The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has strengthened India’s fisheries sector, driving fish production from 141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to a record 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.

Fisheries exports also climbed from Rs 46,663 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 73,890 crore in 2025-26, reflecting strong growth across the sector, according to a government factsheet released on Thursday.

As PMMSY completes six years on September 10, 2026, the scheme has emerged as a landmark initiative in India’s efforts to modernise the fisheries sector, promote sustainability and improve livelihoods.

Since its launch in 2020, PMMSY has strengthened infrastructure, created new opportunities and provided consistent support to fishers and fish farmers across the country. Building on the Blue Revolution scheme, the government designed PMMSY to address critical gaps across the fisheries value chain.

The scheme has created employment opportunities for 58 lakh people in fisheries and aquaculture-related activities. It has also approved Rs 2,797 crore for cold-chain and marketing infrastructure, improving post-harvest management and market connectivity.

PMMSY has further supported 2,195 Fisheries Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) through projects worth Rs 544.86 crore, strengthening collective empowerment among fishers and fish farmers.

The government has also allocated a record Rs 2,500 crore in the Union Budget for 2026-27 under PMMSY, reaffirming its commitment to the sector, the statement said.

The scheme continues to drive large-scale investments in fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure. As of August 11, 2026, the Department of Fisheries had approved fisheries and aquaculture projects worth Rs 21,394.88 crore for the period from 2020-21 to 2025-26, including a Central share of Rs 9,510.89 crore.

The Department approved these projects based on proposals submitted by States, Union Territories and various implementing agencies. The investments are supporting infrastructure development and strengthening the fisheries value chain across the country.

Under PMMSY, the government is also expanding fisheries infrastructure, with a focus on fishing harbours, fish landing centres, cold chains, transportation and marketing facilities.

Over the last five years, the Department of Fisheries has approved Rs 3,741.89 crore for 28 fishing harbour development projects, 25 fish landing centre projects and 23 dredging projects.

PMMSY aims to transform India’s fisheries sector by increasing production and productivity, modernising the value chain, creating livelihood opportunities, raising incomes, boosting exports and Gross Value Added (GVA), strengthening fishers’ security and welfare, and improving fisheries management and regulation, the statement added.

Agentic artificial intelligence (AI) can help banks deliver personalised financial services to thousands of customers. However, financial institutions will need clear frameworks to govern AI agents as the technology moves beyond recommendations to executing decisions, State Bank of India Chairman CS Setty said on Thursday.

Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, Setty said banks were entering the next phase of AI adoption. He highlighted the deployment of AI agents across financial services as a major opportunity for the sector.

“Artificial intelligence should always augment human resources,” Setty said. He noted that banks may face high initial costs when deploying agentic AI, but lower incremental costs as adoption expands could help them achieve greater economic efficiency.

Setty said banks need to build foundational AI models to develop strategic capabilities in artificial intelligence. He added that agentic AI could help banks deliver more personalised financial services at scale.

However, the diverse and complex nature of the Indian market presents challenges for financial institutions adopting the technology, he said.

Banks have used machine learning (ML) models for several years, but Setty identified the deployment of AI agents across financial services as the next major opportunity.

SBI has emerged as an early adopter of artificial intelligence and machine learning in banking. The bank already uses conventional AI-based approaches for credit assessment and cash flow-based lending, Setty said.

Setty also highlighted the role of India’s digital infrastructure in accelerating technology adoption. “India has successfully converted digital infrastructure into trust and then converted that trust into scale,” he said.

As banks integrate agentic AI more deeply into their operations, they will need clear frameworks covering the identity and authentication of AI agents, customer consent and transaction limits, according to Setty.

He said banks must also strengthen accountability as AI systems move beyond providing recommendations and start executing decisions.

The makers of Malayalam superstar Mohanlal’s upcoming film, tentatively titled #L370, have warned the public about fake audition calls circulating in the film’s name.

The team clarified that it has neither authorised nor announced any auditions or casting requirements for the project at this stage.

Director Jude Anthany Joseph, who will helm #L370, took to social media to alert the public about the fraudulent audition calls.

He wrote, “Please be aware of fake audition posters, messages, or calls circulating in the name of L370. We have not authorised or announced any auditions or casting requirements for L370 at this time. Please do not share personal information, documents, or make any payments in response to such calls or posts. For any official casting announcements, please rely only on our verified and authorised communication channels. Please stay alert and beware of fraud.”

A couple of days ago, Mohanlal had expressed his excitement about reuniting with well-known producer Ashiq Usman for his upcoming film #L370.

Taking to X, Mohanlal wrote, “Thrilled to team up with Ashiq Usman once again, this time under the direction of Jude Anthany Joseph for #L370.”

Ashiq Usman’s production house, Ashiq Usman Productions, also expressed excitement about collaborating with Mohanlal for a second film.

The production house wrote, “Proud and thrilled to announce our next production, L370. Featuring the one and only Lalettan, the legendary actor who continues to inspire generations.

“Another special journey, another unforgettable collaboration with a true icon.

“Directed by @judeanthanyjoseph L370, the journey begins. #L370 #Lalettan #Mohanlal #JudeAnthanyJoseph #ashiqusman.”

Interestingly, Jude Anthany Joseph’s previous film was ‘Thudakkam’, which marked the acting debut of Mohanlal’s daughter Vismaya Mohanlal. The film has enjoyed a strong theatrical run and recently completed 35 days in cinemas.

Mohanlal took to X to celebrate the milestone, writing, “Celebrating 35 glorious days and the incredible people who made #Thudakkam possible. This journey is ours. This love is yours.”

Meanwhile, producer Ashiq Usman recently announced the completion of shooting for ‘Athimanoharam’, his first collaboration with Mohanlal. A week ago, Usman announced that the team had wrapped up filming and moved on to dubbing. The film, which stars Meera Jasmine as the female lead, has generated considerable interest among fans and film enthusiasts.

‘Athimanoharam’, initially referred to as #L366, features Mohanlal as a police officer named T S Lovelajan. Tharun Moorthy has directed the film.

While the makers have revealed little about #L370 so far, industry sources suggest that the upcoming film will be a colourful entertainer.

Young Uttarakhand batter Lakshya Raichandani said he is “honoured” to lead the India U19 side in the upcoming three unofficial ODIs against Australia U19, beginning September 18.

Raichandani, who currently plays for Mussoorie Thunder, will captain India’s U19 white-ball side. He will also serve as vice-captain in the two unofficial Tests scheduled from September 28 to October 8.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Raichandani reflected on the opportunity and his preparations for the series in Rajkot and Ahmedabad.

“It is a great opportunity; it’s an honour to be a captain for the Indian team,” he said. “It is an added responsibility, so I am very excited for this opportunity, and I want to lead everyone, create a positive environment and give my 100%.”

Raichandani’s family is also excited to see him lead the national junior side when Australia arrive in India.

“(My) Family is very excited and happy, but as I said, it is a great opportunity, and it is an added responsibility, so it is very good, and I am looking forward to the captaincy,” Raichandani added.

The 17-year-old earned the captaincy after producing a series of impressive performances in the U19 circuit. He scored a double century and a century in two Youth Tests against Sri Lanka U19 and followed that with two half-centuries in the two Youth ODIs against the same opposition.

However, Raichandani said he will stick to his usual preparation rather than make major changes based on Australia’s playing style.

“Preparation is the same as what I normally do, and it is going on. I don’t change much when seeing their brand of cricket. But we will see their style of play through the video footage, and we will make a plan for them,” he added.

Alongside his impressive performances for India U19, Raichandani recently scored a 76 in the Dehradun T20 League. He said his priority remains contributing to the team rather than focusing solely on his individual performances.

“I wanted to play for the team, and I wanted to contribute for the team, and my intent was the same. It was positive. I have a normal mindset whether I go well or not, from a confidence point of view. I have confidence, but I wanted to play for the team and contribute.

“It was very good. My aim has been for the team. The form gives you confidence, but I will keep the same mindset,” he said.

Raichandani also spoke about the inaugural Dehradun T20 League, describing it as an important stepping stone for young cricketers from Uttarakhand’s grassroots.

“It is a very exciting league, and it is a very good tournament for Dehradun’s local players. They will get a very good opportunity, and it is a very good tournament to improve their T20 game for UPL. It is a very good platform, as players will get to learn a lot from experienced players,” he added.

Praising India’s remarkable rise in fintech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the country’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is the “undisputed champion” of this success story.

Inaugurating the ‘Global Fintech Fest 2026’ here, PM Modi said, “This is such a massive transformation that whenever fintech is discussed, it will remain incomplete without UPI.”

Reflecting on UPI’s 10th anniversary, which India celebrated on August 25, the Prime Minister contrasted the scepticism of financial elites in its early days with the current reality, where millions of previously unbanked citizens now participate in the digital economy.

Modi said India recorded more than 24 billion UPI transactions in August alone, with roughly 50 lakh transactions processed in the first 10 minutes of the event. Citing French President Emmanuel Macron, he said UPI’s phenomenal adoption goes beyond technology.

“It is because of this impact that French President Emmanuel Macron said that UPI is not just a tech story, it is a civilizational story,” PM Modi remarked.

Highlighting UPI’s global expansion, the Prime Minister said India’s flagship digital payment system is now live in 11 countries, transforming what once seemed unimaginable into an everyday reality for international payments.

“These are astonishing figures that tell us how long a journey we have covered,” the Prime Minister said.

Looking ahead, Modi urged the fintech industry to treat these achievements as a starting point rather than a destination.

Outlining the next phase of international digital payments, the Prime Minister stressed the need to integrate UPI with the domestic payment systems of partner countries, similar to the seamless cross-border connectivity India has established with Singapore. He urged stakeholders to link financial networks in countries with large Indian populations or significant trade ties with India.

“Wherever Indians live in large numbers, wherever India trades on a large scale, whichever country in the world is ready to walk with us, we have to work to connect them all,” the Prime Minister said.

Emphasising the economic benefits for the diaspora, PM Modi said reducing transaction costs for the world’s largest remittance-sending population remains a critical priority. He said global integration of digital payment systems could speed up the transfer of funds to families in India.

“UPI can bring savings to Indians in this as well, and the money can reach Indian families faster,” he pointed out.

Urging a shift in financial infrastructure, the Prime Minister criticised India’s historical reliance on foreign-designed card payment standards and called for indigenous rules and protocols. He expressed confidence that the domestic industry can develop standards with global relevance.

“Now we can make our own rules and standards and connect them with the world,” PM Modi remarked.

Reiterating his vision of using technology to empower citizens, the Prime Minister praised UPI as a powerful tool for financial inclusion, saying it has reached areas that traditional banking models failed to serve. He said the true measure of innovation lies in taking financial services directly to individuals.

“Where traditional banks could not reach, where bank branches could not reach, UPI has taken the banking system to that place, to that person,” the Prime Minister said.

Charting the future of India’s fintech sector, Modi stressed the need to move beyond payments and expand access to credit, insurance, savings, investments and pension products. He urged the industry to take its services to the next level.

“Now in the fintech market, along with payments, the share of credit transactions must also increase,” the Prime Minister said.

India reiterated its commitment to support Nepal’s ongoing relief and rescue operations following devastating flash floods, saying it will continue to provide assistance based on the requirements on the ground.

Addressing a bi-weekly press briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has so far sent 95 tonnes of relief material on seven aircraft and deployed forensic and tunnel rescue teams to assist Nepal’s relief and rescue efforts.

“We have expressed solidarity and sympathy with the people and government of Nepal, and we are doing our best to help them in this particular disaster. As a close friend and neighbour, India responded promptly and will continue to support Nepal’s relief, rescue, and reconstruction efforts. We have sent 95 tonnes of relief material on board seven aircraft, and we will send more material soon. Our forensic team and tunnel rescue team are operating on the ground and assisting in the rescue and relief efforts,” Jaiswal said.

“The forensic team is currently working in two laboratories in Kathmandu and processing 1,200 DNA samples. We will continue to support Nepal based on its requirements. As I told you last time, 275 Indian nationals remain missing in this disaster, while 169 Indian nationals have been rescued so far. The 275 missing Indian nationals also include 49 people who went missing on the Chinese side,” he said.

Jaiswal further said the Indian government had been actively assisting Indian nationals following the disaster. India has set up 24×7 control rooms in India, Beijing and Kathmandu to assist them and ensure their safety and welfare.

“When this disaster unfolded in Nepal, we actively assisted Indian nationals. We set up control rooms here, in Beijing and in Kathmandu, operating 24×7, and we have been staffing these control rooms and doing our best for our people. There may be occasional cases here and there where we may have fallen short of expectations. But let me tell you that we have always sought to do our best for our people, and we remain committed to their welfare, safety and wellbeing,” the MEA spokesperson said.

A massive flood struck Nepal’s Rasuwa after originating in China’s Tibetan region on August 26.

The flood swept through the transboundary Bhote Koshi River, killing more than 1,000 people, including foreign nationals, and causing widespread destruction across the Himalayan nation.

India’s Cheetah startup cohort grew to 110 companies in 2026 from 103 a year earlier, with their combined valuation estimated at around Rs 3 lakh crore, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The 2026 ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Cheetah Index defines Cheetahs as unlisted startups founded in 2000 or later and valued between $200 million and $500 million. The index considers these companies potential unicorns over the next five years.

The index identified 43 new Cheetahs during the year. Meanwhile, 10 companies advanced to the Gazelle category, three moved directly to Unicorn status, and six listed on public markets.

FinTech emerged as the largest sector, accounting for 17 Cheetahs, followed by SaaS with 16 and e-commerce with 12.

Artificial intelligence (AI) accounted for eight companies, while electric vehicles and aerospace & defence accounted for eight and five Cheetahs, respectively.

Bengaluru remained the leading hub with 36 Cheetahs, followed by Delhi-NCR with 25 and Mumbai with 16. Together, the three regions accounted for 77 of the 110 companies.

Pune had eight Cheetahs after adding four during the year, while Ahmedabad had three and Jaipur had two.

ASK Private Wealth Co-Founder, CEO and MD Rajesh Saluja said the latest cohort reflected growing diversification beyond traditional technology sectors. He highlighted electric mobility, CleanTech, Aerospace & Defence, and AI as increasingly prominent areas.

Hurun India Founder and Chief Researcher Anas Rahman Junaid said the growing presence of capital-intensive and engineering-led businesses marked a shift in the composition of India’s emerging high-growth companies.

The index forms part of the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Cheetah-Gazelle-Unicorn Index. For the first time, the organisation has published the three cohorts as separate reports.

The Cheetah cohort has nearly doubled since 2021. Companies tracked since then have secured 52 promotions to Gazelle status and 15 promotions to Unicorn status. In addition, six Cheetahs from the previous year entered public markets in 2026.

India’s 2026 BRICS Presidency offers strategic opportunities to expand exports, attract investments, strengthen manufacturing and technology partnerships, diversify supply chains, and enhance BRICS’ influence in the global economy, according to an article.

The global economic landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as emerging economies increasingly shape trade, investment, development finance, and international economic governance. BRICS stands at the centre of this transformation. The grouping has evolved from an alliance of five major emerging economies into a much broader platform that represents the aspirations and economic interests of the Global South, the article published on the European Times news website observed.

The article highlights that India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” comes at a pivotal moment. BRICS@21 now has a significantly broader geographic and economic footprint, with an expanded membership that includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, along with 10 partner countries.

For India, this expansion creates a major opportunity to strengthen exports, attract investment, diversify supply chains, promote technology partnerships, and contribute to a more inclusive and multipolar global economic order.

The partner countries—Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam—further expand BRICS’ global outreach.

BRICS brings together manufacturing powerhouses, major energy exporters, agricultural producers, large consumer markets, technology hubs, and rapidly developing economies. This diversity creates significant economic complementarities. Manufacturing economies need energy and raw materials, while commodity-producing countries seek technology, investment, and industrial diversification. At the same time, large and growing consumer markets create opportunities to trade manufactured goods, pharmaceuticals, food products, services, and technology.

This diversity gives BRICS a strategic advantage as companies and countries work to build more resilient supply chains amid geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and growing economic uncertainty, the article stated.

BRICS has increasingly emerged as an important platform for South-South cooperation and has gained greater influence in the global economy. The grouping emphasises sovereign equality, inclusiveness, mutual respect, and consensus-based engagement. Its cooperation extends beyond trade and increasingly covers finance, technology, infrastructure, health, agriculture, energy, climate action, and digital transformation.

The article also underscores the significance of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which India hosted in New Delhi on May 14–15 under its Chairmanship. The meeting reinforced the grouping’s broader agenda and emphasised stronger strategic cooperation across political, economic, financial, cultural, and people-to-people dimensions. The participating countries also called for a more democratic, representative, and accountable international system, the article further stated.

BRICS is moving beyond its traditional role as an economic grouping and becoming a platform through which emerging economies seek a stronger voice in global decision-making, the article contended.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that India continues to increase its imports of Russian energy, with purchases setting new records every month.

“I don’t want to give you any figures for understandable reasons, but every month we have a new record,” Peskov said during a virtual briefing with Indian journalists ahead of the BRICS Summit, which India will host in the national capital this week.

He also said India and Russia were gradually resolving the issue of accumulated rupee payments in bilateral trade.

Peskov said Russia and India were discussing closer cooperation in rare-earth exploration. He added that the two countries had also put Russia’s potential sale of its Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jet to India on the bilateral agenda.

Peskov said Western pressure, rather than any desire to abandon the dollar, had driven the BRICS shift towards greater use of national currencies.

He stressed that using national currencies does not amount to a de-dollarisation policy. “We do not want to claim any de-dollarisation policy. We’re simply doing what better corresponds with our national interests,” Peskov told the media.

He said some countries were using their national currencies as instruments of political pressure. “If they don’t let us use their money, we use our own money,” Peskov said.

Russia began using national currencies after Western restrictions blocked its access to the dollar and euro. Peskov said Russia does not seek “de-dollarisation” and remains open to any acceptable method of payment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, where he will discuss security, the economy, finance and culture.

Putin will also hold bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. Trade and economic cooperation will form a major part of their discussions, Peskov added.

India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” comes at a pivotal moment. The bloc now includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with 10 partner countries. This expanded membership gives BRICS a significantly broader geographic and economic footprint.

For India, the expansion creates a major opportunity to boost exports, attract investment, diversify supply chains, strengthen technology partnerships and help build a more inclusive and multipolar global economic order.

The 10 partner countries — Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam — further expand BRICS’ global outreach.