Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday ruled out privatisation of Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) and said the company will be acquired by three major ports and made more efficient.

 Noting that India is now recognized globally as a key player in the generic medicine industry, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday asked pharmaceutical companies to invest in research and development (R&D) for further growth of the sector.

Even after more than 70 years of independence, the inhuman practice- bonded labour or slavery is still alive in the state. In spite of several acts brought to eradicate such social evil from the society, they have their tentacles.

 Union Minister Maneka Gandhi on Friday called upon all Chief Ministers to appoint adequate number of Protection Officers (POs) with independent charge to ensure effective implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005.

 Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday said the request for proposal (RFP) for the non-banking financial company (NBFC) exclusively catering to the financial needs of the food processing sector would be floated this month and the NBFC would possibly be operational by the end of this year.

The BJP on Friday claimed that Congress President Rahul Gandhi described his own party as a "Muslim party" and said he was playing communal politics ahead of the 2019 general elections.

 Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday rejoined the Congress that he left in protest against the bifurcation of the state in 2014.

Two persons including the driver sustained minor injuries when their car rammed the bus station as the driver lost the control over the vehicle, at Talapady on Bengaluru-Mangaluru National highway on Friday.