Air Marshal Vivek Hande, AVSM, VSM, took over as the Director General Medical Services (Air) on September 01, 2026 on permanent secondment to the Indian Air Force. An alumnus of Armed Forces Medical College, Pune; Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai; and National Defence College, New Delhi, he was commissioned in December 1988.
He is a gastroenterologist of national repute and has tenanted many specialist and administrative appointments in his illustrious career.Air Marshal Vivek Hande now has the privilege of serving in all three services of the Defence Forces. As a Flag Officer, he commanded Indian Naval Hospital Ship Asvini and was the Senior Consultant Medicine thereafter.
On the elevation to the rank of Vice Admiral, he held the critical appointment of DG (Organisation & Personnel) in the Office of DG Armed Forces Medical Services before assuming his present appointment.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Hub & Spoke International Flight Operations from Ahmedabad, making it the third airport in the country to be integrated into India's Hub & Spoke framework for international passenger movement, after Varanasi and Amritsar. The launch was marked at a function attended by Union Minister of Civil Aviation
Shri Ram Mohan Naidu, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shri Murlidhar Mohol and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghavi.The launch of Hub & Spoke operations from Varanasi on 25 June 2026 marked the beginning of a new chapter in Indian aviation.
As part of the phased expansion of the initiative, Hub & Spoke operations from Amritsar Airport were launched on 28 July 2026. Today, with the addition of Ahmedabad, we are taking another significant step towards creating an integrated, seamless and passenger-centric aviation network that connects India's regions directly with the world
through our own hub airport at Delhi. Now hub-and-spoke operations from Ahmedabad will further strengthen global connectivity, with flight AI 1117 connecting passengers to 22 destinations, primarily across Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, while the evening service AI 1121, departing at 20:15 hours,
across North America, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe.Under Hub & Spoke, immigration, check-in and baggage check-through will now all be completed at Ahmedabad itself, with baggage travelling straight through to the final international destination.
The Hub-and-Spoke model is a key component of the Government's International Aviation Hub Strategy, aimed at positioning India as the preferred aviation hub for Indian travellers by 2030 and a leading global aviation hub by 2047. The initiative leverages India's strategic geographical location and extensive airport infrastructure to strengthen
connectivity through Indian hubs and reduce dependence on overseas transit airports. The seamless journey of Hub & Spoke, Ahmedabad will be ready to invite a global audience from maximum destinations for the Commonwealth Games in 2030.
The Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, Shri Sanjeev Chopra chaired a meeting of State Food Secretaries on 1 September 2026 in New Delhi to review key issues relating to procurement, public distribution and storage of foodgrains.
Food Secretaries of various States/UTs and officers of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) attended the meeting.
In a significant move, the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly will adopt a paperless system from the upcoming autumn session commencing on September 21. According to a circular issued by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, all legislative business relating to the session will be processed and managed through
the National e‑Vidhan Application (NeVA), a digital platform designed to streamline the functioning of legislative assemblies.The circular states that questions submitted by MLAs have already been forwarded to the concerned departments, and login credentials for departmental access to the NeVA portal have been created.
All Administrative Departments have been requested to access their respective NeVA login accounts on a daily basis and ensure that Legislative Business concerning their departments, including Government Bills, legislative proposals and amendments, replies to Assembly Questions, assurances, notices, references and other related documents, is submitted,
received and processed through the NeVA Portal in accordance with the prescribed procedure and timelines.The government departments have been directed to upload complete and authenticated documents corresponding to approved versions of proposals, designate Nodal Officers/NeVA Coordinators
where not already appointed, and make necessary arrangements before commencement of the session to ensure a smooth transition to the electronic system.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka brushed aside Colombia’s Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4 in the first round of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. Top seed Sabalenka’s second-round clash is against Russia’s Polina Iatcenko as she looks to become only the third woman after Serena Williams and Chris Evert to win three straight US Opens.
The Belarusian hit 32 winners against Osorio in a match which lasted an hour and 27 minutes. Osorio handed Sabalenka a break with a double fault in the third game – one of five she had across the opening set – and slipped 4-1 behind as the Belarusian converted on another break point with an unreturnable backhand.
India’s private sector manufacturing activity expanded at its slowest pace in five years in August as weak demand slowed sales, output and hiring. HSBC’s India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which tracks monthly changes, fell to 52.8 in August from 53.5 in July.
The reading was the lowest since August 2021 (when it was 52.3) and also below the index’s long-run average of 54.2.“India’s final manufacturing PMI slipped to 52.8 in August, extending its decline for a third consecutive month. The output index fell to its lowest level since August 2021,
signalling that production is still expanding but at a markedly slower pace.The rate of inflation for inputs fell to the lowest in six months even as manufacturers continued to face higher costs for materials, including steel, and transport. As a result, the rate of inflation for final prices was mild, receding to the lowest in 45 months.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved acquisition of Aseem Infrastructure Finance Limited by TPG Nicobar SG Pte. Ltd. and related transactions.
The Proposed Combination includes:
(a) acquisition of 100% share capital of Aseem Infrastructure Finance Limited (Aseem) by TPG Nicobar SG Pte. Ltd. (Nicobar) (Nicobar Acquisition of Aseem) and the subsequent acquisition of 5% share capital of Aseem by ICICI Bank Limited (ICICI) from Nicobar (ICICI Acquisition) (collectively referred to as “Aseem Acquisition”).
The Nicobar Acquisition of Aseem will be funded by TPG Rise Climate GSI SF Pte. Ltd. (TPG Rise) and Clydo Investments Pte. Ltd. (Clydo);
To mark two decades of scientific excellence, innovation, and service to the nation, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has officially launched the MoES Foundation Day Quiz: Advancing Earth Sciences, Empowering the Nation, in collaboration with MyGov.
The nationwide online competition celebrates the Ministry’s milestone 20th anniversary by encouraging citizens to explore India's major strides in earth system sciences, including weather and climate studies, oceanography, polar studies, and seismology, in alignment with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
SBI General Insurance has started FY27 on a strong note, reporting a 10.9% year-on-year increase in Gross Direct Premium Income (GDPI) to ₹3,506 crore during Q1 FY27. The insurer said its performance was supported by a diversified portfolio, disciplined execution and a strong capital position.
The company recorded broad-based growth across key retail and commercial segments. Health insurance grew 49.9%, Personal Accident (PA) increased 26.3%, while Engineering and Marine-Cargo premiums rose 95.4% and 16.8%, respectively. The performance reflects the insurer’s focus on expanding its presence across multiple business lines
while responding to evolving customer and enterprise protection needs. SBI General Insurance reported Comprehensive Income of Rs.573 crore and Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs.426 crore under the newly adopted Ind AS framework. Its solvency ratio stood at 2.0 times, while the Combined Operating Ratio (COR) was 96.18% for the quarter,
highlighting its financial resilience and underwriting discipline.
The quarter also marked a significant reporting milestone, as SBI General Insurance became the first general insurance company to release its financial statements under the newly adopted Ind AS framework.
The company’s 10.9% GDPI growth reflected sustained momentum across key segments, while its 17.4% growth in Comprehensive Income demonstrated continued financial progress.
Econz IT Services, a Premier Google Cloud Partner, has launched Bengaluru’s first dedicated Gemini Enterprise Experience Centre, marking a significant step in the city’s growing enterprise AI ecosystem. Developed in collaboration with Google Cloud, the centre is designed to give enterprises hands-on access to advanced Agentic AI solutions
powered by Gemini Enterprise.The new facility also marks the inauguration of Econz IT Services’ new Bengaluru office, bringing its enterprise technology, consulting and AI capabilities together within a dedicated innovation ecosystem.
The centre aims to help business leaders and technology teams experience, test and deploy AI solutions while identifying opportunities to convert emerging technologies into measurable business outcomes.
Moby K Babu- CEO & Founder, Econz IT Services
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) today marks its 9th Foundation Day, reaffirming its commitment to expanding accessible, inclusive and technology-enabled financial services across the country.As part of the 9th Foundation Day celebrations, IPPB announced the launch of DakPay Sound Box for Merchants,
designed to simplify and strengthen everyday digital payment acceptance for merchants. The Bank also announced the launch of its Digital Insurance Technology Platform, designed to provide customers with a seamless pathway to insurance solutions by connecting them with opportunities across Life, Health and General Insurance.
Thailand's Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, a lawyer and the eldest of King Maha Vajiralongkorn's children, has died at 47.Bajrakitiyabha was active in justice reform efforts and best known for her Kamlangjai, or "Inspire," project to help rehabilitate incarcerated Thai women ahead of their release.
Bajrakitiyabha studied law at Thammasat University then went to Cornell University in New York state, where she earned a master's degree in law in 2002. She earned a doctorate at Cornell in 2005 with a dissertation concerning the protection of the rights of the accused.
