Due to a deficit of 26 lakh bales of cotton caused by climatic changes, the Union Finance Minister announced a productivity enhancement scheme. Farmers are receiving rates barely reaching the MSP, amidst a decline in cotton output. Additionally, tur rates have also slipped below the MSP, prompting measures for increased procurement.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an 'enhanced regional connectivity scheme' under UDAN, aiming to connect 120 new destinations with turboprop aircraft and helicopters. The modified scheme aims to carry 4 crore passengers over the next decade, with significant incentives and development for smaller airports, helipads, and greenfield airports, particularly in hilly and northeast regions.

The Bonsai Bonanza exhibition by the India Friendship Bonsai Society celebrated its 22nd year with eminent guests like Bollywood actor Kajol Devgan and H.E. Yagi Koji, Consul General of Japan. The event highlighted the significance of nature, art, and environmental conservation through bonsai.

Eighteen patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) are on ventilators in Pune, India, in one of the largest outbreaks recorded. GBS, linked to Campylobacter jejuni infection, requires further epidemiological studies to understand its emergence and connections between cases, similar to severe outbreaks previously seen in Peru.