Author: News Desk

Rolls-Royce, the British aerospace and defence giant, has announced its intention to develop India as a strategic growth hub, aiming to strengthen its presence and partnerships across air, land, and sea applications. CEO Tufan Erginbilgic highlighted the company’s commitment to building in-country capabilities and fostering strategic partnerships that will accelerate India’s progress towards a self-reliant economy, aligning with the nation’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative. During UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official visit to India, Erginbilgic emphasized the natural partnership between the UK and India, describing the collaboration as a ‘win-win’ for both nations. He reiterated Rolls-Royce’s determination to support India’s journey…

IndiGo will resume daily nonstop flights between Delhi and Guangzhou starting November 10, 2025, restoring direct air connectivity between India and China after more than five years. Earlier, IndiGo had scheduled the Kolkata–Guangzhou route to restart from October 26, marking a phased revival of India–China air links. The Delhi–Guangzhou service will use Airbus A320 aircraft, departing Delhi at 21:45 IST and arriving in Guangzhou early the next morning. The return flight leaves Guangzhou at 05:50, landing in Delhi by 10:10 IST. This restoration comes amid improving diplomatic ties and a focus on strengthening trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges between the…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand during her visit to India. Jaishankar said that relations between India and Canada have been steadily improving and that India is actively working to strengthen this partnership. He noted that the constructive dialogue that began after their phone conversation on May 26 continued in today’s meeting. Over the past two months, India–Canada ties have made gradual progress. Jaishankar emphasized that both nations should focus on meeting the expectations of their Prime Ministers and the people of both countries. He also said India is working to restore and revive the…

The Union Ministry of Education confirmed that the Zoho Office Suite has been integrated into the National Informatics Centre (NIC) mail system. Over the past year, all 12 lakh email accounts of central government employees, including those of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), have been migrated from the NIC-based system to Zoho’s platform. Zoho is headquartered in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu. A senior official noted that the suite has also been activated to ensure employees avoid open-source applications for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations, which could compromise file security. Promoting the Swadeshi MovementThe Ministry highlighted that adopting Zoho’s homegrown tools is…

India will be represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardan Singh at the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13, 2025. Singh is attending as a special envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who declined the invitation due to short notice. The summit is co-hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump, focusing on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Modi Meets U.S. Envoy in Delhi Although Modi will not attend the summit, he met with U.S. Special Envoy Sergio Gor in Delhi on Saturday. Singh departed for Cairo on…

India and the United Kingdom signed a strategic partnership at the India Mobile Congress 2025 to boost innovation in digital connectivity. The agreement includes a joint investment of 24 million pounds (approximately Rs 282 crore) over the next four years to support research, technology development, and telecom innovation. Setting Up the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation CentreThe partnership was formalized by Catherine Page, Deputy Director for Technology, Spectrum and Strategy at the UK’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, and Parag Agrawal, Deputy Director General at India’s Department of Telecom. The agreement establishes the India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre (CIC), which…

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has achieved a historic milestone by becoming India’s highest-ranked central university and the third overall among Indian institutions in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026. Announced on October 9, the rankings place JMI in the 401–500 global band, a jump from its 2025 placement in the 501–600 band. Among Indian universities, only the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and Savita Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai ranked higher, making JMI the sole central university in the 401–500 bracket for 2026. Recognition of Academic and Research ExcellenceJMI’s rise reflects significant improvements in…

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi faced criticism after a press conference at the Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi on Friday excluded female journalists. The move drew strong reactions from media bodies and opposition leaders in India, who condemned the “blatant gender discrimination on Indian soil.” The Editors Guild of India and the Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC) highlighted the incident as troubling, noting that no objections were raised despite the discriminatory exclusion. Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi called on the Prime Minister to clarify his stance on women’s rights in the context of the event. Muttaqi…

Tata Trusts has approved a third executive term for Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, effectively setting aside the group’s long-standing rule that requires executives to retire at 65. Chandrasekaran, who turns 65 in February 2027, will now continue beyond that age in an active role, the first such waiver in the group’s history. The decision, taken at a Tata Trusts meeting on September 11, was proposed by Noel Tata and Venu Srinivasan and approved unanimously, according to reports. Tata Sons is expected to formalize the extension in February 2026. Continuity Over ConventionSources told The Economic Times that the extension was granted to…

Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) has made its presence felt at Expand North Star 2025, part of the global tech event GITEX Global that began in Dubai on October 12. The Kerala Pavilion, showcasing 35 startups from the state, was inaugurated by Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai. Electronics and IT Department Special Secretary Sriram Sambasiva Rao and KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika were also present at the inauguration. Set up in Hall 10 (Stalls B94–B129), the Kerala Pavilion offers startups a global stage to showcase their products and technologies. It also serves as a key platform for guidance from…