Labour and employement ministry has detailed a compliance checklist for employers in order to tighten accountability and minimise legal disputes. The ministry has listed almost two dozen requirements under the four labour codes: the Code on Wages, the Code on Social Security, the Industrial Relations Code and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code. A senior government official told ET that although most of the requirements existed under the earlier labour framework, the newly prepared handbook is meant to remove ambiguity and clearly spell out employer responsibilities during the transition. “It will act as a to-do list for establishments to ensure that no evasion on compliances happens for lack of clarity due to transition from the old labour laws to the new labour codes,” the official said on condition of anonymity.The four labour codes came into force on November 21, 2025, replacing 29 central labour laws with a unified structure.Under the new system, employers must complete seven foundational compliances from the time a business is set up or a new worker joins. Beyond this, establishments are also required to meet four monthly and five annual compliance obligations. The framework further specifies six event-related compliances that become applicable in situations such as workplace accidents, disease outbreaks, employee exits, maternity benefit cases, large-scale layoffs, and lockouts or strikes within factory premises. Officials indicated that the ministry is in the final phase of finalising central rules under the four codes. The government’s intent is to ensure employers begin complying with statutory requirements early, thereby reducing the scope for litigation later. Among the basic obligations are registering the establishment and securing required licences, maintaining key records on attendance, wages, deductions and overtime, fixing wage periods, ensuring minimum workplace safety standards, enrolling eligible workers for social security, and forming work committees along with grievance redressal bodies. Every month, employers must ensure timely wage payments, deposit social security contributions with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, and provide wage slips to workers. On an annual basis, establishments are required to file a unified return, revise minimum wages where applicable, renew licences, carry out safety audits, and conduct annual health check-ups for specified employees aged 40 years and above. In event-based scenarios, employers must report workplace accidents or disease occurrences within 24 to 72 hours, clear final dues within two days and gratuity within 30 days, obtain government approval for layoffs, retrenchment or closure in units employing more than 300 workers, extend maternity benefits where applicable, and issue lockout notices to workers and the relevant authority.

Iran has warned the United States of retaliation if subjected to military aggression, saying all US bases and assets in the region would become “legitimate targets” in such a scenario.In a strongly worded letter addressed to the UN secretary general, António Guterres, and members of the security council, Iran accused the United States of issuing unlawful threats of force and urged the Council to act “without delay” to prevent further escalation.While reiterating that it “neither seeks tension nor war” and will not initiate any conflict, Iran made clear that it would respond if attacked.“In the event that it is subjected to military aggression, Iran will respond decisively and proportionately in the exercise of its inherent right of self-defence under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations,” the letter stated.It added that in such circumstances, “all bases, facilities, and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets” as part of Iran’s defensive response. Tehran said the United States would bear “full and direct responsibility” for any “unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences.”Iran urged the security council to use its authority and good offices to ensure that the US “immediately ceases its unlawful threats of the use of force.”Tehran also said it noted that it has engaged “constructively, with seriousness and in good faith” in nuclear talks with the US.The warning to the UN comes against a backdrop of rising military posturing and hardening rhetoric on both sides.On Thursday, Iran conducted its annual military drills with Russia, even as a second US aircraft carrier moved closer to the Middle East — a visible reminder of the growing strategic pressure in the region. The developments have underscored the fragile situation between both Washington and Tehran, as the two nations signal that they are prepared for conflict if nuclear negotiations collapse.US President Donald Trump has repeatedly cautioned Iran that failure to reach a deal would carry consequences. In his latest remarks, he suggested the window for diplomacy may be closing fast, saying he believes 10 to 15 days is “enough time” for Iran to reach an agreement.“It’s proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran, and we have to make a meaningful deal. Otherwise, bad things happen,” Trump said on Thursday.While there has been no official indication of imminent military action, the convergence of diplomatic deadlines, visible force deployments and escalating rhetoric has kept tensions high, placing US-Iran relations under intense international scrutiny.

Chargé d’affaires at the Indian Embassy Namgya Khampa (right)

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace on Gaza as an “observer” country, without joining the initiative that has been set up by Trump for the redevelopment of the Gaza Strip. India was represented at the meeting, held at the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace in Washington DC, by Chargé d’affaires at the Indian Embassy Namgya Khampa, reported PTI. Trump pledged $10 billion for the new “Board of Peace,” saying the United States would fund the initiative aimed at rebuilding Gaza, which was reduced to rubble by two years of war between Hamas and Israel. Trump will wield veto power over the “Board of Peace” and can remain its head even after leaving office, while countries seeking permanent membership instead of a two-year term will be required to pay $1 billion. Trump announced that the US will commit $10 billion to the Board, whose members include 27 nations such as Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. PM Narendra Modi was among the numerous global leaders that the US President had invited to join the board that was announced under the second phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. India was among the countries not present at a January 22 ceremony in Davos where Trump unveiled the Board of Peace that seeks to work towards bringing lasting peace to Gaza and possibly resolve other global conflicts. The Board of Peace is perceived as a rival to the UN. Trump has previously said that the Board of Peace “might” replace the UN, which he said has never lived up to its potential. The executive board, finalised on January 17, consists of a mix of diplomats and financiers, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and World Bank President Ajay Banga. While the US has outlined an initial $1 billion reconstruction package for housing and infrastructure, funding is strictly tied to security conditions.

New Delhi: More than six years after its enactment sparked riots in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Thursday scheduled a four-day final hearing from May 5 on 243 petitions challenging the validity of Citizenship (Amendment) Act that provides a pathway for citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians who may reach India after fleeing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said the petitioners, that include Muslim organisations among which Indian Union of Muslim League has been termed the lead petitioner, and functionaries from Congress, TMC and AIMIM, would conclude their arguments within one and half days and the Centre would respond in a similar time frame. May 12 has been kept for rejoinders to be filed by petitioners.On Dec 18, 2019, a three-judge bench, which included Justice Kant, had issued notice to the Centre on the petitions challenging CAA on the ground of discrimination against Muslims who came to India from neighbouring countries but were not entitled to citizenship under CAA.Protesters, mainly Muslim women supported by political parties, had blocked a major arterial road in Shaheen Bagh here from Dec 15, 2019 till March 24, 2020. Blockades were organised in other parts of the city too. The resultant tension triggered riots in northeast Delhi on Feb 23, 2020 that lasted several days and left 53 dead.SC had last heard the petitions on March 19, 2024, the year the Centre framed Citizenship (Amendment) Rules. The Centre had filed its response to the petitions in Oct 2022 and termed CAA a benign piece of legislation providing Indian citizenship to members of those communities who have been persecuted for the last 70 years in the three neighbouring Islamic countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.Countering the plea that CAA discriminated against Muslims, the Centre had said, “CAA does not seek to recognise or seek to provide answers to all or any kind of purported persecution that may be taking place across the world or that may have taken place previously anywhere in the world.”On Thursday, the bench agreed with solicitor general Tushar Mehta that the challenge to CAA in relation to Assam and Tripura, where separate accords set deadlines for entry of migrants from Bangladesh, could be de-linked from the ones which have questioned the law from a pan-India perspective.

N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons with Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI

New Delhi: Tata Group and OpenAI entered into a strategic partnership, placing a significant bet on India’s AI infrastructure playbook. In the first phase, TCS will build AI infrastructure with 100MW capacity, scalable up to 1GW. The platform is intended to support next-generation AI training and inference workloads while advancing India’s ambition to become a global AI hub. As part of the global Stargate initiative, OpenAI and Tata Group will develop local, AI-ready data centre capacity focused on data residency, security, and long-term domestic capability. “The infrastructure is designed as a purpose-built AI compute optimised for training and inference workloads,” said N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, at the India AI Impact Summit here on Thursday. He described the partnership as a unique opportunity for OpenAI and TCS to transform industries. OpenAI will become the first customer of TCS’ HyperVault data centre business. Recently, TCS secured $1 billion from private equity firm TPG to advance its AI data centre strategy in India, aligning with its goal of becoming the largest AI-led technology services firm. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said, “India is already leading the way in AI adoption, and with its talent, ambition, and strong govt support, it is well placed to help shape its future. Through OpenAI for India and our partnership with Tata Group, we’re working together to build the infrastructure, skills, and local partnerships needed to build AI with India, for India, and in India, so that more people across the country can access and benefit from it.“ Tata Group also plans to roll out ChatGPT Enterprise to employees over the coming years, beginning with hundreds of thousands at TCS, making it one of the largest enterprise AI deployments worldwide. TCS will adopt OpenAI’s Codex to standardise AI-native software development across teams. OpenAI will expand its certification programme in India, with TCS becoming the first participating organisation outside the United States. The certifications aim to equip professionals with practical, role-agnostic AI skills applicable across industries. As India positions itself at the centre of the global AI transformation, Tata Group is placing a multi-layered bet on intelligence infrastructure. “We established India’s first large-scale AI-optimised infrastructure for next-generation AI training and inference,” Chandrasekaran said. Beyond infrastructure, he identified data as the second pillar. “We are building an AI data insights platform. Intelligence must become accessible across the full diversity of Indian contexts,” he said. TCS and Tata Communications are jointly building what he described as an “AI operating system for industries”. The final pillar is semiconductors.

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh with children during the distribution of financial assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Alternative Housing Complex in Langol, Imphal West, on Thursday.

Imphal/Churachandpur: A fractured state tried to talk to itself. For the first time since ethnic violence tore Manipur apart in May 2023, chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh addressed on Thursday displaced Meitei and Kuki-Zo families together – on a shared platform, if only virtually – pairing cash relief with an appeal to rebuild trust.The outreach, anchored at a relief camp in Langol of Imphal West district, connected displaced Meitei families in the valley with Kuki-Zo inmates of camps in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi via video link. Direct benefit transfers were credited during the meet.Each displaced person received Rs 2,420 for essentials. Families whose homes were burnt are being paid Rs 1 lakh in instalments, officials said.More than 260 people have been killed and over 60,000 displaced since clashes erupted between Meitei and Kuki communities in 2023. Since then, movement has been sharply curtailed – valley residents rarely enter Kuki-majority hills, and Kukis seldom travel into Imphal.Singh said resettlement had begun in peripheral areas, but restoring homes in sensitive zones remained difficult. “Resettling IDPs (internally displaced persons) to their original places is a priority, though challenges remain. While tensions have eased, mistrust continues,” he said, urging social groups and families to help bridge the divide.It was a modest step – cheques and promises – but the first time the state tried to stitch two wounded communities into the same conversation. Voices from camps cut through the screen. A young Kuki woman from Kangpokpi asked for access to jobs and higher education. A Meitei woman broke down, pleading to return home after three years in a camp. Another Kuki-Zo inmate flagged the struggle to reach hospitals.The CM promised security for Kuki-Zo patients visiting Imphal and special plans for about 6,000 displaced students whose schooling has been disrupted. “I’m no god, but I will not let your tears go in vain,” Singh said.

Decision taken after national review

NEW DELHI: Two medicines used widely – antibiotic doxycycline and thyroid drug carbimazole – will soon carry stronger safety warnings, following a national review of adverse drug reaction reports.After examining patient-level safety data, regulators have flagged possible mental health symptoms linked to doxycycline and a rare but potentially life-threatening blood disorder associated with carbimazole. In separate communications issued this month, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) directed all State and Union territory licensing authorities to ensure manufacturers update prescribing information and package inserts for both medicines and report compliance.For doxycycline – commonly prescribed for respiratory infections, acne, sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infection and numerous vector-borne diseases – the authorities have asked that specific central nervous system side effects be explicitly mentioned. These include restlessness, anxiety, irritability, nervousness and dizziness.The decision follows an assessment by Pharmacovigilance Programme of India, which reviewed adverse reaction reports and individual case safety data. The issue was examined at a Signal Review Panel meeting in March 2025 and later discussed by Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on antimicrobial and antiparasitic drugs in Jan 2026, which endorsed updating the official prescribing documents.While gastrointestinal discomfort and photosensitivity were already known side effects of doxycycline, the latest directive formally adds neuropsychiatric symptoms to the safety profile. Regulators have directed manufacturers of carbimazole – prescribed for hyperthyroidism, including Graves’ disease – to prominently warn about agranulocytosis, a rare but serious condition marked by a sharp fall in white blood cells.Agranulocytosis can leave patients vulnerable to severe infections. Early warning signs include fever, sore throat and unexplained infections. The recommendation emerged from the 26th Signal Review Panel meeting and was subsequently reviewed by SEC on endocrinology and metabolism before being approved for inclusion in prescribing information leaflet.Dr Rommel Tickoo, director of Internal Medicine at Max Hospital, Saket, said the move reflects a maturing safety system. “CDSCO’s decision on for doxycycline and carbimazole reflects a proactive and responsible pharmacovigilance system. While the medicines remain safe and effective when used appropriately, clearer warnings help both doctors and patients recognise rare but important side effects early. In the case of carbimazole, prompt attention to symptoms like fever or sore throat can be life-saving. Such regulatory steps strengthen patient safety without creating unnecessary alarm,” he said.For patients, the updated leaflets mean clearer information on risks. For clinicians, the advisory reinforces the need to counsel patients on warning symptoms and monitor use appropriately.