THE HEADLINES :
- Centre gives nod to revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission to boost growth in livestock sector; Also approves revised National Program for Dairy Development.
- Government committed to improve socio-economic status of all communities including minorities, says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.
- Indian economy continues to show resilience amid global challenges, reports RBI’s monthly Bulletin.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agrees to partial ceasefire in war against Russia.
- Israel expands its military campaign in Gaza launching ground operations in central and southern parts of the territory.
- In Swiss Open Badminton, Kidambi Srikanth and Anupama Upadhyaya to lead India’s challenge in Pre-Quarterfinals, today.
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The government has approved the revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission to boost growth in the livestock sector. The implementation of the revised mission is being carried out with an additional outlay of one thousand crore rupees. Briefing the media in New Delhi last evening on the Union Cabinet’s decisions, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the scheme is set to significantly enhance milk production and productivity, thereby increasing farmers’ incomes.
The Cabinet also approved the revised National Program for Dairy Development. Mr Vaishnaw said, this initiative focuses on modernizing and expanding dairy infrastructure, ensuring the sector’s sustained growth and productivity.
The Union cabinet has also approved an incentive scheme for promotion of low-value BHIM-UPI transactions. Minister Vaishnaw said, the scheme will enable small merchants to avail UPI services at no additional cost. He said, incentive at the rate of 0.15 percent per transaction value will be provided for transactions upto two thousand rupees to small merchants.
Mr. Vaishnaw also informed that the government has decided to set up a new Brownfield Ammonia-Urea Complex Fertilizer Plant within the existing premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited at Namrup in Assam.
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Union Minister of Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju has said that the Government has been striving to improve the socio-economic status of all communities including minority communities. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Mr Rijiu informed that for the educational empowerment of these communities , the government is implementing Pre-Matric, Post-Matric and Merit-cum-Means based scholarships. He also said that schemes like Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan – PM VIKAS and Equity to National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) for providing concessional loans are also being run to ensure employment and economic empowerment.
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Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that green power constitutes more than 42 percent of the country’s total power basket. Addressing the 32nd Convergence India Expo, Smart Mobility India Expo and 10th Smart Cities India 2025 in New Delhi yesterday, Mr Gadkari emphasized that the government is giving special priority to alternative fuel and biofuel.
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The Reserve Bank’s monthly bulletin for March 2025 states that the Indian economy continues to demonstrate resilience despite global challenges. According to an article titled “State of the Economy” in the bulletin, the global economy is being tested by escalating trade tensions and a heightened wave of uncertainty around the scope, timing, and intensity of tariffs.
However, the article noted that the Indian economy has improved despite these challenges, as evident in the robust performance of the agriculture sector and rising consumption. According to the article, India’s macroeconomic strength in facing these challenges is bolstered by a decline in headline CPI inflation to a seven-month low of 3.6 percent in February 2025.
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President Droupadi Murmu will attend the Udyam Utsav at Amrit Udyan in Rashtrapati Bhavan today. The event is being organized by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The Udyam Utsav seeks to empower and encourage MSMEs by bringing the country’s vibrant heritage closer to the citizens. It will culminate on 30th of this month.
” The event will feature seven pavilions showcasing diverse products ranging from handicrafts to agro-based products. Pavilion will also feature Green MSME Technologies, Women Entrepreneurs, PM Vishwakarma and Tribal Entrepreneurs, Khadi and Village Industries, and MSME Business Support Pavilion. The pavilion will showcase various trades and live pottery demonstration. Activities such as Hunar Sangeet, Nukkad Natak, Saree Draping Sessions, and Rajasthani Puppet Maker demonstrations will also be key feature during the event. Udyam Utsav will be opened for public from 10 AM to 8 PM everyday. Bhanu Pratap Singh, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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Registration for the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand begins today. This year, registrations will be Aadhaar authenticated, and devotees will be required to provide their Aadhaar card details during registration. Pilgrims can register online at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in.
To enhance convenience for the devotees, the tourism department has started the online registration process 40 days ahead of the journey this year.
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India has sent machinery valued at one million US dollars to Suriname as a component of its development partnership aimed at fostering the growth of the nation’s Passion fruit industry. In a social media post, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has said that the initiative is to bolster the India-Suriname development partnership.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to a partial ceasefire in the war against Russia that was discussed by US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The White House stated last night that President Trump briefed Mr. Zelensky over a phone call about his conversation with Mr. Putin, during which key issues were discussed. Later, while addressing the media, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the two leaders had agreed on a partial ceasefire.
President Zelensky described his conversation with Trump as “positive”, “frank”, and “very substantive. Speaking in an online briefing yesterday, Zelensky said he and Trump had discussed possible US ownership of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia power plant.
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Israel has expanded its military campaign in Gaza, launching ground operations in the central and southern parts of the territory just a day after airstrikes killed at least 400 Palestinians in one of the deadliest episodes since the war began in October 2023.
The Israeli military announced that its forces have begun targeted ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip to expand the security perimeter and create a partial buffer between the north and south. More from our West Asia correspondent:
“While Gaza’s health ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its casualty counts, and Israel claims the strikes targeted Hamas military commanders and political officials, the likelihood remains high that civilians were killed in large numbers. Despite the renewed violence, Hamas officials maintain they are open to negotiations to restore the ceasefire, though they refuse to renegotiate the original agreement that took effect on January 19 earlier this year. Meanwhile, the United States State Department indicated Wednesday that a bridge proposal to extend the ceasefire still exists but warned that the opportunity is closing very fast.The intense Israeli bombardment has sent a stream of new casualties to the few hospitals still functioning in Gaza and triggered fears of a return to full-blown war after two months of relative calm. VINOD KUMAR, AKASHVANI NEWS, DUBAI.”
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The European Space Agency (ESA) released the first batch of data from the Euclid space telescope’s mission last evening, marking a major step toward creating a 3D map of the universe. The telescope was launched from Florida in 2023 and is currently positioned 1.5 million kilometres from Earth.
“Astronomers are predicting an “avalanche of discoveries”after the first major release of observations from a European space telescope built to study the mysterious dark matter and dark energy that comprise the bulk of the universe. The ESA’s Euclid mission has captured images of 26 million galaxies, covering 10 billion years of cosmic history.Over the course of its six-year mission, Euclid is expected to chart one-third of the sky, encompassing 1.5 billion galaxies. While in orbit, it’s tasked with gathering data on how the universe has expanded over time and shedding light on the mysterious forces of dark energy and dark matter. The Euclid allows scientists to look back in time and track the interaction between these forces over the history of the universe. With Sudhir Yadav’s report, AISHWARYA RAI NIGAM, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.
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The WAVES OTT platform will be streaming Deutscher Football-Bund, DFB-Pokal semi-finals and grand finale live in India. An MOU was signed between Prasar Bharti and DFB Germany to strengthen football ties between India and Germany and bring more football content to India.
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In Swiss Open Badminton, today promises thrilling action as several Indian players will compete in their pre-quarterfinal matches in Basel, Switzerland.
“In Men’s Singles, Kidambi Srikanth, who defeated compatriot H.S. Prannoy in a thrilling contest, will now play against Li Shifeng of China. On the other hand, Priyanshu Rajawat will face Toma Junior Popov of France. Sankar Subramanian, will take on Anders Antonsen.In Women’s Doubles, India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will take on Germany’s Selin Hubsch and Amelie Lehmann.In Women’s Singles, Isharani Baruah is set to face Han Qianxi of China, while Anupama Upadhyaya will take on Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia. On the other hand, P.V. Sindhu suffered defeat against Denmark’s Julie Dawall Jakobsen. With several key matches lined up today, Indian shuttlers will look to continue their strong performances at the Swiss Open. Manik Sharma, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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The second edition of the Khelo India Para Games 2025 will begin today in New Delhi, bringing together over 1,300 athletes from 36 states and Union Territories.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- All papers have on their front page pictures of a smiling and waving Sunita Wiliams as 9 months, 4577 earth orbits and 121 million miles later she is back home. “Sunita, Butch back to earth after 9-month space odyssey ..welcome back Sunita…Earth missed you says PM” headlines The Times of India. Sunita Williams touches down on Mother Earth headlines The Pioneer.
- Trump says Ukraine truce bid on track after Zelensky call headlines the Asian Age. Truce on track says Trump after call with Zelensky headlines the Hindustan Times.
- Most papers also have on their front page the story of Delhi government anti-corruption bureau registering a case against former PWD Minister Satyendra Jain for accepting a bribe of 7 crores through a contractor in a 571 crore CCTV project.
- And finally, a story in The Tribune says that Nirmal Jodha a 43-year-old jockey who battled third-stage colon cancer made a stunning comeback at the Mahalaxmi race course winning the Starshine Trophy calling it the sweetest race win.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Centre gives nod to revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission to boost growth in livestock sector; Also approves revised National Program for Dairy Development.
- Government committed to improve socio-economic status of all communities including minorities, says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.
- Indian economy continues to show resilience amid global challenges, reports RBI’s monthly Bulletin.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agrees to partial ceasefire in war against Russia.
- Israel expands its military campaign in Gaza launching ground operations in central and southern parts of the territory.
- In Swiss Open Badminton, Kidambi Srikanth and Anupama Upadhyaya to lead India’s challenge in Pre-Quarterfinals, today.
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