Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Culture and Tourism Minister of India, and H.H. Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signed the bilateral MoU on Cultural Cooperation on 09 November 2025 in Riyadh.
The MoU aims to strengthen cultural ties between two countries by fostering cooperation across a wide range of cultural fields, including arts, heritage, music, and literature. It focuses on promoting cultural exchanges, sharing regulatory and policy experiences, and facilitating participation in festivals and events.
The two Culture Ministers are also co-chairs of the newly created Ministerial Committee of Tourism and Cultural Cooperation under India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), which was announced during the State Visit of Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in April 2025.
Notably, this is the first bilateral meeting of the two Culture Ministers since the setting up of the Ministerial Committee on Tourism and Cultural Cooperation.
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri is at Guam in the Northern Pacific for participation in the multilateral Exercise Malabar-2025.
The participation of INS Sahyadri in Exercise Malabar-2025 reaffirms India's enduring partnership and its commitment to strengthening coordination, enhancing interoperability, and demonstrating a collective resolve to safeguard regional security.
Indigenously designed and constructed, INS Sahyadri is a Guided Missile Stealth Frigate. The ship is a shining example of the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision and has participated in several bilateral and multilateral exercises, as well as operational deployments.
The Harbour Phase of Exercise Malabar-2025 will feature operational planning and discussions, alignment on communication protocols, familiarisation visits between participating nations, and sports fixtures.
Following the harbour phase, all participating units will proceed for the Sea Phase, wherein ships and aircraft will take part in naval drills, focusing on joint fleet operations, anti-submarine warfare, gunnery serials and flying operations.
The three-days Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2025,concludes in Gurugram, Haryana.
The event marked the release of various publications. During the Valedictory event the logo of PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme and its website was also launched by Hon’ble Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Power.
He also announced that the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2026 will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from 23rd to 25th October 2026.
Instituted at the 46th International Film Festival of India, the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal is an international honor presented in collaboration with the ICFT Paris under the aegis of UNESCO. The honor is given to an excellent film which promotes peace and inter-cultural dialogue, and honors Mahatma Gandhi's vision of non-violence and peace.
This year’s 10 notable films will be judged by an esteemed Jury panel comprising of Dr. Ahmed Bedjaoui, Film and Television Director-Producer and the Artistic Director of the International Film Festival of Algiers (Jury Chairperson); Xueyan Hun, Vice-President of the International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication (CICT-ICFT) and,
Director of the Platform for Creativity and Innovation (PCI); Serge Michel, Vice-President of UNICA (Union Internationale du Cinéma); Tobias Biancone, Former Director-General of the International Theatre Institute (ITI); and Georges Dupont, Director-General of the International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication (CICT-ICFT).
At the Leader’s Summit in Belem, Brazil, where heads of state have converged ahead of the climate conference beginning, India said it would join the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) as an ‘Observer’.
The TFFF is the latest measure drummed up to incentivise global finance to invest in limiting net global carbon emissions.
Mumbai takes the crown as Asia’s happiest city, beating Beijing, Shanghai, Chiang Mai, and Hanoi.
Time Out’s City Life Index 2025 asked residents to rate their hometowns on culture, nightlife, food, quality of life, and whether their city makes them happy and locals seem positive.
A whopping 94 per cent of Mumbaikars say the city makes them happy. Beyond the statistics, it’s the city’s infectious energy, buzzing social scene, and endless opportunities that keep residents smiling.
Karnataka has become the first State in the country to approve one day of paid menstrual leave per month for all women employees, covering both government and private sectors. Odisha and Bihar have similar policies for government employees, while Kerala has implemented this in universities.
Cleared recently by the Karnataka Cabinet, the policy is being hailed as a progressive measure recognising menstrual health as a legitimate workplace concern. The leave, amounting to 12 days a year, applies to women in government offices, educational institutions, factories, and private organisations.
While the move has received widespread appreciation, it has sparked debate on whether a single day of leave is sufficient and whether it will achieve its intended purpose.
Dr. Sapna, who chaired the 18-member committee that drafted the policy, said it resulted from extensive consultations and comparative studies.
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India and Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IIT-GN), one of the premier institutions established by the Government of India, signs an MoU for setting up a Centre of Excellence (CoE),
to promote cutting edge research, innovation and development of indigenous products in telecom and Cyber security domain.
C-DOT’s COE initiative aims to accelerate India's leadership in telecommunications and technology by synergising C-DOT's expertise with academic excellence of reputed institutes.
This centre shall serve as a hub for both fundamental and applied research with a focus to excel in the domains of C-DOT's existing expertise in critical areas like Mobile Communications, Cyber Security, Quantum Communication, Advanced AI, and Advanced Telecom Applications.
The mandate of this Centre will be to enable community of IIT Gandhinagar students, faculty, researchers and C-DOT researchers to come together and collaborate in Telecom and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) domain.
NHPC Limited, a “Navratna” Enterprise of the Government of India celebrated the completion of 50 glorious years and its 51st Raising Day with great enthusiasm on 7th November 2025. Grand celebrations were organized at NHPC’s Corporate Office in Faridabad as well as across all its Regional Offices, Power Stations, and Projects.
On this occasion, at the Golden Jubilee celebration held at the Corporate Office, Faridabad, the Chief Guest, Shri Manohar Lal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Power, Housing and Urban Affairs released the "Customized My Stamp" on NHPC issued by India Post, Government of India.
The Chief Guest also released the "Achievement Book" showcasing NHPC's glorious 50-year journey and key milestones.
To mark the completion of 50 glorious years of NHPC’s establishment, India Post, Government of India released a customized “My Stamp” featuring 12 iconic dams and barrages of NHPC.
November 9 is celebrated as the National Legal Services Day to commemorate the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, which led to the establishment of organisations providing free legal aid to the needy.
India's legal aid system has reached 44.22 lakh people (2022-25) and resolved 23.58 crore cases through Lok Adalats.
From 2022-23 to 2024-25 over 23.58 crore cases were resolved through the state, permanent and national Lok Adalats.
About 2.10 crore people (as on February 28, 2025) were given pre-litigation advice, pro bono services, and legal representation and awareness through the DISHA scheme.
The Legal Services Authorities were established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, to provide free and competent legal services to marginalised and disadvantaged sections of society. Since the Act came into effect on November 9, 1995, this day is observed annually as National Legal Services Day to mark its implementation.
India’s Anish Bhanwala created history at the ISSF World Championships by clinching silver in the men’s 25-metre rapid fire pistol event at Cairo in Egypt.
Anish clinched the silver medal by hitting 28 targets in the final holding. This remarkable performance makes him the first Indian individual pistol shooter ever to win a World Championships medal at an Olympic event.
23-year-old Anish, who hails from Sonipat in Haryana, brings up India’s medal count at the Cairo meet to five – with one gold, two silvers and two bronze.
Anish hit 28 targets in the final holding. The remarkable performance makes Anish the first Indian individual pistol shooter ever to win a World Championships medal at an Olympic event.
Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya yesterday recalled India’s glorious past in hockey and its dominance on the global stage. On this occasion, Union Minister Mandaviya unveiled the trophy for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup.
Starting from the 28th November and continuing till 10th December this year, this tournament will be played in Chennai and Madurai. Over 11,500 players will participate in 24 matches. An exhibition hockey match between the Sports Minister’s eleven and Hockey India’s eleven was played in New Delhi yesterday to mark the centenary celebrations of Indian Hockey.
Former stars of the Indian hockey team were also present on the occasion to witness the match. The match was won by Sports Minister eleven by 3-1. The Indian Hockey Federation was incorporated on 7th November, 1925, which was later replaced by Hockey India in 2009.
