NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Apple Inc. to Invest ₹100 Crore in India’s Renewable Energy Infrastructure: Apple Inc. has announced an investment of ₹100 crore to strengthen renewable energy infrastructure in India.
In partnership with CleanMax, Apple will help develop more than 150 MW of renewable energy capacity across the country. Apple Inc. is working with WWF-India on initiatives related to recycling, waste management, and reducing plastic leakage into ecosystems. The company is also collaborating with Acumen to provide grants and mentorship support to green startups in India.
2. Jagat Prakash Nadda Launches Swasth Bharat Portal to Integrate Health Systems Across India: Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the Swasth Bharat Portal, a unified digital platform aimed at integrating multiple health programme systems across India. The Swasth Bharat Portal has been developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to improve coordination and efficiency in healthcare services. The portal was unveiled during the 10th National Summit on Innovation and Inclusivity: Best Practices Shaping India’s Health Future.
3. N Rangasamy Appointed Chief Minister of Puducherry for Record Fifth Term: Droupadi Murmu appointed N Rangasamy as the new Chief Minister of Puducherry. N Rangasamy took the oath for a record fifth term after the AINRC-led NDA secured victory in the Assembly elections with the support of 18 MLAs in the 30-member Assembly. The veteran leader won the recent elections from both the Thattanchavady and Mangalam constituencies and has previously served as Chief Minister under both the Congress and the All India NR Congress governments.
4. Joseph Vijay Sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: Joseph Vijay, popularly known as “Thalapathy”, has taken oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after the victory of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The swearing-in ceremony was held at Nehru Indoor Stadium in the presence of political leaders, party workers, and supporters. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the Oath of Office and Secrecy to Vijay as the new Chief Minister of the state.
5. India Fully Operationalises Four New Labour Codes: India fully operationalised four labour codes on 21 November 2025 after the publication of the required rules and notifications. The four codes replace 29 central labour laws with a consolidated framework for wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety. The four codes are the Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Social Security, 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. These codes were brought into force by the Government of India with effect from 21 November 2025. The Code on Wages, 2019 applies to wages, bonus, and minimum wage provisions across covered establishments. Under the revised wage definition, basic pay, dearness allowance, and retaining allowance must form at least 50% of total remuneration.
6. Government Launches Road RADAR to Track Air Pollution Sources: The Delhi Pollution Control Committee launched Road RADAR on 8 May 2026 in Delhi to identify sources of air pollution through daily ground-level surveys. Road RADAR stands for Real-time Air Pollution Detection Across Roads and uses geo-tagged reporting for rapid redressal of dispersed pollution sources. Road RADAR is a field-based monitoring programme for road-linked pollution sources in Delhi. The initiative deploys 13 dedicated surveyors, with one surveyor assigned to each district of Delhi. Surveyors use the MCD-311 mobile application for geo-tagged field surveys. The programme sets a daily reporting target of at least 70 pollution-related issues per surveyor and around 1,000 issues collectively each day.
7. Kuljeet Kaur Marhas Becomes First Indian Woman Fellow: Kuljeet Kaur Marhas was elected a Fellow of The Meteoritical Society for 2026 on 9 May 2026. She became the first Indian woman to receive this international honour in meteoritics and planetary science. She is affiliated with the Planetary Science Division of the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad. The Meteoritical Society is an international scientific body connected with meteorites, planetary materials, and Solar System research. Its Fellows are selected from scientists recognised for work on planetary materials and related laboratory studies. In its 93-year history, Kuljeet Kaur Marhas became only the third Indian scientist to receive this honour.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Bulgaria Parliament Approves Rumen Radev as New Prime Minister: Rumen Radev has been formally approved by Bulgaria’s parliament as the country’s new Prime Minister after contesting the 2026 parliamentary elections. Formerly serving as President of Bulgaria and known as an ex-fighter pilot, Radev resigned from the largely ceremonial presidency in January 2026 to enter active politics.
2. 9 May 2026 – World Migratory Bird Day: World Migratory Bird Day is observed twice every year, on the second Saturdays of May and October, to raise awareness about the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. This year was celebrated on 9 May. Theme 2026 – Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter The day is organized by global environmental organizations to encourage people, governments, and communities to reduce threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and climate change affecting migratory birds.
3. 8 – 9 May – Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War: Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War is observed globally on 8–9 May to honour and remember all those who lost their lives during the Second World War. The observance focuses on promoting peace, remembrance, and reconciliation among nations affected by the Second World War, encouraging reflection on the consequences of conflict. It is recognised by the United Nations to preserve historical memory and to strengthen international cooperation for preventing future global conflicts.
4. 8 May – World Ovarian Cancer Day: World Ovarian Cancer Day is observed every year on 8 May to raise awareness about ovarian cancer, its symptoms, and the importance of early detection. Theme 2026 – #No Woman Left Behind The day focuses on educating women about preventive care, regular health check-ups, and recognizing early warning signs of ovarian cancer.
5. US Proposes Higher Minimum Wages for H-1B Workers: The United States Department of Labor issued a proposed rule on 27 March 2026 to raise minimum salary thresholds for H-1B visa workers. The proposal covers H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, and PERM labour certification programmes in the United States. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant work visa used by the United States for speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The visa is linked to prevailing wage rules, which set minimum pay levels for foreign workers in relation to local labour-market data. The proposed rule is titled Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States. The Department of Labor has stated that the existing wage levels were fixed about 20 years ago. The proposal seeks to raise prevailing wage floors across four experience levels. Level I would move from the 17th percentile to the 34th percentile of wage data, while Level IV would move from the 67th percentile to the 88th percentile. For an entry-level software engineer in San Francisco, the minimum H-1B salary would rise to about 162,000 a year. The proposed minimum salary for similar roles is about 113,000 in Dallas and about $132,000 in New York.
6. Non-binary Indian elected to Scottish Parliament: Q Manivannan, a non-binary transgender Indian from Tamil Nadu, was elected on 8 May 2026 as a Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh & Lothians East. Manivannan contested the seat for the Scottish Greens and became one of the first two transgender MSPs elected to Holyrood. The Scottish Parliament is the devolved legislature of Scotland and sits at Holyrood in Edinburgh. Members of the Scottish Parliament are known as MSPs, and the Parliament was established in 1999 after the Scotland Act 1998. Manivannan became the first person elected to Holyrood without a permanent visa to live in the United Kingdom. New legislation introduced by the SNP government in 2025 allows non-UK citizens with any type of leave, including short-term study visas, to stand for Parliament.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. DRDO, IAF successfully conduct maiden flight-trial of indigenous TARA glide weapon: Defence Research and Development Organization and the Indian Air Force successfully conducted the maiden flight trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) off the coast of Odisha. Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system designed to convert unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons with improved accuracy and lethality. The system was developed by Research Centre Imarat along with other DRDO laboratories, while production activities have already started with Indian industry partners under the Development-cum-Production Partnership model.
2. ICGS Achal Commissioned into Indian Coast Guard : Indian Coast Guard Ship Achal, a new-generation Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessel, was commissioned on 9 May 2026 at Goa Shipyard Limited in Goa. The 51-metre vessel was designed and built by Goa Shipyard Limited and has more than 50% indigenous components. Adamya-class vessels are Fast Patrol Vessels used by the Indian Coast Guard for coastal security and maritime law enforcement. ICGS Achal is one of the new-generation vessels in this class and is fitted for patrol and interdiction duties. ICGS Achal will be stationed at Vadinar in Gujarat under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (North West). The ship will undertake coastal and offshore surveillance, interdiction, Search and Rescue, anti-smuggling operations, and marine pollution response.
SPORTS
1. India to Host Inaugural World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad: India will host the inaugural World Yogasana Championship from June 4 to 8 in Ahmedabad with participation from more than 40 countries. The World Yogasana Championship is being organized by Yogasana Bharat under the aegis of World Yogasana.
2. India to Host First International Ophthalmology Research Conference in New Delhi: India will host its first international ophthalmology research conference at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The conference, titled AIOS-Armed Forces Ophthalmology Update (AIOS-AFOU 2026), will be inaugurated by Sanjay Seth. AIOS-Armed Forces Ophthalmology Update (AIOS-AFOU 2026) is being organized by the Department of Ophthalmology at Army Hospital (Research & Referral) in collaboration with All India Ophthalmological Society
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Samsung Launches 5th Edition of ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ Innovation Programme in India: Samsung has launched the fifth edition of its flagship innovation and education programme, “Samsung Solve for Tomorrow,” in India to encourage young innovators and problem-solvers. Under the 2026 edition, the top four winning teams will receive incubation grants worth ₹2 crore along with incubation support at IIT Delhi to help develop and scale their ideas.
2. IIT Madras Launches First US Centre to Boost Deep-Tech Startups and Innovation Ecosystem : The Indian Institute of Technology Madras Global Research Foundation has announced the establishment of its first international centre in the United States, aimed at strengthening India’s deep-tech ecosystem. The centre will act as a launchpad for deep-tech start-ups, while also promoting research collaborations and innovation ecosystem development between India and the US. The project will be developed with a planned investment of USD 7.5 million, and the announcement was made at Menlo Park, California during the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. SBI Reports 13% Rise in FY26 Net Profit to ₹80,032 Crore: State Bank of India (SBI) reported a 6% year-on-year rise in standalone net profit to ₹19,684 crore in the fourth quarter of FY 2025-26, compared to ₹18,643 crore in the same quarter last year. For the full Financial Year 2025-26, State Bank of India (SBI) posted a 13% year-on-year growth in standalone net profit at ₹80,032 crore, up from ₹70,901 crore in FY 2024-25.
2. RBI Imposes Penalties on YES Bank and Hinduja Housing Finance Ltd: The Reserve Bank of India imposed a penalty of ₹31.80 lakh on YES Bank for non-compliance with certain ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’ provisions. Reserve Bank of India also imposed a penalty of ₹1.8 lakh on Hinduja Housing Finance Ltd for non-compliance with RBI directions related to governance norms.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Deepak Bhatia Receives Prestigious Erth Dubai Award in Dubai: Deepak Bhatia received the prestigious Erth Dubai Award under the category of Best Private Sector Entity. The award was presented by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Uncle’s Shop Building Material Trading was founded in 1922 by the late Uttamchand Bhatia and is regarded as one of the oldest Indian-origin enterprises in the UAE, currently led by the fourth generation of the family.
2. Dr V S Mehta Selected for Lifetime Achievement Award by AIIMS: Delhi-NCR-based neurosurgeon and Padma Shri awardee Dr V S Mehta has been selected for the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by AIIMS. The award was conferred during the 51st annual convocation of AIIMS at Bharat Mandapam, with the ceremony to be attended by C P Radhakrishnan as the chief guest.
No comments:
Post a Comment