The Government of India has released an amount of ₹680.71 crores as the first instalment of Untied (Basic) Grants under the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV-FC) for Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) / Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) of the state of West Bengal for the Financial Year 2025–26.
The release was made on 6th October 2025 in respect of the eligible 3,224 Gram Panchayats, 335 Block Panchayats and 21 Zilla Parishads across the State.
During the previous financial year 2024–25 and current financial year 2025–26, a total amount of ₹4,181.23 crores was recommended and released to West Bengal, comprising ₹2,082.13 crores as Untied Grants and,
₹2,099.10 crores as Tied Grants, underlining the Government of India’s continued commitment to strengthening grassroots governance and service delivery through Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a retail sandbox for its central bank digital currency (CBDC), allowing fintech firms to build and test solutions as part of the ongoing pilot, Suvendu Pati, chief general manager at the Reserve Bank of India, said.
The RBI's first retail e-rupee pilot, its version of a CBDC, began on December 1, 2022.
Total CBDC users in India are about 7 million.
Earlier, Pati had said that the pilot will employ the wholesale segment of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) as the underlying layer for the exercise. The RBI is collaborating with “a few banks” on the project.
Digital tokenisation is known to make transactions faster, cheaper, and safer. Tokenisation, in a financial context, refers to representing a real-world financial asset in digital form (a “token”) on a secure ledger (often blockchain or distributed ledger technology).
In case of deposit tokenisation, deposits held at banks would be represented as tokens, which can then be used, transferred, or settled more fluidly across systems.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 9th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, Asia’s largest telecom, media, and technology event at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi.
Organised jointly by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 will be held from 8th to 11th October under the theme “Innovate to Transform”, highlighting India’s commitment to leveraging innovation for digital transformation and societal progress.
IMC 2025 will showcase the latest advancements in telecom and emerging technologies, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, industry experts, and innovators. The event will focus on key themes including Optical Communications, Semiconductors in Telecom, Quantum Communications, 6G, and Fraud Risk Indicators,
reflecting India’s strategic priorities in next-generation connectivity, digital sovereignty, cyber fraud prevention, and global technology leadership.
More than 1.5 lakh visitors from over 150 countries, 7,000+ global delegates, and 400+ companies are expected to participate.
Over 1,600 new use-cases across areas such as 5G/6G, AI, smart mobility, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and green technology will be showcased through 100+ sessions and 800+ speakers.
IMC 2025 also underscores international collaboration, with delegations from Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Russia, Ireland, and Austria participating in the event.
Theme: “Innovate to Transform” — Showcasing India’s Leadership in Digital Transformation.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport and also launched and dedicated various developmental projects in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
In line with his vision of transforming India into a global aviation hub, Prime Minister inaugurated the Phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) built at a cost of around Rs. 19,650 crores.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport is India’s largest Greenfield airport project, developed under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP).
The RBI launched four new digital payment initiatives — Internet-of-Things (IoT)-based UPI Payments, an interoperable net banking solution, UPI Reserve Pay, and AI-based UPI Help powered by NPCI’s Small Language Model (SLM) at the Global Fintech Festival.
It also introduced biometric authentication for approving UPI payments without PINs, and a face authentication feature using UIDAI’s app-based biometrics to simplify onboarding and remove the need for debit cards to set UPI PINs.
IoT payments with UPI: Users can make UPI payments for services like fuel, EV charging, or other services via connected cars, smart glasses, or smart TVs Banking Connect: Allows interoperability between banks and payment aggregators. PAs gain access to all participating banks with a single integration.
UPI Reserve Pay: Users can block part of credit cards or pre-sanctioned credit limits to simplify repeat purchases across
e-commerce platforms, food delivery apps, cab aggregators AI-based UPI Help: AI-powered support system addressing complaint resolution and mandate management.
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is aiming to grow pension coverage in the country by focusing on the agriculture sector, self-help groups and gig workers, Chairman S Ramann said at the Global Fintech Fest 2025.
The pension regulator is also looking to allow investments in commodities like gold and silver for pension funds, post discussions with its internal committee.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for the development of metal-organic frameworks.
According to the Academy, the Nobel Prize laureates created molecular constructions with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow.
These constructions, metal-organic frameworks, can be used to harvest water from desert air, capture carbon dioxide, store toxic gases, or catalyse chemical reactions.
Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has retained the top position on Forbes’ list of India’s hundred richest people. With a net worth of $105 billion, Ambani remains a centibillionaire.
JP Morgan values Reliance Retail and Jio at over $275 billion
A month after Ambani announced plans to list RIL’s telecom arm, global financial major JP Morgan valued Reliance Retail at $143 billion and Reliance Jio Infocomm at $135 billion in its latest assessment. JP Morgan noted that RIL’s consumer businesses are expected to drive nearly all of the group’s earnings growth in the coming years.
Bajaj Finserv Ltd. has announced the strategic rebranding of its insurance businesses to Bajaj General Insurance and Bajaj Life Insurance, effective immediately.
This development represents a significant milestone following the group’s decision to acquire Allianz SE’s 26% stake in joint ventures for general and life insurance, increasing its shareholding from 74 percent to full ownership.
The rebranding introduction is complemented by the campaign, ‘100% Bajaj.
Made in India. Made for India. Made by India,’ highlighting the company’s renewed dedication to shaping the future of insurance in the country and strengthening its commitment to policyholders and business partners.
The newly unveiled brand identity is said to reflect core philosophies such as trust, customer fairness, transparency, and a focused pledge to support India’s growth trajectory. According to Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director, The rebranding goes beyond a mere change of name.
The Indian peacekeepers in Abyei were honoured for their dedicated service by the Acting Head of Mission of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), a contested, oil-rich border region between Sudan and South Sudan.
The Abyei Area is a border area between South Sudan and Sudan that has been granted "special administrative status" by the 2004 Protocol on the Resolution of the Abyei Conflict (Abyei Protocol) in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War.
UN Peacekeeping is a key mechanism used by the United Nations to maintain global peace and security. It operates in conjunction with other UN efforts, including conflict prevention, peacemaking, peace enforcement, and peacebuilding.
Since the 1950s, India has sent over 2,90,000 peacekeepers to more than 50 missions worldwide, making it the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping efforts. Today, over 5,000 Indian troops serve in nine of the eleven active missions, dedicated to upholding global peace and security.
World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations.
2025 theme: #PostForPeople: Local Service. Global Reach.
Under the theme #PostForPeople: Local Service. Global Reach, this year’s campaign highlights the Post as a vital public service rooted in communities and driven by people. From rural villages to urban centres, the Post connects people and opens doors to the world.
