A two-day National Conference on the theme "Holistic Development of Districts" is set to commence on Thursday in Patna, Bihar, with the participation of hundreds of delegates from across the country.

Organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with the Government of Bihar, the conference will be inaugurated jointly by Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, and Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar. They will also deliver the inaugural address.

According to an official statement issued in Delhi by the hosting department, the conference will showcase governance models that have received recognition under the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today hailed the IASV Triveni all-women circumnavigation expedition as a historic moment in India’s history, which will be remembered by future generations with pride. Mr Singh virtually flagged off the ‘Samudri Pradakshina’ expedition, the first-ever tri-services all-women crew, comprising 10 women officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force, embarking on a circumnavigation mission onboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni from the historic Gateway of India in Mumbai today.

Speaking on the occasion, he asserted that this mission is a testament to India’s advancements in every sector, from the heights of the sky to the depths of the oceans. He stated that this is not just a mission but a symbol of the collective might of all three armed forces. He congratulated the crew, saying that this expedition reflects their discipline and willpower, and when they return, they will have achieved a historic feat, a golden chapter for the whole country.

India and the Asian Development Bank have signed over 126-million-dollar loan agreement to promote sustainable tourism in Uttarakhand. Union Finance Ministry said the project targets the Tehri Garhwal District, one of Uttarakhand’s most climate-vulnerable and economically disadvantaged regions. It aims to benefit over 87 thousand residents and 2.7 million annual visitors through improved tourism planning, upgraded infrastructure, enhanced sanitation and waste management, and disaster preparedness.

The agreement was signed between Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Juhi Mukherjee and Kai Wei Yeo, Officer-in-Charge, India Resident Mission, for the Asian Development Bank.

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today informed that the Railways is introducing a daily time-tabled parcel train from Badgam in Kashmir Valley to Adarsh Nagar station in Delhi from Saturday. The train will provide flexibility to individual traders and fruit growers to book a parcel van online through the portal. This 8 Parcel Van train will originate from Badgam Railway Station at 6:15 AM and reach Adarsh Nagar Railway Station at 5:00 AM the next day.

It will also provide an alternative to fruit and handicraft dealers to showcase their produce across the country. In a social media post, Mr Vaishnaw underscored that the Kashmir valley now has better connectivity with the Jammu-Srinagar line now operational. He also informed that the loading of two parcel vans carrying apples from Badgam to Delhi is beginning today. The parcel vans will carry 23 metric tonnes of apples. The Railways will provide additional parcel vans if demand is received.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday inaugurated the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) at Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Trichy, Kozhikode, and Amritsar airports, offering a seamless immigration experience for travellers.

After inaugurating through video conferencing, Shah said that the FTI-TTP facility will not only enhance the convenience of travellers, but also provide an opportunity to introduce them to the changes taking place in the country.

FTI-TTP is a Central Government initiative launched in 2024 to enhance the efficiency of the immigration process for Indian citizens and those holding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards. Under the initiative, the applicants, who have pre-registered their biometric information, can bypass long queues and use automated e-gates at the airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Varanasi today. PM Ramgoolam arrived in the spiritual city yesterday and was welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel.

At a joint press briefing, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the deepening ties between the two countries, saying, “India and Mauritius are two nations, but our dreams are one. Prime Minister Modi stated that India and Mauritius are not just partners but a family. He added that India has always supported decolonisation and full recognition of Mauritius’s sovereignty.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the first Jan Aushadhi Kendra outside India has now been established in Mauritius. He added that Energy security is an important pillar of bilateral partnership. PM Modi also said that IIT Madras and the Indian Institute of Plantation Management have signed agreements with the University of Mauritius.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Dehradun on Thursday to review the damage caused by cloudbursts, heavy rains, and landslides in Uttarakhand. During the visit, he held a detailed review meeting to assess relief and rehabilitation measures and announced financial assistance of Rs. 1,200 crore for the flood-affected regions.

The Prime Minister expressed condolences to families who lost loved ones and announced ex-gratia payments of ₹2 lakh for the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured. He further assured that children orphaned due to the floods and landslides will receive comprehensive support under the PM CARES for Children scheme.

Highlighting a multi-dimensional approach for recovery, PM Modi outlined measures including rebuilding homes under the PM Awas Yojana, restoring national highways, reconstructing schools, providing relief through the PMNRF, and distributing mini kits for livestock.

Deep in the high-altitude wilderness of Arunachal Pradesh, a landmark wildlife survey has thrown up rare treasures of nature - among them, the first-ever photographic proof of the mysterious and little-seen Pallas's cat.

The survey, conducted by WWF-India with the support of the state Forest Department and local communities, also recorded the presence of snow leopard, common leopard, clouded leopard, leopard cat, and marbled cat above 4,200 metre, indicating the landscape's unique wildcat diversity.

"The discovery of the Pallas's cat in Arunachal Pradesh is a milestone for wildlife research in the eastern Himalayas," said the state's Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Nyilyang Tam.

India’s space sector marked its 100th technology transfer agreement on Wednesday, enabling Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to independently produce Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs).

The agreement, facilitated by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), was signed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), IN-SPACe, and HAL.

Under the deal, ISRO will transfer SSLV know-how to HAL over a period of 24 months, providing training and technical support. “During this period, ISRO will guide HAL in acquiring SSLV technology—from commercial processes to technology integration—culminating in the accomplishment of two missions under the agreement,” an official statement said.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today inaugurated India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre at the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus during his two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates. The visit, taking place on September 10–11, aims to deepen bilateral cooperation in education, foster academic excellence and innovation, and explore new avenues of partnership.

At the inaugural ceremony, Minister Pradhan also launched two key academic programs: a Ph.D. program in Energy and Sustainability and a B.Tech program in Chemical Engineering. He commended the collaborative efforts behind the project and engaged with students and faculty during his campus tour.

As part of the visit, the Minister held talks with Sara Musallam, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). Discussions centered on strengthening educational cooperation, including support for Indian curriculum-based schools in the UAE and the establishment of Atal Innovation Labs for Indian schools in the Emirates, inspired by the success of Atal Tinkering Labs in India.