The Department of Posts (DoP) and the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in support of inclusive and sustainable rural development.
The collaboration aligns with the Government’s vision, as envisaged by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, to strengthen “Dak Sewa, Jan Sewa” and reposition India Post as a key driver of the rural economy.
The partnership aims to enhance financial inclusion, promote entrepreneurship, strengthen digital capabilities and improve market access for rural women, Self-Help Groups and community institutions across the country.
Under the MoU, IPPB will facilitate doorstep banking services, including savings, payments and remittances, through its digitally enabled platform.
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) and the Department of Posts (DoP) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a nationwide logistics mechanism for the transportation of pesticide, seed and fertiliser samples to designated laboratories across the country.
The collaboration forms part of the PAN-India Online Pesticide, Seed and Fertiliser Quality Management System being developed by the Centre for Research and Industrial Staff Performance (CRISP). The system aims to strengthen quality control, improve transparency and ensure timely testing of agricultural inputs through a technology-enabled workflow.
Under the MoU, the Department of Posts will provide end-to-end logistics support for the secure, traceable and time-bound movement of samples collected by Pesticide, Seed and Fertiliser Inspectors.
The partnership reflects the Government’s focus on strengthening institutional coordination and leveraging India Post’s logistics capabilities to support national programmes.
The Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference was held on 06th January 2026, bringing together national and state leadership, policymakers, industry leaders, startups, and academia to deliberate on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in governance, infrastructure, innovation, and workforce development.
A major highlight of the conference was the announcement and launch of several national and state-level AI initiatives, reinforcing Rajasthan’s role as a key hub for AI-led innovation and governance.
Manoj Kothari, the 1990 IBSF World Billiards champ and Dhyan Chand awardee who coached India to cue glory, died at the age of 67.
Kothari was one of India’s most respected figures in cue sports. He rose to global fame after winning the IBSF World Billiards Championship in 1990 and later the World Doubles Billiards Championship in 1997.
Beyond his playing career, he served as the chief national coach of the Indian billiards team, mentoring generations of players.
After retiring from competitive play, Kothari played a defining role in shaping Indian cue sports as a coach and mentor.
He served as chief coach of the Indian billiards team from 2011, a role he held for over a decade, overseeing multiple world titles and guiding several generations of Indian players through international competition.
In recognition of his contribution to Indian sport, the Government of India conferred the Dhyan Chand Award on Kothari in 2005, one of the country’s highest honours for lifetime achievement in sports. The award was presented by then President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on January 5, 2026 said that the Supreme Court has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the apex court of Bhutan to facilitate the exchange of young legal professionals.
The CJI, at the outset of the proceedings, said that under the MoU, two law clerks from Bhutan will be engaged by the Supreme Court here for a period of three months.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening judicial cooperation and enhancing institutional ties between the two countries.
India has introduced an e-Production Investment Business Visa called e-B-4 Visa that Chinese businessmen can apply for to travel to India for specific business activities, including installation and commissioning of equipment.
A latest advisory on the Indian Embassy website here said the e-B-4 Visa, which was introduced on January 1, can be applied for online without visiting the embassy or agents.
The new visa is introduced in view of the growing demand for business visas to travel to India. It will be issued in about 45 to 50 days, with permission to stay in India for up to six months.
The new visa is introduced in view of the growing demand for business visas to travel to India. It will be issued in about 45 to 50 days, with permission to stay in India for up to six months.
A latest advisory on the Indian Embassy website here said the e-B-4 Visa, which was introduced on January 1, can be applied for online without visiting the embassy or agents.
The new visa is introduced in view of the growing demand for business visas to travel to India. It will be issued in about 45 to 50 days, with permission to stay in India for up to six months.
The visa can be applied for installation and commissioning, quality check and essential maintenance, production, IT and ERP ramp-up, training,
supply chain development for empanelling vendors, plant design and bring-up, senior management and executives, according to the advisory.
Applicants can submit an application for an e-B-4 Visa online on the portal under the tab’For e-Visa by Bureau of Immigration, apply along with mandatory supporting documents, it said.
US President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing the withdrawal of the US from 66 international organisations, the White House said.
Under the order, US agencies and departments have been instructed to cease participation in and funding for 35 non-UN organisations and 31 UN entities that, according to the administration,no longer serve American interest.
The UK unveiled a series of stricter road safety norms, including Dev's Law named after an eight-year-old Indian-origin boy killed in a 2018 accident on a busy highway.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said its new road safety strategy will save thousands of lives on UK roads by tackling drink driving, improving training for young learner drivers and,
introducing mandatory eye tests for older motorists.
It will also make Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) compulsory in new vehicles, something Dev's mother Meera Naran has been campaigning for since losing her son in the tragic road collision over seven years ago.
The government's new strategy mandates 18 new vehicle safety technologies, including AEB and lane-keeping assistance, as it sets up a new Road Safety Investigation Branch to analyse collision patterns and inform prevention strategies.
The government said its strategy sets out an ambitious plan to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads by 65 per cent by 2035,
with a greater target of 70 per cent for children under 16.
New measures will also target a growing problem of illegal number plates, including "ghost" plates designed to fool camera systems, while also cracking down on uninsured drivers and vehicles without a valid MOT (Ministry of Transport certificate).
The General Insurance Council (GI Council), the industry body representing non-life insurers announced the appointment of S Prakash as chief executive officer (CEO), Health Insurance Ecosystem and Strategic Partnerships, effective from January 7, 2026.
In his new role, he will work closely with insurers, hospitals, regulators and other stakeholders to support sector-wide initiatives aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and trust across the health insurance value chain.
The government notified the first phase of the Census of India 2027, stating that the house listing and housing census will be carried out between April 1 and September 30, 2026, across all states and Union Territories.
India’s economy is estimated to grow by 7.4 per cent in FY26, up from 6.5 per cent in FY25, according to the first advance estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) released by the National Statistics Office. The estimates indicate the economy’s resilience despite persistent external headwinds.
The growth outlook, however, has been aided by a GDP deflator at a five-decade low of 0.5 per cent (FY1975-76: -1.6 per cent), with nominal GDP growth projected at 8 per cent in FY26 — the slowest since the Covid-impacted FY21. The 60 basis point gap between nominal and real GDP growth in the current financial year is the narrowest since 2011-12.
The estimated real GDP growth of 7.4 per cent in FY26, marginally above the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) revised projection of 7.3 per cent, assumes a deceleration in the second half of the financial year (October-March) to 6.9 per cent, from 8 per cent in the first half (April-September).
The Labour Ministry has proposed a 90-day annual work threshold as the mandatory eligibility criteria for gig and platform workers to access social security under new draft rules on the Social Security Code 2020, published on December 31, 2025.
