Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that the twice-a-year board exam option will start from the 2026-27 academic session. This move is part of the National Education Policy reform to reduce exam pressure. Discussions are ongoing for a semester system in classes 11 and 12. A new format for the NEET-UG exam is also being considered.
"Partnering with global leaders such as Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung, we are driving a transformative three-year investment plan. By March 2025, thousands of new sites will enhance your connectivity, elevating your network experience to extraordinary heights," Akshaya Moondra, chief executive at Vi, informed subscribers in a letter. ET has reviewed a copy of the letter.
Donald Trump proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America,’ citing U.S. efforts in the region. He criticized Mexico's policies on immigration and drugs.
Meta-owned Facebook, and Instagram are going for a big change as the company will follow another social media.
Bharti Airtel is expected to achieve stronger sequential revenue growth compared to Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea in the fiscal third quarter, driven by residual effects of tariff hikes and increased mobile broadband users. All three telcos will likely see ARPU growth, benefiting from previous rate hikes.
In a letter to the Union minister for Railways, AIOCD President JS Shinde said that e-pharmacies are operating illegally in the country. "The High Court has prohibited operations of online pharmacies. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in its affidavit has admitted that there is no provision for online pharmacies in India at present under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 or its rules," the letter said.
The Appointments Committee approved V Narayanan as the new Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space. He will take over from S Somanath starting January 14, 2025. Narayanan will serve for two years or until further orders. He is currently the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
Rostin Behnam, the Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has announced his resignation, effective January 20, 2025, coinciding with the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Pace at which PEs are leaning into India, Japan and ANZ is striking, said top Asian dealmaker. Global capital according to him is truly diversifying in the region as new opportunities spring up across the region. Beijing’s recent fiscal stimulus to spur domestic growth and demand may have opened up a window of opportunity not seen in the last few years.
The very own newspaper of Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, Washington Post have eventually exposed the excessively horrific working condition in Amazon while normal people are in shock after getting to know about that.
The Year of the Wood Snake brings an opportunity for everyone to reflect on their goals, strategize for success, and embrace personal development.
Mehul Shah, pharma expert said the operations in China have not been affected and the situation is under control. "As we all know that this virus does not cause severity, trade is unlikely to get impacted," said another expert. India is dependent on China for all major essential medicines like paracetamol, anti acid (ranitidine), cardiovascular drugs (Sartans), anti diabetes drugs (metformin), antibiotic (ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin), vitamins (ascorbic acid), acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), among others.
Union home minister Amit Shah launched the Bharatpol portal, providing Indian law enforcement with access to 19 Interpol databases. The platform's five key modules will enhance crime prevention and fugitive apprehension efforts by enabling swift, secure communication and information sharing among agencies, both domestically and internationally.
Under Justin Trudeau's leadership, Canada’s relations with India deteriorated significantly due to his alleged support for Khalistani extremists and accusations against India. The resignation comes amid intense political pressure and strained diplomatic relations following the killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The Supreme Court will hear West Bengal's plea on January 28 and 29 challenging Calcutta High Court's decision to quash the OBC classification of 77 communities. The bench led by justice BR Gavai aims to resolve the matter before the summer vacations in May.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee highlights the need for heightened surveillance by the Navy, Coast Guard, and state police due to unrest in Bangladesh, emphasizing safety measures for the Gangasagar Mela. Preparations for the eco-friendly event include introducing biodegradable bags and banning plastic use, ensuring a secure and green pilgrimage.
Resilience, bolstered by meditation, is crucial for cricketers like Virat Kohli to manage career highs and lows. Preparing mentally and financially, embracing change, and focusing on effort over results can transform career challenges into growth opportunities.
India’s fiscal deficit calculations for FY25 might be impacted by a lower-than-expected economic growth forecast of 9.6%. Lower nominal GDP could result in a slight increase in the fiscal deficit ratio to 4.98%. However, higher-than-budgeted tax collections and reduced capital expenditures might help achieve a lower fiscal deficit of 4.65%.
Exporters and freight agencies expressed concerns over high terminal handling charges at ports and low usage of dry ports, which contribute to logistics costs. They discussed these issues with commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal. India is aiming for $800 billion in goods and services exports by fiscal 2025, up from $778 billion in the previous fiscal year.
The Union health secretary reviewed the situation of respiratory illnesses in the country, and the status of public health measures for their management. While there is no surge in the country of respiratory illness, states have been asked for sturdy surveillance to detect such cases. "States have been advised to strengthen awareness among masses regarding preventive measures," the health ministry said.
Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS with the support of India and other members. This development occurred before Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's visit to India as the Republic Day chief guest. The endorsement was made at the Johannesburg summit in August 2023, and Indonesia confirmed its interest after its 2024 presidential election.
Wheat prices have surged over 8% in a fortnight, hitting ₹32-33 per kg in wholesale trade, raising inflation concerns. Despite government efforts to control prices by selling wheat to flour millers, prices remain high. The wheat processing industry cites insufficient government stock as a reason for the price hike.
India will fund a global skills gap study under the 2023 G20 initiative, aiming to become a skills hub. The labour ministry seeks approval for ₹7.24 crore for the project, collaborating with ILO and OECD. The mapping will help India align its skilled workforce with global demand, with findings expected by June 2026.
India's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act provides necessary data protections but fails to prevent state privacy breaches. The Act allows broad exceptions for state and employer data processing, raising concerns of accountability and potential misuse while attempting to balance privacy with security needs.
