The Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Government of Nepal and Project Implementing Agencies of Government of Nepal today signed Memorandums of Understandings (MoUs) for undertaking 5 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal under the grant assistance of Government of India in Education and Health Sectors, at a total estimated cost of NRs. 390 million.

These five projects, namely, Construction of Shree Jan Shakti Secondary School Building in Dhanusha; Construction of Shree Mahobani Padam Secondary School in Parsa; Construction of Shree Basuki Secondary School in Achham; Construction of School Building, Hostel and Library of Benga Sah Secondary School in Bara and Construction of 5 Bed Hospital Building in Manang in Nepal shall be implemented through local authorities and institutions of the Government of Nepal including Municipalities and Rural Municipalities.

In a major decision aimed at promoting women’s empowerment, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved a one per cent discount in stamp duty on property worth up to one crore rupees, if it is purchased in the name of a woman. Till now, this exemption was applicable only on property up to 10 lakh rupees in the state, in which a maximum discount of 10,000 rupees was available. The decision in this regard was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at Lok Bhavan in Lucknow. In a statement, the UP government said a total of 37 proposals were also passed in the meeting. Giving information about the decision, UP’s Labour Minister Anil Rajbhar said that the government believes this decision will help middle-class women become property owners, which will not only increase their confidence but they will also make them financially more capable and respected in society.

Additionally, 858.11 crore rupees will be spent on civil infrastructure, with 45 institutes to be upgraded in the first phase. The project aims to integrate industry-aligned curricula and enhance students’ technical skills and employability. The government also decided to upgrade 121 government polytechnic institutes with the help of Tata Technologies Limited (TTL). An investment of 6,935.86 crore rupees will be made towards machines and equipment. The UP government also sanctioned the construction of the Chitrakoot Link Expressway with a total outlay of 939.67 crore rupees. The 15 km initially four-lane expressway will connect Bharatkoop in Chitrakoot to Ahmadganj village, linking the Varanasi-Banda National Highway and NH 135 BG.

The Reserve Bank of India has informed that the Financial Inclusion Index of the FI index for Financial Year 2025 has improved and stands at 67 percent as compared to 64.2 percent for FY 2024.

According to an official press release, RBI has said that the improvement in the index is largely due to increased usage and better quality, reflecting deepening of financial inclusion, and sustained financial literacy initiatives.

It added that growth was witnessed across all sub-indices, which include, Access, Usage and Quality.

The Access parameter reflects how easily financial services are available, the Usage parameter indicates how frequently and effectively people are using these services, while the Quality parameter includes aspects like financial literacy, consumer protection, and reduction in inequalities and service deficiencies.

The Indian Navy will host a one-day Shipbuilding Seminar in New Delhi today. The seminar on Nation Building through Shipbuilding will bring together key stakeholders from the Government, Indian Navy, shipyards, industry, classification societies, and academia. The event will facilitate cohesive and progress-oriented discussions on various policy aspects related to shipbuilding. During the event, participants will also explore futuristic technologies being implemented globally and address the challenges faced by Indian shipyards and industry in delivering ships that meet global standards.

In a major push to youth empowerment, the Delhi government has announced a significant hike in cash awards for the medal winners of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to 7 crore rupees from the current 3 crore rupees. This decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in New Delhi yesterday, under the newly-launched Mukhyamantri Khel Protsahan Yojana. Under the Scheme, Olympic and Paralympic medalists will receive 7 crore rupees for a gold medal, 5 crore rupees for silver, and 3 crore rupees for bronze. In addition, athletes who have won Olympic gold and silver medals will now be eligible for Grade A government posts. Similarly, Asian and Paralympic Games gold medallists will be given 3 crore rupees, while silver medallists will get 2 crore rupees and bronze medallists 1 crore rupees.

Addressing a press conference, Education Minister Ashish Sood said that the Delhi Cabinet has also approved a major initiative to enhance digital infrastructure in government schools by establishing fully equipped computer laboratories. The Minister also said that under the newly launched Mukhyamantri Digital Education Scheme, 1,200 high-achieving Class 11 students in government schools will receive free laptops based on their Class 10 board performance.

The National Cybersecurity Exercise - Bharat NCX 2025 was officially inaugurated on Monday with the aim to strengthen India's cyber defence posture.

The Bharat NCX 2025 was inaugurated by Deputy National Security Advisor T. V. Ravichandran, in the presence of Bimal N. Patel, Vice Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU). It was organised by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with RRU.

According to the statement by NSCS, the event was held under the theme Enhancing the Operational Preparedness of Indian Cyberspace. The two-week national-level cyber drill brings together cybersecurity professionals, defence personnel, policymakers, and industry leaders.

In a remarkable scientific breakthrough, Chinese researchers have developed a method to convert methanol into white sugar, bypassing the need to grow sugar cane or sugar beets. Using a biotransformation system, the team claims that captured carbon dioxide can be converted into food.

The team at the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology has developed an in vitro biotransformation (ivBT) system that synthesises sucrose from methanol, a low-carbon chemical that is derived from industrial waste or carbon dioxide. By utilising enzymes to convert methanol, researchers have presented a sustainable alternative to traditional agriculture.

"Artificial conversion of CO2 into food and chemicals offers a promising strategy to address both environmental and population-related challenges while contributing to carbon neutrality," the study published in the Science Bulletin highlighted.

In a significant boost to Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Fellowship Programme, the state government has signed an MoU with IIT Bombay to offer a Certificate Course in Public Policy to participating fellows.

The agreement was signed today in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who emphasized that the collaboration would enhance the capabilities of young fellows, allowing them to work more effectively in governance and public service. CM Fadnavis said that when young minds from diverse fields join hands with the administration, they introduce new thinking and creativity, leading to more effective policy implementation and meaningful change in society.

The course will include 20 days of classroom training, 90 hours of online learning over a year, and direct interaction with senior IIT professors, retired civil servants, and domain experts.

In a major step towards developing a skilled workforce for India’s growing creators’ economy, the Government of Maharashtra has signed an MoU with the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Cultural Affairs Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar, and FTII Chairman and actor R. Madhavan.

Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized that today, even a common citizen is a content creator. He said that the creators’ economy, which recently jumped from 92,000 crore to one lakh crore rupees in just 100 days, demands technically trained talent and proper certification.

He said this collaboration between FTII and the Maharashtra Film, Theatre and Cultural Development Corporation (MFSCDC) aims to bring training and certification to youth across the state, especially in rural areas.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) reported its highest-ever net member addition in a single month, with 20.06 lakh new members joining in May 2025 — the best growth since tracking began in April 2018. This figure represents a 4.8 percent increase compared to April and a 2.8 percent rise over May 2024, signaling robust formal employment trends.

In a post on X, Union Minister Mansukh Mandavia said,” India’s employment engine powered by PM Modi’s reforms breaks all records! EPFO Records an All-Time High Net Member Addition in May 2025. Under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, India’s formal employment ecosystem is witnessing unprecedented growth. This historic surge reflects the success of pro-youth, pro-worker policies and the government’s unrelenting push towards ease of doing business and economic empowerment.”