GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
JD Vance to arrive in India, set for key talks with PM Modi amid trade deal speculation
US Vice President JD Vance is set to begin his first official visit to India, blending cultural tourism with critical trade diplomacy. Accompanied by his Indian-origin wife, Usha, and their children, Vance will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to push forward talks on a long-awaited bilateral trade deal. With Trump's tariffs looming and global tensions escalating, the visit holds symbolic and strategic weight—an early test of the Vance-Modi dynamic and a reflection of growing alignment between New Delhi and Washington.
PM Modi to address civil servants on Monday; present awards on excellence in public administration
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address civil servants on National Civil Services Day, April 21, 2025, and present awards for excellence in public administration. The awards recognise innovative work by districts and organisations.
Indian Bank eyes to disburse Rs 20,000 crore to SHGs in this financial year
Indian Bank aims to disburse Rs 20,000 crore to Self Help Groups nationwide this financial year, demonstrated by a 'Mega SHG Credit Outreach Programme' in Bhubaneswar. The initiative supports the national mission of empowering one crore SHG women with credit access, aligning with the government's 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision for inclusive, women-led development.
UP govt to install 8 lakh solar rooftop plants by March 2027
Uttar Pradesh aims to install 8 lakh solar rooftop plants by March 2027 under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana, targeting 2.65 lakh units this financial year. UPNEDA is leading the initiative, monitoring progress via the Chief Minister's dashboard. Vendor empanelment and training are underway to support the rapid installation of solar systems across the state.
Arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari opposes ED's plea to declare him 'fugitive', calls his stay in UK legal
Arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari is contesting the ED's plea to declare him a fugitive in a black money case, arguing his UK stay is legal after his extradition was denied. The London High Court cited risks of extortion and violence in Tihar jail as reasons for blocking extradition.
Staff Selection Commission implements Aadhaar-based authentication for its recruitment exams
The Staff Selection Commission will introduce voluntary Aadhaar-based biometric authentication for identity verification in its upcoming examinations starting May 2025. This measure aims to streamline the examination process and prevent fraudulent activities. The Union Public Service Commission is also employing facial recognition and AI-based surveillance to combat cheating.
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CPI(M) writes to Jaishankar, urges him to raise student visa revocation issue with US
CPI(M) MP John Brittas has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to address the alarming revocation of Indian students' US visas. Brittas's letter highlights seemingly minor infractions leading to visa cancellations, demanding intervention at the highest levels. He seeks clarity, reversal of unfair decisions, and assurance of fair treatment for students.
India central banker warns of dwindling money market liquidity
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra voiced concerns about dwindling liquidity in India's call money market, potentially hindering monetary policy transmission. He urged banks to ensure seamless transmission of RBI's liquidity measures to the broader market. With surplus liquidity averaging ?1.
Govt committed to make India self-reliant in defence sector: Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says India aims for self-reliance in defence. Defence exports have significantly increased since 2014. The target is to reach Rs 50,000 crore in exports by 2029-30. The government is focused on indigenous manufacturing. Current defence production is at Rs 1.60 lakh crore. The aim is to increase it to Rs 3 lakh crore.
No GST on UPI transactions over Rs 2,000, clarifies govt; terms rumors as baseless
The Indian government has refuted rumors about imposing GST on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, dismissing the claims as baseless and misleading. The government reaffirmed its commitment to promoting digital payments through UPI. Currently, no Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is charged on UPI transactions, thus no GST is applicable, reinforcing India's leadership in digital payments.
Airports want govt to let international carriers spread their wings and shed protectionist stance
Indian airports are urging the government to ease restrictions on international flying rights to accommodate the growing number of international travelers. Industry leaders believe that liberalizing air transportation and streamlining visa policies will boost economic development. However, Air India is advocating for limiting market access for foreign carriers to protect the investments made by Indian airlines.
Nab a Gensol, catch a con: How India Inc’s green dreams turn into grifting nightmares
The Gensol Engineering fiasco highlights corporate governance issues in India, where promoters prioritize personal gain over public interest. Funds were diverted, orders faked, and investors misled in the solar and EV sectors. This incident underscores the need for stricter regulatory oversight and vigilance from all stakeholders to prevent similar fraudulent activities in emerging sectors.
International Big Cat Alliance headquarters to be set up in India
India has formalized its role as host for the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) headquarters, signing an agreement to support the conservation of seven big cat species globally. The agreement, signed in New Delhi, outlines provisions for the IBCA's operations and personnel. India will provide significant financial support to the IBCA over five years, reinforcing its commitment to wildlife conservation.
Let's befriend every language: SC rejects plea to remove Urdu sign board in Maharashtra
The Supreme Court has affirmed that displaying languages other than a state's official language is legal in India, dismissing a plea to remove an Urdu signboard in Maharashtra. The court upheld the Bombay High Court's decision, emphasizing India's linguistic diversity as a strength. Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis supported promoting Marathi within legal boundaries, cautioning against unlawful actions.
Pause on accepting new proposals under IndiaAI after April 22
The government will pause accepting new proposals under the Rs 10,000 crore IndiaAI Mission after April 22 due to high response volumes. The deadline for phase 3 has been extended to April 22. Over 190 proposals were received in earlier rounds, including LLMs and SLMs, which are under evaluation.
Highway projects slows down in FY 2024-25
India's highway construction experienced a slowdown in 2024-25, reaching its lowest point since 2014-15. Data up to February 2025 reveals a slight increase in awards but a notable decrease in construction compared to the previous year. Unless March sees a significant surge, both awards and construction are projected to fall below previous years' marks, impacting the daily construction rate.
MeitY startup hub, startup policy forum partner to bolster tech startups
MeitY Startup Hub and Startup Policy Forum have joined forces to boost deeptech, AI, and emerging tech in India’s startup ecosystem. The collaboration will focus on joint R&D, policy shaping, and knowledge exchange. SPF’s partners include DPIIT and IIT-Madras, with members like Swiggy, CRED, Zerodha, Dream11, and OYO.
Imarticus Learning, Mumbai Police to train 40,000 personnel under Mission Karmayogi
Imarticus Learning collaborates with Mumbai Police to train 40,000 personnel in people-first policing, aligning with PM Modi's Mission Karmayogi. The initiative aims to upskill police over 11 months, starting with 500 master trainers. This program enhances service quality, improves public response, and strengthens professional standards, fostering a more empathetic and community-driven law enforcement system.
Telangana declares sunstroke as 'state specific disaster', offers Rs 4 lakh to kin of deceased
Telangana has declared heatwave and sunstroke as 'State-Specific Disasters,' potentially becoming the first state in India to do so. The government order provides Rs 4 lakh ex gratia to the families of victims. This decision comes as the India Meteorological Department forecasts an above-normal number of heatwave days between April and June.
Delhi govt approves 3-month extension of EV policy, continues power subsidy
The Delhi government has extended its Electric Vehicle (EV) policy for three months and will continue providing power subsidies to domestic consumers, farmers, lawyers, and 1984 riot victims. Transport Minister Pankaj Singh clarified that there will be no ban on autos or any other vehicle category.
SBI board approves RINL recast plan
SBI's board has approved a restructuring package for Rashtriya Ispat Nigam (RINL), paving the way for other government lenders to follow suit. The plan includes lower margin money and reduced interest rates, made possible by a recent capital infusion from the central government.
Revenue of railway sector companies expected to grow at moderate pace of 5% in FY26: ICRA
ICRA projects a moderate 5% revenue growth for Indian railway sector companies in FY26, fueled by strong wagon manufacturing demand. While wagon manufacturers are expected to thrive, construction firms may experience slower growth. Despite this, the sector's profitability is anticipated to remain robust, supported by operating leverage and stable input prices, with government investments playing a crucial role.
Modi praises new Waqf law, charges Congress with playing appeasement politics
Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Congress party's appeasement politics, asserting it deprived Pasmanda Muslims, women, and weaker sections of social justice benefits. He defended the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, claiming it protects the rights of these groups and tribals, while accusing Congress of exploiting the Constitution for power and failing to implement a Uniform Civil Code.
Bangladesh steps on land border trade preceded India's transshipment ban
Bangladesh's recent actions, including the closure of land ports and suspension of yarn imports from India, have negatively impacted bilateral trade. These decisions, made despite opposition from business chambers, threaten Bangladeshi SMEs and favor Pakistani imports. Consequently, India has revoked a transshipment facility for Bangladesh, excluding trade with Bhutan and Nepal, signaling a setback in regional logistics cooperation.
HDFC Capital to invest Rs 1.5k cr in platform with Eldeco to build Rs 11K-cr homes in small towns
HDFC Capital will invest Rs 1,500 crore in Eldeco Group's 18 upcoming residential projects across tier II-III cities, targeting a revenue potential of Rs 11,000 crore. This partnership aims to develop over 10 million square feet of housing in towns like Panipat, Rudrapur, and Ludhiana.
Power, infra stand out as top sectors amid tariff risks: Sudip Bandyopadhyay
Power, construction, and tyre sectors are emerging as resilient investment options amid tariff tensions. Structural growth, government capex, and lower input costs support their outlook. Stocks like NTPC, L&T, and Apollo Tyres look attractive for a one-year horizon.
India will build its own LLM like ChatGPT, but we shouldn't be copying somebody else like China's DeepSeek, top GoI adviser says
Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India Ajay Sood on Friday assured that India will have its own "equivalent" of Chat-GPT. However, he advised that we shouldn't copy other large language models (LLMs) but rather be sector-specific with a parallel framework to be inventive.
Asset valuer appointed for IDBI Bank; govt deliberating on share purchase pact: DIPAM secretary
The Indian government has appointed asset valuers for the valuation of IDBI Bank and is deliberating on a share purchase agreement with a prospective buyer. The privatisation of IDBI Bank has been ongoing for over two and a half years. The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) is moving ahead with the strategic sale, which is expected to conclude in 6-7 months.
Coal India's contribution to government exchequer drops 5% to Rs 5,833 cr in March
Coal India Ltd paid ?5,832.69 crore to the government in March, down 4.7% year-on-year. Its FY25 total stood at ?60,959.52 crore, up 1.2%. Jharkhand, Odisha, MP and Chhattisgarh received the most. CIL’s FY25 output was 781.1 MT, below target, but up 1% from last year.
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