72nd National Film Awards 2026: Who Won Best Actor, Best Actress And Best Film?

The 72nd National Film Awards winners have been announced in New Delhi. This time awards, selected by a jury headed by Malayalam filmmaker Jayaraj, recognised films certified by the CBFC between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024. Let’s take a look at the 72nd National Film Awards complete winners list here:

72nd National Film Awards 2026 Complete Winners List: Feature Categories

Category	Winner
Best Feature Film	Article 370
Best Actor	Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion), Mammootty (Bramayugam)
Best Actress	Yami Gautam (Article 370)
Best Director	Rajkumar Periasamy (Amaran)
Best Supporting Actress	Ropashree Varkady (Mithya), Sachana Namidass (Maharaja)
Best Supporting Actor	Sanjay Mishra (Bhakshak)
Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment	Kalki 2898 AD
Best Film Promoting National & Social Values	Captain Miller
Best Child Artist	Riddhiman Banerjee, Tapomoy Deb, Gitashree Chakraborty, Arundev Pothula, Athish S Shetty
Best Cinematography	Bramayugam – Shehnad Jalaal
Best Screenplay	Pushpa 2 – Sukumar
Best Dialogue Writer	Lucky Baskhar – Venky Atluri
Best Production Design	Kalki 2898 AD
Best Action Direction	Anl Arasu (Maharaja)
Best Make-Up Artist	Committee Kurrollu
Best Costume Design	Pushpa 2 – Deepali Noor & Sheetal Sharma
Best Music Direction (Songs)	Article 370 – Shashwat Sachdev
Best Background Music	GV Prakash (Amaran)
Best Lyrics	Manoj Muntashir (Maidaan)
Best Male Playback Singer	Abhay Jodhpurkar – Gharat Ganpati (Navasachi Gauri Mazi)
Best Female Playback Singer	Vaikom Vijayalakshmi – Angu Vaana Konilu (ARM)
Best Choreography	Vijay Ganguly (Stree 2)
Best Sound Design	Manas Choudhury (Bhool Bhulaiya 3)
Best Editing	R. Kalaivannan (Amaran)
Best Assamese Film	Juiphool
Best Bengali Film	Chalchitra Ekhon
Best Hindi Film	Srikanth
Best Kannada Film	Mithya
Best Malayalam Film	Feminichi Fathima
Best Marathi Film	Mukkam Post Bombilwadi
Best Odia Film	Lahari
Best Tamil Film	Raayan
Best Garhwali Film	Dholi
Best Telugu Film	Committee Kurrollu
Best Gujarati Film	Maaran
Best Manipuri Film	Sunita
Best Konkani Film	Mog Asum
Best Tulu Film	IMBU
Special Mention	Dhanush (Captain Miller), Suren G (Meiyazhagan)

National Film Awards Winners 2026 – Non-Feature Categories

Category	Winner
Best Film Critic	Sanjeev Shrivastava (Hindi)
Best Book on Cinema	Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi by Kenchanuru Pradeep Kumar Shetty
Special Mention	Bhadra-Kali Natakam (Malayalam) – Director: Ananda Jyothi (Jose Antony)
Special Mention	Chola Dora aur Sui (Hindi) – Directors: Jaymin Modi & Lokesh Ghai
Best Narrator/Voice Over	Soundarya Jayachandran – Little Planet: A Tale of Frogs
Best Music Direction	Shivpal Singh Kang – Parat 41°chya Magavar (On the Trail of 41°)
Best Editing	Manvir Jasrotia – NDA
Best Sound Design	T. S. Hari Hara Sudhan – Blue
Best Cinematography	Edmond Ranson – Life in Loom
Best Direction	Aanand L. Rai – Statue of Unity: Ekta ka Prateek
Best Short Film (Up to 30 Minutes)	Hamsafar (Marathi) – Director: Abhijeet Arvind Dalvi
Best Animation Film	Touched as Water (Silent) – Director & Animator: Joshy Benedict
Best Film Promoting Social & Environmental Values	Piplantri: A Tale of Eco Feminism – Director: Suraj Kumar
Best Documentary	Ram-Nami – Director: Bharatbala Ganapathy
Best Arts/Culture Film	Main Nida – Director: Atul Pandey
Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction Film	Kakori – Director: Kamlesh K. Mishra
Best Debut Film of a Director	Angen (Invisible) (Santhali) – Ravi Raj Murmu
Best Non-Feature Film	Bhangaar (Obsolete) (Marathi & English) – Sumira Roy

Andy Burnham Confirmed as UK Labour Leader, Set to Become Prime Minister

Andy Burnham elected as the leader of the Labour Party. Consequently, he will assume the charge of the Prime Minster’s office by Monday on 20th July, 2026. Mr. Burnham takes over the position from Sir Keir Starmer who resigned form the party last month. Mr. Burnham’s elevation represents a huge milestone in British politics, making him the seventh Prime Minister during the past decade. During the inaugural speech, Mr. Burnham assured the public of the reinstatement of trust in the government and implementation of policies stressing public service, regional development and economic recovery.

Andy Burnham has been named Leader of the Labour Party.

Shabana Mahmood made the announcement during a meeting of the Labour National Executive Committee in London.

Burnham became the only option for the post after former Prime Minister Keir Starmer stepped down in June 2026. Burnham was therefore acclaimed as the new head of the party without any opposition.

He may be appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Monday, thus starting a new era for the Labour government.

Burnham’s Background and Career

Burnham has been active in Labour politics for over 20 years alongside his work as a journalist before entering politics, having first entered the House of Commons in 2001.

He has a long experience of politics as an MP, having served as a minister in Labour governments before assuming influential positions in his party.

Burnham has gained national prominence as a regional politician facilitating local governance with a great deal of success.

Political Significance of Burnham’s Ascendancy

Burnham’s promotion comes when it can be described as politically important for the UK.

He will be the seventh British prime minister in 10 years, pulling through an era of political upheaval.

Experts believe that it might lead the Labour party to new avenues in terms of governance by putting more emphasis on:

The development of economy in regions.
Increased independence of local governments.
The improvement of public services.
The economy that ensues inclusiveness.
The decrease of political divisions.

His background in local government could also shape future developments in governance reform.

Gujarat Tops NITI Aayog’s First Investment Friendliness Index for States

The introduction of NITI Aayog’s Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) marks a significant moment in terms of India’s investment climate. The purpose of the index is to gauge how ready each of the 36 States and Union Territories in India are for accepting the investments based on different parameters of governance and economy, thus allowing the policymakers to know the strengths and weaknesses of each State Union Territory. This time, Gujarat was declared the best large State, whereas Goa was revealed as the best Union Territory and city State in ITI’s first ranking of investment friendliness of various regions of India. The index’s main purpose is not to create a competition, but rather to serve as a measure for the approval of the policies and engagement in reforms aimed at boosting investment climate across the country.

What is the Investment Friendliness Index?

The Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) is a new benchmarking mechanism launched by NITI Aayog to assess how friendly each State and Union Territory is for the attraction and sustenance of investments.

The index evaluates total investment readiness through 84 indicators structured into eight important pillars. Although not a conventional ranking exercise, the IFI seeks to provide governments with insights into their performance so that appropriate reforms to facilitate ease of doing business and investment climate may be introduced.

A major revelation made by the first edition is the fact that no State or Union Territory has crossed the 60-point mark on a scale of 100, and showing that there is still a lot to do.

Gujarat Becomes the Top-Performing Large State

Gujarat has attained a score of 56.6 out of 100 among the 17 large states of the India comfortably becoming the best performing large state in country.

Top Four Large States

Rank	State	Score
1	Gujarat	56.6
2	Maharashtra	Around 53
3	Tamil Nadu	Around 53
4	Odisha	52.4

It is because of the high score in the areas of infrastructure, quality of power supply, and efficiency of ports which makes Gujarat one of the most attractive investment options in the country.

Eight Pillars Used to Assess Investment Friendliness

The Investment Friendliness Index evaluates the each State and Union Territory by using eight broad pillars that influence investment decisions.

These includes,

Infrastructure
Business Climate
Resources
Government Policy
Regulatory Ease
Financial Health
Institutional Environment
Environmental Resilience

Top Performers Across Categories

The creative efforts of the states and territories have been categorized in several ways under the Investment Friendliness Index.

1. Major States

Gujarat
Maharashtra
Tamil Nadu
Odisha

2. Hilly and North Eastern States:

Uttarakhand (Score: 47.5)
Assam
Himachal Pradesh

3. City States & Union Territories:

Goa (Score: 53.1)
Delhi
Chandigarh

Indeed, there were five jurisdictions that scored above the 50-mark and were called the “Top Performers”. The jurisdictions include,

Goa
Gujarat
Maharashtra
Odisha
Tamil Nadu

Moreover, a total of 15 states/UTs were placed in the category of “Frontrunners” with scores ranging from 45 to 50 while eight other states/UTs were classified as “Aspiring States” with scores below 40.

Individual Pillar Leaders

According to one of the findings of the report, there is no one state that has performed well in all aspects.

Infrastructure

Chandigarh scored highest at a national level (15/25).
Gujarat was the leading state amongst large states with a score of 13.7 due to good ports and reliable power.
Himachal Pradesh did well amongst hill states.

Business climate

Amongst large states, Maharashtra did the best.
Amongst city-states, Delhi ranked on top.
Sikkim emerged the best in the hill and northeastern states.

Resources

Goa got the highest score.
Odisha was the performing state amongst large states.
Himachal Pradesh scored high amongst hill states.

Government policies

Madhya Pradesh was the leading large state.
Puducherry was the leading city-state.
Assam did well for hilly states.

Ease of regulations

Chhattisgarh was the leading state.
Goa and Meghalaya scored highest in their respective areas.

The results suggest that the states have excelled in several areas of investment facilitation.

NITI Aayog: The Index Is Not a Competition

During the launch of the report, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Lahiri insisted that this initiative was never meant to spur competition amongst the states.

According to him, the aim of the index is to provide feedback based on facts and allow governments to target areas where reforms are necessary.

He pointed out that while the national government lays down the policies in general terms, ultimately the money gets invested in the states, emphasizing the fact that reforms at the state level will be necessary to realize the Viksit Bharat vision.

Maharashtra Legislature Moves Towards Implementation of NeVA Under Digital India Programme

Maharashtra set to implement the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) program which is set up by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs under the Digital India Program. The plan adheres to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s motto “One Nation One Application”. The introduction of the NeVA will lean towards digitizing the functioning of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council which shall not only increase their efficiency but also make them available to the common people.

Maharashtra Legislature to Fast-Track NeVA Implementation

To speed up the implementation of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) in Maharashtra, a meeting was recently held at Vidhan Bhawan in Mumbai.

This high-level meeting was attended by officials from the following departments,

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India
Department of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Maharashtra
Secretariat of Maharashtra Legislature

The meeting resulted in the agreement of departments to complete signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), needed for the implementation of the given program.

In this way Maharashtra is confirming its willingness to modernize processes of legislative power through the help of technology.

What Is the National e-Vidhan Application?

The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is one of the Mission Mode Projects being run by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs under the Digital India Program.
The idea behind NeVA is to digitize the working of all 37 State Legislatures and Union Territory Legislatures through one integrated digital platform.
NeVA allows legislators to conduct all the legislative work in an electronic format thereby lesser dependency on paper.

Project Cost & Financial Outlay

The total amount allotted to the National e-Vidhan Application is ₹673.94 crore.

In Maharashtra the project comprises of T implementation in the following areas,

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
Maharashtra Legislative Council
Mumbai Legislature Complex
Nagpur Legislature Complex

The total expected cost for to implementing the NeVA project in Maharashtra is around ₹48 crore.

Further funding will be allocated to build the technical infrastructure, deploy the software, build the capacity, and support the project.

Advantages of NeVA for the Maharashtra Legislature

The introduction of NeVA is expected to revolutionize the legislative process in the state.

Some of the main advantages include,

Speeding up Legislative Processes
Ensured Transparency
Elimination of Excessive Paper Work
Promotion of Public Participation
Increased Efficiency

PM Modi Inaugurates Advanced Mother and Child Centre and Advanced Neurosciences Centre at PGIMER Chandigarh

Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially launched the Advanced Mother and Child Centre and the Advanced Neurosciences Centre at the Chandigarh’s Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. Also, Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone of a Modern Critical Care Block with 150 beds under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. The main objective behind these projects is to enhance the access to advanced medical facilities, improve the preparedness for the emergencies, and support medical education and research in Northern India.

PM Modi Unveils Top-Class Healthcare Facilities

Recently, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated two important healthcare facilities which would provide the excellent medical support.

The event was attended by Punjab Governor along with Union ministers J.P. Nadda and Ashwini Vaishnaw as well as Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari.

Apart from these inaugurations, PM also laid the foundation stone for a 150-bed Critical Care Block under PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission which will help strengthen the Intensive Care and Disaster Preparedness services.

In his address, PM said that these new healthcare facilities would bring immense relief to thousands of people living in Chandigarh and surrounding areas.

Key Features of the New PGIMER Facilities

Advanced Mother and Child Centre

The Advanced Mother and Child Centre has just been set up with the aim of to providing comprehensive tertiary healthcare services to women and children.

Main Features

300-bed advanced facility
Specialized care for complicated pregnancies
Advanced neonatal care
Care of critically ill newborn babies
Pediatric special care
Modern diagnostic facilities and clinics
Complete maternal and child health services

The centre is expected to help the thousands of families by providing easy access to specialized healthcare services.

Advanced Neurosciences Centre

The Advanced Neurosciences Centre is the next big step in the field of neurological healthcare in our area.

The centre provides various services like,

Neurology care
Neurosurgery
Neuro-critical care
Advanced neurological care
Integrated care services
Research and medical teaching facilities

Foundation Stone Laid for 150-Bed Critical Care Block

The Prime Minister has also inaugurated the construction of a contemporary Critical Care Block under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).

The facility will play an important role in,

Strengthening emergency medical services
Enhancing ICU capacity
Developing resources for disaster response
Improving the infrastructure of medical institutions in the area
Optimizing management of medical emergencies

The initiative aims at modernization of India’s healthcare structure undertaken by the government.

Key Statements by PM Narendra Modi

In his speech, the Prime Minister underlined how the health industry has transformed across the country over the last 12 years.

Some of the main statements are,

Since 2014, 15 new AIIMS have been sanctioned.
Many new medical colleges have been set up.
Cancer treatment facilities have been enhanced greatly.
India has become one of the top options for health tourists.
Over 175000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are active throughout the country.
More than 480 million consultations have been held over eSanjeevani telehealth facility.
More than 90% deliveries are done in hospitals now.
Maternal mortality has decreased.
Infant mortality has lowered down.
Approval has been granted for a new MBBS college at PGIMER Chandigarh and admissions shall be starting soon.

What Is EPFO VISHWAS 2026? Benefits, Eligibility and Key Features Explained

The VISHWAS 2026 scheme, which is a one-time scheme introduced by the Employees’= Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), is aimed at to helping all employers in resolving their issues which have been pending for a long time with regard to the damages and penalties. This scheme has been launched by the Ministry of Labour & Employment with the aim of minimizing litigation, encouraging the compliance voluntarily, and increasing coordination in the management of social security in India. The VISHWAS scheme, which was started on June 29th, has introduced new penalties that are lower than the existing penalties applicable in most of the cases.

What is VISHWAS 2026?

VISHWAS 2026 is an initiative to resolve the disputes that has been started by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation under the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

This scheme aims to resolve the disputes regarding damages caused under Section 14B of the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and also penalties that are levied under Section 128 of the Code on Social Security, 2020.

The scheme has been notified by the way of G.S.R. 525(E), on 29 June 2026 as part of the EPF Scheme, 2026 and is valid for the six months from the date of notification.

What Was the Reason for EPFO to Launch VISHWAS 2026?

The main goal of the scheme is to settle the disputes that have been unresolved for the long time while motivating organizations to conform to the EPF rules voluntarily.

The main aims are,

Reducing the cases of disputes regarding the EPF compensations and fines
Helping employers fulfill rules without any pressure
Resolving cases faster
Supporting the employees
Making the settlement easy with the help of technology
Improving social protection administration in India

EPFO proposes lenient fine rates to enable organizations to pay fines instead of going through long disputes.

Which Cases are Eligible to be Covered Under the Scheme of VISHWAS 2026?

The scheme has four categories of cases as mentioned below,

Cases Still Running Before the Courts

Cases involving disputes for which judgment has been pronounced in the respect of the imposition of penalty of damages are being challenged in courts and tribunals.

Cases of Final Orders Assigned for Recovery

Cases which involving final orders of penalty or damages passed but with recovery being still pending or only partially completed. This includes Recovery Certificate (RC) cases.

Issuance of Notices but Pending Final Orders

Cases issued notices but there is no final orders have yet been passed.

Cases Where Notices have not been Issued

Even cases in which there are no notices issued are covered under the scheme.

Lower Penalty Rates as per VISHWAS 2026

A major benefit of the scheme is significant reduction in penalty and damage rates for defaults occurring prior to 14th June 2024.

Following the revised rates are,

Period of Default	Discounted Penalty Rate
Less than 2 months	0.25% per month
Between more than 2 months and up to 4 months	0.50% per month
More than 4 months	1.00% per month

The purpose of these concessional rates is to expedite resolution of outstanding disputes.

Eligibility Criteria for Employers

In order to benefit from the provisions of the VISHWAS 2026, certain requirements must be fulfilled.

Employers must have to,

Ensure the complete deposit of statutory interest applicable in terms of Section 7Q of the EPF & MP Act, 1952 or Section 127 of the Code on Social Security, 2020 before applying for the scheme.

Provide an undertaking stating that no more appeals will be initiated in respect of the disputes settled under the scheme. Apply for the scheme within the time period prescribed.

If the eligibility requirements are not complied with, an employer may become ineligible for getting benefits under VISHWAS 2026.

Cases Exempted from the Scheme

Certain groups of cases have also been excluded from the VISHWAS 2026, such as,

Cases where liability to pay has already been settled.
Cases arising out of cases of dishonest conduct or deliberate misstatement of facts.
Cases where statutory interest has not been deposited fully under the provisions.
These exclusions ensure that the scheme helps only genuine cases in complying voluntarily.

How to Apply for EPFO VISHWAS 2026

The applications under this scheme should be submitted online through the portal of EPFO for the employers.

The digital procedure involves the,

Logging in through Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or through e-Sign.
Online submission of application.
Digital verification of documents.
Processing of EPFO electronically.
Issue of the orders of the settlement from the EPFO site.

It is expected that this paperless procedure will help in removing the delays from the system and ensuring efficient work.

Dedicated Cells for VISHWAS to Help Employers.

EPFO has created dedicated VISHWAS Cells at its Zonal, Regional, and District offices to ensure smooth implementation of the initiative.

These cells will,

Help the employers in filing the applications.
To verify the documents.
To process the application.
To ensure timely resolution of issues.
To guide them through the entire process.

The EPFO has issued guidelines for the same which include monitoring of the operations from Zonal and Headquarters

RBI Financial Stability Report 2026: Top Takeaways You Should Know

The Financial Stability Report (FSR) – June 2026 has been published by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), giving an overall view of the financial market of the country. The report is published bi-annually and gives an idea of the current condition of banks, NBFCs, insurance companies, Mutual Funds, etc., while bringing forward possible risks that can arise in the future. The report has a positive view about the banking sector of India, mentioning the lowest ever bad loans, high profitability, high liquidity, and strong credit growth. However, at the same time, the report also indicates the issues related to cyber threats, geopolitical risks, and inflation, as well as the growth of unsecured loans.

What Is the RBI’s Financial Stability Report?

The Financial Stability Report (FSR) is the RBI’s main report on the stability of India’s financial system.

It is compiled with inputs from all financial authorities by the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) committee, the FSR evaluates,

The banking sector
The non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs)
The insurance and mutual fund sectors
The stability in the financial market
Systemic risks
The macroeconomic scenario

FSR differs from the usual notifications issued by regulatory bodies in that it gives an anticipatory analysis of the situation and points out the aspects where further policy interventions may be required.

Key Takeaways From RBI Financial Stability Report June 2026

The report issued in June 2026 presents multiple positive aspects related to the following indicators.

Indicator	June 2026 Status
Scheduled Commercial Bank	Credit Growth 14.5%
Gross NPA Ratio	1.8% (lowest in decades)
Profit After Tax	₹4.05 lakh crore
Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR)	124.2%
Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR)	122.1%
Inflation Forecast	5.1%
Fastest Growing Retail Segment	Gold Loans

Growth in Credit is Observed Continuously

Scheduled Commercial Banks experienced at the 14.5% annual credit growth for the years 2025-26.

The important conclusions are,

Public Sector Banks overtook the private ones.
The retail trade “lending” remains high.
The service industry pushes for the issuance of credit.
Improvement in agricultural and industrial loans.

RBI recommends banks to comply with careful lending policy, especially in terms of the rapidly expanding retail lending field.

Banking Industry Registers Impressive Asset Quality

The most essential factor mentioned in the report is the fall in the ratio of Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) to 1.8%, which is the lowest level in decades.

Other benefits include,

Solid capital adequacy
Stable profits
Strong ROA
Constant ROE
Total profit after tax at ₹4.05 lakh crore.

As estimated by the RBI’s stress tests, banks are ready to survive any severe shock in the economy keeping required capital at hand.

Liquidity Situation Is Stable

According to the report, banks have made no changes with high liquidity positions.

Key ratios include,

LCR (Liquidity Coverage Ratio)

The average level of the LCR of the banking sector was 124.2%, meeting the required minimum of 100%, indicating that banks can meet their short-term liabilities.

NSFR (Net Stable Funding Ratio)

The average NSFR value was 122.1%, which confirming the stable funding and effective management of liquidity.

Cyber Risk Becomes a Serious Problem

As the financial system advances in technology, the Reserve Bank of India lists cyber risk as one of the biggest threats to financial stability.

The key problems includes the,

Rising instances of cybercrime
Reliance on cloud service providers
Heavy dependence on third-party technology
Disruptions in operations
Threat to data security

RBI urges banks and non-banking financial companies to enhance cybersecurity and upgrade their technological infrastructure while cutting down on their reliance on third-party technology.

Key Risks Identified by RBI

The Financial Stability Report brings the following risks,

Geopolitical disputes
Fluctuation in crude prices
Inflationary risks
Climate and Weather-related dangers
Global recession
Volatile capital flows
Cybersecurity risks
Concentration of AI-related investments
Concentration of lending in sectors
Easing of underwriting norms

Banks should improve their stress testing, diversify their portfolios, enhance credit evaluation and have solid liquidity and capital reserves.

Gujarat has emerged as the top-ranked large state in NITI Aayog’s first Investment Friendliness Index. Learn about the index, rankings, assessment criteria, and why it matters for India’s investment climate.

Explore NITI Aayog’s first Investment Friendliness Index, where Gujarat ranked first among large states. Know the methodology, top-performing states, key pillars, and implications for investors.

West Indies Legend Sir Garfield Sobers Passes Away at 89

Sir Garfield Sobers, who is referred to as a great cricketer in history, has died at the age of 89. He was the great all-rounder from the West Indies, he represented the Caribbean nation between the years 1954 to 1974 and left behind an unmatched legacy of his prowess as batsman, bowler and as a fielder. People from the cricketing world have come out with their tributes for Sobers with the International Cricket Council (ICC), Cricket West Indies and many players remembering him as the pioneer of the excellence in the sport.

Sir Garfield Sobers Passes Away at 89

Sir Garfield Sobers, a cricketer legendary in his achievement passed away on July 17th, 2026, when he was 89 years old.

Sobers is known as one of the best all-rounders ever in the history of the cricket with a two-decade-long career in international matches in cricket.

Sobers’s death was the development that caused multiple cricket associations, his colleagues in cricket, newcomers to the sport, and fans to pay their respects and express appreciation for his significant contribution to cricket.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah stated on Sobers’s passing by calling him “one of history’s greatest cricket players.” Cricket West Indies mentioned Sobers in their statement regarding his death as a proud representative of Caribbean nation whose great success motivated a great number of people.

A Cricket Career That Redefined the Game

Sir Garfield Sobers made his Test debut for the West Indies at 17 against England in 1954. While he was initially known as a left-arm bowler, he soon established a remarkable career and one of the best cricketers in the game of cricket because of his all-around capabilities.

During his professional career, he played 93 matches and scored 8,032 runs including the following,

26 centuries
30 half-centuries
Highest score: 365 not out

With his bowling, Sobers took 235 wickets in Test matches at an average of 34.03. His approach was unique as he applied left-arm fast-medium bowling and spin bowling.

Due to this remarkable performance, he is regarded as a standard for all-rounders.

The Unmatched 365 That has Topped Records

One of the most celebrated feats for the Sir Gary Sobers happened in 1958, when he made an historic 365 not out against Pakistan.

This performance broke the previous record for the highest Test score held by Sir Len Hutton, who has 364.

Interestingly, Sobers held this record for 36 years, until Brian Lara managed to surpass it with his score of 375 against England in Antigua in 1994.

This innings has turned Sobers into a legend of cricket.

The First Player to Hit Six Sixes in One Over

Sir Garfield Sobers made history in the year 1968 when he achieved something very few cricketers have done in county cricket with Nottinghamshire.

During the County Championship match against Glamorgan’s Malcolm Nash, Sobers hit six sixes in one over in first-class cricket.

This amazing achievement has earned him a place in the history books and motivated many cricketers worldwide.

Beyond Just an All-Rounder

Sobers was not just only a brilliant batsman and bowler but he was also a great fielder.

He made over the,

28,000 runs
More than 1,000 wickets
Countless incredible catches

The way he played and adapted made him a player to be feared on the field and a legend of cricket.

Leadership and Contributions to West Indies Cricket

Sobers served as the captain of the West Indies from 1965 to 1972 leading one of the strongest cricket teams in the world during a crucial period in Caribbean cricket.

He was also a member of the famous Frank Worrell team that went to Australia for a tour in 1960–61, known for producing the first tied Test in Brisbane. Sobers played a significant role in that series, scoring 430 runs and taking 15 wickets.

Honors and Lasting Legacy

Sir Garfield Sobers earned many honors in his lifetime.

Here are some of his most famous awards earned by him such as,

Awarded as a knighthood for the services to cricket in 1975
Inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in the year 2009, making him as its first member
Selected as one of the Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Century
Recognised as one of the National Heroes of Barbados

Skyroot’s Vikram-1 Set for Historic Launch as India’s First Private Orbital Rocket

Vikram-1, it is the country’s first ever private orbital rocket developed and designed indigenously. As part of ‘Mission Aagaman’ scheduled for 18 July 2026 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota, this rocket will mark the new milestone for India’s private space sector. In case of a successful launch, Vikram-1 will become the first privately made launch vehicle to launch from an Indian launchpad, establishing the capabilities of the private sector in this sector.

What is Vikram-1?

The Vikram-1 is a launch vehicle developed by private Armor publicly owned Indian Skyroot Aerospace Company, which is among the first and only companies to develop a flight vehicle capable of launching small payloads into low earth orbit (LEO).

The mission will provide vital flight information to facilitate the commercial launches of Skyroot and set a pace of satellite flight missions over the years to come.

Dubbed “Mission Aagaman” meaning that “arrival,” the flight is the first of its kind in Indian private aerospace industry.

What makes the Vikram-1 launch a remarkable one?

There are a number of factors which make the Vikram-1 mission an important one,

It is the first rocket designed and developed by a private firm attempting to launch from India.
It is a turning point in the development of the private space ecosystem in India after the recent evolution of the space sector.
The mission signifies an important achievement toward India’s self-dependence in technologies related to the space business.
The launch will help India to reinforce its position in the rapidly growing global market of small satellite launches.
It opens new commercial opportunities for launching services.

The launch comes after Skyroot’s successful suborbital launch of Vikram-S rocket in November 2022, which was the first private rocket to reach outer space from Indian territory.

Plan for Launch and Objectives of Mission

The launch of Vikram-1 is planned for the,

Launch day

18 July 2026 (Saturday)

Launch place

First Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota

The authorities have given proper notice to the airspace and marine authorities to make necessary restrictions in the zones during the ascent and impact distance of the rocket.

The primary objective of the mission is to do that of testing the functioning of the rocket in live stage in flight and validating its systems for conducting future operational missions.

Technical Characteristics of Vikram-1

Vikram-1 is portrayed as a modern and lightweight launch vehicle that is specially developed for small satellite launches.

Key Characteristics

Type of Rocket: Multi-stage orbital launch vehicle
Height: Approx. equal to height of seven stories building
Payload: 350 kg upper limit
Orbit: 450 km LEO
Inclination: 60 degree
Structure: All-carbon composite
Propulsion: Self-propelled system
Engines: 3D-printed engines
Booster: Solid high-thrust rocket booster

The unique use of the carbon composites reduces the weight and increases strength, making the rocket more efficient for commercial launch missions.

Payloads on Mission Aagaman

Vikram-1 will perform the several technology demonstration tests and at the same time carry out successive payloads from Indian and foreign institutions.

Partners include,

Grahaa Space,
Cosmoserve,
DCubed,
Skyroot’s SCOPE payload.

Among other payloads is

Cosmic Bloom, a piece of art created by the Cosmos Diamonds.
A micro-art payload dedicated to creative innovations targeted only for the outer space missions.

All of these payloads will not only perform technology tests but will also showcase a growing diversity in commercial applications of space.

Mission Aagaman: Building on Vikram-S Success

Mission Aagaman is the second significant mission of Skyroot Aerospace.

Its first mission, Vikram-S, had launched on 18 November 2022 successfully reaching space to become the first ever privately developed rocket of India to cover sub-orbital flight.

The lessons learned from the Vikram-S helped Skyroot’s engineering team to innovate and advance the technologies used, improve the propulsion system, and work on the much superior Vikram-1.

As per the company, the present mission is the result of almost three thousand days of engineering work, contributions from nearly a thousand professionals, and assistance from about four hundred suppliers.

RBI Financial Inclusion Index Rises to 70 in FY26

India is advancing its access to the formal financial services, as Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increasing the Financial Inclusion (FI) Index from 67 to 70 in the FY26. The increase in the FI Index occurred mainly due to the rise in the use of financial services, while the country’s three sub-indices Access, Usage, and Quality, it continue to improve as well. The current standing of the index demonstrates how the country makes continuous efforts to strengthen the financial inclusion through banking, digital payments, insurance, pensions, and investing services, contributing to economic growth and inclusive development.

RBI Financial Inclusion Index Reaches 70

The Reserve Bank of India has announced that the Financial Inclusion (FI) Index rose to 70 for the year ending March 2026 compared to 67 in March 2025.

This increase reflects increased access, and usage of financial services.

The improvement is attributed to the following factors are,

Growing usage of financial services.
The expansion of formal financial systems in the economy.

What is Financial Inclusion Index by RBI?

The Financial Inclusion (FI) Index is an indicator introduced by the Reserve Bank of India to measure the level of financial inclusion in the country.

It was designed to track financial inclusion as of 2021.

The FI Index includes a wide range of sectors like,

Banking
Investments
Insurance
Postal financial systems
Pension schemes

The FI Index is developed in consultation with the Government of India and relevant financial authorities.

Parameters of the Financial Inclusion Index

The Reserve Bank of India determines the Financial Inclusion Index based on three major elements that carry different weights.

1. Access (35%)

This refers to the extent of financial service availability. It comprises,

Bank branches
ATMs
Banking correspondents
Outreach of financial services

2. Usage (45%)

This component carries the largest weight and is concerned with how people make use of financial services. It consists of indicators such as the,

Bank account activities

Digital payments
Savings and deposits
Use of credit
Entry into insurance
Enrolment in pension plans

According to the Reserve Bank of India witness, the improvement in FY26 can be attributed mostly to higher usage. This means that citizens have started to use formal financial products more actively.

3. Quality (20%)

As for the quality parameter, it assesses,

The performance of financial services
Consumer protection
Financial literacy
Availability of necessary financial products
Quality of service delivery

The Financial Inclusion Index (FI Index) and its Scale

The FI Index is scored from 0 to 100.

0 = No financial access.
100 = Total financial access.

For example, India, which has scored 70, it is making headway in becoming fully financially inclusive, although some advancements still need to take place.

Why Financial Inclusion is Important

Financial inclusion is regarded as one of the most important factors for the development of inclusive economy.

With the increase in financial inclusion,

Drive Inclusive Growth
Encourage Savings
Facilitate Access to Credit
Foster the Use of Digital Payments
Improve the Delivery of Public Benefits