra Award – Rs 1 lakh
These categories cover recognition of senior doctors, young achievers, and notable contributions across Ayurveda practice, education, and research.