Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary told Parliament on Monday that there is no plan currently being considered by the government to abolish the long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax on equity transactions for retail and domestic investors.

As part of the annual budget process and legislative reforms, the minister further stated in a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha that tax policies, such as capital gains rates, are evaluated regularly after considering macroeconomic parameters.

From Rs 72,249 crore in assessment year (AY) 2024-25, which corresponds to financial year 2023-24, to Rs 1,29,158 crore in AY 2025-26, which corresponds to FY 2024-25, LTCG tax receipts on equity transactions surged. Through LTCG tax, the government collected Rs 2. 01 lakh crore over the course of the two years.

The LTCG tax on equity mutual funds and listed equities has been set at 12. 5%, which applies only to profits over Rs 1. 25 lakh each fiscal year. A long-term capital asset is one that has been kept for over 12 months.

The minister stated that the 12. 5% LTCG tax rate on equity investments is the same for FPIs, domestic investors, and retail investors in response to concerns about whether Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have been excluded from paying the levy while domestic and retail investors still do.

For investments in equity, the tax rate of 12. 5% on LTCG is the same for FPIs as it is for local and retail investors. The minister said that the government has rationalized the tax treatment relevant to FPI investments in G-Secs only by exempting such investments from income tax on any interest or capital gain through the Income-tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026.

The government is willing to hear worries brought up by stock market investors about the tax system, including issues regarding LTCG and short term capital gains (STCG) tax, according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who stated this in May of this year.

However, she did not promise a lower tax rate.

Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh called for a comprehensive evaluation of pension rules to make sure they match shifting societal circumstances, noting that outdated rules are a significant cause of ongoing pension-related lawsuits.

According to the minister, speaking at the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare’s second National Workshop on Pension Litigation, the government’s goal is to establish a zero-litigation pension system via policy changes, simplified regulations, enhanced grievance resolution, and improved inter-ministerial coordination.

He emphasized that the emphasis of pension management should be on avoiding disputes via timely policy adjustments rather than on settling them once they have gone to court.

Singh stated that frequent litigation usually suggests that specific regulations need to be reevaluated.

The minister said that a reassessment of the underlying policy should be prompted by similar complaints arising in different regions of the nation, rather than being handled as isolated instances.

Saying such measures have made pension policies more inclusive and human while lessening the requirement for drawn-out legal procedures, the minister emphasized recent changes by mentioning the government’s decision to simplify eligibility requirements for providing pension benefits to separated daughters.

Additionally, he stated that a number of family pension clauses inherited from previous administrative frameworks have been changed in recent years to ensure that beneficiaries obtain legitimate benefits without having to resort to judicial action.

Singh urged agencies to examine litigation trends and stakeholder input to pinpoint inadequacies in current legislation, calling for a research-driven strategy to policymaking.

He also emphasized that grievance settlement should be a tool for policy improvement rather than simply a way to resolve complaints.

While stating that grievance platforms based on artificial intelligence have boosted efficiency, the minister added that technology should be accompanied by in-person conversation with pensioners in order to gain a better understanding of their concerns.

Singh also debuted a Compendium of Case Laws on Pension Litigation, a flyer on pension litigation, and the Department’s Special Campaign 3. 0 during the event. These materials are intended to improve litigation management and offer citizen-centric pension services.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners‘ Welfare reports that the number of pension litigation cases on its Litigation Information Management System has decreased by almost 20% in the last year. The Department further stated that the average time for addressing pension complaints via the CPENGRAMS portal has been lowered to under 20 days.

The only goal of the match was scored by Ferran Torres, a former City player, in extra time as Spain, the current European champions, narrowly defeated Argentina in the World Cup final.

Spain’s savior was substitute Ferran Torres, who scored the game-winning goal in extra time as La Roja defeated defending winners Argentina 1-0 at the New York New Jersey Stadium to claim the FIFA World Cup 2026 title.

Torres ultimately broke the stalemate in the 106th minute, following a tense and hotly contested 90 minutes that ended goalless. The forward connected with Nico Williams’ directed knockdown before releasing a powerful left-footed shot past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to secure Spain’s second FIFA World Cup victory, their first since winning the trophy in South Africa in 2010.

Martinez was in superb form throughout the final, denying the European team again and over as Spain controlled the ball for lengthy periods and made the more chances. Argentina, on the other hand, had difficulty creating clear-cut chances because Spain’s disciplined defence had contained captain Lionel Messi.

Argentina was down to ten players for extra time after midfielder Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card in stoppage time of normal time, dealing a crushing blow to the defending champions.

Spain maintained their pressure and appeared to have increased their advantage during stoppage time, but the goal was disallowed because of an infraction during the lead-up. But Argentina’s reign as world champions was ended by Luis de la Fuente’s men, who remained composed and finished out the last stages with ease.

Spain finished the competition undefeated and claimed their second World Cup in addition to their 2010 win, completing a remarkable tournament. Argentina, who were crowned champions in Qatar four years ago, came agonizingly close to keeping hold of football’s biggest prize.

In the end, I believe that 47 million people, not just those of us present, scored the goal. Today, our fate was determined, we were meant to triumph. “We’re far from our people today, but we attempted to be as near as possible to them,” stated Torres, who had not scored in the competition before Sunday.

For the year 2024, the 72nd National Film Awards honor excellence in Indian film. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting revealed the awards.

An 11-member Central Jury, presided over by renowned Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj, judged the awards. Jayaraj supervised the final selection process after reviewing submissions from all across the nation.

The National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) organizes the event, which has a well-defined jury system. With a formal presentation, the prizes seek to recognize Indian films’ artistic and technical accomplishments without any public bias.

Although the ceremony’s location has not been disclosed, the National Awards will likely take place in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, where the President of India has historically presented the National Film Awards to the victors. Recent editions, such as the 70th and 71st National Film Awards, have been held there.

Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan and Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty shared the award for Best Actor, which was revealed on Saturday at the National Media Centre for the upcoming 72nd National Film Awards.

Kartik was recognized for his role in the sports biopic “Chandu Champion,” while Mammootty received the award for his performance in “Bramayugam.”

Yami Gautam received Best Actress recognition for her performance in “Article 370.”

The prize for her brilliant acting in Aditya Suhas Jambhale’s Hindi film “Article 370,” which was also declared the Best Feature Film, went to Yami Gautam. Shashwat Sachdev, the music director of Article 370, also won the Best Music (Songs) award.

Rajkummar Rao‘s “Srikanth – Aa Raha Hai Sabki Aankhein Kholne” was named Best Hindi Film. The movie is based on Srikanth Bolla, an entrepreneur with visual impairment, and is directed by Tushar Hiranandani.

‘Pushpa 2‘ earned director Sukumar the National Award for Best Screenplay.

Shashwat Sachdev, who recently scored the movies ‘Dhurandhar’ and ‘Dhurandhar The Revenge’, received the Best Music Direction prize for ‘Article 370.’

‘Kalki 2898 AD‘ received Best Production Design, while ‘Stree 2‘ was awarded Best Choreography.

Randeep Hooda, an actor, has responded to his National Award win for Best Debut Director, “Swatantryaveer Savarkar.”

“I’m still trying to process the announcement that I won the National Award for Best Debut Director for ‘Swatantryaveer Savarkar,'” he said. This film demanded more of me than any other I’ve ever done. The journey of this film was fraught with difficulties at every turn, but I’m glad we persevered and overcame each one. And despite that, we somehow continued to find the strength to move on. As an actor, co-writer, and first-time director, I poured my all into this film because I felt a tremendous responsibility to tell Veer Savarkar’s story honestly and sincerely. What we endured while making this film is nothing compared to the life he lived and the sacrifices he made. ”

“I am profoundly appreciative of my whole team for believing in this dream and supporting it through all the good and bad times. This honour belongs to all of us, and I hope it will motivate more individuals, particularly the younger generation, to explore and consider Veer Savarkar’s legacy,” he continued.

On Saturday, actor Sivakarthikeyan declared that it was a proud day for the entire Amaran family as he expressed his pleasure that his film ‘Amaran’ had taken home three prizes at the 72nd National Awards, including one for Best direction.

Sivakarthikeyan shared a statement on his X timeline shortly after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting revealed the winners of the 72nd National Film Awards, saying, “A proud day for our entire Amaran family. ” My beloved director has my deepest sympathies.

At the 72nd National Film Awards (2024), Rajkumar KP took home Best Director, G. V. Prakash was honored for Best Music Direction (Background Score), and Kalaivanan was honored for Best Editing.

For his ultimate sacrifice while battling militants in Jammu and Kashmir, Major Mukund Varadarajan was awarded the Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest medal for valor. Based on his life, “Amaran” earned Rajkumar Periasamy the award for Best Director. Kalaivannan also received the award for Best Editing for the movie, while G. V. Prakash Kumar took home the prize for Best Background Score.

In the same message, Sivakarthikeyan also congratulated other National Award winners, including actor Dhanush, who took home two awards, one for each of the Tamil movies ‘Raayan’ and ‘Captain Miller’. While ‘Captain Miller’ received a Special Mention award, ‘Raayan‘, directed by Dhanush, was selected as the Best Tamil Feature Film. The Best Feature Film for Encouraging National, Social, and Environmental Values went to Captain Miller as well.

Sivakarthikeyan penned, “I’d also want to congratulate @sunpictures, @dhanushkraja, @Sathya Jyothi,” as he offered his congratulations to Dhanush and the other champions.

The 72nd National Film Awards for winning National Awards, to @ArunMatheswaran, AnlArasu, @valentino_suren, @sachananamidass, TSHariHaraSudhan & @edmondranson.

In order to get to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, Argentina, the current champions, staged an incredible late comeback, scoring goals from Lautaro Martinez and Enzo Fernandez to overcome England 2-1.

With an incredible comeback, Argentina have now won six World Cup semi-finals in a row. On Sunday, Lionel Scaloni’s reigning champions will play Spain in the championship match in New York, New Jersey.

The Three Lions, competing in their second semi-final of the previous three World Cups, took the lead through Morgan Rogers’ cross, but it wasn’t enough to secure their first World Cup final place since 1966. Martinez headed in the winner in the third minute of injury time to give Argentina a chance to retain their title after Fernandez had scored from outside the box.

Italy (1934, 1938), Brazil (1958, 1962), Argentina (1986, 1990), Brazil (1994, 1998), and France (2018, 2022) have all won the World Cup and qualified for the next final, making Argentina the sixth side to do so. In the meantime, England has lost three World Cup semifinals (1990, 2018, and 2026) and has only made one final appearance, in 1966.

The match started out with a lot of energy. It was cautiously played and furiously challenged, and no side had a chance on goal until the 33rd minute. John Stones then nodded broad from a Declan Rice free-kick at the far post. Fernandez smacked a powerful shot over at the opposite side.

These teams had to work hard to get here. In the moments they most needed inspiration, they both discovered it. Julian Alvarez tried to create one such moment shortly after the restart by going past Djed Spence after a long ball ahead and forcing Jordan Pickford to make a wise stop at his near post.

Instead, the breakthrough came at the other end when Morgan Rogers, one of three players brought back into England’s starting XI, delivered a terrific low cross from the right. Gordon, who arrived at the back post, outmaneuvered Nahuel Molina to direct a fantastic controlled finish into the corner of Emiliano Martinez’s goal.

Spence, one of the starters Thomas Tuchel restored, made a fantastic goal-saving tackle to prevent Giuliano Simeone from scoring, but the close calls persisted as England played increasingly deep and Argentina’s pressure mounted. Alexis Mac Allister’s header struck the post, and substitute Nico Gonzalez’s header was stopped by a superb save from Pickford.

Eventually, the pressure told as Messi squared the ball to Fernandez after a short-corner routine, and he unleashed a magnificent strike from outside the box that sailed past Pickford to his right.

Then, in extra time, Mac Allister’s shot hit a post, but Messi retrieved the hazard, sending a right-foot cross that substitute Martinez buried at the far post.

Notably, Messi, at 39 years and 21 days old, surpassed Fritz Walter and Gunnar Gren, who were both 37 years and 236 days old when they played against each other for West Germany and Sweden, respectively, in 1958, to become the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup semi-final.

“I’m speechless, speechless. ” Following the final whistle, Argentina Coach Lionel Scaloni said, “What a delight for our country, for our people. ” I stated the other day that I’m always amazed by this team. And it is incredibly challenging to persuade individuals to realize what these players are capable of after this. It’s amazing. Really, we’re one of a kind, and we mean that with all our hearts—not out of vanity. We did that until the finish as well, and we had to dig in after we went up 2-1. When we’re small, we’re taught that this is a representation of everything we learn about what football is.

In a historic move that signals a turning point in the nation’s train mobility and provides a major boost to clean transportation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off India’s first hydrogen train from Jind, Haryana, on July 17.

Several firsts are among the many benefits of the cutting-edge Hydrogen train: no smoke, no carbon emissions, operation on clean hydrogen fuel, and water vapor as its only byproduct emission. Before its official release, it has been established as a major subject of national conversation because of these unique selling factors.

In addition to starting a thrilling new chapter in the nation’s green energy transition, the Hydrogen-powered train running between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana is a pilot project that will usher in a new era of rail travel.

The hydrogen train is powered by a 1200 kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system and only emits water vapour, making it a sustainable, clean, and green option. It is the world’s most powerful hydrogen train, with 3200 horsepower.

India is about to make a huge leap forward in achieving cleaner and greener rail travels as well as furthering environmentally sustainable transportation and zero-carbon emission goals with the introduction of its first Hydrogen train.

Since the train has been developed and designed locally and is supported by Jind’s indigenous hydrogen storage and refuelling infrastructure, it will also be a major asset to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Mission.

Acknowledging the significant achievement in the history of Railways, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri declared that India has become a member of an exclusive club of countries, along with Germany, Japan, China, and the United States, that are examining hydrogen fuel cell technology for environmentally friendly rail operations.

The first hydrogen train in India can hold 2,600 people. Scheduled to start its journey from Jind on Friday, it promises to revolutionize Indian Railways‘ operations, enhance passenger travel experiences, and advance the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision.

The producers of Mysskin‘s next film, ‘Train,’ which stars Vijay Sethupathi, have confirmed that it will be released in August of this year.

Let’s do it this August, producer Kalaipuli S Thanu remarked during his talk at the film’s teaser launch event, which was conducted recently. His V Creations is producing the film.

Director Mysskin, who was pleased by his announcement, attempted to get the producer to agree to a release date in a lighthearted manner.

Oh my God, is that correct, sir? “Please also announce the date,” he exclaimed in an eager voice.

But Suriya’s picture is out on August 14, sir, he added, pretending as if the filmmaker had confirmed August 14 as the release date, even as the producer just smiled and held his tongue.

The audience laughed as producer Thanu pointed out that he had only stated that the movie would open in August and had not mentioned August 14.

Since the creators released a preview on Sunday, director Mysskin’s quick-paced action thriller “Train,” starring actor Vijay Sethupathi, has garnered a great deal of attention from fans and film aficionados who may not be aware of it.

A speeding train being operated by several dangerous individuals is seen in the intense 43-second teaser. As one man (Vijay Sethupathi) fights a solo combat, terrified travelers fearing for their lives watch on. The teaser reveals that the train, which looks like a speeding beast, is not stopping at any of the scheduled stations.

Those who appear to have hijacked the train appear to have been well-prepared, which is even more important. What is their mission? These people are who? And who, most significantly, is attempting to challenge them? Train, like all of Mysskin’s other thrillers, promises to be an edge-of-the-seat experience.

Star-studded Train, directed by Mysskin and produced by V Creations, will feature Nasser, Shruti Haasan, Yugi Sethu, Narain, KS Ravikumar, Sampath Raj, Kalaiyarasan, Ira Dayanand, and Preethy Karan.

Mysskin himself wrote the score and Fowzia Fathima shot the cinematography for the picture.

Last year, Narain shared photos of himself on the set of Train in a social media post, which was intriguing. The images showed that he was portraying a police officer in the movie.

The disclosure prompted conjecture as to whether or not Mysskin was trying to establish a Mysskin Cinematic Universe with Train.

The speculation was sparked by Narain’s portrayal of a police officer in Mysskin’s immensely successful movie, “Anjaathey. ” However, this has not been confirmed.

American tech behemoth Google announced a number of artificial intelligence (AI) projects for Indian startups, corporations, and educational institutions.

The company revealed new AI education programmes, healthcare partnerships, cybersecurity initiatives, and more infrastructure for Indian businesses employing its AI models at the Google I/O Connect India 2026 conference here.

Google also estimated that its Google Play Store and Android ecosystem would bring in about Rs 5. 3 lakh crore (approximately $60 billion) in revenue for app publishers and the larger economy in India in 2025, which would represent a 28% increase over the previous year.

Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar stated during the event that Google has been instrumental in extending internet access and digital services in India via products like Search, Android, YouTube, Maps, and Google Pay.

Every day, Google transformed how billions of people access knowledge, how students learn, how companies grow, and how governments provide services. He remarked that everyone had made a truly amazing contribution.

Google DeepMind unveiled its free 56-hour AI Research Foundations curriculum, which is meant to teach students how to create and improve huge language models, as one of its main announcements.

In collaboration with NASSCOM, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and other universities, the initiative will be introduced.

AI is being deployed by Indian builders at a rate that is practically unmatched elsewhere. Preeti Lobana, country manager for Google India, stated that “as we drive the shift into the agentic era, our focus is on giving the ecosystem the infrastructure and guardrails it needs to scale safely. ”

Google also debuted ATL Saathi, a Gemini-powered assistant for educators working on the Atal Innovation Mission, which will first be made available in 100 schools.

The firm stated that researchers at AIIMS Delhi are creating India-specific tools for leprosy and sexual and reproductive health using its MedGemma open AI models in healthcare, and that the resulting models would be made accessible to the nation’s developer ecosystem.

Additionally, Google revealed that Gemini Live now works with 25 Indian languages and dialects, such as Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Sanskrit.

The closing ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature performances by Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed, all of whom will commemorate the historic competition prior to the summit confrontation.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 closing ceremony, which will take place before the final match at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday (July 19), will celebrate the unforgettable journey of the 48 teams throughout the three host nations and 16 Host Cities as the biggest sporting event in history comes to a close.

FIFA said in a report on its official website that “this star-studded show will feature performances from Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed, as well as a special appearance by Tom Cruise, bringing together some of the world’s largest names in music and entertainment for an unforgettable celebration before kick-off. ”

Jennifer Hudson, the winner of the Tony, Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy awards, will give a special performance of the United States national anthem before the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. Hudson’s strong performance, one of the most famous musicians in the world, will lay the groundwork for football’s biggest match and the tournament’s most eagerly awaited occasion.

The closing ceremony, which was created in cooperation with Balich Wonder Studio, will honor the passion, emotion, and global spirit that characterized the 23rd FIFA World Cup: a groundbreaking event with 48 teams that broke records and inspired a new generation of boys and girls worldwide to dream. In the next few days, more artists and special guests will be revealed.

“The closing ceremony will bring the FIFA World Cup 2026 full circle via music, culture, and football before we kick off the highly anticipated match that will crown the champions of this groundbreaking tournament,” Heimo Schirgi, Chief Operating Officer – FIFA World Cup 2026, said, “echoing the spirit of the opening ceremonies, which welcomed the world to the greatest stage in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. ”

As the closing ceremony begins 90 minutes before kick-off at 13:30 local time, supporters in the stadium will have an active part in the event and should arrange to arrive early.

According to the announcement, gates will open at 11:00 (four hours before the start of the match), at which time a full range of experiences, such as unique activations, rewards, and extra pre-match entertainment, will commence.