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Union Minister launches ‘Samriddhi Kendra’ in Guntur village under Bharat Net Udyami Scheme

Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar says the centre is designed to provide multiple public services under one roof — including a Health ATM for medical diagnostics, a postal office, a Jan Aushadhi Kendra, and FTTH broadband services — and to serve as a model for rural development

KPRS opposes proposed rural employment scheme, demands continuation of MGNREGA

Khandre says ensuring clean drinking water to rural areas is his priority

Heavy rains trigger landslide alert; evacuation ordered in Vilangad

Vadakara Revenue Divisional Officer appointed nodal officer to coordinate evacuation and relief camp operations, while Vadakara Tahsildar will serve as assistant nodal officer. District Police Chief (Kozhikode Rural) asked to deploy sufficient personnel to support evacuation plans and ensure security at relief camps and evacuated houses

Maharashtra Sex Ratio At Birth Raises Alarm Over Urban-Rural Divide

The 2022-24 figure was an improvement over 876 girls per 1,000 boys in 2018-20.

AP adopts new rural employment scheme

Andhra Pradesh cabinet approves new rural employment scheme, organ transplantation act, aviation policy, eye project, and university establishment.

BJP rattled as Congress swept Himachal’s rural, urban local body polls, says Negi

Congress reclaimed both the President and Vice-President posts in Chamba’s urban local body after 10 years and in Chuwari’s municipal body after 15 years

Karnataka cabinet portfolios allocated, but disgruntlement remains

Priyank Kharge will be the new Home Minister, who will also hold IT & BT and e-governance. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara has been given Revenue and Sports, while Eshwar Khandre has been allocated Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. Byrathi Suresh has been given Transport.

One vehicle, two fuels: India bets big on flex-fuel revolution - what is it?

Maruti Suzuki's MD highlights flex-fuel vehicles as key to India's goals of cutting oil imports and emissions. These vehicles run on petrol and ethanol blends, supporting farmers and the rural economy. A robust ecosystem, including fuel availability and wider model launches, is crucial for mass adoption, with government backing for biofuel transition and infrastructure expansion.

Gujarat: 362 illegal Bangladeshi nationals held in statewide crackdown

Ahmedabad city recorded the highest number of arrests at 155, followed by Surat city with 84, Ahmedabad rural with 34, East Kutch-Gandhidham with 13 and Bharuch with 12.

'Peddi' review': Will Ram Charan deliver another blockbusters after 'RRR'?

Ram Charan's highly anticipated rural sports drama 'Peddi' has released worldwide, aiming to be a massive blockbuster after 'RRR'. The film, featuring Janhvi Kapoor and a stellar cast, boasts impressive pre-release business and a pan-India release strategy. With a significant breakeven target and Netflix securing OTT rights, 'Peddi' carries immense expectations for box office success.

Mint Explainer | Why India is getting fatter: National survey also reveals dichotomy between urban, rural areas

The latest National Family Health Survey reveals a rise in adult obesity, driven by urbanization, poor dietary habits and genetic vulnerabilities. Ironically, this growing obesity crisis coexists alongside persistent levels of severe undernutrition and malnutrition among rural adults and children.

Over two lakh applicants paid $100K H-1B fee

More than two lakh applicants opted to pay USD 100,000 for their H-1B visas to work in the US in the fiscal year 2026, Markwayne Mullin, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said here.Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday, Mullin said the DHS had received about 2.86 lakh H-1B applications in the fiscal year 2026."We had 286,000 applicants a year to date for the H-1B visas, out of those, over 200,000 of them paid USD 100,000 to be able to come in because it allows us to process them in a little bit faster of a manner," Mullin said in response to a question by US Senator Susan Collins on the shortage of doctors in rural parts of the country.Mullin said applicants paying USD 100,000 get their papers processed in about 15 days and it takes about 7.5 months to process other applications.Collins told the subcommittee that a hospital in Presque Isle, a rural community in northern Maine, recently had to pay the fee to secure a much-needed surgeon from overseas.She said that medical service providers serving remote areas should be treated differently from employers recruiting highly skilled workers in sectors with larger domestic labour pools."Would you be willing to consider carving out an exemption for medical professionals from this fee when a community can demonstrate that there is not a medical professional available?" Collins asked.Mullin assured the Senator that he would look at possible solutions on whether such applications could be dealt with some flexibility on a case-by-case basis."I would suggest that there's a huge difference between bringing in a computer expert from another country to work in wealthy California and Silicon Valley versus a much-needed surgeon to work at a rural hospital in northern Maine," she said.Republican Senator from Alaska Lisa Murkowski flagged concerns about the shortage of teachers in school districts in rural areas of her state."I'll follow up with you about the issue that I raised previously with regards to H-1B visas for teachers," Murkowski told Mullin.

Operation Toofan: Ernakulam Rural police arrest two with 12 kg of suspected ganja

Urban Indian Women's Obesity at 42.8%, Nearly Double Rural Rate

Obesity is significantly more common in urban areas than in rural India.

India's CPI inflation expected to rise to 4.8%

New Delhi: India's CPI inflation is expected to rise by around 70 bps to 4.8 per cent with crude oil averaging USD 90/bbl in FY27, according to a report by 360 ONE Capital. This projection comes as the ongoing conflict in West Asia and a downgraded domestic monsoon forecast introduce fresh challenges to India's macroeconomic trajectory.The report noted that the conflict in West Asia and the resulting energy supply disruptions warrant a reassessment of key macroeconomic assumptions. "Our revised base case assumes de-escalation by mid-June, with crude oil averaging USD 90/bbl in FY27. Under this scenario, CPI inflation is expected to rise by around 70 bps to 4.8% (from 4.1%), while GDP growth moderates to 6.3% (from 6.7%). The fiscal deficit is projected to widen to 4.6% of GDP (from 4.4%), and the current account deficit to 2.1% of GDP (from 1.3%)," the report stated.Also read: India meets FY26 fiscal deficit goal at 4.4% of GDP despite revenue and global pressuresThe report noted that India's economic momentum remains stable due to domestic consumption and public spending, but geopolitical frictions pose tangible downside risks. Supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz are particularly vital, as India sources nearly 50 per cent of its LPG and around 30 per cent of its natural gas requirements through this route.Even though the "net petroleum import bill has declined from 5.5% of GDP in FY14 to around 3.0% in FY25, the economy remains exposed to a prolonged disruption in energy supplies."On the monetary front, global financial conditions continue to tighten as central banks react to persistent inflationary impulses. While the Reserve Bank of India is expected to keep policy rates unchanged in the upcoming meeting, domestic bond yields face upward pressure from a widening fiscal deficit and higher energy costs.Also read: Manufacturing activity at 3-month high in May despite cost woesThe report mentioned that the impact on macroeconomic variables is likely to be non-linear, implying significantly larger downside risks if the conflict persists. "A further USD 10/bbl increase in crude prices above our base assumption could push inflation to 5.6% (assuming a partial pass-through of around 5% to retail fuel prices), lower GDP growth by an additional 40 bps to 5.9%, widen the current account deficit to 2.5% GDP, and increase the fiscal deficit to 4.8% of GDP," the report added.Compounding these external geopolitical risks, the domestic agricultural outlook faces unexpected pressure. In its Second Long Range Forecast, the IMD downgraded the Southwest Monsoon 2026 forecast to 90 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) from 92 per cent estimated in April.This development represents the weakest monsoon outlook since 2015, which raises immediate concerns over overall agricultural output and rural demand.In the global perspective, the IMF has lowered its 2026 global growth forecast by 20 bps, citing risks from the Middle East conflict through higher commodity prices, inflation, and tighter financial conditions.The report stated that under the IMF's reference scenario, "global growth is projected at 3.1% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, below both the recent 3.4% pace and the historical average of 3.7%. In adverse scenarios, growth could slow to 2.5% or even 2.0%, accompanied by significantly higher inflation, with emerging markets expected to be disproportionately affected."

Indian women using internet doubled to 64% in 4 years

India is experiencing a significant shift in women's digital access and education. Internet usage among women has nearly doubled, while preschool attendance and years of schooling for women have also seen notable increases. However, the survey highlights persistent urban-rural disparities in female school attendance, indicating ongoing challenges despite national progress.

Government allocates ₹920 crore to build rural roads in combined Prakasam district

Gujarat's Halpati Housing Scheme explained: Check eligibility and how to apply

Gujarat's Halpati Housing Scheme offers Rs 1.2 lakh aid to Talaviya and Nayak families in southern districts for home construction. Beneficiaries rural areas of southern Gujarat can apply. No income limit applies, and funds are disbursed in phases directly to bank accounts. Essential documents include age and caste proof, birth certificate, and ration card.

BSNL boosts mobile connectivity in rural Kollam

The initiative specifically targets remote pockets that previously lacked reliable connectivity, aiming to foster economic growth and social development in these underserved communities