India defeated South Africa by nine wickets to win the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025, with Trisha Gongadi taking center stage with bat and ball. At the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Trisha, who finished as the tournament’s top run scorer, bowled South Africa out for 82 with 3/15. After that, she scored 44 not out to lead the run-chase and lead India to victory and a successful 2023 trophy defence.

After guiding India to victory in the 2025 U19 Women’s T20 World Cup at the Bayuemas Oval, captain Niki Prasad said the team lived up to their promise of dominating the competition, retaining their title with an undefeated record.

South Africa were unable to score quickly enough in their innings and lost frequent wickets as India’s spin bowlers took control, but this event marks good progress from the first competition two years ago, where they failed to move beyond the Super Six stage.

South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first in dry circumstances in a match between the tournament’s two undefeated teams, immediately positioning their top player, Jemma Botha, in the middle. The opener’s innings was always going to be vital to their chances of defeating India, and she hit 37 off 24 balls in the semi-final match against Australia, a knock that proved essential to winning.

Parunika Sisodia clean bowled Simone Lourens at the end of the second over with an angled delivery that nipped back into middle and leg stump, giving India a response. A string of first-over boundaries, including a one-bounce four down the ground, was a great way to get things started. The defending champions needed a nerve-setter, but Botha was the crucial wicket, and it was always going to take something exceptional to take it.

Botha tried a heave into the leg side in an attempt to mimic a Shabnam Shakil delivery. Instead, wicket-keeper Kamalini G lunged, extending to her right, and grabbed onto a fantastic one-handed catch, giving her a heavy edge and causing her to glance back in dismay. South Africa’s innings lost momentum as a result, and India quickly took control.

The spin spinners held South Africa to a standstill after Aayushi Shukla bowled Diara Ramlakan the very next delivery. The slow, spin-friendly pitch made it nearly impossible to find boundaries, and South Africa managed just 13 runs between the fourth and tenth overs. Despite absorbing the pressure, wicketkeeper Karabo Meso and captain Kayla Reyneke fell in consecutive overs while trying to make big strokes.

When she was stumped off a well-flighted Trisha delivery, South Africa lost steam, despite Mieke van Voorst’s late-game explosion of an 18-ball 23, which included three fours. Another wave of wickets followed, leaving South Africa all out for 82. The best bowlers were Trisha (3-15), Sisodia (2-6), and Shukla (2-9) and the tournament’s top wicket-taker Vaishnavi Sharma (2-23) all contributed.

South Africa came very near to taking the crucial wicket in the opening over because they knew they had to knock India out to win the title. Nthabiseng Nini took the new ball and found Trisha’s outside edge, but the ball sped to the boundary and was painfully just out of wicket-keeper Meso’s reach.

In the second over, Trisha toyed with danger by hitting a cover drive on the up that narrowly missed the defender. Then, to add insult to injury, he smashed another ball over the infield for a one-bounce four. The opener proceeded to score at her tournament-average strike rate of 149.7, adding three more fours in the fourth over.

Soon after, Kamalini (8) was brilliantly taken in the deep by Lourens, giving South Africa their first wicket. However, Trisha kept up her aggressive play, hitting eight boundaries in her innings and becoming the first player to reach 300 runs in a single tournament edition with a single in the ninth over.

In the 12th over, Sanika Chalke hit the winning runs with a four to the square leg boundary, igniting wild celebrations in the Indian side. Chalke also smashed four boundaries in a breezy 26 not out to support Trisha.

“I believe we all made an effort to remain composed and grounded. We simply continued to perform our duties. We could have chosen batting as well if we had won the toss. However, we simply wanted to get out there and get the job done. Our support staff deserves all the praise for fostering the children and making this possible. We have the best facilities thanks to BCCI.Being here and ensuring that India maintains its leadership position makes me very delighted. Playing in the World Cup and doing this for India is a unique opportunity. I stated at the beginning of the tournament that our goal was to dominate and keep India at the top. We will undoubtedly leave a legacy of ICC victory trophies and winning a lot of trophies for India,” said Niki after the match ended.

“I want to thank my support personnel and team. I use my strengths when I bowl. Today, I did the same thing. In this game, we simply continued doing what we had done in the previous games. Mithali di is someone I admire. I adore her. After the final concluded, Trisha Gongadi remarked, “I hope even the upcoming World Cups come to India.”

Scores in Brief

South Africa v India – Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur
South Africa 82 all out in 20 overs (Mieke van Voorst 23, Jemma Botha 16; Gongadi Trisha 3/15, Parunika Sisodia 2/6)
India 84 for one in 11.2 overs (Gongadi Trisha 44 not out, Sanika Chalke 26 not out; Kayla Reyneke 1/14)
Result: India won by nine wickets

World Cancer Day is observed annually on February 4th to increase awareness of the disease. Central government under Narendra Modi was introduced the Ayushman Bharat policy in 2018, is turning out to be a game-changing effort.

This is primarily observed to increase awareness of cancer, promote early identification, prevention, and treatment for a large number of people in the nation and around the world, and lower the number of cancer-related deaths.

Launched on September 23, 2018, the Indian government’s nationwide public health insurance program, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), intends to give low-income workers in the nation free access to health insurance coverage. This program is available to the poorest 50% of the population.

Later on, it was broadened to encompass all elderly residents over 70, irrespective of their financial situation. The program guarantees that even the most impoverished residents can obtain life-saving medical treatment by lowering the cost of healthcare.

On World Cancer Day, Bollywood star Emraan Hashmi, who most recently starred in the streaming series “Showtime,” has a message for the Indian populace.

“My son Ayaan’s cancer diagnosis completely upended our world, but thanks to his strength and the amazing support we received, we learned how important early detection and prompt treatment are in this battle,” he added. He then praised government programs like PMJAY and Ayushman Bharat.

Tahira Kashyap, a filmmaker, writer, and cancer advocate, praised the Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) program for enabling treatment for a large number of people, irrespective of their financial situation.

“On World Cancer Day, I want to commend the Ayushman Bharat and PMJ Initiative for making timely cancer treatment accessible to so many regardless of their financial background,” said Tahira, who received a cancer diagnosis in 2018 at the age of 35.

“Cancer is a journey that truly tests your strength, resilience, and faith,” she continued. However, survival depends on early diagnosis and reasonably priced treatment, and millions of people can now look forward to a better future because of such government programs. Together, we can defeat cancer, therefore let’s keep encouraging one another and spreading knowledge on early breast cancer detection.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made history when She announced the Budget 2025, promising that anyone making up to Rs 12 lakh a year, including regular deductions (totaling Rs 12.75 lakh), would not be subject to income tax.

By announcing an increase in tax rebates in Budget 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman provided a significant boost to the nation’s struggling middle class. Under the new tax system, the previous income tax refund cap was Rs 7 lakh.

Up to Rs 12.75 lakh of individual income will be tax-free when the standard deduction of Rs 75,000 is taken into account. But only income from salaries is covered by this; income from other sources, such capital gains, is still subject to taxes.

Under the new tax regime, the income tax exemption limit increased from Rs 7 lakh annually to Rs 12 annually, which is the largest increase since the UPA era in 2005. The income tax exemption limit was Rs 1 lakh in 2005 under the UPA government, and it took seven years for the Manmohan Singh administration to double it to Rs 2 lakh in 2012.

PM Modi raised the income tax exemption ceiling by 25% to Rs 2.5 lakh in 2014 in response to the middle-class, salaried taxpayers’ long-standing demand.

In an effort to meet the demands of India’s youthful, ambitious workforce, the Modi administration implemented a simpler new tax system in FY 2020–21 that offered taxpayers reduced tax rates without any common deductions or exemptions.

In a post on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the significant increase in the income tax exemption limit that was revealed in the Union Budget 2025–2026 and stated, “PM Modi always has the middle class in mind.”

There is no income tax up to Rs 12 lakh. The middle class’s financial well-being will be greatly improved by the proposed tax exemption. On this occasion, congratulations to all the beneficiaries.

About 1.5 crore people with incomes between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 12 lakh would benefit from the change since they would no longer be required to pay taxes on their salaried income. It is important to remember that the government has raised the tax refund cap rather than the fundamental exemption.

For taxpayers, the income threshold for a refund under Section 87A has been raised from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 12 lakh. The reimbursement amount under clause (a) of Section 87A’s first proviso has also been increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 60,000.

You would therefore be required to pay taxes in accordance with the tax slabs if your salaried income exceeds Rs 12 lakh (or Rs 12.75 lakh when the standard deduction is taken into account).

Here are the Revised Tax slabs:

Income Range (Rs)                                                             Tax Rate

Upto Rs 4 Lakh                                                              No Tax
Rs 4 Lakh –  Rs 8Lakh                                                      5%
Rs 8 Lakh – Rs 12 Lakh                                                   10%
Rs 12Lakh – Rs 16 Lakh                                                   15%
Rs 16 Lakh – Rs 20 Lakh                                                 20%
Rs 20 Lakh – Rs 24 Lakh                                                25%
Above Rs 24 Lakh                                                           30%

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated on Saturday that India’s economy is the fastest-growing in the world and that the government will guarantee massive growth in the upcoming years across the board on the path to achieving “Viksit Bharat.”

Wearing an off-white handloom silk saree embellished with Madhubani artwork, which was gifted to her by Padma Shri recipient Dulari Devi, she presented her ninth straight Union Budget. This saree draws attention to the Mithila region of Bihar’s artisans and showcases India’s rich cultural legacy.

The Finance Minister, who is presenting her 8th straight budget and the second complete Union Budget of the NDA government’s third term, stated that the budget’s main objectives are to help MSMEs, empower farmers, ensure innovation, and boost exports while fostering agricultural growth.

“Some of our growth engines are MSMEs, agriculture, and exports, and we will continue to strengthen these sectors,” she stated.

The government’s efforts to ensure inclusive development and boost growth are maintained in this budget. In her opening remarks, FM Sitharaman stated, “It seeks to stimulate private sector investments, improve household sentiments, and strengthen the power of India’s growing middle class.”

Beginning on Friday, the Budget Session of Parliament will be held in two stages: the first will begin on January 31 and run through February 13; the second will start on March 10 and go through April 4.

Highlights of Budget 2025

• The Finance Minister declared, “The PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana will help 1.7 crore farmers and seeks to create plenty of opportunities in rural areas so that migration becomes an option, not a necessity.” The nation’s consumption of fruits and vegetables is rising in tandem with rising income levels.
• Launch of the National Manufacturing Mission would promote manufacturing in India. As the nation emerges as a bright spot on the global manufacturing map, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a National Manufacturing Mission on Saturday to further advance the ‘Make In India’ campaign across industries.
• 10,000 more seats in medical schools and childcare cancer centers are part of the Union Budget 2025–2026. According to her, “an additional 10,000 seats will be added to medical colleges next year, and 75,000 seats will be added over the next five years.”
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a significant announcement on Saturday, stating that a new income tax bill will be introduced by the government the following week. The Finance Minister stated during the presentation of the Budget 2025–2026 that the IT Department will “trust first, scrutinize later” when the new Income Tax Code is released the following week.
• The ‘Make in India‘ campaign gained momentum when the Finance Minister announced plans to scale up and facilitate toy production. In order to develop a competent workforce, she also disclosed intentions to create clusters and an ecosystem for toy manufacture.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman declared on Saturday that salaries up to Rs 12 lakh and Rs 12.75 lakh for salaried taxpayers (including standard deduction) would not be subject to income tax, which is a huge benefit for the middle class in India.
• FM Sitharaman’s announcements regarding gig workers’ social security and internet in government schools. A social security strategy for gig workers and a significant focus on closing the educational gaps in government-run schools are two of her “Viksit Bharat” blueprints. “50,000 Atal tinkering laboratories will be installed in schools to encourage scientific temper and curiosity. “All government secondary schools will have access to broadband connectivity,” she stated. “To help students understand subjects in their language, we propose to implement the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak scheme,” she continued.
• She has maintained a downward trajectory for the budget deficit objective, which will drop from 4.8% of GDP in 2024–2025 to 4.4% in 2025–2026. According to the Finance Minister, net market borrowing for the budget has been set at Rs 11.54 crore, with small savings plans providing the remaining cash.
• She provided medical tourism a significant boost and announced waivers from basic customs tax on 36 life-saving medications. According to the FM, “36 life-saving medications are exempt from basic customs duty, while six life-saving medications will be subject to 5% customs duty.”
• On Saturday, the Union cabinet enhanced the defense pension by 14% and gave the Ministry of Defence (MoD) more than Rs 6.81 lakh crore. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been given Rs 7,146.50 crore under the capital item to improve the border infrastructure and make it easier for military personnel to move across difficult terrain. This amount is 9.74% more than the BE for 2024–2025.
• The PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, which will help 1.7 crore farmers, was unveiled by the Union Finance Minister. Increased agricultural output, crop diversification, post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels, irrigation support, and improved short- and long-term finance availability are all goals of the PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana.