Author: News Desk

The government reported that freight loading on Indian Railways rose from 1,233 million tonnes (MT) in 2020-21 to 1,617 MT in 2024-25, making it the second-largest freight-carrying railway network in the world. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw noted that freight rates have remained unchanged since 2018 despite rising input costs, keeping transport rates competitive. Passenger fares, on the other hand, were revised from July 1, 2025, for the first time in over five years, with minimal increases ranging from half a paisa to two paise per kilometer for premium classes. Measures to ensure affordable travel include: no increase for general class…

Kerala’s burgeoning startup ecosystem needs to focus on securing more diverse funding avenues to realise its potential as a global innovation hub, according to Shri Vikram Gupta, Founder and Managing Partner of IvyCap Ventures. Kerala’s Rise as a Startup HotspotSpeaking at India’s largest startup festival, Huddle Global 2025, on the theme “Kerala’s Moment from Talent to Scale,” Shri Gupta highlighted that Kerala possesses the fundamentals necessary to become a global startup hotspot. He noted the state’s strong talent pool and focus on deeptech and emerging technologies as key drivers. Kerala’s startup ecosystem has grown by 147% in value, bolstered by…

In Disney’s “Zootopia 2,” detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are back, chasing a mysterious reptile through the bustling mammal city of Zootopia. The Walt Disney Company has scored its second billion-dollar hit of 2025 with the animated sequel, joining the live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch” as the only Hollywood films this year to surpass the $1 billion mark. As of Friday, “Zootopia 2” had earned $232.7 million domestically and $753.4 million internationally. “This milestone means the world to us because it shows audiences are coming together in theaters to experience this movie on the big screen — a…

Football legend Lionel Messi received a grand welcome as he arrived in Kolkata, drawing thousands of enthusiastic fans. In a highlight event in the morning, Messi unveiled a 70-foot-tall statue of himself, created by the Kolkata Sreebhumi Sporting Club. Reception programs were also held at Salt Lake Stadium, where Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan joined Messi for the celebrations. After unveiling the statue, Messi expressed his happiness at being in India. The visit, called the ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’, is organised by sports promoter and business consultant Shatadru Dutta. Fans across India now have the chance to see the football icon…

InterGlobe Aviation, the operator of India’s largest airline IndiGo, filed a petition with the Delhi High Court on Friday seeking to recover nearly ₹900 crore from the Customs department. The claim relates to Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) and cess paid on aircraft parts sent abroad for maintenance and subsequently re-imported into India. The move follows a major Delhi High Court judgment in March, which struck down as unconstitutional the levy of IGST and cess on the repair component of goods re-imported after overseas maintenance. Portions of the 2021 Customs exemption notification, which had sought to tax the repair…

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi met Celso Amorim, Chief Advisor to the Brazilian President, and Defence Minister José Mucio Monteiro on Thursday to discuss defence industry collaboration and initiatives aimed at strengthening shared security goals and long-term interoperability. The Indian Navy spokesperson stated on X that the meeting provided a comprehensive review of expanding India-Brazil defence engagements, focusing on strategic cooperation, joint operational frameworks, training programs, maritime security mechanisms, and enhanced coordination in Maritime Domain Awareness. The discussions also covered regional and global dynamics, including the South Atlantic, Indo-Pacific, and the role of the Global South, reflecting…

Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty on Friday, December 12, 2025, proposed a resolution urging the government to introduce a Constitutional amendment that would add a new Article 21(b), guaranteeing free and compulsory early childhood care and education (ECCE) for all children aged 3 to 6. She made the announcement during the winter session of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. Opening her speech, Ms. Murty congratulated Anganwadi workers for their contributions, particularly in rural areas. She highlighted that the Anganwadi scheme has completed 50 years, recalling its launch in 1975 as the Integrated Child Development Scheme, which focused on pregnant women,…

India is fast emerging as the preferred destination for major global tech investments. In just the past 48 hours, the country has attracted $52 billion in commitments from Microsoft and Amazon, reflecting its rising significance in the global AI landscape and the government’s active push for artificial intelligence. Microsoft and Amazon are not alone. In recent weeks, other tech giants including Google and Intel have also announced substantial investments, signaling India’s growing role as a hub for AI and advanced technology. Tech Giants Pledge Billions Combined, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have pledged roughly $67.5 billion in recent deals aimed at…

Experts at Huddle Global 2025 urged the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) to chart a distinctive ‘Kerala Model’ for its startup ecosystem—one that balances MSMEs with high-potential unicorn ventures. The recommendation came during a session titled From Mission to Momentum: The Evolution of Kerala’s Startup Ecosystem and Way Forward, held on the opening day of India’s largest beachside startup festival, organised by KSUM at Kovalam. Kerala’s startup landscape, they noted, has thrived not through industry backing, but largely due to consistent and forward-looking government policies over the past decade and a half. Highlighting the path ahead, M Sivasankar, former Principal Secretary…

Genrobotics has developed a cutting-edge semi-humanoid hydraulic robot designed to efficiently handle hazardous situations and complex industrial tasks. Building on their revolutionary bandicoot robot, originally developed for cleaning manholes, this advanced robot can operate across a variety of terrains, making it versatile for multiple industries. Showcase at Huddle Global 2025 Expo The robot was unveiled at the Huddle Global 2025 Expo in Kovalam, organized under the Kerala Startup Mission. The showcase highlighted its capabilities, emphasizing its adaptability for high-risk operations and industrial tasks. Wide Range of Applications This semi-humanoid robot can be deployed in mining operations, rescue missions, and handling…