Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth launched the Namo Stall distribution scheme for street fruit and vegetable vendors in Ranchi today. The program was inaugurated by BJP state president Aditya Sahu. In the first phase, five vendors were provided free stalls, each costing around 50 thousand. On the occasion, Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth said the initiative aims to empower small traders and stabilize their livelihoods.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on Monday launched its comprehensive athlete app — MyNRAI — as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations, in the presence of Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

The newly introduced app is being positioned as a one-stop digital ecosystem for athlete management, making NRAI the first fully digitised sports federation in India. It will streamline processes ranging from the onboarding and registration of athletes, to performance tracking, certification, and database management. Notably, the platform will play a central role in managing participants under NRAI’s ambitious grassroots programme.

As part of this initiative, NRAI aims to introduce 7.5 lakh school and college students to shooting before the 2028 Olympics, through a structured '10-shot experience' programme. The outreach will be implemented nationwide in collaboration with institutions like CBSE, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, universities, and various state associations, with the objective of identifying and nurturing future talent.

President Droupadi Murmu extended her greetings to the creator of the Ol Chiki script for the Santali language, Pandit Raghunath Murmu on his birth anniversary today. In a social media post, President Murmu said, the farsightedness and creativity of Pandit Murmu gave a new identity to the Santali language.

She noted that the Ol Chiki script promoted education, literature, and expression in Santali and gave momentum to the overall development of the Santhal community. The President also urged people to draw inspiration from his ideals and resolve to remain committed to the preservation and promotion of the nation’s cultural heritage, while contributing to building a developed and inclusive India.

With strong mop-up from imported goods and year-end stock clearance, Goods & Services Taxes (GST) collections in April rose to an all-time high of ₹2.42 lakh crore. Unlike previous years, this record collection in April was achieved without compensation cess.

Collections in the corresponding month of last fiscal stood at ₹2.33 lakh crore — a year-on-year growth of 8.7 per cent. It may be noted that collections is April reflect goods consumed and services availed in March.

Data from GST portal show that collections from domestic sources is over ₹ 1.85 crore, showing a growth of 4.3 per cent. At the same time, gross import revenue stood at over ₹57,000 crore, showing a growth of 25.8 per cent. Total refund increased by 19.3 per cent taking the net collection to around ₹ 2.11 lakh crore, a 7.3 per cent hike compared to the corresponding month of last fiscal.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has returned 657 antiquities, collectively valued at nearly $14 million, to India following multiple investigations into international trafficking networks. District Attorney Alvin L Bragg Jr announced the restitution during a ceremony attended by Consul Rajlakshmi Kadam from the Consulate General of India in New York.

Authorities recovered the artefacts through ongoing probes into criminal networks linked to alleged trafficker Subhash Kapoor and convicted trafficker Nancy Wiener. Officials highlighted the scale of cultural theft targeting India, noting that more than 600 items were returned in this single operation.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has appointed filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker as the Festival Director for the 57th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which will be held in Goa.

Gowariker’s association with IFFI spans several decades. The ministry said his appointment reflects his long-standing involvement with the festival and with the evolution of cinematic arts and global film culture.

In a statement issued by the ministry, Gowariker said, “It gives me immense pride and joy to serve as the Festival Director for the prestigious 57th International Film Festival of India, Goa. I feel privileged to have witnessed the evolution of this festival. From attending it in 1984 to continuing my association over the years, right up to 2024, when I served as the Jury President for International Cinema.”

On the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Sacred Holy Relics Exposition of Tathagata Buddha at Jivatsal in Leh today. Extending wishes to the people of Ladakh on Buddha Purnima, Mr Shah highlighted that after 75 years, these sacred relics have come to Ladakh.

The Home Minister said, ‘Lord Buddha’s wisdom is relevant even 2500 years after him.’ He said that this is not just a religious event but a historic reunion. Mr Shah expressed confidence that not only the followers of Lord Buddha from Ladakh and Kargil, but also the followers of other faiths, will receive energy from the sacred relics of Lord Buddha.

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena, Ladakh MP Mohamd Haneefa and Rinpoches from different monasteries were present at the event.

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will visit Odisha on May 1, where he will launch a major rural infrastructure initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV) in Rayagada.

During the programme, to be held at IACR Ground in Barijhola, the Union Minister will unveil rural road projects worth ₹1,698.04 crore in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Under PMGSY-IV, a total of 827 road projects covering 1,701.84 kilometres will be undertaken, providing all-weather road connectivity to 898 habitations for the first time. The improved connectivity is expected to enhance access to schools, hospitals, markets, and other essential services, while also driving local economic activity and employment opportunities.

Buddha Purnima is being celebrated today. It not only marks the day when Gautam Buddha was born but also the day when he attained Nirvana under the Mahabodhi tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar.

This day is commemorated by Buddhists and Hindus all over the world and is a major festival in countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, came into force today, marking a significant step in regulating India’s rapidly expanding online gaming sector. The Rules operationalise the provisions of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, aimed at ensuring user safety while promoting innovation and growth in the industry.

The new framework introduces a complete ban on online money games, including those based on chance, skill, or a mix of both. It also prohibits their advertisement and financial transactions linked to such platforms. It added that violations may attract stringent penalties, including imprisonment and fines.

The Rules establish the Online Gaming Authority of India as a unified regulator under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The Authority will classify online games, oversee compliance, address user grievances, and coordinate enforcement with financial institutions and law enforcement agencies.