A Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in New Delhi between the D/o Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), M/o Social Justice and Empowerment, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
The primary objective of this collaboration is to establish a robust framework for promoting inclusive education for persons with disabilities, in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
On 19 June 2015, the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/69/293) proclaimed 19 June of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, in order to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and,
to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.
The date was chosen to commemorate the adoption on 19 June 2008 of Security Council resolution 1820 (2008), in which the Council condemned sexual violence as a tactic of war and an impediment to peacebuilding.
The Create in India Challenge, launched by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting as part of WAVES 2025, has emerged as a transformative platform to identify and elevate India’s creative talent onto the global stage. One of its standout success stories, Desi Oon, a film by celebrated animation filmmaker Shri Suresh Eriyat, has brought international acclaim to,
Indian animation by winning the Jury Award for Best Commissioned Film at the Annecy International Animation Festival 2025, France. Widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious stage for animation, this rare and monumental win places Indian animation on the world map.
A flagship initiative aimed at fostering India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem (Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality), the Create in India Challenge drew entries from over 60 countries across 32 curated challenges, spotlighting innovative storytelling rooted in Indian culture and powered by modern technology.
Desi Oon, was recently crowned Best Film at the WAVES Awards of Excellence 2025, India’s leading animation and design recognition platform under the Create in India Challenge. In addition to the Annecy honour, the film has also been shortlisted at Cannes Lions 2025 in the Film Craft Lions category, making it a landmark achievement for India’s animation industry.
Suresh Eriyat’s storytelling brilliance and Studio Eeksaurus' craftsmanship have also earned multiple international accolades:
AICP Show Winner 2025 – The film will be archived at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, an honour reserved for the most impactful global works.
2 Blue Elephants & 1 Baby Black Elephant – At the coveted Kyoorius Creative Awards.
D&AD Wooden Pencil Winner – Celebrated for design excellence in global advertising.
About ASIFA India:
The Indian chapter of ASIFA International, a UNESCO-supported global body, ASIFA India is dedicated to the art of animation and fosters creative exchange, capacity building.
Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Service vide its Notification No. FS-1/3/2023-PR dated 24.01.2025 had notified introduction of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) as an option under NPS for the recruits to the Central Government civil service w.e.f. 01.04.2025 giving one time option to the Central Government employees covered under,
In view of the above, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare vide its OM No. 57/01/2025-P&PW(B)/UPS/10498 dated 18.06.2025, has issued clarification that the Central Government employees opting for UPS shall be eligible for benefit of ‘Retirement gratuity and Death gratuity’ under the provisions of the Central Civil Service (Payment of Gratuity under NPS) 2021.
INS Arnala, the first of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, was commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy on 18 Jun 2025 in the presence of General Anil Chauhan, the Chief of Defence Staff, at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
The ceremony was hosted by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command and attended by senior naval officials, distinguished civilian dignitaries, ex- Commanding Officers of erstwhile Arnala, guests, and representatives from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding.
Designed for a broad range of Anti-Submarine operations, INS Arnala is equipped to conduct Sub-Surface Surveillance and Interdiction, Search and Rescue Missions; and Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO). This 77-meter-long warship, with a gross tonnage of over 1490 tonnes, is the largest Indian Naval warship to be propelled by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination.
The induction of INS Arnala, named after the historic coastal fort off Maharashtra, is a step in the direction of building naval capabilities in line with the force levels envisaged to meet the challenges of the future.
Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) has released the twenty fifth edition of monthly report of NeSDA Way Forward for States/UTs, May 2025 which provides a detailed overview of status of e-service delivery across States/UTs.
Jio Financial Services Ltd (JFS) has taken a decisive step in India’s digital banking sector by acquiring State Bank of India’s entire 17.8% stake in Jio Payments Bank for ₹104.54 crore. This acquisition makes Jio Payments Bank a wholly owned subsidiary of Jio Financial Services, significantly strengthening its digital banking and payments ecosystem.
The transaction involved the purchase of 7.9 crore equity shares from SBI, valuing Jio Payments Bank at approximately ₹586 crore. Following this deal, Jio Financial Services now holds complete ownership, up from its previous 82.17% stake, pending regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India.
Launched in 2018 as a joint venture between Reliance Industries-backed Jio Financial Services and SBI, Jio Payments Bank has become a key player in the Indian payments bank sector, serving 1.89 million CASA customers as of December 2024.
Payments banks in India focus on digital transactions and financial inclusion, accepting deposits up to Rs. 2 lakh per customer without extending credit.
By securing full control over Jio Payments Bank, Jio Financial Services is positioned to accelerate growth, enhance product innovation, and consolidate its leadership in India’s rapidly evolving digital finance ecosystem.
World Kidney Cancer Day is observed every year on the third Thursday of June. This year, it is being observed today, June 19. The day aims to raise awareness about kidney cancer and ways to prevent it. Kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer can happen due to various reasons, one of them is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
CKD is a condition wherein the kidneys are damaged and hence, can't filter blood effectively. This eventually leads to the buildup of fluids and toxins in the body, which can severely impact one's health. CKD can lead to gradual kidney damage and eventually lead to kidney failure. Hence, people with CKD undergo dialysis to remove the waste and toxins from the body.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a private digital platform, YourStory Media Private Limited, with a focus on startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship to further promote inclusive entrepreneurship and strengthen the startup ecosystem.
This partnership aligns with DPIIT’s vision of fostering grassroots entrepreneurship and supporting emerging talent across Tier II, Tier III, and rural India. The collaboration aims to empower 1 million entrepreneurs through AI-powered tools, venture launchpads, and regional language storytelling initiatives under the Bharat Project.
Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) inaugurated the three-day TTDF Symposium-2025 at the IIT Madras Research Park, Chennai, organized in collaboration with IIT Madras and Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE) India.
The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) is a flagship scheme of Department of Telecommunications(DoT), launched to boost indigenous R&D in next-generation telecom technologies and bridge the digital divide in rural and remote areas.
TTDF aims for synergy among academia, start-ups, research institutes, and the industry to build and develop the telecom ecosystem.
About the TTDF Scheme-
The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF), launched on 1st October 2022 and implemented by Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), serves as a flagship initiative to promote innovation in the telecom sector by supporting R&D projects led by Indian academia, startups, research institutions, and industry.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Lovely Professional University (LPU) are the only two Indian institutions ranked among the top 50 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025. These rankings evaluate global universities for their progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year, 135 Indian institutions participated, but only four made it to the top 100 globally. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is ranked 41st, and LPU is placed at 48th. JSS Academy of Higher Education and Shoolini University are also in the top 100, each ranked 96th.
The first Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Agriculture was held between India and Ukraine today in virtual mode. The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (IC), Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfares and Ms. Oksana Osmachko, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.
Officials from both countries emphasized that the meeting marks an important milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors.
Shri Ajeet Kumar Sahu provided an overview of the agriculture and allied sectors emphasizing India’s remarkable agricultural achievements.
He highlighted a series of innovative initiatives launched by the government to strengthen the agricultural sector, which included the use of digital solutions, promotingclimate-resilient agricultural practices, risk mitigation, and credit initiatives of the government. Other noteworthy programs mentioned by him included the National Mission on Edible Oils Oilseeds,
National Food Security Mission Pulses, and e-NAM, which aims to foster growth in the agriculture sector and rural development.
Both sides discussed key issues related to cooperation in horticulture, technology transfer, knowledge sharing, capacity building, research collaboration and market access among other issues.
On the occasion of World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, the D/o Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities through its National Institutes and Composite Regional Centers across the country, organized extensive awareness programmes, lectures, seminars and webinars. The day, observed every year on 19th June, is a significant global health observance aimed at raising awareness.
The theme of World Sickle Cell Day 2025 is, ‘Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self-Advocacy’. Sickle Cell Disease is a chronic, hereditary blood disorder, commonly found in tribal populations, that affects millions globally.
