Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh stated on Thursday that as India speeds its transition to a green economy, the renewable energy and electric mobility industries are predicted to create a significant number of job prospects in the coming years.

The minister spoke at a conference on environmental sustainability held at Jamia Millia Islamia on the occasion of Earth Day. The conference focused on developing green industries such as renewable energy, electric mobility, green fuels, and the circular economy, all of which will be essential for job creation, particularly for young people.

According to him, “Green jobs and green entrepreneurship are poised to become the defining driver of the future Green Economy, with sectors such as renewable energy, electric mobility, green fuels, and circular economy generating large-scale employment opportunities for the youth.”

He pointed out that the transition to a low-carbon economy would not only generate jobs but also bolster India’s path toward sustainable development.

The minister highlighted significant initiatives, stating that programs like the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with a budget of more than Rs 19,000 crore, are paving the way for a clean industrial revolution and the decarbonization of industries like steel and cement.

He cited instances from the electric mobility field where old cars are being transformed into electric ones, making solutions more accessible and scalable, as examples of how rapid technological advancements are opening up new avenues for green innovation.

The minister emphasized the emerging prospects in solar manufacturing, battery production, grid management, and biofuels, and noted that circular economy approaches like turning used cooking oil into biofuel have considerable entrepreneurial potential.

The minister said that, despite India’s long coastline, ocean energy is still largely untapped and is anticipated to supplement solar and wind energy in the future.

Regarding energy security, he stated that the country is increasing its nuclear power generation capacity and encouraging private sector involvement in strategic industries like space and atomic energy in order to foster innovation and investment.

In addition, he emphasized the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Fund, which aims to assist entrepreneurs and innovators by utilizing cooperative funding models.

Regarding India’s global role in climate action, the minister stated that the nation is well-placed to lead the green transition, guided by the ‘Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)‘ vision.

Additionally, he emphasized the importance of students and young scientists actively participating in sustainability-driven opportunities, stating that future development will be influenced by innovation, flexibility, and wise decisions.

According to a report published on Thursday, about one-third of the candidates placed in CY2025 were women, and overall, women’s hiring remained steady compared with broader hiring patterns.

The Careernet report revealed that 36% of women’s postings were in entry-level positions, while the proportion of women hired for senior professional roles with more than 12 years of experience fell from 19% to 16%, highlighting a continuing leadership deficit.

There was an increase of about 2% year-on-year in the hiring of women with 3 to 12 years of experience, demonstrating an increasing need for seasoned female professionals.

With 40% of the market share, BFSI GCCs came first in CY2025, followed by other GCCs at 38%, showing a significant presence of women in GCC-led positions.

The best-performing core sector was domestic BFSI, which accounted for 31% of the market. The IT services industry remained at 29%, while the product GCC and local businesses were at 22% and 25%, respectively.

Mumbai (26%) and Delhi/NCR (24%) had modest participation in women’s placement, whereas Chennai (30%) and Bengaluru (29%) were at the forefront.

Women’s employment opportunities are still mostly concentrated in big urban areas, as evidenced by the 15% of Tier-II+ cities, which is about 3% lower than in CY2024.

Neelabh Shukla, Chief Business Officer at Careernet, said that focused interventions are clearly yielding results, as evidenced by the fact that one in three placements are women, there is a significant increase in hiring in BFSI GCCs, and there are advancements at the mid-career level.

Women are increasingly represented in positions requiring expertise and continuity as employment gets more competitive, he said.

In a separate report, TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship and GAN Global found that there is still a sizable gender gap in specialized IT and technical positions. Between 35 and 38 percent of all IT professionals are women, but there is still a 20 to 25 percent gap in job-ready women for specialized technical skills.

Only 14 to 16% of specialized technical positions, such as those in Java, Python, Cloud, Cybersecurity, and AI/ML, are held by women.

According to the report, women constitute 43% of STEM graduates overall, but in fundamental engineering fields like mechanical, electrical, and civil verticals, their representation is less than 20%.

As tensions over the Strait of Hormuz in West Asia increased, benchmark indices in the Indian stock market fell by about 1% each, closing at a significant drop for the second day in a row on Thursday.

Due to growing selling pressure in the auto, banking, IT, and real estate sectors, the Sensex closed at 77,664, a decrease of 852 points, or 1. 09%, while the Nifty fell by 205 points, or 0. 84%, to 24,173. The big losers were Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Tata Motors Passenger Cars (TMPV), Mahindra & Mahindra, Eicher Motors, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank.

The Sensex lost as much as 1. 2% during the session, reaching an intraday low of 77,574, while the Nifty fell about 1%, or 243 points, to 24,134. 80.

The losses were led by the Nifty Auto, Nifty PSU Bank, Nifty Consumer Durables, Nifty Realty, and Nifty IT indices, which all fell by as much as 2% across sectors.

Conversely, defensive positions held up somewhat well, with the Nifty Healthcare and Nifty Pharma indices rising by as much as 2%.

The decline was widespread, as seen by the red finish of broader market indexes. The Nifty 100 decreased by 0. 93%, while the Nifty 200 dropped by 0. 83%. Due to general market pressures, the Nifty 500 index fell 0. 79%.

The mid-cap and small-cap sectors also experienced selling, with the Nifty Midcap 50 falling 0. 71% and the Nifty Smallcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 50 both declining 0. 6% in terms of category.

The volatility tracker index India VIX also rose by 1. 58% to about 20.

Following uncertainty about Iran ceasefire negotiations and continued disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, geopolitical tensions increased, and market attitude, according to analysts, deteriorated dramatically.

According to them, the risk-off mood has been exacerbated by rising crude prices, a weaker rupee, and institutional selling.

For the Nifty, market analysts said that the index met resistance close to the 24,300 mark, which had previously served as support and has now transformed into an immediate resistance band in the 24,300–24,400 range, thus limiting any additional gains.

This zone is still a vital supply area from a technological standpoint, which shows that there is ongoing selling pressure at higher prices. According to them, a firm break below the 24,100–24,000 level might hasten the fall toward the 23,800 level, while the 24,100–24,000 range now provides instant support.

Additionally, currency experts said that the rupee’s value fell below the 94 level due to a surge in demand for dollars and a move toward safe-haven assets, with increased crude prices and a strong US dollar putting additional pressure.

In the meantime, Brent crude increased by about 4% to $105. 86 a barrel due to supply concerns connected to the ongoing geopolitical tensions, while global signals remained weak.

The Mumbai Indians (MI) were bowled out for only 104 in 19 overs while chasing 208 in Match 33 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the legendary Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, giving Chennai Super Kings (CSK) a decisive 103-run victory thanks to a four-wicket haul by left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein.

The innings was anchored by opener Sanju Samson‘s outstanding unbroken century off 56 deliveries, which helped CSK reach 207/6 even though wickets kept falling during the first innings.

The Mumbai Indians were chasing a tough goal, and their opening batsman, Danish Malewar, got off to a shaky start when he edged a ball from Akeal Hosein to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. When Mukesh Choudhary clean bowled Quinton de Kock for only seven runs in the next over, the early pressure increased.

With a sharp delivery that struck the stumps, Hosein kept the hitters in trouble and dismissed the in-form Naman Dhir. Early on, Mumbai were put on the defensive by three rapid wickets. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav tried to salvage the innings, but they struggled to score runs at first, managing only 29 runs during the power play.

The pair gradually adjusted and began to establish boundaries, bringing the score to 69/3 at the midway point. But just as the partnership seemed to be in jeopardy, Hosein struck once more in the 13th over, dismissing Varma for 37 off 29 balls and ending a vital 73-run partnership.

Mumbai’s aspirations were dealt a significant setback right away, as skipper Hardik Pandya was out on a duck to Noor Ahmad, and Sherfane Rutherford was out on the next delivery.

By taking Suryakumar for 36, Hosein brought an end to Mumbai’s fight and concluded a fantastic period. Mitchell Santner’s concussion replacement, Shardul Thakur, attempted to remain till the very end but was only able to score six runs.

With amazing numbers of 4/17, Hosein stood out, while Noor Ahmad contributed two significant wickets. Gurjapneet Singh put the finishing touches on a resounding CSK win by taking Jasprit Bumrah’s wicket in the 19th over.

After being asked to bat first, the Chennai Super Kings got off to a good start, with Sanju Samson and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad hitting hard early and scoring 26 runs in the first two overs, including 19 runs off Hardik Pandya. Gaikwad was out for 22 in the third over, but CSK quickly surpassed 50 as Samson kept up the aggressive strategy and once again dismantled Pandya in the fourth over.

Mitchell Santner bowled Sarfaraz Khan for 14 runs, and CSK ended the powerplay with a score of 73/2. With a carrom ball, Allah Ghazanfar then brought Shivam Dube back into the game. Before Ashwani Kumar brought him down, Dewald Brevis responded with 21 runs off 11 balls.

Samson scored his fifty in 26 deliveries, helping to keep the inning together. Jasprit Bumrah fired Jamie Overton for 18, and Jamie Overton contributed a brisk 15 as Kartik battled with timing.

Samson was in charge during the last few overs, reaching his century in 54 deliveries. With 10 fours and six sixes, he continued undefeated at 101, helping CSK exceed 200. Ghazanfar (2/25) and Ashwani Kumar were the best bowlers for the Mumbai Indians.

Brief scores:
Chennai Super Kings 207/6 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 101*, Ruturaj Gaikwad 22; AM Ghazanfar 2-25, Ashwani Kumar 2-37)
Mumbai Indians 104 all out in 19 overs (Tilak Varma 37, Suryakumar Yadav 36; Akeal Hosein 4-17, Noor Ahmed 2-24)

The government announced on Wednesday that India will implement a thorough regulatory framework for the rapidly expanding online gaming business starting on May 1.

Reflecting the Centre’s two goals of positioning the nation as a global center for gaming and digital innovation and safeguarding consumers, particularly youngsters and vulnerable populations, from financial and psychological harm, the new framework was announced under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act of 2025.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, which are framed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), establishes the operational structure for carrying out the parent legislation that the Parliament passed in August 2025.

Extensive inter-ministerial discussions and legal vetting resulted in the completion of the regulations, indicating the government’s intention to establish clarity and regulatory certainty in a sector that has expanded quickly in tandem with increasing worries about addictive and predatory money-based gaming platforms.

The creation of the Online Gaming Authority of India, a digital-first regulator that will be responsible for classification, compliance, grievance resolution, and enforcement, is at the core of the new framework.

With its headquarters in New Delhi and operating as an associated office of MeitY, the Authority will have representatives from important ministries such as the Ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Law and Justice.

It will keep a main list of online money games, provide regulatory instructions, and collaborate with financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to combat illegal transactions connected to banned platforms.

The regulations establish a systematic approach for assessing whether a game is an e-sport, an authorized online social game, or an online money game.

This categorization can be brought about by the Authority itself, by requests from service providers, or by official government announcements. Games will be evaluated using objective indicators like the presence of stakes, revenue models, monetary reward expectations, and the capacity to monetize in-game rewards outside the platform.

The industry stakeholders will have time-bound clarity thanks to the anticipated 90-day completion of the determination.

One of the main components of the regulatory system is a conditional registration system. All games seeking recognition as e-sports and just those groups that the government has identified as high risk based on factors like user vulnerability, size, and financial exposure will be required to register.

Under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, online money games will be prohibited from being recognized as e-sports, but authorized games will get a digital license that is valid for a maximum of ten years.

In what is expected to be a close four-way battle, over 5. 73 crore voters who are eligible to vote in the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will determine the destiny of 4,023 candidates in all 234 constituencies starting on Thursday.

This is one of the most fiercely contested elections in recent history, with the main candidates being the Secular Progressive Alliance led by the DMK, the National Democratic Alliance led by the AIADMK, the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

The Election Commission claims that extensive plans have been made to guarantee fair and orderly voting throughout the state.

Reflecting widespread public excitement for participating in the democratic process, voters were seen lining up in large numbers at polling places as voting started early in the morning.

Early voters included well-known individuals. At a voting facility in Mandaveli, Chennai, Sundar C, a candidate for Madurai Central and an actor, cast his ballot. He was joined by their daughter and Khushbu Sundar, an actor-politician. The trio joined other voters in line before casting their ballots.

After casting her vote, Khushbu addressed the media and encouraged people to carry out their democratic duty. “Everyone should vote. ” In a democracy, it is our responsibility, she stated. At the same time, Seeman, the Naam Tamilar Katchi’s coordinator, and his wife went to a voting place in Neelankarai to cast their ballots. As the vote went on without incident in the district, he also joined the line.

From the early hours of the morning, there was a consistent turnout at polling places throughout Tamil Nadu as voters from different segments of society came out to cast their ballots.

To prevent breaches of the Model Code of Conduct, election officials said that the majority of booths were well-organized and had strong security and thorough surveillance. To guarantee free and fair elections, the government has put in place stringent surveillance measures, such as webcasting and flying squads, as well as a sizable contingent of security forces.

Additionally, specific arrangements have been made for voters who are elderly or have disabilities.

Political parties are keeping a close eye on polling trends across constituencies because voter turnout is predicted to be a key factor.

The next administration in Tamil Nadu will be decided by the electoral verdict on May 4, when votes will be counted.

The Rajasthan Royals were able to successfully defend a meager score and beat the Lucknow Super Giants by 40 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday thanks in part to Ravindra Jadeja‘s unbroken 43 off 29 balls and Jofra Archer’s outstanding haul of 3-20.

Jadeja led the way in a low-scoring game, helping RR reach a respectable 159/6 in their 20 overs. After the LSG speed trio of Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, and Prince Yadav each took two wickets, his undefeated 49-run partnership with impact player Shubham Dubey, who scored 19 not out off 11 balls, gave RR bowlers a chance to compete in the match.

The RR bowlers were flawless from the start in defending 159, which was the lowest score ever defended this season, and with the help of excellent fielding, they handed LSG their fourth straight defeat in the league.

With Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi each taking one wicket as LSG was bowled out for only 119 in 18 overs, RR has now moved into second place in the points standings. Archer was backed by Nandre Burger and Brijesh Sharma, who each selected two scalps.

LSG chose to bat first but got off to a poor start as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi combined for six boundaries in the first three overs. However, Shami’s two consecutive strikes in the third over stopped RR’s blazing start.

Jaiswal attempted to hook, but he was dismissed by a sharp bouncer from him, and Rishabh Pant, who was in the air, stretched out his right hand to make the catch. As Pant dove to his right to dismiss him for a duck, one gave Shami two to bite away and take Dhruv Jurel’s outside edge.

As Mohsin finally forced Sooryavanshi into mistiming a loft to cover, while having Shimron Hetmyer to give a leading edge to mid-off, the pressure increased as he nailed his lengths and became the first bowler in IPL history to bowl a maiden over to the teenage sensation.

Prince then made sure there was no middle-order recovery by dismissing Riyan Parag, who holed out to long-on, and later removing Donovan Ferreira by having him caught at third man, leaving RR in a state of disarray at 110/6.

Prior to Jadeja taking control, the RR were looking at an average total. Jadeja started by waiting patiently, but in the last over, he tore off 20 runs from Mayank Yadav (0-56), who was making his season debut, to finish things off. Jadeja, backed by Dubey, made sure RR ended their innings on a high note, which seemed impossible at the 15-over mark.

The pursuit of 160 by LSG got off to a shaky start when Ayush Badoni was run out for a duck on the last ball of the first over after a huge mix-up. The second over saw Captain Rishabh Pant’s erratic streak persist as he top-edged off Burger to the keeper Dhruv Jurel and scored a three-ball duck.

When Archer came back from the dugout to dismiss Aiden Markram for a duck with a sharp bouncer, leaving them reeling at 16/3, the nightmare got worse for LSG as head coach Justin Langer headed from the dugout to the locker room. At the end of the Powerplay, LSG were out of breath at 31/3, despite Marsh’s six.

Mitchell Marsh achieved a 39-ball fifty in a single struggle but received no help. As the middle order gave way under the strain of a growing required run rate, Nicholas Pooran, 22, holed out to long-on off Ravindra Jadeja.

With a faster delivery, Ravi Bishnoi entered the fray to clean up Himmat Singh (15), before Burger returned in the 16th over to claim the big scalp of Marsh, who made 55 off 42 balls laced with six fours and two sixes. By dismissing Mukul Choudhary and Mohammed Shami in rapid succession in the 17th over, Brijesh brought the match to a decisive conclusion.

Archer then came back to add the final touches: Jurel made an amazing catch, which resulted in the dismissal of Mayank Yadav. Then, with a fast delivery that destroyed Mohsin Khan’s middle stump, he brought an end to LSG’s suffering and gave RR their first road victory of the current campaign.

Brief scores:
Rajasthan Royals 159/6 in 20 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 43 not out, Yashasvi Jaiswal 22; Mohsin Khan 2-17, Prince Yadav 2-29)
Lucknow Super Giants 119 in 18 overs (Mitchell Marsh 55, Nicholas Pooran 22; Jofra Archer 3-20, Brijesh Sharma 2-18)

In order to reduce reliance on imported oil, which made the nation vulnerable to disruptions in its energy supplies in the face of geopolitical unpredictability like the Iran war, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari stated on Tuesday that India should strive to achieve 100 percent ethanol blending for usage as an automobile fuel in the near future.

India depends on imports to cover 87% of its oil needs, the minister said.

Gadkari said in his remarks at the Indian Federation of Green Energy’s Green Transportation Conclave that we import fossil fuels worth Rs 22 lakh crore, which is also a source of pollution, we must focus on boosting the production of biofuels and alternative fuels.

India should strive for 100% ethanol blending in the near future. We must become independent in the energy sector since the conflict in West Asia has brought us to an energy crisis today, he stated.

In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled gasoline that contained 20% ethanol. With only a few modifications to the engine to prevent corrosion and other problems, Indian cars are now able to operate on E20 gasoline. Brazil and other nations have 100 percent ethanol blending.

However, Gadkari emphasized the necessity of discouraging the use of petrol and diesel vehicles, saying, “But we cannot force people to stop buying petrol and diesel vehicles. ”

Gadkari stated that the petroleum industry is lobbying against this action in response to increasing social media worries about E20.

He urged automakers to prioritize quality over price, arguing that it would help them break into new markets.

Gadkari also emphasized that green hydrogen is the fuel of the future, but that in order for a hydrogen fuel station to be economically viable, the cost of operating it must be reduced.

The transfer of hydrogen fuel is an issue. The minister emphasized that, in order for India to become an energy exporter, we must also be able to manufacture 1 kg of hydrogen at $1.

He claimed that waste must be used to generate hydrogen.

Additionally, he emphasized that India might generate more jobs by concentrating on the circular economy.

In addition, the minister said that the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency III regulations, which will take effect on April 1 of the following year, will have little effect on flex-fuel and electric vehicles.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) published comprehensive guidelines for e-mandates in digital payments on Tuesday, requiring an extra layer of authentication (AFA) to increase the security of recurring transactions.

The new standards apply to all payment system providers and users that process auto-debit payments via cards, prepaid payment devices, and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), regardless of whether the transactions are domestic or international. The instructions are now in effect.

Customers who choose the e-mandate option will be required to go through a one-time registration procedure under the updated system.

The RBI stated that the mandate will only become operative after the successful validation of an extra authentication component, in addition to the regular verification procedure conducted by issuers.

Additionally, the central bank made it clear that every e-mandate transaction must first pass via this extra authentication layer.

The RBI announced that recurring transactions over Rs 15,000 would need extra authentication in order to improve security.

This additional layer of verification will also be necessary before processing high-value payments such as credit card bill payments, insurance premiums, and mutual fund subscriptions that exceed Rs 1 lakh.

Within the confines established by the central bank, the framework grants users the freedom to establish e-mandates for either a fixed or variable sum.

Issuers are required to allow customers to set a maximum transaction amount in the event of fluctuating mandates.

A new verification is necessary for any change to an existing mandate.

Customers will have the option to change or terminate each e-mandate at any moment during its specified validity duration.

To ensure transparency, the RBI has mandated that issuers explicitly disclose these characteristics to customers throughout the registration procedure.

The central bank made it clear that there would be no fees for customers to use the e-mandate facility for recurring payments.

Furthermore, it was stated that payments made under e-mandates will not be subject to any independent restrictions or controls imposed by customers outside the framework.

As part of initiatives to improve bilateral economic relations during President Lee Jae Myung‘s trip to India, India and South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote collaboration in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises sector.

According to an official statement released on Tuesday, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises of India and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of South Korea.

The Memorandum of Understanding creates a well-organized framework for cooperation between the two Ministries, allowing for ongoing discussion on important issues pertaining to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and fostering the investigation of opportunities that are advantageous to both parties.

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry’s statement said that its goal is to foster a greater understanding of each other’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises ecosystems and improve interaction between stakeholders.

By facilitating cooperation through the exchange of information and experts, sharing of best practices, business matchmaking, and technical and economic collaboration, the agreement seeks to promote trade and investment. ​

It seeks to promote a deeper understanding of each other’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ecosystems and enhance engagement between stakeholders, the statement issued by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry said.​

The agreement aims to boost trade and investment by fostering cooperation through the exchange of information and experts, sharing of best practices, business matchmaking, and technical and economic collaboration.​

Additionally, it promotes collaborative programs aimed at improving ties between the Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Businesses of both nations. The statement said that this alliance represents a major advancement in strengthening economic ties between India and Korea and highlights the shared dedication to empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises as essential facilitators of inclusive growth, innovation, and job creation.

In order to resume discussions on improving the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the Framework for the India-Korea Digital Bridge, India and South Korea have issued a joint statement.

Following the discussion between Prime Minister Modi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in this location on Monday, these were signed and exchanged.

PM Modi stated in his press statement that India and Korea together send a message of peace and stability during this time of global conflict. ​

These were signed and exchanged after talks between PM Modi and South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung here on Monday.​

In his press statement, PM Modi said that in this era of global tension, India and Korea together convey a message of peace and stability.​

He predicted that India and Korea will keep working together to promote an Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, inclusive, and progressive. The Prime Minister stated that both countries are building the groundwork for the success stories of the next decade.

He said that the India-Korea Digital Bridge is being established as the two nations shift their reliable collaboration toward a more futuristic one to foster stronger ties in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and information technology. ​

He said that, to further deepen partnerships in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and information technology, the India-Korea Digital Bridge is being launched as the two countries transform their trusted partnership into a futuristic one.