Following the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) recent move to lower the repo rate by 50 basis points, a number of large banks, notably Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of India, and UCO Bank, have drastically reduced their lending rates.

The rate reduction is a component of the RBI’s plan to boost economic expansion by lowering borrowing costs for both individuals and companies.

One of the first banks to pass the benefit on was Punjab National Bank, which reduced its repo-linked lending rate from 8.85% to 8.35%.

However, the bank maintained its marginal cost of lending rate (MCLR) and base rate at the same levels.

A similar cut was made by Bank of India, which lowered its repo-based lending rate from 8.85% to 8.35%, as per its stock exchange filing.

In contrast, UCO Bank reduced its MCLR by 10 basis points for all loan terms. The modifications, which take effect on June 10, will marginally lower the cost of a number of loan kinds, including personal and house loans.

The overnight, one-month, and three-month MCLRs were all lowered by the bank from 8.25 percent to 8.15 percent, 8.45 percent to 8.35 percent, and 8.6 percent to 8.5 percent, respectively.

The MCLRs for six months and a year were reduced to 8.8% and 9%, respectively.

Adding to the list of banks lowering borrowing costs, Bank of Baroda also announced a 50 basis point drop in its repo-linked lending rates for a few loan tenures.

These rate reductions follow the RBI’s announcement to lower the repo rate, a crucial policy rate at which the RBI loans to commercial banks, by the Monetary Policy Committee, which is chaired by Governor Sanjay Malhotra.

By making loans more affordable, the rate drop aims to stimulate the economy by promoting investment and expenditure.

Along with lowering the repo rate, the RBI also lowered the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) from 4% to 3%, a 100 basis point decrease.

It is anticipated that this cut, which will be implemented in four stages, will provide the banking system with an additional Rs 2.5 lakh crore in liquidity.

Reducing the CRR, which is the percentage of bank deposits that must be kept with the RBI, enables banks to extend more credit.

With the high-speed train’s flag-off on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed the ambitious 272-kilometer Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL).

In the midst of winding tunnels built deep into the heart of the Shivaliks, the train gracefully winds through tiny gorges, deep valleys crowned with towering Himalayan peaks and beautiful green forests, while the River Chenab runs parallel to it.

The journey from Katra to Srinagar takes less than three hours thanks to the sleek, contemporary train, which operates six days a week.

Rarely in a country’s history does a leader’s deed have an impact that goes well beyond the physical gesture; it addresses enemies directly, boosts national morale, and determines the future. One such instance was when Prime Minister Narendra Modi crossed the Chenab Bridge, the tallest railway bridge in the world, while holding the tricolor in his right hand.

It was a daring declaration, silent but decisive, symbolic yet calculated. The Prime Minister’s momentous step was more than simply an example of Indian engineering prowess; it was a daring message to those who have long attempted to use terror and covert aggression to destabilize India.

Pakistan and its terrorist network have been fighting a ceaseless proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India for more than thirty years. They have sought to maintain unrest in India and Jammu & Kashmir through radicalization and cross-border infiltration. And in response to the terror assault in Pahalgam, India launched Operation Sindoor, demonstrating both diplomatic and military strength.

India’s developmental successes persisted during this operation. A strong message was sent to Pakistan, its friends, and the rest of the world by the walk on the Chenab Bridge.

In addition to demonstrating a change in India’s strategy from deterrence to direct action, PM Modi demonstrated territorial sovereignty by walking that bridge with the flag raised.

PM Modi’s crossing of the Chenab Bridge had psychological as well as physical effects. It symbolized an India that is moving forward with determination, dignity, and self-assurance rather than looking back. The act of holding the flag represented possession of the land, the future, and the story.

When it counts, leaders are frequently remembered for their actions as much as their words. PM Modi’s stroll over the Chenab Bridge was historic and symbolic, with the tricolor flapping in the Himalayan winds.

The USBRL project, an engineering marvel that comprises tunnels, bridges, and winter-proof equipment built to withstand Kashmir’s harsh climate, was completed concurrently with the launch. Even in the event of winter, the train’s sophisticated features guarantee year-round operation.

Railway authorities say that Vande Bharat trains 26401/02 and 26403/04 will provide excellent passenger comfort and state-of-the-art technology on this route.

The winner of the second season of the reality show Hip Hop India 2 has been announced. The winner was a contestant named Shubhankar, better known by his stage name, Hectik.

Bollywood actors Sara Ali Khan and Adtiya Roy Kapur graced the season finale, with Remo D’Souza and Malaika Arora serving as the judges. They were there to advertise “Metro…In Dino,” their next movie.

Hitesh, Rule Breakerz, Aman-Kunal, and Lil Pool were among the finalists, and each performed in a unique way. In an absolutely electrifying moment, Shubhankar took over the stage and hoisted the winner’s belt. In order to promote the genre and demonstrate the boundless scope of his talent, he intends to experiment with other mediums, such as reality shows, performing in movies, plays, and web series.

“My journey at Hip Hop India S2 has been incredible and something that I’ll never forget,” Shubhankar remarked in response to his victory. I will always cherish having Remo sir and Malaika ma’am by my side as I navigated this journey. I learned to walk purposefully and communicate nonverbally under KRUMP. I am appreciative of everyone who recognized that in me. It is now time to take KRUMP to new heights.

“You couldn’t ignore the fire in Shubhankar from the very beginning,” Judge Malaika Arora continued. Every performance was a moment because of his presence, style, and dedication to KRUMP. He made you feel enchanted and told stories in addition to performing. It has been incredibly motivating to see him develop into the artist he is now, and I think this is just the beginning for him.

The concert has been a great way for Aditya Roy Kapur to see how far Indian hip-hop has come.

“Watching a true champion, full of passion, and being a part of the finale was a great experience,” he said.

“The energy at the Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 finale tonight was incredible,” Sara Ali Khan said. Each performer gave it their all on stage. Their ability to express themselves so boldly and courageously, as well as their lack of fear, inspire me.

Amazon MX Player and Shubhankar deserve congratulations for yet another fantastic season of the show.

An important step toward bolstering India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities and assisting international supply chains was taken on Thursday when French major Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited signed four production transfer agreements to manufacture the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage in India.

The lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the entire rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section are among the crucial structural parts of the Rafale that Tata Advanced Systems will build in a state-of-the-art production facility in Hyderabad.

Up to two complete fuselages per month are anticipated to be delivered by the factory, with the first fuselage pieces anticipated to come off the assembly line in FY2028.

“Rafale fuselages will be manufactured outside of France for the first time. This is a significant step toward fortifying our Indian supply network. This supply chain will help the Rafale ramp up successfully and, with our help, will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements thanks to the growth of our local partners, including TASL, one of the leading companies in the Indian aerospace sector,” said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.

Dassault Aviation’s strong commitment to India’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar” initiatives is demonstrated by the signing of these contracts.

This collaboration supports India’s objective of increased economic independence while solidifying its place as a major participant in the global aerospace supply chain.

“India’s aerospace adventure has advanced significantly with this alliance. The strengthening of our partnership with Dassault Aviation and the growing confidence in Tata Advanced Systems’ skills are demonstrated by the manufacturing of the entire Rafale fuselage in India,” stated Sukaran Singh, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Advanced Systems Limited.

Singh added that it also shows how far India has come in building a strong, contemporary aerospace manufacturing sector that can support international platforms.

In the midst of mounting security worries over China’s flexing of its maritime might in the Indo-Pacific area, India and France struck a historic Rs 63,000 crore deal in April of this year to purchase 26 Rafale-Marine fighter jets, which will strengthen the Indian Navy.

An intergovernmental agreement will govern the purchase process, guaranteeing direct deliveries free of middlemen. The agreement calls for the delivery of four twin-seater trainers and twenty-two single-seater planes by 2031.

Actor-director Randeep Hooda and his spouse Lin Laishram planted more than 500 trees in the vicinity of Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha National Park on Thursday in observance of World Environment Day.

World Environment Day is more than simply a “symbolic date on the calendar,” according to Randeep.

“It serves as a reminder that we are running out of time to undo the harm we have caused to nature,” he continued. Our planet’s forests are its lungs, and without them, the abundant biodiversity that we so frequently take for granted would not exist.

“I’ve always had a spiritual connection to wildlife, and every trip to Kanha only serves to highlight how urgent our duty to the environment is,” he continued.

Beautiful Bengal tigers, Indian leopards, sloth bears, swamp deer, blackbucks, and dholes may all be found in the Kanha National Park, which is renowned for its abundant biodiversity. Additionally, it is the first Indian tiger reserve to formally adopt Bhoorsingh the Barasingha as its mascot.

The actor went on to say that although planting a tree might not seem like much, it has great power.

“Just as nature provides us with everything without expecting anything in return, a tree provides food, shelter, oxygen, and balance,” he continued. My wife Lin and I are incredibly humbled to be able to help this amazing ecosystem, which is more in need of our preservation than ever. Wildlife and forests are interdependent and must coexist in order for them to flourish.

In addition to celebrating this World Environment day, Randeep encouraged everyone to live out its message every day in whichever way they can.

“Nature doesn’t need us — we need nature.”

Gopichand Malineni‘s high-octane action film Jaat, starring Sunny Deol, is one of Randeep’s most recent projects. Saiyami Kher, Regina Cassandra, Jagapathi Babu, Vineet Kumar Singh, Ramya Krishnan, Prashant Bajaj, Zarina Wahab, P. Ravi Shankar, and Babloo Prithiveeraj are also featured in the movie.

Indian Railways announced on Wednesday that its AI-powered system had banned 2.5 crore dubious user IDs for ticket buying in an effort to combat unauthorized automated bookings.

Additionally, on May 22, the enhanced platform achieved a historic milestone with the highest-ever per-minute booking of 31,814 tickets, demonstrating its scalability and resilience.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Railways, new user protocols have been implemented to further improve efficiency and justice.

“Users not authenticated via Aadhaar can book Opening ARP, Tatkal or Premium Tatkal tickets only after 3 days of registration, while Aadhaar-verified users can book tickets without delay,” it stated.

Measurable gains have resulted from these initiatives. While average daily ticket purchases grew by 11.85% during the same period, average daily user logins increased by 19.53% from 69.08 lakh in FY 2023–24 to 82.57 lakh in FY 2024–25.

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Furthermore, 86.38 percent of all reserved ticket bookings are currently made through e-ticketing.

The ticketing system of Indian Railways has undergone a thorough digital transformation. The Railways has greatly reduced unauthorized automated bookings by dishonest agents and enhanced website accessibility for legitimate users by using state-of-the-art anti-BOT technology and integrating with a top Content Delivery Network (CDN) service provider.

All bot traffic, which peaks within the first five minutes of Tatkal, has been successfully reduced by the new method. Approximately half of all login attempts during this time are bot traffic.

Better accessibility for real users is guaranteed by the latest AI improvement.

“Systemic upgrades include 87 per cent of static content being served via CDN for faster load times and reduced server load; active detection and mitigation of bot traffic using sophisticated AI algorithms and proactive deactivation of suspicious user IDs and complaint lodging via the Cyber Crime Portal,” said the ministry.

After leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy on Tuesday, captain Rajat Patidar yelled, “Ee sala Cup Namdu,” which roughly translates to, “This year, the cup is ours.” Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s 6-run victory over Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League 2025 final, Virat Kohli was clearly moved.

Throughout his 18 years in the league, Kohli has only ever played for RCB, making him the only player to do so. While his teammates ran and joined him in celebrating, Kohli collapsed to the ground in tears as the last ball soared over the boundary line. It’s just one more cap on the legendary player’s remarkable career.

On a night that will live in memory for years to come, RCB defeated Punjab Kings by 190 runs to win the IPL 2025 championship for the first time ever.

After being sent in, RCB batted first and relied on hard hits from Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, and Virat Kohli (43), with Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd providing the last touches. RCB managed a valiant 190/9 despite Kyle Jamieson’s three-wicket haul (3/48) and Arshdeep Singh’s triple-wicket final over (3/40).

Nehal Wadhera struck Punjab with the first delivery in the 17th over during their 191 chase. Stoinis hit a six off the first ball when he came out to bat at 136/5, needing 55 off 22 deliveries.
Prabhsimran Singh and Josh Inglis helped Punjab start the chase calmly, but Krunal Pandya’s twin strike destroyed their top order. They plummeted to 88/4 from 70/1, with Shreyas Iyer falling for a single run. Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar stood firm at the end, and late appearances from Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh (61 not out) weren’t enough. On the subsequent ball, Bhuvi responded by hitting the Australian batter’s outside edge, which helped his team win the match.

During the Indian Premier League 2025 final, Kohli was also spotted celebrating Marcus Stoinis’s wicket with old RCB teammate AB de Villiers. The Proteas wicketkeeper batsman bumped with Kohli’s fist while supporting his old team at the Narendra Modi Stadium’s summit match against the Punjab Kings.

After finishing second in the group stage points table, RCB defeated the top-ranked Punjab Kings by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 to advance to their first IPL final in nine years. However, Punjab recovered in Qualifier 2, defeating the Mumbai Indians to force a crucial rematch in the championship match.

“I believe it is truly unique for myself, Virat Kohli, and all of his devoted supporters. They are deserving. It was amazing to witness how bowlers carried out their strategies. Krunal Pandya is a bowler who takes wickets. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity to serve as captain under him, and I learned a lot. He deserves it more than anyone else, as I mentioned. Virat Kohli and every supporter. The manner the management and support personnel have helped the players was admirable, as has everyone else. At the presentation, Rajat Patidar, captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said, “I just want to say one line for the fans: Ee sala Cup Namdu.”

“The supporters are just as proud of this victory as the squad is. I have dedicated my youth, my prime, and all of my experience to this franchise. Every season, I put my all into trying to win it. To be honest, I never imagined this day would arrive. In a post-match interview, Virat Kohli stated, “When we won, I was overcome with emotion.”

After the final, Josh Hazlewood, the senior pacer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, stated, “It means everything to Kohli.” “It will be very emotional to be there from the beginning and see the outcome tonight.”

“We realized when we were batting that the slower you bowled, the better. It takes guts to do it in this format. I simply backed off and decided to change up my speed more frequently, keeping it slower. Finding out what the scenario calls for has been my greatest strength. I understood that getting wickets tonight would require courage. I figured I’d bowl slowly to achieve that. It would have been a good wicket if you had bowled quickly. everything was more difficult, though, if you messed everything up. As Krunal accepted the POTM trophy, he stated, “In fact, the pitch got easier in the second innings.”

“I’m proud of my squad, but I’m sad too. A lot of young people volunteered. We put up a great fight and will return stronger the following season. Many young players are participating in their debut season, and they have demonstrated a great deal of bravery. Without them, we wouldn’t be here. Bravo to them. Next year, we must be present and take home the prize. The way we showed up for every game with the conviction that “we can win this game.” Shreyas Iyer stated in the post-match interview, “Hopefully, we can be here next season and play some good cricket.”

“RCB are IPL Champions finally after 18 years,” Vijay Mallya, the first owner of the Bengaluru franchise posted on X. “Superb campaign right through the 2025 tournament. A well-balanced team Playing Bold with outstanding coaching and support staff. Many congratulations! Ee sala cup namde!!”

Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda, who was among the first to congratulate the RCB team, took to his X timeline to put out a congratulatory post, “Congratulations to @RCBTweets, all RCB fans. You have waited with so much energy and passion and love. It’s a happy happy moment to see.”

Telugu star Allu Arjun too put out a congratulatory message. He said, “The wait is over. “Ee sala cup namde!” At last! We’ve been waiting for this day for 18 years. A big, big congratulations to RCB!“

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, unveiled the second phase of its global “AI for Impact Accelerator Programme” in India on Tuesday. The announcement highlighted a year of assistance for mission-driven organizations that use AI to address pressing social issues.

Eleven NGOs will be awarded additional API credits as part of this program, increasing the total amount of technical grants awarded to $150,000. As a prepaid payment option, OpenAI API credits allow users to buy credits in advance and use them as needed, eliminating the need for monthly credit card billing.

This initiative is now a part of the larger “OpenAI Academy,” which seeks to increase AI’s usability, accessibility, and foundation in real-world problem-solving.

The business claims that over the course of the last year, Indian organizations that are funded by the program have created and implemented AI solutions in vital fields including healthcare, education, agriculture, disability inclusion, and gender equity, clearly influencing underprivileged areas.

The initiative is run in collaboration with Turn.io, Tech4Dev, and The Agency Fund. It offers early access to OpenAI’s tools, collaborative learning within a cohort, and practical technical assistance.

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It also demonstrates OpenAI’s larger dedication to making sure AI helps everyone, particularly those living in underdeveloped areas.

In order to assist these organizations in creating extensive solutions, OpenAI also held a workshop in India to demonstrate the capabilities of its most recent AI models.

The project is in line with the “India AI Mission,” which seeks to build a robust ecosystem, democratize access to AI, and provide technological solutions that are specifically suited to India’s particular social and economic requirements.

Organizations using AI to address significant problems are part of the India cohort.

The Indian cohort was commended by Pragya Misra, Policy and Partnerships Lead at OpenAI India, for their deliberate and significant use of AI.

According to her, the organizations embody the principles of the India AI Mission and demonstrate how cutting-edge technology can be applied creatively and empathetically to tackle challenging issues.

With other firms anticipated to join the program later this year, OpenAI intends to further expand this effort in India.

As it expands, OpenAI is moving beyond merely offering access to creating tangible, real-world impact—supporting useful, scalable, and human-centered AI solutions.

World Champion D Gukesh overcame a losing position on Sunday to defeat Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of the Norway Chess 2025 competition. Gukesh defeated the Norwegian grandmaster in a classical match for the first time. After Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, the 19-year-old became the second Indian player in the tournament’s history to defeat Carlsen.

Gukesh achieved his first-ever victory in a classical chess match against the world No. 1 on Sunday at the Norway Chess 2025 event, defeating hometown idol Carlsen in the traditional style.

Using the white pieces, Carlsen maintained the upper hand for the most of the game by applying constant pressure. Gukesh, however, defended with surgical accuracy and poise beyond his years. Carlsen made a last-minute mistake that opened the game as the stress mounted under the event’s increment-based time management, and Gukesh quickly took advantage of it.

“There was not much I could do. I just had to make the most of it. I was making moves that were tricky for him, and luckily he got into a time scramble. One thing I’ve learned from this tournament is that time scrambles can get out of control”, Gukesh said after the match.

In trademark humility, he added: “Ninety-nine out of a hundred times, I would have lost. It’s a lucky day.”

Carlsen crushed the chessboard and quickly left the arena, clearly upset. Gukesh, on the other hand, quietly celebrated a victory that would define his career with his coach, Grzegorz Gajewski.

The two had faced off in the first round of the competition, with Carlsen winning by a narrow margin thanks to his signature endgame accuracy. But this time, Gukesh was the one who remained composed under pressure.

Norway Chess, which features top male and female players in a unique six-player double round-robin format, is considered by many to be one of the top chess events on the calendar. The 2025 edition will take place in Stavanger from May 26 to June 6.

Carlsen, who played white, applied constant pressure and dominated for a large portion of the match. But Gukesh made an incredibly strong and accurate defense. Carlsen made a last-minute mistake that proved to be crucial under the tournament’s increment-based time restriction, and Gukesh quickly took advantage of it.

Grandmaster Vishnu Prasanna praised the teenager’s perseverance and fortitude. Gukesh deserves a lot of praise for his resourcefulness and persistence because, in my opinion, he knew he had been lost for a very long time. He persisted in his fight, though, and as the clock ticked down, he had more opportunities to use the position. Although I doubt he intended to win that, I’m sure he’s pleased.

At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday, PBKS defeated five-time champions MI by a margin of five wickets in Qualifier 2. The team captained by Shreyas Iyer chose to bowl and held MI to 203/6. The captain took the lead in the reply, hitting an undefeated 87 off 41 balls to give his team a decisive five-wicket victory with one over remaining.

MI The IPL will have a new champion on Tuesday as a result of being eliminated from the competition. Iyer got his side across the finish line in a chase of 204 with an over remaining by standing strong with a knock full of pure class and impeccable poise, including timing it to almost flawlessly.

At his very best, Shreyas Iyer used a captain’s knock to lead Punjab Kings to a decisive five-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians in their IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 match at Ahmedabad. Iyer, the captain of PBKS, first won the toss and chose to bowl. After that, spectators weathered an early scare as play was delayed due to rain. At 9:45 PM IST, the game finally got underway, with MI sending Jonny Bairstow and Rohit Sharma to start the innings.

After being dismissed by Marcus Stoinis in the third over after hitting eight runs off seven balls, Rohit left early. Bairstow fought back with Tilak Varma after Rohit was fired. However, the English opener was dismissed for 38 off 24 balls by Vyshak Vijaykumar in the seventh over. Suryakumar Yadav (44) and Tilak (44) both made significant contributions before being removed by Yuzvendra Chahal and Kyle Jamieson, respectively.

Hardik Pandya, the captain of MI, was unable to contribute, scoring just 15 from 13 balls. Naman Dhir, meanwhile, contributed late, hitting 37 off just 18 deliveries. MI scored 203/6 in 20 overs, with Raj Bawa (8*) and Mitchell Santner (0*) remaining undefeated.

Thanks to Iyer’s undefeated knock of 87* runs off 41 balls, which included striking the game-winning six, PBKS, who were chasing 204 runs, reached 207/5 in 19 overs. After losing opener Prabhsimran Singh (6) early on and Priyansh Arya departing for 20 off 10 balls, PBKS got off to a rough start. Iyer and Josh Inglis launched PBKS’ comeback, but Hardi removed the wicketkeeper-batter in the eighth over after he had scored 38 runs off 21 balls.

Nehal Wadhera then proved to be Iyer’s ideal companion, scoring 48 off 29 balls. Even though Shashank Singh was down cheaply for just two runs, Iyer refused to concede when Wadhera was removed in the sixteenth over. Iyer then faced Ashwani Kumar in the 19th over, hitting four sixes, including the game-winning six in the over’s last ball, as PBKS defeated MI by five wickets.

In the final, Punjab Kings will now face RCB, and Iyer stated that his team will be prepared and in a terrific frame of mind for the match. The game will see a new champion for the first time since 2016 when PBKS joins RCB in the final, their first appearance since 2014.

Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians 203/6 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 44, Tilak Varma 44; Azmatullah Omarzai 2-43, Marcus Stoinis 1-14) lost to Punjab Kings 207/5 in 19 overs (Shreyas Iyer 87*, Nehal Wadhera 48; Ashwani Kumar 2-55, Hardik Pandya 1-19) by five wickets