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Indian infrastructure, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the country's first vertical lift sea bridge—the New Pamban Bridge—linking Rameswaram to the mainland. The occasion, timed with the auspicious festival of Ram Navami, adds a spiritual resonance to a landmark feat of engineering. Rameswaram is not just a town. It’s a place woven deeply into India’s mythological fabric. The Ramayana describes Lord Ram beginning the Ram Setu construction from nearby Dhanushkodi, building a bridge to Lanka. Now, over a hundred years after British engineers built the first Pamban rail bridge in 1914, a bold new chapter begins.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the greetings of 'Ram Navami' on Sunday and wished for fresh enthusiasm in the lives of countrymen. Taking to X, PM Modi said, «Heartfelt greetings to all countrymen on the occasion of Ram Navami. May this holy and sacred occasion of Lord Shri Ram's birth festival bring new consciousness and fresh enthusiasm into all your lives and continuously provide new energy to the resolve of a strong, prosperous, and capable India. Jai Shri Ram!» PM Modi will visit Ramanathswamy Temple in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, on the occasion of Ram Navami, where he will inaugurate the new Pamban Bridge The new Pamban Bridge will replace the old 1914-built bridge, which was closed in 2022 due to corrosion problems. The bridge spans over 2.5 km and was built by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) at a cost of Rs 535 crore.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Writer, translator and cultural critic Shanta Gokhale, 85, has often returned to the complexities of gender, power and resistance in her writing in Marathi and English, portraying the tensions and nuances of women navigating patriarchal structures while seeking autonomy and agency. Gokhale says women have “a long way to go yet" because all women still don’t have basic human rights.

Modi will hold talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the PM of Saudi Arabia. Both sides will look to take forward agreements finalised during the crown prince’s trip to India in 2023. The protracted Israel-Hamas crisis and tensions in the Red Sea besides the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) are likely to figure in the discussion agenda, it has been learnt. Saudi Arabia plays a critical role in the proposed IMEEC connecting India with Europe through UAE and Saudi Arabia. Ahead of the PM's trip to Riyadh, Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also the Defence Minister of UAE, is expected to visit New Delhi next week in yet another display of special ties. Sheikh Hamdan will meet defence minister Rajnath Singh as India moves to step up engagements with UAE’s next generation leadership. Last year, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi was hosted by the Modi government.

Ayodhya became the spiritual epicentre of India. Tens of thousands of devotees poured into the temple town to mark Ram Navami, the birthday of Lord Ram, with devotion, prayer and celebration. The day began with ritual baths in the Saryu River, a tradition followed by pilgrims before entering the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The temple itself had been transformed into a visual spectacle—bright lights, intricate flower arrangements and chants filled the air. A devotee at the site said, “…I am feeling very good after coming here… The arrangements here are very good…” Another, who travelled from Varanasi, shared, “I have come from Varanasi to offer prayers at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on the occasion of Ram Navami…”

Rajnath Singh on Saturday asserted that the Indian Navy plays a vital role in ensuring that no nation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is dominated or suppressed by another wielding overwhelming military or economic power. Speaking at a naval event in Karwar, where he inaugurated infrastructure and marine utilities worth over ₹2,000 crore under Project Seabird, Singh emphasised India's commitment to upholding sovereignty, equality, and mutual respect among regional nations. «It's not only about our national security and interests; it reflects the principle of equal rights and responsibilities among friendly nations in the region,» Singh said. «Our Navy ensures that, within the IOR, no nation is allowed to dominate others based on superior economic or military might.

B Sai Sudharsan has been one of the most consistent batters in this IPL – 74, 63 and 49 in his three outings for Gujarat Titans so far. The left-hander spoke with Boria Majumdar about the team, dressing room culture, presence of Jos Butler and his India ambitions. Excerpts Q: You’ve been incredibly consistent this season. What’s the secret? A: I’m glad I’ve been able to make a difference to my team. I’d say I have understood the T20 game better in the course of the last year and know what I need to do to be consistent and not push things too much. I have worked hard and prepared very well and if I do what I know how to do, runs will surely come. Q: How is it opening the innings with your captain Shubman Gill and how is he as a leader? A: He’s an excellent leader of men. He gives you the freedom to say whatever you feel and batting with him is an absolute pleasure. With him at the other end, you know he will soak in the pressure and play some incredible shots. Your job becomes easier that way and you can just focus on your own thing. Q: Did you enjoy batting with Jos Butler, one of the best white-ball batsmen? A: Absolutely true. Jos is such a calming influence out there. You know there is someone who is in control. He will constantly encourage you and also make sure you don’t feel the pressure. He is a leader and you will know it if you bat with him. I have enjoyed every minute we have batted together and learnt a lot in the process.

Hindustan Shipyard (HSL) has turned its net worth positive, overcoming supply chain challenges as well as liabilities and pending legacy issues that had led it to the verge of closure. The yard, which is currently manufacturing fleet support ships for the Indian Navy and undertaking submarine refits, was taken over by the defence ministry in 2010 when it was facing debilitating financial constraints. In 2024-25, HSL achieved a provisional total income of ₹1,586 crore and a profit before tax of ₹295 crore, reflecting a 36% year-on-year growth, officials said, adding that it was the first time in four decades that the company's net worth turned positive. HSL is now poised to get a Miniratna status, according to officials. Established in 1941, HSL has been a crucial asset due to its location in Visakhapatnam and the expertise it gained in complicated refits of submarines. It is located close to the Ship Building Centre, where India's nuclear armed submarines are built, as well as the Eastern Naval headquarters.

Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary on Saturday said a committee had been formed at the state level to oversee the programmes. The party's state general secretary Sanjay Rai has been made convenor of the committee. The BJP was founded on April 6, 1980. Chaudhary said party workers would decorate offices across the state and hoist the party flag at their homes. An exhibition on the BJP's successful journey will also be held at the district level. On Monday, the party workers will offer floral tributes to Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and Bharat Mata at each booth. Conferences of active members will be held in each assembly constituency on Tuesday-Wednesday.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing a money laundering and alleged forex violation case against Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi has recently sent a letter rogatory (LR) to Singapore and Hong Kong seeking details of the alleged money trail that the agency is investigating to trace the ultimate beneficiary, if any, sources in the know told ET. Between 2008 and 2010, Modi was the IPL chief before being sacked by BCCI after allegations of financial misconduct linked to alleged proxy ownership of the franchises surfaced.

Modi was also honoured with Sri Lanka's highest civilian award, Mithra Vibhushana, for his exceptional efforts in bolstering the ties between the two nations and highlighting the spiritual and cultural heritage of both countries. New Delhi and Colombo will move strategically closer in terms of joint maritime surveillance, military exercises, and equipment support with the defence agreement. The other MoUs focus on implementing India's UPI payment system in Sri Lanka, enhancing renewable energy trade through a proposed grid connectivity project, and ferry and aviation services to improve people-to-people ties. The Modi and the Lankan President virtually inaugurated the construction of the Sampur solar power project. They also inaugurated the recently completed temperature-controlled warehousing facility at Dambulla, which is possibly the first facility of its kind in the island, and a project for supply of solar rooftop systems to nearly 5,000 religious institutions across Sri Lanka.

reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US and has a first mover advantage as compared to other countries because of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) that the two are negotiating, officials said, adding that Indian exporters are better positioned to deal with the additional US tariffs as compared to their competitors. The country, they said, will take all measures to check dumping of goods from China as Beijing is slapped with steeper tariffs and work within the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework to prevent the dumping of excess capacity into its markets by countries hit by high US tariffs. “The government is there to protect domestic industry from any possibility of dumping of goods in such a situation,” said an official. New Delhi is also exploring measures to protect sensitive sectors like dairy and agriculture amid the trade war. While the reciprocal tariffs on India are 26%, those on China are 34%. India is also likely to gain from the US-China trade war.

Companies like Google, Accenture, Diageo, Myntra, IKEA, and L’Oréal are including fertility treatments like IVF under insurance, offering emotional support through employee assistance programmes, organising seminars to drive awareness on infertility and available support systems. Egg and sperm freezing, too, are being added to medical insurance programmes for employees looking to delay their parenthood journey for career or personal reasons. India has a population of as many as 27.5 million infertile people, including men and women, according to the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction. However, organisations are stepping up to drive the change. In November last year, Google India expanded its family building benefits in India, increasing reimbursements for expenses related to fertility treatments — including options like fertility preservation, IUI, and IVF.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said while America is willing to continue to help those affected by the Myanmar earthquake, other countries should also pitch in to provide humanitarian assistance during such crises worldwide. «Well, we're not the government of the world. No, we will provide humanitarian assistance just like everybody else does and do it the best we can. But we also have other needs we have to balance that against. We're not walking away from humanitarian assistance,» Rubio told the media at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Friday. Rubio was responding to a question about the earthquake and how the US offered help during such incidents by saving lives on the ground through special equipment and experts. Rubio was asked if that was not happening because of the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). «There's a lot of other rich countries in the world. They should all be pitching in. We're going to do our part. We already have people there, we'll have more people there. We'll help as much as we can. It's not the easiest place to work. They have a military junta that doesn't like us and doesn't necessarily allow us to operate in that country the way we want to. That would have impeded our response no matter what,» he said.

Piyush Goyal Saturday encouraged young founders to set ambitious goals and rise beyond the limitations of the present and called upon the country’s youth to lead the way in emerging sectors like AI, semiconductors and deep-tech. He also said that the second fund of funds for startups (FFS) with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore has been approved and this year, Rs 2,000 crore will be disbursed to SIDBI as the first installment. A significant portion of the fund will be reserved for seed funding of small startups and to support deep-tech innovation. “The potential you hold will make you a great contributor to India’s journey in this Amrit Kaal. Let the Startup Mahakumbh ignite aspirations that go beyond the current realm of reality,” Goyal said while conferring the Startup Maharathi Awards at Startup Mahakumbh 2025.

Yunus following talks between PM Narendra Modi and Chief Adviser claiming that the Indian leader undermined former PM Sheikh Hasina and stated that he has no negative views about her extradition call into question both the seriousness and the good faith of the interim government. With regard to remarks by the Press Secretary to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, sources dismissed the account as mischievous and politically motivated. Modi spoke of the progress in bilateral relationship since 2014 and characterized it as a deep friendship between our societies and people. Sources noted that the characterisation of Modi's remarks regarding the relationship between Yunus and the previous government was also inaccurate. Modi also mentioned the importance of elections as the basis of legitimacy in any democracy. A continued procrastination in this regard would damage the Chief Advisor’s reputation.

Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) deployed in Sri Lanka nearly four decades back. On the second day of his visit, Modi visited the IPKF Memorial in this Sri Lankan capital city and laid a wreath. In a social media post, Modi said the «unwavering courage and commitment» of the brave soldiers of the IPKF remained a «source of inspiration for us all.» «Laid a wreath at the IPKF Memorial in Colombo. We remember the brave soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force who laid down their lives in service of peace, unity and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka,» he said. «Their unwavering courage and commitment remain a source of inspiration for us all,» Modi added. India had lost around 1,200 soldiers during the IPKF's stay in Sri Lanka between July 1987 and March 1990.

Bangladesh Chief Advisor about the meeting of the Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources have dismissed the account as mischievous and politically motivated. Sources said on Saturday that the characterisation of PM Modi's remarks regarding the relationship between Yunus and the previous government was also inaccurate. The sources said underlined that PM Modi spoke of the progress in our bilateral relationship since 2014 and characterized it as a deep friendship between our societies and peoples. They said PM Modi also mentioned the importance of elections as the basis of legitimacy in any democracy. «A continued procrastination in this regard would damage the Chief Advisor's reputation. The Bangladeshi contention that attacks on minorities were a social media concoction was dismissed as being in contradiction of facts on the ground,» a source said.

Indian Premier League (IPL) season 18 has completed two weeks and the is streaming exclusively on the new OTT platform JioHotstar and, unlike previous editions, fans cannot watch the matches for free. However, Jio had launched a special recharge plan that gives fans access to IPL on JioHotstar for free once again before the start of the tournament. According to the offers, fans needed to buy a new Jio SIM or recharge their existing plans with special plans till March 31. However, given the reception for the tournament, Jio has now decided to extend the offer till April 15.

KP Sharma Oli has said the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand's Bangkok was «fruitful and progressive.» Addressing a press conference after landing back in Kathmandu on Saturday afternoon, the Nepali Prime Minister said that a commitment has been established between the two counterparts to take the relationship to newer heights. «We (both the Prime Ministers) have made the commitment that the Nepal-India relation will be taken to new heights, further deepening it, covering wider aspects and solve the problems that arise over the time. It is common that neighbours will encounter problems and it is resolved through dialogue, we both are convinced about it. The meeting went very well and I am very happy and consider it as fruitful for both the countries. While talking about him (Indian Prime Minister), I also understand that he is happy with the meeting, which I decode from the talks with him,» Oli said in the press briefing at the VVIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport.

Brewers' Association of India (BAI) said in a letter to the state government. Taxes on beer have been increased three times in the last 18 months — in July 2023, February 2024, and January 2025, and as a result, the growth in sales of beer in the state, which has always been healthy, has «slumped to stagnation», it said. «After the third tax increase in January 2025, beer sales have actually started contracting for the first time,» said a letter by BAI Director-General Vinod Giri.