Markets regulator Sebi has made the electronic book mechanism mandatory for all private placement debt issues of Rs 20 crore or above and expanded the platform's scope to include REITs and InvITs.
The move, based on recommendations from a working group and public feedback, is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Electronic Book Provider (EBP) platform.
Under the new framework, the use of the EBP platform is now mandatory for private placements of debt securities, non-convertible redeemable preference shares (NCRPS), and municipal bonds, where the issue size is Rs 20 crore or more, including single, shelf, and subsequent issues within a financial year, according to a Sebi circular.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the electronic Civil List, 2025 in the form of an e-book - a digital compendium of serving Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers across the country.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, while unveiling the e-book, said that the Indian Administrative Service continues to attract some of the finest minds in the country and plays a vital role in strengthening India’s federal governance. He highlighted the Civil List as an important tool for transparency, offering a structured view of the country’s administrative leadership.
The e-book, published by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), contains comprehensive details of IAS officers—including their name, batch, cadre, present posting, pay level, educational qualifications, and retirement dates—as updated on January 1, 2025.
It also provides cadre-wise strength, the number of officers retiring over the next five years, and appointment data from 1969 onwards. For the first time, officers’ photographs have been included in the digital document.
Designed as a searchable PDF with embedded hyperlinks, the e-book offers a user-friendly interface that enables instant access to information.
Icra projected India's GDP growth at 6.9 per cent in the quarter ended March 31, and at 6.3 per cent for the full 2024-25 fiscal, undershooting the the National Statistics Office (NSO) estimates made in February.
In February, the NSO had projected the Indian economy to grow at 6.5 percent in 2024-25.
With economic growth in June, September and December quarter at 6.5 percent, 5.6 percent and 6.2 percent respectively.
To achieve the NSO's projected 6.5 percent growth in FY25, the GDP growth in Q4 or March quarter should be 7.6 percent.
The NSO is scheduled to release the provisional estimates of FY'25 GDP and quarterly estimates for Q4 on May 30.
Icra in its note said it projected the year-on-year (YoY) expansion of the GDP to rise to 6.9 per cent in Q4 FY 2025, from 6.2 per cent in Q3 FY2025, significantly undershooting the NSO implicit estimate of 7.6 per cent for the quarter.
SBM Bank India has entered into a strategic partnership with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, marking a pivotal move aimed at enhancing its retail banking offerings and delivering a wider array of financial solutions to its customers.
This collaboration, announced reflects both institutions’ commitment to providing holistic, customer-centric products that address the evolving financial needs of individuals and families across the country.
The collaboration is in line with SBM Bank’s twofold strategy: expanding its brick-and-mortar presence while leveraging digital banking channels to strengthen its reach and impact. As the first bank in India to receive a universal banking license from the Reserve Bank of India under the Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) model, SBM Bank has positioned itself as an agile player.
Government e Marketplace (GeM), India’s national public procurement portal, marked its 8th Incorporation Day with a reaffirmation of its transformative impact on inclusive economic growth and digital governance.
GeM’s user base has seen a threefold increase in recent years, with over 1.64 lakh primary buyers and 4.2 lakh active sellers now onboard.
GeM’s user base has seen a threefold increase in recent years, with over 1.64 lakh primary buyers and 4.2 lakh active sellers now onboard. The platform offers more than 10,000 product categories and over 330 services. Independent assessments, including from the World Bank and Economic Survey,
validate GeM’s impact, noting an average cost saving of nearly 10% in government procurement.
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has released the 21st edition of its monthly ‘Secretariat Reforms’ report for April 2025.
The report provides an extensive analysis of the ongoing initiatives aimed at transforming governance and administration through (i) Swachhata and Reducing Pendency to Minimum Levels (ii) Increasing Efficiency in Decision Making, (iii) e-Office Implementation and Analytics.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released revised draft guidelines for investments by regulated entities (REs) in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), aimed at tightening oversight and preventing potential misuse of the investment route.
“On a review, it is observed that the regulatory measures undertaken by the Reserve Bank have brought financial discipline among the REs regarding their investment in AIFs,” the RBI said.
The central bank also acknowledged that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has issued its own guidelines:
“Sebi has also issued guidelines requiring inter alia specific due diligence with respect to investors and investments of the AIFs, to prevent facilitation of circumvention of regulatory frameworks,” the RBI stated.
As part of the revised framework, the RBI has proposed a cap of 10 per cent on the contribution of a single RE to any AIF scheme,
while all REs collectively cannot invest more than 15 percent in a single scheme.
Investments by an RE up to five percent of a scheme’s corpus will not face any additional restrictions. However, if an RE’s investment exceeds five percent and the AIF has downstream debt exposure to a borrower linked to the RE—
excluding equity shares, compulsorily convertible preference shares, and compulsorily convertible debentures—the RE will have to make a 100 per cent provision for its proportionate exposure.
The RBI may exempt certain AIFs from these rules, in consultation with the government, if they are set up for strategic purposes.
The RBI may exempt certain AIFs from these rules, in consultation with the government, if they are set up for strategic purposes. The revised guidelines will apply prospectively, while existing investments and commitments will continue under current regulations
The RBI has invited public and stakeholder feedback on the draft Directions until 8 June 2025.
Comments can be submitted through the ‘Connect 2 Regulate’ section on the RBI’s website.
In a circular issued in December 2023, the RBI had barred REs from investing in any AIF scheme that had downstream investments—directly or indirectly—in companies to which the RE had a loan or investment exposure in the preceding 12 months.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s visionary One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme has transformed Uttar Pradesh’s traditional crafts into global brands while empowering lakhs of artisans and entrepreneurs.
With 12 new additions, the ODOP portfolio now boasts of 74 unique products—setting a model now replicated across India.
Earlier, the total number of ODOPs in Uttar Pradesh was 62.
State MSME Secretary Pranjal Yadav said that the ODOP scheme is being widely discussed and appreciated nationwide. Recognising its transformative impact, other states have also begun replicating the model.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's most valued information technology services company by market capitalisation and also one of the largest private sector employers, has been named one of the 100 most valuable brands globally in the 2025 Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Global Brands Report.
In the special 20th edition of the Kantar BrandZ report unveiled at a ceremony in New York, TCS was assigned a brand value of $57.3 billion, reflecting a strong 28% year-on-year growth.
TCS now holds the 45th position in the global rankings, which feature the most recognised and influential brands across industries.
This year’s growth underscores a significant surge in brand equity, favorability, and global recognition. According to an independent brand audit by Momentum-ITSMA, TCS has achieved 95% aided brand awareness among business decision-makers across 26 countries—an extraordinary rise from just 29% in 2010.
Arunabha Ghosh, who heads Delhi-based climate and energy think tank CEEW [Council on Energy, Environment and Water], has been appointed as the South Asia envoy for this year's UN climate conference (COP-30), which will take place in Brazil in November.
As one of eight international envoys for strategic regions, Mr. Ghosh will play a key role in facilitating dialogue and ensuring that South Asian voices are strongly represented and supported at the global climate conference.
Some of the other international envoys include global leaders such as Jacinda Ardern (former Prime Minister of New Zealand),
Patricia Espinosa (former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC), Laurence Tubiana (France’s Climate Change Ambassador), and Adnan Amin (first Director-General of International Renewable Energy Agency).
The Indian Army carried out a large-scale integrated field exercise titled 'Teesta Prahar' at the Teesta field firing range on Thursday, showcasing its operational readiness and coordination among combat and support arms in riverine terrain, according to a Defence PRO.
The exercise witnessed active participation from key combat and support arms, including
the Infantry, Artillery, Armoured Corps, Mechanised Infantry, Para Special Forces, Army Aviation, Engineers, and Signals.
A key highlight of the drill was the deployment and validation of newly inducted next-generation weapon systems, military platforms, and advanced battlefield technologies, as a part of the Indian Army's emphasis on modernisation.
In addition, the exercise emphasised jointness, synergy, and seamless coordination, reinforcing the Army's ability to operate swiftly and effectively across varied terrain and adverse weather conditions. The statement further said it featured tactical drills, battle rehearsals, and adaptive manoeuvres aimed at refining responses to dynamic combat scenarios.
India successfully tested an indigenous counter-drone system called "Bhargavastra", marking a major advancement in tackling emerging aerial threats such as drone swarms.
The successful trial of the indigenous system comes in the backdrop of Pakistan using drones to target Indian cities during an escalating conflict.
Developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), the low-cost system is designed to neutralise large-scale drone incursions using a Hard Kill Mode and was tested at the Seaward Firing Range in Odisha's Gopalpur.
The Khelo India Youth Games 2025 will conclude this evening. Curtains of Youth Games will come down with a colourful and entertaining closing ceremony to be held at the Pataliputra Sports Complex in Patna, Bihar. The Youth Games commenced on the 4th of this month.
Maharashtra emerged as the overall champion at the games, garnering 158 medals, including 58 gold and 47 silver. Haryana, with 117 medals, secured the second position, winning 39 gold and 27 silver. Rajasthan took third place with 60 medals, 24 gold and 12 silver. The final day witnessed mixed results in basketball, fencing, and weightlifting.
Haryana won gold medals in all three finals held today. Throughout the event, Haryana dominated in fencing, winning 7 gold, two silver, and three bronze medals, proving their superiority in this sport.
