From April 1, Central government employees with at least 25 years of service will be eligible for a fixed pension equal to 50 per cent of their average basic salary from the last 12 months before retirement under the new Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).

The government is introducing the UPS to offer more financial security after retirement to at least 23 lakh Central government employees, particularly for those who prefer a stable and predictable income instead of a market-linked pension.

Employees, who have served for more than 10 years but less than 25 years, will receive a minimum pension of Rs 10,000 per month. In case of the pensioner’s death, their family will be entitled to 60 per cent of the last pension drawn as a family pension.

Pune will host the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group-1 tournament for the first time in tennis history of the country, while Maharashtra will be hosting the event after a gap of 25 years from April 8 to 12 at the Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Complex.

Six teams from the Asia Oceania Zone including New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Korea and Thailand, apart from host India, will be playing in a round-robin format with all ties consisting of three matches - two singles followed by doubles.

"After the success of Mumbai Open WTA and the Maha Open ATP Challenger, MSLTA in association with AITA and PMDTA is thrilled to get another event of the highest level," said MSLTA secretary Sunder Iyer.

"MSLTA has hosted nearly all the big tennis events in Pune but we have never hosted the BKJC or the FED Cup. AITA and MSLTA bid for this event to make it easier for the girls to compete at the highest levels in the home conditions," added Iyer.

Pakistan on Monday said that it has foiled a major infiltration bid after the opening of the Pak-Afghan Torkham border, killing at least 16 terrorists trying to enter the country through the North Waziristan district.

As per a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), intelligence reports picked up the movement of terrorists near Ghulam Khan Kallay area of Pakistan's North Waziristan District, where terrorists from Afghanistan were trying to infiltrate. However, the attempt was foiled as the security forces engaged with the terrorists and thwarted their attempt, neutralizing at least 16 terrorists.

"After the intense fire exchange, all 16 Khwarij (terrorists) were sent to hell," read the ISPR statement.

India’s stock market recorded the highest monthly gain among the world's ten largest equity markets in March, rising 9.4 per cent in dollar terms, as per latest stock exchange data.

This marks the strongest rally in four years, following five consecutive months of decline.

According to the exchange data, the total market capitalisation of all listed companies on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) surged to approximately $4.8 trillion, up from around $4.39 trillion at the end of February.

This is the biggest monthly jump since May 2021. India outperformed other major markets, with Germany following at a distant second with a 5.64 per cent rise in market capitalisation to over $2.81 trillion.

A young woman was injured after she jumped from a running Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) train to escape sexual assault in Hyderabad.

The incident occurred in Secunderabad when a man entered the ladies’ coach of the Telapur-Medchal MMTS train and attempted to force himself on her, Railway Police said on Monday. In a bid to escape the sexual assault the frightened woman jumped out of the running train.

The 23-year-old was found lying injured near a railway bridge in Kompally. After passersby alerted the 108 ambulance service, she was shifted to Gandhi Hospital.

The victim hails from Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh and is employed in a private company on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

She told police that on Sunday she came to Secunderabad to get her mobile phone repaired. After getting the phone repaired she reached Secunderabad Railway Station. She took a general ticket and boarded the Telapur-Medchal MMTS train and sat in the coach reserved for women.

Intelligence agencies, both central and state, have been put on high alert in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, especially in the villages close to the international border, following inputs on fresh attempts by Bangladesh-based underground outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT) trying to infiltrate.

Sources said that the alerts had been issued following inputs that some JMB and HUT activists, currently operating out of the Rajsahi and Chapai-Nawabganj districts in Bangladesh, are making attempts in small groups to illegally cross into the Indian territory in the Murshidabad district to reactivate the sleeper cells.

Tahira Kashyap took to social media to share an adorable and heartwarming moment of capturing a deer bowing to her in gratitude for some biscuits.

The sweet interaction at Nara Deer Park has left fans touched by the simplicity of the gesture and the reminder of the beauty of gratitude in nature. Kashyap reflected on the moment, drawing a parallel between the deer’s silent act of thankfulness and the importance of showing gratitude in everyday life. She shared how this encounter reminded her of the power of kindness and the small, often overlooked moments that carry a deep meaning.

India's business activity ended FY25 on a strong note, with the manufacturing sector posting a robust expansion in sales and production during March, driven by a rising demand for goods. Hiring, too, increased during the month, according to the HSBC Flash India survey released on Monday.

The HSBC Flash India Composite Output Index was stable at 58.6 in March compared to February's final reading of 58.8. The latest figure was above its long-run average of 54.7 and continued to indicate a strong growth.

The HSBC Flash India Manufacturing PMI increased from 56.3 in February to 57.6 in March, signalling a notable improvement in operating conditions that was broadly aligned with the average for FY25. Three of its five main sub-components — output, new orders and stocks of purchases — rose since last month, the survey showed.

Led by global capability centres (GCCs), the year 2024 marked a watershed year for the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector in India's commercial real estate, which leased 13.45 million square feet (sq ft), claiming a 17.4 per cent share of the annual leased space, a report showed on Monday.

Notably, the BFSI segment leased 31 million sq ft office space in the three-year period of 2022-2024, higher than even the 29 million sq ft leased in the previous six-year period of 2016-2021, according to a report by JLL.

Global BFSI firms accounted for a significant 59.0 per cent share of space leased by the BFSI sector in the last three years.

India's strong talent pool, digitisation push, financial inclusion, and consumption potential are key drivers of the BFSI sector's growth.

The government has made remarkable strides in combating tuberculosis -- the world’s deadliest infectious disease, said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on Monday.

World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed annually on March 24 to raise awareness about the condition. The theme this year is “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver”.

He also reaffirmed the government’s aim to eliminate TB by the end of 2025 -- a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017 to eradicate the infectious disease five years ahead of the global target.

“Our government has made remarkable strides in combating this disease through the National TB Elimination Programme,” Nadda said, in a post on social media platform X.