Archives April 2026

Apr 20: At a glance, it’s just a bag priced at ₹650. But look closer, and it tells a far more powerful story—one of dignity, sustainability, and human resilience.

Displayed by GOONZ, a well-known Indian non-profit organisation that works at the intersection of urban waste and rural development, at a stall during TEDx Hyderabad 2026 on Sunday, this unique bag is crafted entirely from discarded neckties—materials most would consider waste. Yet in the hands of Goonj, these overlooked items are transformed into purposeful products that carry both utility and meaning.

This captures the essence of the initiative: even the smallest piece of cloth has value. Made from odds and ends of repurposed fabric, the bag is described not just as a product, but as a token of gratitude—reminding users that dignity can be restored through mindful reuse. This philosophy lies at the heart of Goonj’s work, where discarded materials become tools for inclusion, participation, and development.

The philosophy is simple but profound: nothing is truly waste. Every discarded item holds potential—if only we choose to see it differently.

For decades, Goonj has been working at the intersection of sustainability and social development, turning urban surplus into resources for rural empowerment. What society discards—old clothes, packaging materials, or even ties—becomes raw material for livelihood generation, community development, and restoring dignity to underserved populations. And TEDX Hyderabad has been providing a platform for many such NGOs

The upcycled tie bag is more than a product; it is a symbol of this ecosystem. Each piece represents hours of skilled labour, creative reuse, and a conscious effort to challenge the linear “use-and-throw” mindset. The ₹650 price tag reflects not just craftsmanship, but also the value of ethical production and social impact.

Goonj further displayed an innovative bag made from repurposed cassette tapes, demonstrating the potential of transforming discarded materials into functional products.

In a world grappling with mounting waste and widening inequalities, initiatives like these offer a compelling alternative narrative: waste can be wealth, and surplus can serve a purpose, said Viiveck Varma, Licensee of TEDX Hyderabad 2026

By redefining what we throw away, Goonj is not just recycling materials—it is rebuilding lives, restoring dignity, and reshaping how we think about consumption itself.

Bhubaneswar, Apr 20 (BNP): Odisha has stepped up efforts to document and preserve its rich manuscript heritage through an extensive survey and digitisation initiative under the Government of India’s Gyan Bharatam Mission.

A review meeting held at Lok Seva Bhavan was chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, where progress on the ongoing survey of palm-leaf manuscripts and ancient texts was assessed.

Preserving a Rich Literary Legacy

Odisha is home to a vast collection of traditional manuscripts written on palm leaves and paper, preserved over centuries in Sanskrit, Odia, Pali, and other regional languages. These manuscripts are considered a vital source of the state’s cultural, historical, and intellectual heritage.

Officials informed that nearly 53,950 manuscripts have already been registered across the state, with survey and digitisation work actively underway by the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture.

Digital Preservation Push

The initiative aims to create a comprehensive National Digital Repository, ensuring that rare and fragile manuscripts are preserved in digital form and made accessible for researchers, students, and institutions.

ପ୍ରାଚୀନ ତାଳପତ୍ର ପୋଥି ଏବଂ ପାଣ୍ଡୁଲିପି ଗୁଡ଼ିକର ସର୍ବେକ୍ଷଣ, ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ଓ ଡିଜିଟାଇଜେସନ ସଂପର୍କରେ ଏକ ବୈଠକ ଆଜି ଲୋକସେବା ଭବନଠାରେ ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଶାସନ ସଚିବ ଶ୍ରୀମତୀ ଅନୁ ଗର୍ଗଙ୍କ ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷତାରେ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି।

ଏହିସବୁ ମୂଲ୍ୟବାନ ସମ୍ପଦର ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ଓ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ସହଯୋଗ କରିବା ଓ ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛାକୃତ ଭାବେ ନିଜ ପାଖରେ ଥିବା… pic.twitter.com/nR7dzPp7Q4

— I & PR Department, Odisha (@IPR_Odisha) April 18, 2026

Authorities have encouraged public participation, urging individuals, monasteries, temples, and libraries to voluntarily register manuscripts in their possession. Registration can be done through the dedicated Gyan Bharatam mobile application, while departmental teams will also conduct field visits to assist in documentation.

Focus on High-Priority Districts

The current phase of the survey, which began on March 16, 2026, will continue for three months. Special focus is being given to districts such as Ganjam, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Nayagarh, and Puri, which have reported significant manuscript collections.

Officials said manuscripts will be systematically mapped and verified district-wise to ensure accurate documentation and smooth coordination with local administrations.

Safeguarding Knowledge for Future Generations

The state government emphasized that the project is not only about preservation but also about ensuring long-term digital access to India’s traditional knowledge systems.

The initiative is expected to strengthen research, promote cultural awareness, and safeguard Odisha’s manuscript heritage for future generations by bringing centuries-old knowledge into the digital era.

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Apr 20 – The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA), the region’s leading not-for-profit fintech industry body and globally ranked among the top fintech associations, is pleased to welcome Facephi, a global technology company specializing in digital identity verification and AI driven fraud prevention solutions, as a new scaleup member.

Facephi joins MFTA at a time when financial institutions across the Middle East are accelerating digital transformation initiatives and prioritizing secure digital onboarding, identity verification, and fraud prevention capabilities. As banks and fintech providers continue to expand digital services, robust identity technologies are becoming a critical foundation for secure, compliant, and seamless financial experiences.

Facephi delivers advanced end-to-end solutions that enable financial institutions to securely verify users, prevent fraud, and streamline digital onboarding processes. Its technology combines artificial intelligence, biometric recognition, and digital identity verification to help organizations provide secure, frictionless access to financial services while meeting evolving regulatory requirements.

With a strong global footprint, Facephi works with banks, financial institutions, and digital service providers across multiple regions, supporting secure customer authentication, regulatory compliance, and digital identity management in increasingly digital financial ecosystems.

As part of its engagement with the Association, Facephi will contribute its expertise to MFTA’s ecosystem initiatives focused on digital identity, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and secure financial infrastructure. As digital banking adoption accelerates across the region, biometric authentication and identity verification technologies are playing a growing role in enabling trusted financial services and protecting both institutions and customers.

Henry Rosas, Senior Commercial Director, Facephi Middle East, commented:

“Joining the MENA Fintech Association marks a strategic step in reinforcing our commitment to the region’s digital transformation. At Facephi, we are seeing a significant acceleration in demand for secure digital identity and fraud prevention solutions, driven by the rapid growth of digital banking and financial inclusion initiatives”.

Digital identity and biometric authentication have become key enablers of financial inclusion and secure digital transformation. Financial institutions across the Middle East are increasingly investing in identity technologies to support digital onboarding, strengthen compliance frameworks, and mitigate fraud risks while delivering seamless user experiences for customers.

MFTA continues to serve as a trusted platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators through working groups, roundtables, partnerships, and thought leadership initiatives. Facephi’s membership further strengthens the Association’s commitment to advancing secure digital infrastructure, responsible fintech innovation, and collaboration across the MENA ecosystem.

Nameer Khan, Chairman of the MENA Fintech Association and Founder of Fils, added:

“The MENA region continues to demonstrate strong progress in digital financial services, underpinned by resilience, regulatory advancement, and increasing institutional participation. At the MENA Fintech Association, we remain committed to actively supporting this growth by working closely with regulators, financial institutions, and technology leaders across the region. As digital identity becomes increasingly critical to enabling secure and inclusive financial ecosystems, we welcome Facephi to the Association. Their expertise will further strengthen our collective efforts to build trusted, compliant, and resilient financial infrastructure across MENA.”

Lucknow, Apr 20 (BNP): In a significant relief for farmers, the Uttar Pradesh government has relaxed procurement norms by allowing wheat sales at government purchase centres without mandatory online registration.

As per an official statement, the earlier requirement of completing a digital Farmer Registry for crop identification and verification will now be optional for wheat procurement under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system.

The decision has been taken to reduce procedural hurdles and address difficulties faced by farmers, particularly those in rural areas with limited access to digital facilities.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed all District Magistrates to ensure immediate implementation of the revised guidelines across the state.

Officials said the move is aimed at making the procurement process more accessible, ensuring that farmers can sell their produce smoothly without being affected by technical or administrative barriers.

The change is expected to boost participation in government procurement centres and improve ease of selling wheat during the current procurement season.

Colombo, Apr 20 ( BNP):  Vice President of India C P Radhakrishnan held discussions with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on Sunday, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and exploring new areas of cooperation, including a proposed India–Sri Lanka energy link.

According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, both leaders discussed the idea of a cross-border oil pipeline, which could serve as a key component of future energy connectivity between the two neighbouring countries.

The talks also covered a wide range of issues aimed at deepening the multifaceted partnership between India and Sri Lanka. These included cooperation in housing development projects, energy security initiatives, and long-standing concerns related to fishermen from both countries.

Officials noted that several India-led initiatives already underway were reviewed during the meeting, along with new proposals aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and economic integration. The proposed energy corridor was highlighted as a significant step toward strengthening long-term strategic and economic ties.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest, reflecting the shared vision of stable and forward-looking relations between the two South Asian neighbours.

The discussions are expected to pave the way for closer coordination on infrastructure, energy, and people-centric development initiatives in the coming years.