Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel inaugurated the India Innovation Summit – Pioneering Solutions to End TB, at Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre. The Summit is being organized jointly by the Department of Health Research-Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) and the Central TB Division (CTD), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
The summit aims to accelerate India's progress towards TB elimination by 2025.
Highlighting the achievements of the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), Smt. Patel stated that “the Program is steadily progressing towards the goal of eliminating TB by 2025. The number of missing cases has been reduced from 15 lakh in 2015 to 2.5 lakhs in 2023.
The programme was able to notify 25.5 lakh TB and 26.07 lakh cases in 2023 and 2024-the highest ever.”
The Union Minister of State also highlighted the new initiatives under NTEP.
She stated that “a shorter and safer oral Bedaquiline-containing drug resistant TB treatment regimen has been rolled out across all State/ UTs that has improved treatment success rates of drug-resistant TB patients from 68% in 2020 to 75% in 2022.
Stuart Young, will sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, during ceremony at the President’s House in St. Ann’s.
Mr Young is currently serving as the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries. He will succeed the outgoing Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, who made his last public appearance, during the People’s National Movement (PNM)’s Special Convention.
Addressing the Convention, Dr. Rowley said that although he may be stepping down from his role as Prime Minister, but his dedication to Trinidad and Tobago will remain unwavering.
In early January, Dr. Rowley announced his intention to resign from office before the end of his term and days later named Minister Stuart Young as his successor.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the inclusion of boxing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics games. The decision follows the IOC’s granting of provisional recognition to World Boxing last month(February), effectively sidelining the International Boxing Association (IBA) and transferring authority to the new governing body.
Welcoming the decision, World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst, said this is a significant decision for Olympic boxing and takes the sport one step closer to being restored to the Olympic programme.
Boxing was not included in the 2028 LA Games’ initial sports programme approved by the IOC Session in February 2022,
because of the ongoing concerns around the then-international federation, IBA. Following the withdrawal of the IBA’s recognition on June 22, 2023, the inclusion of boxing in the 2028 LA Games sports programme remained on hold.
Following an assessment of the various criteria regarding governance and sports integrity,
the IOC Executive Board on February 26 decided to provisionally recognise World Boxing, which is currently composed of 84 national federations over the five continents.
India clinched 12 medals in four events on the final day, concluding their campaign at the Special Olympics World Winter Games with a total of 33 medals in Turin, Italy.
India's medal tally included 8 gold, 18 silver, and 7 bronze medals.
In Snowshoeing, India secured four more medals, adding to the six won earlier in the competition.
Vasu Tiwari, Shalini Chauhan, and Tanya each claimed a silver medal in the 25m Snowshoeing event, while Jahangir bagged a bronze in the same category.
The Alpine Skiing segment also saw stellar performances from Indian athletes.
Radha Devi and Nirmala Devi won silver medals in the Intermediate Slalom (F01 and F04 categories, respectively),
while Abhishek Kumar secured another silver in the Novice Slalom (M02 category).
Akriti demonstrated remarkable endurance in Cross Country Skiing, bagging a bronze medal in the 100m Classical Technique (F02 category).
In the Floorball event, Indian Women's Traditional Team showcased their teamwork and skill, claiming a bronze medal.
While India recorded 10 medals each in Snowshoeing and Alpine Skiing, six medals came in Snowboarding. Short Track Speed Skating, Cross Country Skiing and Floorball brought the country four, two and one medal respectively.
In the Women’s Premier League cricket summit clash, Mumbai Indians clinched their second title as Delhi Capitals choked for the third time in succession.
In the summit clash played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, Harmanpreet Kaur’s scintillating 44-ball 66 powered Mumbai Indians to a fighting 149 for the loss of 7 wickets.
In reply, Delhi Capitals batters put undue pressure on themselves to finish at 141 for 9 despite late surge from Marizanne Kapp and teenager Niki Prasad.
Harmanpreet Kaur was awarded player of the match for her knock. Nat Sciver-Brunt was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. She also won the Orange Cap for her 523 runs this season.
Amelia Kerr won the Purple Cap for her 18 wickets this season while Amanjot Kaur won the Emerging Player of the Season award. This match was a rematch of the inaugural WPL final in 2023, where Mumbai Indians emerged victorious by seven wickets.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has announced that all tax-related offences, including those investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), can now be resolved by paying a fine, a process known as the ‘compounding of offences'.
However, this applies only if the taxpayer has no links to anti-national or terrorist activities. If any taxpayer is found involved in anti-national or terrorist activities, their case can only be settled with the approval of the CBDT chairman.
To guide taxpayers, the CBDT has also issued a frequently asked question (FAQ) list on the subject explaining the process of applying for compounding of offences.
India and New Zealand have agreed for talks to boost cooperation in digital payments and greater two-way trade and investment during the ongoing visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
India's merchandise exports to New Zealand stood at $535 million in 2023-24, while imports stood at $335.07 million, representing a total trade value of $873 million.
The Prime Ministers welcomed sustained trade and investment flows between India and New Zealand. The country is only the 59th largest source of historical foreign direct investment into India, accounting for $87.2 million of inward investments since 2000.
Both leaders also welcomed the signing of the Authorised Economic Operators Mutual Recognition Arrangement under the aegis of the Customs Cooperation Arrangement signed in 2024, which would facilitate easier movement of goods between the two countries.
After updating the bilateral air services agreement,
both sides have also agreed to encourage their carriers to commence direct (non-stop) flight operations between the two countries.
The two nations have signed multiple memorandums of understanding. These include cooperation in horticulture and forestry, which will promote knowledge and research exchanges, development of post-harvest and marketing infrastructure,
and technical exchanges. The countries are also working on an agreement on earthquake mitigation cooperation between relevant authorities.
Net direct tax collection grew 13.13 per cent to over Rs 21.26 trillion so far this fiscal aided by higher advance tax mop up, government data showed on Monday.
During the year, the government collected Rs 10.44 trillion from four instalments of advance tax as against Rs 9.11 trillion in the previous fiscal, registering a growth of 14.62 per cent.
The last instalment of the advance tax payment was due on March 15, 2025, for the current financial year.
Advance tax collection under the corporate tax category rose by 12.54 per cent to Rs 7.57 trillion while non-corporates witnessed a growth rate of 20.47 per cent to Rs 2.87 trillion during the financial year.
An individual whose estimated tax liability is likely to be over Rs 10,000 (after considering tax deducted and collected at source TDS and TCS) is required to pay advance tax that year, as per Section 208 of the Income-Tax Act. This includes salaried taxpayers.
Advance tax is to be paid before the end of the financial year on the income that one would have earned that year.
Advance tax is paid in four instalments June 15, September 15, December 15, and March 15 of the financial year.
As per the data released by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), mop up from net non-corporate taxes, which include mainly personal income tax, grew 17 per cent year-on-year to about Rs 11.01 trillion.
However, net corporate tax collection rose in single digits at 7 per cent to Rs 9.69 trillion between April 1, 2024, and March 16, 2025.
Net collections from securities transaction tax (STT) surged nearly 56 per cent to Rs 53,095 crore so far this fiscal.
In a significant step toward digitisation and operational efficiency, Canara Bank has become the first bank in India to introduce an Online Digital Balance Confirmation Certificate through the PSB Alliance Pvt. Ltd portal. This initiative simplifies and expedites the auditing process by eliminating cumbersome manual procedures.
Traditionally, auditors were required to visit banks with authorisation letters to obtain Balance Confirmation Certificates, a process that was both time-consuming and labour-intensive. With this new digital solution, auditors can now receive balance confirmation directly via the online portal once the customer provides online consent.
This automation eliminates the need for physical paperwork and speeds up financial verifications.
Key Benefits of Canara Bank’s Digital Initiative:
Eliminates manual paperwork for auditors
Provides instant access to Balance Confirmation Certificates
Enhances security and transparency in financial verification
Saves time and improves operational efficiency
The Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs (MCGS- MSME) has been launched for providing 60% guarantee coverage by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) for credit facility up to Rs.100 crore sanctioned to eligible MSMEs under MCGS-MSME for purchase of equipment/ machinery.
The Government initiated the National Mission for Financial Inclusion (NMFI), namely the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in August, 2014 to provide universal banking services for every unbanked adult based on the guiding principles of banking the unbanked, securing the unsecured, funding the unfunded and serving unserved and underserved areas.
In a groundbreaking move to modernize mineral targeting in India, IndiaAI, an Independent Business Division (IBD) under Digital India Corporation (DIC), Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), in collaboration with the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines, has launched the IndiaAI Hackathon on Mineral Targeting.
The initiative is aimed at leveraging AI and ML technologies to enhance mineral discovery and geological analysis. Participants will use multi-parametric geoscience datasets, including geology, geophysics, geochemistry, remote sensing, and borehole data, to identify concealed and deep-seated ore bodies.
The 23rd edition of the bilateral naval exercise VARUNA, a testament to the enduring maritime partnership between India and France, is set to take place from 19 to 22 Mar 25. Since its inception in 2001, VARUNA has evolved into a cornerstone of cooperation, showcasing the two nations' commitment to enhancing naval interoperability and operational synergy.
This year's edition promises an exhilarating array of maritime exercises and complex manoeuvres across the sub-surface, surface, and air domains. The joint participation of the aircraft carriers Vikrant and Charles de Gaulle, alongside their fighter aircraft, destroyers, frigates, and an Indian Scorpene-class submarine, highlights the collaborative strength of both Navies.
VARUNA 2025 will feature advanced air defence drills and fighter exercises, including mock air-to-air combat between the French Rafale-M and Indian MiG-29K, designed to refine tactical and operational capabilities. VARUNA 2025 stands as a powerful reminder of the deep bonds uniting the Indian and French Navies in their pursuit of maritime peace and security.
