The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh and Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Amarkantak, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today in Bhopal, to establish a Centre of Excellence on PESA. The initiative marks a major step towards strengthening local self-governance in tribal areas and the effective implementation of the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA). This Centre of Excellence at IGNTU, Amarkantak will serve as a dedicated platform for research, capacity building, participatory planning, and policy support, aligned with the broader goals of tribal empowerment and localized sustainable development.

The event was graced by Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj; Smt. Dipali Rastogi, Principal Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh; Smt. Mukta Shekhar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj; Prof. Byomakesh Tripathy, Vice-Chancellor (I/c), IGNTU; along with other senior officials. A key highlight of the event was the formal launch of the PESA Compendium titled “PESA in Action: Stories of Strength and Self-governance”, a curated document capturing best practices, case studies, legal provisions, and field innovations from across the PESA-implementing States.

Regular practice of yoga may reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by as much as 40% among individuals at high risk, according to a new report titled ‘Yoga and Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes’. The findings were presented on Thursday to the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, J.P. Nadda, in the presence of Union Minister for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh.

The report, based on evidence-backed research, was prepared by the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI), one of India’s largest organizations of diabetes researchers and healthcare professionals. It was led by Dr. S.V. Madhu, former President of RSSDI and current head of the Department of Endocrinology at the University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi.

Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71, WWE confirmed on Thursday. Emergency responders were called to his home in Clearwater, Florida early in the morning following reports of a cardiac arrest.

In a statement World Wrestling Entertainment says it’s “saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away”.

Describing Hogan as “one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures”, it says “Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s”.

In a major step forward for India’s defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted flight trials of the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3. The test was carried out at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed the successful trial on Friday, stating, "This marks a significant boost to India’s defence capabilities. Congratulations to DRDO and our industry partners, including DcPPs, MSMEs, and start-ups, for this remarkable achievement."

The ULPGM-V3 system, designed to be launched from drones, represents a cutting-edge advancement in India's arsenal of precision-strike capabilities, aligning with the broader push for unmanned and smart warfare systems.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Maldives. Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu congratulated PM Modi on becoming the second longest-serving Prime Minister of India. He described PM Modi's 4,078 continuous days of service as a symbol of his unwavering commitment to public service and the progress of the Indian people.

At a banquet hosted in honour of Prime Minister Modi in Male on Friday, President Muizzu said his 4,078-day tenure reflects Modi's "unwavering commitment to public service and dedication to the progress and prosperity of the Indian people". The ceremony witnessed a warm exchange of bilateral goodwill.

President Muizzu said, “Tonight we are pleased to reciprocate that friendship and goodwill in the spirit of the close ties between our two countries. First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to PM Modi on becoming India’s second longest-serving Prime Minister today. This milestone of 4,078 continuous days in office is testimony to your unwavering commitment to public service and your dedication to the progress and prosperity of the Indian people.”

NASA has officially launched the TRACERS mission (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites) which will be studying the magnetic reconnection- an energy burst that occurs when the Sun’s magnetic field interacts with Earth’s magnetic shield. This will help in understandin on how space weather affects our planet.

The TRACERS satellites lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The mission includes two satellites flying just 10 seconds apart to take over 3,000 measurements in one year. Their job is to closely study magnetic activity in a region near Earth’s North Pole called the polar cusp, where the Sun’s magnetic field hits Earth’s.

These satellites will provide real-time data about how solar energy and particles enter Earth’s upper atmosphere and affect communication systems, satellites, and even electricity grids.

The birth anniversary celebrations of Chola emperor Rajendra I (Aadi Thiruvathirai festival) commenced on Wednesday at the historic Brihadeeswarar temple in Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest for the grand finale of the festival scheduled for July 27, announced the union government.

At an event to mark the commencement of the festival, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, who also holds the archaeology portfolio, said the DMK government in 2021 declared Aadi Thiruvathirai as Rajendra Chola’s official birth anniversary based on historical research.

He credited historian Kudavayil Balasubramanian for identifying, through detailed epigraphic studies, that Rajendra Chola was born in the Thiruvathirai star of the Tamil month of Aadi, and not in Margazhi as previously believed.

India’s top finance ministry honchos till recently, who had combined forces on many a Union Budget including the one presented this year, are now collectively responsible for securing and developing the country’s financial sector, with the Centre appointing the recently retired Finance Secretary Ajay Seth at the helm of the insurance regulator on Thursday.

Seth was picked as the new chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai), nearly four months after the post fell vacant after the tenure of incumbent chief Debashis Panda ended this March. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister

Young Welsh sensation Riley Powell gatecrashed Pankaj Advani’s birthday party by denying India’s green baize baron a 29th World title with a stunning come-from-behind triumph at the IBSF World 6-Red Snooker Championship here on Thursday evening.

The 16-year-old, who missed out on the two age-group (U-17 and U-21) competitions earlier in the week, handed Advani, who turned 40 on the day, a 5-4 defeat in front of a motley crowd.

The teenager had the small gathering spellbound with some amazing potting. Advani, who earlier came through a humdinger (5-4) against Aditya Mehta in the semifinals, couldn’t stop his marauding rival after the early success.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on King Charles III at his residence on Thursday during which he presented a tree sapling as part of his “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” environmental initiative.

In a post on X, PM Modi said he had "a very good meeting with His Majesty King Charles III” during the meeting at his Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England.

PM Modi said both also covered aspects such as Yoga and Ayurveda as well as the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, known as Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).