Day: February 10, 2026

RBI Launches Financial Literacy Week 2026 with Focus on KYC and Safe Banking

Arijit Bose

Lucknow | The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched Financial Literacy Week (FLW) 2026, aimed at strengthening public awareness about safe and responsible banking practices. Observed annually since 2016, Financial Literacy Week focuses on a specific theme each year to promote financial awareness across the country. This year, the campaign is being observed from 9 February to 13 February 2026 with the theme “KYC – Your First Step to Safe Banking.” The theme highlights the importance of Know Your Customer (KYC) norms, awareness of the Central KYC Registry (CKYC),…

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Dastak Youth Festival 2026 Opens on a Vibrant Note in Lucknow

Arijit Bose

Lucknow | The 18th edition of the Dastak Youth Festival commenced at the International Buddha Research Institute, Gomti Nagar, with enthusiastic participation from students, artists, and cultural practitioners from across the city. Celebrating its coming-of-age year, the festival opened with a day marked by dialogue, creativity, and youthful energy, staying true to its theme, “Nature, Environment and Our Uttar Pradesh.” The festival was formally inaugurated in the presence of participating students and prominent citizens including Shyamu Chaudhary, Amit Mishra, Tahira Rizvi, and Meha Dhaundiyal. The inauguration featured the writing of inspiring…

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Dastak Youth Festival Turns 18, Celebrates Nature, Environment and Uttar Pradesh

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: The city’s oldest student-run youth festival, Dastak Youth Festival, is set to celebrate its 18th edition with a vibrant three-day cultural extravaganza at the International Buddha Research Institute (IBRI), Gomti Nagar, from 10 to 12 February. Over the years, Dastak has emerged as a significant platform for continuous cultural engagement and youth participation, completing eighteen years of sustained presence in the city’s cultural landscape. The 18th season of the festival will feature more than 30 competitions spread across three days, with participation from over 500 students representing more than…

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Gender-Transformative Education Key to Long-Term Change in Education System: UTGAN Launched in Lucknow

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: A major step towards making girls’ education in Uttar Pradesh more equitable, inclusive, and transformative was marked with the formal launch of the Uttar Pradesh Transformation of Girl Education Alliance Network (UTGAN)  in Lucknow. The alliance brings together civil society organisations (CSOs working in the field of girls’ education to collaboratively drive long-term and systemic change through gender-transformative education. UTGAN has been envisioned as a collective platform to strengthen efforts aimed at addressing gender inequality in education and supporting government initiatives focused on adolescent girls’ education and empowerment across…

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India’s Animal Husbandry Sector Offers Expanding Export Opportunities

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: India’s animal husbandry sector is witnessing significant growth in export potential, driven by rising global demand for high-quality, protein-rich products and the country’s vast livestock resources. Key export commodities from the sector include frozen and deboned poultry products, dairy products, honey, and processed leather, all of which are gaining traction in international markets. Major export destinations for Indian animal husbandry products currently include the United States, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and several countries in the Middle East. Industry experts believe that these markets offer substantial scope for further expansion, supported…

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Indian Coast Guard Busts International Oil Smuggling Racket in Coordinated Sea-Air Operation

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: In a major blow to transnational maritime crime, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully busted an international oil smuggling racket through a meticulously planned sea-air coordinated operation conducted on 05–06 February 2026. The operation led to the interception of three suspect vessels involved in the illegal transfer of oil and oil-based cargo originating from conflict-affected regions. The operation was initiated following the detection of suspicious maritime activity by the Indian Coast Guard’s technology-enabled surveillance systems. A motor tanker operating within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) raised red…

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INS Sudarshini Completes First Port Call of Lokayan 26 in Oman, Boosts India–Oman Maritime Cooperation

Arijit Bose

Salalah | The Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini has successfully completed the first port call of its landmark trans-oceanic expedition Lokayan 26 at Salalah, Oman, on February 5, 2026, marking an important step in strengthening India–Oman maritime ties. The ten-month global voyage aims to showcase India’s maritime heritage while promoting the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the belief that the world is one family—through naval diplomacy and cultural outreach. During the port visit, the Commanding Officer of INS Sudarshini held interactions with Captain Mohammad Al Ghailani, Southern Naval Area Commander of…

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Raksha Mantri Holds Bilateral Talks with Greek Defence Minister in New Delhi

Arijit Bose

New Delhi | Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held bilateral discussions with the Minister of National Defence of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias, in New Delhi on Monday, reaffirming the growing India–Greece Strategic Partnership built on shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and mutual respect. During the meeting, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation between their indigenous defence industries, aligning India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative with Greece’s defence modernisation programme under Agenda 2030. A Joint Declaration of Intent was signed to enhance defence industrial collaboration, marking the beginning of a…

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India Shortlists Three Consortia for Fifth-Generation AMCA Fighter Jet, RFP to Be Issued Soon

Arijit Bose

New Delhi | In a major development for India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the Ministry of Defence has shortlisted three industry consortia for the development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s ambitious fifth-generation stealth fighter programme. The AMCA is expected to form the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the coming decades. According to Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, the selection was made after evaluating seven industry consortia that participated in the pre-qualification phase. The assessment was based on technical expertise, financial strength, and advanced aerospace manufacturing…

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India Hands Over 50 Military Utility Vehicles to Nepal Army, Boosting Defence Cooperation

Arijit Bose

New Delhi | India has handed over 50 military utility vehicles to the Nepal Army, marking another significant step in strengthening long-standing defence ties between the two neighbouring countries. The handover took place near the India–Nepal border in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Tuesday. Indian defence authorities described the move as a symbol of mutual trust, cooperation, and enduring military partnership between India and Nepal. While the vehicles were technically transferred at the border, they will be formally presented during a ceremony in Kathmandu by the Indian Ambassador to Nepal.…

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