In a paradigm shift to the voting process, the Bihar State Election Commission has decided to roll out an e-voting system using an Android-based mobile. Bihar will be the country’s first state to adopt this revolutionary change in the voting process.
Mr Prasad said the entire e-voting process will be executed through two mobile apps, namely “e-Voting SECBHR”, one developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and another by the Bihar State Election Commission.
The State Election Commissioner said so far 10,000 electorates have registered for e-voting,
The SEC said it will help to increase voter turnout and make elections more inclusive. He said fool-proof digital security has been ensured. The e-voting system will have features like a blockchain platform, liveness detection, face match, live face scan, and face comparison, making the voting tamper-proof.
Like EVMs feature of VVPAT, an audit trail has also been put in place in the e-voting process.
e-Voting will be another feather in the cap of the Bihar State Election Commission, which is a pioneer in adopting end-to-end digital technology in the polling process.
The State Election Commission has so far introduced the FRS- Face Recognition System for voter verification, the Optical Character Recognition system in counting of votes and declaration of results and the use of digital locks for EVM strong rooms, making a role model for others in the democratic process.
India's markets regulator on Wednesday reduced the regulatory requirements for foreign investors who invest exclusively in the country's government bonds.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India's board, which met in Mumbai, also made it easier for state-owned companies to delist their shares from stock exchanges.
India's coffee exports are off to a robust start for the 2025-26 fiscal year, showing over 25 per cent growth so far. This strong beginning follows a successful previous fiscal year, as per data released by the Coffee Board of India.
In FY2024-25 the exports witnessed a rise of 40.20 per cent to stand at USD 1803 million (Rs 15292 crores), as compared to USD 1286 million (Rs 10645 crores) in FY2023-24.
The report also highlighted that, India's coffee sector is demonstrating robust growth and a strong commitment to sustainability. India stands as the world's seventh-largest coffee producer,
contributing 3.5 per cent to global production, and the fifth-largest exporter, accounting for 5 per cent of worldwide coffee exports.
Additionally, the Coffee Board is actively promoting Indian coffees globally through various initiatives.
These include organising buyer-seller meets, aggressive overseas promotional activities for 13 regional coffees and 3 speciality coffees, and securing Geographical Indication (GI) tags for 5 regional and 2 speciality coffees. Digital media campaigns emphasize the unique characteristics of Indian shade-grown, hand-picked, and sun-dried coffees.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has launched Pratibha Setu, earlier known as Public Disclosure Scheme, to help high-performing candidates who cleared all UPSC exams but missed the final merit list. The scheme aims to connect them with both government bodies and private employers.
Pratibha Setu includes more than 10,000 candidates from exams such as the Civil Services, Engineering Services, Forest Services, CAPF, Medical Services, Geo-Scientist, and IES/ISS. These candidates have passed all examination stages but were not recommended for final selection.
Employers, both from the central government and the private sector, can register on the portal. Once verified, they gain access to the soft biodata of candidates, including qualifications and contact details. UPSC will provide employers with login credentials to browse this data bank and recruit as needed.
Previously known as the Public Disclosure Scheme since 2018, the programme has been renamed Pratibha Setu to reflect its wider scope and ambition.
This initiative gives a second career option to candidates who narrowly missed selection.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the 48th meeting of PRAGATI, the ICT-enabled, multi-modal platform aimed at fostering Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, by seamlessly integrating efforts of the Central and State governments, at South Block, earlier.
During a review of Prime Minister-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), Prime Minister urged all States to accelerate the development of health infrastructure, with a special focus on Aspirational Districts, as well as remote, tribal, and border areas.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a proposal from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to establish International Potato Centre (CIP)’s South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) at Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
The major objective of this investment is to increase food and nutrition security, farmers income,
and job creation by improving potato and sweetpotato productivity, post-harvest management and value-addition.
The potato sector in India has the potential to generate significant employment opportunities in production sector, processing sector, packaging, transportation, marketing, value chain, etc.
Hence, in order to untap and explore the huge potential in this sector, International Potato Centre (CIP) ‘s south Asia regional Centre is being established at Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh. High yielding, nutrient and climate resilient varieties of potato and sweetpotato developed by CSARC will significantly accelerate the sustainable development of the potato and,
and sweetpotato sectors not only in India but in the South Asia region also through world-class science and innovation.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Pune Metro Rail Project Phase-2: Vanaz to Chandani Chowk (Corridor 2A) and Ramwadi to Wagholi/Vitthalwadi (Corridor 2B), as extensions of the existing Vanaz–Ramwadi corridor under Phase-1.
These two elevated corridors will span 12.75 km and include 13 stations, connecting fast-developing suburbs such as Chandani Chowk, Bavdhan, Kothrud, Kharadi, and Wagholi. The project is scheduled for completion within four years.
The estimated project cost is Rs.3626.24 crore, to be equally shared by the Government of India,
Government of Maharashtra, and external bilateral/multilateral agencies. This strategic proposal is a logical extension of the existing Corridor-2 and aligns with the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), which envisions a continuous Chandani Chowk to Wagholi Metro corridor to strengthen East–West mass transit in Pune.
These extensions will serve key IT hubs, commercial areas, educational institutions, and residential pockets, increasing the share of public transport and ridership across the network. The new corridors will also integrate at the District Court Interchange Station with Line-1 (Nigdi–Katraj) and Line-3 (Hinjewadi–District Court) to enable seamless multimodal urban travel.
Under long-term mobility planning, intercity bus services from cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru will be integrated at Chandani Chowk, while those from Ahilya Nagar and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar will connect at Wagholi, allowing passengers to easily access Pune’s Metro system.
These extensions will also help decongest arterial routes such as Paud Road and Nagar Road, offering safe, fast, and eco-friendly mobility options.
After completion of these corridors, the projected incremental daily ridership for the entire Line 2 is estimated at 0.96 lakh in 2027, 2.01 lakh in 2037, 2.87 lakh in 2047, and 3.49 lakh in 2057.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP) for addressing issues related to fire, land subsidence, and the rehabilitation of affected families in the Jharia Coalfield. The total financial outlay for the implementation of the revised plan is Rs.5,940.47 crore.
The Revised JMP lays a much stronger emphasis on sustainable livelihood generation for families being resettled under the plan. Targeted skill development programmes are to be undertaken and income-generating opportunities will be created to ensure economic self-reliance of the rehabilitated families.
Furthermore, a Livelihood Grant of Rs. One Lakh and access to credit support of up to Rs. Three Lakh through an institutional credit pipeline will be extended to both Legal Title Holder (LTH) families and Non-Legal Title Holder (Non-LTH) families.
In addition, comprehensive infrastructure and essential amenities—such as roads, electricity, water supply, sewerage, schools,
hospitals, skill development centres, community halls, and other common facilities—are to be developed at the resettlement sites. These provisions will be implemented as per the recommendations of the Committee for Implementation of the Revised Jharia Master Plan, ensuring a holistic and humane rehabilitation approach.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah released a book titled 'The Emergency Diaries - Years that Forged a Leader', a compilation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's experiences during the anti-Emergency movement, at an event to mark 'Savidhan Hatya Diwas’ in New Delhi.
The book describes Modi distributed many newspapers published secretly in markets, squares, among students and women, and that he led the struggle as a 25-year old youth of Gujarat.Shah said that Modi used to work underground at that time, sometimes as a saint, sometimes as a Sardarji, sometimes as a hippie, sometimes as an incense stick seller or sometimes as a newspaper.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the aegis of Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
The MoU marks a strategic convergence to empower the women of Self-Help Groups through structured skilling, entrepreneurship development, and market-aligned livelihood interventions.
The Minister stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set a vision to enable 3 crore Lakhpati Didis, and affirmed the government's commitment to this goal.
The Poornima University and Rajasthan University will jointly host the Khelo India University Games 2025 in Jaipur November, it was announced. This will be the fifth iteration of the Khelo India University Games that began in February 2020.
The multi-sport Games, where more than 4,000 athletes are expected from more than 200 Universities.
Like previous editions, there will be at least 20 disciplines on the KIUG 2025 program. Chandigarh University had won the team championships at KIUG 2024, co-hosted by Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura.
By resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
This year’s World Drug Day calls for investment in prevention, including justice, education, health care and alternative livelihoods — the building blocks of sustainable resilience.
This year's campaign "Break the cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime" highlights the need for coordinated long-term action to break the cycle of organized crime and drug trafficking.
On 12 December 1997, by resolution 52/149, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 26 June the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, with a view to the total eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Torture is a crime under international law. According to all relevant instruments, it is absolutely prohibited and cannot be justified under any circumstances. This rule is part of the widely accepted international law. It means that every country must follow it, even if they haven't agreed to specific treaties prohibiting torture.
