PB Money Gets SEBI Online Bond Platform Provider Licence to Take Retail Bond Investing End to End via Paisabazaar

PB Money, the investment platform operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of PB Fintech, has received a licence from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to operate as an Online Bond Platform Provider (OBPP). The approval, announced on 27 October 2026, allows the platform to own the complete bond investment journey for retail investors, and gives the Policybazaar parent a regulated entry point into India’s fast-growing digital fixed-income market. PB Money is run by PB Marketing and Consulting Private Limited, which is now a SEBI-registered OBPP and a stockbroker in the debt segment of the National Stock Exchange (NSE). That combination lets it offer new bond issues as well as trading in secondary-market bonds and debentures through the exchange.

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PB Money Gets SEBI Online Bond Platform Provider Licence to Take Retail Bond Investing End to End via Paisabazaar

Distribution will lean on group company Paisabazaar, the credit marketplace and free credit-score platform that says it has served more than 58 million consumers across 850 cities and towns. Users will be able to discover bond offerings on Paisabazaar and then move to PB Money to complete the transaction. SEBI’s OBPP framework, introduced in 2022, was designed to bring that market online under tighter disclosure and investor-protection norms, and a growing list of fintechs and brokers have since entered the segment.

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Two Indian women wrestlers clinche silver in 50kg category

Indian wrestlers Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak clinched silver medals in their respective categories at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. The 26-year-old Neelam lost 5-nil to Japanese wrestling legend Yui Susaki in the women’s 50kg final to secure the silver medal. Meanwhile, Kajal also settled for silver after suffering a narrow 8-6 defeat to Ukraine’s Anastasiya Alpyeyeva in the 76kg final. With this achievement, Neelam and Kajal join Anshu Malik as the only Indian women wrestlers to have won silver medals at the global showpiece.

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Jal Shakti Minister launches Punah Bharan app for groundwater recharge planning

Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil launched the Punah Bharan mobile application to support scientific groundwater recharge planning using geospatial technology. Developed by BISAG-N in collaboration with the National Water Mission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the app enables users to identify potential artificial recharge zones within a radius of up to three kilometres and explore suitable recharge structures based on local conditions.

An accompanying web portal provides village-level Artificial Recharge Structure zonation maps, geographic information system tools and thematic layers to support planning for sustainable groundwater management.

The platform uses datasets on rainfall, groundwater levels, groundwater yield, slope and drainage to identify potential recharge areas and guide appropriate interventions.

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India, Mexico launch negotiations for Preferential Trade Agreement

India and Mexico have formally launched negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with the signing of the Terms of Reference, marking a significant step towards strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties. The Terms of Reference establish the framework, scope, modalities and roadmap for negotiations aimed at expanding bilateral trade, creating business opportunities, boosting investment flows and building resilient and diversified supply chains. The proposed agreement will cover key areas, including market access for goods, rules of origin, customs procedures and trade facilitation, dispute settlement, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade and trade remedies. The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between their productive sectors and deepen economic engagement. They explored the possibility of organising a Mexican business mission to India in the first quarter of 2027 to facilitate business-to-business meetings, identify commercial opportunities and strengthen trade ties.

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Mexican President - Claudia Sheinbaum

Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), namely, the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM VGSY), a next-generation governance transformation initiative aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat. The scheme is approved for implementation from 2026-27 to 2030-31 (co-terminus with the Sixteenth Finance Commission period). The scheme outlay is Rs.7,395.55 crore, comprising a Central Share of Rs.4,869.48 crore and a State Share of Rs.2,526.07 crore.

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Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31

Around 32 lakh elected representatives, along with Panchayat functionaries and other stakeholders, across over 2.55 lakh Panchayats and Traditional Local Bodies will be direct beneficiaries of the scheme. Each awareness-generation episode will reach at least 1 crore citizens.

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Cabinet approves Rs 10,000 Crore Scheme to Make India a Global Container Manufacturing Hub

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS), a Rs 10,000 crore programme announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 to build a globally competitive container manufacturing ecosystem in India. The scheme will run from FY 2027-28 to FY 2039-40, with three years for setting up facilities and ten years of production support.

The scheme will support new factories as well as the expansion of existing units. It aims to lift India's annual container manufacturing capacity around ten-fold, to 7.5 lakh TEUs, from about 70,000 TEUs . Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed this announcement by thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for emboldening Make In India push in container manufacturing in the country.

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Cabinet approves Rs 10,000 Crore Scheme to Make India a Global Container Manufacturing Hub

India's trade depends on containers, but almost all of them are made abroad. India's container traffic is projected to grow from about 24 million TEUs in 2024 to 175 million TEUs by 2047 under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision, which makes home-grown capacity critical.

What the scheme offers

1. Interest Subvention Assistance (Rs 859 crore): 3 per cent a year on eligible term loans for greenfield plants of at least 1,00,000 TEUs a 2. year and brownfield expansions of at least 25,000 TEUs a year.

3. Operational Expenditure Assistance (Rs 8,891 crore): support for every container made to global shipping standards and sold by an eligible manufacturer, to bridge the cost gap with imports. Domestic content must rise from 70 per cent to 90 per cent.

4. Testing and Certification (Rs 150 crore): common facilities, such as dynamic longitudinal impact testing, to reduce dependence on overseas testing.

5. Scheme management (Rs 100 crore): administration, monitoring and capacity building.

Land at major ports: leasing support at 25 per cent of the notified rate.

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Cabinet approves Rs 10,000 Crore Scheme to Make India a Global Container Manufacturing Hub

An Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, will approve guidelines and sanction assistance.

The scheme is expected to create about 3,000 direct and more than 50,000 indirect jobs, in steel, components and logistics. It will also support ancillary industries such as corner castings, specialised steel, wooden frames and paints. The government estimates it will generate about Rs 75,000 crore of economic output by FY 2039-40, more than seven times the support provided. Demand is expected from replacement of the global fleet, the Bharat Container Shipping Line, and new mega ports such as Vadhavan and Galathea Bay.

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India releases Four Key Publications on Biodiversity Conservation, Biosafety and Access and Benefit Sharing at CBD COP-17

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, emphasised the need to translate global biodiversity commitments into effective implementation, sustainable financing and lasting conservation outcomes at a side event of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP-17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Yerevan, Armenia. The event was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, in partnership with India’s National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

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India releases Four Key Publications on Biodiversity Conservation, Biosafety and Access and Benefit Sharing at CBD COP-17

Delivering the keynote address at the side event titled - From Policy to Practice: Advancing India's Biodiversity Commitments through Innovation, Finance, ABS and OECMS - Shri Yadav highlighted the importance of building implementation capacity, sustaining finance and ensuring that biodiversity conservation and sustainable use contribute to human well-being and intergenerational equity.

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Mr. Hambardzum Matevosyan - President of CBD COP17

Government allows E100 ethanol fuel in vehicles designed for flexible fuel

The government has allowed the use of E100 ethanol fuel in vehicles specifically designed to run on flexible fuel under amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a gazette notification in this regard. The amended Central Motor Vehicles Rules recognise E100 fuel for flex-fuel vehicles specifically designed and certified to use petrol blended with up to 100% ethanol. The amendment adds E100 alongside E85 fuel in the emission-related provisions for eligible vehicles.

The decision will pave the path for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to launch vehicles engineered to run on 100% bio-ethanol fuel. The government clarified that E85 and E100 can be used only in vehicles specifically designed and certified for these fuels. Vehicles designed to run on E20 petrol or conventional fuel cannot use E85 or E100.

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Armed forces sign MoU with Sarvam to boost AI capabilities

Bengaluru-based Sarvam has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), Ministry of Defence, to work together on artificial intelligence (AI) projects across the army, navy and air force. The five-year MoU sets up an umbrella framework for AI projects across the three Services and covers the joint, tri-service and integrated organisations that comUnder the MoU, Sarvam will design, develop and deploy AI applications for the operational, training and decision-support needs of the armed forces, and will provide follow-on technical support. The work will cover several projects across all three services, with HQ IDS facilitating the engagement.e under HQ IDS. The areas of collaboration include AI applications, research, knowledge management, training and decision support.

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Armed forces sign MoU with Sarvam to boost AI capabilities

The work will be carried out by Chanakya, Sarvam’s firewalled division focused on national security and defence. Chanakya will use Sarvam’s AI stack, including foundation models such as Sarvam 105B. the MoU is part of the government’s push for Atmanirbharta, or self-reliance, in defence, which now extends to AI.

Under the India AI Mission, announced in 2024 with an outlay of Rs 10,372 crore for five years, the government is funding 12 organisations, including Sarvam to build sovereign AI models. Sarvam showcased its models at the India AI Summit in February 2026. The government’s goal is to create homegrown, Indic-language focused models and reduce reliance on foreign platforms.

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President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority Bill

President of India Droupadi Murmu has granted assent to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill 2026, which was passed by the Nagaland Assembly in September. The Bill provides for the creation of FNTA, granting legislative, executive and financial autonomy to the state’s eastern region comprising six eastern districts: Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator.

The Bill paves the way to establish the FNTA based on the spirit of Article 371A of the Constitution, providing for democratic, decentralised self-governance at the regional level with legislative, executive and financial autonomy within Nagaland. The objective of the FNTA is to establish a self-governing territorial authority that enables the people of eastern Nagaland to fulfil their social, economic, educational, cultural and linguistic aspirations through democratic, decentralised self-governance within the state.

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President Droupadi Murmu gives assent to Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority Bill

The Bill was drawn in line with a February 5 memorandum of agreement (MoA) signed between the Centre, the Neiphiu Rio-led Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO).

The MoA followed prolonged discussions over the ENPO’s demand for a separate state for eastern Nagaland, which dates back to 2010 and is rooted in alleged developmental deficits in the region. The ENPO represents the Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir, Yimkhiung, and Eastern Sumi tribes from the six districts.

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Chef Damu passes away at 72

Chef K. Damodaran popularly called ‘Chef Damu’, whose simple yet delicious recipes enlivened thousands of kitchens, passed away in Chennai . The first Indian chef to receive a doctorate in hotel management and catering technology, he started his career in the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) as a management trainee in 1977 after completing Diploma in Hotel management and Catering Technology from Institute of Hotel Management, Taramani, Chennai. He then completed B.Com and obtained an MBA too. In December 2010, he entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the Longest Cooking Marathon — Individual after he set the record by cooking 617 dishes (190 kg of food) in 24 hours, 30 minutes and 12 seconds. Chef Venkatesh Bhat, said chef Damu, the first from the community of chefs to be awarded a Padma Shri (in 2025) in Tamil Nadu

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Lula wins a record fourth presidential term as Brazil defeats far-right, defies Trump and Meta

In an election victory whose results will reverberate across Latin America, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a historic fourth presidential term, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL) in Brazil’s runoff . Mr. Lula secured 64 million votes, the highest total ever recorded in a Brazilian presidential election, defeating Mr. Bolsonaro by more than four million votes. Mr. Lula secured an unprecedented comeback in the election. He trailed in the first round, receiving 45.16% of valid votes against 47.03% for Mr. Bolsonaro.

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Former Japan PM Yasuo Fukuda, Who Sought Better China Ties, Dies At 90

Former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, known for trying to build stable ties with China, has died at the age of 90.

He served as Japan's prime minister from September 2007 to September 2008, taking office after Shinzo Abe abruptly resigned following his first year as premier. Fukuda became the first son of a former Japanese prime minister to hold the country's top political office, following his father, Takeo Fukuda, who led Japan from 1976 to 1978. Fukuda resigned in September 2008 as his approval ratings dropped. He retired as a politician in 2012.

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WJP Rule of Law Index 2026: India drops to 88th rank, Denmark tops list

India ranked 88th on the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2026, down two places from 86th last year, with an overall score of 0.48. The index measures how the rule of law is experienced and perceived in everyday life across 143 countries and jurisdiction.

Denmark topped the global rankings, followed by Norway and Finland in second and third place, respectively. Sweden, Luxembourg and Germany took the next three positions, while New Zealand, Ireland, the Netherlands and Estonia completed the top 10.The United States ranked 30th in the index, while China was placed 92nd and Russia 121st.

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WJP Rule of Law Index 2026: India drops to 88th rank, Denmark tops list

The rankings are based on eight factors: constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice and criminal justice. The report said the rule of law has declined globally for the ninth consecutive year, with scores falling in 62 per cent of countries. Freedoms of speech and assembly, as well as civic participation, also fell in over 60 per cent of the countries. The report also noted that “authoritarianism is no longer an emerging trend” but is “entrenched”, with 86 per cent of countries suffering a sustained five-year decline.

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Maharashtra's Shabari Naturals earns global award for tribal-inspired packaging; PM lauds initiative

Shabari Naturals, a Maharashtra government initiative to promote products associated with tribal communities and forest gatherers, has won the prestigious ‘G-Mark - Global Design Award’ for its attractive packaging inspired by traditional art forms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the global honour for the social enterprise managed by the Nashik-headquartered Shabari Tribal Finance and Development Corporation (STFDC) and lauded the global recognition for the initiative. The brand packaging includes Warli, Gond and Chitrakathi art as well as various legends of tribal culture. It has given a premium look to the products and brought the richness and sustainability of tribal life to global consumers through the design.

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Maharashtra's Shabari Naturals earns global award for tribal-inspired packaging; PM lauds initiative

The award, considered among the most prestigious in the field of design, will be given by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion in Tokyo on November 4. STFDC Managing Director Leena Bansod will receive it on behalf of the state government. The packaging of these products has been designed creatively to depict the traditional art of Maharashtra's tribal community, their lifestyle and love for nature. The international jury of the ‘Good Design Award’ (G-Mark) selected the design, praising its cultural value, sustainability and innovative presentation.

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Soybean imports surge to record as domestic prices rally

India’s soybean imports in 2025/26 surged to ​a record 1.1 million ‌metric tons from negligible volumes a ​year earlier, as ⁠a rally in domestic prices prompted mills to step up overseas ‌purchases. The ‌South Asian nation imported ‌about ⁠2,000 tons in the previous ⁠year. India permits imports ​only of ‌non-genetically-modified soybeans, limiting supplies to a handful of African nations - including Benin, Niger, Togo and ‌Nigeria - where non-GM beans command ​a steep premium over genetically modified varieties.

Niger emerged ⁠as the biggest soybean exporter to India with shipments of ‌more than 430,000 tons in the marketing year ended on September 30, traders estimate. India’s soymeal exports in 2025/26 ‌halved to 1 million tons.

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Chhattisgarh set to get Its first state Butterfly

Chhattisgarh is set to add a new chapter to its treasure trove of biodiversity. The state is poised to designate its first official state butterfly, with the 'Orange Oakleaf' (Kallima inachus) having been selected for the honor. The proposal was finalized during the 15th meeting of the State Wildlife Board and has been forwarded to the state government for formal notification.

The butterfly was chosen based on public preference. A total of 5,813 people participated in an online voting process held from July 31 to August 31, 2026, with the Orange Oakleaf securing 3,000 of those votes. The 'Common Banded Peacock' placed second with 1,606 votes, while the 'Spot Swordtail' came in third with 1,207 votes.

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Chhattisgarh set to get Its first state Butterfly

The Orange Oakleaf is renowned globally for its remarkable camouflage. Chhattisgarh will become the ninth state in the country to designate an official state butterfly. Other states that have already declared a state butterfly include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Notably, the Orange Oakleaf is also the state butterfly of Madhya Pradesh.

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India backs call to end US embargo on Cuba, rejects extraterritorial laws

India has reiterated its rejection of laws that "adversely affect the sovereignty" of other nations while supporting a United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding an end to the longstanding US embargo against Cuba. Addressing the Assembly prior to the vote, Soumya Nair, a counsellor in India's Permanent Mission to the UN, stated that New Delhi endorses the global body's appeal urging all nations to reject "laws and regulations with extraterritorial effects that adversely affect the sovereignty of other states and the progress and prosperity of their peoples". India reiterates the Assembly's call to all states to refrain from promulgating and applying, and to repeal and invalidate such laws and measures in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and International Law".

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India backs call to end US embargo on Cuba, rejects extraterritorial laws

The measure was passed with 130 votes in favour, 17 against and 25 abstentions. The vote followed a tense diplomatic clash on the Assembly floor , during which Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla approached the dais to challenge US Permanent Representative Mike Waltz mid-speech.

In response to the disruption, Assembly President Khalilur Rahman briefly suspended the proceedings to restore order in the chamber.

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