Parminder Chopra Assumes Additional Charge as Chairman & MD of REC Ltd
Parminder Chopra was appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of REC Limited for a three-month tenure, in addition to her existing role as CMD of Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (PFC). With over 35 years of experience in the power and financial sectors, Chopra has played a key role in financial restructuring and renewable energy financing.
Bank of Baroda Launches Exclusive App for Corporate Customers
Bank of Baroda (BoB) launched 'mDigiNext mobile app' to exclusively cater to the cash management needs of its corporate customers.
BoB's dedicated cash management services app offers payment functionalities that help businesses manage their working capital and cash flows, which, in turn, will bring in greater efficiencies and facilitate faster execution and ease of operations.
The app offers functionalities such as creation and authorisation of one-to-one transactions; authorising and rejecting bulk uploads; end-to-end transaction and workflow tracking; and raising real-time enquiries on transaction status.
Vikram Sahu to Replace Kaku Nakhate as Bank of America's New India Head
Bank of America Corp (BofA) is set to undergo a leadership transition in its India operations, with Kaku Nakhate stepping down from her role as the country executive after 15 years at the helm.
As per repots, Vikram Sahu, currently head of global equity research in New York, has been appointed as her successor.
Sahu is expected to relocate to India in the second quarter of 2025 to take charge of the bank's India franchise. Nakhate will continue to serve as CEO of BANA India until Sahu receives regulatory approvals for the position from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The International Cricket Council (ICC) included Allahudien Paleker of South Africa and England's Alex Wharf in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires which features Nitin Menon as the only Indian, while Jayaraman Madangopal was promoted to the Emerging Panel.
Michael Gough and Joel Wilson will make way for the two new entrants in Palekar and Wharf.
Iconic Gabba Stadium to be Demolished after 2032 Olympics Games
The iconic Gabba Stadium in Brisbane, Australia is set for demolition following the 2032 Olympic Games, with cricket relocating to a newly built 60,000-capacity stadium in the Victoria Park area.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced the updated Olympic infrastructure plans, marking a significant decision for cricket's future in the region. The move came after years of deliberation following Brisbane's successful Olympic bid in 2021.
Akash Bags Gold Medal at the Khelo India Para Games
Uttar Pradesh shooter Akash bagged the gold medal in mixed 50m pistol SH1 category at the Khelo India Para Games in New Delhi.
The shooting competition came to an end with Rajasthan topping the medal tally with nine medals that included four gold and two silver.
Uttar Pradesh (four medals with two gold) and Maharashtra (three medals with two gold) finished second and third respectively.
Delhi Chief Minister and Finance Minister Rekha Gupta presented the Delhi Budget 2025-26, with a record allocation of Rs. 1 lakh crore. The budget emphasises infrastructure development, social welfare, healthcare, education, and economic growth. It marks a 31.5% increase from the previous year's budget and aims to bring transparency, efficiency, and rapid development to the capital.
Rekha Gupta described this as a "historic Budget", aiming to accelerate Delhi's transformation through increased capital expenditure and public welfare schemes.
The budget sees a major boost in capital expenditure, with an allocation of Rs. 28,000 crore, double the previous year's spending, focusing on roads, water supply, and sewer systems.
Ashok Singh Thakur New Chairman of INTACH
Ashok Singh Thakur was elected as the new chairman of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for a period of three years.
Delhi-based INTACH, a premier heritage conservation body was established in 1984. It has chapters spread across the country.
INTACH is registered under the Societies Registration Act (1860).
Its mandate is to preserve and conserve the environment, to revitalise intangible heritage and to foster awareness and appreciation of the country's immense heritage.
The 5th India Africa Strategic Dialogue
The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses is organising the fifth India-Africa Strategic Dialogue (IASD) on the theme, "India and Africa: Partnership for the Next Decade" on 25-27 March, 2025 in New Delhi. The objective of the India Africa Strategic Dialogue is to build on existing partnerships between African countries and India, and to explore new areas of convergence for mutual engagement.
The dialogue focuses on the following themes:
Session 1: Framework for Cooperation
Session 2: Partnership for Deepening Trade and Investment Ties
Session 3: Partnership in Multilateral Forums and Global Governance Reforms
Session 4: Defence Cooperation and Maritime Security
Session 5: Partnership in Critical Minerals and Energy Security
M Baazar Onboards Rakul Preet Singh as Brand Ambassador
A beloved name in Indian fashion and one of the leading fashion retailers in Eastern India, M Baazar signed the Bollywood icon Rakul Preet Singh as brand ambassador.
Boasting a strong network of 190+ stores spanning across 8 states, M Baazar has been elevating the fashion aspirations of Indians for decades. With a diverse range including menswear, ladieswear, kidswear and accessories, M Baazar caters to the ever-evolving tastes of fashion-forward consumers, and this new collaboration with Rakul Preet Singh is set to propel the brand to even greater heights as a leading force in the world of fashion.
Violinist R. K. Shriramkumar Selected for Sangita Kalanidhi Award 2025
Violinist R. K. Shriramkumar was selected for the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award for 2025, presented by the Music Academy. The award will be conferred during the Academy's 99th annual conference and concerts, scheduled from December 15, 2025, to January 1, 2026. This recognition comes in the 250th anniversary year of the legendary composer Muthuswami Dikshitar.
The Sangita Kalanidhi award is among the most esteemed recognitions in Carnatic music. Established by the Music Academy, Chennai, it is awarded annually to a musician who has made significant contributions to the field.
Gujarat, Punjab Lead with Three Languages Taught in 95% Schools
Gujarat and Punjab top the list of states in implementing the three-language policy, with over 95% of schools teaching three languages, according to data shared by Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary in Parliament.
While 97.6% of schools in Gujarat teach three languages, this figure is 96.2% in Punjab, followed by 89.2% in Sikkim, the data showed. Gujarat has made the learning of Gujarati mandatory in schools, while Punjab has made Punjabi mandatory.
The national figure is 61.6%, the data showed.
Ministry of Education Launches "Baalpan ki Kavita Initiative: Restoring Bhartiya Rhymes/Poems for Young Children"
The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 emphasises the critical importance of universal and high-quality Early Childhood Education along with the power of multilingualism and the importance of including children's languages in primary education. To fulfil the vision of NEP 2020, the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education has launched "Baalpan ki Kavita initiative: Restoring Bhartiya rhymes/poems for young children" for preparing a compendium of nursery rhymes/poems in all Bhartiya Bhasha and also in English, focusing on content relevant to the Indian context. The purpose of this initiative is that the young children can have better learning at the Foundational stage by becoming familiar with the world around them through easily understandable and joyful poems and rhymes, in their mother tongue.
ASI Discovers Megaliths in Kerala & Buddhist Finds in Odisha
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made significant discoveries at two different locations in India, shedding light on ancient burial practices and Buddhist heritage. In an exploration near Malampuzha Dam in Palakkad, Kerala, ASI stumbled upon over 110 megalithic burial sites, marking an important find for understanding the region's early Iron Age society. Simultaneously, excavations in Ratnagiri, Odisha, unveiled a treasure trove of Buddhist antiquities, offering crucial insights into the spread of Vajrayana Buddhism and its connections with Southeast Asia.
A team from ASI, while surveying the Malampuzha region in Palakkad, Kerala, discovered a cluster of over 110 megalithic structures spread across approximately 45 hectares of land. The site, consisting of island-like mounds, is considered one of the largest megalithic burial grounds ever found in Kerala.