Mahesh Dixit, a 1993 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre has been appointed as Director, Intelligence Bureau (DIB).
He succeeds Tapan Kumar Deka, who held the post since 2022. His tenure ends on June 30.
Mr. Dixit, a medical doctor by education, has led the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) desk and has also served in Nagaland and Bihar.
He was Deputy dDirector of IB in J&K from 2009-12 and from 2012-15, he was posted in Nagaland. He took charge of the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of J&K in 2020 and served there till 2024, overseeing the security preparedness and intelligence-based operations post revocation of Article 370 in the erstwhile State.
He is among the Home Ministry officials who are engaged in talks with civil society leaders of Ladakh.
Due to retire in August 2027, he has been granted extension in service under the provisions of FR 56d) and Rule 16 (1A) of All India Services (Death cum Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958.
Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of economies worldwide, representing more than 90 per cent of businesses and contributing significantly to employment, livelihoods and economic growth.
As the world confronts intersecting economic, social, environmental and technological challenges, empowering MSMEs through innovation & sustainable industrial development is essential to building resilient economies, advancing Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and accelerating progress across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises are key sources of jobs, income, and local growth—especially for women, young people, and vulnerable groups. Their size and flexibility help build strong, fair, and sustainable communities.
2026 Theme: Empowering MSMEs through Innovation and Sustainable Industrial Development
Today, the United Nations officially recognised June 27th as the International Day of Deafblindness. The WFD has supported the hard advocacy work of the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB). We celebrate this new recognition of deafblind people who are part of deaf communities around the world.
The date of 27 of June has been chosen to commemorate the birth of Helen Keller in 1880, a renowned figure in the deafblind community. The deafblind community already commemorates this day using it to remind the world that the deafblind community exists and must be visible. The last week of June is also recognized as Deafblind International Awareness Week.
June 27 will be observed annually as the International Day of Deafblindness starting in 2025.
Each year on June 29, International Day of the Tropics raises awareness about various challenges that tropical nations face. It’s also a day to celebrate the extraordinary diversity of the Tropics.
The regions of the Earth that lie in the middle of the planet are called the Tropics. The Tropics account for 36 percent of the Earth’s landmass.
It includes the Equator and parts of North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. This region is warm all year round. The temperature in the Tropics ranges from 77 to 82 degrees F. The Tropics get a lot of sun and only have two seasons: the wet season and dry season.
On June 14th, 2016 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that declared June 29th as the International Day of the Tropics. The UN chose the date June 29th to mark the anniversary of the inaugural “State of Tropics Report.” The report was launched in 2014 by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from Myanmar (Burma).
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal underscored a development pipeline of 63 projects worth ₹5,028.17 crore as Mumbai Port Authority celebrated its 154th Foundation Day in Mumbai, reaffirming the Centre's commitment to transforming one of India's oldest ports into a modern, sustainable and future-ready maritime hub.
The projects comprise seven inaugurated projects worth ₹132.29 crore, 34 foundation stone-laying projects worth ₹1,354.59 crore and 22 newly announced projects worth ₹3,541.29 crore, spanning port infrastructure, waterfront development, logistics and operational efficiency.
The Union Minister also dedicated two key agreements during the programme, the Indira Dock Operations and Maintenance Agreement and the Viksit Bharat Mumbai Marina Agreement, which are expected to strengthen port operations, accelerate waterfront development and enhance the productive utilisation of Mumbai Port's assets.
The Foundation Day celebrations were held under the theme "Together We Can," recognising the contributions of officers, employees, workers, port users, shipping lines, trade partners, service providers and other stakeholders who have contributed to the growth of Mumbai Port Authority over its 154-year journey.
The programme also featured a presentation on the journey of Mumbai Port Authority, a commemorative film marking 100 years of the Mumbai Port Sports Club, and the presentation of awards to sports achievers, employees and stakeholders for their outstanding contributions.
The indigenous Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, which played a pivotal role as a force multiplier for the Indian Air Force in the 2019 Balakot strikes and Operation Sindoor last year, was accorded Final Operational Clearance (FOC).
Developed indigenously by the Bengaluru-based Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), the Netra AEW&C is integrated on the Brazilian Embraer EMB-145I aircraft platform.
Six youth-led startups from across India have been recognized as winners of the 8th edition of the Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026 for developing innovative solutions that advance sustainability through circular economy innovations, sustainable textiles and fashion, and sustainable food systems and water conservation.
Co-led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India and Citi Foundation, in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), & implemented by T-Hub Foundation, the Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge has emerged as one of India's foremost platforms for empowering youth-led innovation that accelerates progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDs)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued the final directions for expanding the country's credit derivatives market, paving the way for wider use of instruments such as Credit Default Swaps (CDS) and total return swaps, as per a statement by the apex bank.
This comes after the Union government proposed measures to deepen India's credit derivatives market and strengthen risk management tools for market participants in the Union Budget 2026. The rules are applicable with immediate effect. "These Directions shall come into force on June 25, 2026,".
As per the release, these rules will enable the resident Indian non-retail users to deploy instruments such as credit default swaps and total return swaps without any restrictions on purpose, while limiting the use of these instruments by non-resident users for hedging purposes.
Retail resident users, except individuals, may undertake credit default swaps only for hedging. Furthermore, credit derivative contracts with non-residents may be settled in Indian rupees or a foreign currency as per the latest rules.
Under the rules, insurance companies, pension funds, mutual funds, alternative investment funds (AIFs) and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) shall be eligible to act as protection sellers.
Giving directions for exchange traded credit derivatives, it noted exchanges may offer standardised single-name CDS contracts and CDS contracts on credit indices with guaranteed settlement however , before launching any CDS product, exchanges must obtain RBI approval for product design, changes in product design, eligible participants and other details of CDS contracts.
RBI is allowing Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to trade credit index futures, but with safeguards to prevent excessive speculation, for example, FPIs cannot take excessive short (sell) positions and cannot trade credit index futures linked to very short-term debt instruments.
Paisabazaar, India's leading financial marketplace, and SBM Bank India announced the launch of SBM Paisabazaar Paisa+ Credit Card - a Fixed Deposit-backed credit card designed to help consumers start building or strengthen their credit health, while earning cashback on everyday spends.
Backed by an FD, SBM Paisabazaar Paisa+ Credit Card aims to bridge a key gap in India's credit landscape by enabling consumers with limited or no credit history to begin their credit journey. The card would also benefit those with a damaged credit profile, to improve their credit score, through responsible card usage.
Five-time World chess champion Viswanathan Anand was honoured with the Sports Journalists’ Federation of India’s ‘SJFI Medal’ at a glittering ceremony at the Madras Cricket Club here. The event was hosted in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists’ Association (TNSJA).
Anand, who is serving as the deputy president of FIDE, joins an esteemed list of awardees that includes Sunil Gavaskar, Vijay Amritraj, Prakash Padukone, P.T. Usha and Milkha Singh (posthumous). The medal was presented to the 56-year-old by former India cricket captain and 1983 World Cup winner K. Srikkanth.
Olympic gold-winning hockey skipper V. Baskaran hailed the SJFI for “doing a wonderful job in promoting sports”. Veteran journalist R. Mohan read the citation that was later presented to Anand.
The SJFI president Saraju Chakraborty delivered the welcome address, while the federation’s secretary V. Ramesh, proposed the vote of thanks.
AI-powered fintech platform jUMPP has received approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) as a Third Party Application Provider (TPAP), allowing it to offer UPI services on its platform.
The development comes about a month after jUMPP secured approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to distribute insurance products.
Founded by Sarvjeet Singh Virk, jUMPP currently offers investment products such as digital gold, mutual funds, and SIPs.
With the addition of UPI, users will be able to make peer-to-peer transfers, merchant payments, bill payments, and mobile recharges through the app.
The startup has partnered with YES Bank for banking and Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) services. It also uses the Account Aggregator framework to provide users with a consolidated view of their financial accounts.
The company is focused on users in Tier II and Tier III cities and has expanded its product suite with the addition of UPI services.
As digital payments become central to everyday financial behaviour in India, jUMPP’s expanded capabilities reinforce its vision of making money management simpler, smarter, and more accessible for users across Bharat.
The 16th BRICS National Security Advisers’ Meeting was held in New Delhi today where the NSAs and Heads of Delegation from BRICS member countries exchanged views on security challenges confronting the world.
In the non-traditional realm, they deliberated on challenges related to energy security, food security, supply chain security, emerging technologies utilized by terrorist networks, cyber security and climate-induced instability.
External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the NSAs also reviewed the activities and outcomes of the BRICS Joint Working Groups on Counter-Terrorism held on 21nd and 22nd of May, and on Security in the use of Information and Communication Technologies held on 8th and 9th June.
The leaders extended support to enhancing further BRICS cooperation, particularly on strengthening the capacities of members, enhancing information sharing, and coordinating amongst BRICS law enforcement agencies to counter terrorism and cyber risks in a collective manner.
They reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including through countering the use of new technologies being utilized by them.
The NSAs expressed their full support for India’s BRICS Chairmanship in 2026 under the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability. After the conclusion of the meeting, they had a joint call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The approval advances LEXI's mission to build intelligent trade and payments infrastructure for India's exporters
Lexi Money IFSC Private Limited (LEXI) has received in-principle approval from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to operate as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) at GIFT-IFSC, Gandhinagar.
The approval positions LEXI among a select group of fintechs licensed to provide cross-border payment services from within India's designated international financial hub.
India’s combined merchandise and services exports are estimated at $860 billion in FY2025-26, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The Government of India has set a target of $2 trillion by 2030 -- more than doubling the country's export footprint in under five years.
Achieving that target is as much a financial infrastructure challenge as it is a trade policy one.
International trade is structurally complex: exporters operate across multiple payment instruments and trade structures, each with distinct risk profiles, documentation requirements, and settlement timelines.
Beyond the mechanics of the transaction itself, significant value routinely slips through the cracks
GST refunds delayed or left unpursued, export incentives and government rebate schemes unclaimed due to documentation gaps, and working capital tied up in receivables that take weeks to land. Much of this is a compliance and documentation problem: exporters who don't have the right paperwork in place don't just face delays, they forfeit entitlements.
India, along with 34 other countries, has signed a US-led initiative to build trusted and resilient supply chains to support artificial intelligence (AI) technologies at the second Pax Silica Summit held in Washington.
US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg said the participating countries endorsed the Joint Statement on AI Opportunity, aligning behind a pro-growth and pro-innovation regulatory approach for the AI era.
India was represented at the summit by Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology S. Krishnan, along with representatives from Indian industry. The Indian delegation held discussions with industry leaders on advancing collaboration in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and resilient technology supply chains.
On the sidelines of the summit, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Germany, Greece, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Panama, and the European Union joined the Pax Silica initiative. India had joined the initiative in February this year on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on June 25, 2026 launched Air Suvidha 2.0, an upgraded contactless passenger health self-declaration portal, to strengthen public health surveillance at points of entry in response to the ongoing Ebola disease outbreak.
The launch follows the World Health Organisation’s declaration of the Ebola/Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17 under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.
The current outbreak has been confirmed as Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), and countries bordering DRC and Uganda, including South Sudan, have been assessed as high-risk for transmission (as updated by WHO), according to a release issued by the Union government.
Developed in collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the portal enables international arriving passengers to submit a mandatory online health self-declaration — covering 21-day travel history, exposure history and related symptoms, if any — prior to immigration clearance.
The portal enables real-time data sharing with the airport health officer, Bureau of Immigration, and State Surveillance Officers, etc., enabling swift identification and referral of at-risk travellers while keeping the arrival experience seamless and contactless, with no physical forms to fill on landing.
Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form (SDF) can be completed 24 hours in advance before arrival to India. Passengers are requested to fill the forms before boarding of the flight, during web check-in for swift clearance on arrival and only required to show the downloaded SDF at the International Travel Health Desk or immigration counter.
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, has strengthened its global standing in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2026, achieving significant improvements across multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while retaining its overall 101-200 global band.
The latest rankings recognise MAHE’s commitment to progressing excellence in research, teaching, outreach, and institutional stewardship aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In a landmark achievement, MAHE secured the No. 1 global rank for SDG 5 - Gender Equality, making an extraordinary leap from Rank 11 in the previous edition. MAHE also recorded an impressive Rank 5 globally for SDG 3 - Good Health & Well-being, improving significantly from Rank 74 in 2025.
MAHE continued its upward trajectory in other key areas, attaining Rank 23 for SDG 4 - Quality Education, up from Rank 43, and making remarkable progress in SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals, where it moved from the 601-800 band to Rank 93 globally.
WMO has announced that its top honour, the IMO Prize, will be awarded to Dr. Florence Rabier (France), former director of the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) for her pioneering role in advancing numerical weather prediction and helping transform scientific advances into operational services for society.
Dr. Rabier is currently Non-Executive Director of the UK’s Met Office.
Named after the International Meteorological Organization which was the predecessor of WMO, the IMO Prize recognizes exceptional contributions to meteorology, hydrology and international cooperation and is widely regarded as the field’s equivalent of a Nobel Prize.
Dr. Rabier’s work on the assimilation of satellite data marked a turning point in the quality of global forecasts, in particular by significantly reducing the differences between hemispheres.
As director of ECMWF from 2016 to the end of 2025, Dr. Rabier spearheaded major strategic expansion and structural transformations, including the integration of artificial intelligence into forecasting systems and the transition to an open data model on a global scale.
She has also reinforced ECMWF's role as a scientific pillar of key European programmes, in particular Copernicus, and initiated its involvement in structuring projects such as Destination Earth (digital twin of the Earth) and SEWA (early warning systems in Africa).
Abelardo De La Espriella, a right-wing outsider, won Colombia’s presidential election by less than 1% of the vote, defeating leftist Iván Cepeda by running a campaign on a tougher security strategy and more aggressive anti-drug trafficking measures.
De La Espriella received 12.959 million votes (49.7%) compared to Cepeda’s 12.708 million (48.7%), according to the nation’s electoral authority. His victory reflected a highly polarized electorate and represents the most recent rightward shift in Latin America’s politics. Earlier this month, De La Espriella was endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
This election had Colombia’s highest turnout since the presidential runoff system was established in 1994. While Cepeda won in more departments (18 versus 14), De La Espriella secured a higher concentration of votes in territories with significant electoral weight, local newspaper El Tiempo reported. De La Espriella will take office on August 7.
Abelardo De La Espriella has emerged as the virtual winner of Colombia’s presidential election, securing 12.9 million votes in a historically competitive second round.
U.P. Rajeev has been appointed Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.
He had been working as Associate Director (Research and Development), VSSC. Dr. Rajeev has extensive experience in the area of rocket control and guidance, and has led the mission designs and mission simulations of major launch vehicles of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Dr. Rajeev hails from Pathanapuram in Kollam district. After graduating in Applied Electronics and Instrumentation from the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, he did his post graduation at the National Institute of Technology, Kozhikode. He did his PhD at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, after starting his career at the VSSC.
