West Bengal has become the 36th State/Union Territory in the country to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), marking a significant milestone in India’s journey towards universal health coverage. The implementation was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the National Health Authority (NHA) and the Government of West Bengal.   With the rollout of the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme in the state, millions of eligible beneficiaries in West Bengal will gain access to cashless and paperless treatment at empanelled…

Dear Members of the Media, The Federation of All India ITIs (FOAII) cordially invites you to attend a National Press Conference addressing critical challenges faced by private ITI institutions across the country, along with key reforms required to strengthen India’s skill development ecosystem. During the conference, the Federation will present a comprehensive set of concerns and demands before the Government of India, highlighting pressing issues within the private ITI sector. The key agenda points include: * Restoration of the third shift in private ITIs* Effective implementation of the NIMI/NIMS framework*…

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the first-ever export of fresh mangoes from Jharkhand to the United Kingdom, marking a significant milestone in the state’s agricultural export journey.   The consignment showcases the growing potential of Jharkhand’s horticulture sector and reflects ongoing efforts to connect local farmers with international markets. The export is expected to enhance the global visibility of mangoes cultivated in the state while creating new income opportunities for growers.   APEDA, in collaboration with state authorities and exporters, provided support in…

The Department of Consumer Affairs’ flagship digital platform e-Jagriti has been awarded the Silver Award under the category Government Process Re-engineering by Use of Technology for Digital Transformation at the National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2026.   The recognition highlights e-Jagriti’s role in transforming consumer dispute resolution through a unified, technology-driven system. Introduced on January 1, 2025, the platform integrates multiple legacy consumer grievance and case-management systems into a single digital ecosystem, enabling seamless, paperless and efficient consumer justice delivery.   Powered by advanced digital technologies and AI-enabled features, e-Jagriti…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated a new 220-bed hospital of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation in Surat, strengthening healthcare infrastructure for insured workers and their families in one of India’s largest industrial hubs.   The state-of-the-art facility is expected to significantly improve access to quality medical services for beneficiaries covered under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme. Equipped with modern healthcare infrastructure, the hospital will provide a wide range of outpatient, inpatient, diagnostic, emergency, and specialized medical services.   The new hospital is aimed at catering to the growing…

Scientists have uncovered fresh insights into the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle by analyzing more than a century of solar observations from the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory. The study reveals that large-scale convection patterns on the Sun’s surface closely track changes in solar magnetic activity, offering a new window into the processes that drive the solar cycle.   Researchers examined over 34,000 archival images captured in the Calcium-II K spectral line, which highlights magnetic features in the Sun’s chromosphere. The analysis focused on supergranulation—vast cellular flow patterns on the solar surface that…