NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Election Commission of India Introduces New Initiatives to Improve Electoral Rolls and Voter Convenience: The Election Commission of India has introduced new steps to improve voter rolls and make voting easier. These changes align with plans discussed by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar in a meeting with other Election Commissioners in March.The Commission will now obtain death registration data electronically from the Registrar General of India in line with Rule 9 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and Section 3(5)(b) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (as amended in 2023).This will ensure that the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) receive timely information about registered deaths. This will also enable Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to re-verify the information through field visits, without waiting for a formal request under Form 7.To make Voter Information Slips (VIS) more voter friendly, the Commission has also decided to modify its design. The serial number and part number of the voter will now be displayed more prominently, with increased font size, making it easier for voters to identify their polling station and for polling officials to locate their names in the electoral roll efficiently.
2. NITI Aayog Releases Report on “Enhancing Competitiveness of MSMEs in India”: NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC), released a comprehensive report proposing systemic reforms to unlock the potential of India’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across key areas like finance, skilling, innovation, and market access.The report identifies sector-specific challenges in textiles, chemicals, automotive, and food processing, and emphasizes the need to integrate MSMEs into global value chains through improved policy implementation and data-driven strategies.While access to formal credit for MSMEs improved between 2020 and 2024, with credit access rising from 14% to 20% for micro and small enterprises, a large credit gap remains—with only 19% of credit demand met and ₹80 lakh crore unmet.Key challenges include a shortage of skilled workforce, limited investment in R&D and quality improvement, and barriers to technology adoption due to weak infrastructure, poor internet connectivity, and lack of awareness of existing government schemes.The report recommends a robust, adaptive, and cluster-based policy framework at the state level, with a focus on digital marketing training, logistics partnerships, and direct market access, especially in northeastern and eastern regions with high growth potential.
3. NITI Aayog and GAME Form Strategic Partnership to Foster Localized Entrepreneurship Ecosystems Across India: GAME and NITI Aayog have announced a strategic partnership aimed at fostering place-based entrepreneurship ecosystems in India, with pilot sites in Nagpur, Visakhapatnam, and Uttar Pradesh, and plans for nationwide expansion.The partnership will bring together local entrepreneurs, government bodies, corporates, educational institutions, financial organizations, and community groups to create tailored solutions that address regional challenges and drive economic growth.Ishtiyaque Ahmed, Programme Director at NITI Aayog, emphasised a bottom-up approach focusing on collaboration with local entrepreneurs and addressing their unique needs to build self-sustaining ecosystems.GAME has been empowering over 300,000 entrepreneurs since 2018 through access to finance, capacity-building programs, and policy advocacy, and the collaboration with NITI Aayog aims to create innovative solutions for entrepreneurship and inclusive growth.
4. Jubilant Beverages gets CCI nod to acquire 40 pc stake in Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings: Fair trade regulator CCI cleared Jubilant Beverages’ proposal to acquire a 40 per cent stake in Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings Pvt Ltd (HCCH).The proposed combination relates to inter alia, JBL (Jubilant Beverages Ltd) proposed acquisition of 40 per cent of the shareholding of HCCH from Hindustan Coca-Cola Overseas Holdings Pte Ltd, and Bharat Coca-Cola Overseas Pte Ltd.HCCH is a holding company with no independent activities in India and belongs to the Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Company group. Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) is a subsidiary of the HCCH.
5. Ms. Anuradha Prasad Takes Oath as UPSC Member: Veteran civil servant Ms. Anuradha Prasad, a 1986-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service, took the oath as Member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), administered by Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), the seniormost member of the Commission.She brings over 37 years of diverse experience in public policy, finance, labour, defence acquisitions, and inter-governmental relations, and has played a key role in national initiatives such as the Labour Codes, e-Shram Portal, and Covid-19 worker welfare programs.An alumna of Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, and University of Birmingham (UK), Ms. Prasad has also served post-retirement as Member of the Police Complaints Authority, Delhi.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India and Denmark sign renewed MoU: India and Denmark renewed their MoU to strengthen cooperation in clean energy, supporting India’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2070 through technology sharing and knowledge exchange.The updated agreement now includes advanced areas like power system modeling, EV charging infrastructure, cross-border electricity trade, and integration of renewable energy.The MoU was originally signed in June 2020 and set to expire in 2025, but this early renewal ensures continuity of joint clean energy efforts between both nations.
2. India’s First WAVES 2025 Concludes in Mumbai: India’s first World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 concluded at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.The four-day summit, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit witnessed participation from over 90 countries, with more than ten thousand delegates.The event covered a wide range of discussions, focusing on crucial themes such as artificial intelligence in media and entertainment, the globalisation of media, the future of content creation, and the profound impact of emerging technologies.The cultural programmes during the four-day summit mesmerised the audience, which highlighted India’s vast artistic diversity through traditional folk dances, martial arts displays and vibrant drumming performances.
3. 1 May – International Labour Day: International Labour Day, also known as Labour Day or May Day, is celebrated globally on 1 May to honor the achievements of workers and their contributions to the development and prosperity of society.Theme 2025 – Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through ReparationsThe day commemorates the Haymarket affair in Chicago on May 4, 1886, where laborers fought for an eight-hour workday. The workers were protesting against the harsh working conditions and demanding better rights and wages.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Air Marshal N Tiwari takes charge as Vice Chief of Air Staff: Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari took charge as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff. He succeeded Air Marshal S P Dharkar.
Before taking charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Tiwari served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Gandhinagar-based South Western Air Command (SWAC).He was commissioned in the fighter stream in June 1986. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he passed out as the President’s Gold Medallist.
2. India to Join Australia, Japan, and US in Talisman Sabre 2025 Military Drill: India will participate for the first time alongside Australia, Japan, and the United States in the multilateral Talisman Sabre 2025 military exercise.The 2025 edition will be the 11th iteration of this joint military exercise, which involves complex operations across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains.The war games, traditionally held in Australia, will also take place in Papua New Guinea in July 2025, marking a significant shift in the exercise’s location.
SPORTS
1. Legend Kapil Dev joins Sobo Mumbai Falcons as brand ambassador for T20 Mumbai League: Former Indian cricket captain, Kapil Dev, has been named the brand ambassador for the Sobo Mumbai Falcons team for the 2025 T20 Mumbai League season.The third edition of the T20 Mumbai League will commence on May 26 at Wankhede Stadium, with eight teams competing in 20 matches until June 8, featuring cricket stars like Suryakumar Yadav, Ajinkya Rahane, and others.
2. Cricket retained, MMA to debut at Asian Games 2026: Cricket has been retained for the Asian Games 2026, which will be held in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4.Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) will make its debut at the 2026 Asian Games, marking its first appearance in the event.Cricket first appeared in the Asian Games in 2010 and returned in 2014 and 2023; since 2023, all matches have been granted international status by the ICC.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Tamil Nadu Launches India’s First Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme to Boost Exports and Employment: Tamil Nadu becomes the first state in India to introduce a dedicated Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, aiming to attract Rs 30,000 crore in investments and generate 60,000 jobs.The state government will offer matching grants to complement Union government incentives, targeting manufacturers in sub-segments like HDI boards, display assemblies, and lithium-ion cells.Tamil Nadu’s electronics exports have surged from $1.66 billion in FY21 to over $14.6 billion in FY25, establishing the state as India’s largest electronics manufacturing export base.The scheme is part of Tamil Nadu’s broader policy framework, including the Tamil Nadu Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy (2024), aiming to attract global and Indian firms in the electronics sector.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. India’s Total Exports Grow by 6.01% to Reach Record $824.9 Billion in 2024–25, Up from $778.1 Billion in 2023–24: RBI Report: India’s total exports hit an all-time high of US$824.9 billion in FY 2024–25, marking a 01% growth over the previous year’s US$778.1 billion, according to RBI data.Services exports were the main growth driver, reaching a record US$387.5 billion in 2024–25 — a 13.6% increase from the previous year, with March 2025 alone seeing 18.6% year-on-year growth.Non-petroleum merchandise exports also surged to a historic US$374.1 billion, reflecting a 6.0% rise from US$352.9 billion in 2023–24, making it the highest ever annual figure for this category.
2. RBI Fines ICICI Bank, Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank, and Bank of Maharashtra for Regulatory Non-Compliance: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has fined four banks, including ICICI Bank and Bank of Baroda, for non-compliance with regulatory guidelines.ICICI Bank was fined Rs 97.80 lakh for failing to comply with RBI’s directions on Cyber Security Framework, KYC, and credit card and debit card issuance protocols.Bank of Baroda was penalized Rs 40 lakh for not adhering to RBI’s guidelines on financial services and customer service practices.Both IDBI Bank and Bank of Maharashtra were penalized Rs 31.8 lakh each for non-compliance with directions related to Kisan Credit Card schemes and KYC procedures.The RBI clarified that the penalties were imposed due to deficiencies in regulatory compliance and not to question the validity of any transactions or agreements with customers.
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