NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Sikkim Becomes India’s First Fully Paperless Judiciary: Sikkim becomes the first state in India to achieve a fully paperless judiciary, announced by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at a conclave in Gangtok. A paperless judiciary system enables e-filing, virtual hearings, digital records, and real-time case tracking, ensuring faster, transparent, and efficient justice delivery.
2. Rajnath Singh Inaugurates North Tech Symposium in Prayagraj: Rajnath Singh inaugurated the North Tech Symposium in Prayagraj. The event is jointly organised by the Indian Army Northern Command, Indian Army Central Command, and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers. The symposium, themed “Raksha Triveni Sangam”, features participation from 284 companies, including MSMEs, startups, and defence tech firms showcasing indigenous technologies.
3. Govt Approves Appointment of R. Balasubramaniam and Joram Aniya as Full-Time NITI Aayog Members: Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the appointment of Balasubramaniam and Joram Aniya as full-time members of NITI Aayog. Joram Aniya’s appointment is historic, as she is the first woman from the Nyishi community to earn a PhD and the first person to obtain a doctorate in Hindi in Arunachal Pradesh.
4. 4 May – Coal Miners’ Day: Coal Miners’ Day is observed every year on 4 May to honour the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices of coal miners across the world. The day recognises the important role of coal miners in industrial development and energy production, especially in countries like India.
5. 16th Century Telugu Inscription Found in Tadipatri: A Telugu inscription dated to the 16th century has been found in Tadipatri, a town in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Such inscriptions are primary sources for the study of regional history, language, religion, administration, and temple patronage in peninsular India. Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions engraved on durable materials such as stone, metal, and copper plates. Telugu inscriptions are important for reconstructing the history of the Telugu language, script development, and political authority in the Deccan region. The 16th century in South India covered the late Vijayanagara period and the rise of several regional powers. Inscriptions from this period often record grants, donations, temple construction, land revenue arrangements, and religious endowments.
6. R. Balasubramaniam and K.V. Raju Join NITI Aayog: R. Balasubramaniam and K.V. Raju have been appointed as members of NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s policy think tank. NITI Aayog was established on 1 January 2015 to replace the Planning Commission and to support cooperative federalism and strategic policy formulation. NITI Aayog is a non-constitutional and non-statutory body under the Government of India. It functions as an advisory institution on economic policy, long-term development strategy, and coordination between the Union and State governments. NITI Aayog is chaired by the Prime Minister of India. Its structure includes a Vice-Chairperson, full-time members, ex-officio members, special invitees, and chief executive officers appointed by the Union government.
7. Mission Mausam Urban Testbed Launched: Mission Mausam Urban Testbed has been launched in India to improve monsoon prediction through urban-scale weather observation and modelling. The initiative is linked with atmospheric science, numerical weather prediction, and city-level meteorological data collection. Mission Mausam is a weather and climate initiative associated with the Indian Meteorological Department and the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It focuses on improving forecasting of monsoon rainfall, extreme weather events, and local atmospheric conditions. An urban testbed is a controlled field setup used to study weather processes in a city environment. It generally includes automatic weather stations, rain gauges, radar inputs, and data from surface observations for high-resolution analysis.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Madame Tussauds London Launches ‘Icons of India’ Exhibition Featuring Amitabh Bachchan & Sachin Tendulkar: Madame Tussauds London launched a special “Icons of India” exhibition at its headquarters, showcasing Indian cultural icons. The exhibition features 13 wax figures of Indian celebrities from cinema and cricket, including Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar. Some figures were brought from global locations, such as Virat Kohli (Bangkok) and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (New York).
2. 3 May 2026 – World Laughter Day: World Laughter Day is celebrated every year on the first Sunday of May to promote happiness, peace, and overall well-being through laughter. This year was celebrated on 3 May. It was started in 1998 by Dr Madan Kataria, the founder of the Laughter Yoga movement.
3. Ted Turner, CNN Founder, Dies at 87: Ted Turner, the American media entrepreneur who founded Cable News Network (CNN), died at the age of 87. He was known for establishing one of the first 24-hour television news channels and for building Turner Broadcasting System in the United States. Ted Turner founded CNN in 1980 as a 24-hour cable news channel. CNN became the first television network in the United States to provide continuous news coverage throughout the day and night. Turner Broadcasting System was a major American media company associated with Ted Turner. The company expanded cable television in the United States and later became linked with channels such as CNN, TNT, and Cartoon Network.
4. Netherlands Partners with Indian Spice Industry on Sustainability: The Netherlands has partnered with the Indian spice industry on sustainability-related cooperation in the spices sector. India is a major global producer, consumer, and exporter of spices, and the Netherlands is a key European trade and logistics hub. India grows a wide range of spices, including black pepper, cardamom, cumin, coriander, turmeric, chilli, and ginger. The country has a long history of spice cultivation, processing, and export, and spices form an important part of agricultural trade. The Netherlands is one of Europe’s largest import and re-export centres for agricultural commodities. Rotterdam Port and the Dutch food-processing ecosystem support trade in herbs, spices, and other agri-products across the European market.
5. India and Japan Sign Quantum and Health Research Pacts: India and Japan have signed agreements in the fields of quantum technology and health research. Quantum technology uses principles of quantum mechanics, including superposition and entanglement, for applications in computing, communication, sensing and cryptography. Health research covers biomedical studies, public health, clinical trials and collaborative work on disease prevention and treatment. India and Japan maintain bilateral cooperation in science and technology through joint research, academic exchange and innovation partnerships. The two countries have previously worked together in areas such as advanced materials, information technology, space science and clean energy.
6. India to Host First International Big Cat Alliance Summit Summit in New Delhi: India will host the first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit on 1-2 June 2026 in New Delhi. The summit will bring together Heads of State or Government from member and observer countries, along with more than 400 conservationists, policymakers, scientists, and other representatives. The summit theme is “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem”. The summit will adopt the Delhi Declaration on big cat conservation, which will set shared priorities and strengthen transboundary cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the summit, and the winners of the Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2026 will be felicitated on 2 June 2026.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. INS Sindhukesari Arrives at Colombo for Operational Turnaround: INS Sindhukesari arrived at the port of Colombo for Operational Turnaround, strengthening India–Sri Lanka maritime cooperation. INS Sindhukesari is a Sindhughosh-class diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy, known for its stealth and combat capabilities.
2. Navy Chief Meets Myanmar Naval Leadership: The Chief of the Naval Staff of India met Myanmar’s naval leadership to discuss maritime security cooperation. The meeting formed part of bilateral defence engagement between India and Myanmar, which share a land boundary of about 1,643 km and a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal. India and Myanmar are connected through the Bay of Bengal and the eastern Indian Ocean region. Myanmar is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and lies on India’s eastern flank, adjoining the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram. Maritime security cooperation between two navies can include information sharing, coordinated patrols, search and rescue, and training exchanges. India’s naval diplomacy in the Bay of Bengal region is linked with the Indian Ocean Region and the Act East Policy.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Pixxel & Sarvam AI Partner to Launch India’s First Orbital Data Centre Satellite ‘Pathfinder’ by 2026: India’s space-tech startup Pixxel has partnered with AI firm Sarvam AI to develop the country’s first orbital data centre satellite, “Pathfinder.” The ~200 kg satellite, expected to launch by end of 2026, will enable training and operation of AI models directly in space, marking a major step in space technology and AI integration.
2. Archaeopteryx Fossil Sheds Light on Bird Evolution: Archaeopteryx is a genus of feathered dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, and its fossils are among the most studied specimens in vertebrate palaeontology. A 150-million-year-old Archaeopteryx fossil provides evidence for the transition between non-avian dinosaurs and birds. Archaeopteryx lived about 150 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period. The genus is known from limestone deposits in southern Germany, especially the Solnhofen region, which has yielded several exceptionally preserved fossils. Fossils of Archaeopteryx are used to study the origin of flight and the evolution of avian traits. The specimen combines reptile-like skeletal features with bird-like feather structures, which makes it important in comparative anatomy.
3. IIT Madras Launches California Centre for Deep-Tech Startups: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras Global Research Foundation established its first United States centre in Menlo Park, California, on 6 May 2026. The centre became operational on 24 April 2026 and is located near Silicon Valley for startup incubation, technology commercialisation, and deep-tech research. The Menlo Park centre serves as a hub for Indian deep-tech startups to connect with global markets, investors, and technology ecosystems. It also supports collaboration between educational institutions and industries for the translation of laboratory technologies into commercial products. The project has a planned investment of USD 7.5 million. This includes a USD 4.5 million greenfield investment from IITM Global for startup incubation and deep-tech research. The centre was established in partnership with CA Startups and functions as a strategic anchor for IITM Global’s United States operations. IITM Global has also planned a second centre on the United States East Coast.
4. Scientists Discover Rare Giant Tree Species in Andes: Scientists have identified a rare giant tree species in the Andes, a major mountain range in South America that extends through seven countries, including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. The discovery adds to the known plant diversity of the Andean region, which contains multiple ecological zones from tropical forests to alpine habitats. The Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world, stretching for about 7,000 km along the western edge of South America. It includes high-altitude ecosystems such as cloud forests, páramo grasslands and montane forests, which support many endemic plant and animal species. The Andes is one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots and contains a large number of endemic species found nowhere else. High elevation variation, isolated valleys and diverse rainfall patterns create distinct habitats for plant evolution and species differentiation.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. NARCL recovers Rs 4,364 crore in FY26: National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL) recovered ₹4,364 crore in FY 2025–26, contributing nearly 70% of its total recoveries so far. As per the Finance Ministry, cumulative recoveries have reached ₹76,345 crore, showing a strong acceleration in bad loan resolution. The government-backed “bad bank” has acquired 33 borrower entities with a total debt exposure of ₹1.65 lakh crore.
2. CBDT Reports 5.12% Growth in Net Direct Tax Collections to ₹23.4 Lakh Crore in FY26: India’s net direct tax collections grew by 12% in FY 2025–26, reaching ₹23,40,406 crore, as per data released by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. The gross direct tax collections stood at ₹28,11,936 crore, showing a 4.03% year-on-year increase compared to FY 2024–25.
3. ADB Unveils $70 Billion Asia-Pacific Connectivity Plan for Power Grid and Digital Infrastructure by 2035: The Asian Development Bank announced a $70 billion regional connectivity plan for electricity and digital infrastructure across Asia-Pacific by 2035. The announcement was made by Masato Kanda at the 59th annual meeting held in Samarkand. The plan includes two key components: $50 billion Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative and $20 billion Asia-Pacific Digital Highway.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Indian Journalists Anand RK & Suparna Sharma Win Pulitzer Prize for Cybercrime Exposé: Indian journalists Anand RK and Suparna Sharma, along with Natalie Obiko Pearson, won the Pulitzer Prize in the Illustrated Reporting and Commentary category for a Bloomberg report exposing cybercrime in India. Aniruddha Ghosal won in the International Reporting category for investigating the US Border Patrol’s use of mass-surveillance tools developed in Silicon Valley and China. The Pulitzer Prize, administered by Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, is regarded as the highest journalism honour in the United States.
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