NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. AYUSH Minister Launches Ayush Suraksha Portal to Combat Misleading Ads and Ensure Drug Safety: AYUSH Minister Prataprao Jadhav launched the Ayush Suraksha Portal to address issues related to misleading advertisements and adverse drug reactions.The portal aims to strengthen consumer protection and regulatory oversight in the field of traditional medicine.The Minister emphasized that the platform will act as a vigilant watchtower to ensure only safe and credible Ayush products reach the public.
2. Odisha Launches ANKUR Initiative to Drive Smart, Citizen-Centric Urban Growth and Prepare for Future Challenges: Odisha government launched ANKUR (Atal Network for Knowledge, Urbanisation and Reforms), a strategic initiative to drive smart, efficient, and citizen-centric urban growth across the state, marked by MoUs signed with six leading urban development organizations.ANKUR was developed through extensive consultations and collaborations, aiming to address the accelerating urbanization in Odisha by fostering new partnerships, innovation, and co-creation of sustainable solutions for resilient and future-ready cities.The initiative focuses on strengthening four key pillars—capacity building, knowledge and research, implementation support, and innovation—aligning Odisha’s urban growth vision with the national goal of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ and preparing for the projected tripling of the state’s urban population by 2036.
3. AIIMS Bhopal Launches ‘Code Emergency’ App on World Emergency Day: On World Emergency Day, AIIMS Bhopal launched the mobile app ‘Code Emergency’, a life-saving tool aligned with the ‘One State One Health One Emergency’ policy inaugurated in 2024 by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav.Designed for both healthcare professionals and the general public, the app functions in both Hindi and English and supports offline usage once downloaded. It features audio-visual CPR instructions tailored to all age groups, making emergency response more accessible.The app includes a dropdown menu providing guidance on various medical emergencies, based on the state’s unified health policy. ‘Code Emergency’ will soon be available for free download on the Google Play Store.
4. Gujarat Launches ‘Karmayogi Swasthya Suraksha Yojana’ Providing ₹10 Lakh Cashless Health Cover: Gujarat launched the ‘Gujarat Karmayogi Swasthya Suraksha Yojana’ to provide cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family for AIS officers, state government employees, and pensioners under the PMJAY “G” category card system.Enrollment requires eligible beneficiaries to possess the PMJAY “G” category card, issued by the State Health Agency (SHA), which is also responsible for card distribution and scheme implementation.
5. Family definitions for scheme eligibility differ based on service rules: Gujarat State Services (Medical Treatment) Rules, 2015 for state employees/pensioners, and AIS (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1954 for AIS officers/pensioners, with mandatory dependent family certificates issued by designated authorities.
6. Swiggy Instamart Appoints Ankit Jain as SVP – Operations Amid Rapid Expansion: Instamart, the quick commerce arm of Swiggy, has appointed Ankit Jain as Senior Vice President – Operations, overseeing supply chain, dark stores, delivery experience, and network expansion.Ankit Jain previously held the position of SVP and Head of Grocery & Large Supply Chain at Flipkart, also leading Ekart Design.Instamart has rapidly expanded, now active in 120+ cities, with the addition of 300+ dark stores and mega pods in the last quarter, along with entry into new categories.
7. Axis Max Life CEO Prashant Tripathy to Resign Effective September 30: Axis Max Life Insurance announced that its Managing Director and CEO, Prashant Tripathy, will step down effective September 30.Prashant Tripathy has been with the company since 2007 and served as MD & CEO for the past six years.The company’s Board of Directors will start the process to find a successor for Tripathy.
8. Hinduja Global Solutions Names Venkatesh Korla as New Global CEO: Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) appointed Venkatesh Korla, President and CEO of HGS Americas, as the new Global CEO, effective after Partha DeSarkar’s retirement in September 2025.Mahesh Kumar Nutalapati, Deputy CFO since February, has been promoted to the position of Global CFO at HGS. Venkatesh Korla brings over 25 years of experience in digital services and customer experience and has led digital transformations, supporting HGS’s shift towards an AI-driven future.
9. 30 May – Hindi Journalism Day: Hindi Journalism Day is observed on 30th May every year to commemorate the launch of India’s first Hindi newspaper, ‘Udant Martand’ (The Rising Sun), which was first published on May 30, 1826, in Calcutta (now Kolkata) during British rule.The newspaper was founded and edited by Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla, a visionary journalist who published it weekly on Tuesdays, charging Rs. 2 per year. Despite limited resources, he laid the foundation for Hindi journalism in India.‘Udant Martand’, though pioneering, could not sustain for long due to financial constraints, high postal charges, and limited readership—highlighting the early struggles of vernacular media in colonial India.Hindi journalism in India now boasts a 199-year-long legacy, evolving from a small weekly into a powerful medium that plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion, upholding democracy, and amplifying local voices.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 31 May – World No Tobacco Day: World No Tobacco Day is observed on 31st May every year to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.Theme 2025 – Bright products. Dark intentions. Unmasking the AppealThe day was initiated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and its preventable health consequences.
2. What is Bow Echo? : The recent storm that struck Delhi showcased a unique phenomenon known as a bow echo. This meteorological event was visually represented on weather radar as a crescent shape. Bow echoes are because they often precede severe windstorms. During the Delhi storm, wind speeds reached up to 100 km/h. Understanding bow echoes is crucial for predicting severe weather events. A bow echo is a radar signature of a line of thunderstorms that appears bowed or curved. This formation can range from 20 km to 100 km in length and typically lasts between three and six hours. The term “bow echo” was introduced in the 1970s by meteorologist Ted Fujita.
3. ASEAN-GCC Summit: The summit comes at a time of economic volatility. U.S. tariffs have impacted several ASEAN countries . The GCC is ASEAN’s seventh-largest trading partner, with trade reaching $130.7 billion in 2023. The summit aims for stronger ties to secure sustainable prosperity and navigate geopolitical challenges. The GCC consists of oil-producing nations including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Strengthening ASEAN-GCC ties could lead to increased trade and investment opportunities. This partnership is seen as vital for economic stability in the face of external pressures, particularly from U.S. tariffs.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Rajnath Singh Grants Miniratna Status to MIL, AVNL & IOL to Boost Indigenous Defence Manufacturing: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the grant of “Miniratna Category-I” status to Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), and India Optel Limited (IOL), marking a significant step in empowering state-run defence firms.These three companies were carved out of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) in October 2021 as part of the structural overhaul aimed at making defence manufacturing more autonomous and competitive.MIL, which manufactures various types of ammunition, increased its revenue from ₹2,571.6 crore (FY 2021–22 H2) to ₹8,282 crore in FY 2024–25, with exports rising dramatically to ₹3,081 crore from just ₹55 crore.AVNL, a producer of main battle tanks and combat vehicles, reported ₹4,986 crore revenue in FY 2024–25, up from ₹2,569.26 crore in FY 2021–22 (H2), and successfully indigenised engines across T-72, T-90, and BMP-II platforms.
2. India and Mongolia Begin 17th ‘Nomadic Elephant’ Military Exercise in Ulaanbaatar: India and Mongolia will conduct the 17th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ in Ulaanbaatar from May 31 to June 13, 2025, with a focus on enhancing interoperability under UN mandates in semi-urban and mountainous terrains.The Indian Army contingent, consisting of 45 personnel primarily from the Arunachal Scouts battalion, will train alongside Mongolia’s 150-member Special Forces unit, aiming to improve joint task force capabilities.‘Nomadic Elephant’ is an annual bilateral exercise conducted alternately in India and Mongolia, with the last edition held in Umroi, Meghalaya in July 2024.
3. Recent Exercise: Indian Army conducted a large-scale field exercise named ‘Teesta Prahar’ – Teesta field firing range, West Bengal11th of Talisman Sabre Exercise 2025 between india, Australia, Japan, & USA – Papua New GuineaIndian Air Force Joins Multinational ‘Desert Flag-10’ Exercise in UAE6th edition of DUSTLIK exercise between India and Uzbekistan – Foreign Training Node, Aundh in Pune, Maharashtra Indian Air Force (IAF) participate in the multinational air exercise INIOCHOS-25 in Greece’s Hellenic Air Force.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. IIT Kharagpur and Singapore’s IME Sign MoU to Advance Semiconductor Technology Collaboration: IIT Kharagpur and Singapore’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME) under A*STAR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025.
The MoU establishes a framework for joint research and human capital development in cutting-edge semiconductor fields including post-CMOS technologies, AI hardware accelerators, quantum devices, photonics, and thermal management.The partnership includes bilateral exchange programs, specialized training, and joint workshops aimed at equipping researchers, engineers, and students with advanced skills to support India’s emergence as a key player in the global semiconductor ecosystem.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Hero FinCorp secures SEBI approval for Rs 3,668 crore IPO: Hero FinCorp has received SEBI approval to launch its ₹3,668 crore IPO, marking a key milestone in its journey to go public.The IPO comprises a fresh issue of ₹2,100 crore and an Offer for Sale (OFS) of ₹1,568 crore by existing shareholders.Key investors involved in the OFS include AHVF II Holdings Singapore II, Apis Growth II (Hibiscus), Link Investment Trust, and Otter Ltd.India’s Q4 economic growth accelerated to 7.4%, outperforming estimates, but the full fiscal year 2024-25 recorded its slowest growth since the Covid era at 6.5%, down sharply from 9.2% in FY24.
2. India’s FY25 economic growth hits four-year low of 6.5%, Q4 GDP beats estimates: India’s Q4 economic growth accelerated to 7.4%, outperforming estimates, but the full fiscal year 2024-25 recorded its slowest growth since the Covid era at 6.5%, down sharply from 9.2% in FY24.Despite global uncertainties and subdued private investment, officials remain confident India will continue as the fastest-growing major economy, supported by strong industrial activity and government spending.The IMF expects India’s economy to surpass Japan’s size by the end of 2025, reaching approximately $4.18 trillion, while GVA growth stood at 6.4%, slightly below GDP figures.Key sectors showed mixed performance: agriculture accelerated to 4.6%, construction grew 9.4%, but manufacturing slowed to 4.5% YoY, with some analysts cautioning that lower subsidies may have inflated GDP numbers.
3. Crisil Projects India’s GDP Growth at 6.5% for FY26: Crisil has projected India’s GDP growth at 6.5% for FY 2026, citing improving domestic consumption as a key driver, supported by factors like easing inflation, RBI’s expected rate cuts, income tax relief, and robust agricultural growth.
An above-normal monsoon (106% of the long-period average) forecast by the IMD is expected to boost agricultural output and keep food inflation in check, while subdued crude oil prices (averaging $65–$70 per barrel) are also seen supporting macroeconomic stability.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. President Murmu Confers National Florence Nightingale Awards 2025 to 15 Outstanding Nursing Professionals: President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Florence Nightingale Awards 2025 to 15 distinguished nursing professionals during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, recognizing their outstanding contributions to public health and community welfare.The awards, instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, honor Registered Nurses, Midwives, ANMs, and Lady Health Visitors across government and voluntary sectors for their compassion, resilience, and service.Each awardee received a Certificate of Merit, a ₹1,00,000 cash prize, and a medal, symbolizing the nation’s appreciation for their dedicated efforts in strengthening healthcare delivery.
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