THE HEADLINES:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi stresses, collective efforts of Centre and States key to realising Viksit Bharat vision; Chairs 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi.
- Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw says, government making efforts to strengthen Akashvani and Doordarshan coverage across border regions; Inaugurates 20-kilowatt FM transmitter in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer.
- Centre waives excise duty on certain variants of ethanol-blended petrol.
- Another TMC MP, Prakash Chik Baraik resigns from Rajya Sabha.
- First ‘Made in India’ Airbus C-295 aircraft completes maiden test flight from Vadodara.
- Iran announces closure of Strait of Hormuz following US strikes.
- And, Sports fans across the globe await month-long football spectacle as FIFA World Cup kicks off in Mexico City tonight.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that despite the world passing through a period of uncertainty and instability, India continues to advance on its growth trajectory with confidence and determination. Chairing the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Mr Modi said, as India progresses towards achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat, the collective responsibility of the Centre and States becomes even greater.
The Prime Minister highlighted that creating the right ecosystem for the country’s youth through quality education, demand-driven skilling and employment opportunities must remain a priority. He said, India has signed Free Trade Agreements with many countries to create new opportunities for growth and exports.
The Prime Minister said, women-led development is a cornerstone of the vision of Viksit Bharat. He said, from farming and startups to science and innovation, Nari Shakti is contributing across the domains.
The meeting is deliberating on measures to promote entrepreneurship, enhance skilling, and create sustainable employment opportunities across the country.
The theme of this year’s meeting is “Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047.
The meeting has brought together Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors from across the country to discuss the Inclusive Human Development Framework, anchored around four core pillars. These are Foundational Human Capital and Future-Ready Skills; Productive Employment, Entrepreneurship and Decentralised Growth; Health, Nutrition and Well-being; and Equity and Dignity for All.
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Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw today virtually inaugurated a 20-kilowatt FM transmitter at Ramgarh in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district during a programme held at the Akashvani premises in Jaipur. With this addition, the total number of FM transmitters in the state has risen to 39. The new transmitter will provide radio coverage within an 80-kilometre radius in border areas, providing people access to a wide range of information, educational content, and entertainment programmes.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Vaishnaw said, special arrangements are being developed to strengthen Akashvani and Doordarshan coverage across the country’s border regions, from Kashmir to Kutch, with new FM transmitters and broadcasting infrastructure being set up. The Minister said, the plan is to provide comprehensive coverage across the entire border belt of the country, stretching all the way from Kashmir.
Mr Vaishnaw called for transforming the overall framework of Prasar Bharati, stressing the need for a “digital-first” and “hyper-local” approach to keep radio relevant in the technology era. He also underlined the importance of connecting local artists and artisans with broadcasting platforms.
The event was attended by Jaipur MP Manju Sharma, Prasar Bharati Chairman Prasoon Joshi, and Akashvani Director General Rajeev Kumar Jain, among other senior officials.
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The government has waived excise duty on certain variants of ethanol-blended petrol. In a notification, the Union Finance Ministry announced that petrol blended with 22 per cent, 25 per cent, 27 per cent, and 30 per cent ethanol have been exempted from central excise duty. The Ministry said, all four fuel grades will now attract a nil rate of excise duty. The move is aimed at strengthening India’s ethanol blending programme, which seeks to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, cut carbon emissions, and enhance demand for domestically produced ethanol.
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The Centre has issued an advisory about the growing threat of cybercriminals using artificial intelligence to bypass security systems and target financial infrastructure. According to the advisory issued by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to create realistic deepfake videos and synthetic identities. These technologies are being exploited to bypass facial authentication, liveness verification, video KYC processes, account recovery systems and unauthorized access to financial and digetal services.
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Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu today expressed happiness over the maiden test flight of the first Made in India Airbus C295 from Vadodara in Gujarat. In a social media post, Mr Naidu said, this is more than just an aircraft taking to the skies, it also reflects the country’s growing capabilities in aerospace manufacturing. The Civil Aviation Minister also congratulated Airbus, Tata Advanced Systems, the Indian Air Force and all the engineers, technicians and workers on the achievement.
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Trinamool Congress MP Prakash Chik Baraik has resigned as a member of the Rajya Sabha. He has sent his resignation letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan. Earlier, Trinamool Congress leaders and Rajya Sabha members Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Sushmita Dev had resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the party.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed gratitude to his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong, New Zealand Counterpart Christopher Luxon, Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Guyana President Dr Irfaan Ali for their wishes and messages on him becoming the longest serving elected Prime Minister of India. In a series of social media posts, Mr Modi said that he looks forward to working closely with his Singaporean counterpart to further Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of both nations and take India-Singapore ties to new heights. Thanking Prime Minister Luxon for the wishes, Mr Modi said that the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement marks an important step forward in the partnership of both countries.
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully secured the deportation of Ganesh Balaso Kale from Thailand to India in connection with a cybercrime fraud case. The deportation was carried out in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Embassy of India in Thailand. According to the CBI, the accused allegedly ran a cyber financial fraud network by recruiting unsuspecting individuals into the scam. Victims were lured with offers of online part-time jobs and persuaded to make monetary deposits as investments.
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting search operations at five premises in Hyderabad, Telangana in connection with the alleged transport scam involving the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited. According to ED officials, the accused persons allegedly caused a wrongful loss of more than 195 crore rupees to the government exchequer while deriving corresponding unlawful gains for themselves and their associates.
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In a landmark judgement that is set to give more recognition to household work, the Supreme Court today said that homemakers deserve to be recognised as “nation builders” for their role in shaping families and future generations. The apex court ruled that unpaid domestic work must be monetised at a minimum of 30,000 rupees per month while calculating compensation for their deaths in road mishaps. The Court said that women who manage households should not be referred to merely as “homemakers”, as the term undervalues their contribution to society.
A bench of justices Sanjay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh emphasised that unpaid domestic work, including caregiving and household management, carries significant economic value. The court noted that such work is essential for the functioning of families and the development of human capital.
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All three Indian seafarers who were initially reported missing after the tragic incident aboard the commercial vessel Palau-flagged MT Settebello have now been confirmed dead. The tanker was hit off the coast of Oman in a suspected US missile strike. In a social media post, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said, bodies of three seafarers have been located and identified.
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The United States has carried out a second consecutive night of what it described as “self-defence” strikes against Iranian military infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions in West Asia. Explosions were reported in and around Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island, as the confrontation entered a more dangerous phase.
In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on several US military facilities across the region, calling them retaliation for the latest American action. Iranian military authorities also declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to commercial shipping and warned that vessels attempting to pass through could be targeted. However, the United States rejected the claim. More from our West Asia Correspondent:
“In a dramatic escalation, Iran’s joint military command announced the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz , warning that any commercial vessel attempting to transit the waterway would be targeted.The move followed fresh American airstrikes on Iranian military infrastructure. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had launched attacks against US-linked military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, while also reporting strikes against maritime targets in the Gulf. Kuwait temporarily closed its airspace as a precaution and later said its armed forces were responding to missile and drone threats. Air-raid sirens were also activated in Bahrain amid heightened security alerts. However, US Central Command rejected Iranian claims that the waterway had been effectively shut down, stating that commercial shipping continued to move through the Strait under the protection of international naval forces.THIS IS VINOD KUMAR FOR AKASHVANI NEWS DUBAI.”
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Sports fans across the world are set for a month-long football spectacle as the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off tonight at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. A report;
“This edition of the World Cup will be the biggest in history, with an expansion from 32 to 48 teams. A record 104 matches will be played with 72 in the group stage and 32 in the knockout rounds, across host nations United States, Canada, and Mexico.The three host nations qualified automatically, while 45 teams earned their places through a demanding two-year qualification journey. The competition features 12 groups of four teams each. The top two teams from every group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the Round of 32. . This expands the knockout stage to 32 teams for the first time in tournament history. The grand final is scheduled for 19th of July, promising a thrilling conclusion to football’s greatest celebration.This World Cup is also expected to be one of the most challenging in history, with teams facing demanding conditions across three countries – including long travel distances, varying climates, different altitudes, and shifting time zones.Over the decades, only eight nations have lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy – Brazil, Italy, Germany, Spain, Argentina, England, France, and Uruguay, the inaugural champions. Among the most unfortunate sides in World Cup history remain the Netherlands, who have reached three finals but are yet to win the title despite producing generations of world-class talent.From history to high stakes, from legends to new challengers – the stage is set for football’s ultimate battle. Shagun Chopra from Sports desk.”
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN: –
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi stresses, collective efforts of Centre and States key to realising Viksit Bharat vision; Chairs 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi.
- Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw says, government making efforts to strengthen Akashvani and Doordarshan coverage across border regions; Inaugurates 20-kilowatt FM transmitter in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer.
- Centre waives excise duty on certain variants of ethanol-blended petrol.
- Another TMC MP, Prakash Chik Baraik resigns from Rajya Sabha.
- First ‘Made in India’ Airbus C-295 aircraft completes maiden test flight from Vadodara.
- Iran announces closure of Strait of Hormuz following US strikes.
- And, Sports fans across the globe await month-long football spectacle as FIFA World Cup kicks off in Mexico City tonight.
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