Cabinet nod to rename Kerala as Keralam, PM says 'will of people'

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposal to change the name of Kerala to Keralam.

New Seed Bill likely in second part of Budget Session 

The Centre is likely to introduce the new Seed Bill in Parliament during the second part of the Budget Session, scheduled from March 9 to April 2, The Indian Express has learnt.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, which is piloting the Bill, has reportedly completed the inter-ministerial consultations and legal vetting process and is ready to send the draft of the Seed Bill for the Union Cabinet's approval "any-time soon".

Centre to soon roll out HPV vaccination drive for girls aged 14

The Government will roll out a special single-dose Human Papillomavirus (HPV) nationwide vaccination campaign for girls aged 14 to eliminate cervical cancer this month, sources in the Health ministry said.

Persistent HPV infection is known to cause nearly 85% of all cervical cancers, the second most common type of cancer among women in India, affecting nearly 1.25 lakh and killing 75,000 each year.

PM on Israel visit from today, strategic ties upgrade on table

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Israel on a State visit on February 25-26 (Wednesday and Thursday), where he will meet Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a bid to strengthen cooperation in defence and security, trade and economy, and innovation.

With Israel and broader Middle East, a diplomacy less defensive, more realist

Modi's visit comes as Israel faces global criticism for its regional policies. But that is not weighing heavily in Delhi's calculus. Israel today enjoys greater room for manoeuvre in the region than ever before.

Inside the tent, with Pax Silica

As emerging technologies assume a central role in powering the global economy, securing critical mineral supplies and strengthening advanced manufacturing capabilities are urgent national priorities. Pax Silica, a US-led initiative, seeks to loosen China's stranglehold over critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements, which are essential to a wide range of industries. Although India was initially excluded when the first group of countries signed up last year in mid-December, New Delhi signed the Pax Silica declaration on the sidelines of the Al Impact Summit on February 20.

India and Israel, trusted partners in times of need

The rediscovery of India by Israelis and of Israel by Indians is a result of a new urgent need jointly identified: To build resilience in a world that is shakier and more competitive than it has ever been.

India's dependence on imported oil may hit fresh full-year high in FY26

India's Dependence on imported crude oil grew to 88.6% in the first 10 months of the ongoing financial year (2025-26), indicating that the import reliance level for the full financial year could be headed for yet another record high.

It was 88.2% in the corresponding period of FY25, according to the latest data released by the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).

For the full FY25, reliance on imported oil was 88.3%.

Cabinet nod for 3 projects worth Rs 9,072 cr to ease Railway traffic

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Tuesday approved three multitracking projects to decongest high density network and highly utilised network of the Indian Railways. These projects include Gondia-Jabalpur Doubling, Punarakh-Kiul 3rd and 4th line and Gamharia-Chandil 3rd and 4th line. The projects will cost Rs 9,072 crore.

As PM visits Israel, how ties evolved over the years

India formally established diplomatic ties with Israel on January 29, 1992, around 10 days after Arafat's public approval.

The military relationship, meanwhile, gradually evolved. India had sourced Israeli weapons during the war with China in 1962, but the support was rather episodic.