1 Indian journalist wins prestigious Pulitzer Prize for cyber crime expose
Two Indian journalists have won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for an investigative reporting project exposing cybercrime in India . Anand R.K. and Supna Sharma , along with Natalie Obiko Pearson , were announced winners in the Illustrated Reporting and Commentary category on Monday for their report for Bloomberg . Another Indian journalist, Devjyot Ghoshal, was a finalist in the same category. He exposed cybercrime and human trafficking in Southeast Asia. Criminals, including India, trap individuals in camps and use them to defraud individuals in other countries. He is based in Bangkok. Hanoi-based reporter Aniruddha Ghoshal won the award in the International Reporting category. He investigated the secret surveillance equipment widely used by the US Border Patrol. These devices were first developed in Silicon Valley and later further developed in China. The series of reports also highlighted how China and other countries are using these devices. The Pulitzer Prizes, America’s highest journalism awards, are administered by Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism here. Anand is a Mumbai-based illustrator and visual artist who has won numerous awards. Suparna Sharma is a freelance investigative journalist in India.
2. The government increased the number of judges in the Supreme Court from 33 to 37.
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday approved the proposal to introduce the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament . It aims to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court of India (excluding the Chief Justice of India) from the current 33 to 37. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 provides for an increase of four judges, from 33 to 37 (excluding the Chief Justice of India) . The increased number of judges will enable the Supreme Court to function more efficiently and effectively, ensuring speedy delivery of justice. Expenditure on salaries and other benefits of judges and supporting staff will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India. Article 124(1) of the Constitution of India provides, inter alia, that there shall be a Supreme Court of India consisting of the Chief Justice of India and not more than seven other Judges, unless Parliament by law prescribes a higher number. An Act was passed in 1956 under the Supreme Court Act, 1956, to increase the number of Judges in the Supreme Court of India. Section 2 of the Act fixed the maximum number of Judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India) at 10. The number of Judges in the Supreme Court of India was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1977. However, the number of Judges of the Supreme Court of India (excluding the Chief Justice of India) was limited to 15 by the Cabinet until the end of 1979, when this limit was lifted at the request of the Chief Justice of India. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986 increased the number of judges in the Supreme Court from 17 to 25, excluding the Chief Justice of India. Subsequently, the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2008 increased the number of judges in the Supreme Court from 25 to 30. The number of judges in the Supreme Court of India was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the Chief Justice of India) by amending the original Act through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2019.
3 Central government approves Cotton Productivity Mission with an outlay of over Rs 5,600 crore
The Union Cabinet has approved the Cotton Productivity Mission, Kapas Kanti, with an outlay of ₹5,659 crore to address bottlenecks, declining growth, and quality concerns in India’s cotton sector . Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said the mission is in line with the government’s 5-F vision (farm to fiber, fiber to factory, factory to fashion, and fashion to foreign). It focuses on increasing cotton productivity. The scheme is expected to benefit approximately 3.2 million cotton farmers. Cotton production is expected to increase to 49.8 million bales by 2030-31. This will also help reduce dependence on imported cotton and save foreign exchange. The Union Cabinet also approved the fifth phase of the Emergency Credit Guarantee Scheme . Under this scheme, 100 per cent loan guarantee will be provided to micro, small and medium enterprises , while 90 per cent guarantee will be provided to non-micro, small and medium enterprises and the airline sector .
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the construction of a state-of-the-art ship repair facility in Vadinar, Gujarat. The project is expected to generate approximately 290 direct and approximately 1,100 indirect jobs in ship repair, logistics, and ancillary industries, while also fostering a broader maritime industrial ecosystem. This initiative will contribute to regional economic development and support India’s long-term maritime objectives under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. The project is a significant step in expanding the national ship repair system . The project will be jointly implemented by the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) with an investment of ₹1,570 crore . The project is planned as a brownfield facility, comprising a 650-meter jetty, two large floating dry docks, workshops, and related maritime infrastructure.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved two new semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission . Both projects will be set up in Gujarat , with a total investment of approximately ₹3,936 crore. These projects are expected to generate employment for approximately 2,230 skilled individuals. One of these projects will be the country’s first commercial mini/micro-LED display facility based on gallium nitride (GaN) technology . A semiconductor packaging unit will also be established. The first major project will be developed by Crystal Matrix Limited in Dholera, Gujarat . This plant will operate compound semiconductor manufacturing, assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP) , with a specific focus on mini/micro-LED display modules . The unit will also provide GaN foundry services and produce 72,000 square meters of display panels and 24,000 RGB wafers annually. These will be used in new technology devices such as TVs, smartphones, automobile displays, smartwatches, and XR (Extended Reality). The second project will be set up by Suchi Semicon Private Limited in Surat . This will be an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) unit , producing over 1,033 million chips annually. These chips will be used in power electronics, analog circuits, and industrial systems, benefiting sectors such as automobiles, industrial automation, and consumer electronics. With these two new projects, the total number of projects under the India Semiconductor Mission has reached 12, and the total investment has reached approximately ₹1.64 lakh crore.
6 Defence Ministry signs Rs 1,400 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited
The Ministry of Defense signed a contract worth ₹1,400 crore with Bharat Electronics Limited in Hyderabad for the purchase of five ground-based mobile electronic systems . The system, which includes 72% indigenous equipment, will modernize Indian Army units and strengthen the country’s indigenous defense manufacturing ecosystem.
Vietnam ‘s President To Lam has arrived in New Delhi on his first state visit to India . He was received by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. The Ministry of External Affairs said in a social media post that this visit will further strengthen the multifaceted and strong bilateral relations between India and Vietnam. Earlier, the Vietnamese President visited Bodh Gaya and offered prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple. He also visited the Vietnamese Monastery, where he participated in various religious and cultural activities.
8. 5-year collaboration agreement between UIDAI and National Forensic Sciences University
The Unique Identification Authority of India ( UIDAI ) and the National Forensic Sciences University ( NFSU ) have initiated a collaboration to strengthen cybersecurity and digital forensics . This partnership includes a five-year agreement between the two institutions , aimed at further securing India’s digital identity system . The collaboration will focus on six key areas : cybersecurity audits, forensic research, technical support, academic development, information security, and research on new technologies . The agreement will also facilitate joint research on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, deepfake detection, and cryptography, and enhance training and employment opportunities for students. The agreement was signed between UIDAI Chief Executive Officer Vivek Chandra Verma and NFSU Professor S.O. Junare, who was present on the occasion. Senior officials from both institutions were also present.
9 Chief of Defence Staff inaugurates Brain-Computer Interface Conference in Delhi
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan inaugurated a conference in Delhi titled “Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) : Expanding the Neural Frontiers and Their Strategic Implications .” The conference was organized by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in collaboration with the Joint Warfare Studies Centre . The conference discussed the role of BCIs in future warfare, human-machine integration, and indigenous innovation.
On May 5th , the results of the assembly elections held in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry were announced. The BJP formed governments in three states . Results for 293 seats were released in West Bengal, and for the first time, the BJP secured a majority with 207 seats. Elections for the Falta assembly seat in the 24 Parganas district of West Bengal were canceled, and re-polling will be held on May 21st . Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, the three-time in power in West Bengal, lost . Elections were held for 234 seats in Tamil Nadu , and actor Vijay’s TVK party won 108. Elections were held for 126 seats in Assam , where the BJP contested 89 and won 82. The BJP will form the government in Assam for the third consecutive time. Elections were held for 140 seats in Kerala , with the Congress winning 62. Meanwhile, the NDA government returned to power in Puducherry .
11 Electronic Gold Receipt to make investing easier, NSE launches EGR
The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has announced the launch of Electronic Gold Receipt (EGR) , a major step towards making India’s gold market more transparent, organized, and modern. This new system , effective May 4, 2026 , aims to bridge the gap between physical gold and the financial market . EGR is a digital security that represents ownership of physical gold. This gold is stored in vaults approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) , and investors can hold it in dematerialized form. During the launch, NSE also successfully demonstrated the conversion of a 1000-gram gold bar into EGR, demonstrating the system’s capabilities. The key features of EGR are :
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- Investors can hold gold in digital form
- If needed, it can be converted into physical gold.
- Investments in small amounts are also possible.
- Trading will be as easy as the stock market
12 Malayalam actor Santosh Nair passes away
Renowned Malayalam actor Santosh Nair died in a road accident on May 4th . He was 66 years old. Santosh Nair began his career in the 1982 film “Ithu Njangalude Katha .” Santosh appeared in over 100 films , playing several important roles. Santosh’s last film, Mohiniyattam , was released recently on April 10th and is still running in theaters.