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India Adds Over 77,000 Medical Seats in Six Years to Strengthen Healthcare Workforce

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India has significantly expanded its medical education capacity over the past six years, adding 48,563 undergraduate (MBBS) seats and 29,080 postgraduate (MD/MS) seats between the 2020–21 and 2025–26 academic years, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed the Rajya Sabha. In a written response to an unstarred question, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said the expansion was carried out based on recommendations from the National Medical Commission (NMC), with a focus on addressing doctor shortages, particularly in underserved and remote regions. Data presented in Parliament shows a consistent year-on-year rise in MBBS seats, beginning with 2,963 additions in 2020–21. This was followed by 8,790 seats in 2021–22, 7,398 in 2022–23, 9,652 in 2023–24, and 8,641 in 2024–25. The largest annual increase came in 2025–26, with 11,119 new MBBS seats, taking the six-year total to 48,563. Postgraduate medical education also witnessed steady growth. PG seats increased by 4,983 in 2020–21 and 4,705 in 2021–22, before adding 2,874 seats in 2022–23. The momentum picked up again with 4,713 seats in 2023–24 and 4,186 in 2024–25. The highest single-year rise of 7,619 PG seats was recorded in 2025–26, bringing the cumulative increase to 29,080 seats. In addition, the Centre has approved the creation of 10,023 more medical seats under centrally sponsored schemes in government medical colleges between 2025–26 and 2028–29, further boosting capacity. The ministry said the expanded intake has contributed to improving the doctor-to-population ratio across several states, including Rajasthan, while also making medical education more accessible to Indian students and reducing the need to study abroad.   To address concerns over quality, the government noted that the NMC has implemented robust regulatory measures, such as the Minimum Standards Requirements, Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023, Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations 2023, and the Competency-Based Medical Education Curriculum Guidelines 2024, to ensure academic and clinical standards are maintained despite rapid expansion. Source: Indian Express  

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India Introduces AI Governance Guidelines to Ensure Safe and Responsible Adoption

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The Indian government has unveiled its first set of Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance guidelines, outlining a framework for the safe, transparent, and ethical use of AI technologies. The non-binding rules, released on Wednesday, are expected to shape India’s long-term vision for AI regulation ahead of the IndiaAI Impact Summit scheduled for February next year. Developed under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the guidelines recommend potential amendments to the Information Technology (IT) Act to better classify AI systems and define liability across the AI value chain. The document highlights that the current definition of “intermediary” under the IT Act — covering telecom operators, search engines, and even cyber cafés — is outdated in the context of autonomous AI systems capable of generating data independently. Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Sood noted that the new framework aims to provide clarity on responsibilities of AI developers and deployers, while also ensuring accountability. He added that the framework could serve as a model for AI governance in the Global South, especially for countries with limited regulatory resources. The guidelines also propose an India-specific AI risk assessment framework based on real-world harm evidence, along with a national database of AI incidents to track misuse, bias, and potential threats. This centralised repository will collect data from smaller regional databases managed by sectoral regulators, helping policymakers better understand the societal and security implications of AI technologies. The framework further recommends establishing new institutions to oversee AI policy, including an AI Governance Group—a permanent inter-ministerial body responsible for coordination and policy development—and leveraging the newly formed AI Safety Institute as the lead authority for ensuring safe and trusted AI use in India. Other key proposals include adopting regulatory sandboxes to allow innovation in controlled environments with limited legal exposure, and mandating accessible grievance redressal mechanisms through the existing Grievance Appellate Committee process. The guidelines also stress the need to update copyright laws to support large-scale AI model training and clarify digital platform classifications. MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan said the government is committed to acting when necessary to ensure AI is developed responsibly and ethically. The document, shaped after studying AI policies in the US, European Union, and China, and informed by over 2,500 submissions from stakeholders including academia, industry, and government bodies, marks a significant step in India’s effort to build a robust governance ecosystem for emerging technologies. Source: Economic Times

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DGCA proposes full airfare refund for passengers cancelling flights due to medical emergencies

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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued draft guidelines introducing new norms for airline ticket refunds and facilities for differently abled passengers. Under the proposed regulations, passengers who cancel their flight due to a medical emergency will be eligible for a full refund or a credit note, marking a significant consumer-friendly reform in air travel policies. The aviation regulator has also clarified that airlines will bear direct responsibility for processing refunds, even for tickets booked through travel agents or online portals, since these intermediaries act as the airline’s representatives. Refunds must be completed within 21 working days, as per the draft titled “Refund of Airline Tickets to Passengers of Public Transport Undertakings.” Public feedback on these proposals is open until November 30, 2025. In another passenger-friendly change, the DGCA has suggested extending the free ticket amendment window from 24 hours to 48 hours, provided the modification is made at least five days before a domestic flight or 15 days before an international flight. This replaces the earlier seven-day uniform rule for all routes. Separately, the DGCA has finalized updated norms to improve the air travel experience for differently abled passengers. Airlines may now charge able-bodied passengers who request wheelchair assistance, ensuring the limited supply remains available to those who genuinely need it. Airports will also face stricter obligations — they must provide ambulifts for passengers using wheelchairs and, where unavailable, towable ramps or stepladders as alternatives. Disability rights advocates, however, have criticized the latter provision as a step backward. Furthermore, airports are required to ensure clear signage, designated cab drop-off zones, and adequate staff to assist differently abled travellers. They are also encouraged to introduce digital navigation maps to enhance accessibility and independence for such passengers. Source: The Hindu

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CPCB detects heavy metals in air across Delhi and nine other Indian cities

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The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that heavy metals such as copper, zinc, chromium, and molybdenum have been detected in the air of ten Indian cities, including Delhi, where they constitute between 0.1% and 2.1% of the total PM10 concentration. The other cities included in the study are Jaipur, Bhopal, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam, and Chennai. For Delhi, the CPCB collected air samples from Pitampura, Siri Fort, Janakpuri, and Shahdara during June and July 2025. The analysis followed an NGT directive from last year, which took suo motu cognisance of a Times of India report highlighting the presence of heavy metals in PM2.5 particles in East Delhi’s air. According to CPCB’s findings, these metals are typically bound to airborne particulate matter, meaning that reducing PM concentrations would likely lower their levels as well. During the monitoring period, Delhi’s average PM10 concentration was recorded at 130 µg/m³, with copper at 55.13 ng/m³, chromium at 12.25 ng/m³, molybdenum at 0.91 ng/m³, and zinc at 243.5 ng/m³. Previous studies have shown that chromium, copper, zinc, molybdenum, and lead are among the most common heavy metals present in PM2.5 in Delhi and other cities. The Heavy Metal Exposure Index (HEI) developed by researchers showed that East Delhi had one of the highest toxicity loads before the COVID-19 lockdown, later surpassed by Ludhiana. Areas such as Mayur Vihar, Dilshad Garden, and Laxmi Nagar were found to have significant levels. Lead researcher Kanhaiya Lal noted that India lacks national ambient air quality standards for several heavy metals, unlike countries such as Canada, which have established benchmarks. He also warned that airborne heavy metals pose serious health risks due to their toxic nature. The CPCB reiterated that under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) — launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change — India aims to achieve up to a 40% reduction in PM10 levels or meet the national standard of 60 µg/m³ by 2025–26, using 2017–18 as the baseline year. Source: TNN

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Nearly 8,000 Indian Schools Have No Students but 20,000 Teachers on Payroll

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In a startling revelation, official data shows that nearly 8,000 schools across India recorded zero student enrolments during the 2024–25 academic year, despite having over 20,000 teachers on their payrolls. West Bengal leads the list with the highest number of schools without students (3,812) and 17,965 teachers still employed in them. According to the Ministry of Education’s latest statistics, 7,993 schools across the country had no enrolments, marking an improvement from 12,954 such schools the previous year. Telangana ranked second with 2,245 schools having no students and 1,016 teachers, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 463 schools and 223 teachers. Interestingly, Haryana, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura reported no schools with zero enrolments. The same was true for Union Territories such as Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Daman and Diu, and Chandigarh, along with Delhi. A senior education ministry official said that since school education is a state subject, respective governments have been advised to tackle the issue by merging underutilized schools to make better use of infrastructure and staff resources. In Uttar Pradesh, 81 schools had no enrolments. The UP Board has already begun the process of revoking recognition for institutions that have not recorded any admissions for three consecutive years. The data also highlights another pressing issue — the existence of over 1 lakh single-teacher schools across India, catering to more than 33 lakh students. Andhra Pradesh leads in the number of such schools, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep. However, in terms of student enrolment, Uttar Pradesh tops the list, followed by Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. Notably, the count of single-teacher schools dropped by nearly 6%, from 1,18,190 in 2022–23 to 1,10,971 in 2023–24, signaling gradual progress toward teacher rationalization. Source: PTI 

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Parliament Panel Seeks Legal, Tech Framework to Combat AI-Driven Fake News

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A parliamentary panel has urged the government to put in place robust legal and technological mechanisms to track, identify, and penalize those responsible for spreading AI-generated fake news. In its draft report, the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology — chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey — emphasized the need for a balanced use of Artificial Intelligence. While AI is being applied to detect misinformation, the report cautioned that the same technology can also generate and amplify it. The report has been submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and will be tabled in the upcoming session. The committee has recommended stronger coordination between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and other concerned departments. Among its proposals are exploring licensing requirements for AI content creators and introducing mandatory labelling for AI-generated text, videos, and images. It also highlighted ongoing government-backed projects such as deep learning-based speech detection systems and software tools designed to identify deepfake videos and images. The MeitY has already set up a nine-member panel to study deepfake-related challenges. While ministries have cautioned that AI in its current state cannot independently fact-check complex issues, the committee suggested using AI as a first filter to flag suspicious content, followed by human verification. Calling fake news a “serious threat” to democracy and public order, the panel urged amendments in penal laws, higher fines, and greater accountability. It also suggested mandating fact-checking units and internal ombudsmen in all media organizations, while stressing that such measures should be built through consensus among stakeholders. Although committee recommendations are not binding, they often guide government policy due to their bipartisan weight. Source: PTI

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Chronic Disease Deaths Rising in India, Women Face Higher Risk: Lancet Report

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India has recorded a troubling rise in deaths from chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, with women disproportionately affected, according to a new global analysis published in The Lancet. The study, led by researchers at Imperial College London in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), assessed the probability of dying from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) before the age of 80 across 185 countries. Findings show that while 4 out of 5 countries witnessed a decline in premature mortality linked to chronic conditions between 2010 and 2019, India — along with Papua New Guinea — bucked the trend, reporting increases for both men and women. Alarmingly, Indian women experienced a steeper rise in risk compared to men. “Heart disease and diabetes were major contributors to India’s increase in deaths from chronic illnesses,” the researchers noted. By contrast, nations such as China, Egypt, Nigeria, Russia, and Brazil reported reductions in NCD-related mortality for both sexes. Globally, declines in deaths from cancers and cardiovascular conditions were offset by increases in fatalities caused by dementia, alcohol use disorders, and pancreatic and liver cancers. The findings are significant in the context of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030. Researchers warn that without urgent investment and targeted interventions, India risks falling further behind in tackling its chronic disease burden. The report comes just ahead of the UN General Assembly’s high-level meeting on September 25, where world leaders will revisit global strategies to prevent and control NCDs, as well as promote mental health and well-being. Source: PTI Photo Credit: iStock  

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Govt to Unveil Centralised Digital Music Licensing Registry by October 2025

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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) is gearing up to launch a centralised digital music licensing registry within the next two months, in collaboration with rights societies. The initiative, expected to go live by October 2025, is part of a broader strategy to expand and streamline India’s live entertainment industry. The announcement followed the first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on live events, held on 26 August at the National Media Centre and chaired by I&B secretary Sanjay Jaju. Representatives from multiple ministries—including culture, youth affairs and sports, skill development, finance and DPIIT—participated, along with the Sports Authority of India and state governments from Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. Key industry players such as BookMyShow, Wizcraft, Saregama, District by Zomato and Touchwood Entertainment, along with associations like Ficci, CII, Eema and Ilea, also joined the deliberations. Rights organisations including IPRS, PPL, RMPL and IMI Trust were part of the discussions. Among the major takeaways were plans to integrate approvals for live events into the India Cine Hub portal to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, create a model policy for multi-use of public venues like stadiums, and include live-entertainment skills in the national skills framework. Proposals for financial incentives—such as GST relaxations, blended finance options, subsidies and MSME recognition—were also put on the table. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently highlighted live entertainment as a catalyst for employment, tourism and cultural impact. The sector, currently valued at ₹20,861 crore (2024), is expanding at nearly 15% annually, driven by increasing demand in both metro and emerging cities, as well as growing interest in music tourism. According to Jaju, the government’s ambition is to position India among the world’s top five live entertainment destinations by 2030, unlocking the potential for 15–20 million jobs. “The JWG will focus on leveraging the concert economy to boost infrastructure, create jobs, attract tourists and strengthen India’s soft power,” he noted. The JWG, constituted in July under the directive of Union I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, will continue to meet periodically to monitor progress and submit policy suggestions. Its work builds on the recommendations outlined in the white paper India’s Live Events Economy: A Strategic Growth Imperative, presented earlier this year at the Waves 2025 summit. Source: PIB

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Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka Meets President Murmu, Strengthens Bilateral Ties with India

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Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday as part of his ongoing official visit to India. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Fijian counterpart held bilateral talks in New Delhi, followed by a joint press briefing. PM Modi described India and Fiji as partners with “aspirations that sail in the same boat,” underlining the enduring friendship between the two nations. Key Announcements and Cooperation The talks led to several landmark decisions. India announced support for building a hospital in Fiji, sending agriculture drones, training Fijian cricketers and Hindu priests (Pandits), and deputing Hindi and Sanskrit teachers to the island nation. A joint statement issued after the talks highlighted a strong stance against terrorism. Both leaders “unequivocally condemned” the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives, reaffirmed zero tolerance for terrorism, and rejected any double standards on the issue. They also agreed to work together to counter radicalisation, terror financing, misuse of emerging technologies, and cross-border recruitment by extremist groups. Shared Global Vision India and Fiji pledged to deepen cooperation at the UN and other multilateral platforms to combat terrorism and advance global peace. The leaders also exchanged views on climate justice, inclusive development, and amplifying the voice of the Global South. PM Rabuka commended India’s leadership role in championing the concerns of developing nations. Both sides stressed the urgent need for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations, including expanding the Security Council to reflect present-day geopolitical realities. Fiji reiterated its support for India’s bid for permanent membership in a reformed UNSC and endorsed India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat for 2028–29. South-South Cooperation The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening South-South cooperation, emphasising it as a crucial tool in tackling global challenges and ensuring fairer representation in international governance. Rabuka arrived in New Delhi on Sunday to begin his official visit, which will continue until August 26. Source: ANI

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Russia Eyes Indian Workforce Amid Labour Shortages: Envoy Vinay Kumar

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Russian industries are increasingly turning to India to fill gaps in their workforce. According to India’s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, companies in machinery and electronics are showing strong interest in recruiting Indian workers. “At a broader level, there is a manpower requirement in Russia and India has a skilled workforce. Within the framework of Russian regulations, laws, and quotas, companies are hiring Indians,” Kumar told TASS. While most Indians currently employed in Russia work in construction and textiles, the demand in machinery and electronics is growing. The influx of Indian workers is putting additional pressure on consular services. Kumar highlighted the growing need for assistance with passports, births, and other essential documentation. To manage the workload, India is opening a new Consulate General in Yekaterinburg. Andrey Besedin, head of the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “By the end of the year, around 1 million specialists from India will come to Russia, including to the Sverdlovsk region.” The region, home to heavy industries such as Uralmash and the T-90 tank manufacturer Ural Wagon Zavod, is struggling with labour shortages as many local workers are deployed in the Ukraine conflict and younger generations shy away from factory jobs. Indian workers first began arriving in Russian regions in 2024, starting with Kaliningrad’s Za Rodinu fish processing complex. Russia’s Labour Ministry projects a workforce deficit of 3.1 million by 2030 and plans to raise the quota for foreign skilled workers by 1.5 times in 2025, allowing 0.23 million hires. Besedin also mentioned Russia’s consideration of labour from Sri Lanka and North Korea, though the process is more complicated. Hiring Indians, however, is seen as a strategic move to sustain industrial output and address long-term workforce gaps in critical sectors. Source: Economic Times

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