India-Croatia relations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in Zagreb, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia. The leaders discussed enhancing bilateral ties in trade, technology, defense, and cultural cooperation, and signed four MOUs. They emphasized opportunities in various sectors and addressed global issues
Padma Bhushan
Eminent journalist and President of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The award was presented by Shri Satpal Chauhan at the IGNCA office due to Rai's absence from the official ceremony.
NIV Pune
A 10-member National Media delegation, led by Dr. Manisha Verma, visited the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune to learn about its virological research and response to viral outbreaks. Dr. Naveen Kumar, Director of NIV, highlighted the Institute's role in managing COVID-19 variants and the recent Guillain-Barré
Election Commission
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure the delivery of Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) within 15 days of updates in the electoral rolls. This initiative includes real-time tracking of EPIC generation and delivery, along with SMS notifications for electors. The
India
The first Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Agriculture between India and Ukraine was held virtually, co-chaired by officials from both countries. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture, discussing innovative initiatives by India, and Ukraine's commitment to enhancing collaboration in areas like food processing and
Unified Pension Scheme
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions has issued new instructions regarding the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for Central Government employees. These guidelines allow employees who opt for UPS to avail benefits under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in cases of death or discharge due to invalidation or disablement.
Unified Pension Scheme
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions has announced that Central Government employees opting for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) will be eligible for retirement and death gratuity benefits. This follows the Ministry of Finance's notification introducing the UPS as an option under the National Pension System
International Day of Yoga
In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call, Gram Panchayats across India are mobilizing for a historic celebration of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025. The Prime Minister urged local leaders to promote community participation in yoga, emphasizing its role in personal well-being and national development. This
Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the continuation of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, highlighting its success in modernizing Indian agriculture and enhancing farmer welfare. The campaign has seen over 2,170 teams engage with more than 1.34 crore farmers across 1.42 lakh villages. Key initiatives include
PMAY-U 2.0
During the third meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) on June 18, 2025, 2.35 lakh houses were approved for construction under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0). This brings the total sanctioned houses under PMAY-U 2.0 to 7.10 lakh.
President of India
President Droupadi Murmu will visit Uttarakhand from June 19 to 21, 2025, inaugurating various projects at Rashtrapati Niketan, including an amphitheater, public amenities, and a yoga demonstration on International Yoga Day. She will also visit the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities and release a postage stamp
Inclusive Education
A Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in New Delhi between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to promote inclusive education for persons with disabilities. The collaboration aims to establish a