Highlights: Key infra sectors' growth slows to eight-month low of 0.5% in April

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9:49 PM

India's satcom roll-out will likely be fastest globally: Telecom Minister Scindia

 India appears poised to see the fastest roll-out of the satcom network, with its market expected to surge nearly tenfold to USD 20 billion by 2028, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Tuesday.
 

Scindia noted regulator TRAI has given its views on norms for satcom spectrum, and that it is now for the government to vet the recommendations and push forward the policy.

"And as I have mentioned to you we are very eager in pushing forward this policy as soon as possible, so that now they (TRAI) are done with their task, the onus is on us to take it forward," he said.

He emphasised that satellite technology is complementary to the current bouquet of terrestrial telecom services.

9:40 PM

Reduce approval time for sand and mining permits: Bawankule to environment dept

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday asked the environment department to expedite the approval process for sand cluster and mining block proposals, and to reduce the duration of green clearances wherever possible.
 

In a meeting held at the office of Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde, Bawankule emphasised the need for swift and coordinated approvals to
implement the new sand extraction policy.

Senior officials, including Environment Secretary Jayshree Bhoj and revenue department representatives, were present.

9:13 PM

South Africa to offer Musk Starlink deal before Trump meet

South Africa’s government plans to offer Elon Musk a workaround of local Black-ownership laws for his Starlink internet service to operate in the country, aiming to ease tensions with both the billionaire and US President Donald Trump, Bloomberg reported. 
 

The offer will come at a last-minute meeting planned for Tuesday night between Musk or his representatives and a delegation of South African officials traveling with President Cyril Ramaphosa, according to three people familiar with the discussions.

It’s meant to defuse the onslaught of criticism by Musk and Trump — who’ve spread the conspiracy theory that there’s a genocide against White people in Africa’s most-industrialized nation — before Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House on Wednesday, said the people, who asked not to be identified as they’re not authorized to discuss the matter.

“The deal is that all races should be treated equally and there should be no preference,” said Musk when asked about the matter in an interview at the Bloomberg Economic Forum on Tuesday. “I am in a situation where I was born in South Africa, but cannot get a license to operate Starlink because I am not Black.”

8:42 PM

SC seeks Haryana advocates body stand on appointment of ex-judge in poll tribunal

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Haryana Bar Council to inform its stand on the appointment of a retired judge in the poll tribunal to oversee elections in the state.
 

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said it had sought the views of the state bar council but got no response.

The top court was hearing a batch of pleas related to the elections of district bar associations of Karnal and Rohtak in Haryana.

The pleas were filed after allegations over the fairness and transparency in conducting elections in various district bar associations in Punjab and Haryana were raised.

8:20 PM

SAP unveils series of AI innovations aimed at driving business productivity up to 30%

German IT firm SAP on Tuesday announced a slew of business Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovations and partnerships in a bid to revolutionise the way work gets done and significantly improve productivity.
 

From a virtually omnipresent Joule assistant to an expanded network of Joule Agents that work across systems and lines of business, SAP heralds a new era that democratizes access to Business AI and can drive productivity gains of up to 30 per cent, the company's SAP CEO Christian Klein said.

"SAP combines the world's most powerful suite of business applications with uniquely rich data and the latest AI innovations to create a flywheel of customer value," he said at the annual SAP Sapphire conference here.

7:49 PM

Pakistan govt promotes Army Chief General Asim Munir as Field Marshal

Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was on Tuesday promoted as the Field Marshal for "successfully" leading the armed forces in the recent conflict with India, state-run TV reported.
 

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The state-run PTV reported that the cabinet took the important decision to “promote General Asim Munir as Field Marshal” of the country.

The decision was taken for his "exemplary role" in the conflict with India, it added. 

6:41 PM

Redington Ltd records Q4 standalone profit at ₹209.45 cr

Integrated technology solutions provider Redington Ltd on Tuesday reported a standalone profit of Rs 209.45 crore for the January–March 2025 quarter, the company said.
 

The city-headquartered firm had registered a profit of Rs 160.57 crore during the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

For the financial year ending March 31, 2025, the profit grew to Rs 1,443.78 crore, as compared to Rs 1,081.24 crore registered in the year-ago period.

The standalone total income during the quarter under review rose to Rs 13,137.14 crore, from Rs 10,510.98 crore recorded in the year-ago period.

For the financial year ending March 31, 2025, the total income stood at Rs 49,543.58 crore, as compared to Rs 41,740.56 crore in the previous financial year, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

5:50 PM

Whirlpool of India Q4 results: Net profit climbs 50% to ₹119.47 cr

onsumer durables maker Whirlpool of India Ltd on Tuesday reported a 50.4 per cent jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 119.47 crore in the fourth quarter ended March 2025 on the back of higher revenue and an exceptional item gain.
 

The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 79.45 crore in the fourth quarter of preceding fiscal, Whirlpool of India Ltd said in a regulatory filing.
 

Consolidated revenue from operations in the latest fourth quarter stood at Rs 2,004.67 crore as against Rs 1,733.99 crore in the corresponding period a year ago, it added.

5:28 PM

Delhi Cabinet approves ₹30,000 subsidy for 3 KW solar panel installation on rooftops: Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

Delhi Cabinet approves ₹30,000 subsidy for 3 KW solar panel installation on rooftops, said Manjinder Singh Sirsa. He added that the Delhi Cabinet has approved procurement of 70 mechanical sweepers, litter machines, water sprinklers to combat pollution.

4:52 PM

Rahul Gandhi's 'khata-khat' economics crushing under its own weight in Karnataka: BJP

Rahul Gandhi's “khata-khat economics” is crashing under its own weight in Karnataka, the BJP said on Tuesday, alleging that the Congress' poll promises of cash doles in the state have turned out to be “hollow and false” when it comes to delivery. This came after Gandhi alleged that the BJP follows a model under which select rich people get all the money and resources, whereas in the Congress model, money is put into the bank accounts and the pockets of the poor.

4:50 PM

MP cabinet meeting held at Holkars' royal palace in Indore

In a first, a meeting of the Madhya Pradesh cabinet was on Tuesday held at the Rajbada, a palace built by the erstwhile Holkar rulers of Indore, officials said.

Notably, minister Vijay Shah, facing the heat over remarks against Col Sofiya Qureshi, was absent from the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

The venue was chosen to mark the conclusion of the 300th birth anniversary year of Ahilyabai Holkar, the renowned 18th century ruler of the Indore state.

4:26 PM

PM Modi chairs meeting to review progress of work in tourism sector

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a meeting here to review the progress of work in the country's tourism sector, officials said. Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, his deputy in the Tourism Ministry Suresh Gopi, Union Tourism Secretary V Vidyavathi and other senior officials attended the meeting.

3:39 PM

Visa applications for Turkiye, Azerbaijan drop by 42%

Visa processing platform Atlys on Tuesday said there is a 42 per cent decline in visa applications to Turkiye and Azerbaijan, following recent developments that shifted Indian traveller sentiment. Both countries had publicly expressed their support for Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor. Indian travellers responded swiftly by deciding to avoid travelling to Turkiye and Azerbaijan, Atlys added.

3:21 PM

News update: Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Tapan Kumar Deka gets one year extension

3:11 PM

Andhra Cabinet forms sub-committee to monitor agriculture, prices

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday formed a sub-committee comprising six ministers to monitor agricultural produce, ensure remunerative prices for farmers, and track the prices of essential commodities, PTI reported. The Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, deliberated for about 45 minutes on agriculture, farmers' issues, and marketing strategies.

2:48 PM

PM Modi to launch multiple development projects across sectors in Rajasthan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a number of development projects across railways, roadways, power, water, and new and renewable energy sectors during his visit to Bikaner in Rajasthan on Thursday. An official statement said Modi will also inaugurate 103 redeveloped 'Amrit Stations' in 86 districts across 18 states and Union Territories, which have been built at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore, besides launching other development projects costing over Rs 26,000 crore.

2:41 PM

CCI chief says cost of production norms to help in more accurate assessment

Amidst concerns and complaints over predatory pricing ways, Competition Commission chief Ravneet Kaur on Tuesday said the new cost of production norms will help in having more accurate and objective assessment for easier enforcement outcomes. Speaking at the function to mark the 16th Annual Day of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in the national capital, she also said that digital markets see rapid change and the first mover advantage gets concretised very quickly.

2:28 PM

Controversial Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah not seen at cabinet meeting

Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah who is facing a probe for his objectionable remarks about Col Sofiya Qureshi was not seen at the state cabinet meeting held on Tuesday. Shah did not arrive at the historical Rajbada palace here to attend the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, a government official said. He holds the portfolios of Tribal Affairs, Public Asset Management and Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation.

2:11 PM

Mayawati hits out at UP govt over falling enrolment in govt schools, calls for support to madrassas

BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday voiced concern over the declining enrolment in government-run schools and criticised the Adityanath government's approach towards private madrassas, especially in light of the ongoing demolition drive near the Indo-Nepal border.

2:09 PM

Jammu-Kashmir CM visits Kheer Bhawani temple

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday paid his respects at the revered Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal district. The chief minister also inaugurated several projects in the constituency that he represents in the legislative assembly.

 

Mela Kheer Bhawani, an important religious event for Kashmiri Pandits, is likely to be celebrated in the first week of June this year.

1:45 PM

Veteran nuclear scientist M R Srinivasan no more

Veteran scientist and former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, M R Srinivasan, who played a key role in the country's indigenous nuclear energy programme, died here on Tuesday, his family said. He was 95 and is survived by wife and daughter.

12:54 PM

Heavy rain batters Guwahati, normal life affected

A spell of heavy rain overnight inundated several roads and residential areas in Assam's Guwahati, disrupting vehicular movement and causing inconvenience to residents of the city on Tuesday. People were seen wading through knee-deep waters in some areas of the city while the water level reached up to the chest in several localities.

12:25 PM

SC commences hearing on pleas challenging Waqf Act

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asks Supreme Court to confine hearing on three issues identified for passing interim orders. 

12:00 PM

Making of chariots progressing well for next month''s Rath Yatra: Puri Jagannath temple admin

 The Jagannath temple administration in Odisha's Puri said the construction of three chariots for the next month's Rath Yatra is progressing well and lauded the work of carpenters engaged in the exercise. Around 200 people, including 78 ‘Maharana Sevak' (carpenter servitor), have been engaged in the chariot-making this year.

11:37 AM

Fresh law graduates cannot appear in judicial services exam, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that fresh law graduates cannot appear in judicial services examination, mandating minimum three years of legal practice for candidates applying to entry-level posts. The verdict will have far-reaching implications for judicial service aspirants. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih reaffirmed the importance of courtroom exposure for prospective judges.

11:01 AM

Two electrocuted in Bengaluru, rain-related deaths rises to three

Two people, including a 12-year-old, were electrocuted while trying to drain rainwater that had entered an apartment in the city, police said on Tuesday. According to Mico Layout Police, Manmohan Kamath (63), a resident of Madhuvan Apartment in NS Palya near BTM 2nd Stage, had tried to use a motorised pump to clear water out of his house on Monday evening

10:56 AM

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal inducted in Maharashtra cabinet

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday expanded his five month-old cabinet, with the induction of NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal as a minister. Bhujbal, 77, was sworn in by Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan.

10:25 AM

UP minister Asim Arun suspends officials over irregularities in hostel repair works

Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Social Welfare Asim Arun has suspended the District Social Welfare Officer and the hostel superintendent after uncovering "irregularities" in repair work at a government hostel in Tehsil Ramnagar PG College. Following the inauguration of a research room in Ramnagar on Monday, Arun conducted a surprise inspection of the Scheduled Caste Boys Hostel.

10:04 AM

Retreat ceremony for public along Pak border to resume from May 21

The Border Security Force (BSF) has said the public flag-lowering retreat ceremony at three locations in Punjab along the Pakistan frontier will begin on Wednesday, about two weeks after it was stopped following Operation Sindoor by India in response to the Pahalgam attack. The Jalandhar headquartered Punjab frontier of the force said the ceremony will resume from Tuesday, but it will be open only for media persons. 

10:02 AM

Noted astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar passes away at 87 in Pune after brief illness

He is well-known for developing the  Hoyle–Narlikar theory.