On Wednesday, former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin posted on social media from his “X” account to announce his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ashwin went on to say that he now wants to look at playing in T20 tournaments abroad.

“A special day, and thus a special start. As they say, “every ending has a new beginning. My time as an IPL cricket player ends today, but my time as a game researcher across different leagues begins today,” Ashwin wrote on “X.”

“I want to express my gratitude to the @IPL and the @BCCI for everything they have given me up to this point, as well as to all of the franchisees for the amazing memories and connections we have had over the years. I’m looking forward to savoring and maximizing what is ahead of me”.

With 187 wickets in 221 matches at an economy rate of 7.2, Ashwin finishes his IPL tenure as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the league. The Chennai Super Kings, situated in his hometown, were where he started and finished his IPL career.

Ashwin played nine games in the IPL 2025, when CSK finished in last position, taking just seven wickets at a high economy rate of 9.13. At one point, his poor performance even kept him out of the starting eleven.

In addition, Ashwin captained Kings XI Punjab (now known as the Punjab Kings) in the IPL and played for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals. In addition, he hit a fifty and scored 833 runs with a strike rate of 118 while batting in the IPL.

The off-spinner had a key role in CSK’s victories in the 2010 and 2011 IPL titles. Following the Brisbane Test match against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series last December 2024, he had already announced his retirement from international cricket.

Ashwin may now play in the BBL in Australia, the SA20 in South Africa, and the ILT20 in the United Arab Emirates after retiring from the Indian Premier League. He can also feature in The Hundred in England and the CPL in the West Indies, both of which are presently underway.

The Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) in Aadhaar for children, particularly those in the critical age range of five to fifteen, must be completed on time, according to a Wednesday call from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to schools nationwide.

Students’ MBU status is now included in the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) application thanks to a partnership between UIDAI and the Department of School Education and Literacy.

At the age of five and again at the age of fifteen, children must promptly complete the MBU in Aadhaar, according to the UIDAI.

It is essential for preserving the precision and dependability of children’s biometric information in Aadhaar. There are about 17 lakh Aadhaar IDs where the obligatory biometrics update is pending,” it added.

This phase is supposed to ease the process for schools by providing them with immediate sight of which pupils have yet to complete their biometric upgrades.

For children’s Aadhaar information to stay accurate, timely biometric updates are essential.

Nearly 17 lakh Aadhaar numbers are currently awaiting necessary updates, according to UIDAI.

It has been observed that parents and kids frequently scramble for Aadhaar updates at the last minute, which causes anxiety. Timely biometric updates can prevent this,” the document says.

Without these updates, kids would subsequently have trouble getting government benefits or taking important tests like the NEET, JEE, and CUET.

In a letter to the chief secretaries of every state and union territory, UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar urged them to provide assistance in implementing targeted MBU camps through educational institutions.

In his letter, Kumar stated that “a camp approach through schools can help complete pending MBUs and prevent last-minute rushes by anxious students and parents.”

The program underscores the authority’s continuous attempts to enhance Aadhaar’s role in providing seamless services and guaranteeing inclusion, much as UIDAI’s recent Aadhaar authentication framework for cooperative banks.

The future of India’s technology services sector will be significantly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), according to a new report released on Tuesday. This is because AI, especially the emergence of agentic AI, will open up $300–500 billion in new opportunities and usher in a new era in which intelligent AI agents and humans collaborate as hybrid teams.

According to research gathered by Nasscom in partnership with McKinsey & Company, the tech services industry saw significant changes between 2020 and 2025, ranging from the disruptive rise of AI and shifting geopolitics to pandemic-driven digital acceleration.

AI is becoming a crucial differentiator as businesses reassess their technology investment, and it is anticipated that they will allocate a greater percentage of their budgets to AI-driven innovation and productivity.

Revenue growth would be slower in the near future, with a better recovery anticipated between 2027 and 2030, even if India’s tech services sector is predicted to maintain its growth advantage.

Over the next five years, the demand for data and AI is expected to increase by 12–15%, notwithstanding the potential shrinkage of legacy service lines.

The paper, “Future of Technology Services: Leading with AI,” also emphasizes how India’s global capability centers (GCCs) would become increasingly significant and develop into international innovation hubs for businesses.

The real future of technology services, according to Nasscom President Rajesh Nambiar, would be determined by the fusion of automation powered by AI and human expertise.

“Hybrid teams will change price structures, productivity, and delivery patterns over the next three to five years. India is in a unique position to spearhead this change, but it will necessitate a significant effort to reskill and reimagine service models,” he stated.

Agentic AI presents a “once-in-a-generation” growth opportunity, but it will also necessitate that the industry rethink its operating model, make R&D investments, and create talent pools for new capabilities, according to Noshir Kaka, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company.

The study comes to the conclusion that in order for India to solidify its standing as the world’s center for technology services in the AI era, the sector must quickly transition to AI-driven innovation, new delivery methods, and audacious alliances while simultaneously defending its core offerings.

At the Asian Shooting Championships held here on Tuesday, Sift Kaur Samra took home the gold in both the individual and team events for the women’s 50-meter rifle three places.

China’s Yujie Yang (458.8) and Japan’s Misaki Nobata (448.2) won silver and gold, respectively, while Sift took home the yellow medal with a score of 459.2. With a score of 402.8, Ashi Chouksey, another Indian, placed seventh in the eight-woman final.

In the qualifying round, Sift and Ashi finished second and fifth, respectively. However, another Indian, Shriyanka Sadandi, who had won the qualification round, was competing in the “Ranking Points Only” (RPO) category, therefore the two started the final as first and fourth.

Together with Anjum Moudgil, Sift and Ashi won the gold in the 50-meter rifle three-position team competition. With a total score of 1753 points, Sift shot 589, Ashi and Anjum shot 586 and 578, respectively, to finish ahead of South Korea (1745) and Japan (1750), which won the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

India finished the day with two more gold medals thanks to Neeru Dhanda. After team shooting gold with Aashima Ahlawat and Preeti Rajak, she won the individual women’s trap title.

In the men’s trap event, Bhowneesh Mendiratta had to settle for a silver medal earlier since his final score of 45 was two points worse than China’s Qi Ying. Chen Pengyu, another Chinese shooter, took home the bronze.

In the meantime, Manu Bhaker, a two-time Olympic medallist, finished fourth in the women’s 25-meter pistol final, just missing out on a podium finish.

Manu, Esha Singh, and Simranpreet Kaur Brar all won team bronze with a total score of 1749, behind China and South Korea, despite missing out individually.

India has won 19 medals at the 2025 Asian Shooting Championships so far, including nine gold, three silver, and seven bronze in senior events. India had 31 gold, 11 silver, and 14 bronze medals at the top of the standings.

There are 35 members of the Indian senior shooting squad competing in 15 events for medals at the Asian competition. At the Shymkent competition, 129 Indian shooters are also participating in the junior events.

As of August 21, there were over 8.11 crore gross enrollments under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), with over 1.17 crore new subscribers joined in FY 2024–2025, the government announced on Monday.

In its tenth year, the APY attained the fastest-ever 50 lakh subscribers in a single fiscal year, with 46% of enrolled youngsters being between the ages of 18 and 25.

Here, the APY Annual Felicitation Program was organized by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The PFRDA Chairperson, S. Ramann, urged all parties involved to keep up their diligent efforts to create a pensioned society.

He acknowledged the vital assistance provided by the banking community and explained that APY is a strong and long-lasting pension plan, with over Rs 48,000 crore in assets under management (AUM) and a 9.12% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) since its launch.

In order to reach pension saturation, he asked all institutions—private sector banks in particular—to step up their efforts, become more persistent, and promote financial literacy.

All states and Union Territories have been included in the nationwide implementation of APY.

It is quickly becoming more and more well-liked by the nation’s younger generation and female population. Women made up 55% of all enrolled students in FY 2024–2025.

The banking community showed exceptional dedication to APY’s development in FY2024–2025.

Indian Bank (118 percent), State Bank of India (123 percent), and Bank of India (126 percent) were the top-performing public sector banks. Punjab and Sind Bank (106 percent) and Union Bank of India (103 percent) were next in line.

With a performance of 145%, IDBI Bank was the best in the “Major Private Banks” category.

Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) were the leaders, with Tripura Gramin Bank (351 percent) and Jharkhand Rajya Gramin Bank (393 percent) setting records. Punjab Gramin Bank (157 percent), Andhra Pradesh Grameena Bank (152 percent), and Assam Gramin Vikash Bank (149 percent) also had impressive results.

With millions of people turning to APY as a reliable retirement option, PFRDA underlined its dedication to collaborating closely with banks and post offices to guarantee that all eligible citizens are covered by the program, ensuring a respectable future for all.

Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, an Olympic medallist, made a spectacular comeback to competition on Monday by taking home the gold in the women’s 48 kg division at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.

Former world champion Mirabai Chanu, competing for the first time since finishing fourth at the Olympics in Paris last year, lifted 84 kg in snatch and 109 kg in clean and jerk, for a total lift of 193 kg and first place on the podium.

The Indian weightlifter competed in 48kg at the championships because the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) changed the weight divisions, eliminating Mirabai’s personal division of 49kg.

Mirabai Chanu’s fifth Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship medal comes from this competition. She has previously won gold medals in the 2013, 2017, and 2019 editions and a silver in 2015.

The winners of each senior division earn a spot at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which is also a qualifying event for the weightlifting competition.

Mirabai Chanu is leading India’s 16-member senior contingent, which consists of eight men and an equal number of women. Approximately 300 athletes from 31 countries are participating in the tournament. Additionally, there are four reserves: three women and one male.

Junior and youth lifters will also compete, and India will compete in all divisions.

Preetismita Bhoi had already opened India’s account by winning the gold medal in the 44 kg women’s division. She achieved a new Youth Commonwealth Record in C&J & Total with an overall lift of 150 kg, which included 63 kg in snatch and 87 kg in clean and jerk (C&J).

Dharmajyoti won gold in the 56 kg event of the men’s division by lifting a total of 224 kg (97 snatch and 127 clean and jerk). He also broke the Commonwealth Youth record in overall and C&J throughout this procedure.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor, Sanjay Malhotra, said Monday that he was hopeful the ongoing trade talks between the US and India will end well.

At an event held here, the governor of the central bank stated, “We are hopeful that negotiations on tariffs will play out and there will be minimal impact.”

Malhotra’s remarks coincide with the postponement of the sixth session of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) talks between the United States and India, which were initially scheduled for August 25.

Additionally, the governor stated that India’s substantial foreign exchange reserves serve as a solid cushion against external shocks and are adequate to fund 11 months’ worth of imports.

“With $695 billion in foreign exchange reserves, we have enough money to fund 11 months’ worth of merchandise exports. We must now strive for a “Samriddh Bharat,” or affluent India, after generations of independence fighters gave us a “Swatantra Bharat,” or free India,” Malhotra said.

According to him, the overall effect of tariffs will be small, but there may be some possible effects in certain industries, such as jewelry and gems, clothing, and textiles.

US President Donald Trump levied a 25% tariff on Indian goods starting on August 7. Additionally, a 25% penalty was announced, which would go into effect on August 27 and raise the total tax to 50%.

In response to India’s ongoing purchases of Russian crude oil, the US defended its move. The oil purchase, according to the US, undermined US efforts to put pressure on Russia to end the Ukraine situation. The central government has denied US allegations, claiming that imports of Russian oil helped to stabilize the world’s energy markets.

Analysts believe that because of strong domestic demand, a 50% tax is unlikely to have a major effect on India’s GDP.

Pharmaceuticals, cellphones, and steel are now reasonably shielded due to exemptions, current tariffs, and strong domestic demand, but labor-intensive textiles and the gem and jewelry market are anticipated to experience a mild impact.

With over Rs 1.76 lakh crore in investments and significant increases in output, exports, and job creation, the Center’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme has been instrumental in turning India from a highly dependent nation on imports into a major player in the world’s manufacturing.

The PLI initiatives are deliberately bolstering India’s manufacturing base by supporting emerging sectors, fostering innovation, and bringing global supply chains closer to home.

According to an official statement released on Sunday, the production impact has been outstanding, with total sales by PLI participants surpassing Rs 16.5 lakh crore, demonstrating extraordinary growth in important industries like electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and textiles.

With more than 12 lakh direct and indirect work possibilities created, the PLI program has become a significant job creator. At the same time, it is encouraging further ecosystem development in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Significantly, the program has sparked a new wave of foreign direct investment into the nation, promoting India as a top location for high-value manufacturing in a changing global environment, the statement said.

The initiative is more than simply a financial package, with an incentive outlay of Rs 1.97 lakh crore. As of right now, 806 applications have been accepted in 14 key sectors, demonstrating the scheme’s high industry confidence and widespread implementation.

A key component of India’s goal to become one of the world’s top industrial economies and increase manufacturing’s share of GDP to 25% is the PLI Scheme.

Over time, the program garnered significant attention from both domestic and international stakeholders, resulting in the approval of numerous projects in industries like textiles, medical devices, electronics, and bulk medicines. For instance, the PLI initiative for the pharmaceutical industry, which involved an expenditure of Rs 15,000 crore, was authorized by the Union Cabinet in February 2021. In a similar vein, a PLI plan for the automobile and auto component industries worth Rs 25,938 crore and one for drones and drone components for Rs 120 crore over three years were approved in September 2021.

With production rising by 146%, from Rs 2.13 lakh crore in FY 2020–21 to Rs 5.25 lakh crore in FY 2024–25, the electronics sector has become a hallmark success story under the PLI strategy. Major smartphone manufacturers have been encouraged to move their manufacturing to India by the PLI Scheme. India is become a major producer of mobile phones as a result.

With an investment of Rs 6,238 crore, the PLI project for white products was introduced in April 2021 with the goal of converting India from a hub for assembly to a foundation for high-value manufacturing. According to the statement, it aims to increase domestic value addition from only 20–25% to 75%–80% by 2028–2029.

Defending champions NorthEast United FC produced a dominant display to dismantle debutants Diamond Harbour FC 6-1 in the grand finale of the 134th Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Saturday, sealing their second straight title in style.

A night of relentless attacking football saw the Highlanders overwhelm their opponents, with six different players on the scoresheet and talisman Alaaeddine Ajaraie starring with three assists and a late penalty. Diamond Harbour’s solitary strike came in the 68th minute, credited to Luka Majcen after Jobby Justin’s header deflected off him.

Huidom Thoi Singh and Parthib Gogoi joined Alaaeddine Ajaraie in the forward line after Juan Pedro Benali made two attacking changes following the team’s victory over Shillong Lajong FC in the semifinals. With Gurmeet in goal, captain Miguel Zabaco headed the backline along with Asheer Akhtar, Redeem Tlang, and Buanthanglun Samte. Mayakkannan was coupled with Spanish players Andy Gaitan and Chema Nunez in midfield, preserving Benali’s tried-and-true 4-3-3 formation.

In contrast, Kibu Vicuna started his Diamond Harbour team in a similar configuration, with Girik Mahesh Khosla and captain Jobby Justin assisting Slovenian forward Luka Majcen up front. Sairuatkima and Spaniard Mikel Kortazar were teamed in central defense before goalie Mirshad Koottappunna. In midfield, Liansanga, Paul, and Samuel offered stability as the rookies attempted to extend their incredible run.

Both teams were cautious in possession as the final got underway at a quick yet strategic tempo. During the first four minutes, NorthEast put Mirshad to the test early on with Ajaraie’s long-range attempt and Parthib’s header, necessitating routine saves.

With purpose, Diamond Harbour answered. Following a long throw by Jobby in the 14th minute, Luka Majcen just missed a headed flick from Kortazar. Kortazar himself missed a good Jobby cross on the bend four minutes later. After twenty minutes, the new team appeared more collected. In the twenty-third minute, Jobby forced Gurmeet to make a diving save and then found the side netting.

However, the opening goal went to the reigning champions. In the 28th minute, Parthib was found by Samte with a deft cut-back, but Mirshad parried his attempt. The breakthrough was spurred by the ensuing corner.

The Diamond Harbour defense mishandled Andy’s corner, and despite Mirshad’s excellent first-time save of Mayakkannan’s effort, the loose ball ended up in the hands of center-back Asheer Akhtar, who swept it home to give the champions a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute.

Following Ajaraie’s excellent build-up play, Chema Nunez missed a gilt-edged opportunity to increase the lead in the 39th minute, dragging his effort wide. When Kortazar had a free header in the 43rd minute, Diamond Harbour came very close to making up for that error, but the chance was wasted.

NorthEast scored a crushing punch just before halftime. To make it 2-0, Parthib Gogoi found himself in space and curled a calm right-foot finish beyond Mirshad. With eight shots (6 on target) compared to Diamond Harbour’s four (only one on target), the Highlanders had a good hold on the game going into the half.

After the resumption, any prospects of a comeback were dashed in five minutes. In the 50th minute, Thoi Singh tapped home to increase the advantage to 3-0 after Ajaraie rushed past the Diamond Harbour defense to intercept Nunez’s lofted pass.

When the final whistle rang, the Highlanders’ bench erupted in celebration in front of the audience, becoming the first team to win the Durand Cup trophies in 25 years. The outcome was also the joint-largest victory margin in a Durand Cup final since Black White was defeated by Somerset Light Infantry by the same score in 1896.

All of the individual prizes were won by NorthEast United FC, while Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie was the tournament’s best player, winning the Golden Ball for best player and the Golden Boot for top scorer with eight goals. Due to his reliability and vital saves, goalie Gurmeet received the Golden Glove.

With participation from 9 Indian states, nearly 350 exhibitors from the global semiconductor value chain, 6 country roundtables, four country pavilions, and an anticipated 15,000 visitors, S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), announced on Friday that the SEMICON India exhibition will take place.

“This will offer the biggest platform in South Asia for exhibiting the most recent developments in the electronics and semiconductor industries,” he continued.

PM Narendra Modi will officially launch the fourth edition of SEMICON India on September 2 at the India International Convention and Expo Centre, also known as Yashobhoomi, in the nation’s capital.

Under the subject “Building the Next Semiconductor Powerhouse,” the event will bring together students, academics, policymakers, and leaders of the global industry.

The Semicon India Program has accelerated India’s semiconductor development.

Ten initiatives in crucial fields, including compound semiconductors, 3D heterogeneous packaging, high-volume fabrication units (Fabs), and outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSATs), have already received government approval.

Furthermore, 72 start-ups and over 280 academic institutions have received improved tools from design-focused initiatives, and 23 start-ups have received approval under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) program.

The event will also provide business growth platforms, global networking opportunities, and insights into market and technological trends, according to SEMI President and CEO Ajit Manocha.

“To help grow India’s semiconductor ecosystem and improve supply chain resilience, we are leveraging the collective experience of our member companies across the global design and manufacturing supply chain,” he stated.

“India’s semiconductor industry is at a breakthrough moment, with supportive policies and private sector capacity aligning to take the country to global prominence,” said Ashok Chandak, President of SEMI India and IESA.

Keynote speakers, panel discussions, fireside chats, paper presentations, and six international roundtables will all be part of the flagship event, which will take place over three days.

In an effort to draw in fresh talent, a special “Workforce Development Pavilion” will also showcase career options in microelectronics.

SEMICON India 2025 is anticipated to propel India’s next wave of semiconductor innovation and fortify its place in the global value chain, with participation from leading firms such as Applied Materials, ASML, IBM, Infineon, Lam Research, Micron, Tata Electronics, SK Hynix, and Tokyo Electron.