Blog

23 Aug

Himalayan Social Pilot: Monthly Grants to Households Beyond 3,000 m

MohiniNepal

Nepal has launched a pioneering Universal Basic Income (UBI) pilot targeting households in remote mountain districts—specifically those located above 3,000 meters. Eligible families receive NPR 3,000 (~US$23) per month, with payments made via mobile banking or local cooperatives. Ministry evaluations over the next year will assess impacts on nutrition, school attendance, and migration patterns. This UBI pilot could inform broader social security policies across Bhutan, northern India, and Bangladesh’s hill districts, where terrain and poverty pose similar service delivery challenges.

23 Aug

UK Parliament Passes Major Housing Reforms to Address Shortage

MohiniInternational

In a sweeping legislative session last night, the UK Parliament passed the Homes (Escalation Prevention) Act, featuring new rent control measures, £1.5 billion in funding to refurbish social housing, and a revival of “right-to-buy” schemes with capped discounts. Tenants and housing advocates largely welcomed the reforms. Critics cautioned that without structural changes, the policy may only provide temporary relief. Still, the reforms will significantly affect rental dynamics in cities like London and Manchester. Observers in Nepal, Bangladesh, and South Asian metros are watching the UK model closely, exploring how rent control or homeownership incentives can stabilize housing access amid urbanization.

23 Aug

CM of Arunachal announces a significant initiative for women’s empowerment in the state

Banasree SarkarArunachal Pradesh

In order to empower women and improve child development in the state, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has announced a number of significant measures, emphasizing that "investing in women is investing in our future." Khandu described the government's renewed emphasis on women's welfare in a post on X, claiming that this would improve people's lives and change society as a whole. He wrote, "The entire society shines when women rise." The Dulari Kanya Scheme is one of the major initiatives that would offer Rs 50,000 in financial aid to girls who are pursuing higher education in an effort to…

22 Aug

Apollo Hospitals shares downfall 1% after its promoter sold stake worth ₹1,489 crore through a block deal

Business CorrespondentBusiness, News

Apollo Hospitals shares fell nearly 1% to a low of ₹7,852 per share after promoter and managing director Suneeta Reddy sold her 1.32% stake in the hospital chain through a block deal. According to reports, shares worth ₹1,489 crore were sold in the block deal and nearly 19 lakh shares were sold at a floor price of ₹7,850 per share, down nearly 1% from Thursday's close price. Citing people familiar with the matter, CNBC Awaaz had reported on Thursday that Reddy would sell 1.25% stake in the company. Suneeta Reddy holds a 3.36% stake in Apollo Hospitals as of June…

22 Aug

Clear scalp, confident hair: Plum’s Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with Volcanic Minerals and 0.5% Salicylic Acid

Business BureauBusiness

Say hello to fuss-free hair days with Plum’s Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, where science meets self-care. Thoughtfully designed to tackle dandruff while keeping your strands smooth and frizz-free, its scalp care is made simple, and effective. Plum brings a refreshing twist to scalp care with its Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, a clean yet powerful solution designed to keep flakes and frizz at bay. Infused with 0.5% Salicylic Acid for gentle exfoliation, Piroctone Olamine to target dandruff-causing microbes, and mineral-rich volcanic extracts to soothe and purify, the shampoo delivers up to 72 hours of dandruff and frizz control. The result is a scalp that feels…

22 Aug

PM Modi’s address recalling the Pahalgam Operation in Bihar: “Vowed and Delivered”

Banasree SarkarNational

Speaking at a public event in Gaya, Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the nation's commitment to "turning words into action" by pointing to the effective elimination of terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam incident. "The land of Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya is Bihar. The decisions made here are never taken lightly because they will have a significant impact on the nation's destiny," Modi stated. In reference to his previous promise made from Bihar's territory, the prime minister stated, "I vowed to reduce the terrorists to dust when the Pahalgam terror attack occurred. Operation Sindoor fulfilled that promise, which…

22 Aug

Vedanta To Pay Rs 16 Per Share

Purbalee Duttabreaking news

On August 21, Vedanta Ltd announced a second interim dividend of ₹16 per share for FY26, amounting to ₹6,256 crore. The record date for this dividend is August 27, 2025. In a stock exchange filing, the company confirmed the Board’s approval of the dividend at its meeting held on the same day. Earlier, in June, Vedanta had declared a first interim dividend of ₹7 per share. In FY25, the company paid a total of ₹17,000 crore to shareholders, translating to ₹43.5 per share. According to a May 1 note by JPMorgan, Vedanta's dividend payout may nearly halve to ₹25 per…

22 Aug

As Tripura University’s acting vice chancellor, Prof. Shyamal Das assumes leadership

Sonakshi SarkarTripura

Tripura University has appointed Prof. Shyamal Das, the senior-most professor of the institution, as its temporary vice-chancellor, an official notification issued on Thursday confirmed. The appointment comes following the retirement of former Vice-Chancellor Ganga Prasad Prasin on August 16. Prof. Das, from the Department of English, will serve as the temporary vice-chancellor for a period of one year, or until a regular appointment is made, whichever occurs first, according to the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Registrar Deepak Sharma clarified that, as per standard university procedure, the senior-most professor assumes charge of the vice-chancellor’s office whenever the position falls…

22 Aug

The Congress youth wing claims that the Mizoram chief minister misled the public on BSF recruitment

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

The youth wing of the opposition Congress on Thursday accused Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma of misleading the public regarding the upcoming recruitment of 300 youths from the state into the Border Security Force (BSF). At a press conference, Youth Congress leaders claimed that the chief minister had recently posted on social media that the recruitment drive—including 45 women candidates—was announced on August 18 following his request to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Countering this, opposition leaders asserted that the recruitment is part of a routine process and not the result of any intervention by Lalduhoma. They highlighted that the Ministry…

22 Aug

Nepal Looks to Carbon Markets—but Communities Might Be Left Behind

MohiniNepal

Nepal plans to secure $75 million from forest-based carbon storage projects by 2028, with carbon trading regulations nearing final approval. However, concerns are rising that local communities may be excluded from benefits due to institutional hurdles and bureaucratic layers. This highlights a key issue for South Asian environmental planning: ensuring that community-led conservation projects also receive fair financial return.