Cash payments at highway toll plazas will stop from April 10, with the government mandating fully digital toll collection across national highways and expressways, a shift that will directly affect daily commuting costs and payment habits for motorists.
For private vehicle owners and frequent highway users, the rule change has clear financial and practical implications:
FASTag becomes mandatory: Vehicles without a valid FASTag will no longer be able to pay in cash.
Higher cost without FASTag: If a vehicle does not have a FASTag, toll can still be paid via UPI — but at 1.25 times the standard toll fee.
Penalty for non-payment: If the user refuses or fails to pay digitally, authorities can deny entry or remove the vehicle. An e-notice may also be issued, and non-payment within three days can lead to double the toll charge.
The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has signed an agreement with M/s Scharge Pvt Limited for the project titled “Powering EV Charging Innovation.”
The project is supported under the India–UK Collaborative R&D Programme for Industrial Sustainability, in partnership with UK-based Albright Product Design Limited, aimed at developing advanced and efficient solutions for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
The technology integrates an innovative EV charger charge controller developed by Scharge Pvt Limited with a patented automated cable management system from the UK partner.
Defence Minister on Friday commissioned the indigenously-built advanced stealth frigate, INS Taragiri (F41), in Visakhapatnam, strengthening the Indian Navy's presence on the Eastern Coast, covering the Bay of Bengal and parts of the Indian Ocean region.
INS Taragiri, the fourth platform under the Project 17A programme, represents a significant advancement in indigenous warship design and construction, reinforcing the navy’s transition towards a modern and combat-ready force.
The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development stated that the “Unnat Krishi Mahotsav 2026: Exhibition and Training", to be held in Raisen from April 11 to 13, will truly be a game-changer national agriculture fair.
The National Agriculture Fair is centered on the powerful themes: “Empowered by Government Schemes, Middleman-Free Markets” and “Secure Harvests, Prosperous Farmers.” A key highlight of the event will be the detailed information provided on the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF).
The well-planned mega-fair in Raisen features exhibitions of modern tractors and agricultural implements, as well as advanced seeds and fertilizers. The event includes dedicated stalls for Organic Farming, in-depth information on Dairy, Poultry and Fisheries and free training sessions for farmers.
Additionally, the festival offers live demonstrations of Government Schemes, presentations by Agri-Startups and a robust platform for direct dialogue with agricultural scientists and senior officials.
Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre at "Central Food Technology & Research Institute" (CFTRI) and reviewed an exhibition of Startup-driven technologies and products, positioning the institute’s incubation ecosystem as a key platform for bridging laboratory research with commercial applications.
Designed as a state-of-the-art facility with dedicated incubation suites and shared infrastructure, the BioNEST Incubation Centre is expected to boost Food Startups, support advanced research, scale-up validation and regulatory facilitation in food bioprocessing and biotechnology, enabling conversion of scientific ideas into market-ready solutions.
The Startups operate across emerging domains such as nutraceuticals, precision fermentation, probiotics and postbiotics, CRISPR-based technologies and botanicals, indicating a shift towards high-value, science-driven segments within the food and biotechnology sectors.
In a major boost to non-fare revenue, Indian Railways has earned a record Rs 6,735 crore from scrap disposal in the financial year 2025–26, surpassing its annual target of Rs 6,000 crore by over 12 per cent.
According to official data, the cumulative scrap sales stood at Rs 6,735.52 crore till March 30, with a sharp acceleration throughout the month helping the national transporter cross the target comfortably.
Among the top-performing zones, South Central Railway (SCR), Western Railway (WR), Eastern Railway (ER) and Northern Railway (NR) emerged as standout contributors. SCR recorded scrap sales of Rs 641.92 crore against a target of Rs 510 crore, an overachievement of nearly 26%, while WR earned Rs 639.96 crore against Rs 470 crore, exceeding its target by over 36%
In the World Archery Para Series, teenage quadruple amputee archer Payal Nag defeated world No. 1 Sheetal Devi to win gold in the compound women’s final in Bangkok. Among other highlights, Toman Kumar clinched gold in the compound men’s event, while Bhawna won the recurve women’s title.
Among other highlights, Toman Kumar clinched gold in the compound men’s event, while Bhawna won the recurve women’s title.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that India has delivered humanitarian assistance to support flood and earthquake-hit Afghanistan. In a post on X, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India delivered humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) materials, including kitchen sets, hygiene kits, plastic sheets, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, and more.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority, heavy rains and floods have destroyed 131 houses and partially damaged 650 others. More than 3,000 jeribs of agricultural land have also been affected.
The defence ministry has initiated the process for the indigenous design and development of a 1000-kg aerial bomb akin to Mk-84 for the IAF, aiming to boost India's 'Aatmanirbharta' in the sector, according to senior officials.
The project is structured in two phases. The first involves design and development of six prototypes (live and inert), including associated tail units and equipment, they said. The second is the procurement phase, which will commence with the issuance of a commercial Request for Proposal (RFP) to the qualifying development agencies.
The Ministry of Defence has "issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) for design, development and procurement of 1,000-kg aerial bombs (akin to Mk-84) along with tail units and associated equipment under the provisions of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020".