1 Indian scientist Parveen Sheikh receives 2026 Whitley Award
Indian scientist Parveen Sheikh has been awarded the prestigious Whitley Award for 2026. She has been given this honour for her outstanding contribution in the conservation of the endangered bird Indian Skimmer . This award is given by the Whitley Fund for Nature and this time the ceremony was held at the Royal Geographical Society , where Princess Anne honoured her. This achievement highlights the importance of grassroots conservation not only for India but across the world. The Indian Skimmer is a very unique and endangered bird, which is identified by its bright orange beak and its special technique of catching fish by skimming on the water surface.
2 Dr. R. Balasubramanian and Dr. Joram Ania appointed as full-time members of NITI Aayog
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed Dr. R. Balasubramanian and Dr. Joram Aniya as full-time members of NITI Aayog. , the Cabinet Secretariat announced through a gazette notification.
3 Major change in RBI: Rohit Jain becomes the new Deputy Governor
In a significant administrative decision, the Government of India has approved the appointment of Rohit Jain as the new Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India . The appointment follows the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and his tenure will be effective from May 3, 2026. Rohit Jain will replace former Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar, whose term recently ended. His appointment is seen as a significant step towards strengthening experience and stability in the RBI leadership. After Rohit Jain takes over, the RBI’s Deputy Governor team will be as follows: .
Swaminathan J.
Poonam Gupta
S. C. Murmu
Rohit Jain
4 Anugrah Narayan Das takes over as Controller General of Defence Accounts
IAS officer Anugrah Narayan Das assumed charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) on 1 May 2026. Das, a senior officer of the 1991 batch of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), has over three decades of experience in defence financial management and civil service. During his career, Anugrah Narayan Das has led several programmes in critical areas such as procurement policy, audit systems, and budget and expenditure monitoring. His expertise will play a key role in further strengthening defence financial management.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the country’s premier medical institution, has launched India’s first portable bedside MRI system, marking a major step in healthcare delivery . This cutting-edge technology will enable fast and safe brain imaging for critically ill patients . The unique feature of this portable MRI machine is that it can be brought directly to the patient’s bedside. Traditional MRI scans require patients to be transported to a dedicated room, while the new system allows scanning within the ICU, emergency, and neurosurgery wards. This will significantly reduce the risk of transferring critical patients. This technology has already been deployed at AIIMS’s Center for Neurological Conditions. A team of experts, led by Dr. Shailesh Gaikwad, is examining patients. According to doctors, this technology is highly effective in stroke, head injury, ICU monitoring, pediatric cases, and post-surgery care.
6. World’s first nuclear waste vault to open in Finland
The world’s first facility for permanently disposing of used nuclear fuel is set to open on Finland ‘s Olkiluoto Island . Built deep beneath Olkiluoto Island, the facility is designed to store 6,500 tons of spent nuclear fuel . Located beneath Olkiluoto Island, the Onkalo facility is designed to safely store spent nuclear fuel for 100,000 years. The Onkalo facility is located approximately 400 to 450 meters below ground level, in bedrock that is approximately 1.9 billion years old. Finland’s solution could offer a working model for safely isolating radioactive waste from people and the environment over geological timescales. Since the 1950s, nuclear reactors around the world have produced massive amounts of spent fuel. Worldwide, this amount has reached about 400,000 tonnes, much of which is currently stored in temporary facilities such as cooling pools and dry containers.
7 India’s first commercial seaplane service to start in Lakshadweep
SkyHop Aviation Private Limited received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) , Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) . This will enable the company to launch India’s first commercial seaplane service, with initial flights planned in the Union Territory (UT) of Lakshadweep. This will promote last-mile connectivity , reduce travel time, boost tourism and improve access to remote areas. 19-seater De Havilland Canada (DHC)-6 Twin Otter aircraft has been indigenously converted into a seaplane. It has been fitted with float attachments, allowing it to operate on water and short airstrips. In the initial phase, five islands in Lakshadweep will be connected to the Indian mainland. Seaplane docks have been constructed in Agatti, Kiltan, and Kavaratti. This is the first time an aircraft converted/modified as a seaplane has flown in India. Previously, seaplanes had arrived in India already as seaplanes and then flown here; but their record of continuous operation had been mixed. Previously, it had received the necessary certification after successful water takeoff and landing trials at the Ganga Barrage (Rishikesh) and Tehri Lake in Uttarakhand. SpiceJet had briefly launched a seaplane service in Gujarat a few years ago, but it was not able to continue for long.
8 No more losing your PF money, EPFO’s new platform will help
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is launching a new digital platform called ‘ E-PRAAPTI ‘. Announcing the initiative, Mansukh Mandaviya explained that the initiative aims to help users track and reactivate inactive or unclaimed provident fund accounts, even without a Universal Account Number (UAN) . This move reflects the government’s efforts towards digital governance, transparency, and user empowerment. E-PRAAPTI stands for ‘ EPF Aadhaar-Based Access Portal to Tracking the Inoperative Accounts ‘. It is a new digital system designed to help people manage their old or inactive provident fund accounts. The platform will use Aadhaar-based authentication and allow users to access their accounts independently, without relying on their employers. This will be especially beneficial for individuals who have changed jobs multiple times or who have lost track of their EPF details. Initially, the portal will function using a ‘member ID-based system’ and will enable users to access their account details easily.
9 After pilot phases, SEBI launches PaRRVA system
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has operationalised the ‘ Pastor Risk and Return Verification Agency ‘ ( PaRRVA ). Following a successful pilot phase launched in December 2025 , the system will be fully operational from May 4, 2026. PaRRVA is designed to provide verified performance data of financial service providers and will help investors make informed decisions, while also enhancing trust and accountability. PaRRVA is a regulatory mechanism introduced by SEBI to verify and standardise past performance claims made by financial institutions. It aims to ensure that investors receive accurate, transparent, and reliable data before making any investment decisions.
10 Communications expert Prasoon Joshi appointed chairman of Prasar Bharati
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has appointed renowned lyricist, author, and communications expert Prasoon Joshi as Chairman of Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster . Mr. Joshi has made extensive contributions to literature, advertising, cinema, and mass communication. Known for his influential writings and deep cultural sensitivity, Mr. Joshi has played a key role in shaping the direction of contemporary Indian media. Mr. Prasoon Joshi has also served as Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification.
11 AERB approves major equipment installation in Units 5 and 6 of Kudankulam Project
The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has issued permission for installation of major equipment at Kudankulam Atomic Power Project (KKNPP) Units 5 and 6. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited has been permitted to install major plant equipment including reactor pressure vessels, steam generators, coolant pumps. The permission was issued after a multi-stage safety review satisfying the design of the units as per the safety requirements specified by AERB. The Kudankulam project site, located in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, comprises six units of pressurized water reactors of VVER (Water-Water Energetic Reactor) design , which are being installed with technical collaboration from Russia.
12 The government launched a cell broadcast system to provide immediate disaster information to citizens.
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the Cell Broadcast System (CBS) to strengthen India’s emergency communications systems and expand public safety infrastructure. Based on indigenous technology, CBS was developed by the Telecom Development Center (C-DOT) in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA ) and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The message during the test read, “Alert Citizen, Safe Nation.” This message is for testing, so there is no need for the public to respond. In the future, this system will enable the delivery of instant alerts in local languages and location-specific in case of a disaster or emergency. This initiative is an important step towards further strengthening citizen safety and providing prompt information during disasters.