New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) The urban female unemployment rate, for the 15+ years age group, declined to 8.5 per cent in April this year, the lowest level recorded since April, 2025, according to official figures released by the Ministry of Statistics on Friday.The overall urban workers participation rate (WPR), for those above 15 years, which is an indicator of employment, remained unchanged at 46.8 per cent in April 2026 compared to the previous month, the data further showed.The overall labour f…

Lucknow, May 15 (IANS) In a significant move, the Uttar Pradesh government has acted against 200 private hospitals for failing to comply with the new standards for the Ayushman Bharat scheme, including migrating medical facilities to the Hospital Empanelment Module (HEM) portal, despite several reminders and warnings. According to officials familiar with the developments, payments to 100 private hospitals have been stopped, while another 100 have been suspended from the panel.The new guidelines …

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the agreements signed between India and the United Arab Emirates would add “further vigour” to bilateral ties, after the two countries inked seven major agreements spanning energy, defence, technology, infrastructure and investments during his brief stopover in the Gulf nation.Sharing his remarks on social media platform X, PM Modi described the outcomes of the visit as “substantive” and said they would strengthen …

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) India installed a record 15.3 GW of new solar capacity in the first quarter (January-March) of 2026, marking the highest quarterly addition ever in the country so far, according to a report.The report by Mercom India Research states that solar installations recorded a 143 per cent year-on-year jump compared with the corresponding figure of 6.3 GW in the same quarter of the previous year. Sequentially, the increase was compared to 10.3 GW added in the preceding October-De…

Patna, May 15 (IANS) Following the formal handover of security responsibilities at Darbhanga Airport, Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Praveer Ranjan, visited the airport to assess operational preparedness and welfare arrangements for deployed personnel. He was accompanied by senior officers, including Binita Thakur and Senthil Avoodai Krishna Raj S.During the visit, the DG inspected barrack accommodations, mess facilities, the Security Hold Area (SHA), and other…

Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 (IANS) Even before formally taking oath as Kerala’s next Chief Minister, V. D. Satheesan has moved swiftly to send out a vital political message — that the era of intimidating VIP convoys, massive traffic blocks, and fortress-style security may soon become a thing of the past.The incoming Chief Minister’s instructions to police officials on Friday to drastically trim his security arrangements are being widely seen not merely as an administrative decision, but as a…

Gandhinagar, May 15 (IANS) India’s first semi high-speed broad gauge rail corridor equipped with the advanced “Kavach 5.0” train protection system will be developed between Ahmedabad and Dholera in Gujarat after the Union Cabinet approved the Rs 20,667 crore project earlier this week, with railway and state government officials outlining further details on Friday. The Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera semi high-speed double-line railway project, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs …

Imphal, May 15 (IANS) After sustained efforts by security forces, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and community leaders, 28 people belonging to different communities in Manipur were safely released on Friday, officials said.The individuals had been detained by different groups in the aftermath of the May 13 violent attack in Manipur, which claimed the lives of three Baptist Church pastors and left four others injured.A senior Manipur government official said that following the May 13 violenc…

Kolkata, May 15 (IANS) The Railways on Friday sanctioned three new projects for West Bengal, where there has been a change of regime following the recently concluded Assembly polls, ending the 15-year Trinamool Congress rule and marking the beginning of the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state since Independence.According to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, he had received three separate subject letters relating to the projects from Railway Minister Ashwini …

Mumbai, May 15 (IANS) Political parties and farmer groups on Friday staged a protest near Mantralaya in south Mumbai, demanding immediate help for mango and cashew growers from the Konkan region.​ As farmers marched towards Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ official residence, Varsha Bungalow, the protesters were stopped by the police and detained.​State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, who participated in the protests, criticised the government’s “repressive tactics”, saying that…