Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2025 Set to Resume After Five-Year Pause
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will officially resume in 2025 after being suspended for five years due to the pandemic and border tensions. Scheduled from June to August, the pilgrimage will follow two routes — through Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. The Ministry of External Affairs will organize five batches via Lipulekh and ten batches via Nathu La, each accommodating 50 pilgrims. Applicants must meet strict health criteria, including a BMI under 25. The reopening of this sacred journey symbolizes a significant step in restoring religious, cultural, and diplomatic ties.
Hubballi Airport Awarded Platinum Honour for Sustainability Efforts
Hubballi Airport in Karnataka has been awarded the prestigious Platinum Recognition under the Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific & Middle East’s Green Airports Recognition 2025. The award highlights the airport’s significant strides in promoting green energy, particularly through its 8-megawatt solar power plant. This solar initiative not only powers Hubballi but also supports Belagavi and Mysuru airports, significantly cutting carbon emissions by over 215,000 tonnes. The award was presented at the ACI Regional Assembly in New Delhi. Hubballi Airport’s achievement positions it among top global airports leading the way in sustainable aviation practices.
Filmmaker Payal Kapadia Honoured with France’s Officier des Arts et des Lettres
Celebrated Mumbai-based filmmaker Payal Kapadia has been awarded the prestigious Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government, recognizing her outstanding contribution to cinema and cultural ties. The honour was presented by France’s Consul General in Mumbai, Jean-Marc Sere-Charlet. Kapadia, whose Indo-French film All We Imagine As Light won the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, expressed deep gratitude for the recognition. She now joins an illustrious list of Indian artists like Amitabh Bachchan and Lata Mangeshkar who have previously received this distinguished French award.
India Plans 49% Foreign Investment Cap in Nuclear Energy Sector
India is set to allow up to 49% foreign direct investment (FDI) in its nuclear power sector, aiming to attract global capital and advanced technology. This proposal would require amending the Atomic Energy Act, 1960, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. The government plans to introduce these changes in the monsoon session of Parliament in July 2025. The move supports India’s ambition to expand nuclear capacity from 8 GW to 100 GW by 2047. Major Indian conglomerates and global firms like Westinghouse and EDF have already shown strong interest in participating.
Anant Ambani Joins Reliance Industries Board as Executive Director
Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, has been appointed Executive Director of RIL for a five-year term starting May 1, 2025, subject to shareholder approval. Previously serving as a non-executive director, Anant has been actively involved in RIL’s new energy and sustainability initiatives, supporting the group’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2035. A graduate of Brown University, he also holds key positions in Jio Platforms, Reliance Retail Ventures, and Reliance New Energy. His elevation signals the next phase of leadership transition within India’s largest corporate conglomerate.
Eminent Historian M.G.S. Narayanan Passes Away at 92
Muttayil Govinda Sankara Narayanan, better known as M.G.S. Narayanan, the renowned historian and former Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research, passed away at the age of 92 on April 26, 2025. Born in Kerala, he was a distinguished scholar specializing in the history of Kerala and ancient South Indian dynasties. Narayanan’s notable work, Perumals of Kerala, explored the Chera dynasty’s history. A former head of the History Department at the University of Calicut, he made lasting contributions to historical research. His death has sparked tributes from across India, celebrating his legacy in academia.