Indian Navy to induct traditionally built 'Ancient Stitched Ship' today
The Indian Navy is set to induct and unveil the name of the ‘Ancient Stitched Ship’ during a ceremonial event as part of the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The ceremony will take place at the Naval Base, Karwar.
Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will preside over the ceremony as the Chief Guest, formally marking the ship’s induction into the Indian Navy.
The stitched ship is a recreation of a 5th century CE vessel, inspired by a painting from the Ajanta Caves. This project was initiated through a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations. The Ministry of Culture funded the project.
Dhanuka Agritech Limited Launches 'DINKAR' Herbicide - A Revolutionary Step Towards a Weed-Free Rice Cultivation
Dhanuka Agritech Limited, a pioneer in India's agrochemical industry, unveiled its latest breakthrough innovation -- DINKAR, a next-generation herbicide designed specifically for transplanted paddy. This launch marks a significant milestone in the company's ongoing commitment to empowering farmers with cutting-edge technology and sustainable crop protection solutions.
The event was graced by distinguished dignitaries from India and Japan. The Chief Guests included Shinichi Hayakawa San, Sr. Managing Director and Kohichi Ogita San, Manager, International Sales Division of Hokko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Japan, Dhanuka's international partners in innovation. The launch also welcomed Rahul Dhanuka, Managing Director of Dhanuka Agritech Limited, as the Distinguished Guest, who shared the brand's vision for transforming Indian agriculture.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve becomes India's 3rd most visited park
Assam's Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve has emerged as the third most visited national park in India, recording an all-time high in tourist footfall this year.
The park witnessed a significant rise in foreign tourists, with a 25 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
According to the authority of Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, the national park recorded 4,43,636 visitors between October 1, 2024, and May 18, 2025, indicating an overall increase of over 35 per cent since last year.
The number of foreigners (18,463) was especially notable, hinting at the World Heritage site's position as a top-choice destination for tourists and wildlife enthusiasts.
New e-Zero FIR for swift probe, crackdown on cyberfauds: Amit Shah
UNION HOME Minister Amit Shah on Monday said they have introduced the new e-Zero FIR that automatically converts cyber financial crime complaints with a cheating value above Rs 10 lakh, registered on the 1930 helpline or the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), into FIRs.
Shah said the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has introduced the new e-Zero FIR initiative to nab any criminal with unprecedented speed.
In his post on X, Shah said the new system, which has been launched as a pilot project for Delhi, will automatically convert cyber financial crimes filed at NCRP or 1930 to FIRs, initially above the threshold limit of Rs 10 lakh. “The new system, which will drive investigations swiftly cracking down on cybercriminals, will soon be extended to the entire nation. The Modi government is bolstering the cybersecurity grid to build a ‘cyber-secure Bharat’,” he said.
India Beat Bangladesh 4-3 to Lift 2025 SAFF U-19 Football Title
India clinched the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 Championship 2025, beating Bangladesh 4-3 in a penalty shootout in the final at the Yupia Outdoor Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh, this evening. The home team defeated the reigning champions after a 1-1 equaliser, which led to the penalty shootout. India’s Shami Singamayum successfully netted the decisive penalty, helping the home side to lift the title. The nail-biting final saw electrifying support from the home crowd.
India emerged as the favourites in the tournament with dominant wins over Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives in the semifinals before making it to the finals.
First-ever Khelo India Beach Games inaugurated in Diu
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the first-ever Khelo India Beach Games at Ghoghla Beach in the Union territory of Diu. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mandaviya said, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several steps have been taken to promote sports in the country.
More than 1000 athletes from across the country will compete in six medal events and two demonstration sports over the next six days. This is the first time the Beach Games are being held under the ever-expanding Khelo India umbrella. The medal events include beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach kabaddi, beach sepak takraw, pencak silat, and open water swimming. Two traditional demonstration sports – mallakhamb and tug-of-war will also be staged during the games. Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse, administrator of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Praful Patel, along with several top sportspersons, graced the opening ceremony, which showcased rich culture of the region, including Gujarat’s folk dance Garba. The games will culminate on Saturday.
GeM emerges as largest procurement platform globally
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has emerged as one of the World’s largest and most efficient public e-procurement platforms, setting new benchmarks in accessibility and affordability. The Chief Executive Officer of GeM, Mihir Kumar said this while addressing a press conference in New Delhi on the occasion of 8th incorporation Day of GeM. Mr. Kumar added that GeM’s has on boarded over 10 lakh Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, 1.3 lakh artisans and weavers, 1.84 lakh women entrepreneurs and 31 thousand startups. He said, in just 8 years, the GeM has emerged as a transformative force in public procurement, scaling unprecedented heights in both volume and value and has evolved into a robust digital ecosystem.
The CEO further asserted that the platform currently boasts over 1.64 lakh primary buyers and 4.2 lakh active sellers and offers more than 10 thousand product categories and more than 330 services. He informed that 97 percent of all transactions on GeM are now free of any transaction charges. GeM has been adopted across all 36 States and Union Territories.
EAM S Jaishankar begins 6-day visit to Netherlands, Denmark & Germany
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will begin his six-day visit of the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany beginning today, 19 May. Jaishankar is expected to highlight Pakistan's relentless support to cross-border terrorism during his visit to the European nations.
This is Jaishankar's first foreign visit after the four-day-long military confrontation between Indian and Pakistani armed forces in the aftermath of 22 April Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
"External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany from May 19 to 24," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on 18 April.
NCC expedition team, comprising youngest climbers with average age of 19 years, successfully scales Mt Everest
The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has reached a significant milestone as its expedition team successfully scaled Mount Everest (8,848m) on Sunday.
According to a release from the Ministry of Defence, the team comprised 10 NCC cadets (five boys and five girls), four Officers, two Junior Commissioned Officers, one Girl Cadet Instructor, and 10 Non-Commissioned Officers.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the expedition from New Delhi on April 3, 2025.
The cadets selected were novices from across the country. They underwent a strict selection and training process. As part of their preparation, they conducted a pre-Everest Expedition at Mt Abi Gamin. The final team of 15 cadets was then selected to undergo winter and technical training at the Army Mountaineering Institute, Siachen Base Camp. After months of training, ten cadets were selected for the Mount Everest Expedition.
Union Minister launches digital compendium of serving IAS officers
Union Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh today launched an e-book of the electronic Civil List, 2025- a digital compendium of serving Indian Administrative Service officers across the country. Unveiling the e-book, Dr. Singh said that the Indian Administrative Service continues to attract some of the finest minds in the country and plays a vital role in strengthening India’s federal governance. He highlighted the Civil List as an important tool for transparency, offering a structured view of the country’s administrative leadership.
The Minister proposed artificial intelligence (AI) based search options into the e-Civil List. He also stressed the importance of regularly updating the digital list to maintain its relevance and utility.The launch marks the 70th edition of the Civil List and the fifth to be presented in a fully digital format.
The e-book contains comprehensive details of IAS officers-including their name, batch, cadre, present posting, pay level, educational qualifications, and retirement dates as updated on January 1 this year. It also provides cadre-wise strength, the number of officers retiring over the next five years, and appointment data from 1969 onwards.