President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday presented Gallantry Awards at Defence Investiture Ceremony- 2022 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. He conferred 13 Shaurya Chakras, including six posthumous, to the personnel of Armed Forces for displaying gallantry, courage and devotion to duty.

The President also conferred 14 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 24 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals for distinguished service of exceptional order.

Army Chief General Manoj Pande received Param Vishisht Seva Medal from the President. Captain Ashutosh Kumar was awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously. He was martyred during a counter-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir. Havildar Anil Tomar of Rashtriya Rifles, Havildar Pinku Kumar, Havildar Kashirai Bammanalli, Naib Subedar Sreejith M, and Sepoy Jaswanth Reddy were awarded Shaurya Chakra posthumously for their acts of gallantry.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation and collaboration in Broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and ORTM (Office de la Radio et de la Television) was signed in Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo yesterday. It was signed by India’s Ambassador to Madagascar Abhay Kumar and ORTM Director-General  Mr. BELALAHY Jean Yves. The ceremony was graced by the Director of Cabinet of the Ministry of Communication and Culture and representatives of the Government of Madagascar.

Madagascar National Television (TVM) will broadcast programmes from internal productions of Prasar Bharati in the fields of culture, education, science, entertainment, sports, news as well as other areas of mutual interest. Both sides will explore co-production opportunities related to matters of mutual interest and will arrange training for TVM personnel in India. The MoU enters into force on the date of its signature.

The government will establish 33 new domestic cargo terminals by 2024-2025 which will allow India's cargo sector to flourish and grow. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said this while addressing the annual event of Air Cargo Forum India. Talking about the reforms in Cargo Sector, the Minister said that industry players need to focus on transportation of smaller cargo loads from Tier II and III cities to metros to achieve the target of 10 million metric tons in cargo. He said this can be achieved by acquisition of smaller size aircraft. To facilitate this, he said 33 new domestic cargo terminals will be established by 2024-2025. He also stressed the need to work on ease of doing business in cargo sector by making processes paperless, adapting automation, and digitalization which can make cargo processing swift.

The 161st birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore was celebrated across Bangladesh on Sunday with programmes, events, discussions, art exhibitions being organised at several places.

The birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore is celebrated in Bangladesh according to the Bangla Calendar. Tagore was born on 25th of Baishakh in Bangla year 1268 in Kolkata.

Parliament Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury inaugurated the main programme at Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari in Kumarkhali Upazila of Kushtia district. The theme of this year’s programme was 'Crisis of Humanity and Rabindranath'. State Minister for Cultural Affairs K M Khalid chaired the programme. Renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent Rezwana Choudhury Bannya presented songs at the event, reports the official news agency BSS.

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) on Monday complete seven years of providing social security net.

The schemes were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9th May 2015 in Kolkata, West Bengal. These schemes have been successful in providing affordable insurance and security to people.

These three social security schemes are dedicated to the welfare of the citizens, recognizing the need for securing human life from unforeseen risks or losses and financial uncertainties. In order to ensure that the people from the unorganized section of the country are financially secure, the Government launched two insurance schemes - Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and introduced Atal Pension Yojana to cover the exigencies in the old age.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is creating better opportunities to private industries, especially the MSME’s. She gave away the awards for the best performing Start-ups in Coimbatore today. Speaking on this occasion, the Minister said, Prime Minister Modi has made economic reforms as the government’s important policy initiative.

Ms Sitharaman attacked the Congress saying it shackled the hands of the private industry by implementing the Quota and License Raj. She said, in 1991, the Congress Government resorted to a limited form of reforms due to the Balance of Payments crisis, and added, the present government gives stress to reforms in all spheres of the industry. She said, in all the areas where the public sector units are operational, the private industries will also be permitted. She however added that in strategic sectors, the public sectors will continue to play their role, though such sectors will be opened for the private as well.

The Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Asani’ over West-central and adjoining South Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwestwards with a speed of 16 kilomtres per hour during past six hours and lay centered at 1430 hours IST of today, over Westcentral Bay of Bengal, about 860 kms west-northwest of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 410 kms southeast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and 590 kms south of Puri, Odisha. 

It is very likely to move northwestwards till tomorrow and reach West-central and adjoining North-west Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move towards North-west Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast. It is likely to weaken gradually into a Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hours, as per IMD, AMARAVATHI.

RailTel, a Mini Ratna PSU, has launched Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme based on access to its Public WiFi services across 100 railway stations across the country. This public-friendly service was virtually launched by RailTel chairman and managing director Puneet Chawla yesterday.

To access this WiFi network, android users can download the mobile app ‘Wi-DOT’ available on Google Play Store. This app has been developed in close coordination with C-DOT.

This method of accessing Wi-Fi through the ‘mobile app’ will be in addition to the existing method of accessing WiFi at these stations through the conventional method of selecting RailWire Service Set Identifier (SSID).

The government has said that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG 2022) has not been postponed and will be held as scheduled on 21st of May. Press Information Bureau (PIB) has termed the notice issued in the name of the National Board of Examinations claiming that the NEET PG exam has been postponed as fake. It said, no such notice has been issued by the Board.  

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has warned against spoofed notices issued in its name. It has advised the candidates not to be misled by such unverified notices and cross-check any information regarding NBEMS on its official website.

President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Judge in Gujarat High Court Justice Jamshed Burjor Pardiwala as Judges of the Supreme Court.

Law Ministry has announced their appointments in separate gazatte notifications.

Senior-most puisne Judge of the Gauhati High Court Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh will perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court with effect from the date Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia relinquishes the charge.