THE HEADLINES:
Centre approves continuation of Atal Pension Yojana till the year 2030-31; Also, decides to infuse five thousand crore rupees in Small Industries Development Bank of India.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar meets Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares Bueno in New Delhi; Calls for global zero-tolerance on terrorism.
India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management begins in New Delhi; Chief Election Commissioner highlights India’s ancient democratic system.
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams retires from NASA after 27 years of remarkable service.
Greenland is not natural part of Denmark, says Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; Terms it colonial legacy violating UN Charter.
And, in Men’s Cricket, five- match T20 International series between India and New Zealand to begin in Nagpur this evening.
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The government today approved the continuation of Atal Pension Yojana till the year 2030-31 along with extension of funding support for promotional and developmental activities. The scheme was launched in May 2015 with the objective of providing old-age income security to workers in the unorganised sector. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today.
The scheme offers a guaranteed minimum pension, ranging from one thousand to five thousand rupees per month after attaining the age of 60, depending on the subscriber’s contribution. Over eight crore 66 lakh subscribers have been enrolled so far under the scheme, making it a cornerstone of country’s inclusive social security framework.
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The government has also approved an equity support of five thousand crore rupees to the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) during the cabinet meeting today. This move is expected to benefit over 25 lakh 74 thousand new MSME beneficiaries. Following the equity capital infusion of five thousand crore rupees, the number of MSMEs receiving financial assistance is expected to increase from over 76 lakh rupees at the end of the financial year 2025-26 to more than one crore by the end of the financial year 2028. Employment generation is also projected to increase by one crore 12 lakh till the end of the financial year 2027-28.
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External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has said that it is more imperative than ever for nations to collaborate on shared challenges, particularly in combating terrorism. Dr. Jaishankar made these remarks during the opening session of talks with his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares Bueno, in New Delhi today. He said that both India and Spain are victims of terrorism. He also stressed that the global order is undergoing a profound transformation and the world must adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism.
Dr. Jaishankar said that India will host the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi next month. He highlighted that India’s approach to AI is human-centric, inclusive, and focused on responsible and ethical values, which closely align with Europe’s approach. The Minister said that India and Spain have designated 2026 as a Dual Year of Culture, Tourism, and AI.
The External Affairs Minister said that both India and Spain are marking 70 years of diplomatic relations this year and Spain is among India’s important trade partners in the European Union and bilateral trade in goods has crossed 8 billion US dollars in recent years.
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Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has said that the booth level officers are the foundational pillar of the electoral democracy in the country. Addressing the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 in New Delhi today, Mr Kumar said, India is the mother of democracy and maintaining pure electoral rolls with inclusion of every eligible elector, is essential for strengthening of democracy.
Highlighting country’s ancient democratic system during the conference, Mr. Kumar called the delegates to notice the stupa and the Ashoka pillar in the conference backdrop, which are popularly associated with the early foundations of democratic thought dating back to around 600 BCE. He also said that the conference backdrop also featured a Sanskrit hymn from the Atharva Veda, dating back more than a millennium before the current era, which speaks about village samitis and committees.
Nearly one hundred international delegates representing over 70 countries from across the world are participating in the three days conference.
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Vice President CP Radhakrishnan has emphasised on a governance model that respects country’s civilizational roots, values its heritage and culture, and delivers development. He was speaking at the Seventh Commemoration Day of Sree Shivakumara Mahaswamy at Sree Siddaganga Mutt in Tumkuru today in Karnataka.
The Vice President said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has harmonised Vikas and Virasat. He said people are progressing materially while remaining spiritually anchored.
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Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has underscored the need for a robust military power and having the will to use that power. Addressing the 22nd Subroto Mukerjee Seminar on National Security Imperatives in New Delhi, Mr. Singh said that military power stands as the ultimate arbiter of national power. Mr Singh underscored that military power gives freedom, secures technological infrastructure and gives credibility to the country’s diplomacy. He emphasised that the world is becoming increasingly chaotic, and the focus on building a strong military, especially the Air Force, has become a necessity.
On the occasion, the Air Chief also released a book titled ‘Drones Redefined: The Impact of Emerging Technologies on UAS Warfare.
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Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry today organised a mass singing of Vande Mataram as part of phase-II of the commemoration of 150 years of the national song. The event is part of a broader nationwide commemorative programme to celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram.
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President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have extended their greetings to the people of Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur on their Statehood Day today.
In a social media post, President Murmu said that the states are blessed with rich cultural legacy, vibrant traditions and extraordinary natural beauty. Mr Radhakrishnan expressed hope that these vibrant states continue to contribute to country’s progress through inclusive growth, cultural richness and sustainable development. Mr Modi also prayed that the states prospers significantly in the coming times.
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Sunita Williams, one of the most accomplished astronauts in the history of human spaceflight, has retired from the American space agency NASA after an illustrious career spanning over 27-years. Her retirement follows a historic and unexpected nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking the conclusion of a journey defined by endurance, leadership, and scientific excellence. We have a report:-
Born in Euclid, Ohio, with roots reaching to Gujarat, India, Sunita Williams didn’t just travel to space, she lived there, led there, and inspired millions from the orbit. Her spaceflight career began on December 9 in 2006, when she launched aboard Space Shuttle Discovery as part of the STS-116 mission and returned on Space Shuttle Atlantis with the STS-117 crew. During Expeditions 14 and 15, she served as a flight engineer and completed a then-record four spacewalks, demonstrating exceptional technical skill and endurance. In 2012, Williams launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a 127-day mission as part of Expeditions 32 and 33. She later became the commander of Expedition 33, making her one of the few women to lead the ISS. During this mission, she conducted three spacewalks to repair a leaking station radiator and replace a key power distribution component.But perhaps her most unexpected chapter came in 2024. What was planned as a short test flight aboard Boeing’s Starliner turned into a grueling nine-month mission. Alongside astronaut Butch Wilmore, Williams adapted, endured, and delivered-returning safely in March 2025.
Across her career, Sunita Williams logged 286 days in space, completed nine spacewalks totaling over 62 hours, and became the most spacewalking woman in history. She even ran a marathon in space. Jigyasa Pandey, Akashvani News, Delhi.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said Greenland is not a natural part of Denmark, calling it a legacy of colonialism that violates the spirit of the UN Charter. Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Mr. Lavrov said, Greenland was historically a colony of Norway and Denmark and it only became an associated territory of Denmark in the mid-20th century. Mr. Lavrov strongly denied Trump’s suggestions that Russia and China have any intentions to threaten the Arctic island.
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In Men’s Cricket, a 5-match T20 International series between India and New Zealand will begin today. The opening match of the series will be played in Nagpur. The match will start at 7 PM.
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The 79th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy began in Assam today. In a Group A match, Rajasthan FC defeated Uttarakhand by a 3-2 in Assam.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, were trading around 0.1 per cent down during afternoon trade today. Both indices rebounded from intraday lows. The Sensex slipped 81 points to 82 thousand and 99, while the Nifty dropped 28 points to 25 thousand and 204, when reports last came in.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
Centre approves continuation of Atal Pension Yojana till the year 2030-31; Also, decides to infuse five thousand crore rupees in Small Industries Development Bank of India.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar meets Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares Bueno in New Delhi; Calls for global zero-tolerance on terrorism.
India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management begins in New Delhi; Chief Election Commissioner highlights India’s ancient democratic system.
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams retires from NASA after 27 years of remarkable service.
Greenland is not natural part of Denmark, says Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; Terms it colonial legacy violating UN Charter.
And, in Men’s Cricket, five- match T20 International series between India and New Zealand to begin in Nagpur this evening.
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