The Union government, on Thursday (May 1, 2025), reviewed the Sugar (Control) Order of 1966 by bringing raw sugar into its ambit of regulation. Raw sugar will now be considered in the total stock of sugar across the country and the figures of the actual stock will also be available to the public. By the decision, the Centre hopes to put a stop to giving misleading names of raw sugar, which is gaining popularity and sold by the name of khandsari or organic.

Briefing reporters about the decision, a senior Food Ministry official khandsari sugar units having crushing capacity more than 500 Tons of Cane per Day (TCD) has been included in the Sugar Control Order of 2025. “Inclusion will ensure payment of fair and remunerative price to the farmers by khandsari sugar factories and will help in the accurate estimation of sugar production. A total of 373 khandsari units (with total capacity of about 95,000 TCD) are working in the country. Out of which, 66 (with total capacity of about 55,200 TCD) are more than 500 TCD,” the Ministry added in a release.

The Malayalam television and film industry is mourning the untimely demise of actor Vishnu Prasad, who passed away in the early hours of Friday at a private hospital in Kochi. He was 49. The actor had been undergoing treatment for a severe liver-related illness and was in critical condition for the past several days.

According to a statement from the Public Relations wing of Aster Medcity Hospital, Vishnu Prasad breathed his last at approximately 1.09 a.m. on Friday. His demise comes as a shock to colleagues, friends and fans alike, especially as preparations were underway for a liver transplant, reported Times Now.

Marking the 55th Foundation Day of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh outlined India’s evolving scientific landscape, emphasizing the need for increased industry involvement to the extent of industry led innovation, changes in approach and long-term innovation to position the country among leading global players.

Addressing a packed audience that included leading innovators, academicians, researchers and former Secretaries, Dr. Jitendra Singh traced the DST’s journey since its inception on May 3, 1971, crediting it with catalyzing India’s evolution into a science and technology powerhouse.

“The founding of DST mirrors the march of post-independence India in the field of science,” he said, highlighting how the department has bridged research and governance, turning vision into verifiable outcomes'.

Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles on 01 May 25, marking another important milestone in her ongoing operational deployment across the South-West Indian Ocean Region. The ship's arrival follows the successful completion of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance mission of Mauritius, undertaken in coordination with National Coast Guard Mauritius.

The ship was accorded a warm welcome and received by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), the High Commissioner of India to Seychelles, and the Defence Adviser. The port call will feature a host of professional and cultural exchanges, including cross-deck visits involving multinational crew, and interactions with the CDF and senior officers of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and a joint Yoga session.

These engagements aim to reinforce longstanding defence ties and mutual trust between India and Seychelles while deepening the spirit of cooperation among regional maritime partners.

Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, a distinguished fighter pilot with more than 3,600 hours of flying experience, on Friday took charge as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

He succeeds Air Marshal S P Dharkar, who superannuated on April 30.

Before taking charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Tiwari served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Gandhinagar-based South Western Air Command (SWAC).

The air marshal was given a guard of honour at the Air Headquarters -- Vayu Bhawan.

NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC), on Thursday released a detailed report titled “Enhancing Competitiveness of MSMEs in India”, which outlines a roadmap for strengthening the role of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India’s economic growth.

The report offers a sector-specific analysis across textiles and apparel, chemicals, automotive, and food processing industries, identifying the structural bottlenecks and policy-level gaps that continue to limit the competitiveness of India’s MSME sector. It draws on firm-level data and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to frame its recommendations.

One of the central findings is the improvement in access to formal credit among MSMEs between 2020 and 2024. The share of micro and small enterprises availing credit from scheduled banks rose from 14% to 20%, while medium enterprises saw a rise from 4% to 9%. However, a significant credit shortfall persists. The report estimates that only 19% of MSME credit demand was met through formal channels by FY21, leaving an unmet demand of approximately ₹80 lakh crore.

Anuradha Prasad, a seasoned civil servant and former Secretary to the Government of India, assumed charge as Member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), the seniormost Member of the Commission.

An officer of the 1986 batch of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), Prasad has over 37 years of rich experience in public administration, policy formulation, public finance, and cooperative federalism. Prior to her appointment to UPSC, she served in various key roles across several Union Ministries including Defence, Finance, Food Processing Industries, Labour & Employment, and Home Affairs.

An alumna of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Prasad holds a Master's degree in History from the University of Delhi and a second Master's in Development Administration from the University of Birmingham, UK.

India and Denmark have strengthened their commitment to sustainable energy by signing a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, aimed at advancing clean energy initiatives and supporting India’s ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

The agreement was formalized by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Government of India, and Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Denmark’s Ambassador to India, in the presence of Manohar Lal, Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs. The signing marks a continuation of the successful collaboration that began with the original MoU on June 5, 2020, which was set to expire in June 2025.

The renewed MoU expands the scope of the partnership, focusing on cutting-edge areas such as power system modeling, integration of variable renewable energy, cross-border electricity trading, and the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. It also emphasizes enhanced knowledge sharing through expert interactions, joint training programs, and study tours.

India’s overall exports grew 6.01 percent on-year, touching an all-time high of $824.9 billion in 2024–25, as per the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India on services trade.

Total exports (merchandise and services) stood at $778.1 billion in 2023-24.

Services exports reached a historic high of $387.5 billion in 2024–25, up 13.6 percent from $341.1 billion in the previous year.

For March 2025, services exports stood at $35.6 billion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 18.6 percent compared to $30.0 billion in March 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that Amaravati is not just a city but a dream taking shape, as he inaugurated and laid the foundation for multiple infrastructure projects worth Rs 58,000 crore in the region. These projects also mark the resumption of construction projects in the city, which Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has billed as the future capital of the state.

"Amaravati is the land where tradition and progress go hand in hand. Where there is the peace of the Buddhist heritage and also the energy of building a developed India," PM Modi said at the event, news agency PTI reported.

The prime minister laid foundation stones for 74 projects worth Rs 49,000 crore, which include construction of the Assembly, Secretariat and High Court buildings and judicial residential quarters, along with housing buildings for 5,200 families, reported PTI. The other projects include city infrastructure, national highway development, railway enhancements, and defence facilities.