ModiWatch: On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated several railway projects worth over ₹6.6 billion in Tatanagar, Jharkhand, via video conferencing. He also flagged off six Vande Bharat trains earlier in the day at Tatanagar Junction.

Today, Prime Minister Modi will visit Gujarat. He will inaugurate the fourthGlobal Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST). Later, he will launch the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project, taking a ride from Section 1 Metro Station to GIFT City. In Ahmedabad, the PM will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth over ₹80 billion.

Kejriwal to resign, seeks early Delhi poll: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal announced he will step down as Delhi Chief Minister in two days once the party appoints a successor. In a speech at the AAP headquarters, he called for an early election in Delhi and pledged not to return to the CM's seat until he receives a “certificate of honesty” from the public.

Port Blair renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram: The Indian government has renamed Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, to Sri Vijaya Puram. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the change, stating that it reflects the islands' historical significance and their role in India's freedom struggle, while removing colonial imprints. He highlighted that the islands, once a naval base of the Chola Empire, now serve as a “critical base” for India's strategic and developmental ambitions.

India strengthens e-commerce exports with courier incentives: The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has extended export benefits under Duty Drawback, RoDTEP and RoSCTL schemes to courier exports. This move aims to bolster e-commerce exports, particularly for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, by creating a level playing field. The initiative is expected to enhance India's competitiveness in the global e-commerce sector, fostering inclusive growth and strengthening the country's export capabilities through the courier mode.

SCO ministers approve economic cooperation agreements: India’s Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal attended the twenty-third meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Ministers responsible for foreign trade and economic activities. The Ministers approved three documents – a framework for cooperation in the creative economy, a concept for collaboration between trade promotion organisations, and a plan for creating an economic preferences base. They also adopted a statement on fair trade and sustainable development. SCO is an intergovernmental organisation established with the aim of promoting cooperation and peace among its member states.

India's commerce ministry unveils new trade tools: Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal chaired the third meeting of the reconstituted Board of Trade, reaffirming the government's commitment to boost economic growth through stronger state partnerships. He launched the Department of Commerce’s Jan Sunwai Portal to provide a transparent platform for addressing trade concerns. Goyal also unveiled ECGC’s online service portal and updated SMILE-ERP system, aiming for full automation, quicker claim settlements, and a reduced carbon footprint. These digital innovations will streamline processes for exporters and banks, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

India paves the way for first-in-human clinical trials: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has signed agreements with multiple sponsors under its Phase 1 Clinical Trials Network, marking a major milestone in India's clinical research landscape. The agreements involve First-in-Human trials for four molecules, including a small molecule for multiple myeloma with Aurigene Oncology, a Zika vaccine with Indian Immunologicals, a seasonal influenza vaccine with Mynvax, and CAR-T cell therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with ImmunoACT. 

Revolutionising India's startup landscape: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is launching the Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR), a digital platform to enhance India’s startup ecosystem. Part of the Startup India programme, BHASKAR aims to centralise and streamline collaboration between startups, investors, mentors, service providers, and government bodies.

India champions sustainable agriculture: At the G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting in Cuiabá, Brazil, discussions focused on four areas – sustainable agriculture, boosting international trade to enhance food security, supporting family farmers and indigenous communities, and integrating sustainable fisheries into global value chains. Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Ram Nath Thakur also held bilateral meetings, reaffirming India's commitment to collaborating on global agricultural challenges.

I&B ministry to introduce smart AI dashboard for news analysis: The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry plans to launch an AI and Machine Learning-powered dashboard to analyse news stories and forecast trends, enhancing its response capability. Additionally, an AI-driven multilingual translation and voice localisation platform will be developed for effective public communication of government initiatives. The Ministry has issued a call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) for the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of this integrated system.

Delhi Today: Partly sunny.

Rajya Sabha: Not in session.

Lok Sabha: Not in session.