Author: Sharad Natani
In a big boost for coastal transport and tourism, Maharashtra is set to launch South Asia’s fastest Roll-On, Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) ferry service between Mumbai and the Konkan coast starting September 1, 2025. The high-speed ferry, operated by M2M Ferries, promises to revolutionise travel to Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, cutting down road travel times by more than half. Travel Time Slashed Mumbai to Jaigad (Ratnagiri): Just 3 hours (vs 10–12 hours by road) Mumbai to Vijaydurg (Sindhudurg): 5 hours (vs 12+ hours by road) The vessel can carry 50 cars, 30 two-wheelers, minibuses, and hundreds of passengers, making it a game-changer for…
In a bold move to transform the healthcare landscape, the Andhra Pradesh government launched the Bharat Biodesign Research and Innovation (BRAIN) Programme, aiming to position the state as a global hub for health-tech and digital health innovation. The initiative was inaugurated at the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub, Amaravati, by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Global Collaboration, Local Impact BRAIN marks a strategic collaboration between the state government, the APAC Biodesign Alliance, and Stanford Biodesign (USA), along with the AIM Foundation of the University of Western Australia. These global partners will facilitate research, startup incubation, professional training, and technology transfer in…
In a rare and complex case, doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) successfully performed a life-saving bariatric surgery on a 44-year-old woman from Sangam Vihar suffering from super-super obesity—a condition defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 60. The patient, weighing 146.5 kg at just 135 cm height, had a staggering BMI of 80.4, among the highest recorded in the country. Over the past three years, she struggled with failed attempts at diet and exercise, eventually developing severe breathing problems, sleep disruption, and dependence on CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) support. Her deteriorating health left…
In a major announcement for central government employees, the Ministry of Finance has introduced a one-time, one-way switch facility from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to the National Pension System (NPS). According to the official memorandum dated August 25, 2025, employees currently enrolled in UPS can opt to shift to NPS before September 30, 2025. This move is aimed at streamlining pension benefits while giving employees greater flexibility for retirement planning. Who Can Avail the Switch? ●All UPS subscribers are eligible, provided they are not facing dismissal, removal, or disciplinary action. ●The option can be exercised up to one year…
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has cleared the appointment of senior IPS officer Akhil Kumar (1994 batch, UP cadre) as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). He will serve in the rank and pay of an Additional Secretary, marking a key bureaucratic move in India’s digital transformation journey. A Green Signal from Centre and State The ACC issued the appointment order late Monday night, after the UP Home Department granted its No Objection Certificate (NOC) in April 2025. The file is now being routed through…
देश में शिक्षा की स्थिति और शिक्षकों के प्रति व्यवहार को लेकर सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने सोमवार को एक ऐतिहासिक टिप्पणी की। अदालत ने गुजरात सरकार को फटकार लगाते हुए कहा कि संविदा सहायक प्रोफेसरों को मात्र Rs 30,000 मासिक वेतन देना न केवल असंगत है बल्कि यह शिक्षकों का अपमान भी है। जस्टिस पीएम नरसिम्हा और जस्टिस जॉयमाल्या बागची की बेंच ने सुनवाई के दौरान कहा– “यह बर्दाश्त नहीं किया जा सकता कि जिन शिक्षकों पर हमारी आने वाली पीढ़ियों का भविष्य टिका है, उनके साथ ऐसा भेदभावपूर्ण व्यवहार किया जाए। जब नियमित एसोसिएट प्रोफेसरों को Rs 1.2 से Rs…